My family (my husband, plus three teens) and I are looking to take a trip to the southern part of England (including London, Sussex, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Oxford, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire) this June (2017) for two weeks, and we were wondering what some of the locals' favorite sites are including stately homes, castles, museums, gardens, parks, beaches, pubs, hiking/walking trails, and anything else. We would love to visit some quaint and picturesque villages that aren't too crowded with tourists. We'd prefer to spend less time at the "touristy" places, and spend more time exploring the best bits southern England has to offer. Also, if there are any special events on during the month of June and into July, we'd love to know about them! And if you know that some places are worth skipping in this area (at least for our family's first trip to the UK), please don't hesitate to mention them. Thank you!
Hi, i'm Alessandro, I would like to help you. Four years ago i was in Cambridge, i was 14 years old but i loved it and i love it! This city is so beautiful, The universities are so beautiful and there is a Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely!! it's a wonderful church that you must visit if you will go!! Cambridge isn't big city , there are 124.000 residents. Also i was in Canterbury two years ago, i prefer Cambridge but you must visit Canterbury because of Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ at Canterbury, it's magic! The most important thing is that i was in London with the train, i took one hour to arrive in London both Cambridge both Canterbury. I hope that i helped you. I'M SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH BUT I'M LEARNING IT :D
As you mention eleven potential destinations in a two week timeframe, it may be worth taking time out to consider a rethink about those potential destinations.
Most of our road trips in the UK and Europe have had four to five destinations over two weeks, giving us time to wander around places rather than wizz past them in the car or have minimal time there. Also means we're not constantly packing and unpacking bags and loading up the car after a night in a hotel or b&b.
May be an idea to focus on one area each week and take it easy rather than rushing things.
Jet lag from the flight into the UK may be something else to consider along with stick shift rather than auto box cars. Auto box cars are available to hire, but stick shift is more common in the UK.
There's also the London congestion charge to think about, so it may be better to wander around London first and pick the car up when you want to leave the city and explore the rest of your planned destinations.
I'd suggest you spend the first couple of nights in London to allow you to get over jet lag. There are loads of things to see and do so you might want to do a mix of traditional tourist sites/sights like St Pauls, BUckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament and something for the teenagers - street markets, Natural History /Science museum , Theatre etc.
The counties you've given might look tiny on a map, but once you take into account small roads and congestion you will need to plan carefully if you don't want to spend most of your holiday in the car. You might want to look into train travel from London to the South West - that way you get to see a lot of scenery go by in a short space of time without having the driving stress. Check out theaa.com for best case driving times, but don't count on driving on motorways between 7-9 am or 4-7pm on weekdays, its just not worth it.
From London you could head down to Brighton by train to see the Pavilion Regency architecture and the Lanes , experience the pier and the pain of a South coast pebbly beach - perhaps having fish and chips somewhere. You could also visit some of the small pubs in the South Downs park , perhaps going to Cuckmere haven to see the Seven Sisters (white chalk cliffs). In the area Alfriston is a pretty village so you could have a wander there. I used to love Bodiam castle when I was younger - it looks like a castle should with turrets, moat etc.
Oxford is lovely but can get iverrun by tourist buses, maybe try to stay there the night before and get up and out early. Wander round the city yourself and explore shops and architecture away from the crowds. Afternoon tea at the Old Bank Hotel is lovely but a special treat.
On your way back towards Heathrow the stop off in Windsor , there's plenty to see at the castle and you can also take a look around Eton over the bridge.
Hopefully others can advise on the other places you mention, but its really difficult without a clearer idea of your plans, interests etc. Perhaps draft something up for people to comment on ?
Agree with 5 - spend a couple of days in London, head somewhere by train and then pick up a car. Brighton is an hour by fast train from London and for your wish list, as good a place as any to start. In addition to the places mentioned, head west to Chichester and nezrby Goodwood and Fishbohrne. Avoid Portsmouth unless you're into naval history, in which case it is a must ( check on google to see if you're interezted. Then you could head to Winchester (once England-s principal city, cathedral, college, Great Hall and round table etc ), Romsey for the Abbey and Broadlands ( if it is open), an d from there into the New Forest - check out small towns like Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Lymington, as well as forest walks and drives such as Rhinefield -it is all online for more details. An hour or so to Salisbury, and then up tbe Avon valley to Marlborough, Hungerford and then perhaps Windsor and Heathrow.
I guess others will come up with different suggestions!
GC123 is obviously hitting the West Country pretty hard so Sussex, Bucks and Berks stick out a bit from that list. Unless I had a particular reason to visit those three areas I would be looking to cut them out rather than the other counties.
Although I'm a Brit, I live overseas so all my trips back to the UK are done as a tourist with baggage. I'm a firm believer in not saving money on car hire at the expense of time and inconvenience. I would never hire a rental car for time spent in London, but as soon as you leave London, my personal experience says: abandon any plan to take a train or coach to somewhere then pick up a rental car (especially if there is more than one of you). The one way hire charges are equal to the airport surcharge so take London's excellent public transport back to the airport, and hire a rental car for the duration - to be dropped off when you leave. The airport surcharge is more than repaid when factored in to the travel costs of multiple people on a train.
We would love to visit some quaint and picturesque villages that aren't too crowded with tourists. We'd prefer to spend less time at the "touristy" places, and spend more time exploring the best bits southern England has to offer.
Any 'quaint & picturesque' village in the Cotswolds will be heaving with bus tours and visitors (deservedly so - they're lovely), so maybe consider Hampshire as a near relative. Selbourne and Chawton are both villages with excellent literary associations, and very nice pubs for lunch.
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