Morse-mad husband

It would certainly be a better use of your time to take the train to Oxford on your way up to Cumbria...that way you won't have to double back. I would also recommend renting a car from there up to Cumbria. There is good public bus system once you get to Cumbria but it sounds like your time is very limited and having a car would be a way of seeing as much as possible in the time you have. From the south, the train would drop you off in Windermere but then you would need to rely on the public buses the rest of the time. No rail services go up into the area of the National Park if that is where your family lives.
Morse is filmed in SO many locations around Oxford. They often have tea or lunch in the cafe down in the vaults under St. Mary's Church just across from the Radcliffe Camera. Also the pub near Blackwell's Bookshop, The White Horse, often has the pair having a pint in the booth in the window at the front. They tend to use the smaller colleges for filming...here's a list of them from both the old show and Inspector Lewis.
When in Oxford some of the highlights are the Bodleian Library (don't miss the revolving exhibit room on the main courtyard), the Ashmolean Museum (if you have time), the Sheldonian Theater, and some of the more beautiful colleges like Magdalen and Christ Church. Walking by the river is very enjoyable too!

Thank you, Anita, such a great list of Morse spots.

Probably should add Brampton in Cumbria is our destination. Appreciate the advice re car.

How are you getting to Ireland?

If you are flying to Dublin, then consider taking the train from Oxford to say Carlisle and hiring a car there. Either return the car there and take the train to Manchester Airport or just drop the car at the airport, but there will be a small one way drop fee. The train is quicker and if you book 12 weeks in advance, much cheaper than driving from Oxford. The drive is quite boring too.

There are Oxford walking tours, but as the TV series was filmed some time ago, they no longer run the dedicated Morse tours. http://www.locationoxfordshire.co.uk/docs/Trails-MorseCity.pdf shows some of the key locations on a map. The Oxford colleges will still be on holiday, so you may be able to gain access to some. There is plenty to keep you occupied for a day.

Thanks, Jennifer.Your advice re train to Carlisle and then hire car sounds excellent. Yes we will be flying to Dublin. Thanks too for the update on the Morse tours and the pdf.Really appreciate it.

Hi Emma and thanks.No you don't sound negative-sensible! We know that we are likely to be jetlagged and plan to do very little apart from stroll in London for the first two days. Then hopefully a day in Oxford and then up to Brampton for a couple of quiet days before we head to Ireland. We have family there so should be pretty low stress.It is certainly a long way from little old N.Z. and always a balancing act between making best use of our time and being practical. We stayed in London a few years ago so happy to have a relaxing start to our stay rather than see the sights. We will definitely catch the train -sounds best option. Thanks again!

I am sure that pub crawl will be appealing to He Who Must Watch Morse!Thanks so much.

I stayed at The Buttery in Oxford a couple of years ago. It is a Rick Steves-type B&B. The stairs are very steep and the floor in my room sloped several inches from one end to the other, but I liked it. The location was great. If quiet nights are important to you, ask for a room that isn't on the street or take earplugs. Noise didn't bother me because I took my hearing aids out at night. You can see the exterior of The Buttery in the opening scenes of Endeavour.

Another part of the opening scene for Endeavour was filmed from the top of the tower of the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin, which is near the Bodleian Library. You can go up and see the same view, for a fee. http://www.universitychurch.ox.ac.uk/

Total hijack but I hope it will be quick.
How do Inspector Morse, Inspector Lewis and Endeavour relate to each other? What order should I watch them in?

Within Endeavour there are references to Morse in later life, and you'll only understand those references if you watch Morse first.

So best to watch in the order they were broadcast - Morse, Lewis then Endeavour.

Oxford's a dangerous place.

Brilliant summaries of Morse and his men!I did laugh about the comment re Oxford's danger value. .we often comment on that but compared to Midsomer it's quite safe!Thank you all for your advice. What a coincidence re The Buttery!

Ps even I as one who says "Oh for goodness sake not another murder" endorse the original order of the series..and there's no beating the original!

Thanks everyone! I started Inspector Morse yesterday and plan to continue today since it's a holiday.

I've seen an episode here and there of each but I am now watching them methodically!

what holiday is it today?

Nigel, it's Patriots' Day in Massachusetts. Trust me, it's a big day in Massachusetts. It's also the running of the Boston Marathon. We lived in the Boston area for 2 years one of which was the bicentennial year, 1976, so maybe my perspectives are slightly skewed.