England 2012 Guidebook
Favorite discoveries or tips:
Avebury england
Louise Tracey-Hosa in Las Cruces , NM USA 11/13/2011
Tour guide Martin, an informed and friendly guide of www.sortyork.com took us all over the Yorkshire Moors from Thirsk, James Herriot country to Whitby on the coast. Together we planned the itinerary for one of our best days out.
Sherry Holt in Harpswell, ME USA 11/04/2011
try a Pimm's and lemonade when it is hot out, during the recent heatwave a very friendly pub waiter suggested this, yummy!
Wendy in Chatham, Ma USA 10/15/2011
We had an especially lovely experience in the Lake District.
Jacqui Lichtenstein in Eugene, OR USA 10/01/2011
When you comment on a Best/Worst feedback section, please say where the hotel or restaurant is located. Most of us look for feedback about these places in specific areas such as the Cotswolds, London, etc., not the whole country.
Roy in Auburn, AL USA 09/05/2011
First, we used the England 2010, since we started planning last year--soon after we happened to meet you in Vienna one evening at Restaurant Ofenloch. Our big discovery was a newly opened B&B in Broadway in the Cotswolds: Abbots Grange (www.abbotsgrange.com). (We didn't use one of your recommendations here because we were working to get a buy-in from our 15-year-old. We let her surf the net, and she found it within 5 minutes.) It was filled with history, had nice accommodations, an outstanding breakfast, and a bountiful tea served in the great hall. The extensive grounds were SO beautiful that our two teenage daughters were up, dressed and outside taking pictures before breakfast on both mornings.
Yousuf & Theresa Omar in Coppell, TX USA 08/04/2011
Jane Martin and Tours of the Realm www.toursoftherealm.com or enquiries@toursoftherealm.com Jane took us on a personalized tour of Dover, Canterbury, and the Kent countryside that was tailored to our exact preferences (castles, cobblestoned cities, cathedrals, and gardens). It was great! She took us to places we would never have found by ourselves and she shared her great wealth of information about each place. Jane picked us up at Heathrow and made our entire stay in Dover and Kent a delight. We felt we got to see the "real Britain" and would definitely work with Jane again. We usually travel by ourselves with Rick as our guide, but working with Jane was wonderful! Highly recommended!
A. Klowden in Moscow, ID USA 07/03/2011
If you would like a customized tour of the lovely Kent countryside (or of any other region in Britain), then Jane Martin and Tours of the Realm will not disappoint. Jane plans customized itineraries based on your interests and preferences and is happy to provide spot-on suggestions that will make your travel meaningful and personal.
On a tour of Kent and West Sussex before our recent Baltic cruise, Jane planned a wonderful itinerary for us that included charming castles, classic cathedrals, cute cobblestoned villages, and delicious pub cuisine. She was professional and personable, and our time together was enhanced by the wealth of interesting historical information and fascinating tidbits that she shared.
Jane met us at Heathrow Airport after our flight from the U.S. and drove us to Dover, stopping enroute to explore Canterbury Cathedral and have a "we're-in-England" Cream Tea. We made our own B&B arrangements, but Jane can handle that as well if you wish. We also had plenty of time to explore Dover Castle in the afternoon. The next morning, Jane picked us up to begin a delightful day of touring Kent. Highlights included driving down Lewd Lane to the little village of Smarden, the glorious colors of Sissinghurst Gardens, romantic and impressive Bodiam Castle, a wonderful lunch at The Queen's Head pub complete with sticky toffee pudding, and the picturesque medieval towns of Rye and Winchelsea. Jane planned every stop with our interests and preferences in mind.
Jane was at all times a knowledgeable tour guide whose main concern was that we enjoy ourselves and gain an appreciation of the Kent area that she loves and knows so well. Her goal is to give people a “taste of the real Britain” and facilitate travel to parts of the country they wouldn’t see with a regular bus tour. She wants her clients to feel reassured and looked after and to take them off the beaten track to places they aren’t aware of or couldn’t find by themselves. Jane also speaks fluent French and can arrange Battlefield tours to Normandy and to other parts of Britain. We enthusiastically recommend booking a tour and transfer with Jane Martin and Tours of the Realm. It is worth every pound, pence, and penny!
Contact information for Jane Martin and Tours of the Realm: www.toursoftherealm.com enquiries@toursoftherealm.com
Anne Klowden in Moscow, ID USA 07/03/2011
Add Accommodation: Twelfth Night Guest House, Stratford-upon-Avon. If you are going to stay in Stratford, then Twelfth Night is a MUST. To begin with, the location is within easy walking of ALL the sights and offers free parking out back. The Victorian era house is accented by a wonderfully luscious frontal garden, with tastefully furnished and decorated rooms. Annie is the ultimate host, constantly ready to serve her customers, with a gracious smile and vivacious nature. Our stay was truly a treasure of Olde England!
Keith Ciarlariello in Fort Worth, Tx USA 02/11/2011
My daughter and I spent two weeks in England this past summer and used your book to make most of our arrangements. We were very sad, though, that there wasn't any information on the Peak District. We got very lucky and picked a wonderful hotel in Baslow, from which we created our own amazing experience. The hotel directed us to a private driver for our few days there and we highly recommend him as well. Please include more info on the Peak District for future travelers. We count that segment of our trip as our most memorable!
Peak Premier Travel Keith Humphries http://www.peakpremiertravel.co.uk/index.html Mr. Humphries was very attentive and made valuable contributions to our itinerary. From what he told him of our hopes, he was able to provide us with even more options. We just can't say enough about how "key" his services were to the enjoyment of our stay in the Peak District.
The Cavendish Hotel Baslow, Derbyshire, England http://www.cavendish-hotel.net/
This hotel was more than we could have hoped for! Clean, comfortable, quiet, and, best of all, you can walk through the fields to Chatsworth House - the home used for "Pemberley" in the Kiera Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice." Chatsworth House kept us busy for an entire day.
Janice in West Richland, WA USA 01/11/2011
East Anglia. PETERBOROUGH.The Great Northern Hotel in Peterborough across from the Rail Station
Kilian Knittel in Michigan City, IN USA 12/09/2010
Lime Lounge, Bath: 11 Margaret's Buildings, 01225 421251, limeloungebath.co.uk Mid-priced trendy-friendly bistro, good variety of tasty dishes, cute drinks, friendly, helpful young staff.
Ray and Kim Conrow in Crowley, TX USA 10/23/2010
Rory Goodall of elementaltours@blue-earth.co.uk. We did a day long land tour with Rory and it met all our requirements for length, knowledge base, and hands-on for understanding and enjoying Cornwell.
Dennis Zuburg in Scottsdale, AZ USA 10/10/2010
A great day trip from London for history buffs is the Portsmouth Harbor with the HMS Victory and several other attractions. About 90 minutes by train from the Waterloo station - www.historicdockyard.co.uk/
karen in kutno, ct USA 09/19/2010
I used Rick's guide to England to plan a wonderful three week trip to England. The guidebook gave me the confidence to plan the trip on my own without a travel agent. We stayed in recommended B&B's throughout and all were as Rick described and sometimes even better. Also tried many of the restaurants he recommended and didn't have a bad meal the entire trip. Best tips included purchasing the British Heritage Pass in advance; booking train tickets in advance; combining rail and train travel to reach our destinations, and to build in rest and laundry days (something my husband especially appreciated).
Susan Manning in Davidson, NC USA 07/29/2010
Spice City Indian restaurant in Liverpool. YUM.
Karen D'Amato in San Carlos, CA USA 07/25/2010
Cornerways Guest House, in Oxford: http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/accom/cornerways/ Clean as a whistle; hostess Carol Jeakings was very nice and always happy to accommodate people. Even though breakfast is from 7-9 or thereabouts, she gave me breakfast on my first morning when, jet-lagged, I didn't wake up until 10 or 11 am. My single en suite room was £55/nite. Just 1 mile down the road from the center of Oxford - a pleasant walk. I would definitely stay there again.
In London, I stayed at the base2stay hotel: http://www.base2stay.com/ I had a single room for £99. It had a kitchenette and free wifi. The only thing I didn't like was the TV-internet, which was one of the reasons I chose that hotel. I didn't want to have to bring my laptop with me. But the TV-internet is clunky and slow as molasses in January. Moreover, if you use Apple mail, you will not be able to connect to the Apple website from their setup. For me, it was completely unusable and useless. However, I did have my iPod with me, so was able to use their free wifi to connect. Other than that, I liked the hotel quite a bit. I was very clean, people were friendly, and it is conveniently located, 2 blocks from the Earl's Court Tube station (and a few blocks from a Wagamama). There were several grocery stores right near the Tube station, many restaurants, and a laundromat.
Finally, I LOVED Oxford. I was there for a conference and absolutely loved it. I didn't get to Cambridge, so couldn't compare them, but I would definitely recommend Oxford to anyone, and would love to go back.
Paula Telesco in Chelmsford, MA USA 07/23/2010
Ludlow in Shropshire, with its ruined castle perched above the river, is a great old town, a still-living piece of the half-timbered English past. Many visitors were there on a gorgeous Spring weekend; I heard several English travelers remark on how much they enjoy this old-fashioned place.
Rented car in Oxford, where Avis is a very short walk from the rail station, and headed for the countryside. Had a great time driving the Chilterns and Cotswolds. Will surely do again, next time probably Lake District or Devon & Cornwall.
Didn't climb the cathedrals' lofty heights, but enjoyed three other magnificent tower views: Church of St Mary in Oxford, St. Laurence in Ludlow, and Warwick Castle. All wonderful spots to look across ramparts, roofs and spires at England's green and pleasant land.
Kevin in Princeton, NJ USA 06/17/2010
The Tube closes whole lines for weekend repairs, especially in advance of the 2012 Olympics.
Christopher Binkert in Atlanta, GA USA 06/13/2010
My husband and I frequently visit London. We spent 6 weeks this time (March 24 -May 4, 2010) and decided to visit Kensington Palace, which was a new site for us. We would recommend that you wait to visit the palace because much of it is under refurbishing with parts opening in 2012 and a goal of having the remainder of the public parts of the palace opened by 2018. We learned all of this information AFTER paying 11 pounds each (no senior discounts)and being ushered into "The Enchanted Palace" that had about 12 rooms available (many of which had been cleared out and a few pieces of furniture or art pieces displayed) with little games to solve various puzzles and find information about some of the residents of the palace. I have to compliment the people who created this scheme to keep the palace opened and collect some revenue which helps keep the refurbishing project going. We were, however, disappointed because we had expected to see some of the "real" palace. There was no hint prior to paying admission that only limited viewing was available. Please check carefully to see what is available for viewing at Kensington Palace, alias "The Enchanted Palace." We also decided that the closest Tube stop for Kensington Palace was Queensway on the Central Line.
Marcia Lloyd in Pocatello, ID USA 06/12/2010
Tried the Fab Four Taxi Tour in Liverpool and it was excellent. The driver/guide was really knowledgeable and we went everywhere connected to the Beatles! It worked out cheaper than the bus tours and I think we stopped at many more places and had personal attention for just our family (3 adults, 1 child that day). We did not pre-book, just called via cell-phone from Albert Dock and he arrived within 30 min. We were given the choice of being dropped off where we wanted (chose the Cavern Club). This was definitely a professional tour, not just a taxi hired out.
Also, we just visited the James Bond Musuem (and it's sister musuem Cars of the Stars) in Keswick. Really unbelievable to see all the cars associated with TV/movies and James Bond films.
Christine Knight in APO, AE USA- living in UK right now though 06/08/2010
The Oxford Tube - a bus service from Oxford to London. Service is frequent, reportedly nonstop during am/pm "rush" hours, affordable and the coach is clean and equiped with toilet.
Adair Pickard in Clayton, NC USA 05/30/2010
Earlier this month I used England 2008 on a weekend trip to Dover and area (I'm a Canuck working here in UK since 3 years). I thought I'd share a few tips and comments: 1) Eats and Drinks - I wandered into Dino's Ristorante Italiano (58 Castle St, "Italian family run since 1977", closed Mondays) and had a great meal; I ended up going back the next night. Very pleasant and seemed to be frequented by French daytrippers; the soft continental voices lent a nice ambiance. Lots of local seafood on the menu, dressed delicously in Italian style seasoning. Go on, give it a bash :) If you fancy a local real ale before or after, check out the cellar bar 'neath Blakes, a couple doors down (52 Castle Street)... intimate little oasis from the rowdies :) 2) On that note, of the many places I've now been 'round the UK, Dover IS one of the rougher "destination" towns. Any time I had to stop and look at a map etc, there always seemed to be somebody eyeing me like I was somethin' to eat. So do be careful in your wanderings! 3) Dover Castle is an impressive complex thanks to its much-visible layers upon layers of history - Saxon church, Norman keep, Napoleonic and WWII tunnels, bookmarked by the shell of a Roman lighthouse and whispers of Cold War lore. On the whole I really enjoyed it, though it wasn't without some minor disappointments. The refurbishment of Henry II's great hall does seem a bit childish/undercooked for all the money they poured into it. The Secret Wartime Tunnels tour is all too brisk; the geek in me wanted to linger on the repeater station, telexes, etc. The Cabinet War Rooms in London are a much superior "secret subterranean lair" to enjoy at your own pace. Better yet for the dyed-in-the-wool computer and/or crypto geeks there's the uber-cool, enigmatic Bletchley Park (http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/). These sites put Dover Castle to shame in terms of overall WWII intrigue - though make no bones about it, "Hellfire Corner" is still steeped in memories, not least the amazing Dunkirk evacuation planned in those Tunnels! Cheers, Brian Portsmouth UK b. NS, Canada
Brian M in Portsmouth, UK 03/31/2010
We discovered that you can use a free ATM at the post office in London at Canary Wharf. We assume other post offices have similar ATMs.
Gerald Kilbert in Elk Grove, CA USA 11/20/2009
RYE, ENGLAND! It is the city from 1066 and unbelievably preserved. Lots to do and great shopping. Durrant House B&B is wonderful. We think this should be added. Similar to Cotswolds, but unique and very near Dover's White Cliffs.
Lori Ecklebe in Omaha, NE USA 10/25/2009
Mad Maxx tours out of Bath was more than excellent. A comfortable bus was just big enough to maneuver and not feel like a herd of people on a tour. The guide took us to a few of his favorite places not in the tour that were charming and well worth the extra few minutes getting back. The guide was personable. Well worth the money and then some!!
Karen Curtis in Tulsa, Ok USA 10/23/2009
Dounia - Lebanese Food at Whiteleys Shopping Centre Ground Floor, W2 4YN - Located in Bayswater
Perna in San Diego, CA USA 10/14/2009
I enjoyed a daytrip to Salisbury from Bath. The train trip is one hour, cost 14 GBP, and the walk to the cathedral and museum was pleasant--about 20 min. Trains run about hourly from Bath. On the return trip to Bath I got a clear view of the huge chalk horse on a nearby hill. I was told that the horse had been cleaned recently, so it was bright white.
Swan in Napa , CA USA 10/03/2009
A tip: there are major engineering works underway on the Underground (Tube), especially on weekends. Be aware in advance; notices are posted and employees are available to give advice. Alternate transit is provided by bus service. Some of the regular bus lines will take you where you want to go; some extra buses are provided to get around the construction areas. Some of the lines are disrupted on weekdays, also. The explanation for all this activity is that London is preparing for the Olympics. There are also construction projects on some of the rail lines, so it is good to check in advance on weekends.
Swan in Napa, CA USA 10/03/2009
Buying the British Heritage Pass and a Travelcard for the Tube were two of the best decisions your book helped us make. Very convenient and practical, we definitely got our money's worth.
Whitney in Atlanta, GA USA 09/05/2009
The Herschel Museum of Astronomy in Bath, England is the actual house where William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus. It was fascinating, and well worth seeing if you are in Bath. The address is New King St. Phone number 01225-446865.
Pat in San Diego, CA USA 08/20/2009
Family Accommodation Tip in the Cotswolds: There is a great under-the-eves, relatively new, family room at The Redesdale Arms in Moreton-in-Marsh. Because it's way at the back of the hotel (a cool, old coaching inn), it's very quiet. This suite of rooms was perfect for our family, traveling with two teens. Our weekly stay included full breakfasts in a nice dining room. We had the master bedroom and the teens had the cots in the living/bed room. We had our own bathroom, tea-making kitchen with small fridge, and tiny porch/reading room. Breakfasts were terrific and we had internet connection from the lobby (just ask for a password). Service was that unique blend of warm and professional. Great location for seeing the Cotswolds, Stratford, Warwick Castle, Blenheim Palace, Oxford, and the Corinium Museum. Village has convenient laundry and post office (next to each other), and a neat fish 'n' chips joint, too. Only drawback as, if you're tall, you'll have to stand under the skylight part of the shower (not a big deal). www.redesdalearms.com (note the spelling)
Antje in Portland, OR USA 08/20/2009
Paula - nice to see somebody bringing up Eastbourne. It is the butt of a lot of jokes - on Fawlty Towers they even made a crack about the only worse hotel than FT being in Eastbourne ;) But, as you say, it's pleasant enough. I had a nice daytrip over to there and enjoyed a hike up to Beachy Head (initial hill climb out of Eastbourne was a bit steep, but then its easy going). I also enjoyed the Belgian Cafe (that's its name - functional, LOL) back on the seafront afterwards. Sipping Rochefort 10 in the seaside sun = bloody fantastic ;) Cheers, Brian M Portsmouth, UK / NS, Canada
Brian M in Portsmouth, UK 08/03/2009
Stayed in Eastbourne for the first time this trip. We had intended to use the city as a base of operations for travel to Rye, Battle, Hastings and Brighton and we did do that. But having heard all the jokes about Eastbourne being for pensioners staggering along on Zimmer frames, we were suprised and delighted to learn that there were many,many activities available in Eastbourne and that the front is as attractive as Brighton but with fewer people. We stayed at Ivydene Hotel at 5-6 Hamden Terrace, Latimer Road, Eastbourne BN22 7BL, U.K. 44-01323 720 547, run by Michael,Colin and Roselind Ball. Very friendly, helpful and glad to help you get acquainted with the city. They got tickets to local theatre productions for us and NO service fee for doing so.
Paula Harris in Milwaukie, OR USA 08/01/2009
1) Jamuna Indian Cuisine in Bath - Great three-course lunch for 6.95 GBP/pp, excellent service. Address: 9-10 High Street, Bath BA2 2PQ Phone: 01225-464631/466-626.
2) Rasa Sayang in London's Chinatown. Outstanding Malaysian/Singaporean cuisine at VERY good prices: our dinner entrees were each only 6.6 GBP/pp, and a bottle of the very good house Sauvignon Blanc only 11.50 GBP. Family-run, small restaurant with friendly, professional and efficient service. Address: 5 Macclesfield Street London W1 Phone: 020/7734-1382.
3) The Harp (pub) in London's Covent Garden, not far from the National Portrait Gallery. This has to be one of the best pubs in the world: small, Old World-type place that serves primarily top-quality, harder-to-find ales and bitters. Very friendly, knowledgeable staff. Frequented by locals and those who work in the area. No touristy gimmicks or bland lagers here, and since they don't serve food, you know that their focus is on the beer! Address: 47 Chandos Place, Charing Cross, London WC2 4HS Phone: 020/7836-0291
4) The Two Brewers (pub), on Monmouth Street near the Seven Arms, on the north side of Covent Garden. Much like the place above, though a bit larger, and with menu service. A great place to pick up your Abbott Ale, which has to be one of the world's best. Address: 40 Monmouth St, London WC2H 9EP Phone: 020/7836-7395?
5) The Mediterranean Cafe (London - Soho). Another small, accommodating, family-run enterprise with friendly, helpful service. Big advantage: unlike most other restaurants, they start breakfast service earlier (around 8:00 a.m. or so), so if you've got lots to do and see in and around Soho, this is a great way to start your day. (Stop here before doing a Beatles tour.) Only 4 GBP/pp for breakfast, which includes coffee or tea. Mostly local/neighborhood clientele. Address: 18 Berwick Street, London W1V 3RG Phone: 020/7437-0560
6) The Red Lion Inn in Chipping Campden. This inn/restaurant is apparently under new management, and serves very respectable, upscale pub fare, as well as offerings of cheese boards featuring mostly local Cotswold/Gloucestershire cheeses. Nice wine selection, too: on our first visit, we were offered a bottle of--I know you won't believe this, but it's actually true--very good local white wine, for the price of what would normally have been two glasses. Friendly, professional service that really makes you feel at home, all in a cozy, only-in-the-Cotswolds sort of building. Address: High Street, Chipping Campden Phone: 01386/840-760
7) Sarum Heights B & B - Salisbury. We tried to book Rick's recommended B & Bs, but they were booked, due to a choral convention in town during that time. We booked Sarum Heights through the local TI; though not located directly in the center of town, it's great for us drivers, being located right on Castle Road, with fantastic views of Old Sarum. Rooms are clean and cozy, and feature really decent showers. Even in high season, the room was quite reasonable (66 GBP/night), and this B & B features the ultimate ETBD experience: breakfast at a communal table in the family kitchen, where you share breakfast with the other guests. Definitely worth a mention, along with the (very) helpful, patient staff at the TI in Salisbury. Address: 289 Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3SB Phone: 1722/421-596 Mobile: 7931/582-357 Proprietors: Sue and Charles
Jim in Rockville, MD USA 07/30/2009
Finni and Alex from Lombard House also have a B&B in Greece that isn't in Steves' guide book. If it is at all like their one in Portsmouth it would be great to include in your Greece guidebook.
Kris in Riverside, CA USA 07/29/2009
My sister and I found DeMuths Restaurant in Bath, England ( www.demuths.co.uk) to be an excellent vegetarian restaurant, with a very good ambience.
Another very good place was Luciano's Pizzeria/Restaurant on High Street in Wells, England.
We would recommend both these for addition to your guide book which we found very useful on our trip.
Bharath in Potsdam, NY USA 07/21/2009
This was my husband's and my first trip to Europe. I used your book to plan our trip. I especially took to heart your words to "travel as a temporary local." We saw many wonderful sights but my favorite discovery was the friendliness of the British. Several times while my husband and I were looking at a map, Londoners would stop and ask us if we needed help finding something. We had a wonderful time.
Philomena Karol in Raleigh, NC USA 07/14/2009
Would recommend the Burleigh Mead Hotel (B&B) in Keswick, Lake District. Contack is Gil Newton and his wife at info@burleighmead.co.uk. Located in the Heads area. We had a five day stay there, remodeled rooms, all close to perfection. You should consider including it in your recommendations.
David Watson in Del Mar, CA USA 07/14/2009
The Hereford Cathedral along with the Chained Library and Mappa Mundi was a great site that didn't make your England guide. The medieval chained library and world map were really interesting and a quick 1-2 hour tour. The 13th century map of the world shows how differently the English saw their place in the world, they put themselves on the edge of the map with Jerusalem in the center. The map is about the size of a cow hide and illustrated with polar bears, elephants, grifons and unicorns. It was made to be displayed by the alter, and provided the church approved view of the world. The chained library dates from the seventeenth century and is full of books that date as far back as the 8th century. The books were so valuable that they had to be chained to the tables to make sure they were not stolen by the theologians. The cathederal had buried crusaders and impressive gothic construction. Hereford Cathedral was a great site for map and book buffs.
Mike Flaherty in St Louis, MO USA 06/13/2009
We recently stayed at a wonderful B&B in Stow-On-The-Wold, Cotswolds, England. It's called "The Limes" and is on the edge of town a couple of minutes walk from the main street. The owners Helen and Graham were wonderful and very accomodating. Rooms were spacious and nicely kept with a hearty English breakfast included. Apparently, this B&B was included in past Guidebooks and I hope that it will be revisited in the future. We highly recommend this B&B for travelers going to the Cotswolds. "The Limes" Evesham Road Stow-On-The-Wold Glouceshire Gl541EJ Tel: 01451 830034 Fax: 01451 830034 thelimes@zoom.co.uk
Joseph Cuccio in Racine, WI USA 06/02/2009
The Vidella Hotel, Blackpool. Great location 2 blocks from the promanade, great dining room with a four-star chef, cozy bar and great service with affordable prices.
Paul DiBlasi in Jacksonville Beach, Fl USA 05/27/2009
Best accomodation - England, March of 2009 (Honeymoon)
First - Thanks to Rick and staff on their useful England guidebook (which traveled with us) and interesting DVD sets!
Abbeyfields GuestHouse, 19 Bootham Terrace, York YO30 7DH, England
Next - We visited Abbeyfields Guest House in York, England, on our 21-day honeymoon and rate it as our best accommodation throughout England and Scotland! We HIGHLY URGE a stay here. This beautiful home is absolutely central to York, magnificent, and the hosts Al and Les are VERY hospitable! We found it quiet, charming, baths ensuite, in a nice neighborhood and quite an easy walk adjacent to York's ancient walled city. York and its history are fascinating. Abbeyfields attracts a nice clientele (at very reasonable rates) and everything there is clean and of "top quality." The hosts Al and Les somehow, someway, make plenty of time for each guest with plenty of maps, tips and answers. We were there in March 2009 and are still raving about this portion of our stay in England and Scotland. Abbeyfields and its hosts are ABSOLUTELY CHARMING. Their knowledge of York and good insight on what to do, where and why were almost unbelievable. Their excellent breakfasts topped it all off. Also, I felt completely comfortable leaving camera equipment and passports behind in our room - not something I would say for the entire trip! There are sights and top museums in York which are really well-known. Al & Les added a few items to our jammed itinerary which we will simply not forget. We only regret that we did not stay longer.
Thanks to Rick Steves, his books and videos, and to Al & Les for such a great stay. Thank you!! JON+LINDA, Northern California
Jon & Linda in N California, CA USA 05/05/2009
Please tell everyone to allow plenty of time in Portsmouth. We took the off-peak train down from London, ate lunch, and then only had four hours before the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard closed. There is so much to see and do! If you're short of time focus on the Mary Rose. The Victory is similar to the USS Constitution in Boston so if you've been to Boston it can be skipped. We happened to be there during the February "half-term" and had a marvelous conversation with a diver from the Mary Rose who was volunteering his time in the museum.
Martha in Rockville, MD USA 03/02/2009
The public footpaths in the Cotswolds are awesome! You can get maps of them at the TI.
The falconry center (Moreton-in-Marsh) was a great experience. You can walk to it using the public footpaths.
Dave W. in Seattle, WA USA 01/20/2009
We stayed at this really charming B&B in stratford upon avon - Moonraker House. The hosts were really warm and friendly people. They helped us plan our three days to the make the trip really enjoyable. The room had traditional english decorations and were very clean. The location is very central for the main shakespeare attractions with the railway station only 100 metres away. The breakfast was special and could have kept going till dinner. Was an excellent base to explore stratford upon avon and the cotswolds.
Robby in New York, USA 01/12/2009