Hello--
I'm planning an England trip for a family group with elderly parents and two teens, all of us interested in stately homes and all things English, especially equestrian pursuits. This is not our first trip to the UK. We're thinking of spending a few days in London (potentially around the time of Trooping the Colour), then Berkshire (???), then an equestrian hotel in Wiltshire (Lucknam Park) then Cotswolds for a few days. We're pretty clear on what to do in London and the Cotswolds, but I'd love advice on where to stay and what to do in the Berkshire area. We're interested in Highclere Castle, Cliveden House, potentially Avebury, then relaxing and riding at Lucknam Park before finishing the trip in the Cotswolds. (Alternatively, instead of staying in Berkshire to see Highclere Castle, etc. should we just stay longer at Lucknam Park?) Any advice would be much appreciated!
Posted by
Winchester, UK
142 posts
I can't say I've been to any of those places but my "two cents" are that this seems like a lovely plan. Consider going to Oxford from nearby Reading if you fancy as well.
Posted by
Preston UK
1232 posts
I've all never been to Highclere Castle but all the information I have is that it's very much a second division stately home. It is famous for the Downton Abbey TV series but that really only used exterior shots of the castle - pretty much all the interior shots were in TV studios. there are many excellent stately homes in the UK but Highclere isn't one of them. For me Chatsworth is the best of all, but sadly for you that's probably 100 miles north of your planned route.
Posted by
Singapore
589 posts
"there are many excellent stately homes in the UK but Highclere isn't one of them."
I respectfully disagree-l - having been to quite a few stately homes, I really enjoyed Highclere. I wouldn't suggest it to someone who hadn't been to a stately home before, but it's a lovely building, and the scale of it makes it feel like a home rather than a public building. Aside from the Downton Abbey fame, it has the 5th Earl's Egypt/Tutankhamen connection and a display related to this.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8132 posts
If you wanted to add extra nights to Lucknam then I would do Cliveden on your transfer day west, it is then about 1:45 to Lucknam.
From there it is about 1 hour to Highclere, you could visit Avebury on your way in either direction between Lucknam and Highclere.
I think Newbury might make a good intermediate base for you, or even a bit further north in South Oxfordshire- maybe Wantage (where Lester Piggott was born) or Abingdon. That area was part of Berkshire until 1974.
If it suits your timing you may want to get to a race meeting at Newbury Racecourse
If you choose that area don't miss the chalk hillside figure of a White Horse at Uffington If at Wantage then visit the Vale and Downland Museum.
That area of Oxfordshire is called the Vale of the White Horse.
Posted by
OP
California
2 posts
Thank you so much for the replies. I'll take a look at Newbury and the races there. That sounds like a nice half-way stop between London and Lucknam Park/Cotswolds. Thanks again!