In Europe and need something for a week

[anat0l]

I've got some spare time from 28 November - 2 December inclusive that I haven't made any plans for. I'll be starting in LON (LHR to be specific); my outbound flight from Europe is 3 December on VS200 (evening flight, but I'm going to arrive at LHR T3 early so that I can enjoy all of the VS CH).

I've been struggling for ideas to fill in the five days, and I'm appealing for ideas since I'd like to make arrangements soon. Our European trip takes us (or has already taken us) through Frankfurt, Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Roma, Barcelona, Paris, London and Edinburgh.

My original plan was to go to Iceland, but I got scared away after plans morphed and the costs were just too great (airfares are a killer, and the damn ISK has strengthened).

I was tossing up the possibility of flying to Dublin to spend a few days, but it would depend on what there is to do there. Last time I checked BD were doing fares to DUB from LHR of about GBP 69 all-in.

I've also had a call from Mum to visit an aunt who lives in Manchester. Had a quick browse in Wikitravel for Manchester and it seems plausible to visit - maybe not for five days....there are some other small towns around it (e.g. Blackpool) - of course, visiting those places is also a toss-up...

If I can finish within 75 mi of driving from LHR on 2 December, then transport isn't a problem since VS offers limo service which covers that distance.

I've got a decent number of QFF points and a handful of Amex MR points as well (about 80k and 45k respectively).

So....anyone got any interesting ideas / suggestions to fill in the time?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mal]

Have you thought of a few day trips from London? But of course that would involve having a base in London, which can be pretty expensive hotel wise. An option might be to not actually stay in London, but outside of London - for example, some Holiday Inn's in reasonable areas on the train lines apparently (not 100% sure) start at around 29 pounds/night.

[edit - not that I can find any now!, but I did walk past one in the last couple of weeks that had "rates from £29/night. For your dates, one of the Heathrow ones is £35ish/night (inc VAT), but Heathrow area would involve a lot of travel each day to get back into London. ]

Stonehenge/Amesbury/Salisbury is a good day trip (although IMHO, the stones aren't that impressive ! ) You can train into Salisbury, and get a bus pass+Stonehenge admission ticket, which will also allow you to go to Amesbury.

There are some fairly famous/old/scenic towns like Oxford, Cambridge, Worcester (Think Worcestershire sauce), Chichester, Colchester. I would also include Arundel, but unfortunately the main tourist attraction (a really well preserved castle is closed until April, and the rest of the town is pretty drab).

Then of course there is Windsor Castle.

I looked at Iceland recently, and Iceland Air have some excellent 3 night packages + flights single share starting at around £350.

[edit again: Example - 29/11/2009 - 02/12/2009, Loftleidir Icelandair Hotel excl.brkfst - £292, Hilton is £352 excl Brkfst, and another option is £332 Fosshótel Barón incl brkfst for the "Iceland City Break" flight/accom rate]

Dublin is a good choice, although prices are a bit exy there. An option to think about (if you don't mind roughing it a little!) is something like a Paddywagon tour around the south. - for example : Paddywagon Tours :: Irelands No. 1 Bus and Coach Backpacking Tours :: View Tour . I did this trip (I think it was the 3 day one) a few years ago, and the backpacker hostels were ok (but of course 6 to a room!). The tour was a bit rushed, but gave me a great insight into Southern Ireland. Not sure if it's your cup of tea though... very young orientated, kinda like Contiki but in a different way (and the tour leaders are around the early 20's age group, but I fitted in ok. ) At the price, it's not too bad and fills in 3 days!

I'm sure there are plenty of other options that people will come up with. Of course I'm still pretty slack over here and have lots of free time - so if you come up with a good idea, let me know - I could even end up in the same place

 

[anat0l]

I have to admit I don't mind schlepping around - I do have a considerable amount of baggage with me but I can manage (I've done it for a week - I can do it again!).

Although the Iceland packages look genuinely good valued, it's a bit too rich for my blood.

The day trips idea was something else I thought about some time ago, but as was said, having a LON base can cost heaps. The moving-around technique will probably work much better in terms of economics in this case. Now what to see.....

 

[NM]

If you like a bit of aviation history, I certainly recommend a daytrip to Duxford Air Museum near Cambridge. Its about 2 hours drive from London (depending on where in London you are). They have one of the original Concorde test aircraft on static walk-through display as well as a large array of military and commercial aircraft, workshops, restoration works etc. It part of the Imperial War Museum.

 

[2muchplastic]

It realy depends on whether you really want to stay in the UK (which given you only have a week would seem to be the obvious choice to a non-AFFer ), and what you want to see.

For me there are a few attractions worth seeing in London, the Imperial War Museum, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Westminster, the Tower of London..... you could fit that all into one day.
If you're heading north to Manchester then there are a few places worth seeing on the way, Mal has already mentioned Oxford, but there's also Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick (though I couldn't say what displays Warwick castle puts on in, or even if it is open, in November/December).

Manchester itself I don't have a lot of nice things to say about. And personally if I had the choice of visting Blackpool (think 300 year old Gold Coast) or say, taking my own appendix out, then pass me the knife .

If you're into scenery then less than an hour north of Manchester is the Lake District. Absolutely beautiful part of the world - like NZ South Island, and in Nov/Dec will be way out of season (so you won't be competing for road space with half a million bobble-hatted hikers, but the mountains should be snow capped. The old towns of Windermere, Ambleside and Bowness are worth a trip around. Some nice lakefront hotels too.

Enough for now.

 

[tuapekastar]

York is a beautiful old Roman/Viking city, easily accessible by train. It has the old wall, the very old parts of the city centre, the York Castle museum (a personal favourite), the railway museum (haven't seen it, been told it's great), the Minster.

The nearby Yorkshire moors and dales are well worth a look but would probably require a car.

 

[NM]

York is a beautiful old Roman/Viking city, easily accessible by train. It has the old wall, the very old parts of the city centre, the York Castle museum (a personal favourite), the railway museum (haven't seen it, been told it's great), the Minster.

yes, the railway museum is worth a few hours visit.

And the Yorvik centre, while a bit touristy, is interesting.

Also a walk down The Shambles is interesting.

I will second the vote for York Castle Museum. My first visit in 1974 still holds find memories and I have been back at least twice since then.

 

[Mal]

York is a beautiful old Roman/Viking city, easily accessible by train.

Unless you have a Britrail pass or similar, it's a pretty expensive train trip. Looking at a standard off-peak day return, it's £90, or if you know exactly which trains you will be on (and book in advance), it's from £35.60

Train fares are set to increase (again) in January, so I wonder what price it will be after that!

 

[samh004]

Don't go to Blackpool, dodgy place. Brighton is nice, but completely wrong direction for you. Being up norf, you could head towards the Lakes District, if you like vast national parks.

 

[Voyages]

How about some good ole punting in the Cam river or the river Cherwell, as long as it's not too cold?

 

[RB]

Not sure of your holiday preferences but I found Romania & Bulgaria to be a very different & entertaining holiday & cheap as chips & reasonably easy to get to.

 

[albatross710]

Not sure of your holiday preferences but I found Romania & Bulgaria to be a very different & entertaining holiday & cheap as chips & reasonably easy to get to.

For those couple for days you could soak up the English countryside with a drive through the Cotswolds, Bristol and down to Plymouth. Use b&bs and enjoy hearty english breakfasts etc.