Where to stop between Oxford and York travel by Rail

Kent,
Thanks for the suggestion. I had heard of this website but tried it before I understood much about trail schedules. I have started using it and it's very helpful.
Deb

May I make a compromise suggestion.

Why not try the Derbyshire Dales and Peak District ?

Stay at Matlock ( it has a rail station ).

You like the scenery of the Lake District, so you're going to really like the Peak District and you're on it's doorstep and only a cheap local bus ride away.

Your sons want a castle, so why not try Haddon Hall an Elizabethan building not far from Matlock and don't forget nearby Chatsworth House, the finest stately home in England ( it makes Blenheim look like a penny-pinched shack ).

Your husband is going to be disapointed because there is only one Hadrian's Wall, but to fully enjoy the wall you have to walk it, at least part way. Hill walking in Derbyshire is second to none for spectacular views.

If you do choose Matlock you must spend at least half a day on a side trip to go shopping in Buxton, you won't be sorry.

Al,
Thank you for your suggestions. We have decided to pass on the Lake District as we don't want to spend so much time on the train, and try to check out the Peak District as you suggested.

Hello Deb. I think Al's suggestion is excellent. You know that 4 days between Bath and Edinburgh, travelling in trains, is not enough time for going to all the places in England that you and your husband would like to see. In the 4 days, I recommend -> Day 1: Travel in trains to Matlock, sleep at Matlock. -> Day 2: Visit the Chatsworth mansion, sleep at Matlock. -> Day 3: travel in trains from Matlock to York in the morning, leave your baggage at the York train station, and walk through the "Castle Museum",and the York Minster cathedral. Retrieve your baggage, sleep in York (at the B & B 23 St. Mary's). Day 4: travel in a train from York to Edinburgh. If you feel energetic that day, it is possible to get off of the train at Durham, walk in the Durham cathedral, return to the Durham train station, and resume your travel to Edinburgh. If you do not go off the train at Durham, remember to look at the Durham Cathedral (an impressive sight from the train). All of that involves frequent travelling, but you said you want to see York. I understand, I was at York : York is a tourist's delight. I did not go to Matlock. Ask Al how to plan your travelling to and in the Peak district.

Getting to Matlock is easy.

Trains leave St. Pancras in London and you change once at Derby.

Once you're in Matlock getting around is also easy, just take the local buses from the town centre, they pass by all the really interesting places. They're cheap and you can even get a 'Rover' ticket that will allow you unlimited travel on a combination of buses.

From Matlock you take a train back to Derby and from Derby you can go direct to either York or Edinburgh.

Derby is one of the main hubs of rail transportation.

I don't think enough of you guys know about the Peak District and the Derbyshire Dales. They are some of the best and most unspoiled countryside in England. Apart from Matlock there are the towns of Ashbourne, Buxton and Bakewell to visit ( if you like Bath, you'll love Buxton ).

If you've never seen a church with a crooked spire you must go to Chesterfield. Many, many years ago the locals built a church spire out of unseasoned wood, when it rained ( as it often does in Derbyshire ) the wood got soaked and when it dried it twisted and warped.

Derbyshire is full of quaint oddities like the crooked spire of Chesterfield.

Durham cathedral is Norman architecture (Romanesque). It is more beautiful than Warwick castle. The railroad train ride between Durham and Edinburgh is quite scenic : at the borders area the land looks similar to what you would see if you visited Hadrian's wall. I traveled in a train the opposite direction : from Edinburgh to Durham and York : riding in the train I saw Holy island and the North Sea, and I saw the North Sea again in Scotland. In Scotland the land looks different from the land in England. I recommend visiting both Durham Cathedral and the York Minster cathedral. They are different : The York Minster cathedral is of Gothic style, it has huge colored glass windows. Read about both cathedrals in the book "Rick Steves' ENGLAND", or the book "Rick Steves' GREAT BRITAIN".

I recommend : purchase the Michelin Map (red color) of ENGLAND. It is better than Rick Steves' travel map of GREAT BRITAIN. (but the Michelin Map does not have the railroads on it).

This is fabulous. Thanks for all the great ideas. I think we are committed to Warwick castle as one of my sons is an archer and has built his own catapult. I read there will be a medieval festival going on at Warwick castle when we are there. They list both archery and a trebuchet as well as other things. I think it would be a highlight of his trip and so don't want to skip it.

Should we consider a night train to save time at some point?

But perhaps we will be run ragged at this point and want to slow down. I wish I had a month!

Hi Deb, I know the Derbyshire Peaks quite well, being born and brought up in Chesterfield. Al's description of the reason the crooked spire is crooked is not quite correct, the real rason is the weight of the lead that was placed on the unseasoned timber used to make the spire. The twist is quite spectacular and well worth seeing. As a long time resident of York I can vouch for the beauty of York. If you would like any info on either Derbyshire or York, please I'M me, I would be glad to help.

Deb : I think you would not want to travel in a night train at Britain. It is a small country : the amount of time that you would be in a train would not be enough time for a night's sleep.

Ron,
Thank you for pointing that out. I have been reading and viewing a lot of Rick Steve's advice and should have realized he was referring to night trains in Europe between countries.

In York, try to take the free tour of the wall surrounding the city. It was fun and interesting, even in the rain! Also, it passes a shop that makes chocolate candy. Mmmmm!

Deb : if your family will be at Edinburgh, your son can see Medieval weapons in the armory room at the Edinburgh castle (on top of the hill). See the Kings' crown and big ceremonial sword (made in the 1500s) first.

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. We leave tomorrow so not much time to be online.
Thanks again.

Hello all,
We are back. Thanks again for all the help. For any who are interested here is our itinerary.

4 days London
2 days Bath - stopped at Windsor castle enroute
2 days Matlock - stopped at Oxford enroute
2 days York
3 days Edinburgh

We never rented a car, although we spent more time in rail stations than I would have liked. Our BritRail passes from Rick Steves worked great.
We used the tube in London, mostly walked in Bath York and Edinburgh with an occational public bus and once per town we used a cab.

Happy Traveling

Kent,
Is Lessons Learned a separate message board, or should I just post another message?
Deb