You probably don't want to visit Bath, but just in case your missus is a Jane Austen fan, stock up on your books from The Titfield Thunderbolt Bookshop.

Even if you don't visit Bath, order your books online and get them delivered to a place you are staying. Bring them home in your luggage and save on the hostage, sorry, postage.
Lots of other booksellers as well.

Enjoy,
(Jealous) Mark

I note that KiwiAlan is intending to visit Didcot Railway Centre, and further down his list of "must dos", is the Pendon Museum at Long Wittenham. Whenever I've visited the Great Western Society at Didcot, I've often paired that with a visit to Pendon Museum - if you go by car, it's only about four or five miles from Didcot. I still think that it's probably the finest railway and landscape modelling that I'll ever see. (A visit there often results in me looking rather wistfully over my stored collection of EM gauge stock!)

agree, on a visit from Aus a few years ago we went to Pendon first then Didcot, both very easily doable in a day. And both very worthwile.

Quote from: Cols on March 14, 2025, 05:55:35 PMI note that KiwiAlan is intending to visit Didcot Railway Centre, and further down his list of "must dos", is the Pendon Museum at Long Wittenham. Whenever I've visited the Great Western Society at Didcot, I've often paired that with a visit to Pendon Museum - if you go by car, it's only about four or five miles from Didcot. I still think that it's probably the finest railway and landscape modelling that I'll ever see. (A visit there often results in me looking rather wistfully over my stored collection of EM gauge stock!)

I have memories of long days at Pendon, pressing buttons and watching trains crossing the viaduct, while my father would be making trees, or at least I think that's what he was making. I would have been about 8 at the time.
I'm told that when we lived in Brignorth in the 1970's that my father would take me into the SVR yard and we would clamber across the various locomotives. My mother was not amused by me arriving home covered in coal dust.
Visited Didcot many times when living in the Cotswolds, but due to age probably didn't appreciate it fully. Will compensate this trip.
I was very fortunate at a child to have had a train obsessed father.

Nothing to do with trains, but if you are planning to hire a car, can I suggest being very careful and taking comprehensive photos of the vehicle both inside and out before you take it out of the depot. Including places like underneath the dashboard.
We have hired a car a few times while in the UK, always from big companies, and they nearly  always seem to rip us off at least slightly.
Last time the company tried to charge us 250 pounds for damage we didn't do even though we had paid extra to lower our excess.  That was after we got home, and despite their representative at Heathrow clearing the car as ok. They did eventually back down, but we won't use that company again.
Maybe we have been unlucky, but we have never had similar problems with firms in Australia or NZ.

PS I know the same things can happen in other countries too! Would suggest same advice wherever you are. I haven't named the firm deliberately as others may well behave similarly.

Agree with above. Had some problems a couple of years ago. Full details here:

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=63223.0

(Outcome in post #402)

If you are going to be in Didcot, not far away in Swindon is the GWR museum, "Steam", housed in part of the old Swindon works. Right next door is a big outlet shopping centre for anyone not interested in railways.

And The Gluepot. Probably the best pub in that area of Swindon 

Quote from: tunneroner61 on February 09, 2025, 10:02:49 AMWhile in Manchester I'd suggest visits to the Museum of Science and Industry in Castlefields and The Lowry (art gallery) in Salford Quays.

The railway parts are currently closed for renovation but should be reopened by late July. It would be worth checking before making plans.

There is still an interesting 1940s/1950s computer exhibition as well if thermionic valves are your thing!

Anyone visiting Norfolk could go to.

https://www.radarmuseum.co.uk/ if you are on lucky I'll show you round on a Friday.

You could also go to https://www.bvrw.co.uk/
Which is only a couple of miles away.

Plus there is of course the Norfolk Broads To visit.

Quote from: The Q on April 08, 2025, 02:06:40 PMAnyone visiting Norfolk could go to.

https://www.radarmuseum.co.uk/ if you are on lucky I'll show you round on a Friday.

You could also go to https://www.bvrw.co.uk/
Which is only a couple of miles away.

Plus there is of course the Norfolk Broads To visit.

So many places to go, so little time! I may need to cash in some brownie points with SWMBO.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention

Alan

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 09, 2025, 08:56:18 AM

Quote from: crewearpley40 on February 09, 2025, 08:10:11 AMYorkshire

Kwvr
A little wonder round Bronte country always goes down a treat with the ladies
Scarborough


A hire car is useful as mick points out !

No mention of Yorkshire in the itinerary

Was not a "well known retailer in Sheffield" mentioned in the initial post in itinerary - or has the home of cutlery been moved to a new location?

See reply #19

Quote from: Newportnobby on April 09, 2025, 05:01:44 AMSee reply #19

Indeed - me got there after commenting and before reading anything else....

Did also subsequently note the suggestion of taking a trip over the Pennines between Lancs and Yorks while staying in Manchester and reminding @KiwiAlan that he ensure all his paperwork is in order for border control....     

Yeah. Look out for the border signs in this clip