I have four days before the tour starts in Bath and 3 days after it ends in London. I've booked 3 extra nights at the same London hotel. Not sure what to do with the other four. Do I book at the same Bath hotel and then take day trips from there? Or is there another town near either city that I should visit? I'm sure I can spend any number of days in London, but maybe there's another option not included on the tour.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
In Bath, we stayed at the Three Abbey Green which is about 400 feet from the Roman Baths and other major Bath sites. Great breakfast and close to some nice restaurants. They are in the RS England book. The very popular Bizarre Bath Comedy Walk ends just outside in the courtyard. We did have a car. We day-tripped about 12-15 miles away to Castle Coombe, one of the most beautiful villages in England. We had duck & cherry pie for a late lunch at the Wadworth pub. We also day-tripped to Lacock Abbey and Stourhead Gardens. I don't think there are buses to Stourhead but what a garden. 2-3 hours just to walk around it.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
from Bath you can rent a car and spend the 4 days in Cotswolds/Salisbury/Stonehenge/Oxford or go South and West into Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. North will get you to Tintern Abbey, Wye valley, North Wales and/or black and white houses. If you dont want to rent a car, you can do Cotswolds and Stonehenge on tours from Bath (Mad max is recommended) ; by train to Stonehenge. Or spend most of the first 4 days in Lonndon- there is so much to see there In my opinion it would be a waste to spend the first 4 days in Bath- so much else to see
Posted by
OP
Toledo, OH
40 posts
I'm spending 3 extra days in London at the end of the tour. I suppose I could use a couple at the beginning too. There are a lot of day tours out of both places. Stonehenge is definitely one. I noticed a trip to southern Wales that is not on our tour. That would be 2 days, and there are probably lots of places in Bath I could visit that we don't cover on the tour. Some of the other places you mentioned are already on the tour. And there is no way I'm going to be driving on the wrong side of the road!
Posted by
Hermosa Beach, CA, USA
277 posts
We discovered that Highclere Castle (the site of the TV show, Downton Abbey) is very close to the highway that goes from Heathrow to Bath. If you're a fan of the show, it might be worth a side trip.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32683 posts
Larry said, We day-tripped about 12-15 miles away to Castle Coombe, one of the most beautiful villages in England. We had duck & cherry pie for a late lunch at the Wadworth pub. We also day-tripped to Lacock Abbey and Stourhead Gardens. I don't think there are buses to Stourhead but what a garden You said a mouthful there, Larry. Castle Combe is a wonderful place. Its worth while checking that the auto race circuit next door is on an off day or you may have traffic. On a quiet day it is paradise. Lacock, the whole village, is National Trust and where many series are filmed. It is a step back in time, compact and great. Stourhead - wow! What a good trip that must have been ...
Posted by
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
1446 posts
Nigel, how does one check to see if the auto race circuit next to Castle Combe is on an off day?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32683 posts
To see what's on at Castle Combe have a look at http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/events/ which has all the dope.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hello Barbara. I recommend : during your time at London, ride in a train to Windsor castle (palace).