Question about a UK town

[nb100uk]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Richelle Votaw" 
<rvotaw at i...> wrote:
> > Also, I naturally want to see as many HP sites as I can.  What is 
worth going to?  Particularly between Alnwick Castle, Gloucester 
Cathedral, Bodleian Library, Christ Church, and Lacock Abbey.  
Anything else I'm forgetting?  (Besides King's Cross, of course, 
that's a must for me.)
> 
Goodness, you'll have to travel a bit to get to all these places.  Is 
your trip entirely HP (movie) related?

I think I would have to recommend Lacock Abbey - it's a lovely 
ancient place, with the cloisters, abbey and a museum.  In addition, 
the trip is worthwhile as Lacock, the village, is guaranteed to take 
your breath away.  It has been used in numerous films - Emma, Pride 
and Prejudice and others.  There's also a wonderful inn that I spent 
my wedding night in some years ago called 'Sign of the Angel'.  The 
whole village is preserved as a National Trust area which means that 
every building is cared for and it's heritage preserved, yet it's not 
a museum, people live and work here.

It's a beautiful area of the country to visit with Bath, Gloucester, 
the Cotswolds and Stonehenge very close by.  Also, if you're keen on 
visiting the Bodlean library (incredible) and Christ Church, the 
drive through the Cotswolds to Oxford is a gorgeous route.

Of course I'm biased as my family are from the area, but I now live 
just outside Stratford-upon-Avon which, although touristy, is always 
worth a visit.

I think you could probably visit most of the sites you've mentioned 
fairly easily, except Alnwick Castle which is WAY WAY up north near 
the Scottish border (if my geography recollection serves me!)

As you mentioned Hay-on-Wye, the book festival is usually on in May, 
and is a real attraction.  Major speakers such as Bill Clinton, Maya 
Angelou, and acts like Macy Gray and Van Morrison appear regularly.  
I seem to recall that JKR herself visted some years ago.  You may 
want to change your visit date - the weather is so variable in this 
country that there's no guarantee that June will be warmer than May 
(and I think May is prettier - spring flowers and Mayday 
celebrations).

So, start in London and Kings Cross (remembering that JKR got the 
layout wrong and the platforms 9-10 really were meant to be platforms 
4-5!!), and make your way to the West Country.  Have a good visit and 
if you need a guide around Stratford, let me know!

Nina