Starting to plan a spring trip to England, focused on country houses. My husband has decided to bow out this time (he;’s seen a lot of houses over the years!) and so I (a 70ish year old woman) will be going solo. I’ve driven in England and think this is likely the only way to visit the houses, so many of which are difficult to visit by public transport. We have been to most of the “big” ones (Blenheim,Chatsworth, etc) and, this time, I would like to focus on those less visited (less crowded)but with interesting histories. I love history, furniture and the stories houses tell - and am overwhelmed by the number!
Below is a very drafty itinerary. I would land at Heathrow and tentatively planned a large circle but think that even I may be ‘housed out”. If you were to delete a house, which ones? Or - heaven forbid - are there others I should consider? Is this well paced or an I trying to do too much? I’ve tried to visit places fairly close together but wonder if I should delete those above Birmingham, e.g., Attington, Moseley and Wightwick or Burghley. I prefer to stay at a place for more than one night and also wonder if Burghley makes sense, as it is only for one day. And, most are National Trust Houses, as I will have a NT passs - are the non NT houses (Broughton Castle and Burghley House) worth the added costs?
I’ve tried to locate hotels near the sites (preferably outside of towns), with parking and restaurants as I would not want to drive at night. Thoughts on these? Anything else?
Thank you so very much!!
Day 1 Arrive at Heathrow. Visit Sulgrave Manor
Stay at Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa, Fawsley, Daventry OR The Castle at Edgehill, Banbury 3 nites
Day 2 Visit Canons Ashby and Upton House
Day 3 Visit Broughton Castle
Day 4 Drive w towards Birmingham. Visit Charlecote Park.
Stay at Nuthurst Grange Lane, Hockley Heath , Solihull, OR Hogarths Hotel Solihull, 2 nites.
Day 5 Visit Baddesley Clinton, Church of St Michael and Packwood House
Day 6 Drive above Birmingham and visit Attingham Park.
Stay at the Mount Hotel Country Manor, Wolverhampton. 2 nights.
Day 7 Visit Moseley Old Hall and Wightwick
Day 8 Drive East. Visit Burghley House.
Stay at the The William Cecil, Stamford OR The George Of Stamford 1 night
Day 9 Drive towards London. Visit Hatfield House
Stay at St Michael's Manor Hotel - St Albans OR Sopwell House. St. Albans 2 nights
Could also stop at the mill Green Museum and/or Verulaminium.
Day 10 Head to Heathrow and depart.