I did all that kind of thing before I left as well.

I said one last goodbye to one my favourite places; Avebury.

I also visited a place that I had always meant to see and that was virtually on my own doorstep; John Lennon and Paul McCartney's childhood homes. I'm so glad I did. The National Trust run tours departing from Speke Hall. It was an incredible feeling standing in John Lennon's bedroom looking down on Menlove Avenue.

Imperial war museum in London. You have got go to the London bombing re-enactment and walk through the trenches - I promise you, you wont regret it. Natural history as well. Went there on a couple of school trpis and always wanted to go back.

Duxford Air field (A505 south of cambridge)when they have an air show. Used to live not far from it when I was a kid, and used to see all the spitfires, lancaster bombers and even Red arrows fly over the garden.

Definatly punting on the Cambs, past the university. The peak District, not far from where I am now. Some of the most beautiful sceanery I have come across.

Sea world, Magna science thing for the Boys if you have any and Alton Towers!

I am not sure you can do it now (hire a boat without the chap to punt for you) but when I was a teenager we used to punt on the Cam, I can't tell you the number of times I fell in. Even if you can't do the punting yourself it's still worth a trip down the river, one of the best cities in the UK.

You can punt in Oxford for sure, so prob still can in Cambridge.

Also, someone at work was suggesting things we should do before we leave London the other day, and we'd done most of them (all the usual touristy stuff, plus Borough Market, the Royal Parks, Brick Lane for a curry etc), but they also said to have a meal at a Michelin starred restaurant. Haven't done it yet, but might do....

Thanks for all of that, gives me a few ideas to add to the list.

Dublin is booked in already, for sept 21st ( in case anyone is interested in a meet ), but that's for nostalgia, cos I lived there before. The only thing I'm gonna see for sure is the inside of the pubs. Might try that monstaboice... giant steak sounds good.

AVEBURY!! Yes, I should defintely go there, if it wasnt for Avebury we wouldn't be going to Aus in the first place!!!
We had some distant Aussie rellies over for a visit year before last, and wanted to take them out for the day , so we took them to Avebury. We got on so well, they invited us to their wedding in Feb, and we loved it so much, we came straight back and started the application process.

I think I'll defintely do the punting, and Dartmoor/Devon/Cornwall.
And a bit of scotland, if I can drag the OH north of the border ( the somerset border that is )

Dinner at Michelin restaurant deffo, and Natural History museum.

Thats quite a good range of stuff, but I need to find an island, I've done all the irish ones, but never a UK one, ( I dont think Portland counts ).

Are all the good islands in scotland, anything craggy and impressive down south -ish?

And with a concert and brighton thrown in, thats my ten I think.

I can meet you in Dublin if you want. Any pub is fine with me just another excuse for a drink. Maybe try and get a few more from Dublin that are heading out.

Sandra

If you're into nature,

What about the Lakes District? (See the new Beatrix Potter film afterwards too - wonderful film).
and the white cliffs near Brighton/Beachy Head?
Scotland is nice.

The Scilly Isles are pretty amazing....

what about holy island and alnwick castle and gardens.

Janet street thingybob voted it the best view in england on the telly the other night.

Jazzys

Are the Isle of Wight and Jersey worth seeing?

Wow. Good Thread . I am in the process of doing my farewell tour so this is close to my heart.
We have lived rather close to hampton Court so it has a special place in my heart. Our two boys had there first real view of the world there as we took each of them on a picnic there as our first outing together. We've had many weekend walks thruough bushy park onto the palace grounds and then lunch nearby. I have great memories of pushing my eldest on his first bike there.
Alnick castle and holy island is great too. My wife has family connections up there so we have done a tour and that has been a definite highlight.
I need to make a final list. I think I will wander down to a riverside pub and mull it over a real ale....

We have just had a week off work and have done some wandering ...

Warwick Castle ... few miles down the road but oh and kids had never been.

York, then caught the steam train to Scarborough.

London Natural History Museum.

We are now totally knackered but happy to have seen it all.

Hopefully off to Rome in October.

Just hope we can fit plenty more in before we go. Oh and we visited Stone Henge a couple of weeks ago.

Mandy