fables

I have 3 days in my September trip still undecided. First time to Europe. 3 leading options are ....

fly from london to shannon or kerry airports, do gap of dunloe, dingle peninsula

fly from london to edinburgh, see edinburgh and st andrews

stay in england and do kent, leeds castle, hever castle, canterbury

I will have just been in southern Italy for the previous 8 days so I am kinda looking for the total opposite to that. lots of green, gardens, castles. I would rather not rent a car but will probably have to I'm guessing.

Thank you for your suggestions and opinions.

nytraveler

If you're coming from Italy do you have to fly through London? - it seems like the waste of most of a day, except for Kent. For the others, why not fly direct to where you want to go?

I would pick Edinburgh (fly into Edinburgh or Glascow) which I think is a fantastic historic city.

MmePerdu

If "lots of green, gardens, castles" are what you have in mind then I think Kent with a car is the place to be. Edinburgh is a lovely city, Ireland nice too, but given your list I'd find it hard to argue for any of the 3 other than Kent, one of my favorite places on earth. The most difficult part will be whittling the list of places to visit to a manageable size for the days you have.

janisj

Edinburgh ... And fly directly there (or to Glasgow which is a short train ride from Edinburgh)

But if you do decide Kent/east Sussex .. . Pleas don't waste some of your short time at Leeds castle. A nice garden w/ a conference carpenter/wedding venue attached. There are enough other WONDERFUL places to fill three weeks let alone 3 days. But to do the area justice you'd really want a car.

fables

Thank you nytraveler. I will look into flying directly from Naples to Edinburgh. I am staying the night before on Capri and know and I can't ferry to Naples and still catch an early flight but hopefully I can find a later one.

What area, neighborhood or hotel in Edinburgh would you suggest.

Thanks again.

fables

Thank you MmePerdu. Kent does seem to tick all the boxes so to speak. What would you consider a good home base? And what would be in your Kent top 5 ?

Thanks again.

fables

Thank you janisj. What were your favorite things about Edinburgh?

And thanks for the tip on Leeds Castle.

MmePerdu

As we've mentioned, there are SO many castles/houses/gardens in Kent, any of us will be hard pressed to reduce the number to 5 of our favorites. We can try but you really should do your homework on this one and not take our words for it. With so much from which to choose you don't want to visit our favorites and miss what might be your own.

Some of my favorites, in no particular order are:

Bateman's (Kiplings home) https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/batemans/
Ightham Mote http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote/
Sissinghurst (Harold Nicholson's & Vita Sackville-West's garden)
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle/
Great Dixter http://www.greatdixter.co.uk/
Knole http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole/

I like staying in B&Bs in villages and have stayed in a number in Kent. Your budget would be a useful piece of information for us.

fables

Thank you MmePerdu. I will most certainly do my homework. The nationaltrust.org site seems to be a good starting point.

Lodging is a struggle for me in the sense that I work for Marriott Hotels. So the question is to try to save money by staying at a Marriott, like the one in Maidstone, for a reduced employee rate or spend more to get more local experience at a b&b. That being said my budget would probably be $150 a night.

Thanks again for your assistance.

janisj

I'd usually stay in B&Bs too - or renting a cottage is even better IMO. But - Maidstone wouldn't be a bad place to stay if you get a great rate.

I'd look at Sissinghurst, scotney castle garden, Bodiam castle, Chartwell, Penshurst place, Igtham Mote, Dover/Deal/Walmer. That would be my starting list and then add places like Hever or Knlole if thre is time.

janisj

Oh - forgot to talk about Edinburgh . . . Simply one of my favorite places on earth. The castle, the old town, the botanic gardens, the views, terrific dining, easy day trips to places like St. Andrews, Stirling, and no car is needed. Or if you do want to rent a car ( not for IN Edinburgh) the Trossachs w Inchmahome priory and doune castle and scenery - or - the Borders w/ all the abbeys, Abbotsford, Traquair house, St Abbs head, Tantallon castle . . . . . .