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Planning my next trip

Posted by (Pennsylvania, USA) on

Ever since I got back from London in June, I've been thinking about my next trip. I hope to go at the end of May, as I did this year. I'd like to stay a bit longer. I felt a week was a bit short. So I'm thinking something like 10 days.

Maybe staying in London a week, and then going to the Cotswolds by train. I won't have a car. I'd like to spend a day in Oxford (I'm a huge "Brideshead Revisited" fan). I enjoyed Becky's Secret Cottage tour very much, and I find in my middle years, I'm much more of a country person than a city person. So I would like to visit more open spaces or gardens, whether in London or elsewhere. Not sure which airport I'd be flying out of but it will most likely be Heathrow or Gatwick.

I'm not sure how to arrange my itinerary. I know on the train, you get to Oxford before Moreton-in-Marsh. Should I spend the night in Oxford, and then get a morning train to MIM? Leave Oxford in the evening to go to MIM?

Your thoughts?

Thank you!

Posted by
8465 posts

Sandra, consider an open jaw ticket, into London and out of Manchester (or vice versa). I think there are direct flights from Philadelphia to MAN. Closer to Cotswolds.

Posted by
646 posts

York seems awfully far away from Oxford, so no, I wasn't planning on going to Castle Howard.
Also, I would most likely be flying out of Newark, not Philadelphia--though I won't rule it out entirely.

Posted by
11294 posts

United flies from Newark to both Manchester and Heathrow, so that will work for you if you want to do open-jaw.

Posted by
646 posts

Thank you, Harold. I flew one leg of my trip on United and was very pleased with them.

Posted by
646 posts

Hi, David: I was in Hampstead years ago, to a pub, and afterward we went to Richmond Park to see the deer. Quite a view there! I also understand Highgate Village is very pretty.

No, haven't been to any of those places you mentioned. Though I've been to London four times now, I mostly stayed to the pavement parts! I have been considering London Walks' trip to Oxford & the Cotswolds. I was a bit lonely on my solo trip and I hardly spoke to anyone all week. It might be nice to tour with other people. There were other London Walks I wanted to take, such as Westminster Abbey and the London Blitz.

Posted by
3207 posts

Hi Sandra, I think that plan sounds like a nice relaxed trip, one that can allow you to relax a little more than last time. I suggest you spend one night in Oxford after your Brideshead interest and then out to the most easily accessible of the Cotswolds towns. You can figure out which town you would really like to stay in and take a bus or taxi to that particular town. You can then do some of the walks from village to village. I suggest you stay in a B&B versus an apartment. I think you will like it better...just my opinion, but I would not like to stay in an apartment by myself for a short stay.

Posted by
1232 posts

Hi, I am always a fan of London Walks and try to fit at least one in per trip. In case they are not going to Oxford during the time you are there, how about considering staying at a college? http://www.universityrooms.com/en/city/oxford/home

I have done this. It was July and high season for teens travelling, so a bit less quiet than I would have preferred. Check to see what is up in May. It may be that not many rooms are available yet at that time. But still, staying in college can be quite lovely. You can park your bags and take your time going about town. Even take the local bus to Blenheim. Walk the meadows and visit Morse and maybe Endeavor locations. Casual shopping is fun, too - covered market, etc.

Read up first what's up in Oxford for your intended time period. I love it.

PS, you can go directly from Heathrow via bus.

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