Places to visit iin the UK

[Ron]

Hi

I thought I would start a thread for my USC friends as they are visiting the UK later in the years. They have asked where they should visit apart from the usual, eg Tower of London, Buckinham Palace, etc.,

Any ideas? not too far from London. They will be hiring a car and do not mind stopping overnight somewhere

[floridapete]

First stop York !

Get out of London and see the real England. No need to drive - take the fast train from Kings Cross and be 200 miles away from London in less than two hours. Plenty of places to stay including "B&B's" that are not the high cost that they are in the USA.

See our Roman City, walk the Medieaval City Walls, visit the gigantic Cathedral, explore charming small streets and shops, ride the Viking (Jorvic) Centre time-shift ride, sail on the beautiful river and see the surrounding countryside in North Yorkshire including the Yorkshire moors.

But, there again, I may be biased - I am fortunate enough to live here ! ;)

[JulieC]

If you are going to York, which was always one of our favourite places for a day out, you may as well do Chester as well, another Roman/medieval town and you can even visit the zoo. Or what about Blackpool, uniquely British, though what Americans would they make of the naughty hats and tee shirts and so on, I dont know, Harry Ramsdens fish and chips, up the Tower, and a quick bip on the Pepsi Big Max, what more do you need??

[mark]

Hi


Here are a couple of my favorite places

Stratford upon Avon

Bath

Chislehurst Caves

[OldinWV]

I am going home, for the first time in 4 years, next month. This is the first trip to the UK we have taken as husband and wife. It will seem strange going home after all this time. I had hoped that we would be able to all go, as a family, but my son is unable to leave the US at the moment - they may not let him back in, all because they don't know how to interpret their own law. Still, that's another story.

We are going to visit my parents in Dover, Kent. We will get to take a trip across to France while we are there. It's so cheap ($40 for a car and 4 people) and a lot of fun - I am sure my husband will enjoy it. Dover is only 2 hours from Heathrow and the crossing to France is only an hour on the ferry and 20 minutes through the Tunnel.

We are then going to London to do the usual sites - Bloody Tower, Buck House, London Dungeon. I really want to take hubby to Hampton Court, which is in Kingston-Upon-Thames (30 minutes from London, if that). It really is one of the best palaces in the UK, in my opinion.

We are hoping to get a trip in to Oxford, which is only about an hour and a half up the M40 from London, and well worth the trip. Banbury is worth a look too and only 20 minutes from Oxford.

Then we are off to Cornwall - this is where I hail from and I can't wait! It is a 3.5 hour drive from London, but it is a really scenic drive across Salisbury Plain, past Stonehenge. I just love the drive. Cornwall is beautiful and the week that we are going will be May Bank Holiday - one of the busiest holidays in the UK! They have what they call "Run to the Sun" every year during this holiday, it is where all the VW owners in the country drive down to Newquay and have a blast! There are parties galore, the supersoakers come out and water bombs and the entire town becomes one big wet t.shirt party! It will be good to get together with old friends and visit some old haunts.

Bath is also worth a visit, if you like Roman History. During the summertime the place is full of street performers - some of them are absolutely amazing - and it is very pleasant to sit and have lunch outside and enjoy them.

Brighton is another place I would recommend - just an hour and a half in the car. I love just walking along "the Front" and visiting the lovely restaurants they have down there. The Lanes are also a must, if you like trinket shopping.

I know I am going to get emotional about coming back to the US, but I guess I will have to deal with that when the time comes.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.

[JulieC]

Cornwall, we used to spend all our holidays there when the kids were really little. Used to love Polperro and St Ives. Cornish pasties, clotted cream teas, little lanes with cottages, I could get quite envious!!

[Kriz1]

I miss Cornwall so much...I still live in a kind of Cornwall with wooden homes not old brick ones....but its not the same...I still get to hear the gulls sometimes...mostly outside Sears...why they go there I never know....My mother grow up in Polperro in the war years...and we went back every year....

[katya]

My in-laws moved from London down to Bodmin 10 years ago, so I am there each time I go back to the UK. I really like Falmouth and Foey and a really lovely seaside place is Carlisle Bay ( not sure of spellings)

[DavidL]

It's a shame, because when I used to work in London, I never felt the desire to go on London Eye or visit any of the attractions but I do miss seeing these places. My favourite places were Plymouth (the Hoe) and south & north Devon. Oxford was good, but I don't miss the traffic!! I used to pass Stonehenge on the A303 (if memory serves me correct) every 6 weeks, but never got up close & personal, which I regret. Never visited places like York but used to enjoy Inverness & Aviemore.

David

[fllion]

after driving a London Taxi for 15 yrs before moving here ,the best place to visit for me is Anywhere outside of London ,roads was & still are a nightmare
tourist's walking in the roads ,waiting to get killed ,Head west to Cornwall
or North to Scotland .better still head to the nearest pie & mash Shop

its the only thing i really miss living here ,apart from Millwall on a sat LOL

[Kriz1]

I used to play and picnic on the stones at Stonehenge when I was very young...every Sunday....there was no car park you just parked in the lane....at most 2 cars would be there at the weekend....

[Parrothead]

Try Dorset and Hampshire. The New Forest is fabulous, and all the little villages therein. Bournemouth has a great beach, then take the ferry over to Studland Bay, fabulous! Carry on over to Swanage, then maybe even further to Portland Bill. Lyme Regis is where you will find dinosaur bits an peices!

[Kriz1]

I used to race my sled dogs in the New Forest on a Sunday in winter....and picnic there all through the summer....we would have afternoon tea in the countless little tea rooms....well worth a visit....

[Bobby]

Cornwall, we used to spend all our holidays there when the kids were really little. Used to love Polperro and St Ives. Cornish pasties, clotted cream teas, little lanes with cottages, I could get quite envious!!

We used to travel to Cornwall every year as kids for summer holidays, all the way from Glasgow. It was a bit of a trek back then. Two adults, 3 screaming kids!!

Loved the little fishing villages and the like. Looe, Polperro, Teignmouth etc. The moors always had a feeling of living in a different land for me as a boy. Cattle grids and rocky outcrops for picnics just off the road. Perfect!

Grandmother eventually settled in Saltash. Lovely climate in that part of the world.

If I had to live in the UK, I'd choose Cornwall without a doubt.

Bobby

[Karyn]

My vote goes to Cornwall as well. I loved it as a child then as an adult. Brighton is a good day trip if you like shopping in the "antique" lanes.

[Parrothead]

I will be going to Cornwall in a couple of weeks time. I will give you an update on how things are.You cant beat a good old 'oggy for lunch

[JulieC]

You are making me drool. They do sell them in one of the Brit pubs here but they dont taste like real Cornish. Cream teas as well with clotted cream, yum!

[Kriz1]

Less talk about clotted cream teas thank you....the English couple here who ran a tea shop have gone home....I have to drive to Plymouth to get cream now...that means going into the Irish pub for lunch and then looking at the rock....and maybe a walk round the Mayflower...next thing you know the days gone..:)