England, beyond London?
Feb 12th 2003, 3:49 pm
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
Great idea. London is great, but there is a lot of great places in
Britain. You can get more details in an Britain guidebook (Rick
Steves' comes to mind), but I'll relate my experience.
After a week in London, I spent another week and a half elsewhere in
Britain. I started in Bath. You can spent a good day here, perhaps
two. Don't miss the guided walking tours - the one I took at night was
great. Nearby is Stonehenge. This is an amazing place. If you
contact the English Heritage people you can pre-arrange an "private
access" to walk amongst the stones before and after hours. Normally,
you can only see them from a distance.
If you're into natural beauty, check out Wales.
York is great, not only because the city itself has a lot to offer, but
also because it is close to Leeds and its Royal Armouries.
Check out my homepage on the link below. I've got lots of photos and
I've recently finished my travel journal for Britain.
--
Dan Stephenson
(remove nospam to reply by email)
Grand Tour photos and video: http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda
Britain. You can get more details in an Britain guidebook (Rick
Steves' comes to mind), but I'll relate my experience.
After a week in London, I spent another week and a half elsewhere in
Britain. I started in Bath. You can spent a good day here, perhaps
two. Don't miss the guided walking tours - the one I took at night was
great. Nearby is Stonehenge. This is an amazing place. If you
contact the English Heritage people you can pre-arrange an "private
access" to walk amongst the stones before and after hours. Normally,
you can only see them from a distance.
If you're into natural beauty, check out Wales.
York is great, not only because the city itself has a lot to offer, but
also because it is close to Leeds and its Royal Armouries.
Check out my homepage on the link below. I've got lots of photos and
I've recently finished my travel journal for Britain.
--
Dan Stephenson
(remove nospam to reply by email)
Grand Tour photos and video: http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda
Feb 12th 2003, 6:28 pm
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
"Dan Stephenson" wrote in message
news:AAE9698B5994FA48.88102C45FD09E3...lp.airnews.net...
Nearby is Stonehenge. This is an amazing place. If you
> contact the English Heritage people you can pre-arrange an "private
> access" to walk amongst the stones before and after hours. Normally,
> you can only see them from a distance.
And don't miss the "other" stone circle at Avebury, and the mysterious
Silbury Hill.
news:AAE9698B5994FA48.88102C45FD09E3...lp.airnews.net...
Nearby is Stonehenge. This is an amazing place. If you
> contact the English Heritage people you can pre-arrange an "private
> access" to walk amongst the stones before and after hours. Normally,
> you can only see them from a distance.
And don't miss the "other" stone circle at Avebury, and the mysterious
Silbury Hill.
Feb 12th 2003, 9:43 pm
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
Keith Anderson wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >
> Whilst the city of Bath is a relatively easy day trip from London
> (Roman Baths, neo-classical architecture - England's 18th-century "new
> Rome") it also makes a good centre for local exploration.
But not a good 'scenter'. Sorry! Agree with you completely.
> A one-hour bus journey to the south is Wells - only 10,000 population,
> but city status nonetheless because of its great cathedral dating back
> to 1180 - next to it is the Bishops Palace on one side and Vicar's
> Close, the oldest planned, mediaeval street in Europe (1350's)
> 45 minutes by bus, 12 by train is Bristol, from where John Cabot
> sailed in 1497 to the "New Founde Lande". (Replica of his ship in the
> historic city docks; also the SS Great Britain launched 1843 - first
> big transatlantic liner with a screw propellor) Historic centre -
> associations with "Robinson Crusoe" and "Treasure Island" - the latter
> book begins in Bristol. The Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon
> Gorge are a "must".
> Another easy journey by bus and/or train is Chepstow in S Wales - one
> of the oldest Norman castles (the keep dates from 1067 - only a year
> after the conquest)
All 'yes's' - and just down the road is Caerphilly Castle, the largest in
the UK except for Windsor and by far the best example of 13th. century
military architecture in the UK.
> There's also Cheddar Gorge - South-West England's "Grand Canyon" - bus
> via Wells, or the scenic "Chew Valley Explorer" bus via Bristol.
> (Cheddar is also the home of the famous cheese).
Well, hardly the Grand Canyon, but beautiful.
Surreyman
news:[email protected]...
> >
> Whilst the city of Bath is a relatively easy day trip from London
> (Roman Baths, neo-classical architecture - England's 18th-century "new
> Rome") it also makes a good centre for local exploration.
But not a good 'scenter'. Sorry! Agree with you completely.
> A one-hour bus journey to the south is Wells - only 10,000 population,
> but city status nonetheless because of its great cathedral dating back
> to 1180 - next to it is the Bishops Palace on one side and Vicar's
> Close, the oldest planned, mediaeval street in Europe (1350's)
> 45 minutes by bus, 12 by train is Bristol, from where John Cabot
> sailed in 1497 to the "New Founde Lande". (Replica of his ship in the
> historic city docks; also the SS Great Britain launched 1843 - first
> big transatlantic liner with a screw propellor) Historic centre -
> associations with "Robinson Crusoe" and "Treasure Island" - the latter
> book begins in Bristol. The Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon
> Gorge are a "must".
> Another easy journey by bus and/or train is Chepstow in S Wales - one
> of the oldest Norman castles (the keep dates from 1067 - only a year
> after the conquest)
All 'yes's' - and just down the road is Caerphilly Castle, the largest in
the UK except for Windsor and by far the best example of 13th. century
military architecture in the UK.
> There's also Cheddar Gorge - South-West England's "Grand Canyon" - bus
> via Wells, or the scenic "Chew Valley Explorer" bus via Bristol.
> (Cheddar is also the home of the famous cheese).
Well, hardly the Grand Canyon, but beautiful.
Surreyman
Feb 12th 2003, 11:41 pm
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
> And don't miss the "other" stone circle at Avebury, and the mysterious
> Silbury Hill.
Not to mention the White Horse at Uffington near to Avebury.
> Silbury Hill.
Not to mention the White Horse at Uffington near to Avebury.
Feb 13th 2003, 1:08 am
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
On Wed, 12 Feb 2003 20:02:14 +0000, Brian wrote:
>On Wed, 12 Feb 2003 19:46:44 +0000, Keith Anderson
> wrote:
>Not forgettng the scenic nearby village of West Harptree and its
>famous residents
>Brian
Howdy neighbour! Do you hold the Chew Valley Explorere bus up and
serve coffee?
>On Wed, 12 Feb 2003 19:46:44 +0000, Keith Anderson
> wrote:
>Not forgettng the scenic nearby village of West Harptree and its
>famous residents
>Brian
Howdy neighbour! Do you hold the Chew Valley Explorere bus up and
serve coffee?
Feb 13th 2003, 6:54 am
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
In article , Fustanella
writes
>> and/or just "quaint" stuff to see?
>If that happens to include Stonehenge in your estimation, be sure to write
>English Heritage well in advance to request early, private access to the
>stone-circle itself before it opens for the general public at a distance.
>The £10/person fee and simple form to fill out for that is well worth the
>effort.
Have you been on your trip yet?
--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com
writes
>> and/or just "quaint" stuff to see?
>If that happens to include Stonehenge in your estimation, be sure to write
>English Heritage well in advance to request early, private access to the
>stone-circle itself before it opens for the general public at a distance.
>The £10/person fee and simple form to fill out for that is well worth the
>effort.
Have you been on your trip yet?
--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com
Feb 13th 2003, 6:57 am
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
In article , a.spencer3
writes
>All 'yes's' - and just down the road is Caerphilly Castle, the largest in
>the UK except for Windsor and by far the best example of 13th. century
>military architecture in the UK.
Friends of mine had their wedding reception there. Fab.
--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com
writes
>All 'yes's' - and just down the road is Caerphilly Castle, the largest in
>the UK except for Windsor and by far the best example of 13th. century
>military architecture in the UK.
Friends of mine had their wedding reception there. Fab.
--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com
Feb 16th 2003, 4:17 am
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
[email protected] (P J Wallace) wrote in message news:...
> On Wed, 12 Feb 2003 04:09:34 GMT, "Jim Mohundro"
> wrote:
>
>
> >2) What modest-size towns or cities could we visit on day trips? Or, better
> >yet, what would be a good base of operations other than London where we
> >could find a comfortable hotel (we're older folks and like a bit of
> >American-style comfort in our accomodations, don't you know). What about
> >Oxford, other cities large enough to have decent choices of grub, historic
> >and/or just "quaint" stuff to see?
Please do yourself a favor and check out The Cotswolds. They are
series of small quaint villages that are a delight to visit. You can
get there and back via train on a simple day-trip from London.
We did and it was a highlight of our trip. English countryside
'quaintness' at it's best.
> On Wed, 12 Feb 2003 04:09:34 GMT, "Jim Mohundro"
> wrote:
>
>
> >2) What modest-size towns or cities could we visit on day trips? Or, better
> >yet, what would be a good base of operations other than London where we
> >could find a comfortable hotel (we're older folks and like a bit of
> >American-style comfort in our accomodations, don't you know). What about
> >Oxford, other cities large enough to have decent choices of grub, historic
> >and/or just "quaint" stuff to see?
Please do yourself a favor and check out The Cotswolds. They are
series of small quaint villages that are a delight to visit. You can
get there and back via train on a simple day-trip from London.
We did and it was a highlight of our trip. English countryside
'quaintness' at it's best.
Feb 17th 2003, 4:26 am
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
In article ,
[email protected] (Jim Mohundro) wrote:
> what would be a good base of operations other than London where we
> could find a comfortable hotel (we're older folks and like a bit of
> American-style comfort in our accomodations, don't you know). What
> about
> Oxford, other cities large enough to have decent choices of grub,
> historic
> and/or just "quaint" stuff to see?
To add to the earlier suggestions, another place matching that description
perfectly would be Lincoln -- though it is a bit of a pain to get to by
public transport.
[email protected] (Jim Mohundro) wrote:
> what would be a good base of operations other than London where we
> could find a comfortable hotel (we're older folks and like a bit of
> American-style comfort in our accomodations, don't you know). What
> about
> Oxford, other cities large enough to have decent choices of grub,
> historic
> and/or just "quaint" stuff to see?
To add to the earlier suggestions, another place matching that description
perfectly would be Lincoln -- though it is a bit of a pain to get to by
public transport.
Feb 17th 2003, 1:11 pm
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: England, beyond London?
I missed some of the earlier responses, but if it hasn't been mentioned BATH is
a terrific home-base. We planned to stay 3 days and ended up extending for a
week. The train station in conveniently located in town for day trips in lots
of directions. There are many nice self-catering places available if you'd
like more space than just a hotel or B&B. Lovely architecture, of course.
Large enough to have a good selection of shops and restaurants, but small
enough to explore on foot or mini-bus. We are also older, and preferred our 2nd
accomodation in the flatter part of town to the B&B uphill near the Crescent.
a terrific home-base. We planned to stay 3 days and ended up extending for a
week. The train station in conveniently located in town for day trips in lots
of directions. There are many nice self-catering places available if you'd
like more space than just a hotel or B&B. Lovely architecture, of course.
Large enough to have a good selection of shops and restaurants, but small
enough to explore on foot or mini-bus. We are also older, and preferred our 2nd
accomodation in the flatter part of town to the B&B uphill near the Crescent.
