BS: Prettiest villages in England

Subject: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 03:58 PM

Could use some advice. I am travelling to England for a short visit in October and due to time constraints, will have to limit my trip to the southern third of England. I have travelled to the COtswolds several times, and I find those villages to be absolutely lovely, but I would like to know others' opinions about other pretty villages that I may visit. I mentioned this once in the chat room and there were lots of places mentioned, but I should have written them down, but alas I didn't. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance jimmyt

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 04:38 PM

James, I was one of your chattering classes. Go to Mersea island, on the Essex coast, about 50 miles north east of London.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 05:13 PM

Finchingfield in Essex has won the title a few times.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 05:28 PM

Good advice, both of you. I have toured Norfolk and Suffolk quite a bit as My Grandmum came from Great Yarmouth, but havn't spent any time in Essex.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 06:46 PM

Stay clear of Close House, County Durham, Britian's ugliest village.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Micca
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 07:47 PM

Rye in sussex, and Hastings Old Town(not the new town, its Ugly)and they are close together!!

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: izzy
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 08:34 PM

Go to Rye --it's absolutely fabulous. Whatever you do, don't go there without having a cream tea at The Peacock (wonderful place). In general, avoid Hastings --when I was there last it was traffic-ridden and rather depressing. Besides, it's more of a town than a village, and unlike Rye, which is also sizeable, you really feel it. One more tip --the view from the top of Rye church tower on a sunny day is idyllic. Take a camera with some film in it. I hope you're not scared of heights?

Cheers,

Isabel

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 09:21 PM

Thanks for starting this thread Jimmy, and thanks to all you good folk who have contributed placenames. Thanks to Google, and Multimap, I'm now having a wonderful tour of the UK. I need a holiday right now. It's winter 'Downunder', I've never been out of NZ, and won't ever make it. To top it off, I "fell out of the bath" and broke a rib last night. I'm sore and sorry for myself right now. The on-line UK Tour you Catters are providing is just what I need!

More Villages (and Pubs) please...

Cheers - Sam - Stewart Island NZ, as far from England as you can get, so off-topic, but we ain't a bad village, for all that.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: izzy
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 09:28 PM

I sympathise, Billy, I haven't been home in years --so I'm living vicariously through this thread too! *sob* *sob*

Fancy a virtual Guinness?

Hope your rib gets better soon!

Cheers!

Isabel

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Peg
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 10:38 PM

Glastonbury! near wells, which has a lovely cathedral.

I'd also recommend seeing the Rollrights; not far from Banbury, Long Compton, Chipping Norton...

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 10:53 PM

peg, I have been to Stow on the wold several times and been near the Rollrights, but never visited ! Thanks for the tip! Am also excited to go to Rye! ! THanks everyone,

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 11:40 PM

Thanks for you kind thoughts Isabel. A 'Virtual Guiness' wouldn't help much, but the real whisky which the nurse prescribed is working well.

Jimmy, you said you know the Cotswolds. Have you been to Wotton-Under-Edge? I haven't, my only link left there ca. 1750. It still seems to be a jolly fine English 'Village'.

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Phot
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 12:29 AM

try Cockington just outside Painton, or Broardhembury near Honiton, both are in Devon, and both have cracking pubs!

Cheers, Chris

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 01:13 AM

Jimmyt - almost all of Dorset but particularly Milton Abbas, Cerne Abbas and Abbotsbury (is there something these abbots are not sharing?) - if you need a native guide, I'm sure I could arrange an 'accident' that will keep me off work for a week or so......

You'd like Cerne Abbas...... Oo-er missus!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Morticia
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 01:49 AM

Hook Norton is lovely and it also has a brewery!

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 02:55 AM

If you should find yourself travelling between Rye and Hastings be sure to visit Winchelsea. BTW, I think the inhabitants of all three places consider them as towns

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: The Shambles
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 05:03 AM

As already said no need to go out of Dorset - but if you do this place - Castle Coombe - claims to to be the prettiest village in England.

http://www.ccombe.fsnet.co.uk/

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 05:40 AM

Gee, shame you aren't coming north. I'm in Yorkshire, can't understand half of what folks are saying here, it's like being back in Maine, but the villages sure are cute.

The moor is incredible. I've never seen a pink field.

DW

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 05:58 AM

LtS and/or Shambles,

Next time you pass through Netherbury, please dip yer knee at St Marys for me Fourbears wot left there in 1839. Even better, have a beer for me at the "Hare & Hounds".

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 06:19 AM

When I was at Sidmouth Festival this year, I visited a village east of there on the coast called Beer. Yes that is it's name...Beer. It's lovely. You can catch a little fishing boat and catch as many macerel as you want, walk along the cliff walks, eat great meals in the Anchor pub. I loved it so much, I would like to live there.

Sal

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 06:20 AM

Banbury Festival is in October btw. It's got a web site.

Sal

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 06:29 AM

"Blue Clicky" for Sal's Banbury Festival

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: greg stephens
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 07:01 AM

Trouble with "prettiest villages" is that (a) the house prices have removed all the locals and (b) they are full of tourists. I think you can have more fun (and just as much aesthetic pleasure) visiting average sort of places. Or even sub-average places, like Stoke-on-trent where I live.
   However, for 100% amazingly beautiful place that never seems to get full of tourists, and has a sensational pub (The Newfields Inn), try Seathwaite in the Duddon valley, Cumbria (not to be confused with Seathwaite in Borrowdale, another place altogether, though also in Cumbria).

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 07:07 AM

Thanks BTB.

Sal

#8-)

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Beardy
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 07:16 AM

As Ms Lemon says the villages around Sidmouth are all worth a visit. Sidmouth is regularly in the Best kept village nominations as are Sidbury & Sidford. If in the area a trip to Branscombe, especially the Fountainhead pub is recommended but beware as road is very narrow!

Stewart

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 12:01 PM

Liz, as per Cerne Abbas Giant, a little known fact is that I actually posed for this chalk art in a former life..............now where did I leave that club???????????

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: The Shambles
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 12:20 PM

On the subject of the reality of living now in these villages -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/villages/cascomb2.shtml

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: GUEST,Zany Mouse
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 01:52 PM

If you go to Branscombe, near Sidmouth, you really MUST have tea at the Old Bakehouse. BLISS!

As a Yorkshire Lass I supposed I am biased but I think the prettiest villages in England are Thornton-Le-Dale and Hutton-Le-Hole. The Dales generally are beautiful.

Incidentally, JT, I haven't forgotten to PM you with the Bruges information. I had a mini-stroke which has left me very tired but I promise I will get the info off to you in good time.

ZM

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 02:09 PM

Hope you are well ZM. No rush on the info   Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Mudlark
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 05:26 PM

I thought Shere, in Surrey, only an hr or so from London, very pretty, it has a lovely little stream wth ducks, an ancient pub (and an old public well across the street endowed by a couple of 19th c. sisters who did not approve of spirits and thus offered the good water of Shere as an alternative). And the country lanes around Shere go thru forests that are right out of Arthur Rackham illustrations...

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 10:00 PM

ZM - I love your Pongolian Placenames. "Hutton-Le-Hole" must take the cake for hilarity,, Owww.. me bruck rib's hurtin'. I'm now visiting the Hut On/In the Hole, it looks great - for a "HOLE".

Cheers - Sam in NZ

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 01:15 AM

You thnk Hutton Le Hole is funny?

How about Sheepy Magna or Sheepy Parva?

Stupid placenames are a whole new thread!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Oaklet
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 04:05 AM

Little Hawk wanted to point out that South Ferriby is one of the prettiest villages in the north of England if you ignore the A1077 trunk road, the low quality buildings and the enormous Benson's tripe works. Oh, and the awful smell.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 05:30 AM

Baaa... Liz... I don't feel at all sheepish. The snapshots of both Parva and Magna seem quite pretty to me.

Oaklet I couldn't find the Tripe in Ferriby, but I won't Quarry, but go to Church lnstead.

LOL - I'm having fun on the Net - trust you have even more in "Reality" Jimmy.

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 05:52 AM

I liked to be in
Little Hallingbury and Great Hallingbury near Bishop's Stortford.

All three places are awfully pretty.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 07:03 AM

.... an dreadfully noisy on account of being next door to London Stansted

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Peg
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 11:04 AM

re: the Rollrights, also do be sure to see the Whispering Knights and the King Stone, too, one is across the road and the other in the neighboring barley field. They are all part of the same ancient complex. The view down the hill from the King Stone is gorgeous, you can see Long Compton. Mind you, the White Horse of Uffington is not too far from this area, and that gets my vote for my favorite sacred site in England! (and I have been to many of them). The surrounding countryside and views from White Horse Hill are indescribable. A mile away (walking on the Ridgeway track) is Waylands' Smithy, an ancient long barrow surrounded by trees. It's a nice walk. I have the white horse tattoed on my back, so inspiring did I find this place.

There is a good pub up the road called The King's Arms, if I remember correctly. I also found the nearby village of Deddington to be very scenic. Banbury is nice, but watch out for football-on-TV nights as the streets tend to fill with drunken hooligans. I liked this one pub/inn there which has an Oliver Cromwell room and sells really delicious country wines which you can purchase by the bottle! (I forget the name of the place; it's a big white building with dark beams),

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Peg
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 11:07 AM

oops, sorry just to clarify, the King's Arms is near the Rollrights! and if you like to hike/walk, the Ridgeway is unbeatable. It starts near Marlboro and ends at West Kennet Longbarrow/Avebury (also well worth a visit!) I would like to walk the whole thing at some point, or at least a good portion of it. I think the main part is 37 miles or so. I walked from Hickpen Hill (small white horse there) and stoped at West Kennet, about seven miles, and along the way checked out the Greywethers: huge chunks of stone brought from many miles away.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Micca
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 11:52 AM

Peg, the Ridgeway is more than 100 kilometers long and starts at Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire try here for map and Avebury is an interesting village

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 06:31 PM

Try Dunkeld, Portree, Ullapool, Plockton, Arisaig, Strathpeffer, Cromarty, Luss, Tobermory, Milport, Oban, Balacheulish,Lairg, Tounge Rosehall, Achiltibuie, Gairloch,loch, Shieldaig, Inverarish, Balintore.... if you happen to get a wee bit lost!

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 06:38 PM

In 2001 I spent a blissful November week in Frampton on Severn, which boasts the longest village green in England (with a pub at each end!). The folk club meets in the village hall on Tuesdays. Lovely folk. In the Severn Vale, 20-ish miles south of Gloucester.

It's rural and unpretentious (hardly at all twee but suitably picturesque), next to a canal for strolling next to, and a couple of miles from a large waterfowl sanctuary. Despite all this, it manages to be very near an exchange on the M5, which was critical for us as my husband is not good at negotiating the minor roads.

Not many services, but the self-catering we let was within crawling distance of one of the pubs and right next to the post office/shop, so we were all set.

Thanks for giving me the chance to remember that lovely, idyllic week.

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Snuffy
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 07:47 PM

I think the pub in Banbury is the Reine Deer, Peg, selling Hook Norton beers, brewed only a couple of miles from the Rollrights. And yes, we did the Kings Stone and the Whispering Knights as well.

"Dunkeld, Portree, Ullapool, Plockton, Arisaig, Strathpeffer, Cromarty, Luss, Tobermory, Milport, Oban, Balacheulish,Lairg, Tounge Rosehall, Achiltibuie, Gairloch,loch, Shieldaig, Inverarish, Balintore" ... more than a wee bit lost if you're looking for pretty English villages!

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 09:21 PM

I can't wait to get there!!! Am going to try real hard to get up to the Banbury Festival also! It is almost like travelling to hear from everyone on this subject!! WOUld like a thread on most interesting pubs also! I have a few very favorite pubs for wonderful food, mostly in the Cotswolds but some in WIltshire and Surrey. WOuld like more info

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 10:46 PM

Jimmy, there was a recent BS: Pubs I have known thread, which led me to some interesting ones.

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Peg
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 11:42 PM

yes, Micca, re; the Ridgeway, the whole thing is pretty long! I would do the "main" bit which starts in Marlboro...although if I had time and energy I would love to do the whole thing in one go...

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 05:09 AM

Just avoid the place you are going. Visit the top third instead. There are no nice places in the south. Remember the old adage.

The north is full of hills and moors. The south if full of mills and... Whoops better not go there;-)

Ducking and running

Dave the Gnorthern Gnome.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: sledge
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 05:45 AM

Hi all,

Peg, Snuffy the pub in question is "The Olde Reine Deer" in Pasrons street just up from the market place. Its probably one of the few decent pubs left in the town. Spent many a happy pint there, still do when I go to visit Mum and Dad.

Cheers

Sledge

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: GUEST,Ross
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 06:22 AM

Try parts of Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire

Only 30 miles north/north west of London

All the villages in & around the Chiltern Hills- Includes Ashridge Forest, Whipsnade, Barton Hills, Icknield Way, Woburn Estate

Redbourn probably has the greatest common in the world

Some nice small towns - Harpenden, Berkhamsted

St Albans - Roman & cathedral city

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Snuffy
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 08:53 AM

But give Stratford a miss!

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: sledge
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 09:18 AM

Just outside Banbury is the village of Broughton, Small but with its own fortified Manor house. The pub in the village, the Saye and sele arms allways served good food as well as beer.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 09:37 AM

Following the old canals, especially the one near Cirencester, was certainly one of the blissiest experiences I have ever had. The whole area, for some reason, feels like parts of northern France. Maybe has something to do with the old sheep trade. (Not that northern France is better, just something I noticed).

While on the subject, does anyone know of any towns and villages on the seaside that aren't messed up? I am thinking of doing some visiting next year.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Snuffy
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 11:21 AM

Southwold?

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Oaklet
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 11:53 AM

Willenhall

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: kendall
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 04:25 PM

It's hardly a village, but I liked London. Parts of it are run down and dirty, but the place has a certain panache that you don't find just anywhere.
I also liked Aldershot, and that little town in Yorkshire where we went to the festival. Dave the Gnome forced me to drink spiced rum, so, don't recall the name.
By the by Dave, I still have your little torch

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: kendall
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 09:26 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 01:28 AM

G'day Jimmy and other English Village Enthusiasts. Try here for some excellent Suffolk Snapshots. Once you get into the archives, pages have quite a few big piccies, and are slow-loading - use a new window. There's many a fine looking Pub shown!

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 04:07 PM

I've only been to a handful, but up on the Northeast coast, in the Teeside area, Staithes and Whitby are two of the loveliest that Ive been to anywhere.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Nick
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 05:10 AM

Great Tew off the road between Banbury and Chipping Norton. Used to have a good thatched pub (Falkland Arms) with excellent guest beers and occasional folk singing on a sunday (?)

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Nick
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 05:13 AM

And better add in Upper and Lower Slaughter in Cotswolds

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 10:08 AM

nickb I have been to the slaughters many times. Indeed very charming. Might check out the Falkland arms in Great Tew.
                                                                     Chantyranger, WHitby is definately on my list of mst sees someday.                                                                                                                                  Kendall, indeed London is an interesting city and I do plan on spending a few days wandering around it this time.

Cirencester environs is interesting. I have been through there but in all honesty Ihave not spent any time exploring.

Broughton near Banbury is also a possibility this trip.

Thanks all for the advice, Snuffy, where is SOuthwold and Oakers, where is Willenhall?

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Oaklet
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 02:05 PM

jimmyt,

Willenhall is a picturesque hamlet of mellow-stoned cottages, nestling under the jealously protective guardianship of the Wednesbury Edge in peaceful, rural Staffs. It has two pubs, a green, and a tranquil pond that come evening, reflects the glow of distant, urban Wednesfield from across the valley.

My great aunt had a coal-round that included Willenhall, but she was insane and ended up breeding pedigree wasps in a felt hat left to her by the local vicar - a reverent James "two traction engines" McDonald. From the top of Wednesbury edge, you can see Brown Clee, Wenlock Edge and into the permanently open bathroom window of Mrs Elsie Enderby, who despite her years is not as body-shy as she should be.

Hope that helps, mate. Now get on with your dental work, you varmint.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 04:04 PM

did I mention I looked at your website, www.crossdressing oaklet.uk?

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Strick
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 04:31 PM

"Castle Coombe - claims to to be the prettiest village in England"

I haven't been to many of these places to know if the claim is true, but my wife and I agree Castle Coombe is well worth the visit. But not too many of you, don't spoil the place. ;)

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 09:09 PM

"It's hardly a village, but I liked London." Well, any Londoner will tell you London is made up of a whole host of villages living alongside each other. That's the way to make sense of it.

Here's a site with a few of them. The two mentioned I'm fondest of are Notting Hill and Hampstead. But there are loads more. Pretty? In their way, yes.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 08:57 PM

I hate to be selfserving, but I would like to refresh this once to see if there are any more people out there who would like to share their thoughts. McGrath, good site on the villages of London. I enjoyed it a bunch.

My daughter will be spending a couple months living in Ealing starting Wednesday this week. Does anyone have any insights at all about Ealing? How long will it take to get tube from Ealing Broadway to Bond Street? Good pubs? Places to avoid? ANy info at all would be appreciated!!! Thanks everyone jimmyt

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 03:13 AM

Try this site http://upmystreet.co.uk/

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 03:55 PM

or even
http://upmystreet.co.uk

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 06:42 AM

It was Ingleton, Kendall. And the main road that you revisted on a number of occasions before being rescued was the A65 which runs past Ingleton to Kendal! The torch was a gift. The spiced rum was a penance;-)

Cheers

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: Trevor
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 06:55 AM

Have a mooch around South Shropshire - Cardington is lovely, most of the places with 'Clun' in the name are worth a visit.

Subject: RE: BS: Prettiest villages in England
From: GUEST,Ian Darby
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 08:13 PM

Lamorna & Boscastle in Cornwall, (The latter has a great Witchcraft Museum & Sessions on Monday night in the Wellington Hotel) also Robin Hoods Bay in Yorkshire.