|
England is a perfect place to explore by car. From the sophisticated city of London, to the old-world charm of Oxford, York and Bath, from the wild south-west coast and northern lakes and dales, to the peaceful countryside of middle England.
We've chosen a route through the sleepy Cotswold villages, to the west of London, continuing to the south coast and including
cathedrals, Stonehenge and the New Forest. Most visitors to England arrive into the major London airports of Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted or Luton. As these are within one hour’s driving distance from the centre of London, the driving trip planner we suggest starts from the A4 west of London and begins in the historic university town of Oxford, about 1 ½ hours drive north-west of London.
Day 1-2
It’s easy to see why the world famous town of Oxford is such a mecca for tourists. Honey-coloured buildings, college spires and the dreamy Isis river meandering through add to the old English atmosphere of the place. There are plenty of places to stay, but as the town has recently been made very pedestrian friendly, driving through the town is difficult, so use the local transport or walk through the compact centre. Wander round the 36 unbelievably beautiful colleges scattered throughout the town and pick your favourite, from the oldest 13th century Balliol, Merton and University to the more modern and equally outstanding architectural feats.
As well as the fabulous colleges, Oxford has some of England’s best museums, including the Pitt Rivers University Museum on Parks Road, well worth the trip for the dinosaurs as well as the superb 19th century building. The Ashmolean museum houses an outstanding collection of art and antiquities (and there’s a great coffee shop downstairs!). Go punting down the river during the summer, and wander through the Botanic Gardens, see a concert at the Sheldonian Theatre or go for a bite to eat in the Covered Market. There’s so much to see in Oxford it’s well worth taking two full days to really soak up the atmosphere.
Day 3
Take
the main road to Woodstock (20 minutes
from Oxford) and visit Blenheim Palace, one of Europe’s largest
palaces, built in 1704 and owned by the Churchill family. The
interior is fascinating and the 800 hectares of parkland is
beautiful, with a tiny railway leading to the gardens and butterfly
house.
Oxford is on the edge of the picturesque Cotswold villages, most of which lie within nearby Gloucestershire. These are perfect to explore by car, wandering through the charming, unspoilt villages from soft local stone, set in rolling hills and groves.
Bibury is a stunning town, described by William Morris as `the most beautiful village in England’, so don’t be surprised if you meet thousands of other tourists here. Go early and try to see the old weavers’ cottages and mill at their best.
The Slaughters - despite their offputting name (deriving from the Saxon for `place of sloe trees’), the Upper and Lower villages have an old flourmill, pretty meadows and walks.
Chipping Camden - one of the prettiest of the Cotswold villages, filled with thatched cottages, golden stone and exquisite gardens. Visit the Jacobean lodges and ancient almshouses, and stop for cream tea at Badgers Hall in the High Street.
If the tourists are getting you down, try a detour to the southern Cotswolds, their more sombre-coloured stone attracts less visitors for some reason, visit Painswick, a perfect Cotswold village with ancient yew trees and 14th century buildings.
The Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, in Slimbridge, makes a great afternoon trip for bird enthusiasts, while Berkeley Castle in Berkeley is an attractive medieval castle, where King Edward II was supposedly killed (legend has it that he was impaled on a red-hot poker).
There are plenty of places to stay and eat in the Cotswold villages. During high season, it’s advisable to book ahead at the local tourist office, or to head for the major towns of Gloucestershire (pronounced `gloster’), or Cheltenham.
Day 4
Head for the fascinating city of Bath. On the way there, stop at the stunning English village of Castle Combe, with its 13th century market,
medieval church and weavers’ cottages. Don’t miss the delicious
cream teas at Gates Tea Shop by the market cross.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the city of Bath, a small Roman city built on seven hills, with outstanding Georgian architecture, named after the famous complex of Roman baths, recently re-opened and worth the tour. Take the tourist bus tour around the town for a bird’s-eye-view of the Royal Crescent from 1770, the splendid Bath Abbey from the 15th century, and the famous shop-lined bridge resembling the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Visit the Roman Baths Museum from the 1st-4th centuries, and if you can, spend the evening at a show in the splendid Theatre Royal on Barton Street. There are plenty of places to stay and eat in Bath, including the (allegedly) oldest tearooms in England, Sally Lunn’s, and atmospheric pubs.
It may not be particularly English, but the American Museum 3 miles outside of Bath offers a fascinating glimpse into American interiors from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Day 5
The tiny city of Wells is worth a visit
for its medieval character and cathedral complex. Built between 1180
and 1508, the cathedral is one of the most perfect surviving
examples of its time. Don’t miss the mechanical clock high in the
north transept dating from 1392, which shows the planets and moon,
and shows an entertaining joust between knights on the quarter hour.
The surrounding buildings of the cathedral have some fascinating
exhibitions of local life and history.
South into Dorset country, unspoilt despite its great natural beauty. Drive to Dorchester, and the nearby Higher Bockhampton 3 miles north-east of Dorchester, to the cottage of the famous English writer Thomas Hardy.
Eight miles north of Dorchester is Cerne Abbas, a delightful 16th century town with a restored abbey, as well as one of the most famous chalk figures in Britain, known as the Cerne Giant. Nobody knows his age, but you certainly won’t miss him at 55m tall.
South to the coast at Weymouth, 8 miles south of Dorchester, and the Deep Sea Adventure on Custom House Quay provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of diving and shipwrecks in the area.
Stay at the seaside resort of Weymouth, where there are plenty of places to sleep and eat, and some lively coastal entertainment.
Day 6
The largest area of natural vegetation in the UK outside Scotland, the New Forest remains as it was when
William the Conqueror named it in 1079. At 145 square miles, mostly
woodland, farmland and tiny villages, it’s worth driving and
stopping for a walk or cycle if the weather’s fine. Look out for the
wild ponies!
Travel north to the cathedral and market town of Salisbury, which is famous for its 600-year-old twice-weekly market in the town centre, and its breathtaking 13th century cathedral. After visiting the cathedral, go to the old oak-beamed Haunch of Venison pub for venison pie and malt whiskies.
Like Salisbury, nearby Winchester has an excellent cathedral, water meadows and river. Unlike Salisbury you won’t be surrounded by quite so many tourists. North west of Winchester is the small town of Chawton where Jane Austen lived until her death in 1817, her house is open to visitors and has lots of Austen memorabilia.
Day 7
For your final day there’s no more captivating place than Stonehenge. This mysterious ring of enormous stones is some 5000 years old, and attracts visitors and new age travelers from miles around. Nine miles from Salisbury along the A303 at the junction with the A344/A360, 2 miles west of Amesbury, it’s worth arriving at the site as
early as possible (bearing in mind the opening hours are from
9.30am-6pm April-October, and from 9.30am-4pm the rest of the year).
It is possible to arrange a private viewing outside opening hours if
you organise it well in advance with English Heritage.
|
del.icio.us
Digg it
Yahoo MyWeb
Stumble It!
