London or Wales in a limited time frame

[Maureen Blevins]

I may be asking for trouble here - but I will have only a few days (a week at most) in mid-August - London is my connection point, but would like to spend several days before moving on. I know I'll have to come back to see more but for starters I am looking for suggestions/tips/recommendations on what would be realistic in that time frame. I'm torn between a) staying in London b) Cotswalds c) driving to Wales. I am a freelance writer/photographer so also looking for special events/ photo ops/ discounts. ANY help and/or tips on how to make the best of my first trip to the UK would be greatly welcomed. Thanks!

[Paul Chibeba]

Hi Maureen. I'd definitely head to Wales, but then I would say that! If you've got a short time-frame, you might want to do London AND get a little taster of Wales...

Wales is just two hours by car or train from London, so you could spend a couple of nights in Wales quite comfortably. I'd recommend South Wales in that time-frame, perhaps heading across the border from England and check our Tintern Abbey, Chepstow (great castle), maybe even up to Hay-on-Wye (the town with 38 book shops) on your first day. Then drive west to the Brecon Beacons National Park, perhaps a little walking and exploring (tour the Penderyn Welsh whisky distillery) before heading South to either the capital, Cardiff, or Swansea (Dylan Thomas' birthplace - and Catherine Zeta too). Drop your car off in Cardiff or Swansea and you could take the train back to London on the third day to save the drive into central London.

Drop me an Email if you want to chat further. We'd (Visit Wales) be happy to try and help if we can.

Paul (Visit Wales)