socialworker

We are thinking of trying to travel to Europe next spring and use a cruise philosophy. By that I mean, we would pick a location in 2 of these locales and spend ~1 week in each place. We want to arrive, unpack and stay put for sleeping but go on daylong excursions. Not driving but excursions that can be done by public transport or even private guides. The base camp location would have to be interesting enough of its own accord and also close enough to other interesting spots.

In the past we have spent a few nights here, a few nights there but neither of us wants to do that anymore. It is not so much that we cannot, just that it no longer feels like a good idea or even a desirable way to travel. We have been to many spots in these 3 countries but still would like to revisit them as we love them....

Any ideas or suggesions? If my request is too vague, let me know that. Thanks!

janisj

Just quick. -- In the UK a few places that are super interesting and also large enough and well placed for day trips by bus or train as well as commercial tours would be York, Edinburgh, Bath or Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, and of course London.

Traveler_Nick

In Italy and also France I'd just pick something on the rail line.

Bologna for example would let you hit everything from the nearby towns in the region but you could go to Venice in one direction or Florence in the opposite with relatively short train rides.

crellston

In the UK , London. Plenty of interest in London itself and easy train or bus of car rides to a whole variety of places out of town.

I agree with TN above re Italy. We really enjoyed the month spent in Bologna. Again, the city has a lot to offers within the city limits but it is also great for day trip by train as it is a sort of hub of the rail network. We did day trips to Florence, as well as Modena, Parma and a few small towns like Saluzzo & Dozza some of which we covered in our blog @ https://accidentalnomads.com/category/italy/. Most were done by train or bus but we did rent a car to get to Dozza.

Rubicund

As far as the UK goes, I'd consider Manchester as a base. Great transport links in all directions. and a great city in its own right. You could day trip easily to Chester, Liverpool, Lake District or even Blackpool. The city itself has much to offer and would take several days to explore on top of the days out..

hetismij2

Gifted an article on Bologna from the NYT:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/09/o...smid=url-share


Like everywhere else it seems it is over-run and losing what it is people go there for.

janisj

Ditto Rubicund's post. You can easily get to lots of places in northern England from Manchester including across to York. And a bit longer train ride would get you into North Wales - like Conwy.

socialworker

Thanks so much for this very helpful feedback! No one has weighed in on anything about France, but realistically we are probably leaving more toward UK and Italy.

I would love to hear from any other Fodorites who may have thoughts.

We have been to London too often to consider using that for a base even though it would have lots to offer. We never considered Manchester, but will explore that option, and we are leaning a bit toward York. We spent ~a week in Edinburgh once and I consider it to be unique among destinations and one of the loveliest places ever, but it is probably not where we would go for this trip.

I look forward to hearing more and I am grateful to those of you who answered thus far!

janisj

York would be terrific -- so much to see and do in the city itself plus Thirsk/James Herriot a very short train ride, Castle Howard, Whitby and the coast, Moors/the steam railway and the Dales all practically on the doorstep. Even Leeds with the National Armories Museum, etc.

hetismij2

What about Aix en Provence?
Plenty to do in the city and plenty of excursion possible from there too.

janisj

Meant to add that just about everything in York from the wonderful railway museum to the Abbey, to the Shambles, to the city wall to the not to be missed York Castle Museum, to river cruises etc etc etc are walkable from each other.

swandav2000

Hi socialworker,

For France I would think maybe Arles would work.

A Fodorite was just in Besançon in June, and it would also be a great base -- lovely town, with plenty of easy excursions by train. Here's the trip report, with photos:

A taste of France (and a return to Switzerland)

Or, Dijon would be a good base in the same area.

Have fun as you plan!

s