Suggestions on a Route Through England?

[natalie8]

I'm returning to London this Thursday until May 2nd. My in laws and my husband's uncle will join us on the night of the 20th.

We're going to Manchester on the 23rd to watch a Man U game and we're staying overnight. So the 23rd and 24th are the only days that are carved in stone, besides the 29th in London for the wedding.

Originally my husband had planned a whole itinerary with us going to The Lake District after Manchester, but this would mean that our first night there would be Easter Sunday the 24th. I've checked for accommodations there at this time, and it's next to impossible, or extremely overpriced.

Now what I was thinking was, we do a type of circular route from London towards The Lake District with an overnight stop on the way, then down to Manchester. Leave Manchester on the 24th and work our way back down towards London with stops on the way.

Now, my husband is interested in Oxford and Cambridge and Windsor Castle so we could use these as our route.

So I'd love some suggestions for these dates:

20-Apr-11

21-Apr-11

22-Apr-11

23-Apr-11 Manchester Watch Man UTD vs Everton

24-Apr-11 Manchester city tour and

leave for __________________???

25-Apr-11

26-Apr-11

27-Apr-11 or 28-Apr-11 back to London

29-Apr-11

30-Apr-11


I appreciate any help on this as it's becoming a real challenge thanks to Easter weekend.

[superman]

To get to Manchester from London you'll need to by-pass Birmingham, so use the M6 Toll-Road. The rest is easy to do on Google Maps.

[natalie8]

Is Birmingham worth an overnight stay?

[natalie8]

I just saw that Cadbury World is in Birmingham.

[superman]

Anywhere is. It all boils down to what you want to see and do. Personally Birmingham is okay if you know your way around. A bit like London really.

[taxexile]

englands beauty is the countryside and its cathedrals and country houses.

derbyshire peak district, yorkshire dales, the coastline in devon and cornwall, lake district, chatsworth house, ely cathedral, york minster etc.etc.

you are always at the mercy of the weather and beauty spots can be horribly overcrowded. the country is becoming less and less car friendly, especially the cities. but its natural beauty is unmatched.

[Thormaturge]

Forget all about Manchester United.

Yeovil Town are playing Bournemouth on Saturday 23rd so you can take in the South coast towns such as Arundel and Chichester, plus the New forest, on your way to Somerset. With it being Bournemouth you may even be able to see Smeg being arrested. Stonehenge and Salisbury on the return journey.

[natalie8]

LOL, I was thinking about Bournemouth. Isn't is always sunny and warm there?

I forgot all about Stonehenge - doh! I think we should give The Lake District a pass for now, the prices are outrageous. The southern portion is looking good now. My back is getting sore from sitting here looking all this stuff up.

[superman]

The southern portion is looking good now

The Tank Museum at Bovington is worth a visit. A visit to the grave of Lawrance of Arabia, in nearby Moreton, is interesting. Salisbury Cathedral is good.

[Tickiteboo]

Salisbury Cathedral is a nice day out . Set in The Close in the town-centre it's always quiet and peaceful . Then just 8 miles up the road is Stonehenge . IMO it just a pile of rocks in the middle of a field but maybe that's because I grew up in sight of them.

Then as superman says the Tank Museum is worth a couple of hours , then on to Monkey World at Wool in Dorset before heading into Bournemouth to see Smeg being arrested .
Windsor Castle is just off the M3 on the way from London to keep hubby happy and all this could be done in a couple of days easily either before or after your trip oop north. Hope you have a memorable trip .

[natalie8]

Thanks for the latest replies. Actually, I have a friend in Bournemouth, so if we make it down that way, we could hook up with him. :-D

What I think would be best is to get to see a lot of historical sights as well as scenic areas. I like the suggestions so far. I think what I'll also do is go to a tourist info place in London once I'm there and ask for suggestions that would cover these areas.

Ticketeboo, your opinion of Stonehenge is like mine about Niagara Falls. I didn't grow up there but my mom is from a city ten minutes away from it and we always had to go there for family outings with my grandparents and family, so it got old really fast. :-p

[the dogcatcher]

Sod England.
I'd rather watch the sun setting over The Mekong.

[caller]

Well if you're heading to Oxford, Blenheim Palace, where Churchill was born is nearby and worth a detour.

Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire - Tourist Information UK

As is his nearby resting place in a local Church (and that of other family members).

Churchill's Burial Place | Bladon Church | Oxfordshire

[Thormaturge]

You could start your trip with a visit to Duxford where they have the Imperial War Museum aircraft collection, including Concorde. Not far from the M1/M25 intersection. I think there is also a Concorde at a museum in Bristol.

This all beats watching a bunch of foreigners kick balls about.

[roger77]

I got a route in England once.

[blue]

Stonehenge is nice , but you cannot go inside the circle , just walk around it , a distance away too.
Did anyone mention YORKSHIRE yet ?
not far from Manchester ,{ rains a lot there }
York has a Cathederal or Minster good as any ,lots of old churches and even a Viking museum.
Nice seaside towns nearby ,also
Yorkshire moors , Howorth - Bronte sisters home .

Best thing ,people smile and talk to strangers !

[funfun123]

they used to smile and talk to strangers, it has changed a lot, you dardent go out on an evening anymore and no-one gives a dam anymore.

but scenery well it is beautiful, as mention york, you lose 2 days in york alone and stii not see it all maybe try fix it in with a day at the races and its got good transport and walking distances etc.

[Humbert]

The Cotswalds - not far from Oxford.

[Thormaturge]

You can get a good curry in Bradford.

[natalie8]

Thanks for the latest suggestions.

[superman]

Best thing ,people smile and talk to strangers !

They do that in mental hospitals a lot.

[Marmite the Dog]

Manchester... Birmingham...

Good grief. You'll be wanting to view the delights of Newcastle next.

[SandMike]

Or the beach at Seaton Carew to collect sea coal .....

then across the tees on the transporter bridge to collect devil's toenails from Redcar beach ....

and a run down the coast to Whitby

[natalie8]

Marmite, only if you'll be there. ;-)

SandMike, that looks like, errrrrmmmm, an interesting place. :-D

Here's a pic that came up when I searched Google Images for Redcar Beach


Hmmm, for some reason I can't c&p a pic.

[superman]

Marmite, only if you'll be there. ;-)

Obviously you ain't seen the video Thetym posted ?