Page 246 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

is rich in history and
studded with august
DETOUR: buildings. The city has 38
LACOCK colleges – Christ Church
(%01865-276492; www.chch.
Start: b Avebury (p242) ox.ac.uk; St Aldate’s; adult/child
Around 16 miles into your Avebury-to-Bath cruise, £8/7; h10am-4.15pm Mon-Sat,
consider a detour south. A drive of just 4 extra miles 2-4.15pm Sun) is the largest,
leads to a real rarity: a medieval village that’s been with 650 students, and
preserved in time. In Lacock, the sweet streets has the grandest quad.
framed by stone cottages, higgledy-piggledy rooftops Founded in 1524 by
and mullioned windows are a delight to stroll around. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey,
Unsurprisingly, it’s a popular movie location – it’s alumni include Albert
popped up in the Harry Potter films, The Other Boleyn Einstein and 13 British
Girl and a BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. prime ministers. It’s also
The 13th-century former Augustinian nunnery of famous as a location for
Lacock Abbey (NT; %01249-730459; www.nationaltrust. the Harry Potter films. At
org.uk; Hither Way; adult/child £12/6; h10.30am-5.30pm the Ashmolean (%01865-
Mar-Oct, 11am-4pm Nov-Feb) is a must-see: its deeply 278000; www.ashmolean.org;
atmospheric rooms and stunning Gothic entrance Beaumont St; h10am-5pm
hall are lined with bizarre terracotta figures – spot the Tue-Sun), Britain’s oldest
scapegoat with a lump of sugar on its nose. The Fox public museum showcases
Talbot Museum (NT; %01249-730459; www.nationaltrust. treasures such as Egyp-
org.uk; Hither Way; adult/child £12/6, includes entry to Lacock tian mummies, Indian
GREAT BRITAIN 17 THE HISTORIC SOUTH
Abbey; h10.30am-5.30pm Mar-Oct, 11am-4pm Nov-Feb) textiles and Islamic art.
features an intriguing display on early photography, Beautiful Magdalen
while the George Inn (www.georgeinnlacock.co.uk; 4 West College (%01865-276000;
St; mains £10-16; hfood noon-2.30pm & 6-9pm Mon-Sat, www.magd.ox.ac.uk; High
6-8pm Sun) is an atmospheric pub in which to re-fuel. St; adult/child £5/4, 45min
tours £6; h1-6pm Oct-Jun,
noon-7pm Jul-Sep, tours 6pm
Highlights include the ity’ Brown. A minitrain daily Jul-Sep) is worth a visit
Great Hall, a soaring (50p) whisks you to the for its medieval chapel,
space topped by a 20m- Pleasure Gardens, which 15th-century cloisters
high ceiling adorned with feature a yew maze, and 40-hectare grounds.
images of the first duke. adventure playground, Nearby, let someone else
Britain’s legendary WWII lavender garden and navigate for a bit: head to
prime minister, Sir Win- butterfly house. Magdalen Bridge Boat-
ston Churchill, was born house (%01865-202643;
here in 1874 – the Church- The Drive » From Blenheim’s www.oxfordpunting.co.uk; High
grandeur, it’s a 10-mile pootle
ill Exhibition is dedi- down the A44/A4144 to Oxford’s St; chauffeured 4-person punt
cated to his life, work, dreaming spires. per 30min £30, punt rental
paintings and writings. per hour £24; h9.30am-dusk
The house is encircled by Feb-Nov) for a ride on a
vast, lavish gardens and f Oxford chauffeured punt.
parklands, parts of which One of the world’s most
were landscaped by the famous university towns, 4 p245
great Lancelot ‘Capabil- the centre of Oxford

244