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Any good guidebook will tell you the rest. As to what's unmissable, that's a matter of taste. Lincoln is a particular favourite of mine, but partly because aside from everything else it has the unique http://www.imperialteas.co.uk/ which is located in a real Norman shop, (though it is what the shop sell, I'm afraid, which makes the place such a magnet for me.) Vernacular buildings of that age are quite uncommon, it's mostly churches and castles. A couple of other places you'll find them are Oxford (eg in Merton College, which incorporates some vernacular buildings that predate the founding of the college along the N edge of Front Quad - though the public don't get inside those) and Tewkesbury - where they have been converted to a museum.
Thus, first of all get direct train from London Victoria to Lewes. Then the short 15 min hop to Brighton and have lunch. Then train from there west to Chichester. Plus there are the city walls to stroll around - I think they date from Roman times. Finally, as suggested above, finish off in Arundel. If you do have the time then take a walk north along the river whence you will come across this place, the Black Rabbit by the river at Offham.
So, for just £14 you get historic and charming Lewes, Brighton - enough said, very nice and pleasant Chichester and lastly lovely Arundel. Then direct train back to London at your leisure.
And if you are in the area Shrewsbury has a reasonable amount of the same thing, though it's far less charming! You could go for Bridgnorth also in shrops, though that's not easy to get to without a car if i remember rightly, it's charming, particularly in setting, though more industrial revolution than medieval.
From Shrewsbury you're also near enough to Wales for Welshpool (which is very pleasant) for Powis castle.
Also in the mids you have (as everyone has pointed out) Warwick and Straford-upon-avon, they'll be heaving with tourists, but for good reason. Just remember that most things in Warwick are shut on Sundays, and there's little visited castle ruins at Kenilworth, nearby.
Stamford in Lincolnshire is very pretty and worth a trip, but not medieval.
Special mention to Nottingham for Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (pub) which is positively medieval, 13th Century. Also does good food and beer.
Down south, to add to Lewes and Rye, the village of Battle has a pretty high street and the remains of Battle Abbey which is an english heritage site. There is a walk from Battle to Crowhurst (following the Bexhill branch of the 1066 walk) that is very pleasant in summer. From Crowhurst there's a train to Hastings, the old town is pretty and bohemian if you need to kill time too, and from there you could head to Rye. I haven't seen anyone mention Canterbury, its the southern Stratford, has walls (though these border a main road) and the cathedral is spectacular.
Tewkesbury again, and Gloucester Cathedral are both worth your time. Though i've not been to the latter since it was used in the Harry Potter films, it may be crawling with tourists these days. it's still worth it!
Yarm high street is pretty (and has some very good restaurants and bars along it). It's near enough to Durham. Lindisfarne (Holy Island) is another one in that area of the country. Its got remote remains.
My left field suggestion is Little Walsingham, in Norfolk. Not medieval (probably victorian) but quaint by the very definition. Just don't go expecting a lively time, its a religious pilgrimage site (i think).
Just get beyond the M25 and stay out of the major population centres.
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4
But I am also looking for pretty small towns, like Painswick
Far too many to mention. They are everywhere, so long as you stay away from the cities of the industrial revolution, or places that have been over-surburbanised, (though you can be surprised by little islands within). I suppose they are thicker on the ground in some areas than others. Choose a county, preferably one that was reasonably well-off 500 years ago, and hasn't been overly mined for coal and iron, and buy your Pevsner guide to it. Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Shropshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Wiltshire, Somerset, Lincolnshire, etc, all good hunting grounds. And of course some of the most significant mediaeval buildings are castles, and nip across into Wales for the best of those - a special mention for Conwy for having both a castle and town walls.Any good guidebook will tell you the rest. As to what's unmissable, that's a matter of taste. Lincoln is a particular favourite of mine, but partly because aside from everything else it has the unique http://www.imperialteas.co.uk/ which is located in a real Norman shop, (though it is what the shop sell, I'm afraid, which makes the place such a magnet for me.) Vernacular buildings of that age are quite uncommon, it's mostly churches and castles. A couple of other places you'll find them are Oxford (eg in Merton College, which incorporates some vernacular buildings that predate the founding of the college along the N edge of Front Quad - though the public don't get inside those) and Tewkesbury - where they have been converted to a museum.
8
Here's an excellent option/tip which lets you combine different locales - and which would be of interest - on a day trip on the one train ticket, its called a Southern DaySave ticket.Thus, first of all get direct train from London Victoria to Lewes. Then the short 15 min hop to Brighton and have lunch. Then train from there west to Chichester. Plus there are the city walls to stroll around - I think they date from Roman times. Finally, as suggested above, finish off in Arundel. If you do have the time then take a walk north along the river whence you will come across this place, the Black Rabbit by the river at Offham.
So, for just £14 you get historic and charming Lewes, Brighton - enough said, very nice and pleasant Chichester and lastly lovely Arundel. Then direct train back to London at your leisure.
12
As I've recommended elsewhere, Lavenham is rather gorgeous...14
Ludlow in shropshire is definitely worth a day of your time. Black and white beams everywhere. I can't recommend it enough.And if you are in the area Shrewsbury has a reasonable amount of the same thing, though it's far less charming! You could go for Bridgnorth also in shrops, though that's not easy to get to without a car if i remember rightly, it's charming, particularly in setting, though more industrial revolution than medieval.
From Shrewsbury you're also near enough to Wales for Welshpool (which is very pleasant) for Powis castle.
Also in the mids you have (as everyone has pointed out) Warwick and Straford-upon-avon, they'll be heaving with tourists, but for good reason. Just remember that most things in Warwick are shut on Sundays, and there's little visited castle ruins at Kenilworth, nearby.
Stamford in Lincolnshire is very pretty and worth a trip, but not medieval.
Special mention to Nottingham for Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (pub) which is positively medieval, 13th Century. Also does good food and beer.
Down south, to add to Lewes and Rye, the village of Battle has a pretty high street and the remains of Battle Abbey which is an english heritage site. There is a walk from Battle to Crowhurst (following the Bexhill branch of the 1066 walk) that is very pleasant in summer. From Crowhurst there's a train to Hastings, the old town is pretty and bohemian if you need to kill time too, and from there you could head to Rye. I haven't seen anyone mention Canterbury, its the southern Stratford, has walls (though these border a main road) and the cathedral is spectacular.
Tewkesbury again, and Gloucester Cathedral are both worth your time. Though i've not been to the latter since it was used in the Harry Potter films, it may be crawling with tourists these days. it's still worth it!
Yarm high street is pretty (and has some very good restaurants and bars along it). It's near enough to Durham. Lindisfarne (Holy Island) is another one in that area of the country. Its got remote remains.
My left field suggestion is Little Walsingham, in Norfolk. Not medieval (probably victorian) but quaint by the very definition. Just don't go expecting a lively time, its a religious pilgrimage site (i think).
Just get beyond the M25 and stay out of the major population centres.
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