What to do for one day ~ staying in West Hoathly?
 

My wife and I and a good friend will be staying at the Gravetye Inn in West Hoathly (near Gatwick) for two nights in July. We will be returning to USA after a vacation in Croatia. We will have a car because we depart from Heathrow (arrive Gatwick). So, we have a free day (on a Thursday).

We enjoy London but have been there a number of times. I was thinking of a quick trip to Cotswolds OR see some sights in and around West Hoathly. My wife and I have been to Cotswolds before and enjoyed the trip (it has been many years ago). We will have dinner that Thursday evening at the Cat Inn.

So, what is your opinion on:
1. Spend day driving through Cotswolds ~ with say 8-9 hours, best "highlight" route to take?
2. See sights close to Gravetye Inn ~ what is there to see?
3. Blow it off and do something else ~ what would you suggest?

Thanks for help.

do you mean Gravetye Manor? if so, you are in for a treat - we went there for our 10th wedding anniversary dinner and it was perfect.

please, please do not waste your time driving to the Cotswolds and back - there is loads to see and do in the area around West Hoathly. [do they not suggest anything on their website?]

from memory - Penshurst Place, Hever Castle, Sissinghurst, Chartwell, Scotney, Rye, Brighton, Lewes, Tunbridge Wells, - far more than you could see in one day. lovely countryside as well, with country pubs, walks, tea-shops.

and if it IS Gravetye Manor that you are staying at, do eat there one night - the food and service are just excellent. if you're staying elsewhere, that's an even better reason for going there for a meal!

Visiting the Cotswolds might make sense if you were transferring to a hotel near Heathrow, but to drive around London past Heathrow to the Cotswolds, only to return by the same route seems dumb.

Take a look at visiting Penshurst Place, Hever Castle and Knole House, all within 30 to 45 minutes from West Hoathly. And it is all very pretty Kent countryside.

great minds, Ron!

Thanks! Points well taken. Will do due diligence on the places y'all mentioned and skip the drive.

annhig ~ yes meant to say Gravetye Manor. And yes, we have reservations for dinner at Gravetye the first night. We are looking forward to eating there.

Thanks again and Happy New Year!

Agree w/the others - The Cotswolds make no sense at all for this situation. And there are sooooo many wonderful/knock-your-socks-off places w/i short drives of Gravetye Manor.

In fact Hever/Chartwell/Penshurst Place could easily all be done on the same day because they are all near each other. Knole is near them too -- but one would have to choose between Hever (HUGE gardens) and Knole (HUGE house) for time considerations.

Hever/Chartwell/Penshurst Place would be a terrific day

yes meant to say Gravetye Manor. And yes, we have reservations for dinner at Gravetye the first night. We are looking forward to eating there. >>

luckee! the gardens are lovely - i seem to remember that they grow a lot of their own veg and herbs.

happy New Year to you too.