Hello, my first post. My wife and I will be in England from mid September thru the first week of October, and i seek comments from those who have been in the areas we will be visiting.
Flying in and out of Manchester, better mileage tickets than Heathrow when i booked the trip. Renting car for two weeks until we get to London. First three nights in northwest Wales, at recommendation of friends, seeing castles and the national park. Then a two day drive to the Devon area, staying outside of Cardiff, but not spending a lot of time in that city. Primary reason to visit Totnes in Devon is to see historical Berry Pomeroy Castle, built in the 15th Century and now a haunted ruin; my wife is a descendant of the Baron! Any other ideas for that area in southwest England? Do you recommend we stay longer in this area, and delete the Canterbury segment below?
From Devon, we will spend three nights in Bath, with a side trip to Stonehenge/Salisbury, and three in the Cotswolds - staying at a B&B in Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire with expected trips to Oxford, Blenheim, Stratford-upon-Avon, etc. Thereafter one night in Cambridge and two in Cantebury before six nights in London. My only hesitation is the Canterbury leg, but we want to see the Dover Cliffs, the castles and Cathedral in the area and the Battle of Hastings battlefield.
We expect to see the primary sights/Museums/Parks/historical buildings/shopping in London, but i invite your ideas about unique areas, neighborhoods, and restaurants. We have a reservation at the Marriott Regents Park, but i am ambivalent and seek opinions re hotels and/or apartments in other neighborhoods to be our home base, similar perhaps to Trastevere in Rome and/or the Marais in Paris.
After London, we expect to take an afternoon train back to the Manchester Airport area for the last night before flying home the following morning.
Thanks in advance for your ideas and comments.