Hello, I will be in Manchester, then Brighton for work and have a weekend between. I have been to both cities before so would like to spend the weekend somewhere else. This will be the last weekend in February.
I'm thinking of Bath, but the travel times could be long (little over 3 hours from Manchester to Bath, then perhaps a 3h 42min trip from Bath to Brighton if I take the Portsmouth Harbour train from Bath Spa but change at Cosham. I've been told this is an interesting cross-country route with lots to see. But this "interesting" route would also mean that I would need to leave Bath earlier than I might otherwise in order to actually see the scenery.
With all this travel time, will it leave enough time to see Bath? I would also like to see Stonehenge, but I think even a half day tour from Bath would definitely be too much so I should wait until I can do a day tour from London on a future trip. Or wait until I can stay in Bath longer and use it as a jumping off point for Stonehenge, Avebury, and the Cotswolds...
Se much to see and do! Any suggestions? Either on Bath or another suggested destination that would work with Manchester and Brighton. I'll take hotel, etc, recommendations as well. Thanks!
Posted by
winston salem, nc, usa
1078 posts
Why not try York? I travel to MAN a lot, and stumbled into it during a week of frantic travel, leaving my wife there one day and she loved it. And, you can also find Chips and Indian as good as in Manchester.
Posted by
OP
St. Paul, MN, US
34 posts
I went to York on my last trip. While I did like York a lot, would like to check out someplace new...
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Would Cardiff Wales be possible? I love that city. Lots of interesting things... markets, the harbor, good resturants....
Posted by
OP
St. Paul, MN, US
34 posts
Hmm, I have heard good things about Cardiff before, but it involves even longer travel times than Bath (or $400 flights).
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
I just looked at the map om visitbritain.com. It appears that Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford are almost on a line from Manchester to Brighton. Would that interet you?
Posted by
OP
St. Paul, MN, US
34 posts
Ok, my trip just changed a bit - my sister is a Flamenco dancer and she will be in Jerez, Spain, right after my work finishes up. So I may save my money and head there for a few days instead of an abbreviated weekend in Bath. So I just looked up Manchester to Brighton on Trainline, and it had me going through London, with a tube transfer. How about a more scenic route (I'm thinking about Toni's suggestion of Stratford upon Avon and Oxford), and is it possible to get on and off the train? I could spend a leisurely Saturday on the train, and chill in Brighton on Sunday...
Would love Spain suggestions too (I know that's a different forum). I've never been, and had about two years of high school Spanish. I can get from Heathrow (unfortunately, no Gatwick options for less than 600 GBP!) to Sevilla for 70 Euros on Vueling. Then train to Madrid so I can fly Madrid to MSP for no more than London home, so I can expense that leg.
Thanks!
Posted by
OP
St. Paul, MN, US
34 posts
Or a day trip somewhere from Manchester before heading to Brighton on Sunday?
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Have you checked for flights out of Manchester? Maybe you could fly to Spain direct from there...
Posted by
OP
St. Paul, MN, US
34 posts
I have to work in Brighton after Manchester and before Spain...
Posted by
Glendale, Ca, USA
20 posts
Cotswolds,Stratford, Melton Mowbury, famous for its pork pies or Banbury Cross all lovley little towns with great markets. If you want to go to Spain for the weekend, then look at Ryan Air or Easy jet always have good deals. Try to fly into Gatwick then you are very close to Brighton.