We are traveling via train from Gatwick to Oxford and staying for 2 nights. My original plan was to stay 2 nights in Oxford and do a day trip to either Warwick our Blenheim. It looks like Moreton in Marsh is also train accessible. Your opinions? We are a family with two kiddos aged 11 and 14. We won't have a car. We would still want to visit Oxford. Moreton in Marsh just looks really cute (that's a good enough reason, right? Haha). Where would you prefer to stay?
Posted by
UK
1015 posts
Oxford, without a shadow of a doubt. Endlessly fascinating city with plenty to interest teenagers. Lots to see and do; Car emphatically not necessary as there’s plenty within walking distance.
The main attraction of Moreton-in-the-Marsh is that it’s the only town in the Cotswolds that has a train station. It’s quite attractive, although not the most attractive place as it has a main road running through it. It’d be reasonably diverting for adults for a few hours, if you like antiques and pubs. Without a car it’d be a very dull couple of days for your kids.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5495 posts
I fully agree with Jane.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I too. Though I haven't spent time in Moreton, only driven through, I think its main virtue is as a train-reachable base for exploring the Cotswolds. Oxford has colleges and museums and monuments. Also I think some Harry Potter associations. Blenheim is very close, Warwick farther. There are day-long Cotswold tours from Oxford if you want to see that area. But with just two nights and one full day you'll have to make choices.
Posted by
OP
USA
37 posts
Great, thank you!
Posted by
Washington DC
28247 posts
The Pitt-Rivers is a museum in Oxford that might appeal to your children. It has a lot of things (both functional and decorative) from Oceania, Africa, Asia, etc. Like what you might find in your grandfather's attic if he was an explorer with an acquisitive instinct. The Ashmolean is also a very good museum, but of the more traditional sort.
Posted by
Washington DC
28247 posts
The Pitt-Rivers is a museum in Oxford that might appeal to your children. It has a lot of things (both functional and decorative) from Oceania, Africa, Asia, etc. Like what you might find in your grandfather's attic if he was an explorer with an acquisitive instinct. The Ashmolean is also a very good museum, but of the more traditional sort.
Posted by
8322 posts
We stayed in Chipping Campden and did Oxford, Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds and Stratford Upon Avon from there. We did visit Moreton in Marsh as well as most of the other villages or towns in the area. Moreton is interesting, but is best visited in conjunction with other Cotswold villages. If you decide to go there, you can see the town in about an hour.
Blenheim Palace is about a half a day to see it and the gardens. Also, visiting Churchill's grave in a nearby church is worth a stop, but you need a car.
We drove to Blenheim, so I am not familiar with rail connections to get there.
Warwick Castle is run by Madam Toussos(sp) and many people take their kids there. I expect that would be good place for a 11 and 14 year old.
Stratford Upon Avon is special, especially if you love Shakespeare. We took the HoHo bus there to see all five of the sites.
Consider finding a tour that would take you to some of these places. Oxford was interesting, but no where near as interesting as Stratford Upon Avon.