# UK Dopers! Where shall I go this weekend? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 16, 2003, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844 "2003-07-16T09:29:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/1 "2003-07-16T09:29:06Z")
I’ve got a free weekend and I want to get away. My criteria: I’ll be on my own, so there’s got to be enough to keep me entertained. I don’t drive, so public transport’s got to be good. I finish work at 6pm (although I could wangle finishing at 5) on Friday and I’d rather not have a six-hour train journey to get to my destination (travelling from Reading station). I’m not exactly flush, so money is a consideration. Hostels a bonus. So, where shall I go? I’m thinking maybe Bath or somewhere in Wales. Or more north. Or somewhere else. I don’t know! Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/2 "2003-07-16T09:35:08Z")
I was going to suggest Edinburgh, as its gorgeous, but it’ll be a long train journey from Reading. How about the Peak District, and do some hill walking or something, and take in the scenery… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/3 "2003-07-16T09:38:08Z")
You’re in a perfect position to go to the West country. Bath is a great idea, or anywhere south-west of that. Depends if you’re looking for city buzz or solitary walks in the countryside. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/4 "2003-07-16T09:40:10Z")
Or if you go to Swansea, you can get the bus to absolutely lovely Gower Peninsula. There’s bound to be a hostel nearby. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/5 "2003-07-16T09:40:36Z")
Lyme Regis? Corfe Castle? Leeds Castle? (strangely enough in Kent) Arundel? Not sure about transport link to the first three, but Arundel is mid-way between London and Brighton by train. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/6 "2003-07-16T09:56:05Z")
I’d second the West Country thing - its gorgeous this time of year. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/7 "2003-07-16T09:58:53Z")
BrummieLand?? Just kidding - its too hot, and there’s not a lot to do really. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/8 "2003-07-16T10:01:48Z")
**Angua**!!! Just saw your sig. You little devil. Anyway, the NADS aren’t just mine - I like to share them around. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/9 "2003-07-16T10:05:20Z")
I’m more of a city person than a walking-in-the-hills person. But I do like castles. And roman ruins. Bath is looking increasingly promising. They must have hostels there. Think they’ll need booking this time of year? Anyone want to come with me? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![fizzygoodmakefeelnice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@fizzygoodmakefeelnice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizzygoodmakefeelnice)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/10 "2003-07-16T10:16:56Z")
Two tips if you got to Bath: 1. Go to Ben’s Cookies. They are down one of the little side streets near the baths. There are no better biscuits anywhere. 2. If you go to the baths themselves, and you get one of those things with buttons which tell the history of the place, press #99. This triggers a stroppy message telling you to stop stealing the handset. Turn the sound up really loud and enjoy! Otherwise I’d second Lyme Regis or suggest Betws-Y-Coed. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/11 "2003-07-16T10:55:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fizzygoodmakefeelnice \* > **1. Go to Ben’s Cookies. They are down one of the little side streets near the baths. There are no better biscuits anywhere.** One day when I was working in a shop, an elderly gentleman came in wearing a Ben’s Cookies T-shirt. I went up to him and said “Great sweatshirt! I LOVE Ben’s Cookies!” He replied: “I’m Ben.” ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/12 "2003-07-16T11:21:21Z")
Glastonbury ! Superb people watching, great historic ‘stuff’ (Abbey, Tor, etc), lots of nice nicey-nackey ‘shoppes’ - as well as the dippy-hippy nonsense, the B&B’s are reasonably cheap and Matron says the prospect of sex with strangers is surprisingly high. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/13 "2003-07-16T11:22:38Z")
How about York? There’s enough there to more than fill a weekend. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/14 "2003-07-16T11:37:53Z")
Oh yeah, what **London\_Calling** said. Glastonbury town is gorgeous, and there are lots of hostels. And the train goes there too. The Chalice Well gardens are wonderfully peaceful (and you can see where I got the inspiration for my tattoo) and the view from the top of the Tor is extraordinary. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/15 "2003-07-16T11:43:29Z")
Is Glastonbury station called something other than Glastonbury station? It’s not coming up on [National Rail enquiries](http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney/time_table/journey_requirements.asp?&T2ID=4324_2003716125035). ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/16 "2003-07-16T11:48:47Z")
Hmmm, Shepton Mallet, maybe ? Or . . . c an you get to a ‘National coach network’ … bus stop thing ? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/17 "2003-07-16T11:51:49Z")
Hmmm, seems I was a bit wrong: Castle Cary’s the nearest station to the festival (which isn’t itself actually in Glastonbury) but I can’t find a rail map to see if there’s anywhere nearer. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/18 "2003-07-16T12:00:10Z")
Or a little coastal run to, say, Cyril’s old chum Lyme Regis - in sunnny Dorset, ennit, me ole darrr. v. popular with girlies wanting to do the Meryl Streep thing on the Cobb and a quaint little gaff all ‘round. Bonus: Cream tea with a buch of leering and dribling old codgers, even If I won’t be there. Can’t help with the Railway, I’m afraid. I do know Wells isn’t that far away, though. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/19 "2003-07-16T12:01:31Z")
Found a map - what an amazing design. [Check it out](http://www.project-design.co.uk/images/mapping/RailNetMap.pdf) (pdf). Castle Cary seems to be the best option. I guess there’d be a bus or a taxi to Glasters maybe? ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844/20 "2003-07-16T12:35:02Z")
Saw the title, **Fran** , and immediately thought of 1001 places. Then I remembered that you don’t drive… Unfortunately I’m one of these inconsiderate and hypocritical yahoos who views the countryside as the perfect place to visit but insists on driving there. Then bitches about all the cars. And I hate cities. As such, my input is somewhat less than stellar on this question. Soz p [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-where-shall-i-go-this-weekend/188844.md?page=2)