And I thought we tend to dizzying in our travel arrangements

Clearly we are complete amateurs compared to OP, however one thing did stick out, and that's things that were attempted and failed because they were closed, plus difficulties with things not being pre-booked because of a desire for flexibility, which makes sense, but pre-booking is often the way to go with this stuff, especially with a tight and fully loaded schedule.

Speaking of pre-booking, it may already be too late, but you can get limited special access to Stonehenge before and after regular hours, which is well worth the time and money.

Thanks for the advice to all. I did take it to heart, so changed the itinerary to 5 nights in London, then 1 night in Cambridge, 2 nights in Oxford, 2 nights in Bath, 2 nights in Salisbury, and 2 nights near Dover/Canterbury. Plan/hope for day excursions to see sites outside those cities.

One other question, I tried looking up authentic period-style Shakespeare plays in the Globe and in Stratford upon Avon but everything has more of a modern rendition.

Is there anywhere they still stage more authentic traditional production of Shakespeare plays?

Those two are not the only venues for Shakespeare in London. I like Time Out online magazine for all things current in London. Here is a page about Shakespeare that's on https://www.timeout.com/london/theat...lays-in-london

Just curious as to why a one night stay in Cambridge and two in Oxford. What are you planning to do? Most people would find one full day acceptable.

"traditional production"

not sure which part you really want, the unwashed customers, the no female actors, the food hurling, the fights in the audience or the drunks?

The Globe is going to be about the most realistic

The other thing you might like, but not only in the winter months, is Panto, which has more the rumbustious nature of medievel of "traditional production" and that would include cross dressing, a fair bit more vulgarity but also changing political comment. Panto is really an extraordinary theatrical experience and should not be missed

Oh I think you know what I mean. Romeo and Juliet set in Renaissance Italy rather than a country Western saloon and things like that.

Basically a production that tries to stay faithful to what the playwright wrote?

Beethoven's symphonies played with strings, winds, brass, and not with a jazz band, a harmonica and a banjo.

Cambridge only in Cambridge

Oxford two days I would use partially to see Coventry cathedral ruins and Stratford upon Avon if time permits.

But I expect admitting as much will lead to an avalanche of recrimination for overambitiousness, superficiality, etc.

"Beethoven's symphonies played with strings, winds, brass, and not with a jazz band, a harmonica and a banjo"

I have only once heard Beethoven pieces played on cat gut, which meant they just needed load more violins and viola (which were smaller then to take the neck tension)

The Globe is where you want.

Oxford, I'd go for an early train, visit the two world-class museums until about 2pm. Colleges don't tend to open to visitors until at least 2pm sometimes later. Not sure how many colleges you want to see but Christ Church and Magdalen would be a minimum but there are loads of others. The Magdalen rose garden and river bank closes towards 5pm. You can then fit in a walk in Christchurch meadows until you get to a chapel for an evensong.

I'm not sure when the Bodleian opens for tours, punting from Parks, down by Magdalen or at the head of the river doesn't start until 10am. The covered market is worth at least an hour.

I've not factored in eating, the castle, the ancient observatory etc etc etc

I'm struggling to find time to get to Coventry that day.

One way to save a bit of time would be to book a room in a college (date dependant) that gives you a chance to eat breakfast in college often in an ancient room. I too find Oxford with lots more to do than Cambridge. In Cambridge I would want to include going to Ely or Bury St Edmunds as part of a two day trip.

No recrimination -- merely suggesting you would do well to look at a map. Oxford is not a practical base for seeing either Coventry nor Stratford-upon-Avon. If you are driving -- Oxford > Stratford-upon-Avon > Coventry > Oxford would take about four hours car time and you'd want at least three or fours hours in S-u-A and more than an hour in Coventry. And by train its actually more complicated - There is no direct Oxford to S-u-A train. It requires changing at Leamington Spa and takes more than 90 minutes. Oxford to Coventry is faster but again between Coventry and Stratford one needs to change at Leamington Spa. If you want to see Stratford/Warwick/Coventry -- stay in Stratford/Warwick/Coventry.

Plus with your plan . . . with 2 nights you simply won't have the time -- you'd spend at least three hours driving over from Cambridge, leaving you a little over half a day for Oxford and the 2nd day would be spent spent driving to S-u-A / Coventry and back.

No recrimination here either. Do remember Late Easter term is Examination time and I suspect Colleges might be closed to visitors in Cambridge in late May. Janisj is really quite expert on travel in the UK and some others here live in the UK so you could use their experience to fine tune your itinerary.

trebizond's latest post was moved to a Trip Report. It can be found here London and England in May