Help with two week England itinerary

I think you will find that you'll wish you'd had more time in London. Why not cut the Windsor trip from Winchester (Day 4) and move everything up. Then do a 1/2 day to Windsor from London by train (very easy). That gives you at least 1/2 day more in London. You could add a theatre night or a curise on the Thames. The Hop on/off buses are good if you are wanting to hit the highlights and often are good for 24 hours. Many also include the Thames cruise up to to Greenwich. I'd also cut the time in Bath, personally. Especaiily if you hit parts of the Cotswolds with your friend from Winchester. That would give you another day or 2 in London. That way you could pace yourselves slower in London and not end your trip in a rush. I haven't been to Salisbury, but that might be another place you could trim. We really liked the cathedrals in Winchester, and York and doing 3 or 4 (Durham) might be a bit of overkill.

Thanks for your reply, Toni. I agree that I'd rather not rush London at the end, but our dates with my aunt may be constrained due to the fact that we're staying in her B & B, and she's already booking up. Your point about Bath is well-taken. We've considered just staying in Winchester until we go to York, and doing day trips from there to reduce the number of bases. Also debating renting a car for the south as well as north, but it seems easy to get most places from Winchester by train, unless I'm missing something. Good point about cathedrals, as well, but I'll have to ask my mom how she feels about that. I saw them all over a period of two months the last time I was there - not in 2 weeks!

The trip to Windsor doesnt make sense. Rather use that day to do an additional day to Cotswolds by car. Cut the Mad Max Cotswold Tour; you would have already seen parts with your friend. Cotswolds are much better on your own by car. I would definitely do Winchester, Salisbury and York and their carthedrals and cut Durham. The three named are really the classics. York cathedral and town are enclosed by a wall, great City to walk. Salisbury has cloisters and also a fantastic wild meadow. Winchester is also set in green surroundings. Try and use the saved time to see more of London. I think you dont need that many nights in Bath. Maybe go to York one day earlier and do the Whitby Tour first, Use your planned whitby day to go at least one day earlier to London. Or even use your planned windsor day for London

Beth: I agree with all the above, try to spend more time in London. Rooms are more expensive, but there are a lot of things to do and see. Some are the signature things you think of when you think of England. When you first hear Big Ben chime you will have to pinch yourself. If that doesn't work for you; there really is a lot of stuff to see and history around Winchester. Look up "The Treasure Houses of England". Cut Windsor. Bath highlites are easily done in a day. Spending time in the Cotswolds is always worthwhile. If you have your own car...it is easy to follow one of the maps of the area you can pick up at the tourist info offices. Salisbury is on the way to Bath from Winchester so is an easy stop off to see an original Magna Carta; then on to Stonehenge and Avebury. Durham cathedral is an acquired taste, it is the most mideval with fantastic columns and the Venerable Beed's Body in a closet. But it is really pretty far from York. You can easily go to Howard's Castle and Fountains Abbey from York. Check out getting a family 15 Day British Heritage Pass. It will save you a lot of money. Bon Voyage

Thanks, all. Those are great suggestions. We're now thinking about cutting the stay in Bath (seeing it as day trip only), and possibly renting a car to see the Cotswolds and work our way north. Not sure we can extend our London stay at the end, but if we can, we will. Still open for suggestions!