Hello All, I'd appreciate comments on an itinerary for a week in London with a day or two in Bath. What I am really concerned about is the fact that we will be landing on Good Friday, try to travel on Easter Sunday, and the bank holiday on Monday. What problems will this cause?? Should I switch Bath to the end of our trip? I'm trying to keep places close together, have I succeeded? We are taking our 16 yr. old boys; they have been to Paris & love military history. So beware...not a lot of art (they hated Louvre). Also have not secured rooms in Bath (difficult on Easter weekend?) and are planning on getting an apartment in London. Thanks for your advice!! --Amy Teague Fri. March 29- arrive, go to Bath via bus or private tour. If private tour try to do Stonehenge on way. Sat. March 30 - Stonehenge? Roman Baths & Pump Room. Maybe: Fashion Museum, Bath at Work museum, Abbey Sun. March 31 (EASTER) - to London Mon. April 1 (BANK HOLIDAY) - West. Abbey, Buck. Palace for Guard & Queen's Gallery & Mews, Parl., Big Ben, Banqueting House, Walk to Trafalgar Square... (maybe National Gallery or National Portrait Gallery), St. Martins church Tues. April 2 - 1/2 day at Windsor Castle & town, pm...finishing up yesterday's stuff we didn't get done, Theater in evening? Weds. April 3 - Tower, cruise to Globe, Mill. Bridge to St. Paul's, then what??? Thurs. April 4 - Day in Greenwich. take a whole day? Fri. April 5 - British Museum, British Library, then what??? -Beatles Walk?, Bike tour (too cold??), or 1/2 Day at Hampton court(can it be done in half day?)
Sat. April 6 - home
Posted by
OP
Fishers, IN, USA
25 posts
Yes, we were planning on train or bus for travel between Bath and London. Perhaps it will be better to start in London and finish in Bath so we don't have difficulty with travel over the holiday weekend. And we could be in town for a Sunday church service somewhere?? Or perhaps we should be adventurous and rent a car and scare people by driving on the "wrong" (wink-wink) side of the road?? We almost did this in Australia! Thanks for the advice! Keep it coming...never have too much. Oh, and I also forgot to put Churchill Rooms on Monday (which makes a crazy busy day). --Amy
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5466 posts
You haven't indicated how you intend to travel from Bath on Easter Sunday. As a result of a complete closure of the main lines through Reading Station on that day train service will probably be reduced in numbers and those that do run will take a much longer circuitous route to London. Travelling around London on a bank holiday shouldn't in itself be a problem - although there may be engineering work here also.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33985 posts
How are you intending to travel, Amy? Car? On the Bank Holidays expect very heavy traffic on the motorways and roads on the first and last day of the weekend. All it takes is one car crash or overturned caravan, or a bit of snow or sleet to bring it to a halt. Coach? They're on the roads with the cars. Train? Bank Holidays are prime times to shut down parts of railway network for engineering works to improve it. Check,check, and recheck if the routes you are interested in will be affected. If so you may be put on the roads in Rail-Replacement-Buses or routed well out of your way both of which will add lots of time to your journey. Sorry to paint a downer but every Bank Holiday is when people in the move from place to place in their droves. Some to airports, some to ferry ports, many to the countryside, many to the holiday areas, many to see parents or grandparents. Unless I'm working, and I work on the railways, when Bank Holidays roll around I tend to stay at home and stay away from the crowds.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5466 posts
The disruption to the Western Mainline is due to last 10 days, over all of the week you list. For part of this time the relief lines will be open; the rest is total closure. Reading Station is in the major process of being completely rebuilt and extended - after the Easter work 4 additional platforms come into service, as well as a new footbridge connecting them.
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2456 posts
In Bath,take tour from church,think it takes an hour and I seem to remember is given free by local guides, my son enjoyed it. They might be bored by the fashion museum though. When at St. Paul's, be sure to take them back to see the chapel dedicated to US servicemen who were stationed there and KIA during WWII and the stained glass windows that depict each state. When go to the Tower, go as early as possible to miss crowds. Enjoy. My son did when he was their age.