where to stay?

Are you driving or taking the train? If the latter, you could definitely do a day trip from London for both Cambridge and Bury St. Edmunds. You could also visit Liverpool from York by train (approx. 2 hours each way). Bath could be done as a day trip from London. Hay on Wye -- that's the kicker. Train doesn't go directly there so you'd have to catch a bus from Hereford. http://hay-on-wye.com/info/hay-on-wye.htm

Definitely spend a night or two in York...it's about 3-4 hours from London, depending on how you are traveling, and you really need a full day to explore the city. Cambridge and Bath can easily be visited from London as day trips. Liverpool would be a stretch for a day as well so I would combine it with your visit to York and just make a large loop. Personally, I would see Hay on Wye as an overnight trip as it is a bit out of the way and you'll want time to explore all the bookstores...we've picked up some amazing things there and it takes time to crawl through the dusty shelves and find treasures!

It does not seem to make much sense to keep returning to London = the place with the most expensive accommodation in the UK.

You do not say how you intend to travel. If using the trains, Bury St.Edmonds & Hay are not actually on the rail network so would require bus links.

If going by train, you could do the following route, staying at places en-route. London > Cambridge > Ely (instead of Bury St.Ed) > York> Liverpool >Chester > Ludlow (instead of Hay) or continue to Hereford & bus to Hay. Anyway continue > Hay to Abergavenny or Hereford (by bus & then back to train for Bath (change at Newport - though might also wish to add Cardiff* as it is only 15 minutes from Newport). Bath > London.

If you Google www.visit ----- (whatever place, you should find the official tourist board sites for the places mentioned).

Two grand for two people for two weeks with a lot if moving around and anytime at all in London isn't anything close to enough.

Figure minimally a hundred bucks per person per day and add another fifty per person per day for the days in London.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Ed. Between the exchange rate (running nearly $1.70 to the pound at the moment) and the expense of certain areas such as London, $2,000 for two people over that time period with some transportation expense (whether by train or otherwise), I don't think is realistic. I hope you can prove me wrong! As for days in certain spots, I think London deserves 3 full days, and you could easily make 5 days out of it. I think Bath is worth at least one full day and night, though we were pleased to stay there two full days. Happy travels.

Thanks for the input. the 2k is for room only not transportation or meals ect. would probably travel by train/bus.

fab1: Please note that Bury St. Edmunds is indeed on the rail line. I've visited there by train.

Oops - sorry, I got that one wrong. Looking at the routes, it would probably be best done as a day trip from Cambridge or Ely. I drove through the place about 4 years ago & would not rank it that highly for foreigners to visit.

Train schedules are here:> www.nationalrail.co.uk
The purchase of a 2 together railcard would knock about a third off the fares. Those outside the UK can also purchase Britrail passes though these are not cheap. www.Britrail.com

Buses can be found here:>http://www.transportdirect.info/Web2/Home.aspx?&repeatingloop=Y

Not to rain too hard on your parade but 6 cities, each involving checking out of a hotel, getting to a train/bus and checking into a hotel in 10 days does not seem like the best use of your time. Pick 3.

Or go with the 14-day plan. I can easily spend a week in London with side trip to Cambridge, but would want 1-2 nights in each of your further destinations. If you're considering a BritRail England Pass, buy it before August 28 in order to get an extra travel day free (e.g., 4 days of 2nd class travel in 2 months becomes 5 days for $295 per adult, or less for anyone under age 26).

I would move on from London, it is so expensive and unless you have a big budget the hotels in our price range were only OK compared to the great hotels for the price in other cities in England.