Sorry guys but I sure could use some help from you experience travelers. We are going to England for two weeks in May and here is situation, We have London figured out so moving on to second stop of this vacation. We will pick up a car and head towards the Bath area. I am looking for a place to use as a base for a few days to visit the southern part of England. Don't have to stay in Bath, kind of like staying in the smaller villages but not opposed to stay in Bath proper. Will be using the car to drive around also very interested in the Cotswold area. After about 4 days in this area then we want to go up north to see Liverpool and this area. Yes I am a Beatles fan. Now I will need a place for a base to see things in this area for a few days before heading back to London to a hotel near the airport for my journey home. So a place to say in the southern part, a place in the northern area then a hotel close to airport in London. Thanks ahead cause I know you are going to give me some good ideas,
Posted by
OP
bixby, ok, usa
20 posts
Thanks Chester sounds perfect. Will look for a hotel there. Is everything two hours from London? It seems that every place we want to go is two hours from London. I know when we see Bath we will have a car and I don't know exactly how to do this but maybe where we stay will be close to a train and can take us into Bath and leave the car behind.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Interestingly in Bath, there are places to stay near the train and bus stations (they are adjacent). Also, if you have a rental car, there is a nice public parking lot next to the Police Station that is also within about 3 blocks from the train and bus stations. There are meters in the lot that I mentioned above. In the evening, you begin placing 1 and 2GBP coins into the meter. The time on the meter increases as you put in the coins. You are not charged for the overnight hours. After a certain hour, the meter begins showing the hours for the next day. We would pay until about 10:00am the next day. Staying nearby at the Three Abbey Green B&B, we had breakfast, walked to the car and off we went on our day trips. Overall, parking is not cheap in Bath.
Posted by
West Grove, PA
23 posts
If you are not staying in Bath itself, but want to drive there, you could leave the car at one of the Park and Ride locations and take a bus into the city centre. See http://visitbath.co.uk/travel-and-maps/bath-park-and-ride for information.
If you are looking for budget accommodation, have you looked at Premier Inn? There is one in Bath itself that tends to be quite expensive, but others in the area are quite reasonable. For example, Trowbridge Premier Inn is a half mile from the train station, then a 20 minute train ride into Bath. We have stayed in various Premier Inns around Britain and Ireland and have found them quite good. They are clean, no frills. Some have a restaurant within the hotel or adjacent. Breakfast is additonal cost if you choose it. Take a look at the Premier Inn website and also at TripAdvisor reviews of the individual inns and you'll have a good idea of the suitability for your needs.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Glad you've received some feedback. Have a nice trip.
Posted by
Barnard Castle, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
56 posts
Have you found somewhere yet? Definitely explore the Cotswolds . If your moving up to Liverpool great but remember the motorway m6 runs past Liverpool and can take you to other exciting places like Yorkshire moors the Lake District and you are about 90 mins to 2 hours from Scotland!
.are you driving..? Get the Phillips navigator map NOT the terrible rubbish maps in service stations this map gives tons of tourist info and speed camera positions. Next get a good sat nav with speed camera locations on it.
Hope that helps any questions mail me! Happy to help