19th November 2008 - by Donald Donaldson
Flying Into Stansted Airport? Use a Hire Car to Tour the
Surrounding Area
A look at some of the destinations that are in the immediate
vicinity of Stansted Airport and why those using a hire car to
tour this region is an ultimately worthwhile experience.
Stansted Airport is referred to as London Stansted in many
pieces of literature; however this is somewhat of a misnomer,
whilst it may only be an hour from London the airport sits in
the quaint and beautiful district of Uttlesford. This stunning
region is the perfect excuse to hire a car and explore rather
than jump straight onto the M11 motorway. With a wealth of
succinctly English towns and villages within a short drive of
Stansted the tourist is given an impression of life in the
countryside. Subsequently car hire services at the airport are
not purely there for the onward journey, they are a way to see
one of the most amazing regions in the entire country.
Stansted takes its name from the nearby town of Stansted
Mountfitchet. This town is literally five minutes from the
airport and has a range of attractions to entertain the
visitor. One of these attractions is Mountfitchet Castle, a
replica of a motte and bailey castle that is a fascinating day
out for children and adults alike; giving a unique insight into
life during the times of the Norman Conquest. As well as
historical attractions the town also has some excellent pubs
for lunches to break up the driving in your hire car.
In the other direction lies some of the most historical and
gorgeous English towns in the South of the country; one of
these towns is Great Dunmow, an ancient flitch town that has a
range of stunning old houses full of rural charm. An
interesting event is the flitch trial that takes place every
four years. The purpose of the trial is for a couple to
convince a jury of local residents that they have not argued at
all over the previous year, if the couple are successful they
win a prize of a flitch of bacon. This interesting ceremony is
a small element of what is available to those using car hire
services from Stansted airport.
Another fascinating town is Thaxted, a settlement that had a
rich heritage in the manufacture of cutlery. The result of the
wealth of town is a church that is regarded by many to be one
of the finest in England, its stature dominating the town from
all angles. Additionally the main high street of Thaxted has a
wonderful guildhall that is perfect for those postcard images.
Within the town is a vibrant social scene with a large number
of pubs considering the size of the settlement, each of these
pubs has its own individual charm and are usually filled with
friendly locals. Be careful however, it is too easy to forget
the time and overindulge in these pubs, meaning that your car
hire journey will have to be postponed.
If the towns and villages become a bit much within a short
drive from Stansted Airport is the city of Cambridge. The city
is renowned for its scholarly traditions and with marvellous
architecture it is the perfect place to spend the day. Whether
you choose to leave the hire car and instead rent a punt is up
to you, but on a summer s day there is little more enjoyable
than messing about on the river. With a range of shops and
restaurants Cambridge is a tourist destination in its own right
that attracts visitors from all around the globe; its timeless
elegance and beauty make it the perfect destination all year
round.
Hopefully this article has given those using car hire services
from Stansted Airport an idea of what attractions are in the
immediate vicinity. For the tourist it is advisable to postpone
the trip to the capital and spend some time in this most
gorgeous region of England.
Article Source: http://www.articlesabroad.com
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