100% customisable travel idea
From station to station English university cities by train
England - London - Cambridge - Birmingham - Bath - Oxford
100% customisable travel idea
England - London - Cambridge - Birmingham - Bath - Oxford
100% customisable for you
If you travel by Eurostar to the English capital, the train stops at St Pancras station. Stepping out of the station, with its impressive Victorian Gothic architecture, travellers are immediately immersed in a quintessentially English scene. Red buses and black taxis line the streets. A little further on there’s an iconic red telephone box. If you're not used to cars driving on the left, it can be tricky trying to cross the road, as you’re not sure which way to look. The signs saying "look right" and "look left" painted on the road make it easier to navigate pedestrian crossings.
Stay for one night in the heart of London, in Pimlico. A magical ambiance fills this 19th century hotel. Each room has its own unique theme that combines traditional elements, such as Victorian-style fireplaces and tartan blankets, with contemporary touches and vibrant colours. Here and there, a few retro chic touches such as old trunks and kitsch teapots add to the eclectic, thrown together charm of this property. The rooms in the basement embody all the magic of Harry Potter and the world of Hogwarts. In the morning, full English breakfast is served.
Take the train from King's Cross. The station is easy to find, as it is right opposite St Pancras. Fans will recognise it as the station where the Hogwarts Express departs. If you look hard enough you’ll find Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters next to the Harry Potter shop. On the journey to Cambridge (1 hour and 10 minutes) the English travellers like to stay in their seats and wait for trolleys loaded with food and drinks to pass through the aisles. The carriage slows at your destination. The county town of Cambridgeshire is home to 20,000 or so students. King’s, Trinity and St John’s are just three of the thirty or so colleges scattered throughout the city. Behind the intricately carved walls, the quadrangles and the landscaped gardens of the the Backs are inviting places to rest for a while.
On your schedule - Punting in Cambridge. Punts are flat-bottomed boats propelled by a pole, once used to travel on the River Cam and around the university city. They're a bit like the gondolas in Venice. Punting is a leisure activity and perfect for a romantic date. Gently glide along the river passing eight colleges and nine bridges.
Stay for one night in a listed building that once belonged to the university. The brick walls are an integral part of the atmosphere. With the beautiful dark floors, they form the backdrop. As for the rest, comfort and aesthetics go hand in hand. It goes without saying the rooms are all beautiful. The same goes for the food in the bistro. There's a lovely wine cellar too so wines are perfectly matched with the dishes.
Before heading off to check out the competition in Oxford, there’s a few well-chosen stops on the way to add a bit of variety to the trip. The next stop is Birmingham. Known as the "Workshop of the World" during the Industrial Revolution, England’s second largest city has successfully reinvented itself. Instead of soot tainted air you discover a city with over 500 parks and fine examples of modern architecture.
Stay for one night in a landmark hotel originally opened in 1879. Some say it’s the most beautiful hotel in the city and it’s hard to disagree. After twenty years of renovation work the property has been completely refurbished, reviving the original spirit and equipping the hotel for decades to come. With its spacious rooms, judicious choice of materials, timeless classicism, and attention to detail and service, you are in good hands. The rooms are all immaculate. The bar with its leather seating is perfect for cocktails. The restaurant has a vibrant New York feel. The afternoon tea skilfully reinvents the classic tradition. Victorian England provides a beautiful setting for the 21st century.
The train sets off again, heading for Bath, in Somerset. This part of the country conjures up characters from the pages of Jane Austen's novels, Celts galloping over the surrounding hills, Romans relaxing in the natural hot springs, and images of 18th century English dandies and aristocrats. All that's missing is you.
Stay for two nights right in the centre, in a group of adjoining historic town houses. The decor has embraced the traditional motifs of this type of architecture and tweaked them in different ways to bring them up to date. Add to that just the right amount of cutting-edge design and there you have it. It is all very well designed and comfortable. The rooms, where you will want for nothing, all feature luxury bedding. The common areas share the same aesthetic. It could not be more charming. And the food is delicious too. The days of joking about British cuisine are long gone. It never really deserved to be looked down on back then, and it has moved on massively since. This is excellent news for all foodies.
On your schedule - Private tour of the spa town. Bath began as Aquae Sulis, a Roman spa built in the 1st century. The whole of the elegant 18th century spa town including the Roman baths and the temple of Sulis Minerva is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can see all this while strolling around the Roman baths with a guide. Maybe pop in to have tea next door, in the beautiful neoclassical Grand Pump Room. The tour includes the Circus, a beautiful ring of Georgian townhouses, the iconic Royal Crescent, built between 1767 and 1774, the Assembly Rooms (1769), and more.
Optional extras - Afternoon tea at the Pump Room; Bath in the footsteps of Jane Austen.
The last stop is Oxford. Everything here exudes intellectual energy. Lewis Carroll and Stephen Hawking studied in these halls. Tolkien and CS Lewis would meet at the Eagle and Child pub. What with the Botanic Garden and the portrait-filled halls, there is so much to see in Oxford that you could almost forget to go punting on the River Cherwell.
Stay for two nights just a stone’s throw from the colleges. Set on the corner of the street, the building looks like a college itself, with its striking Gothic facade. The interiors follow this same tradition with high ceilings and arched windows. The whole place is brightened up by the careful use of colour throughout. In the Drawing Room, where you can have afternoon tea, there is a collection of armchairs in vibrant colours. The rooms feature floral wallpaper and richly patterned carpets. In the restaurant, Alice in Wonderland was the muse. She appears everywhere, from the paintings to the stained glass windows in this room with its coffered ceiling. In the evening, head to the bar for a perfectly poured cocktail.
On your schedule - Private tour of Oxford. One of the most important centres of learning in England, Oxford University is iconic. With your guide, you can visit the famous colleges where Lewis Carroll (Christ Church), Stephen Hawking (University) or Adam Smith (Balliol) studied, to name just three illustrious figures among hundreds. From the 13th century bell tower of St Mary’s Church, one of the most beautiful in England, there are superb views over the old town. The Covered Market (18th century), is a typical old fashioned market, a great place for shopping, for local food products and souvenirs. At the Ashmolean Museum, you can see Cromwell’s death mask, along with Jeanne Holding a Fan by Pissarro (1874), and The Hunt in the Forest by Uccello (1470). The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe.
Also booked - Oxford Botanic Garden (you already have your tickets). The garden is part of the university. And for good reason. The Botanical Garden was first established in 1621 to teach students about medicinal plants. Over the following centuries, it gradually expanded to reach its current size. It is now home to 5,000 plant species, 7 greenhouses, and tropical jungle, desert and alpine environments. See if you can spot the Cheshire Catfrom "Alice in Wonderland" (yes, her again), in the walled garden.
Return to the station and board the direct train to London. If you are returning home by Eurostar, continue your adventure by rail.
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