We want to do London Cambridge Stamford and possibly one place in the Cotswolds like Broadway!
Ok We have been to most of these places with the exception on Stamford. Not too keen on staying in London as we usually don't like the craziness of big cities but a day visit is ok.
Love the Cotswolds and Cambridge. Stamford is a bit os a mystery yet but looks nice.
What about Amersham??? I just heard about that place but wonder if it's the best base in terms of access to the places we want to visit.
Many thanks and Happy Holidays to all of you monitoring these sites.
Best wishes. Nigel-UTAH
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
36112 posts
will you have a car?
Posted by
Buckinghamshire
441 posts
Cambridge is 1.5 hrs from Amersham by car, Stamford (I’d guess) closer to 2. London by train is about 1 hr but the station is at the top of a hill with the pretty old town at the bottom.
I’d have one base in the east near the A1/A10 (Huntingdon?) and another in the Cotswolds- all assuming you will have a car.
Posted by
London
953 posts
As others have said, it really depends whether you have a car. If you're not planning to get one, then staying in London really makes the most sense as all the train lines converge there. Amersham is nice but it can be a long ride into London (40 minutes into Marylebone on Chiltern Railways or close to an hour into Baker Street on the Metropolitan line) and that might get annoying for visiting for the day. And if you wanted to get to e.g. Cambridge you'd have to go all the way into London first to catch the train. You can easily visit Cambridge, Stamford, and parts of the Cotswolds on a day trip from London.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni
2771 posts
If you're reliant on public transport, then Birmingham would work instead of London.
If you a set of wheels then you have plenty of options - St Albans is possible. Or there are lots of country house hotels. If your focus is on the east of England: Stamford and Cambridge, I'd focus on Suffolk rather than the Cotswolds.
Posted by
Buckinghamshire
441 posts
Regarding the train to Marylebone, the Amersham trains often come in on the platforms distant from the ticket gates and probably it takes about 5 minutes to walk from them to the Bakerloo line platforms (or 10 minutes to the platforms at Baker St if you walk at ground level). Add on the time for transport from M’bone/Baker St. to the tourist areas and your are looking at about an hour or maybe a little more.
Posted by
9588 posts
We love the British countryside and its smaller cities and towns. Cambridge is great, it always reminds me of that great movie "Chariots of Fire."
Our favorite places in Britain are York, Bath, Stratford Upon Avon, Winchester and the Cornwall area.
Cornwall is out of the way, but SW England is great.
Posted by
Land of La
9973 posts
geovagriffth…a bit of intel…
Nicolas Farrell who was in Chariots of Fire lives in Richmond. Only know this because when I stayed in Richmond in 2022 saw he and Mark Gatiss ( Gatiss was Mycroft in Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock) in the play A Christmas Carol/A Ghost Story performed in Alexandra Palace. Had also seen Farrell the year before near Kew Bridge. Recognized the face but not the name.
Last bit of the story… I was staying in Richmond again so knew the trek from there to Alexandra Palace was lengthy via bus and tube change.
Over an hour commute and recall thinking he does this everyday?!?!
Oh and wearing a lovely camel hair coat, knit cap gloves, pants and scarf I recognized him at the train station. Walked over and complimented him. He was suprised and said “ thank you. “ Rode in the same car to Richmond. Did not engage with him. Worked for nearly 35 years in “ the biz.” Learned early on don’t bother the talent unless they start the conversation .