England--trip planning advice needed
ruth s
We've pretty much decided to spend a week based in London & do day trips.
We've been to Bath & Salisbury, would like advice for other places that
can be reasonable seen in a day.
we are not renting a car, so need places accessible via bus/train.
we like history, old architecture, shops, crafts, off-beat sites, Roman,
Viking, art nouveau, gardens...pretty easy to keep us entertained.
After London, we thought we'd spend a night or 2 in Oxford (I know it's
also an easy day trip from London, but several people have told us that
it deserves more time, as does many stately homes, etc., near by).
We'd like to spend part of a day punting or other boat-trip, if weather
permits.
We're planning 2-3 nights in York, any advice on where to stay/what to
see, etc., would be great.
Lastly, we'll have a few days in between Oxford & York and would love to
hear what we must not miss.
thanks!
Ruth S.
If replying to my email, remove 'nospam' from the obvious place.
Debra Weber Kurt Weber
ruth s wrote:
> We've pretty much decided to spend a week based in London & do day trips.
> We've been to Bath & Salisbury, would like advice for other places that
> can be reasonable seen in a day.
> we are not renting a car, so need places accessible via bus/train.
> we like history, old architecture, shops, crafts, off-beat sites, Roman,
> Viking, art nouveau, gardens...pretty easy to keep us entertained.
Winchester is a nice trip. Nice walks, pretty little gardens, a riverside,
the Cathedral, some ruins, etc. Should be just what you would like. We
liked it very much. I think it is about an hour by train.
What about Canterbury or Rye? Haven't been to either, but would like to.
There are also the obvious day jaunts: Windsor, Hampton Court. I actually
had a wonderful time at Hampton Court, where I especially enjoyed the
gardens and the great sense of history. Windsor was less entrancing, but
the boat ride we took there was very nice. Lots of pretty scenery.
Will Trash-Spam
"ruth s" <poseido...@covad.net> wrote in message
news:3F1B322B...@covad.net...
"Between" Oxford and York is Warwick and the Castle, though touristy is high
quality and run by Madam Toussards, very good history and well presented.
Warwick is a nice place to wander around looking in the curio and antique
shops. May is a better visit time as they often have Jousting displays on
in the "summer" months. They do have a web site somewhere.
If you are doing York, 3 nights is better than two. You have a whole
millenia (and more) of hostory to see in York, everything from Roman through
Vikings, through Medieval to upto date Industrial museums. Quite often
Yorks Museums win prizes and I beleive the Railway Museum (massive and has
something for everyone) was European Museum of the Year last year (and if
you know Europe/London thats a hell of an achievement). Yorvik, the
Cathedral and Castle Howard can just about be done in a day, but better to
spend two days doing those, a town tour (perhaps even down the river) and
the Railway Museum (conveniently next to the main station for your return).
Keith Willshaw
> We've pretty much decided to spend a week based in London & do day trips.
> We've been to Bath & Salisbury, would like advice for other places that
> can be reasonable seen in a day.
> we are not renting a car, so need places accessible via bus/train.
> we like history, old architecture, shops, crafts, off-beat sites, Roman,
> Viking, art nouveau, gardens...pretty easy to keep us entertained.
> After London, we thought we'd spend a night or 2 in Oxford (I know it's
> also an easy day trip from London, but several people have told us that
> it deserves more time, as does many stately homes, etc., near by).
> We'd like to spend part of a day punting or other boat-trip, if weather
> permits.
> We're planning 2-3 nights in York, any advice on where to stay/what to
> see, etc., would be great.
The York Viking Moat House was pretty nice, its inside the city wall
with views either of the river or The Minster. York is small enough that
you can walk anywhere in the city
As for attractions there's the Yorvig Viking museum which has a tram
ride through a recreated viking village, the Castle Museum (dont miss
this one its a classic complete with recreated Victorian street),
The Minster, be sure to explore the undercroft, the walk around the
city walls is awesome and there's the old shopping area called the Shambles
and last but not least the national railway museum
> Lastly, we'll have a few days in between Oxford & York and would love to
> hear what we must not miss.
The problem is if you are relying on public transport you are
limited as most services go back into London and then out to York,
however I'd recommend going by Warwick which is a marvellous
mediaeval town with a stunning castle
http://www.warwick-uk.co.uk/
http://www.warwick-castle.co.uk/
Keith
The Reid
>so need places accessible via bus/train.
don't forget boat, for Greenwich, Hampton Court or "legs" along the
Thames path.
--
Mike Reid
London & London walks inc. Thames path
"http://www.fellwalk.co.uk"
(see website for email address)
Dan Stephenson
big Minster cathedral is also nifty - climbing the central tower gives
you an interesting view of the church, in addition to the view.
--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from my 3-month European vacation:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda
(remove nospam from email address if replying)
Alan Thomas Harrison
Keith Willshaw wrote:
>
> The problem is if you are relying on public transport you are
> limited as most services go back into London and then out to York,
> however I'd recommend going by Warwick which is a marvellous
> mediaeval town with a stunning castle
I don't think that there is any problem in "doing" Warwick on the way
from Oxford to York by train, using Virgin Cross Country services (and
maybe local services between Leamington and/or Birmingham and Warwick).
Ceratinly there would be no need to retrace their steps to London.
Several good places for day trips from London have already been
mentioned. Other possibilities might include Rochester (cathedral,
Charles Dickens' house), Portsmouth (historic ships), Brighton (seaside,
Royal Pavilion), Chichester (yet another cathedral), Norwich (and
another! - plus a castle).
Alan Harrison
ruth s
them, but we've always enjoyed boat trips in the past, and a day tour
via water sounds great.
thanks,
Ruth
J J MIO
LONDON SEE & DO
(The fees posted here are out of date)
WESTMINISTER AND WHITEHALL
National Gallery We saw it on an "Original London Walk" We are novice
when it comes to the arts and the guide added so much to this visit. no fee
U=Charing Cross or Leicester Sq.
http://britannia.com/travel/top/natgal.html &
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Royal Mews On the side of Buckingham Palace. This is easy to walk by but
we liked the 'Cinderella' coaches. £4.50 U=Victoria Sta.. M-Thurs 12-6pm
http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/tourism/London/royal-mews.html
Banqueting House Charles I was beheaded on the first floor balcony
beginning the Reformation. Great ceiling paintings by Raphael
£3.50 www.hrp.org.uk
Cab. War Rooms We enjoyed this because we like WW II history. The basement
headquarters of Churchill was a surprise because we didn't realize how confined
it was. Clive Steps, King Charles Street
Daily 10-6 U=St. James or Westminster www.iwm.gov.org.uk
Parliament One day when walking by, we joined a queque and were admitted
into Parliament to watch the House of Commons and the House of Lords do their
thing . If they are open and you have time, it's worth the visit. But wait
until you've seen all the "biggies" before spending valuable time here.
Adjacent to Parliament is the Victoria Tower Garden, with a copy of Rodin's
'Burghers of Calais'
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/VIASCI.HTM
http://www.parliament.uk/
Boat from Tate Modern to Tate Britain. Stops at Waterloo Pier adjacent to
London eye, the Saatchi Gallery, London Aquariam, Bankside Pier near tate
Modern and Shakespeare's Globe. 10am-5;15pm Adults $7.35, Children and
Seniors $3.70, Family (2A & 2C) $16.40
Westminster Cath. Catholic Cathedral Only a block from Victoria Station.
Always wanted to climb the 274 foot campile but haven't made it yet; daily 9-5
elevator for £2 www.westministerdiocese.ork.uk U=Victoria
Station
ST JAMES, PICADILLY,MAYFAIR, MARLYBONE
Wallace Collection A museum-gallery of French artists. We were upset
with ourselves because we reached it late in the day. Did not realize how many
wonderful paintings it had. Be sure to rent the earphones.
Mon-Sat 10-5; Sun 2-5 free
www-wallace-collection.org.uk U=Bond Street
SOHO AND COVENT GARDEN
Covent Garden Much activity in the center of the square. It also has 'St.
Paul's-The Actor's Church' where you can relax after you've walked your legs
off
Royal Opera House See main foyer, the Floral Hall (10am-3pm)
Theatre Museum Tu-Sun 10-6 £4.50 3 centuries of memorabilia
www.theatremuseum.org
Opera House Backstage tours M-Sat 10:30, 12:30 and 2:30 £6 U=Covent
Garden See the Floral Hall from 10am-3pm www.royaloperahouse.org
Backstage Tours Varying hours Theatre Royal Drury Lane U=London Br
STRAND, HOLBORN AND CLERKWELL
Victoria Embankment Below Charing Cross is the The Victoria Embankment
Gardens, a wonderful garden area to see after touring Trafalgar.
http://britannia.com/travel/top/embankment.html
Cleopatra's Needle is across the street.
It's not that much but if you want to say you saw it, this is the time.
Benjamin Franklin House 36 Craven Street www.rsa.org.uk/franklin
Charing Cross
Courtauld Gallery Located in the Somerset House, it was one of the places we
kept putting off. When we finally visited we kicked ourselves for not going
sooner. Wonderful Impressionist and Post-Impressionists paintings.
Van Gogh, Monet, Cezanne, Renoir, Manet, etc.
www.courtauld.ac.uk U=Temple or Covent Garden
THE CITY
St. Paul's Cathedral is an awe inspiring. If you have stamina and good
lungs, make the climb to the very top-not just half way. Keep going up the two
levels above the "whispering gallery". I made it when I was 60 and thought I
was going to die on the climb. M-Sat 8:30-4 U=St. Paul's
http://www.angelfire.com/in/uktravelinfo/stpauls.html
Monument daily 10-6 £1.50 Breathtaking view after climbing 311 steps
U=Monument
Ceremony of the Keys Many have written about this as a treat but I was
unimpressed so it's your call.
http://www.bta.org.uk/introducing/keys.htm
This is a well written opinion of one who enjoyed it.
"It is the locking up of the Tower of London every night. They have been
doing it more or less this way for about 700 years. If you send for tickets
you must list everyone and their address in your party and include a postage
return coupon (get it at a post office) with it so they can send the tickets to
you. I took my 9 y.o. nephew once and he loved it (so did I).
Address your request to:
MS H. Thiele Assistant Security Officer
Her Majesty's Palace and Fortress
The Tower of London, London, UK
Include the date you want and some alternative dates.
Tower Bridge Go up in the elevator £6.50 10-6 U=Tower Hill or London
Br.
http://britannia.com/travel/top/towerbridge.html or
www.towerbridge.org.uk
LAMBETH AND SOUTHWARK
London Eye Ferris wheel £8 Across from Parliament U=Waterloo or
Westminster
To get reservations, you can go to the ticket office in County Hall
adjacent to The London Eye, and buy your ticket. I have been told you can
also purchase a voucher and make a reservation in any Tourist Information
Office.
www.ba-londoneye.com
Globe Exhibition open daily; £7.50 U=Southwark or Blackfriars
Tate Modern Daily 10-6 www.tate.org.uk no fee U=Southwark or
Blackfriars
Southwark Cath. We visited this on "An Original London Walk". Shakespeare's
brother buried here. After our visited, we ate lunch at 'George Inn', 17
Borough High St. The George is only 3-4 short blocks and definitely worth a
stop for lunch. U=Tower Bridge
http://britannia.com/travel/top/southcath.html
HYDE PARK & KENSINGTON
Brompton Oratory Roman Catholic church with ornate interior and beautiful
organ http://britannia.com/travel/top/brompton.html
NORTH LONDON
Camden Markets Another unique market experience. Best on weekends We
visited on our own and with an Original London Walk on another visit. If
you like the idea of a ride on the canal you can catch it here. Three
companies run boats on Regent's Canal between Little Venice and Camden Park
U=Camden Lock http://www.camdenlock.net/index.html
Jason's Trip Narrowboat cruise from Camden Lock to Little Venice 10:30,
12:30 or 2:30
OUT OF TOWN
Windsor Castle Daily 10-4 Tour of castle Trains leave every 1/2 hr from
Waterloo Sta.. 30 minutes
Greenwich A 15 min. train from Charing Cross Sta.
or take a boat from Embankment Pier (£7.5)
or take the Dockland Light Railway to Island Garden
http://www.greenwich-guide.org.uk/greenwich.htm
We saw this once on our own and once on a walking tour When on our own, we
took the Docklands Light Railway to Island Tunnels and walked through the
tunnel under the Thames.
With the walking tour we caught a boat below Tower Bridge.
Both good but the tour offered the insights of the docent.
Hampton Court Tu-Sun 9:30-6 To reach it requires a bus, a train from
Waterloo or a boat from Westminster Pier £10.50
Kew Gardens Daily 9:30-4 U=Kew Gardens
MARKETS
Flea Markets http://www.demon.co.uk/hotel-uk/markets.html
New Caledonia Friday 6-2 The flea market for the die-hards 3/4 mile SW of
Tower Underground
also U=London Bridge or Borough
Camden Passage Sat 8-5, Wed 7-4, Thur. 7-4 U=Islington, Camden
Passage
Camden Antiq Mkt Big day is Sat or Sun U=Camden
Covent Mkt The Jubilee antiques market is on Monday
Portabello M, Tu, Wed, Fri 8-6; Thur. 8-1; Sat 7-6 (Sat is the big day)
U=Nottinghill Gate or Ladbroke Grove
http://www.portobelloonline.com/
WEBSITES & INFORMATION
Brit. Tourist Center 1 Lower Regent Street London SW1
Tourist Board http://www.LondonTown.com/ Very Good
BTA http://www.bta.org.uk
Brochures and maps http://www.wwb.com/company/c005893.html
Transportation http://www.londontown.com/directory/transport.phtml
Current events http://www.thisislondon.com
Shows in London http://www.playbill.com
Theatres http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/
We enjoyed The Woman in Black a ghost story, "guaranteed to send shivers
down your spine". Several years ago it was at the Fortune Theatre in Russell
Street near Covent Garden underground station.
GALLERIES & MUSEUMS
Nat'l Portrait Gal. M-Sat 10-6; Sun N-6 U=Leicester Sq
Nat'l Gallery 2000 paintings M-Sat 10-6; Sun N-7 U=Charing Cross
Vic. & Albert Mo-Sa 10-5, Sun 2:30-5:30 U=Kensington High
Coutaud Gallery Somerset House, Strand U=Covent Garden, Temple
Impressionist and Post-Impressionists M-S 10-6
British Museum M-Sat 10-5 Sun 12-6 U=Tottenham Court Road
MOMI Mus. Of Moving Images Children and adults Daily 10-6
South Bank Centre U=Waterloo
Mus. of London Tu-Sat 10-5:30; Sun N-5:30 150 London Wall
U= Barbican, Moorgate
Theatre Mus. Tu-Sun 11-7 Russell Square U=Covent Garden
Vic. & Albert Mus. Tu-Sun 10-5:30; Mon, N-5:30 U=South Kensington
Britain at War Daily 10-4:30 £6 64 Tooley St. U=London Bridge
Jack (California)
JohnT
"J J MIO" <jj...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030721165032...@mb-m21.aol.com...
>
> LONDON SEE & DO
<SNIP>
> Banqueting House Charles I was beheaded on the first floor balcony
> beginning the Reformation. Great ceiling paintings by Raphael
> £3.50 www.hrp.org.uk
Charles I was to the beginning of the Reformation as Abraham Lincoln was to
the American War of Independence!
JohnT
joh117
Originally posted by Keith Willshaw
> "ruth s" wrote in message
> news:3F1B322B...@covad.net"]news:3F1B322B...@covad.ne-
> t[/url]...
> > permits.
>
>
>
>
>
> http://www.warwick-uk.co.uk/http://www.warwick-uk.co.uk/
> http://www.warwick-castle.co.uk/"]http://www.warwick-
> castle.co.uk/[/url]
>
> Keith
Would not recommend the Moat House in York. I am from York and we have
much nicer hotels. For instance the Ramada Jarvis Abbey Park, The Queens
Hotel on the river, The Elm Bank is quaint. I recommend these hotels by
either staying there personally or by collegues from work who have done
business trips to the city.
If you need any info on York PM me. I am only to willing to help with
info. Warwick is nice I would also recommend Windsor as a calling
point on your tour. Visited there for the first time last month and it
looks lovely.
Jo
--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com
Jeri
> Hi, we're already planning our 2-week trip to England next April/May.
> We've pretty much decided to spend a week based in London & do day trips.
> We've been to Bath & Salisbury, would like advice for other places that
> can be reasonable seen in a day.
I'd recommend Brighton, to see the Royal Pavilion.
http://www.royalpavilion.org.uk/default.asp
kittygal
Originally posted by Jeri
> I'd recommend Brighton, to see the Royal Pavilion.
> http://www.royalpavilion.org.uk/default.asp"]http://www.royalpa-
> vilion.org.uk/default.asp[/url]
So would I. I lived in the UK for 8 years, and finally got to Brighton
just before I moved home. The pavillion was great, the piers too, and
the old section of town was wonderful. I really enjoyed everything, and
yes, I know it was touristy, but so what? It was fun!
Also, Rye is beautiful, though parts can be a bit on the hilly side.
Nice old buildings, etc.
blib
> We've pretty much decided to spend a week based in London & do day trips.
> We've been to Bath & Salisbury, would like advice for other places that
> can be reasonable seen in a day.
> we are not renting a car, so need places accessible via bus/train.
> we like history, old architecture, shops, crafts, off-beat sites, Roman,
> Viking, art nouveau, gardens...pretty easy to keep us entertained.
> After London, we thought we'd spend a night or 2 in Oxford (I know it's
> also an easy day trip from London, but several people have told us that
> it deserves more time, as does many stately homes, etc., near by).
> We'd like to spend part of a day punting or other boat-trip, if weather
> permits.
Cambridge, good for punting and architecture is only 45mins from Kings
Cross, and Ely, beautiful Cathedral, just 10 miles North of Cambridge.
Winchester, only 55 mins from Waterloo.
Or if you want to a boat trip, take the train to Southampton, and take a day
return to the Isle of Wight.
Thomas
The Reid
>> Thames path.
>Hi, can you tell me more about boats from London? I hadn't thought of
>them, but we've always enjoyed boat trips in the past, and a day tour
>via water sounds great.
Theres a waterbus service that takes you out to Greenwich (downstream)
and loads of trips upstream to Hampton court and such places, then
there is the ducktour in a converted landing craft.
A Google on "thames waterbus" threw up quite a few options including
the Regents canal.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
UK walking "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" (see web for email)
Spain,cuisines and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Keith Willshaw
> Hi, can you tell me more about boats from London? I hadn't thought of
> them, but we've always enjoyed boat trips in the past, and a day tour
> via water sounds great.
> thanks,
> Ruth
>
>
http://www.westminsterpier.co.uk/index.htm
I can recommend the trip to Greenwich, within easy walking
distance of the boat landing are the Maritime museum , the
Royal Observatory and the Cutty Sark.
Keith
Bob Fusillo
way you will see England, not "sites." Marlow, Henley, Abingdon would be
good, and tyey are on the Thames.
rjfnews:3F1B322B...@covad.net...
Alan Thomas Harrison
Keith Willshaw wrote:
>
> I can recommend the trip to Greenwich, within easy walking
> distance of the boat landing are the Maritime museum , the
> Royal Observatory and the Cutty Sark.
Also some remarkably cheap eating houses for so heavily "touristed" an
area, notably Goddard's pie shop and the Tai Won Mein noodle bar.
Decent pint of Shepherd Neame over the road at the Spanish Galleon, too!
Alan Harrison
Keith Willshaw
"Bob Fusillo" <rob...@fusillo.org> wrote in message
news:S9cTa.117855$N7.16405@sccrnsc03...
> Pick a town, not big, that no one here mentions, and stay a day or two.
That
> way you will see England, not "sites." Marlow, Henley, Abingdon would
be
> good, and tyey are on the Thames.
> rjf
Neither Marlow nor Henley are exactly typical English towns
being very tourist oriented.
Abingdon is slightly more typical I'll agree but I dont think
I'd point people to it in preference to Woodstock as its
basically a suburb of Oxford these days rather than
just some small town (not so small either with a population
of 34,000)
If you really want a 'typical' English town try Reading, Scunthorpe,
Middlesbrough or Runcorn, of course they dont attract quite
so many tourists as York or Chester, odd that :)
Keith
Hatunen
I loved the boat trip from Westminster to Greenwich. The boatman
functioned like a tour guide (it's not actually a guided trip).
That was before the Docklands Light Railway extension, so we took
the foot tunnel under the Thames to catch the DLR on the north
bank.
But to be accurate, it's the *old* royal observatory; the
observatory itself moved some time ago. It is fun to take a
snapshot of the kids straddling the brass line in the pavement
marking zero-longitude.
************* DAVE HATUNEN (hat...@cox.net) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *
The Reid
>If you really want a 'typical' English town try Reading, Scunthorpe,
>Middlesbrough or Runcorn, of course they dont attract quite
>so many tourists as York or Chester, odd that :)
Tumbridge Wells would be OK..........or Hull :-)
Keith Willshaw
"The Reid" <TO_EMAIL...@fell-walker.co.uk> wrote in message
news:okishv0571bhqdtn6...@4ax.com...
> Following up to Keith Willshaw
>
> >If you really want a 'typical' English town try Reading, Scunthorpe,
> >Middlesbrough or Runcorn, of course they dont attract quite
> >so many tourists as York or Chester, odd that :)
>
> Tumbridge Wells would be OK..........or Hull :-)
Remember the maxim
'From Hull, Hell and Halifax Good Lord deliver us'
Keith
The Reid
>Remember the maxim
>
>'From Hull, Hell and Halifax Good Lord deliver us'
would that be pronounced "Ull, Ell and Alifax"?
kittygal
> [
> Remember the maxim
>
> 'From Hull, Hell and Halifax Good Lord deliver us'
>
> Keith
Or being sent to Coventry :)
Harvey Van Sickle
>> [
>> Remember the maxim
>> 'From Hull, Hell and Halifax Good Lord deliver us'
> Or being sent to Coventry :)
And "Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough" (or something along that
line).
--
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey to whhvs)
The Reid
>And "Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough" (or something along that
>line).
exactly right.
..........it isn't fit for humans now
there isn't grass to graze a cow