Tiverton (Southwestern England) and London

Posted by Jess (St. Paul, MN, USA) on 08/04/09 08:01 AM

I'm tagging along with my husband on a business trip coming up (just found out today!) and am looking for suggestions for things to do during the day while my husband is at work. We'll be in Tiverton, England from Aug. 24 - 29th, then a weekend free to do whatever, then Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 in London. I'm a flexible, experienced traveler in my early 30's who's never been to the UK.

1) Are there any fun day trips in Southwest England that I could do on my own with a rental car while the husband is working?

2) Any recommendations for our weekend trip? Would Wales be worth it or is there somewhere else we should see in that neck o' the woods?

3) Places/experiences in the Tiverton / Exeter vicinity that I shouldn't miss?

Thanks!

Posted by Laura

London, UK

08/04/09 08:42 AM

356 posts

You will be near the M5 so you have quite a lot of options. Exeter Cathedral is very nice and I like Exeter, although some of it isn't very pretty. There is a nice little place called Topsham which is just down the road from Exeter and is a pleasant place to walk around in and have a cake or two.

How far are you willing to travel and what do you like? I think there are plenty of National Trust/English Heritage-type places in that area. Dartmoor is worth a day out IMO, but is not that close.

Posted by Alan

Brighton, UK

08/04/09 09:29 AM

1388 posts

Jess

It's worth knowing that Tiverton is on the railway. The trip to Exeter, for example, is only 20 minutes or so.

There's a journey planner here

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/index.html

More locally you could try an horse drawn canal trip

http://www.2visit.co.uk/attraction/info/40/Devon/Grand-Western-Horseboat.html#reviews

There's also a working water mill (Bickleigh Mill) on the river, and near there is the Devon Railway Centre although this is probably more fun if you're with kids.

http://www.devonrailwaycentre.co.uk/narrow-gauge-railway.html

Lyme Regis is fairly close, but you'd need a car I think. Well worth a visit, especially if you have any interest in fossils.

http://www.lymeregis.com/

Have a good trip

Alan

Posted by Toni

Charlotte, NC, USA

08/05/09 04:22 PM

3428 posts

I suggest you check out the Britian travel website : http://www.visitbritain.us/ It is very helpful. You can search by region. Also allows you to look for upcoming festivals, events, etc. I agree that the trains are great, no need to rent a car!!!!! Cardiff Wales is a nice weekend trip. It is a really cool city- lots of unique shopping in modern malls and old-fashioned Victoria "arcardes" as well as a great market in a converted church.