England Itinerary and hotel questions

Welcome to the forum!

I'm going to answer your questions the best I can, but I'm wondering if there is a better way to organize your trip...like going to York the day you arrive, and then working your way to Oxford, Bath, Dorset and keep London tlll the end. Or London, Dorset, Bath, York, Oxford, fly out.

Stay in London: I have not stayed here, but folks on this forum highly recommend the Premier Inn chain. There are two locations near Waterloo, and I have heard that the County Hall location is better. Like I said, I don't have personal experience with this though. One thing about Premier Inns is that the sooner you book, the better the rate you will get.

Dorset: The closest you can get to the tank museum is Wool by public transportation, and then you can take a taxi from there. A car would be good to have in that area, because it is a very beautiful part of the country and it would be lovely if you can at least go visit Corfe Castle and Durdle Door while you are there, and you don't have much time. Wareham is a good place to stay.

Given your son's interests, if you have enough time in London at the end of your trip, you may want to consider a day trip to Bletchley Park. Another suggestion - try a Sunday roast while you are there.

Have a wonderful trip!

My initial impression was that you're planning too many locations for 10 days. I agree with MapLady that it would make sense to go directly to York, as it's an undemanding train trip that is an efficient way to spend an arrival day.

I'd suggest that either Bath or Oxford be dropped, and since Blenheim is a priority for your husband, maybe extend your time in Oxford, pick up a car and head south. Save London for the end.

Thats 6 locations in 10 days - too many for me. I would be dropping at least two of them. I will just state what is becoming an old adage about visiting the UK - the more you move about the less you see.

...6 locations in 10 days...

You might want to consider fewer changes of location. Each time you relocate, you will lose at least 1/2 to 3/4 of a day that you can't get back. It's not just the actual travel time, but all the rest that goes with it. Packing up, checking out, getting to the train / bus stations, and waiting there for your chariot. Upon arrival at the new destination, you'll have to get to your hotel, check in, do some unpacking, and freshen up. Don't mean to be Debbie Downer, just offering food for thought.

I am also worried that we are doing too much. I am not sure how to include the Tank Museum (the initial driver for the trip) and my interest in York. My main reason for spending the first day/night in London is that we will have had over 11 hours of travel under our belts by the time we arrive at LHR. I'm not sure my back or my brain can handle more without a break. I'm looking at walking around our hotel area as a physical therapy break more than anything. Both York and Dorset(Tank Museum) are the furthest travel points, as we fly into and out of London. I may be back to eliminating York, but that puts my interest at the bottom of the heap (as usual). What I loved about York was the Minster, the charm of The Shambles, and the ruins. It has such a variety of cultures and time points represented and seemed so ancient. Can you recommend something that has that kind of feel that would be closer to the rest of our trip? Also, I am posting for advice, so you are not being a Debbie Downer! I am a strong believer in not packing in too much!

Last year we went to England for 9 nights and ended up staying in 4 different places. I was a bit nervous about this, but it worked out better than I expected - mainly because we stayed at least 2 nights at each place.

How do you feel about dropping Bath?

Then you could do something like this perhaps:

Fly to LHR
London [3 nights]
Dorset (Wareham?) [2 nights]
York [3 nights]
Oxford [2 nights]
Fly out LHR (there is a wonderful Airline bus from Oxford to LHR, no need to go to London)

Can you recommend something that has that kind of feel [York] that would be closer to the rest of our trip?

Salisbury is relatively close to the tank museum, as is Glastonbury. You've already been to York, and with some additional research it should be possible to put together an interesting tour of that part of England - probably more practical with a car. A fair number on the forum, especially locals, believe that the Cotswolds are overrated, and I have the same feeling regarding York, which was a major letdown [for me] after Oxford.

I love York and definitely don’t think it’s overrated.

I’m not sure anyone thinks the Cotswolds are overrated as such, just that they’re over visited and over exposed, and full of annoying influencers and rich people from London.

Recently in the British papers I’ve read several articles suggesting alternative areas, known as the ‘Notswolds’. These are areas with rural charm but that still offer quality food options and a little bit of the glamour and comforts that the Cotswolds is known for. Suggested areas - Somerset around Bruton, Northamptonshire, Rutland and Cheshire.

For a British audience the context is places you may wish to move to outside the city, or visit for a weekend break.

I agree with those that suggest you are covering too much ground. I suggest you keep you area covered smaller. While I love York (running family joke), it is the outlier. For your time period, how about Oxford for 2 nights (easy access with the bus from Heathrow and great to walk around); then somewhere for the Tank museum and consider adding the Midland Air Museum; somewhere else in that area; and then back to London.

In London consider the Battle of Britain Bunker if interest is WW2 ( accessible by Tube) and a day trip to Chartwell for Churchill house south of London.

York- Recommend the Minster Hotel, at a great location and has parking if you have a rental car.
Bath- Recommend the Brooks Guesthouse, also great location.

Helen - I think the Cotswolds are overrated! It's a lovely part of the country but in reality no nicer than lots of other places that are not nearly as well known and therefore busy. Given that the Tank Museum is an important part of the trip I would second Helen's suggestion of Somerset, which is at least as pretty as the Cotswolds and whilst very popular with UK visitors it will be quieter and is also right next door to where you will be in Dorset. Dorset itself is another good call for a rural fix.

To fit York in you could do as someone else suggested and go straight there and reverse the trip - York - Oxford - Somerset/Dorset - London.

I would recommend the Premier Inn County Hall, which is close to Waterloo Station and would allow you to get 2 rooms without breaking the bank. I stayed there last year for 5 nights and found it to be a very good hotel that was reasonably priced. The beds are very comfortable and it's very clean and decent. I got there from Heathrow quite easily. You just take the Elizabeth train to Tottenham Court Road Station. Transfer to the Northern (black) Line, and get off at Waterloo Station. Head out (Way out #4 - Tension Way), turn left on Cab Rd, the left on York Rd., right on Chicheley, then left on Belvedere to Premier Inn County Hall. If you book at the PI Waterloo (see below), it's another block further east.

There is another PI just up the street (Premier Inn Waterloo) so you might want to check prices for both. It's smaller and older so their prices are usually a bit lower, but it's still a good hotel. It's a little bit farther from Waterloo Station but not much. Both hotels are about a 15 minute walk from the Churchill War Rooms, which takes you over the Westminster Bridge.

They offer a decent breakfast (cooked or continental) although it is not included in the price. Keep in mind that the earlier you book at a PI, the cheaper the price will be. They offer 3 types of pricing: 1) fully refundable; 2) refundable up to 25 days before but you pay up front; and 3) non-refundable. I usually purchase the non-refundable option and pay for it with my Chase Sapphire Preferred card, so it's covered by Chase's travel insurance.

With regards to York, it's not one of my favorite cities, but I certainly would not discount it as there are too many people who love York. You have been there so you know it, and obviously think it's worth a return visit. It's your trip and you know what works best for you. I don't suppose there is anyway you could tack on an extra couple of days? That would give you a bit of breathing room. :-) Regardless, I do agree that it would probably work better at the tail end of your trip. Then, as mentioned above, you could save Oxford for last and take the Airline bus to Heathrow. I did that last year and it worked really well.

In terms of a hotel between Wareham and Weymouth, again, you might again consider a Premier Inn. There is one in Dorchester, which is approximately halfway between the two. https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/dorset/dorchester/dorchester.html?cid=GLBC_DORWEY

If you do not eliminate York, there is a special place you need to consider visiting. In York there are (or were) two Betty's Tea Rooms. Go to the one on St. Helen's Sq. Downstairs in the hallway by the loos, airmen from nearby bases in WWII etched their names and such in the mirrors in the hall. The mirror was still there several years ago. One has to wonder how many made it back home. A very moving piece history.

Thank you all for the feedback!
I appreciate that everyone has different interests, and I love the varied opinions! My overarching concern was the amount of travel and moving from place to place, which clearly everyone else also sees as an issue. I am going to say, as both my husband and I have had back surgeries, that there is nothing "undemanding" about sitting for extended periods. I also appreciate that we could spend all our time in London and still have things to see. This is not going to be a "big city" trip; I would skip London altogether (this go-around), but we need the physical break from sitting. The comment about losing a half day or more with packing and unpacking resonates loudly for me, so we will eliminate Bath. I am still considering cutting out York and replacing it with something closer, like Salisbury, or even St. Albans (still north, but not as far). Coming from the Midwest, the sheer age of everything is fascinating, and I enjoyed the medieval/Roman and Viking aspects of York. It seemed like there was so much to see. As I only spent the day, I could be wrong, but I don't want to eliminate the one place on MY bucket list. As a wife and mother, I have spent too much time putting my interests last. If we keep York in, I am looking at the following:
Day 1: Arrive in the morning, get to central London, and walk off our flight.
Days 2, 3, and 4: Head to Weymouth by train Monday afternoon, and spend three nights in Weymouth.
This should take about 2hr 45 minutes by train
Days 5, 6, and 7: Train up to York, staying 3 nights
This should take about 5hr 45 minutes by train
Days 8, 9, and 10: Head back down to Oxford for 3 nights.
This should take about 4 hours by train
Day 11: Take the bus back to LHR and head home.
If I eliminate York, maybe we rent a car in Dorset and visit more of Somerset. I am torn!

I think this plan is very doable. Go see York if you want to see York. Bath/Somerset, Wiltshire can be another trip.

To avoid having to cross London again I would suggest going from Weymouth (or Dorchester) to York via Bristol using the Weymouth to Bristol direct train. As a side benefit that train passes through Bath so you could break your journey and have most of a day in Bath on the way (or do that as a day trip from Weymouth or Dorchester).

First, I respect that we all have our own unique travel interests and travel needs. Please accept my comments as observations and not criticisms.

First, I recognize that your decision to spend the first night in London has to do with your need "to walk off the long flight." I wonder if the long walks through Heathrow and through public transit stations won't accomplish that for you. It seems a shame to use up a vacation day in London if that isn't a place you really want to experience. Unless a train is crowded, you can get up and walk on the train. So, my first suggestion is to reconsider where you spend that first night.

Your second itinerary has fewer stops and I think that is a practical decision. I'm curious what other things you plan to visit in the Weymouth area. It seems a long trip for just the tank museum. Maybe a stay in Southampton would be a better stop, with a day trip to the museum and another day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. It would also reduce that very long train ride to York.

I've made multiple trips to York and the surrounding area. If it's your personal goal to re-visit York, then go and enjoy.

In Oxford, I hope you have plans in addition to visiting the oak trees at Blenheim Palace. Finally, depending on the time of your flight home, I'd be a bit concerned about travel from Oxford to Heathrow.

Anita mentioned you getting back to the airport in time from Oxford. I'm assuming (since you mentioned above that you leave in the morning) you would come back the day before and stay at an airport hotel.

I did that last year and came back on the Oxford Airline bus to Heathrow in the mid-afternoon, then stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, which is located near Terminal 4 (my departure terminal). So look at which terminal you will be leaving from, as that will make a different in which hotel you stay at.

And by the way, Oxford is incredible—you are lucky to have 3 nights there.

I agree with another poster about getting around considering skipping central London entirely. You could consider taking the bus an hour to Oxford straight from the airport, (or just take a taxi, as you mentioned it's okay to splurge & this gets you easily where you want to go), I've done both. That way you've gotten to your first destination and not wasted the trip into & out of London, since it's not of that much interest to you? THEN you have glorious Oxford to walk around and savor! Since you're traveling in early June, Oxford colleges may well have opened up for visitors to stay overnight, seriously a delightfully quirky experience! My favorite, though a 10-min walk from downtown, is Keble College, it has a modern dorm with an elevator. Simple rooms, but the church and grounds and dining room are fabulous! https://www.universityrooms.com/en-GB/city/oxford/home/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD81swvZY6730f_U_gwMpP2r2XoKH&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2ZfABhDBARIsAHFTxGwnDIRl3vOzwxfL1LLoOOEKHRHIvinUHhEgUNJ40Z0Yi8mMe3bihlwaAhO5EALw_wcB

If you do get to Oxford, put the Old Parsonage afternoon tea high on your list, we book ahead to reserve the table for 2 by the fireplace. in reverse, it really depends what time your flight leaves on departure day, I think I've taken the bus 7-8 times on day of travel and never had a problem. Hope you have a great trip!

Going into London to Waterloo Station will take an hour however you go so think about Oxford as the same travel time. If you go to London for the Churchill Rooms and stay somewhere on the Piccadilly Line so you can get back to LHR for your morning flight. Tube starts running early.