'I have had a life-long love affair with ecclesiastical
buildings so, living in London, I'm spoilt for choice. I always make a bee-line
for the church when we're on holiday and I've visited most of England's
cathedrals and abbeys, some of them many times over.'
'Cathedral cities are ideal for vacations and home swaps
as they are generally such stunning places with a variety of things to see and
do and we've stayed in several in our four years' membership of Home Base
Holidays. One of our earliest swaps was to Bath*, the only place I could
imagine living if we were to leave London, where the abbey stands golden
alongside the street entertainers, the Roman Baths and the delightful
wonky-floored Sally Lunn's Bath bun shop.
While swapping in Dorchester* we caught the bus, a
glorious journey through the lush Dorset countryside, to Sherborne, the abbey
magnificent in this pretty town which has many other attractions.
Our first ever visit to Chester was a house swap and
there the cathedral is dark and brooding constructed of deep red stone, shops
on one side of the road, cathedral on the other. A perfect day!
A week in Oxford* gave us a chance to get under the skin
of this amazing little city which for Londoners is usually confined to a day
trip and where the cathedral is just one of many wonderful churches and
chapels, a new delight around every corner and uniformity of building materials
providing harmony for the eye.
This time last year we were in Frome, the house an
architectural delight in itself, and another bus trip to Wells with its
spectacular scissor arch and so beautiful it almost defies description.
But I think my favourite of all is Salisbury* and last summer our home from home gave us Stonehenge as a short bus
trip in one direction and the cathedral (photo
above) 10 minutes walk in the other. One
sunny afternoon (yes, there were some sunny days last summer) we walked across
the meadows and sat on a conveniently placed bench to admire Turner's viewpoint
of Britain's tallest spire. Thank goodness we got into this home swapping lark.
And if you're feeling sorry for Paul for enduring my
obsession bear in mind that all but one of these places has a race course - and
I'm not adverse to the chance of putting on my glad rags for a day!' - Sandra
Newnham
Sandra, a Home Base Holidays member, is a very
experienced home swapper and regular contributor to Home Swappers Newsletter
and our blog. See her home exchange offer in London.
Note: we welcome reports from members on their exchange
experiences and, as an added incentive, you will receive three months added to
your current membership period. If you are a prolific exchanger and writer like Sandra, you
may never pay for membership renewal again! Contact Home Base Holidays with
your ideas for articles.
Some homes in cathedral cities that Sandra and Paul have exchanged
to:
Salisbury - Spacious comfortable townhouse (in photo) minutes
walk to historic city centre. Within walking distance of train and bus
stations. Centrally located for cinema, theatre, restaurants, shops, leisure
centre/swimming, sports, etc. Famous landmarks include Stonehenge (8 miles) and
Salisbury Cathedral. See home swap offer.
Bath - Cosy two bedroom end terrace, on the outskirts of
the World Heritage City of Bath. There's plenty to do do in Bath - enjoy walking, cycling, boating,
hot-air ballooning, shopping, the Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa. a comfortable,
stylish ground floor apartment with an extensive walled terrace for alfresco dining.
It is a ten minute stroll from the beautiful and famous city of Oxford and a
one hour train ride to London. See home swap offer.
Oxford - Comfortable, stylish ground floor apartment
with an extensive walled terrace for alfresco dining. It is a ten minute stroll
from the beautiful and famous city of Oxford and a one hour train ride to
London. It's location is unique, combining a quiet, relaxing situation next to
the canal with a piazza (and fountain) to the front of the apartment and yet,
just two minutes walk from shops, cafe culture, local pubs, restaurants and
cinema. A two minute walk on the other side of the canal lies open countryside
and the River Thames with ducks, swans, geese etc. See home swap offer.
