London in Sept

[kookaburra75]

Points taken.
Would prefer those quainter & character-filled places than Oxford - it just looked closer than London on a map. And was thinking of doing a Morse/Endeavour/Lewis tour which, for those who watch Brit cop dramas, are/were based in Oxford.

Was thinking of hiring a car as we did that last time we were in UK (well, all the times we've been there) and it's very convenient but this time we thought we'd go rail-heavy and just hire car when/if needed. But certainly to explore Cotswolds a car is a given and was thinking Oxford would have rental businesses in town for pickup/dropoff, not that I've done any research yet but would've thought Hertz/Avis/Europcar and other usual suspects would be in a larger centre than other regional towns...or maybe we do pickup/dropoff in London? Hmmm - something to think about.

That sounds like a good plan. The hire car companies do have depots at Oxford. They are in the outer industrial areas, but easy enough to get to. With Oxford, parking is an absolute pain in the centre of town. I normally drive to a Park-and-Ride station and bus into town. The walking tours are great, including the Inspector Morse tours. If you want to impress the guide, mention that you've been to the places in Australia where one episode of Morse was filmed - The Promised Landl Although, accommodation in Oxford is hideously expensive. You could stay at Abington or Kidlington, and bus it into Oxford.

For the Cotswolds, Stow-on-Wold is a good place to use as a base, it's a cute old wool market town, with lots of character and pubs.

The other thing I found, driving around the UK, is the place is so small. When you're planning your trip, load it into Google Maps and see what it suggests for the driving time. It can be surprising short.

 

[OATEK]

Points taken.
Would prefer those quainter & character-filled places than Oxford - it just looked closer than London on a map. And was thinking of doing a Morse/Endeavour/Lewis tour which, for those who watch Brit cop dramas, are/were based in Oxford.

Was thinking of hiring a car as we did that last time we were in UK (well, all the times we've been there) and it's very convenient but this time we thought we'd go rail-heavy and just hire car when/if needed. But certainly to explore Cotswolds a car is a given and was thinking Oxford would have rental businesses in town for pickup/dropoff, not that I've done any research yet but would've thought Hertz/Avis/Europcar and other usual suspects would be in a larger centre than other regional towns...or maybe we do pickup/dropoff in London? Hmmm - something to think about.

There is also the Father Brown location of Blockley, between Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Campden. A meal at the Baker's Arms in nearby Broad Campden is always worth it if you have a car to get out of Oxford.

 

[ellen10]

Wow lots of good suggestions. Taking notes for our return to the UK next year.

 

[VPS]

Have a look at Winchcombe for apartments at Sudeley castle. Not touristy but easy to get to Cotswolds. I wouldn’t stay in Oxford

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

Winchcombe for apartments at Sudeley castle. Not touristy but easy to get to Cotswolds. I wouldn’t stay in Oxford

Nice.
Thing is with Oxford - it's a relatively major town/city and therefore public transport would be more readily available.
Thanks to a suggestion earlier we've booked a few nights at Circencester and plan to lob back to Oxford for a train trip into Wales (Cardiff only) just for a day trip and also look around the Oxford city. Sans car.
If we stay in Oxford it'll likely only be for 2 or 3 nights just to do those 2 full days.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I like history, beautiful architecture, castles, music (I'm a part time professional musician so might lob into Ronnie Scotts one night), hidden things like tunnels, WW2 sites (want to see Churchill war rooms so thats on the list), natural beauty.

In July we did a behind the scenes tour of the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which might tick a few of your boxes as is very much a history tour, as well as a performing arts tours.

My wife and I both really enjoyed it.

Theatre Royal Drury Lane | Official Theatre Tours | LW Theatres

Nestled in the heart of Covent Garden, join us on an incredible guided tour of the West End's most iconic theatre and discover hidden tales that date back 400 years.

lwtheatres.co.uk

 

[jellybelly]

Plenty of good self guided walk books, we enjoyed Wapping, Hampstead Heath and cemetery.
Interesting free museum at All Hallows Church. London Mythraeum (book free tickets on line) and London Roman Ampitheatre.
Boat trip to Battersea was also enjoyable.
For an unforgettable dining experience try Core.

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

For an unforgettable dining experience try Core.

Just looked up Core as have never heard of it.
Looked at the menu options. Cheapest is £175. Ouch! That's like $300+AUD. Might give that one a miss. Nice suggestion anyway.
I'd probs stump up $100AUD p/p for a nice meal in a flash restaurant but hard to find $300 p/p.

 

[jcwhizz]

Check out the Wellcome Trust museum / collection (Euston road) for a quirky scientific museum experience!!

 

[VPS]

+1 for walking to the top of Hampstead Heath and the Wellcome trust

 

[OATEK]

+1 for walking to the top of Hampstead Heath and the Wellcome trust

And Kenwood House.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just looked up Core as have never heard of it.
Looked at the menu options. Cheapest is £175. Ouch! That's like $300+AUD. Might give that one a miss. Nice suggestion anyway.
I'd probs stump up $100AUD p/p for a nice meal in a flash restaurant but hard to find $300 p/p.

You won’t get a meal in a flash restaurant in the uk for $100. Maybe a pub if you are lucky.

 

[mrsterryn]

Ceremony of the keys ?
We have done it. Very interesting
Experience the Ceremony of the Keys

 

[kookaburra75]

You won’t get a meal in a flash restaurant in the uk for $100. Maybe a pub if you are lucky.

Yes unfortunately, what we would pay in dollars for a meal, including in a pub, that's what you will have to pay in pounds. They only "cheap" thing is their beer, at about $6 a pint. But, the craft ales are worth chasing down. Whatever you do, never drink Fosters

 

[mrsterryn]

There’s also the Royal Mail tunnel train that has been restored and opened to the public. You travel on part of a dedicated underground rail system set up for Royal Mail, in miniature rail cars. Advance bookings essential as numbers are limited and it seems sold out well in advance every time I’ve looked to go.

That looks so good !!!

 

[jcwhizz]

Yes unfortunately, what we would pay in dollars for a meal, including in a pub, that's what you will have to pay in pounds. They only "cheap" thing is their beer, at about $6 a pint. But, the craft ales are worth chasing down. Whatever you do, never drink Fosters

Well…. You can still get a great curry for under 100 - wander down Brick Lane in the east end and go to one of the classics (Sheba or Aladin are always fun) for an old school London curry!

 

[Flashback]

I can also recommend Sky Garden. Great views out over central London from up high and something a little bit different to do.

It's free, but you need to book a slot. They only release them a short window ahead of when you can visit, so check in 1-2 weeks before you're due to go and see if you can get something locked in.

I'd go to Tooting for a curry rather than Brick Lane, too.

Dawat is good, but for something a bit different go to Namak Mandi (Afghani cuisine) and try and get a booking for upstairs, where you sit around a mat. The king size naans there are superb and the chapli kebabs are to die for. Yum.

For a cheap cruise on the Thames, head out to Greenwich on the tube/rail and once done touristing in the area then get a Thames Clipper back into town.

 

[louie-m]

Yes unfortunately, what we would pay in dollars for a meal, including in a pub, that's what you will have to pay in pounds. They only "cheap" thing is their beer, at about $6 a pint.

Seriously? One of the things I love about the UK is how cheap eating out is compared with Australia. And I don't come from an inexpensive part of the country. I always warn UK visitors about how expensive Australia is and no-one has yet corrected me.

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

Seriously? One of the things I love about the UK is how cheap eating out is compared with Australia.

Interesting.
I've been to the UK twice already and my Sept trip will be my third time.
And without doubt one of the things that strikes me each time is how expensive eating out is - even just a take away sandwich, or a casual meal in a cafe, small local pub or where ever, what @kookaburra75 says here rings true.

Would love to know where you're eating!

 

[cove]

Yes Sky Garden and Heaver Castle were both memorable.