KMH_WI

Hello to all you seasoned UK travelers. I hope to be one of you someday .
I am planning a trip to the UK mid- late-August with my two adult children (me=52, them= 28 & 22). First time for all of us. Please help me with an itin. I don't think I will rent a car, but I am willing to in Dublin, so we can get out and see more of the countryside.

Unfortunately, we do not have as much time this first time as we would like. I feel like we only have enough time to get a little taste of it, and then plan more concentrated trips down the road. I always thought my mother was born in Cheshire, but apparently she was born in Marlborough, and emigrated to the USA with her family as a child. Sadly, that is as much info as I have, so no idea what or whom to see in either one of those places.

We just really need some ideas. We have ZERO planned or booked at this point. Maybe some time in London, but would definitely like to get to the country None of us are really looking for a guided tour for the entire trip. My son definitely wants some sort of Harry Potter tour, and my daughter would like to experience any part of Ireland she can. Even lodging can be an adventure for us - willing to try a small hotel or B&B, or even look into an AirBNB, if it's popular there.

I know I am being really vague; but we are really starting from scratch, and are open to great ideas. I can tell you that when traveling in the States, I really avoid chain restaurants and hotels, preferring to stay original to the area whenever possible.

Thank you for any help you can give!

OReilly

Hello KMH:

I am going to state the obvious: You could do the whole 9 days in London, without going anywhere else in the UK, and have the most wonderful time, including a day with Harry Potter. If you wanted days trips out of London, you could visit Bath and Oxford, as an example.

Adding in Ireland: Ask yourself if you need to do that this trip, with only 9 days, and why. I am a Dubliner and, although I dearly love my old town, I would not be willing to sacrifice two days in London on an 9-day visit to London, to visit Dublin.

The most wonderful part of Ireland is in the West - from Kerry to Donegal (The Wild Atlantic Way). To do that, you need to either drive or take a coach tour, and that would also be worth at least 9 days.

You could fly directly to Shannon and do coach tours from there for a couple of days.

The problem is, if you fly to Ireland and back, you are removing two days from your 9 days for logistics of travel, so you are not down to seven days enjoying your holiday. Do you want to do that?

Best regards ... Ger

BigRuss

Too vague by half.

Where are you flying into?

Where are you flying out of?

What date will you arrive? Depart? This is what determines your "days." Your nine could be eight or seven.

Are you only going to the UK or are you also going to Ireland? Dublin is not in the UK.

janisj

We need some clarification: If your entire trip is 9 days (home to home) you will have about 6.5 days free on the ground. Not nearly enough for London, Wiltshire, and any time in Ireland.

You could spent the entire time in London and rent a car for one day to visit Marlborough/Avebury/maybe Stonehenge. Or spend 4 or 5 nights in London and then spend 2 or 3 nights in the general Wiltshire area visiting places like Bath, Salisbury/Stonehenge, Marlborough, Avebury, Windsor, Henley etc.

If on the other hand your trip is 11 or 12 days (which nets you 9 days on the ground) you could squeeze in a couple of days in Dublin (though I personally wouldn't)

Tony2phones

Either Or. Personally less than 5 days in Ireland is the waste of two perfectly good flights especially if 2 of those days are for Dublin. That gives 4 days for mainland UK which might just be enough.

Fly into London or Dublin and out of the other. between Ireland and London use Shannon or Cork Airport that way you can get 3 days for Ireland if using 2 for Dublin (which is only Ireland because its on the island)

KMH_WI

Many thanks for your responses. We are going to lock down each of our wishes for this trip, including the dates! We all agree that we have not allowed for enough time to spend much time just enjoying and experiencing our first European vacation. At this point, we believe we will spend some days in London. Then head to Bath or close, and do some exploring in that general area. And save Ireland for our next trip. My son would love to go into Edinburgh, but probably not enough time for that either.

Incidentally, I believe we will plan for 8-9 days on the ground, PLUS 2+ travel days.

Where would you recommend we stay after London? Bath? Oxford? Another suggestion?

Thanks very much!

janisj

You <i>could</i> fit in a couple of days in Edinburgh IF you fly open jaw. In to London and home from EDI or vice versa.

2 nights in Edinburgh, 5 nights in London, and 2 nights in Bath.

One option would look something like: Arrive at LHR, take the express coach to Bath and stay the first 2 nights there, train to London - 5 nights, train to Edinburgh - 2 nights, fly home.

Tony2phones

Edinburgh in August.. hope you have a friendly bank manager. I would go to Edinburgh any time, any time except August.

mjs

But the Edinburgh festival is such fun! Might be a very pricey couple of days.

janisj

Oh - my last post didn't take I to account the trip is in August. Though I have been there several Augusts (including the last two) I would not recommend it for a first time visitor. The festivals and Tattoo just make things too expensive and waaaay too crowded. Most of the best places will have already been booked up.

preglad

I want to return to the basics. Spending a first trip of nine days in Ireland and the UK (each of which I've visited many times) is a little like doing California and New England in a similar period. You're doing an injustice to each and yourselves.

Pick one and return another time for the other or be prepared to spend much time apart from your primary purpose involving both.