In message , at 16:19:55 on Thu, 20 Jun
2013, Mike P remarked:
There's a few nice little villages round there sort
in the Wycombe/Henley/Marlow/Stokenchurch triangle.

Difficult to get to by public transport

It is, sadly (or thankfully if you're a local), however I wonder if the
OP is able to hire a car? It would likely be cheaper for a day than PT
around these parts, and there's many such places to see within an hours
drive of "London" in any direction.

Hiring a car for a day from Central London is going to cost at least £50
plus petrol.
--
Roland Perry

You mean, "London".

Mike P wrote:
It is, sadly (or thankfully if you're a local), however I wonder if the
OP is able to hire a car? It would likely be cheaper for a day than PT
around these parts, and there's many such places to see within an hours
drive of "London" in any direction.

But surely it's all part of the English Village Experience (TM) to stand
around waiting for the bus (one service Thursday mornings only, direct to
Tesco) desperately wishing for any public transport to get you out of there?

More seriously, a lot of villages remain 'authentic' because they're
a pain to get to so they haven't turned into commuter towns. So there is a
tension here in what you're looking for.

Theo

On 2013-06-21 12:21:07 +0000, Theo Markettos said:

But surely it's all part of the English Village Experience (TM) to stand
around waiting for the bus (one service Thursday mornings only, direct to
Tesco) desperately wishing for any public transport to get you out of there?

More seriously, a lot of villages remain 'authentic' because they're
a pain to get to so they haven't turned into commuter towns. So there is a
tension here in what you're looking for.

True enough but even in the more authentic ones there really isn't much
to do once you've:

- been inside the church with a Norman tower
- walked up and down the main street
- been in the charity shop
- been in the tea rooms or pub.

E.

eastender wrote:
On 2013-06-21 12:21:07 +0000, Theo Markettos said:

But surely it's all part of the English Village Experience (TM) to stand
around waiting for the bus (one service Thursday mornings only, direct to
Tesco) desperately wishing for any public transport to get you out of there?
More seriously, a lot of villages remain 'authentic' because they're
a pain to get to so they haven't turned into commuter towns. So there is a
tension here in what you're looking for.

True enough but even in the more authentic ones there really isn't much to do once you've:

- been inside the church with a Norman tower
- walked up and down the main street
- been in the charity shop
- been in the tea rooms or pub.

You might be in luck and find an antiques shop as well. And there's
probably a war memorial.

On Fri, 21 Jun 2013 14:49:56 +0100
eastender wrote:
On 2013-06-21 12:21:07 +0000, Theo Markettos said:

But surely it's all part of the English Village Experience (TM) to stand
around waiting for the bus (one service Thursday mornings only, direct to
Tesco) desperately wishing for any public transport to get you out of there?

More seriously, a lot of villages remain 'authentic' because they're
a pain to get to so they haven't turned into commuter towns. So there is a
tension here in what you're looking for.

True enough but even in the more authentic ones there really isn't much
to do once you've:

- been inside the church with a Norman tower
- walked up and down the main street
- been in the charity shop
- been in the tea rooms or pub.


There's not much to do in most towns either once you've tripped over the
pikey beggars, avoided last nights vomit outside Ritzy's and read all the
magazines in the local Budgens.

--
Spud

On Fri, 21 Jun 2013 14:49:56 +0100, eastender wrote:

On 2013-06-21 12:21:07 +0000, Theo Markettos said:

But surely it's all part of the English Village Experience (TM) to
stand around waiting for the bus (one service Thursday mornings only,
direct to Tesco) desperately wishing for any public transport to get
you out of there?

More seriously, a lot of villages remain 'authentic' because they're a
pain to get to so they haven't turned into commuter towns. So there is
a tension here in what you're looking for.

True enough but even in the more authentic ones there really isn't much
to do once you've:

- been inside the church with a Norman tower - walked up and down the
main street
- been in the charity shop
- been in the tea rooms or pub.

Ah, you've been to Hambleden then?

It has to be said, the Stag and Huntsman do a very good BBQ and food on a
Saturday, it's always busy with those rambling types.




--
Mike P

"antoine" wrote in message
. ..
Dear readers,
in a few days I will be in London for a short visit. My wife never was in
England and I would love to show her something of the old rural England.
Where should I go for an one day visit in an ancient english village?
Thank you for a tip.

If it's not too late I'd like to offer a rather different suggestion. Take
the train from Paddington to Castle Cary. The station is about a mile from
the village centre. There are taxis but for the next 3 months it's going
to be quicker to walk because the road across the railway will be closed.
There is a map on platform 1 showing the walking route but you don't need
it. Go up the stairs onto the pedestrian bridge, turn right, down the
stairs then follow the footpath. When you get to the road go straight
across and into the road straight ahead. When that runs out there is a
path that bends left and goes up. Turn right at the top along the wall of
the churchyard (or go through the churchyard) and then take the footpath
that runs along the front of houses with a field on your right. Keep going
straight on and you'll come into the square with the "lock up" in the
middle. The "lock-up" is a small, circular, prison just big enough for one
person. The butcher keeps the key. Look at the rather grand post office
then walk down the cobbled street and admire the Market House (which is
undergoing some work as I write). Visit the museum on the top floor of the
Market House. Just opposite the Market House is a path which also leads to
the hotel car park. The path is called Paddock Drain. Walk up the path
and have a look at the community garden and the information board that tells
you about the Castle (that isn't here any more). Continue up the hill
through the field to the observation point at the top. Retrace your steps
and when you get back to the Market House turn tight until you reach "The
Bakehouse" (just past NatWest Bank). They do very nice Thai or English
lunches and a tempting assortment of cakes and pastries. Wander along the
main street to the horsepond which has a war memorial in the middle and a
little further to look at the church and the wood behind it. The next step
depends on the time of the year and how much time you have. There is a bus
which runs from Castle Cary to South Cadbury about once every hour. It's
run by Southwest Coaches and the timetable is online. Get off the bus and
walk into South Cadbury along past the Camelot (pub) and a 100 yards on
you'll come to a path on your right. Follow this to the top; you will have
climbed "Cadbury Castle" which some people claim is related to the legend of
King Arthur (explains the name of the pub). Get the bus back to Castle
Cary and it will take you back to the station. Now take the train to Bath
for a night. Spend the next day in Bath and finally take the train back to
Paddington.

Good luck.

On 2013-06-22 18:03:52 +0000, Graham Harrison said:

If it's not too late I'd like to offer a rather different suggestion.
Take the train from Paddington to Castle Cary. The station is about a
mile from the village centre. There are taxis but for the next 3
months it's going to be quicker to walk because the road across the
railway will be closed. There is a map on platform 1 showing the
walking route but you don't need it. Go up the stairs onto the
pedestrian bridge, turn right, down the stairs then follow the
footpath. When you get to the road go straight across and into the
road straight ahead. When that runs out there is a path that bends
left and goes up. Turn right at the top along the wall of the
churchyard (or go through the churchyard) and then take the footpath
that runs along the front of houses with a field on your right. Keep
going straight on and you'll come into the square with the "lock up" in
the middle. The "lock-up" is a small, circular, prison just big
enough for one person. The butcher keeps the key. Look at the
rather grand post office then walk down the cobbled street and admire
the Market House (which is undergoing some work as I write). Visit
the museum on the top floor of the Market House. Just opposite the
Market House is a path which also leads to the hotel car park. The
path is called Paddock Drain. Walk up the path and have a look at the
community garden and the information board that tells you about the
Castle (that isn't here any more). Continue up the hill through the
field to the observation point at the top. Retrace your steps and
when you get back to the Market House turn tight until you reach "The
Bakehouse" (just past NatWest Bank). They do very nice Thai or
English lunches and a tempting assortment of cakes and pastries.
Wander along the main street to the horsepond which has a war memorial
in the middle and a little further to look at the church and the wood
behind it. The next step depends on the time of the year and how much
time you have. There is a bus which runs from Castle Cary to South
Cadbury about once every hour. It's run by Southwest Coaches and the
timetable is online. Get off the bus and walk into South Cadbury
along past the Camelot (pub) and a 100 yards on you'll come to a path
on your right. Follow this to the top; you will have climbed "Cadbury
Castle" which some people claim is related to the legend of King Arthur
(explains the name of the pub). Get the bus back to Castle Cary and
it will take you back to the station. Now take the train to Bath for
a night. Spend the next day in Bath and finally take the train back
to Paddington.

And give Lord Lucan this envelope.

E.

In message , at 19:03:52 on
Sat, 22 Jun 2013, Graham Harrison
remarked:
Take the train from Paddington to Castle Cary.

Hmm, that's not exactly near London (over £100 in fares) nor is an
overnight stop outside London in the brief, as far as I can tell.

If we are planning a "tour of England" we should start from scratch.
--
Roland Perry