Help with traveling out and around the London area.

[itsanita]

We will have a little over a week in London before we return back to the states. The first 2 days will be spent in London, then 3 days outside of London at a family wedding. The last 4 days we would like to perhaps rent a car and see some of the surrounding area. Would you recommend we go north towards Biringham, Bristol? Or perhaps south to Dover?

 

If you had only 4 days, where would you recommend we travel and what would be some "must sees"?

 

Thanks,

[helpthejuggler]

Anita,

 

Which area is the wedding in?

will this influence where you might visit in the couple of days you have.

 

Any particular interests that would you wish to see more of?

 

Mark

[Bruin Steve]

I guess you're not getting as far north in that short time as to get to Edinburgh...or even York...a couple of cities I really love...

 

But let me throw a few at you closer to London...

 

You could go West--to Stonehenge and on to Bath...Stonehenge is, of course, fascinating...and worth a stop...Bath is a charming old city with ancient Roman origins and some later literary connections...

 

Or, head North a little to Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford...Stratford, of course, is the home of William Shakespeare and Oxford is the great University town...

 

Those would be my first two inclinations...

[BrianI]

Would recommend you visit the Cotswolds, which is the area between Oxford, Stratford on Avon, Cheltenham. Lots of beautiful "chocolate box" villages.

Have a look at these links

http://www.cotswolds.info/

http://www.the-cotswolds.org/

Brian

[newport dave]

If you're planning on renting a car whilst you're over here, may I suggest you take out a loan before you arrive..:rolleyes: :rolleyes: ......as the price of unleaded petrol is now £1 a litre in most places, and diesel is a couple of pence more expensive again.....:mad: :mad: :mad:

[lord of the seas]

You have cars in Wales? :eek:

[newport dave]

You have cars in Wales? :eek:

 

I'm originally from England, my wifes from Cardiff, so when I left the RAF we moved back down here and I had the privilege of paying to bring my car into Wales...:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[lord of the seas]

Dave,I don't like the fact that the Welsh can come to England without paying,I mean,it's not fair.

[helpthejuggler]

Anita,

 

When are you visiting? - It will make quite a big difference.

 

I 'second' the suggestions made so far and would include Cardiff as we have been discussing Wales.

 

Stonehenge is borderline, but a matter of personal interest. If you are in the same area, Avebury is a less well known and (IMHO) better choice.

 

I wouldn't plan a drive to up to Edinburgh as it will take too long from your 4 days. If you go, Fly.

 

If you go towards Dover, Leeds Castle and Chartwell (Sir Winston Churchill's home) are convenient and worth a visit.

 

Other ideas (a mix of Outdoor / Indoor)

 

Windsor Castle (en route to Costwolds / Bath / Cardiff)

Blenheim Palace (East of Costwolds)

Oxford

New Forest

Lavenham (Suffolk, NE of London)

Cambridge

Stourhead

Warwick Castle (close to Stratford upon Avon)

[Wilba]

I agree with posters who said Stratford Upon Avon taking in The Cotswolds enroute. This is a journey of about 100 miles each way & is definitely the biggest tourist attraction outside of London for the 'Yanks'.

[Albert Ross]

If you're planning on renting a car whilst you're over here, may I suggest you take out a loan before you arrive..:rolleyes: :rolleyes: ......as the price of unleaded petrol is now £1 a litre in most places, and diesel is a couple of pence more expensive again.....:mad: :mad: :mad:

Just to convert that for you - we pay around $7.60 for a gallon of gas.....so it will cost you around $125 to fill up a medium sized car.

[pcur]

Would recommend you visit the Cotswolds, which is the area between Oxford, Stratford on Avon, Cheltenham. Lots of beautiful "chocolate box" villages.

Have a look at these links

http://www.cotswolds.info/

http://www.the-cotswolds.org/

Brian

 

YES!! The Coswolds. Absolutely beautiful area, and we loved Stratford on Avon (take the hoho bus), and I LOVED Warwick Castle.

 

We rented a SmartCar from Sixti for about $20 a day, including all the fees, taxes, etc., etc. They are fun to drive, but only hold 2 people. Great mileage, too. We drove to Coventry, and spent 5 days in the local area. Loved our land trip!