uk trip

Years ago, we stayed in York for 2 nights on our way to London from Edinburgh - whatever time she left Edinburgh, a night in York would be worthwhile. We saw Romeo & Juliet at the theatre there one night, and she could even have High Tea at Betty's Tea Room in York.

Staying at a hotel near the airport can be convenient if you're departing the next morning (have stayed near both Gatwick and Heathrow in the past), but going back and forth from either airport to central London is time-consuming and expensive, if one is staying in London for several nights.

Do you know what the 'St James' is? There is a St James' church on Piccadilly which often stages concerts, rather like St Martin's. In both cases, it's unlikely you'd need to book tickets unless there is a big name involved in the programme, but it would be worth making sure if there is something in particular she wants to see. Alternatively it could be St James' Palace, but that isn't open to the public.

The Cotswolds are generally beautiful, but so are the Lakes in a more rugged way. Both are worth seeing, but mixing the Cotswolds and Oxford in a single day sounds like you won't see enough of either. There are no guarantees with British weather, but autumn does tend to be the best time to go to the Lake District.

I instantly thought that she meant St James' Park and didn't even consider the other options.

The Cotswolds are the most beautiful part of the country - but I'm biased, and if you could have asked my father he would have agreed.

Nowhere is anywhere near as gorgeous. Not Cheshire, not the South Downs, not the Lake District nor the Peak District. Certainly not anywhere in any of the other Nations.

Now I understand why Rick Steves won't let us have a UK Forum. It is so that the natural beauty of England rises to the top.

Doesn't sound biased at all Nigel :o)

Sorry emma, the Highlands and islands beats them all, and in England, you need Devon and Cornwall.

The Cotswolds? meh ;-)

I'll second Cyn's recommendation you not make Gatwick your base. If you're leaving early in the morning, staying near the airport on the last night is a good idea to save hassle, but it makes for a bad base. The train to Gatwick to London Bridge is 30 minutes each way on a good day, costs enough that it wipes out most of anything you'd save on accommodation, and unless you're OK with playing Sardines on the commuter trains before 9am you'd lose a fair chunk of the morning every day.

If you base in Oxford you'll be pushing it to see the Cotswolds too - it's a good hour plus each way from Oxford to Bourton so that's 1/4 of the day lost right there, not to mention that tours don't leave during the rush hour so you lose the entire morning to waiting and travel. I wont say don't do both if your hearts are set on it and it's better to regret the things you did than you didn't, but be prepared for a long, tough day and having to be ruthless with your timing. The oft-repeated adage on here is "plan on returning"; then you can focus on 1 or the other and know you will see the other the next trip. You have made it happen, and your daughter undoubtedly will too, so you'll see everything you want just perhaps not this year.

And ps going to stir this pot a bit too ;) The Chilterns knock the spots off any place else I've lived (from Plymouth to Stromness and a dozen points between) except maybe Dartmoor... It's easy to get out here for a day and unwind from the pressure of seeing the sights in London by walking between lovely towns and villages across unbearably pretty countryside with open fields and beech woods and hangers to amble through. E.g. Get out to Henley, and walk to Hambleden (check out the pics on Google Images & you'll see why I love that route!), then bus to Wycombe and train back to London. And now I've talked myself into quitting my chores and putting my boots on for a hike in the sun down to Amersham! :)