something for the weekend?

[Annie456]

I have booked monday off work and have a 3 day weekend. Our trip to venice has been cancelled due to finances (car trouble) and now have a 3 day cheap weekend to plan. It would be nice to get out of London (where we live) but i don't know the surrounding areas too well. Something fairly cheap and options for rain and no rain please!

[stebby]

I;ve heard Dublin is a great place to see I intend to go there myself in January.
Why dont you check out the link on this site.
onlinetravel.com it all looks pretty cheap to me

[Buenchico]

I'm happy to back up Stebby's suggestion of Dublin but, at this short notice, you can't get the really cheap fares. At present, Ryanair are offering a cheapest price of about �160 return (out Saturday, back Monday), for 2 people from Stansted, including taxes and charges. While that's still fairly cheap, it might not help much if you've got a really tight budget. (If you're interested and require suggestions for accommodation and activities, just post again)

It's not clear from your post whether you want to stay at a hotel or whether you simply want some recommendations for day trips. At the risk of stating the blindingly obvious, I've got to mention Brighton. It's great for both day trips and weekend breaks. You've got culture and heritage provided with the stunning Royal Pavilion and historic Preston Manor. There are some good entertainment venues, excellent shopping (especially around North Laine, with loads of quirky independent shops) and the best variety of restaurants that you'll find anywhere in the UK, outside of London. (The Viceroy of India, on Preston Street, is superb). Trains from Victoria take less than an hour to get there. If you're staying for the weekend, Brighton is a great base for touring, whether by train, bus or car. (If you need suggestions for places to visit from Brighton, just post again).

I've got plenty of other suggestions, but it would be useful to know whether you require a base to explore the surrounding area, or whether you'd rather stick with day trips. (For the former, Norwich comes to mind -or possibly even Ipswich. For the latter, I'm thinking of places such as Rochester and Windsor).

Post again and I'll be happy to come up with plenty of suggestions (as, I'm sure, many other ABers will also do).

Chris

[Annie456]

Hi, Thanks for your suggestions so far, I'm actually thinking of daytrips rather than hotels/weekend breaks. I wouldn't mind avoiding big towns or cities either as London is such a hectic place it would be nice to have a break from all things busy! so any suggestions within an hour and halfs drive from south london would be much appreciated. I'm originally from the north so have not explored anywhere south.

[drchasuble]

You could go to Brighton or Rye in Kent which is very pretty.
Oxford or Bath are lovely as is Cambridge.
I was watching Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares last night and he was in King's Lynn in Norfolk which looked absolutely gorgeous. Really old fashioned seaside town. It's definitely next on my list of places to visit.

[Buenchico]

Even though you want somewhere which isn't too hectic, I'm going to stick with my suggestion of Brighton. It might be a big city but it still has an incredibly relaxed feel about the place:
http://tourism.brighton.co.uk/
(If you go, don't miss the Royal Pavilion and the North Laine shopping area. There are plenty of good, cheap bistros around The Lanes).

I'll also suggest Rochester. It's a very pleasant town, which has managed to keep most of the big multiple stores out. (They're all up the road in either Chatham or Strood). It's got some lovely independent shops (including some good secondhand book shops):
http://www.cometorochester.co.uk/index.htm

For me, it would be Rochester on Saturday and Brighton on Sunday. On Monday, I'd drive to Dover, leave the car at the ferry port and buy some cheap day return tickets, as foot passengers, to Calais. (It's much maligned by those who want a 'big city' shopping experience but it's got some lovely little independent shops and some great restaurants - try 'Au Calice' on the main shopping street).

If you want to remain in the UK, what about Windsor? It's very attractive (but you should be warned that places such as restaurants tend to be rather over-priced for what they offer):
http://www.windsor.gov.uk/

Chris

[sense4all]

If you take up Chris's idea then have a look at this hotel with a Brian Turner Eatery and if you fancy an overnighter this link is the hotels web site.

http://www.elanhotels.com/hotels/england/sloug h/xs1528.html

also only twenty minutes away from Windsor in the car is Phil Vickery and partners place - a pleasant meal in a wee country pub off the beaten tracken but popular with locals
The phone Number for the King of Prussia is on this food review page.

http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/food_and_dr ink/reviews/article342310.ece

[irenalana]

try poole in dorset train from waterloo