Trying PalQ's absurd suggestion requires an unpleasant narrow-staircase connection at Hayes and Harlington (no lift available), then another, often staircase-based, connection at Slough. Total time elapsed,to end up at the edge of built-up Oxford: min 2 hrs>

tis true but the info I gave was correct - you can take a train to Heathrow from Oxford without going into Central London.

York

For a day trip in the countryside you could drive across the N.Yorkshire moors. The east coast has some dramatic cliffs, hiking and birding opportunities too.

Hawley would be a short enough drive from York - right on the edge of the moors this old stone-built town is famous for being the home of the Bronte sisters - a museum to them and the parsonage their pop worked at is still there but to trek into the desolate moor right behind town is really awesome.

Oops before the character assassin jumps on me let me correct my above post - not Hawley village but Haworth, the home of the Brontes

Visit Haworth - England
http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/vi...rth.aspHaworth in West Yorkshire "Right before the traveller on this road rises Haworth village; he can see it for two miles before he arrives, for it is situated on the side ...
Haworth Village
www.haworth-village.org.uk/Haworth village is situated at the edge of the Pennine moors in West ...
Tourist Information - Annual Events - The Brontes - Steam Railway

PQ: Everything from 'Visit' to 'Railway' should be in quotes (copy/paste will bite you every time)

Wrenwood: Read flanner's post -- very accurate re cars/driving in both Bath and Oxford. Driving up from LHR is easiest IF you stay in the countryside. Coach to Oxford and then car from there if you want to stay a night or two in Oxford. The Hertz location in Oxford is easiest because it is just off the main road that goes to Woddstoc and then into the northern Cotswolds. You would not have to drive in Oxford at all - though you'd have to take a cab to get to Hertz.

joannay, I love Oxford, but based on the OP's question...

Bilboburgler, I was addressing those question marks in the OP's subject heading, figuring she was not quite sure and thinking of what might appeal to 2 teenage girls. And the proximity to the Cotswolds so Oxford didn't seem so far fetched. I love it too.

And despite Flanneruk's ongoing promotion of the coach station in Oxford, I find the location of the train station perfectly within walking range for trips to Warwick or York. Then the car and a stay of a couple of nights in the Cotswolds before returning to Heathrow.

And despite Flanneruk's ongoing promotion of the coach station in Oxford > - he probably gets a cut off each coach ticket sold or owns the station or some angle but yes incessant promotion of that is weird.

Hadn't thought of that. Yes, I'd promote it too in that case. Silly me.

Average teen gals will love York i think a lot more than the Cotswolds - unless they love to hike on hilly and often muddy footpaths and love stately houses!

York is full of life - the Shambles perpetually thronged with shoppers - certainly one of UK's primo shopping districts as York is a magnet regional town where folks come to shop from miles around.

shopping aside York has the stupendous Minster, a stunning cathedral-like structure and lots of neat museums and even an authentically haunted house - well it is said to be anyway - think it is the Treasurer's House but not sure - right near the Minster.

And York has one of Britain's primo family attractions - the National Railway Museum, right next to York's cool Victoria train station - to me one of the very finest looking ones in Europe and uniquely curved (more shameless promotions of trains, flimflanner!) - Anyway lots of things besides old trains - like a lot of Royal Trains all decked out to fit a royal - and it is free - certainly one of the UK's most popular museums.

And York offers a host of easy day trips - not only to the Yorkshire Moors and other moors but to Harrogate, a famous spa town with thermal establishments and the original Betty Tea Room (name may not be quite right - there is also one of these famous emporiums smack right in York itself - tea there is an event in and of itself.

Gals like to swim - North Sea may or may not be warm enough then but nearby Scarborough has a beach and all the trappings of a fading British seaside resort.

And Whitby - with its famous abbey and also the home town of Dracula they say - awesome seaside setting

A fun thing to do is to take the North Yorkshire Steam Railway (again hazy on the exact name) but runs from near York thru rural Yorkshire to near Whitby.

And there are boat rides on the canals and rivers around York - like out to the Archbishop's Palace.

And Fountains Abbey, one of Britain's most awesome abbey ruins set in a lovely setting by Studley Royal - a huge estate - is also an easy drive from York.

York IMO has lots more to offer everyone than the Cotswold Hills.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway :: A steam train adventure through ...
www.nymr.co.uk/The North Yorkshire Moors Railway provides some 18 miles of preserved steam railway running through the spectacular scenery of the North Yorkshire Moors

North Yorkshire Moors Railway is the proper name - some use steam engines I believe - at least mine did.

Thanks, I think maybe you've convinced me to do some research on York!

ghosts in the basement of the treasurer's house (roman military). there are some lovely gems in York including the "Merchant's Venturer's Hall" and some other medieval building alongside the Treasurers House (an old college (St Williams's) that you can have tea in) is very pretty.

If you want to stay in York for a few days get tourist info to book you an appartment in the old centre (very good prices and it lets you see the old city at night)

Teens may also like in York the Jorvik Viking Experience - one of those kitschy historical 'experiences' that every town seems to have - this one you ride thru I guess on some conveyance thru scenes re-created York's Viking heritage - not sure haven't taken it but it could be a fun thing to do for teens and adults as well. Cultural snobs will diss it but so what - said to be one of Britain's most popular sights outside of London.

Jorvik Viking Centre | Home page
www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/The world famous JORVIK Viking Centre is a must-see for visitors to the city of York.

http://www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/

should work

Following is an excerpt from my TR about a very worthwhile FREE activity in York. The time of the walk may have changed do to the season.

Having parked and settled into our room we saw that there was still time to walk to Exhibition Square and catch the 2:30 free walk hosted by volunteers. We made it with about 10 minutes to spare after a 45 minute walk. Again, our guide was engaging and had a deep knowledge of local history. The walk concentrated on the Roman and Norman aspects of York. Especially interesting learning how tell Roman walls from Norman by the type of stonework and the walk through the Shambles. The walk did not go into York Minster but there were explanations of outer features and ended with a long narrated walk along the top of wall surrounding York followed by the Shambles walk.

basingstoke2 ~ thanks, look what Google found for me!

http://www.britainexpress.com/cities/york/walking.htm

The apartment I'm looking at is not far from Waterloo Station.

If we were to rent a car there to drive towards York, will we have expenses for driving "within" the city or the congestion zone, or whatever the high traffic area is called?


How is that charged? By the rental agency? Or would I need some type of card or pass?

ttt

no congestion charge in York
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/.../whereandwhen/ in London