Hello. I have 3 nights to spend somewhere between London and Liverpool. I will not be driving, so all three places must be easily accessible by train or bus. I was originally thinking Chester, but keep reading mixed reviews about it. I would prefer something completely different than London and Liverpool. I would happy with a quaint village, cute sea side town, or small medieval city. (I've already been to York, so thats not an option). A lot of places that had caught my eye, werent easily accessible between Liverpool and London. I will be traveling in April, if that matters. Thanks in advance!
We stayed in Chester in 2018. It is a cool town. We enjoyed it very much. Felt very Medieval.
There’s a direct train from London’s Euston (EUS) station to Liverpool Lime Street (LIV) taking 2h 15m.
Have you been to Bath? You can take a day trip from London’s Paddington (PAD) station to Bath (BTH 1h 30m).
Yes we did plan to go to Bath as a day trip from London. I’m just trying to find a good way to fill the 3 nights I have available between London and Liverpool. So it has ti be somewhere good enough to stay 3 nights.
Ludlow or Shrewsbury?
Rather than do Bath as a day trip from London, consider going to Bath - stay at least 1 night, then train to Newport where you change for another train for Ludlow - where you could stay a night. Next day take a train to Shrewsbury and stay a night before heading for Chester and Liverpool.
Ludlow would be a good possibility, especially if you are familiar with Housman's poems. Another good choice for a bucolic place would be Church Stretton .
ok So with 3 nights to play with, 1 night in Chester and 2 in Shrewsbury? or visa versa?
do you want to walk the Roman Walls and the Rows? The walls are very nearly complete and the Rows have plenty to see. Two days in Chester. (Zoo, add another).
Shrewsbury (don't be confused by the pronunciation) has plenty for a day, and two if you're visiting nearby villages and towns.
Shrewsbury ( pronounced " Shrowsbury " long O )
Locals tend to call it Shrewsbury (as in the animal shrew) not rhyming with throw. Those from outside tend to use the rhymes with throw option.
I've been to Chester and Ludlow but not Shrewsbury. Chester is a lot larger than Ludlow, that's for sure. (I see that Shrewsbury's population is similar to Chester's.) I think you wouldn't have trouble filling your time with two nights in Chester.
And if you had to pick between Chester or Shrewsbury? I think one night will go to Ludlow (since a few of you said to go there and it seems more quaint). Then other 2 nights will go to either Chester or Shrewsbury.
Before you visit Ludlow , read some of Housman's " A Shropshire Lad " and visit St Laurence Church in Ludlow while you are there .A poem from "A Shropshire Lad " to whet your interest - https://allpoetry.com/II:-Loveliest-of-Trees,-the-Cherry-Now The church has a beautiful collection of fifteenth century misericords which should not be missed - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Laurence%27s_Church,_Ludlow#Chancel_stalls_and_misericords