Our time in the U.K. was going to be somewhat limited, just more than two weeks, so I had to scale back my wildly ambitious wish-list of an itinerary. The precise dates were decided by playing around online with airfares to find the least expensive trip within the period available to us. Thus we flew from O’Hare on New Year’s Eve, and arrived at Heathrow on January 1, 2003.
Our streamlined plans had us flying into Heathrow on New Year’s Day, picking up a rental car and driving about 105 miles to Bristol where we were to spend two nights in a hotel, before moving on to Cardiff for another night in a hotel.
On the first Saturday, we would move into the cottage on a Vineyard close to Worcester, which we would use as a home base for reaching attractions in all directions for a week.
The following Saturday would see us checking in to a self-catering Bed & Breakfast where we would stay during our London explorations, before flying back from Heathrow on Friday 17, 2003.
Our streamlined plans had us flying into Heathrow on New Year’s Day, picking up a rental car and driving about 105 miles to Bristol where we were to spend two nights in a hotel, before moving on to Cardiff for another night in a hotel.
On the first Saturday, we would move into the cottage on a Vineyard close to Worcester, which we would use as a home base for reaching attractions in all directions for a week.
The following Saturday would see us checking in to a self-catering Bed & Breakfast where we would stay during our London explorations, before flying back from Heathrow on Friday 17, 2003.
| Date | Itinerary | Accommodation | |
| Tue | 31 | Depart O’Hare | |
| Wed | 1 | Arrive at Heathrow | Bristol |
| Drive to Bristol | |||
| Thu | 2 | Stonehenge | |
| Salisbury Cathedral | |||
| (Westbury White Horse) | |||
| Fri | 3 | Wells Cathedral | Cardiff |
| Bath | |||
| Sat | 4 | Cardiff Castle |
Astley Vineyard Stourport-on-Severn near Worcester |
| Tintern Abbey | |||
| Sun | 5 | Cheltenham | |
| Cotswolds | |||
| Mon | 6 | Chester | |
| Tue | 7 | Hay-on-Wye | |
| Wed | 8 | Warwick | |
| Thu | 9 | Nottingham | |
| Fri | 10 | Avebury | |
| Oxford | |||
| Sat | 11 | Drive to London |
B & B Highams Park London |
| Hampton Court Palace | |||
| China Town | |||
| Sun | 12 | Original London Bus Tour | |
| Hungerford Bridge | |||
| Mon | 13 | River Cruise | |
| Victoria & Albert Museum | |||
| Tue | 14 | British Museum | |
| Wed | 15 | St. Paul’s Cathedral | |
| Westminster Cathedral | |||
| Thu | 16 | Swaminarayan Temple | |
| Fri | 17 | Depart Heathrow | |
Comments (5)
Not necessarily the best time of year to see the Wye valley! I hope you enjoyed Tintern, it is one of my favourite places - happy days spent in the Cherry Tree, drinking rough cider and talking nonsense. Given your preference for cathedrals, I hope you made it to Llandaff whilst you were in Cardiff (as the Castle there is not especially inspiring). A shame also that you didn't make it to Pembrokeshire, which is also a lovely part of my native land (even if they are a little English there :) )
Posted by Huwge | January 3, 2005 3:02 AM
Posted on January 3, 2005 03:02
I look forward to your descriptions of some of these sites! As for the weather, I can understand your choice. England is unusually green in the winter, as compared to midwestern-US standards. In fact, my first visit to the UK was during one very cold December, and was shocked at how green the grass was. I noticed it from the plane; I was sitting next to a British engineer, and as soon as the plane descended through the clouds, I asked, "Is your country always so green in the winter?" to which this gentleman responded, "Of course. It's the land chosen by God."
Posted by Chrysalis | January 3, 2005 10:34 AM
Posted on January 3, 2005 10:34
Chrys - *grin* Yes it is beautiful, even when it is overcast. Fortunately many snowbound winters in the midwest (including Fargo) has made me relatively courageous in attacking winters abroad :-)
Huw - I would have loved to spend more time in Wales. (I would have loved to spend more time, and a lot more money, period) The furthest West I have been in Wales is Swansea - in fact on my previous trip we stayed only in Swansea and Cardiff. This time I managed Tintern and Hay-on-Wye too.
As for the rest of the questions - they will all be answered in the travelogue, such as it is.
Posted by Sivani | January 5, 2005 8:46 AM
Posted on January 5, 2005 08:46
hmmm.
may imake a suggestion?
score out everything after cardiff and pencil in s-c-o-t-l-a-n-d instead.
Posted by briggy | January 6, 2005 2:18 AM
Posted on January 6, 2005 02:18
In January???
Actually, Scotland is dear to my heart - remind me to tell you why some day. I decided that it would be best left for a trip that would have ample time and a more congenial season.
Of course, you'd be expected to play tour guide - even if only to the best pubs in the area :-)
Posted by Sivani | January 6, 2005 7:42 AM
Posted on January 6, 2005 07:42