Caty1973

OK...SO after my first time trying to figure out how to create a nice vacation with my family and taking into consideration that I was being very vague and not very focus I decided to give it another shot.,

My Boys are 8 and 4 and we are traveling to England at the end of July/Beginning of Aug 2014. We will be on land for 12 days .... My idea is to create an itinerary for both Kids and Gown ups to have fun.

SO here we go,,,

London...My first pit stop ... I think for 4-5 days since there are a couple of days trips.

-Tower of London
-Tower Bridge
-London Eye
- Buckingham Palace
-,Westminister Abbey
- BigBen
-St Paul's Cathedral
- King Cross Train Station and HP Studios (Harry Potter Fans here)
2 Castles for families with great activities plus change of guards.... (Hampton Court and Windsor)

Museums - British and National History + Transportation .
Which Parks do you recommend that would have cool playgrounds and coffees to eat and relax.
I would love to be able to go to Stonehenge/ Salisbury

Then.... I have no clue really....
Pits stop # 2 - One day My kids would love to go to Jorvik (viking Museum in York ) - Ghost tour (is it ok for a 4 yr old).

Then Take a train and go to Sotland.... Here I wpould do 2 days in Edingburg or close enough due to the carnaval

In Edingburg ....St Giles Cathedral & The Edingburg Castle.
Camera Obscura & World of Ilusion... Climb Urben Park to the volcano and do Dynamic Earth....

Then it gets tricky...How can I combine the HP express and the LOch Ness
Come back to england at night with a day to sit out on a park before taking the plane home...

Any sugestions? Did I improve?

janisj

>>London...My first pit stop ... I think for 4-5 days since there are a couple of days trips<<

Your basic list of thing you want to see in London is easily 8 days worth if you include the WB HP studio and Stonehenge day trips. And if you want to include Windsor and Hampton Court Palace (highly recommended) you are talking nearly all of your time just fir in and around London.

Is the 12 days the entire trip (including the days you fly) - or do you have 12 days 'on the ground'? In other words - are you traveling for 12 days or are you traveling for 14+ days?

If your whole trip is 12 days - then you only have 9.5 days usable time in the UK. Day one is spent flying, day 2 is usually a jet late fog and the 1/2 day you do have isn't really good for heavy duty sightseeing. Day 12 is spent packing, checking out and flying home. So a minimum of 7 days in London to hit your wish list (and likely miss several of them) - 1 day in York, and 1.5 days in Edinburgh. There is no time to take the train to Skye or to visit Loch Ness.

If your trip is actually 14+ days w/ 12 'on the ground' - then you'll have time for London, a day in York and 2 or 3 days in Edinburgh w/ <i>maybe</i> a day trip to the Highlands w/ Rabbies or Timberbush.

Caty1973

HI Janisj.

Thanks for your reply... Yes is 12 days on the ground.

The trip to Stonehenge/Salisbury ....I am not sure, since I think the vikings and some of the low lands would be more to the boys taste. - What do you think - skip it this time around and maybe do it in the future?

On my Scotland Leg I decided to stay on the low lands sort to speak but I am still trying to figure out how to play it.

With Edingburg - & Stirling
Edingburg:
St Giles Cathedral & The Edingburg Castle.
Camera Obscura & World of Ilusion... Climb Urben Park to the volcano and do Dynamic Earth....

Stirling:
Walking I Spy tour. (starts in annies garden)& Falkirk Wheel tour and park
National Wallace MOnument - Bannockburn Heritage Center. and Maybe the Stirling Castle .

If you had to decide between Edingburg and Stirling which one would you suggest?

Doing only this 2 cities do you think I can do this in 4 days

Thanks a lot

caty

Morgana

I'm exhausted just reading what you propose.
You are also travelling at the busiest time of all over here so expect queues and crowds.
I would choose Edinburgh (note spelling) over Stirling for first time visitors. My own children loved the Camera Obscura, but they also loved just wandering around, seeing the street performers outside the castle, all that sort of thing. I think you need to allow some unplanned time if that makes sense - your boys are very young and the 4 year old will surely flag.
I live near York and my children were completely underwhelmed by Jorvik. Others like it, but it does get very mixed feedback. In York I would definitely go to the superb (and free) National Railway Museum. Huge, loads to see and do!

bilboburgler

Tough time of year, you need a good plan to make the most of it

My young niece was underwhelmed by Stonehenge but loved the walls of York (go figure).

Both York and Salisbury have cathedrals and we found that you can get books that give a child's treasure hunt for these place, so she ended up taking us round York cathedral while her dad fumed over his specialist books

Caty1973

Thank you guys. I am still just processing it all and trying to crate it.

How are the crowds in London around June and July ?

Thanks

jamikins

How are the crowds in June or July...they will be big at tourist hot spots. Not sure when school is out but that will increase the crowds. Get an early start for things like the Tower.

Morgana

School holidays vary but in general it is mid July until the beginning of September.
Your wish list consists of many of the most popular sites - so you will have to contend with queues for tickets and crowds everywhere.

janisj

to give you an idea . . . from your London wish list (including typical travel times):

- Tower of London - more than half a day including travel to/from
- Tower Bridge- included in the half day+ at the Tower
- London Eye - 1.5 hours
- Buckingham Palace - The palace isn't open at that time of year it is just a 'walk by so .5 an hour
- Westminister Abbey - 3 hours
- BigBen - 'walk by'
- St Paul's Cathedral - 3 hours
- King Cross Train Station .5 hour
- HP Studios - most of a day (MUST be pre-booked)
- Hampton Court - most of a day
- Windsor - most of a day (If you include Legoland then really more than a full day)
- British Museum - 3-4 hours
- National History - 3-4 hours
- Kensington Gardens/Princess Diana Playground - 2 hours
- Stonehenge/ Salisbury - a full day

As you can see - Even w/o Stonehenge, that is more than 7 days right there w/o any other sites, or shopping, or boat rides, etc . . . or down time - which most families need from time to time.

annhig

England summer school hols are generally [with a few minor variations] the last week of July and the whole of August. Scottish hols are slightly earlier but the period you've chosen will fall slap in the middle of both of them.

that doesn't mean you shouldn't come, but it does mean that you need to make decisions fairly quickly about where you want to go and stay.

the fact is that you have time for London alone and some day trips [Stonehenge, Hampton Court, Windsor, even York at a pinch] or London and York, or London and Edinburgh or, [here's a radical thought] London and the beach.

with kids that age I'd want them to have some time just running about. Camber sands isn't that far away, it's near lovely Rye, and if the weather were inclement, there are quite a few things you could do nearby like the Romney and Hythe railway, Dover Castle, Canterbury, ...

just a thought!

janisj

oops -- I copied your list and didn't notice this >>- <strike>National</strike> Natural History Museum - 3-4 hours<<

Caty1973

Janisj..

Europe trips from different continents are always a challenge becouse we really don't know how to schedule times. This time table helps me a lot .Thanks!!!!

... Well maybe it would be a London trip...

Next time will do Scotland and Ireland!

Cheers mate :0)

Caty1973

Annhig..

You hit the mark there ! SO..."Camber sands isn't that far away, it's near lovely Rye, and if the weather were inclement, there are quite a few things you could do nearby like the Romney and Hythe railway, Dover Castle, Canterbury, ..."
Between Dover Castle and Canterburry...with my kids ..which one would you choose.

Thanks a bunch

Caty

Ps: Sorry for the typos...

dwdvagamundo

Caty1973--With twelve days I think you can do a couple of days in York as well. There are good train connections and it is a lot of fun.

janisj

>>Between Dover Castle and Canterburry...with my kids ..which one would you choose.<<

Absolutely 100% Dover Castle. It is enormous and has lots the kids would enjoy. The city itself is a bit of a dump - so take the train and then jump in a cab up to the castle (it isn't all that far but is a real uphill slog) - spend most of the day and be back in London by dinner time.

You could squeeze in 1.5 days/1 night up in York as well. The two main sites for children would be the Jorvik center which is OK but kids seem to love (mostly I suspect due to the rude smells they can giggle about - it IS authentic ) and the York Castle museum which is WONDERFUL (one of the very best museums for families in the country). Its website seems to be down at the moment but here is a link http://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk

PalenQ

. In York I would definitely go to the superb (and free) National Railway Museum>

I've been to the National Rail Museum in York several times and it is a real family-oriented place - lots of hands-on things plus of course lots of old trains including royal carriages, etc. Seemed that kids were having loads of fun there.

If taking the train to Scotland check http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/

for discounted fares to York and to Edinburgh - since you are in a time bind you may want to just stop off in York for a few hours to see the rail museum or Jorvik thing and of course the world-famous Minster. For lots of good info on British trains check www.seat61.com.

Caty1973

Ok...NOW... Day trips....

Stonehenge/ Salisbury or Dover ?

AND 1.5 days in YORK.... Can I pull that one ?

annhig

Caty - to be clear I'm suggesting that you actually stay out in the Kent countryside somewhere, eg in Rye, to enjoy all the area has to offer, and to give the kids the chance to run about after London. 2 nights would be good, 3 better.

and I agree about Dover Castle v Canterbury BTW - Canterbury was definitely a wet weather suggestion.

Caty1973

Jorvik... How long can you stay there...is it a whole day activity?

Caty1973

Annhig.. Thanks for the suggestion...But I think I will hit up north to York. for some ice-cream and viking smelling giggling time with the kids...

You guys have been awesome. Helping me focus and narrowing down the path...

If all of you dont mind...I will keep asking questions..

Thanks so much