I am planning to visit England in the near future (Spring - Summer). This is my first visit to England and I would like some advise on places in the English countryside. For a traveler who has heard
I am planning to visit England in the near future (Spring - Summer). This is my first visit to England and I would like some advise on places in the English countryside. For a traveler who has heard a lot about the beauty of the English countryside with its cottages, rolling hills, country lanes, etc., which place would you recommend for a two day (with 2 nights) visit that would represent the quintessential countryside? I know it is a difficult pick, but would appreciate some suggestions.
I don't think you can go wrong in visiting the Cotswolds which is a fair sized area about an hour and half to 2 hours drive from London...You can get there via M4-M40. I found Burton-on-The-Water to be exactly what I imagined the English villages to be and the countryside of the Cotswolds is outstanding. There are many B&B's as well as hotels in the Cotswolds and you can spend easily 2 days running around the countryside and visiting the villages. Also, there are plenty of public walkways that cross property of farmers. Check online the Cotswolds and Burton-On-The-Water.....enjoy
Do you plan to have a car? Jyhihat has assumed that you do and it's certainly the best way to get to the smaller, prettier places. I agree with him that the Cotswolds are quintessential England and not too far from London, again an assumption that it's where you'll be starting.
Please tell us if our assumptions are incorrect and we might possibly have different suggestions.
Joanne being so smart has the right idea- when people post they need to explain more about their plans- We have traveled over the years to the Cots-I find it much more commerical now- LOADS of buses where I stayed in Moreton in Marsh- way to noisy and busy for me tastes, Broadway, Chipping Camden are still quaint- Burton is also full of tourists- but that may appeal to you. If it were me I would vote for the Oxford area- Is there a better way to spend the day then at Blendheim Palace? If you want loads of activity there is Stratford on Avon with loads of things to do. Then there is Kent- Leeds Castle, Knole and park, Sissinghurst Home and Gardens was a higlight of my trip in May. But the best of all was Chartwell- Sir Winston and wife's home and all are very near each other- And choice you make will be a good one I am sure. I rented a car like always--- but that too needs loads of study!!
In my opinion there is nowhere more beautiful than the Lake District in the north west on England. If you are starting your journey from London you can get the train to the Lakes in three hours (London Euston to Oxenholme). You'll also get to see an awful lot of British countryside from the train window as you travel up the country! My recommendation would be Bowness on Windermere, which is easily accessible from Oxenholme Station. Beautiful town with breathtaking scenery.
Wembolina is correct, the Lakes are indeed beautiful. However, I tried to spend a week there a couple of years ago and it absolutely poured rain all day every day. I ended up leaving to spend the balance of the week with a friend in the Midlands. My point is that it's known as a rainy place so if that might be an issue and you have just 2 days I might consider a place to the south. Of course it can be rainy anywhere, it's true, but some places can be counted on more than others.
Wembolina is correct, the Lakes are indeed beautiful. However, I tried to spend a week there a couple of years ago and it absolutely poured rain all day every day. I ended up leaving to spend the balance of the week with a friend in the Midlands. My point is that it's known as a rainy place so if that might be an issue and you have just 2 days I might consider a place to the south. Of course it can be rainy anywhere, it's true, but some places can be counted on more than others. Posted by jyphoto
That's a shame you experienced heavy rain on your trip. However... I grew up in the Lakes and have lived in the south (London) for 9 years. I can confirm that it is no less rainy in the south of England than it is anywhere else in the country....even the Lakes. Buy some decent wellies and a rain coat just in case (chances are it WILL rain on your trip, this is England afterall) and just embrace it.... the mountains look stunning in the rain with dark heavy clouds looming above them :)
Rainfall in England varies widely. The Lake District is the wettest part, with average annual totals exceeding 2,000 mm (this is comparable with that in the western Highlands of Scotland). http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071127085117AAMO96I I rest my case. Posted by jyphoto
If you'd like to step down from your high horse for a moment.... I dare say there is more rainfall in the Lakes, what with it being a mountainous region. However, having lived there, I say with some authority that it is not noticeably different from anywhere else in the country AND it should not be enough to put someone off visiting the area.
And surely the point of these forums is for first hand advice and experiences... not a bit of trivia cut and pasted from wikipedia in a smug attempt to rest a fairly pointless case.
"If you'd like to step down from your high horse for a moment....surely the point of these forums is for first hand advice and experiences... not a bit of trivia cut and pasted...in a smug attempt to rest a fairly pointless case." Posted by wembolina
High horse? Bit of trivia? Smug? Pointless? Not sure I understand this reaction. My experience was, in fact, first hand experience, I agreed with you that it's a beautiful place. But wet. The OP has 2 days, just giving my very own experience as, yes, we do here.
Click this for the facts:> www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/ukmapavge.html# and select ANNUAL / RAINFALL. (The Lake District is the bit of England just to the right of the Isle of Man). I also suggest people then select the Sunshine option.
PS. I wonder if the original poster ever came back. We have had no acknowledgement. Makes you wonder why we bother to waste our time responding!
Now that the rain has stopped and the tempest has abated, I'm putting away my brolly and wellies and venture to suggest to OP, just in case s/he returns to read all this:
You'll be glad to stay in Bath in the evenings, when the busloads have gone and the wonderful town calms down, you cab stroll and begin to feel at home.
Then take the train back.
If you wish to add interest to the return journey, and if you didn't already get there on your daytour(s), you can take the train from Bath as far as Salisbury (pron. Sollsbrie), change to the South West train (direction London Waterloo) as far as Basingstoke, change to the South West train (direction Portsmouth Harbour) as far as Winchester, leave the station and whistle the famous tune (mandatory!) while walking to the cathedral. (CLICK to enlarge) A later train will take you back, to London Waterloo. Just book your tickets with this trip interruption built in.
Another option on your way back - in case none of your tours included Stonehenge and you'd like to see it: From Salisbury there are buses to Stonehenge and back.
Jed - We do it to entertain each other and so our friends will tell us how smart we are. What else. Posted by jyphoto
Nobody I know is aware that I post on this forum and Jed is not my real name. (I just used it because it is short for anybody who wants to refer to me).
Wow this reminds me of my own situation last year- As for JY posts I happen to think she was being short sweet and to the point. I like her have been to the Lake District many times- and everyone is always surprised when I tell them it has never rained on us- but 1 day. Shocking yes but the truth. And as they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder for it is not the loviest area of G.B. to me- Devon and the wee tip of Cornwall is just to die for. And others will also have their very favorites- So now what is anyones favorite lake??? And why.
Preshant's post ask what represents the "quintessential" countryside of England. I still think you can't go wrong with visiting the Cotswold. But, having said that I also agree with the Lake District, Isle of Wight, Devon and tip of Cornwall. For that matter, just about any place that is truly in the countryside and away from the big cities. At least this is what I have found in traveling all over England skipping from one small village to another. As far as rain I have always found May to be the best time of year but rain in England can happen anytime, any place. As far as my favorite lake it is Lake Ullswater in the Lake District. Reason....it is the first lake my wife and I came to 4 years ago and picniced lakeside for our 48th Anniversary. Yet, Lake Windermere or any of the Lochs are also beautiful.
The Cotswolds and the Lake District are both great, and the Peak District ain't bad either. It may rain, but you should learn to love the rain. It's good for the crops and it makes things more shiny. My mum used to take me to Bourton-on-the-Water which is a very quaint, slightly touristy village in the Cotswolds. Bleinheim Palace in Woodstock (also in the Oxfordshire area) is magnificent too. My girlfriend recently introduced me to the splendour of the Purbecks in Dorset, which is a very beautiful place indeed.
I'll be going to Basingstoke for a long weekend in February. I'm flying from Boston to London Heathrow and didn't intend to rent a car. That is, until I took a look at what appears to be limited transportation options. Does anyone have a recommendation for me? I need to get there all by myself and although I'm pretty self-sufficient and not afraid of much, I value my time and money. So I prefer not to make a bunch of bus changes (equalling 2+ hours of transportation), nor do I want to pay 150 pounds each way in a taxi if I could probably get a car rental for a bit more.
If you suggest a taxi, should I hail one at the airport, or book one ahead of time? Any idea what a fair price is and how I can be sure I won't get taken advantage of?
If you suggest a rental car, is there anything I should know about a US citizen renting/driving in the UK?
If you suggest the train, is there a website that I can clearly see my route to prepare myself in advance?
Thanks so much for your consideration. I can't wait to get to England!
