Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Refreshed, walk around the corner to the
Ashmolean
(p. 214), one of
Britain's finest museums, which rivals the British Museum in its hoard of
ancient things; it's Egypt galleries reopened in 2011, the latest phase of a huge
revamp. Around the corner again is the quirky
Pitt Rivers Museum
(p. 216),
based around the collection of early archeologist and anthropologist General
Pitt-Rivers.
Relax over dinner at the
Cherwell Boathouse
(p. 218), a summertime punt
station on the Cherwell, and an acclaimed year-round restaurant with terrace.
Day 7: Cardiff
It may seem unlikely, but heading off to Wales for the day can be done; the
hourly train takes only 1
3
⁄
4
hours (changing at Didcot, in the Cotswolds). You'll
arrive mid-morning and should walk straight to the
National Museum and
Gallery
(p. 681), where you can get a nice coffee in the foyer cafe before brows-
ing the collection of Impressionists, archeological finds, and geographical exhib-
its. Don't spend too long because you need to dart around the corner to
Cardiff
Castle
(p. 680). This isn't a sensible castle at all but a Victorian Arts & Crafts
folly on a medieval base, the work of a Welsh coal baron—the richest man in
the world—who could pretty much do as he wished. Have a bite at the cafe,
with views from the terrace across the grounds and up at the castle on its mound
while you're waiting for your tour to start.
Afterward, it's time to hop on the Baycar bendy-bus outside to nip over to
Cardiff Bay
(p. 682); it only takes a few minutes. Once there, you can see how
much time you've got, and how late you feel like getting back to London. You'll
find yourself by Roald Dahl Plass, the big open space, with iconic water sculp-
ture, between the copper-topped Millennium Centre and the Bay. Wander out
past the old Pierhead Building, the Senedd (the Welsh parliament), and back.
Treat yourself to one of the country's best ice creams at
Cadwaladers Ice
Cream Café
(p. 685) on the waterfront, and think about getting the train back.
3
SOUTHERN ENGLAND IN 1 WEEK
It's all very well tearing around a country, but sometimes there are great bits on your
doorstep that you ignore, or don't even know about. Southern England can be a bit
like that. It doesn't quite have the scenery of farther-flung locales but, make no mis-
take, this is a place that will fill your time more than adequately. This tour, which
requires a car, is delightful in itself, a relaxing swing through the byways and along
the coast, but it also makes a perfect second week after you've seen England's iconic
highlights (see itinerary, above).
Day 1: Runnymede & Stonehenge
You're heading for Stonehenge, but first an added attraction: Drive out of Lon-
don heading west onto the M3, turn on the M25, then come off at junction 13
onto the A308. On the rural banks of the Thames (6 miles from the frenetic
activity of Windsor) is
Runnymede
(p. 205). It was in a meadow here in 1215
that King John sealed the Magna Carta, the document that made all men equal
under the law. There is an impressive monument erected by the American Bar
