Thank you for all the suggestions. I have decided to stay in the Oxford area for the night on the way to Manchester. I'll be sure to set time aside to visit the Peak District while I'm staying in Leeds or Manchester.
No plan whatsoever. Explore Oxford, I suppose. By that point in the holiday, I'll have been all over, in small villages, large cities, mispronouncing names all across the country. A big part of the draw for me at so many UK destinations is just that they're so clearly different from west coast USA.
Enjoy your trip. Having worked for a few larger US Corporations over the years and seen so many of my US colleagues rarely stray from Oxford Street, The Mall and Buckingham Palace (although some did venture to the wilds of Windsor), it's great to see that you're extending you're horizons.
Thank you all once again for the suggestions. I'll definitely be visiting the Peak District, Warwick Castle, Bury, and I think I can work in a visit to Classic Team Lotus (thanks for the great suggestion, John!) - how could I not? - although none of these will happen on the way from Kent area to Manchester; but will happen at another part of the trip.
Just this morning I loaded an app called "WhatSapp" or something and may use that, along with an eSIM once I've arrived. The only suggestion that doesn't conveniently fit into the plan is visiting Bath, which sounds fantastic, but just doesn't appear to be in the cards this time around, unfortunately.
After 20 years on BC (first joined in 2003), I'm finally going to visit UK! I'm planning to be at the Squirrel pub for the monthly PENN7s area meeting on April 29, visiting the club HQ on April 26, and bouncing all around in between. I'll be in Manchester on April 28, and again on May 04, so will likely visit Peak District at that time (looking at you, Rog).
Feeling overwhelmed with gratitude at the outpouring of helpful information, and looking forward to meeting some of my fellow enthusiasts!
Oxford - JK is your man but as an occasional tourist there myself can I recommend the best free show in town ? Evensong at Magdalen College chapel - regardless of any religious affiliation you may have , this is a genuinely spine tingling experience in an utterly gorgeous setting. Every night except Mondays , 6pm
If you're in the Oxford area i think a walk around Blenheim Palace at Woodstock would be a crime to miss. Birthplace of Winston Churchill and last time I went (25years ago) still had his tin soldier collection as a child. Also the seat of the Duke of Marlborough. The grounds are i think Capability Brown and are truly fantastic. More info and pics in the link below
Good choice. The Oxford Museum of Natural History, and within that, the Pitt Rivers Museum is worth an hour or two of anyone's time. A pint at the Eagle & Child pub on St Giles, where JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis used to meet as part of the Inklings literary drinking club. A stroll along the Isis (Thames) past the college boat houses. The Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre, Magdalen Bridge, the Oxford Botanical Gardens, the list goes on.
Excellent choice, as has already been mentioned there is a lot to see in Oxford and Blenheim palace is certainly worth the time if you can make it. I'm in Adderbury (about 30 minutes north of Oxford) and tbh the Cotsworlds in general are a beautiful area.
It's a bit of a tourist trap but Bourton on the Water is also lovely, and it even has a small car museum :)
Thank you for all the suggestions. I have decided to stay in the Oxford area for the night on the way to Manchester. I'll be sure to set time aside to visit the Peak District while I'm staying in Leeds or Manchester.
So many places to see!
What would you like to do in and around Oxford?
Jonathan
No plan whatsoever. Explore Oxford, I suppose. By that point in the holiday, I'll have been all over, in small villages, large cities, mispronouncing names all across the country. A big part of the draw for me at so many UK destinations is just that they're so clearly different from west coast USA.
It'll certainly be wetter Sean
Enjoy your trip. Having worked for a few larger US Corporations over the years and seen so many of my US colleagues rarely stray from Oxford Street, The Mall and Buckingham Palace (although some did venture to the wilds of Windsor), it's great to see that you're extending you're horizons.
Enjoy the trip
Rog
Thank you all once again for the suggestions. I'll definitely be visiting the Peak District, Warwick Castle, Bury, and I think I can work in a visit to Classic Team Lotus (thanks for the great suggestion, John!) - how could I not? - although none of these will happen on the way from Kent area to Manchester; but will happen at another part of the trip.
Just this morning I loaded an app called "WhatSapp" or something and may use that, along with an eSIM once I've arrived. The only suggestion that doesn't conveniently fit into the plan is visiting Bath, which sounds fantastic, but just doesn't appear to be in the cards this time around, unfortunately.
After 20 years on BC (first joined in 2003), I'm finally going to visit UK! I'm planning to be at the Squirrel pub for the monthly PENN7s area meeting on April 29, visiting the club HQ on April 26, and bouncing all around in between. I'll be in Manchester on April 28, and again on May 04, so will likely visit Peak District at that time (looking at you, Rog).
Feeling overwhelmed with gratitude at the outpouring of helpful information, and looking forward to meeting some of my fellow enthusiasts!
Oxford - JK is your man but as an occasional tourist there myself can I recommend the best free show in town ? Evensong at Magdalen College chapel - regardless of any religious affiliation you may have , this is a genuinely spine tingling experience in an utterly gorgeous setting. Every night except Mondays , 6pm
If you're in the Oxford area i think a walk around Blenheim Palace at Woodstock would be a crime to miss. Birthplace of Winston Churchill and last time I went (25years ago) still had his tin soldier collection as a child. Also the seat of the Duke of Marlborough. The grounds are i think Capability Brown and are truly fantastic. More info and pics in the link below
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blenheim_Palace
I think we all look forward to welcoming you Sean.
Stephen
Democratic dissent is not disloyalty, it is a positive civic duty
Good choice. The Oxford Museum of Natural History, and within that, the Pitt Rivers Museum is worth an hour or two of anyone's time. A pint at the Eagle & Child pub on St Giles, where JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis used to meet as part of the Inklings literary drinking club. A stroll along the Isis (Thames) past the college boat houses. The Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre, Magdalen Bridge, the Oxford Botanical Gardens, the list goes on.
Excellent choice, as has already been mentioned there is a lot to see in Oxford and Blenheim palace is certainly worth the time if you can make it. I'm in Adderbury (about 30 minutes north of Oxford) and tbh the Cotsworlds in general are a beautiful area.
It's a bit of a tourist trap but Bourton on the Water is also lovely, and it even has a small car museum :)