British Isle Suggestions?

Tangerini · Feb 28, 2008

I am coupling a trip to England with the big meet-up in Germany and I'm hoping some of the Britons on here can give me advice as to what I absolutely must not miss out on seeing.

I am interested in seeing as much as I can, but will be limited a bit on time since a lot of the time there will be occupied with family.

lostprophet · Feb 28, 2008

Didcot Power Station, its great! Just ask Tempra

tempra · Feb 28, 2008

I see the steam from it every day!

A lot depends on where your family are really as to what is around there, or how long you want to sit in a traffic jam going somewhere.

LP has a pic of Didcot Power Station BTW

Rachelsne · Feb 28, 2008

Where are you staying, I am from England, and did a short tour on our honeymoon around some southern parts

Tangerini · Feb 28, 2008

We'll be staying in Canterbury for the most part.

(Thank you all for your help!)

lostprophet · Feb 29, 2008

Leeds Castle
http://www.leeds-castle.com/goto.php?ref=y&sess=u0|p0|n0|c0|s0|g1|d0&

Rochester Castle
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.14818

Bodiam Castle
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-bodiamcastle.htm

lostprophet · Feb 29, 2008

or you could come to Reading and see our wonderful 12th century Abbey
http://www.berkshirehistory.com/churches/reading_abbey.html

only problem with that is that its just a pile of stones these days sat next to Reading Prison :lol:

http://www.ukattraction.com/southern-england/reading-abbey.htm

ThomThomsk · Feb 29, 2008

Canterbury itself, including the medieval cathedral and the old part of the city:

http://www.canterbury.co.uk/

The North Downs (rolling chalk hills), the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (which is kind of one step down from a National Park), to the west of Canterbury, including the North Downs Way, based on a route once taken by pilgrims to Canterbury:

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Northdowns/index.asp

Also Canterbury is just under 2 hours from central London by train.

Although the Downs are very pretty, the country's most dramatic landscapes are unfortunately not in the south east. If you had enough time you wouldn't regret a visit to the Lake District, for example, or Scotland, but they are a long way from Canterbury.

Hertz van Rental · Feb 29, 2008

You can do England in a nutshell:
Go to a proper pub, go to a proper chipshop, then go to London and have your pocket picked in Oxford Street :lol:

Travelling in England is tedious, expensive and often unpleasant so keeping it local is best.
The following three are 'must see's' near you. Sissinghurst is one of my favourite places - on a sunny day you can't take a bad picture there.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-sissinghurstcastlegarden/

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-bodiamcastle/

http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/

I would suggest one day in London, though. Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and St Paul's are worth seeing. The Tower of London is over-rated and full of tourists, and Tower Bridge is a disappointment.
The reconstruction of The Globe is worth a look.

And being near there a day out at Margate is a must!

Tangerini · Mar 4, 2008

Well we are planning to go to the pub where my husband's childhood friend frequents for their weekly pub roast...

All I'm doing is making myself hungry thinking of all the foods I want to have while I'm there. :drool:

A chip shop is definitely on the list.

I've been looking at all of the suggested link and all I can say is, I wish we were staying much longer!

Thank you again for your suggestions.

Hertz van Rental · Mar 4, 2008

Tangerini said:
I wish we were staying much longer!

I can't imagine why you would want to go back.

Tangerini · Mar 4, 2008

Hertz van Rental said:
I can't imagine why you would want to go back.

It's funny that you say that. Last night I told my husband that I'm just going to stay and he'll have to come back to collect the kids and sell house.