(As a side trip see more of Ireland, and the Vermeer at the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin).
Financial note: To with draw funds free of charge in Britain with a Wise card go to Link ATM - use their ATM Locator website.
Bristol
Maybe see the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club match at the Bristol County Ground in Ashley Down, Bristol (their home ground). See their fixture list for 2024 here. ( Montpelier - map) Take bus #70 from Temple Meads to Seat Unique Stadium.
Bristol harbour - see Brunel's Great Britain steam ship, and a reproduction of John Cabot's Matthew. Also see the Visit Bristol website. Accommodation in Bristol, see AirBnB re stays close to Seat Unique Stadium - I found 5 within walking distance that were under $100 per day.
Somerset & Wiltshire
Cider county — good article: 7 Places to go cider tasting in Somerset. Bere Cider, and Somerset Cider Brandy are fairly close together.
Somerset Cider & Apple Juice map |
Petworth House, West Sussex. Hours: 10:30-16:30 ( Pulborough)
Wren Library, Cambridge University ( Cambridge)
Trinity College Chapel, Oxford University ( Oxford)
Portsmouth
Visit the National Museum of the Royal Navy and especially tour HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose Museum. (The museum is a 5 minute walk from the train station.) Hours: 10:00-17:00. Nearby is the Submarine Museum, including a tour of WWII-era HMS Alliance. Hours: 10:00-16:30. Also Grinling Gibbons at Petworth House as noted above. ( Portsmouth)
From International Living: "Indulge in French cooking at Bistro Pierre or sample more than 300 wines from around the globe at Le Vignoble, an independent wine merchant and tapas bar."
Portsmouth side trips:
Tripadvisor suggests a tour of the Isle of Wight is a popular side trip from Portsmouth. There is also a steam railway! Take the ferry from Portsmouth to the Fishbourne ferry port then a taxi to Havenstreet (about 9 minutes) where the railway begins.
Winchester Cathedral, the magnificent edifice built in 1079, is also the burial site of many Saxon kings. Also visit the Great Hall of Winchester. Hours: 09:00-17:00 ( Winchester)
South Devon Railway is a heritage railway. ( Totnes)
Check for any steam railways in the south.
Portsmouth, Winchester, Salisbury, Warminster |
Lullingstone
A magnificent Roman Villa dating from the 2nd century AD, this rich man’s farmhouse is one of the key sites of Roman Britain. Hours: 10:00-17:00.
Location: Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, Kent ( Eynsford)
Heading north:
Oxford
Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, is a grand palace worth a visit. Located near the town of Woodstock. Note Grinling Gibbons above. Hours: 10:30-16:45. ( Oxford; take Stagecoach bus S3 )
Ironbridge
Ironbridge in Telford, Shropshire. Mon-Sun 10:00-17:00 ( Telford Central)
Stamford
Burghley House is England's greatest Elizabethan house. One of its highlights are the room and staircase that depict, respectively, heaven and hell, painted by Antonio Verrio.
Hours: 10:30-16:30. Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire ( Stamford)
Haddon Hall
Visit a medieval house
in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Times: June 20-Sept 30, 10:00-16:30 (last
entry 15:30). Located on the A6 about half way between Bakewell and
Rowsley. Take the Transpeak TP3 from Matlock Rail Station to the Haddon Hall stop.
Hardwick Hall
Visit the house called an "Elizabethan masterpiece." Location: Doe Lea, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. There is no direct public transport to the hall. Take the Pronto bus
from Chesterfield rail station to Glapwell Young Vanish (the nearest
stop to Hardwick Hall). Cross the road, walk up the hill and take 1st
right following signs to
Rowthorne & Hardwick. Continue toward village then take 2nd right
& 1st left, arriving at Rowthorne gate. Continue straight to access
Hardwick Hall. About a 10 minute walk. ( Chesterfield).
Worcester
The Postal Order, 18 Foregate St., Worcester. Libertarian Drinks on the third Wednesday of every month. ( Worcester Foregate St.) (Good AirBnB nearby - Lynda's Place)
The Falkirk Wheel is part of Scottish Canals. It is a half-hour walk from Camelon rail stop ( Camelon, 30 minutes from Edinburgh, Waverly)
CIDER FESTIVALS:
See my Cider Festivals entry on my cider page.
ENTERTAINMENT
Derren Brown tour 2024 — TBD
Dylan Moran tour 2024 — TBD
Dara O'Briain tour 2024 — TBD
Henning Wehn tour 2024 — TBD
Organized tours of Britain concentrating on southern England – Evan Evans Tours.