Thoughts/suggestions on this itinerary?

[disneylandkids]

Hi folks,

My family of 5 is planning on going from London to Stratford upon Avon during the first week of April (Ian McKellan as Lear!!)

I'm *thinking* that the best way for all of us to get out there is to rent a car (I have no problem driving in England; I've done it before). That way, we can also wind through the countryside and see Stonehenge (a big must-do on the kids' list).

Then, the kids want to go to Legoland at Windsor, which is fine with DH and me. We figure that we can do that the day before our flight home.

We had considered taking the train, but the trip seemed to be a bit more complicated and time-consuming to do by train. Plus with five of us, it probably wouldn't be any cheaper. And I think the kids would find driving on the other side of the road to be quite an experience! (I actually *love* driving in England more than in California--drivers are far more civilized there w/r/t passing lanes.)

The play in Stratford is on a Thursday evening, and we leave Heathrow on Sunday morning. I'm thinking of leaving London on Thursday, getting a rental car at Heathrow, and driving out toward Stratford. We could check into whatever hotel we have arranged (any suggestions would be most welcome!!), and perhaps do some sightseeing before the play. We could stay there one night, and then the next day, we could go sightseeing more around Stratford and head toward Stonehenge before driving over toward Windsor. (I'd *like* to pop over to Glastonbury but I just don't think we'd have any time for that. I think my kids would like the Arthurian aspects of the town and I really liked the place from a previous visit.)

My geography here is sketchy...so will some of you who are more familiar with this area please tell me how impractical this all seems?

Also, if you can suggest great places to stay in Stratford or Windsor (or somewhere nearby), that would be terrific.

 

[wideeyes]

Hi folks,

My family of 5 is planning on going from London to Stratford upon Avon during the first week of April (Ian McKellan as Lear!!)

.

Can't help with your question however Ian Mckellan as King Lear sounds to good to miss, King Lear is one of my favorite shakespeare plays along with merchant of Venice, and Ian Mckellan, wow!

 

[Dimplenose]

Stonehenge isn't on the way to Stratford from Windsor it's about 80 miles out of your way.

(I know you're short of time but you might like to combine Warwick Castle with your visit to Stratford as it's so close.)

Libby

 

[disneylandkids]

Can't help with your question however Ian Mckellan as King Lear sounds to good to miss, King Lear is one of my favorite shakespeare plays along with merchant of Venice, and Ian Mckellan, wow!

Check out the RSC website to see about tickets. I know what you mean. I read about the RSC's year-long celebration of The Complete Works, ending with McKellan as Lear, last spring and...the wheels were set in motion. Everything else has happened because of this catalyst.

We are lucky enough that we found such great fares on Virgin Atlantic from SFO (but only if we came a week before we'd originally planned) that we can catch Patrick Stewart's final performance in the Tempest in London.

I'm beyond thrilled, and I'm *so* happy that my kids are excited about the plays too!

 

[disneylandkids]

Stonehenge isn't on the way to Stratford from Windsor it's about 80 miles out of your way.

(I know you're short of time but you might like to combine Warwick Castle with your visit to Stratford as it's so close.)

Libby

I know that Stonehenge isn't 'on the way' between Stratford and Windsor, but that's part of the beauty of having a rental car, I guess.

Thanks for the suggestion about Warwick Castle; I think that might be good to see. I'd debated about that one or Windsor. Which do you think would be better to see?

 

[wideeyes]

Check out the RSC website to see about tickets. I know what you mean. I read about the RSC's year-long celebration of The Complete Works, ending with McKellan as Lear, last spring and...the wheels were set in motion. Everything else has happened because of this catalyst.

I have just brought tickets for June, thank you so much for posting. I can't wait! need to book a hotel for the weekend now.

 

[disneylandkids]

I have just brought tickets for June, thank you so much for posting. I can't wait! need to book a hotel for the weekend now.

I am delighted to have been helpful! I am just thrilled that you got tickets!!


Let me know if you have any leads on hotels. I'm looking too...