egghead

Hello from Canada. I'll be taking a 2.5 trip (10-11 days) starting and ending in London with a friend around England, Wales and Scotland at the end of June/beginning of July. I'll be travelling by rail (I'll have bought a rail pass before I get there), and I'll be staying in either hostels or B&B's. I'm trying to figure out where I should go, and it's quite a challenge. I would like to explore mostly on my own (I don't do the group tour thing very well). I enjoy the outdoors (provided it doesn't rain), architecture, and museums for the most part, but I want to avoid the tourist traps. Places that are a priority on visiting are Bath, Liverpool/Manchester, Lake District, Edinburgh, some part of Wales (most likely Cardiff), and York (visiting family). Any tips or ideas would be much appreciated. While I won't be completely broke, cheaper places would be preferable. Oh, and I'll already be spending a few days in London before leaving with my friend, so don't worry about that. I probably won't have access to a rental car, as well.

What my rough itinerary looks like at the moment is travelling up the east side of England, through southern Scotland, down the west side to Wales, then back to London.

Thanks in advance for you help. =)

Anonymous

Would you please clarify the length of your trip? Around here 10 - 11 days is 1.5 weeks, not 2.5. The number of different places you've listed is quite ambitious for 10 - 11 days.

egghead

Sorry. Typo. It is 1.5 weeks. I don't need to see everything, I just listed a few places I would like to see. I don't know how long I should spend in certain areas, how much there is to do there, etc...

egghead

anyone?

leonberger

I think it's hard to answer because there is just too much to do in England/Scotland/Wales for you to take it all in in 1.5 weeks.

I'd suggest you pick one area and enjoy it a little more thoroughly, or, alternatively, just assume you'll really only hit the major highlights.

I think you could take the train north from London to York, spend a day or two, then train to Edinburgh for another couple of days.

Take the trian back down to the Lake District (although I have no idea how that works without a car, I'm not familiar with the public transportation options there), and on to Liverpool.

Next over to Wales, back through Bath and return to London.

However, that sounds to me like you'll spend your vacation on a train.

How about going to York (1-2 days) and then visiting the Hadrian's Wall sites - maybe hiking along the wall for a day or two.

Then head to Edinburgh - Sheila has a list that would take more than 6 weeks to cover in this one city alone! Go to Sterling or other parts of Scotland if you've got the time.

Train back to Bath and/or Cardiff for your last few days.

Even with that itinerary, I think you're covering way too much ground.

I'm going to the UK in September for 19 days - exactly 2 days in London, then heading straight to Scotland. One week staying near Edinburgh, another week driving parts of Scotland, and two days to work our way back to London. I am busily scratching things off my list of "must do's" because there is just too much to do in that part of the world. (And, this is my 11th or 12th visit to the UK, my 2nd "long" trip to Scotland.)

Just some thoughts...let all of us know if you narrow it down a little. Then we can be more helpful with suggestions and details!

Gayle

Morgana

Hi Egghead
If you have family I am assuming York is a definite. I would urge you to go to Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal, only a short distance from York. Yes, it could be considered a tourist trap - but if you pick your visiting time you will be fine. Avoid the weekend, go as soon as it opens one week-day and you won't regret it. www.fountainsabbey.org.uk gives you details.
M

Mucky

Hi egghead,
I will certainly try to help with the Cardiff bit.
How long do you intend to stay in Cardiff area?
If you want to see castles and museums that is quite easy, but if you have deeper interests let me know and I will try to put you in the right direction.
There is a Youth Hostel in Cardiff
you can find details at:
http://www.hostels.com/en/availabili...telNumber.6976

Plus there are B&B's in abundance too.
Public transport in Cardiff is ok by bus and you can get to places like the Welsh Folk Museum by Bus, but I am not sure if you would class it as a tourist trap. Tourists of course go there but it is free to enter.

Bye for now

Muck

isplumm

Hi ....

Ok .... depending on what time flight arrives (early morning).

1. Catch train to York.
2. Base yourselve in York for a few days,
3. Catch train up Carlisle to Settle railway, very good views. Start from York to Leeds, the to Settle to Carlisle.
4. Then catch train to Lake District. For this you need to go to Oxenholme (from Carlisle) & change there for Windermere. At Windermere you catch buses to the Lakes. Lake Windermere is a 5 minute walk away.
5. Stay there a few days.
6. Catch train to London
7. Spend a few days there,
8. Go home ..

Mark

egghead

Thanks for your advice guys (and girls). I think I'm going to cross out Lake District (no car to get around) and York off my list. So I need to decide if it's worth staying a night or 2 somewhere along the East coast of England, and where. I was thinking Newcastle, but I don't know what there is to see there. I'll probably stick to urban areas because I'm doing all my travelling by train.

I think I'll spend 3 nights in Edinburgh, so any secret places that you know of that aren't tourist traps would be great.

I'll probably spend a night in Liverpool/Manchester, then a few nights in Cardiff. Is it worth going to the national parks in Wales? They seem a bit out of the way for me.

Regarding flights and jet lag, that won't be a problem because I'm staying outside of London with a friend a week before, then going to Glastonbury. w00t. Whether I'll be hung over is another story... hehe.