York to Cotswolds to London?

Oxford would be the closest place to the Cotswolds. Yes, most definitely return the car outside of London. I would recommend getting car that’s automatic.

Thank you, Oxford is what I thought....I appreciate your help.

We did four weeks in England and S. Wales in October 2017 and loved it. York was fantastic, loved the Munster (Cathedral), walking the walls, the wonderful National Railway Museum and other museums.

We did several days in the Cotswolds and surrounding places like Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford, Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds. We stayed in Chipping Campden at the Volunteer Inn. Rates are low and they have the best pub in town and a great Indian restaurant.

Yes, rent a car in Oxford.

If it must be the (overrated) Cotswolds, then hire a car and return it in Oxford. Please don’t attempt to drive into London as it’s not a pleasant experience.

As a much nicer alternative to the Cotswolds, take the train to Peterborough and hire a car, which will allow you to drive to Rutland within 30 minutes. Visit the pretty Georgian town of Stamford and Burghley House. Oakham has a unique horse shoe museum at the Castle (more interesting than it sounds!) and Uppingham has a short historical walk that you can take. The villages such as Empingham are chocolate box places like the Cotswolds but without the tourists and there are some good walks or cycling around Rutland Water (you can even hire a tandem!) plus some great cafes and restaurants. The roads are less clogged with traffic than the Cotswolds and unlike the Cotswolds, most villages are inhabited full time, not just holiday homes. Luckily it doesn’t feature in the RS book and long may that continue.

" loved the Munster (Cathedral),"

Assume you mean York Minster as Munster Cathedral is in Germany.

Sorry, yes, we lived in Germany for four years, so perhaps that influenced my mistake.

The Cotswolds are still a great place to visit. There are many places in Britain to visit. We also loved Wales and the Lake District in the NW.

Another alternative would be to go to Birmingham International, and pick up a car there or via the airport nearby and come in to the Cotswolds from the north rather than from the east.

I agree that having a big white space in the RS map of England between York and London deters too many people from some very worthwhile places to visit between the two either off the A1 or off the misleadingly named East Coast line (I find the old Victorian nickname for this as the "Cathedrals' Route" far more descriptive). However, this always comes down to choice.

"I’ve been told that ‘Edinburgh’ rhymes with ‘Peterborough’ although maybe my friends when pulling my leg."

Correct (well that's how I would pronounce it) but I've heard some Scots pronounce it as Edinbra.

I guess it would depend on how you pronounce Peterborough.

Thank you all. :-)