Staying in the UK

We have not done it, although hope to in years to come. Just some thoughts...England looks small (and is) but is very diverse - so are you planning a month in 2 places perhaps or 2 weeks in 4 different places or mixing it up a bit? Are you including London - where accommodation will be very expensive? Or you may want to stay somewhere for a week or so within easy commuting distance from London - this will also be expensive both in terms of accommodation costs and travel costs. Without knowing what your interests are - cities, countryside, history, walking etc it is hard to suggest particular areas. We love the Lakes District in Cumbria, Yorkshire, Shropshire, Cotswolds, and in terms of cities -London, Bath. Oxford and York are those we know well but there are many other wonderful areas - e.g. Devon and Cornwall. Outside the big cities, I would always have a car if possible and would always go with a small cottage or (in a city) an apartment, located as centrally as possible. In terms of time of the year - as you probably know it can be very unpredictable but I would always go in summer time where the days are longer and possibly avoid the school holidays. Pressed I would probably go for May and June or September and October. However you may get a better deal price wise by changing your dates. I would however avoid November - February just as the days are too short and the weather miserable, generally. If we were doing it, we would stay in a place a minimum of a week, possibly much longer, depending on the location, cost, opportunities for day trips etc. Hopefully others who have done similar will chime in with some hints. Happy planning!

Are you including Scotland and Wales? What about Northern Ireland and the Repbulic of Ireland (note- the Republic is not part of the UK)? We have been to London and Scotland in Nov/Dec and enjoyed it. Yes the days are short and you can get some colder and wetter weather,but nothing extreme (at least not normally). But I would agree that Sept/Oct would be an excellent time of year in general. We haven't driven in the UK. We enjoy using the trains and the occassional bus, but for many areas (the Cotswolds, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Moors, parts of the Highlands, etc.) you might find that a rental car would be desirable. You would not necessisarily need one for the whole trip, though. Remember that congestion in the larger cities is a major problem, pakring is scarce and usually expensive in most places, and gas (petrol) is VERY VERY VERY expensive. I'd suggesst you consider 3-6 'bases'. Maybe London for 1 week+, then pick other locations based on your interests. If you tell us a few more details, we'll gladly share our opinions of where to go, what to see, etc.
Otherwise, we're telling you what WE'd want to see and do, not what we think YOU would enjoy.

Hi, There: I am a n American married to a Brit and live in Shropshire. There are so so many nice places to visit in the UK. It depends on time of year, weather and your interests as to whether you have a central base or go from place to place. A house swap is a good idea, as housing can be costly in the UK. Avoiding school holidays is a good idea, esp. summer hols. Usually mid July/3rd week, til the end of August, is when the children are out. Earlier in the summer is good, or after early Sept/into October. There are lots of great cottages to rent for a few days for a week or more at a time. If you are nearer to London, things will be more expensive, generally. Transport can be interesting, and car rental is a good idea, but the National Express bus network is quite good, and not that pricey. Problem is: so many nice places to go, and things to do and see. We love Mid and North Wales and travel with our caravan. Oh, there are motor home rentals, too. The Caravan Club has a great network of sights. Membership is inexpensive and there are sights just about everywhere that can be prebooked.
So many nice places to go, and the Brits are a welcoming people and LOVE their American cousins!