I want to book plane tickets for an August trip, but I can't decide on how long the trip should be! I'm hoping for some ideas/opinions... I have been to England before, 10 years ago. Right now I am considering either basing myself in London for approx a week, and doing day trips from there, (day trips being a combo of tours and train on my own). However I would also love to spend time in York (having never been there before) and Cornwall (specifically Mousehole, having researched my genealogy and finding out a branch of the family tree came from Mousehole back in the 1640s). I'm not sure how best to fit those two places in with London, as they are at extremes to each other! If I did this itinerary, I was thinking to visit York first for two/three nights, go down to Penzance for two/three nights, and finish in London for five nights. Is that doable at all, or should I forget visiting Cornwall or York for another trip? I do want to visit Scotland in the future, so I'm wondering if I should add York to that trip...oh the possibilities!
Posted by
Washington, DC, USA
571 posts
I can't advise about Cornwall, but I will encourage you to find a way to fit York in your itinerary. I had been to London (three times), Windsor, Oxford, Canterbury, Portsmouth, and various towns --seeing family and friends --in Dorset, Kent, and Buckinghamshire. I've since also been to Bath, Edinburgh and London a fourth time. York is awesome! Find a way to spend at least a couple nights there if you can.
Posted by
Wadebridge
37 posts
Costs in London are the highest in the UK. Best way to get from London to Cornwall is the sleeper train to Penzance, I would say, try googling that. Cornwall is beautiful and wild and York is a beautiful city. I'd be inclined to either do Cornwall and maybe Exeter, which isn't as nice as York but similiar or York and on up to Northumbria, which is similiar to Cornwall, but not so developed. Consider these suggestions and see what you think. Scotland by the way is also beautiful and you will love it there, so leaving York for the next trip is an opption. York to Cornwall is a trek...
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
Bonnie: Do It !!! My family includes two branches from Cornwall, so we have travelled it by car and bus a couple of times. Mousehole is TINY, but we enjoyed our day there (by bus) from Penzance. Cornwall is better travelled by car; but if you are daring, get to Penzance by train (a long ride from London); bus or whatever to Mousehole for a day- there is a very nice restaurant for lunch (not very much else) a small fishing harbor, and some nearby walks through fields. Near Penzance is Michaels Mount. ('similar" to French Mont St Michel). Without a car, you will probably only want to spend two days. Then train back to London and on to York. York deserves at least two full days and nights. You dont need a car to see York itself, lots to see by just wandering around within the walls. When we were much younger we did something similar to what I have described. So your plan would work. just be prepared for the one long train ride to/from Penzance. Ending in London makes sense. There is much to see , but you can also get up as early or late as you want.
Posted by
OP
Boston, MA
119 posts
Thank you everyone for your thoughts! So it seems like a two week trip would probably be best to include both York and Penzance and London. I'm sure I'll be back with some more questions!
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
York can be done as a day trip from London. There are LOTS of great day trips you can do by train. You might find this article helpful: http://www.aaacarolinas.com/Magazine/2008/Jan-Feb/britain.htm?zip=28105&stateprov=nc&city=matthews
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
I generally respect Toni's opinions, but to do York and yourself justice, at least two nights (i prefer to, spend a full 3 days in and around York when i visit). So if you are really stuck for time, train up in the late afternoon, spend the whole of the next day and night, train back the following morning