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Best use of 5 nights in England

I will be at a conference in London in July. I feel like we have a lot of good ideas about how to use our time in London, and we'll take some time after the conference to make sure we really can enjoy the city. Our last night in the London hotel is a Sunday night, and then we have 5 nights to see some of the rest of England. I'm trying to think of the best way to have a really special trip. We're traveling with our 12 year old daughter, and this will be her first time in the UK. I'm also mindful that last summer was very hot, so I'm thinking we should avoid places that would be unpleasant during hot weather. My plan A was to go to the North of England and stay in York 2 or 3 nights, and then somewhere else in the north, maybe see Hadrian's wall. My husband really wants to see the Mary Rose in Portsmouth, which is in the South, so my choices are to 1) plan a 1 day detour to the south to see the MR, and less time in the North, 2) scrap the plan for the North, and plan around Portsmouth and maybe the Cotswolds and Bath or Cornwall, or 3)tell my husband to forget it. Thoughts?

I’d suggest choosing either north or south.

A southern trip could include a day in Portsmouth seeing the Mary Rose & the other historic ships (HMS Victory is fabulous), a day in the lovely small city of Winchester (mediaeval buildings and an excellent cathedral - not quite a substitute for York but in the same vein), a day seeing Salisbury and Stonehenge, a day driving around the Cotswolds and a day in beautiful Oxford. Or a day at the beach somewhere in Dorset - Corfe Castle is lovely too.

Do not try to include Cornwall in a five-day jaunt in the south, least of all in July - it’s a loooong very slow drive down there. And if your trip is during the last couple of weeks of July you’ll coincide with the English school holidays so it gets ridiculously over-crowded.

Weather is entirely unpredictable so don’t make plans based on last summer.

Posted by
4256 posts

If you haven't already booked your flights, you could also consider 2 nights in York and 3 in Edinburgh and fly home from Edinburgh. I have not been to Portsmouth, but much prefer York to Bath and the Cotswolds. I also loved Durham, which is in the North. Sorry, we are giving you way too much to choose from!

Posted by
839 posts

Good job picking your conferences!

North or south you can't lose. I really like the idea of Portsmouth-Winchester-Salisbury-Cotswolds loop. I also love York and the Lake District in the north (among other wonderful opportunities).

You seem to have three segments of the trip - during the conference when Dad and Daughter will be on their own - time for you three in London - time to travel after.

But, if it is your, conference what are Dad and Daughter going to do during the days other than the Museums, Concerts, Palaces, etc.? It is 2 hours to Portsmouth by train from London so it could be a long day trip, and you get an evening to network.. https://www.thetrainline.com/?ds_kids=p29878266466&cm=0p4a&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzpnN0cCT4gIVhR-GCh14TQC4EAAYAiAAEgLAS_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The "Man in Seat 61" is a great site for planning travel options throughout Europe by train.
https://www.seat61.com

Beware of daughter suddenly deciding university in the UK might be a good idea (I have some experience on that).

Posted by
6113 posts

Although last summer was one of the hottest on record, this year, it’s shaping up to be one of the coldest.

I would head north for the duration and get your husband to see the MR whilst you are at the conference. I would have been bored rigid as a 12 year old in the Cotswolds and with only 5 nights, you don’t have time for the MR then Cornwall and Bath/Cotswolds.

York deserves two full days - the Minster, walk the old walls, the free Railway Museum and the Shambles are all must sees. Have afternoon tea at Betty’s.

From York, you could head for a day at the excellent Beamish open air Museum for a taste of how life used to be, then see Hadrian’s Wall.