AboutEmoor Expertise I have been traveling almost annually in England or Scotland as a tourist for the last 25 years, so I know quite a bit about train travel, car rental, B&Bs, tourist discounts, standard tourist sites, good places to eat, pubs, prices, and things to do off
Question In the June 14-26 period, we will be doing Athens, Greek Islands-Turkey Coast cruise, Istanbul. Flying back to Ohio, we are planning on stopping off for five or six days in and around London and/or England.
In the past, we have done London & Scotland; London and Cotswolds; Bath, Oxford and Windsor; Northern Wales and Chester. Loved it all! Plus travel last year in France, 2003 in Germany and Switzerland, plus past, great trips to Ireland, Spain, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, etc. We like both cities and the countryside, history, good food, scenic joys, etc.
BUT, for late June and early July 2006, we are trying to determine among two main options:
A. Arrive Heathrow from Istanbul, do some London, then go up to Lake Country, then FLY OUT OF MANCHESTER?
B. Arrive Heathrow from Istanbul, do some London, then south or west country/village options, then FLY OUT OF HEATHROW? Or do more in the wonderful Cotswolds. plus Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle, etc., that we have not previously visited.
Clearly, our immediate priority is to FINALIZE AIR ARRANGEMENTS so determining our departure point in early July (July 1, 2 or 3) is why we need to consider among these two key options.
Among our questions:
1. What are the pro/con trade off's during this time on London and Lake Country versus London and the great West/South country options. Both great! What's best and why? Are we not allowing enough time if we try to go to the Lake Country?
2. What other great, must-see options are we overlooking or not considering under either of these two options?
3. If we would go up Lake Country, how is the best way to get there from London via AUTO/driving (including any wonderful options to see enroute) . . . versus TRAIN . . . versus AIR?
4. How is the weather that time of year (we are from Ohio and know that it always changes)?
5. What else should we consider (other than more time in Great Britain)?
I'm an All-Experts Volunteer for France and appreciate your hard work and expertise. THANKS!
Terry Casey in Columbus, Ohio
Answer With all these possibilities in England, you can't really make a bad choice. Lake Country is for you if you want a relaxed, scenic location. Cotswolds are best if you enjoy country walks or exploring villages and shopping for antiques. Take the train up from London to the Lake country and rent a car there. Same with Cotswolds: train to Oxford, and rent a car.
You can't beat London itself if you have an interest in history -- check out the new Churchill Museum which is an addition to the war rooms underground at Whitehall, or catch a play at Shakespeare's Globe (in my opinion the best of all the London tourist sights including its wonderful restaurant with its great view of the River Thames), or visit one of the many small museums like the Geffrye Museum or The Wallace Collection. And nothing can beat London for fine food including all the ethnic places including Soho and Chinatown, but also the fine contemporary menu restaurants.
Your weather should be warm and pleasant. Sure you will get some showers (what the English call "the odd shower") but nothing that will interfere with whatever you do.
