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4 nts: Oxford, Stonehenge, Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon...or Cotswolds?

Posted by on

Ok, now that I have London dialed in, it's time to focus on an excursion. Open to suggestions, because this is just my first thoughts on 4-nights away from London. We just want to see a bit outside London...considering 2 nights Oxford and 2 nights elsewhere. Here's the lowdown:

  1. Open to moving around all nights or staying put some/all nights
  2. Open to renting a car - comfortable driving, just worried about city parking/hassles
  3. Sunrise Stonehenge a must (will either book tour or drive depending on what we do with rental car)
  4. Bath & Stratford a must for my sister
  5. Maybe base in Cotswolds and move around from there? Explore more of the countryside?
  6. After this trip we fly to Dublin to see my in-laws. Thinking flight from Birmingham might be handy, but hard to know for sure
  7. November! I know a lot of rural Ireland closes down in November, not sure about England. Weather is what it is, we will manage.

Any itinerary/location suggestions? Car rental or not? Thanks in advance!

Posted by
5259 posts

There's no sunrise viewings at Stonehenge for November. Besides, a sunrise in November is likely to take place behind grey clouds which doesn't quite have the same appeal.

Posted by
7 posts

Thanks JC. Yes, I figured it would simply be an inner circle tour at that time of year. My mistake on the wording. Do you have any other advise for me?

Posted by
1221 posts

If you're thinking Stonehenge-Bath, Salisbury is a perfectly lovely old cathedral city just down the way. And lets you pretty much just walk up to one of the few remaining copies of the Magna Carta housed on church grounds.

Both Salisbury and Bath have park and ride lot to bus options that are far less stress than trying to find parking in-town. Salisbury is operated Monday-Saturday; don't remember about Bath.

Posted by
7661 posts

We have previously visited Salisbury, Stonehenge and Avebury (Stone Circle) on a day with our rental car. It was great.

This October, we will visit Bath for three nights and stay six nights in Chipping Campden. We plan to use CC as a base to visit Stratford on Avon, Oxford, Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds.

One concern with a rental car that you must account for is parking. Parking can be expensive in cities like Oxford. If you drive to Oxford, you will likely park at the park and ride parking lot and take a bus into Oxford. Not sure how you would handle luggage.

If you rent a car, suggest renting at Heathrow, then driving to see Salisbury, Stonehenge and Avebury, ending in Bath. Spend a night in Bath or two, the move on to a place like Chipping Campden that would allow your to visit Stratford on Avon. Oxford could be seen by taking the train.

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