petersmall

My Wife and I are flying to the UK for Christmas, it is not only her first visit to the UK but also her first time outside of the US, any good ideas on where to take her or what to do.

We will be staying in deepest Somerset but have the use of my Mums car (Nissan Micra so that will be a shock to the wife for starters!!), we have a couple of days planned for London at the end of the trip and we will be visiting Portsmouth, my old stomping ground, but I am trying to think of anything else we can do that will give her a good impression of dear old Blighty. Dont want to spend days driving though as that seems a waste of time.

Any thoughts/ideas?

civilservant

What does she enjoy doing? Is she interested in British History, Cathedrals? Anything like that?

Sheepdip

Stonehenge? Lands End (but a bit too touristy last time I went)? Bath?

robin1234

Since National Trust properties will be closed for the season, how about Wells Cathedral and a walk around Bath? Either that or just show her the Nissan Micra, probably be enough of a foreign experience..

A country walk and a visit to a well-chosen pub..

Bob

If you're in London, might be a nice side trip to Windsor, see the park and nip down to Egham and catch a view of London from the Thames at the RAF memorial for commonwealth pilots who don't have a grave.

Then down the other side of the hill, there's the Magna Carta thing with a nice, or was nice tea shop.

Possibly stop by Oxford on the way to the coast?

GeoffM

I second those, as you'll be in Somerset. Also Avebury - larger than Stonehenge and you can actually walk up to and around the stones (and sheep shit) for free. The thermal spa in Bath gets good reviews.

Find a decent cider farm and get her sozzled?

Cheddar Gorge caves? Couple of decades since I last went, but drove past a couple of times more recently. Might be too touristy and gimmicky by now.

rallybug

If the rains re-start, wellington boots or even waders might be an idea, if what my parents in Yeovil say is anything to go by

Cheddar Gorge is a nice drive - depending on where in Zummerzet you'll be, it could even part of the route to or from Bath.

Chesil Beach? Jurassic coast? Cerne Abbas giant to show her a big *cough* Corfe Castle? Dunster Castle? West Somerset steam railway?

TangoBlue

Why not head down to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park? If you're going to be here for New Years, then possibly the fireworks? It all depends on what you're interested in.

robin1234

And when in Dunster visit the Foresters Arms, the only pub in Dunster with a parrot in the bar. Apparently all it says is "fu¢k off!"

http://fancyapint.com/Pub/dunster/foresters-arms/3743

rpjs

I second Avebury and would also suggest Lacock in Wiltshire, a pretty much untouched medieval/Tudor village (that's appeared in many, many films and TV) and the Westbury White Horse. Also within reach of Somerset are Maiden Castle at Dorchester, Glastonbury, Bristol (lots of heritage stuff there such as the SS Great Britain) and Cardiff (Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch, the arcades for shopping).

If you're going as far as Portsmouth, consider Winchester as well as it is absolutely lovely (I am biased, I lived there for nine years). Also in that area is the Roman fort at Portchester Castle and near to that if you're into things that make loud noises is the artillery museum at Fort Nelson.

If you can get as far as Kent, go to Canterbury which is also lovely, and have lunch or dinner at the best restaurant in England, the Goods Shed next to Canterbury West station (also a superb farmers' market).

Don't forget that whilst a lot of NT / English Heritage places are closed in the winter, many especially the houses and urban sites remain open all year round.

petersmall

Thanks, I had not even thought of Bath, she will love that, I will be about 3 miles from Dunster and again had completely forgotten about it!!

Pulaski

Although I agree with many of the recommendations, I'd disregard some of them because of the distance driving in a Micra. Realistically Lands End is too far away just to see a rocky outcrop - the north Devon coast is much closer and IMHO more dramatic, so I recommend a day visiting Boscastle, Tintagel, and maybe Clovelly.

There are plenty of ideas at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...outhwest/devon too.

robin1234

Even Clovelly is a long way in a Micra.. how about Lynton and Lynmouth and the Valley of the Rocks?

Pulaski

If Clovelly is too far then they're not going to be seeing much because Bath is further, and Plymouth 50% further still. That said the trip to Lynton may be worth it to experience Porlock Hill in a Micra!

robin1234

Stiff drink in the Ship Inn in Porlock then another in the Culbone Stables, would do it.