England/Ireland Itinerary Help
Nov 3rd, 2015, 04:24 PM
#1
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England/Ireland Itinerary Help
I am very excited about planning my first trip to Europe! Because of this, I'm afraid I'm planning more than I have time for. I'm 22 years old and will be traveling with my parents. If you have any advice or suggestions for the itinerary below, I would greatly appreciate it!
May 28, 2016- Land in London. Sightsee.
May 29- London City Pass
May 30- London City Pass, West End Musical
May 31- London City Pass
June 1- Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour
June 2- Travel to Oxford (Would it be better to rent a car from London or do so once we arrive in Oxford?) Night in Oxford.
June 3- Drive to Bath via Cotswolds, Sightsee in Bath, Night in Bath.
June 4- Bath until noon, travel back to London (via Stonehenge) for a flight to Shannon, Ireland (Would it be best to leave the rental car in Bath and take the train into London?) Night in Limerick.
June 5- Rent car. Drive to Doolin, Cliffs of Moher, Ennistymon. Night in Doolin.
June 6- The Burren or Aran Islands (Which do you suggest?) Night in Doolin.
June 7- Drive to Dingle, explore area. Night in Dingle.
June 8- Slea Head Loop. Night in Dingle.
June 9- Drive to Kenmare via Killarney National Park. Night in Kenmare.
June 10- Ring of Beara. Night in Kenmare.
June 11- Drive to Dublin via Rock of Cashel. (Where/When should we drop off the car?) Night in Dublin.
June 12- Dublin. Night in Dublin.
June 13- Fly back to the US.
May 28, 2016- Land in London. Sightsee.
May 29- London City Pass
May 30- London City Pass, West End Musical
May 31- London City Pass
June 1- Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour
June 2- Travel to Oxford (Would it be better to rent a car from London or do so once we arrive in Oxford?) Night in Oxford.
June 3- Drive to Bath via Cotswolds, Sightsee in Bath, Night in Bath.
June 4- Bath until noon, travel back to London (via Stonehenge) for a flight to Shannon, Ireland (Would it be best to leave the rental car in Bath and take the train into London?) Night in Limerick.
June 5- Rent car. Drive to Doolin, Cliffs of Moher, Ennistymon. Night in Doolin.
June 6- The Burren or Aran Islands (Which do you suggest?) Night in Doolin.
June 7- Drive to Dingle, explore area. Night in Dingle.
June 8- Slea Head Loop. Night in Dingle.
June 9- Drive to Kenmare via Killarney National Park. Night in Kenmare.
June 10- Ring of Beara. Night in Kenmare.
June 11- Drive to Dublin via Rock of Cashel. (Where/When should we drop off the car?) Night in Dublin.
June 12- Dublin. Night in Dublin.
June 13- Fly back to the US.
Nov 3rd, 2015, 05:43 PM
#2
Hi, only a VERY. Quick comment (I'm in the arena waiting for tip off of an NBA game) . . . Do NOT buy a London Pass. Total waste of money, ESPECIALLY needing three of them.
I'll post more when I get home.
I'll post more when I get home.
Nov 3rd, 2015, 11:30 PM
#3
As J says drop the London Pass, there are much better deals.
Rent car in Oxford, catch bus or train to Oxford.
On you trip back from Bath to London, where are you actually going, if you are going directly to the airport (any of Luton, Stansted, Gatwick, Heathrow could be what you are using) then take the car straight there. I might just check if the flights from Bristol airport get you to Ireland even faster.
If going to get your bags or heading to London City Airport then take the train and leave the car in the sticks.
Rent car in Oxford, catch bus or train to Oxford.
On you trip back from Bath to London, where are you actually going, if you are going directly to the airport (any of Luton, Stansted, Gatwick, Heathrow could be what you are using) then take the car straight there. I might just check if the flights from Bristol airport get you to Ireland even faster.
If going to get your bags or heading to London City Airport then take the train and leave the car in the sticks.
Nov 4th, 2015, 12:24 AM
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UK~~ I would take a day from London which moves Oxford forwards a day. 2 nights in Bath for the Cotswold's and Stonehenge.
Fly Bristol to Cork.
ROI~~ From Cork either the night in Cork or head to Killarney which has more options than Kenmare or Kenmare.
Dingle isn't as big as its reputation the guided tour of Loop Head (35 miles) takes 2 hours the tour of the whole peninsula 4 hours. So I would have one night in Dingle then head for Adare/Limerick or my personal choice Ennis.
A day's drive from that night takes you to Galway via the Cliffs and Burren. 2 nights in Galway you can either get the trip to Inis Mor (Aran Isles) or tour Connemara on the middle day. From Galway drive across to Dublin call at Clonmacnoise, or one of the distilleries, or Belvadere House. Or drop the car and Bus or Train to Dublin.
No mention of staying in Doolin because it mainly consists of B&B's only has 3 pubs/eateries. Ennis has a handful of B&B's 3 hotels in town and lots of pubs eateries and entertainment. Galway is a great base for a couple of nights and has a younger scene for a 22yr old.
Fly Bristol to Cork.
ROI~~ From Cork either the night in Cork or head to Killarney which has more options than Kenmare or Kenmare.
Dingle isn't as big as its reputation the guided tour of Loop Head (35 miles) takes 2 hours the tour of the whole peninsula 4 hours. So I would have one night in Dingle then head for Adare/Limerick or my personal choice Ennis.
A day's drive from that night takes you to Galway via the Cliffs and Burren. 2 nights in Galway you can either get the trip to Inis Mor (Aran Isles) or tour Connemara on the middle day. From Galway drive across to Dublin call at Clonmacnoise, or one of the distilleries, or Belvadere House. Or drop the car and Bus or Train to Dublin.
No mention of staying in Doolin because it mainly consists of B&B's only has 3 pubs/eateries. Ennis has a handful of B&B's 3 hotels in town and lots of pubs eateries and entertainment. Galway is a great base for a couple of nights and has a younger scene for a 22yr old.
Nov 4th, 2015, 01:05 AM
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Tony2phones suggestions make sense. Flying from Bristol saves having to back track to London. The flight leaves 12.40 and gets you into Cork at 14.05. This also frees up a day which can be added to Bath without taking time out of London. Working your way up from Cork also works well for your itinerary.
You do really need to allow two nights for Bath as you aren't giving yourself a lot of time to see Bath and the Cotswolds. My suggetion would be to drive from Oxford via Avebury (another stone circle and rather nice village), Marlborough and Pewsey to Stonehenge and then onto Bath. This is about 110 miles and 3-4 hours drive PLUS stops. You have long hours of daylight in June so may have time to start to explore Bath in the evening.
Spend the next day in Bath and any extra time think about Bradford on Avon or Malmesbury.
Fly Bristol Cork next day.I'm assuming this is 5th June Head to Kenmare for two nights
June 6th Spend the day around Ring of Beara
June 7th From Kenmare, do Killarney National Park, Gap of Dungloe, etc and Head for Dingle for two nights.
June 8th Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head
June 9th Do the Burren sights including Doolin etc on the way to Galway for two nights. Boat trip to see base of Cliffs of Moher?
June 10th Boat trip to Aran Islands
June 11th Drive back to Dublin. Clockmacnoise is a wonderful place and well worth visiting and is on the direct route back to Dublin. Rock of Cashel could be done but does take you the long way round. Is this a priority for the trip?
June 12th Dublin
June 13th Fly back to US.
You do really need to allow two nights for Bath as you aren't giving yourself a lot of time to see Bath and the Cotswolds. My suggetion would be to drive from Oxford via Avebury (another stone circle and rather nice village), Marlborough and Pewsey to Stonehenge and then onto Bath. This is about 110 miles and 3-4 hours drive PLUS stops. You have long hours of daylight in June so may have time to start to explore Bath in the evening.
Spend the next day in Bath and any extra time think about Bradford on Avon or Malmesbury.
Fly Bristol Cork next day.I'm assuming this is 5th June Head to Kenmare for two nights
June 6th Spend the day around Ring of Beara
June 7th From Kenmare, do Killarney National Park, Gap of Dungloe, etc and Head for Dingle for two nights.
June 8th Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head
June 9th Do the Burren sights including Doolin etc on the way to Galway for two nights. Boat trip to see base of Cliffs of Moher?
June 10th Boat trip to Aran Islands
June 11th Drive back to Dublin. Clockmacnoise is a wonderful place and well worth visiting and is on the direct route back to Dublin. Rock of Cashel could be done but does take you the long way round. Is this a priority for the trip?
June 12th Dublin
June 13th Fly back to US.
Nov 4th, 2015, 01:32 AM
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Be aware that Tony has a particular view of Dingle which many others do not share. Dingle itself is a good town with plenty of buzz, and the area has some of Ireland's most stunning scenery, a good built heritage, and a very interesting cultural heritage. You could spend a week there and still be finding new things.
Bristol to Cork is a good idea.
Kenmare or Killarney? A matter of taste: personally, I prefer Kenmare.
Doolin or elswhere? I'd vote for elsewhere, possibly Ballyvaughan or Kinvara.
The easiest place to drop off the car might be Dublin Airport. You avoid driving in the city, and can take a bus into the central area for your two-night stay.
Bristol to Cork is a good idea.
Kenmare or Killarney? A matter of taste: personally, I prefer Kenmare.
Doolin or elswhere? I'd vote for elsewhere, possibly Ballyvaughan or Kinvara.
The easiest place to drop off the car might be Dublin Airport. You avoid driving in the city, and can take a bus into the central area for your two-night stay.
Nov 4th, 2015, 09:14 AM
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If "London City Pass" = London Pass, don't.
Here are SOME London attractions that charge NO admission fee:
Imperial War Museum
Tate Britain
Tate Modern
British Library
British Museum
V&A
Greenwich Observatory
National Maritime Museum
National Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
Museum of London
The ones you'd pay for anyway (Tower, Abbey, War Rooms) are not going to become affordable just because you have the LP.
Here are SOME London attractions that charge NO admission fee:
Imperial War Museum
Tate Britain
Tate Modern
British Library
British Museum
V&A
Greenwich Observatory
National Maritime Museum
National Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
Museum of London
The ones you'd pay for anyway (Tower, Abbey, War Rooms) are not going to become affordable just because you have the LP.
