Betty Morgan

My wife and I are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary by taking a trip to London,Scotland, and Ireland. We plan to spend approximately 5 days in each area.Any suggestions for what to see and where to stay? We like B&Bs and are not too interested in "night life" stuff. Plays, museums, and places of interest are prefered.

Dorothy

Don't miss Edinburgh! It's fantastic. Do see the castle there. There's a wonderful B&B called the Townhouse, I believe, not too far from the castle area-there's a bus, but you could probably walk. Wish I could give you more particulars. Have a wonderful time.

Sheila

On the Scottish bit, could I suggest some slightly less than usual things. You have to do Edinburgh because everyone does. Serach Edinburgh on here and you will find masses to do. But I would suggest as outlying places to try...St Andrews and the East Neuk of Fife <BR>Dunkeld, Blair Atholl, Aberfeldy and around <BR>Eyemouth, Kelso, Selkirk and Melrose in the Borders <BR>Inverary, Crinan, Kilmartin and Oban. <BR> <BR>How will you be travelling? <BR> <BR>Please feel free to come back for more information

Beth Anderson

When are you going? If you are going in August, DO NOT MISS the Edinburgh International Festival. It is now 54 years old. It sounds like just the sort of thing you like to do - plays, music (classical), opera, lots of art exhibits - the Fringe Festival is at the same time. <BR> <BR>In England, be sure to visit the Cotswolds and the Lake District. I also enjoyed visiting Hadrian's Wall (near the border with Scotland). I liked Land's End too, but if you only have 5 days in England that may be tough. <BR> <BR>If you have the time, do not miss Snowdonia in northern Wales. Stop by Betwys-y-Coed (very pretty) and visit Llanberis. There is a very very old railroad which will take you to the top of one of the mountains there. BEAUTIFUL, stunning views... some of my favorite pictures came from that area. <BR> <BR>good luck! <BR> <BR>Beth

elvira

What a great way to spend an anniversary (especially a 40th!). <BR> <BR>The following are personal favorites: <BR> <BR>London by sites/things to do: <BR>Museums: Victoria and Albert; British Museum; Imperial War Museum <BR>Historical: Tower of London (try to get tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys); Hampton Court (it's actually outside of London); Buckingham Palace (if you go in the summer, you can visit the inside); Cabinet War Rooms. <BR>Tours and such: Original London Walks; Mystery Bus from Evans&Evans; Thames River Cruise <BR>Shopping: Harrod's (check out the food court); Selfridge's; Harvey Nichols; Marks & Spencer; Covent Garden; Oxford and Bond Streets <BR>Eating: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese; Indian and Chinese food <BR> <BR>Can't help with Scotland, but Sheila has convinced me I need to spend a vacation there (who knew they had stuff besides ruined castles and golf courses?). <BR> <BR>Are you going to the Republic or the Six Counties? <BR> <BR> <BR>

Tony Hughes

Marna, we have castles and golf ON TOP of everything else that Britain has. I'm sure you would be very surprised if you and the rest of the Loons took a trip up north.

Sheila

That's twice in a week, Elvira. Once more and I'll post a serious bid to encourage all Fodorites to visit. <BR> <BR>Twice more and I'll get Tony to write it!!

elvira

Signs are pointing to Scotland being the next place to visit (I doubt the Loons will be allowed back on the Continent after the boating adventure this fall, so Scotland may be it). <BR>1) Several recent articles in magazines and travel sections of the newspaper about Scotland. <BR>2) No kidding - TV advertisement for local long distance company's Yellow Pages has two Scottish women in the U.S. missing Scotland - and wishing they could find good haggis. One of them then goes on to describe it, including "lovely sheep bits, mushed with oatmeal...". I chuckle every time I see the ad.

Sheila

I know his is way off topic ( sorry Betty) but when I had my trip to the west coast at New Year, I went, on Hogmanay, to the butcher in Fort William to get half a fatted calf for the Millenium meal; and there was one of those LED sighns that the words whiz past on, which advertised Haggis-in-a-T <BR> <BR>in (Every time I saw it I expected it to say the other; the butcher couldn't understand what was so funny) <BR> <BR>But seriously.. tell me the amount of time you'd have, what your high points would be, apart from the castles and golf we know you are looking forward to so much, and we'll send you an itinerary to die for. I think even Stellarossa might help?

Cathy

Betty, <BR> <BR>In Ireland I would tentatively suggest - Dublin, Belfast Northern Ireland (outside the months of June, JUly and August which are tense times due to Loyalist marches). Also try Kilkenny - a wondeful city with good arts and crafts and a castle. Scenic areas - Kerry and Cork are big tops with visitors, but Wivklow on the south side of Dublin is quite similar in ways. Historic things to see - Book of Kells, Newgrange or one of the passage graves, Guinness Brewery or the Dublin Brewing Company site. Lots of things to see and do. <BR> <BR>For Ireland try the following site www.ireland.travel.ie. Ask the Tourist Board to send you a broachure and come back with some rough ideas and we can fine tune them for you. By the way what time of the year are you planning you trip? Weather and cost vary alot on this side of the ocean.Tell us what you would like to do or see on your trip - ie walking, site seeing etc and we can narrow it down a bit. <BR> <BR>Finally you will have to decide whether you want to drive or take pubic transport. A car is essential in Ireland if you want to travel outside of the cities to some sites however you could take site seeing trips with a tour company - check out www.cietours.ie or www.cie.ie for details on escorted tours). Car hire is expensive and driving and distances very deceptive ! . Have fn with the planning and post if you want help <BR> <BR>Cathy

Martha

Hi - <BR>I would definitely recommend going to a performance at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London if you are going to be in London during the summer months. Also, I stayed in a little seaside town in Wales called Aberdyfi - which was really charming. I stayed at a 10 room hotel known for its excellent restaurant called Penhelig Arms - a great place. <BR>Martha <BR> <BR>

kam

Also stayed and would recommend the Penhelig Arms in Aberdyfi, Wales. The mountain railroad, I think, that is recommended previously is the Snodownia Mtn. Railroad to the top of Mt. Snowdon. It's a great ride, but can be rained/fogged out depending on the weather. We loved Wales and the many castles, but like Ireland the best for the people. Someone once told me "Ireland is a pretty picture frame--beautiful along the coast and rather plain in the interior". The West of Ireland is great--go out to Connemara, Mayo, Donegal etc. Enjoy.

Joan Doyle

People! People! Please re-read Betty's message. She says they have FIVE DAYS for each COUNTRY. They can easily spend all five in London and still have more to see on another visit; the Edinburgh Festival is a great idea--BUT one gets tickets for ANY of it a year in advance; and they could easily spend all five days in Ireland between Cork and Killarney on the West Coast. I think they may want to scale down their travel destinations to ONE per country. But have a wonderful trip, Betty! Joan

Sheila

It may be that you are biting off more than you can chew, but that seems to be a trait. <BR> <BR>However, the thing about tickets for the Festival is wrong, Joan. The (Official) Festival programme is not announced as long as a year in advance so you will appreciate that you can't get tickets that far ahead. The Fringe programme is not out yet. Neither are the Jazz, Folk or Film Festivals. It's common practice to read the mroning's reviews before deciding which shows to see THAT DAY; so don't be put off coming for the Ploy, Betty....so long as you have somewhere to stay!

Anon

Since you like B&Bs and are not too interested in night life, may I respectfully suggest you think about other places than London for your days in England? If I were looking for an interesting, romantic, and not-too-hectic anniversary destination, I would perhaps do one day in London (maybe on an organized tour) and then consider a smaller city such as Bath, which offers theatre and museums, as well as a quieter pace and easy access to the countryside. Just a thought....