Travel in England and Scotland
Jul 1st, 2015, 01:00 PM
#1
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Travel in England and Scotland
I am a newbie traveler, and would appreciate suggestions re itinerary. arriving in London on 8/28,leaving from Edinburgh on 9/22. We are very active, and enjoy most tourist activites. Not interested in drinking. We would prefer not to rent a car. Would be grateful for suggestions regarding hotels. Budgets is about $500/night, but would go higher for a great experience.
Thank you all for your help.
Florence
Thank you all for your help.
Florence
Jul 1st, 2015, 01:05 PM
#2
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That's a pretty broad spectrum you've got! Do you mean $500 for just lodging, for you both, or including food/travel/gifts, etc.?
You have almost a month. You could certain travel by train from London and up into Yorkshire, and then to Edinburgh. You could take a week to explore Wales, or the Lake District, or the Highlands. B&Bs can run about $100 a night (for both of you) or more, so it looks like you shouldn't have an issue finding places within your budget.
Activities - do you like mountain climbing/hiking? Lots of munro's (mountains) in Scotland to climb.
You have almost a month. You could certain travel by train from London and up into Yorkshire, and then to Edinburgh. You could take a week to explore Wales, or the Lake District, or the Highlands. B&Bs can run about $100 a night (for both of you) or more, so it looks like you shouldn't have an issue finding places within your budget.
Activities - do you like mountain climbing/hiking? Lots of munro's (mountains) in Scotland to climb.
Jul 1st, 2015, 01:49 PM
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What sort of dollar - US, Canadian, Australian, Hong Kong, New Zealand...
As to what to do - you really need to get a good guide book as there could be several thousand suggestions made and not one of them would be suitable for you.
As to what to do - you really need to get a good guide book as there could be several thousand suggestions made and not one of them would be suitable for you.
Jul 1st, 2015, 01:54 PM
#5
oh dear, I can't manage this 8/28 stuff. [and if you are trying to book hotels in the UK, you'll be better off saying 1st September etc as 9/1 will confuse the vast majority of brits who will interpret it as 9th January!]
So if I've got it right, you're arriving in Edinburgh on 28th August, and leaving from London on 22nd September, giving you 25 nights.
Anyway, you've made a good start by flying into Edinburgh and out of London.
Have you thought about how long you want in each of these places? that will define how many days you've got left.
So if I've got it right, you're arriving in Edinburgh on 28th August, and leaving from London on 22nd September, giving you 25 nights.
Anyway, you've made a good start by flying into Edinburgh and out of London.
Have you thought about how long you want in each of these places? that will define how many days you've got left.
Jul 1st, 2015, 02:32 PM
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Annhig, which part of this ("Anyway, you've made a good start by flying into Edinburgh and out of London") did you miss - "arriving in London on 8/28,leaving from Edinburgh on 9/22"?
The real question for the OP is: what are you doing? Traveling around the country, or staying in the two cities?
Saying you like most tourist activities is useless: prioritize and you'll get better recommendations. Otherwise, your best bet is just look at the innumerable top 10 lists and work from those.
The real question for the OP is: what are you doing? Traveling around the country, or staying in the two cities?
Saying you like most tourist activities is useless: prioritize and you'll get better recommendations. Otherwise, your best bet is just look at the innumerable top 10 lists and work from those.
Jul 1st, 2015, 02:33 PM
#7
You have given us nothing to work with except a (very) high nightly budget.
What research have you done? What sorts of places do you want to go. You can't just say "we have 24 nights in the UK, where should we go?" And expect to get useful advice . . .
What research have you done? What sorts of places do you want to go. You can't just say "we have 24 nights in the UK, where should we go?" And expect to get useful advice . . .
Jul 1st, 2015, 02:42 PM
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As with your 2009 post, people really want to help, but you need to help narrow things down.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-september.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-september.cfm
Jul 1st, 2015, 06:17 PM
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I seem to have offended some folks. I honestly feel overwhelmed by all there is to consider. My nightly budget is $500 American dollars for lodging, though I would not mind spending less.
I would like to travel around the country. I like visiting the tourist sites, museums, castles, etc., but also enjoy hiking and and just walking around.
Janisj, I feel like you are making fun of me for being honest. I am looking at guidebooks, but was hoping to get some advice from folks who know the country.
I would like to travel around the country. I like visiting the tourist sites, museums, castles, etc., but also enjoy hiking and and just walking around.
Janisj, I feel like you are making fun of me for being honest. I am looking at guidebooks, but was hoping to get some advice from folks who know the country.
Jul 1st, 2015, 08:08 PM
#11
Sorry. My 'fun' is because your original thread 6 years ago was just as 'nebulous' and you got exactly the same sorts of comments. You need to help us help you.
You are talking two countries and could (quite literally) visit 200 or 300 different places between London and Edinburgh . . . (and that is not including anything IN either city).
So - Are there any cities/sites/regions you especially want to see? You decided to visit the UK - so what drew you there? There are MANY of us who know quite a bit about the UK -- but we can't design a trip for you.
The best way to address this is to come up w/ at least a basic itinerary on your own and then we can help you massage/improve/fix it.
You are talking two countries and could (quite literally) visit 200 or 300 different places between London and Edinburgh . . . (and that is not including anything IN either city).
So - Are there any cities/sites/regions you especially want to see? You decided to visit the UK - so what drew you there? There are MANY of us who know quite a bit about the UK -- but we can't design a trip for you.
The best way to address this is to come up w/ at least a basic itinerary on your own and then we can help you massage/improve/fix it.
Jul 2nd, 2015, 05:55 AM
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Go to your nearest travel agency and pick up some holiday brochures to UK. This will give you an idea of what places people like to visit and may help crystalise your ideas a bit.
We're not making fun of you but are genuinely wanting to help, but we do need a bit more help from you. Any of the posters on here could produce an itinerary for you and they would probably all be very very different. That is not going to help you. What I might like, you may not.
Decide on 3 or 4 different places you want to visit between London and Edinburgh and work from there. It could be Cotswolds, Peak District, Yorkshire (Dales or Moors) Northumberland, Scottish Borders... the choice is endless. Wherever you do finally choose I am sure you will find lots of things to fit your criteria of 'visiting the tourist sites, museums, castles, etc., but also enjoy hiking and and just walking around.'
Also how are you planning to get around - public transport of hire a car as this could well affect where and what you do.
We're not making fun of you but are genuinely wanting to help, but we do need a bit more help from you. Any of the posters on here could produce an itinerary for you and they would probably all be very very different. That is not going to help you. What I might like, you may not.
Decide on 3 or 4 different places you want to visit between London and Edinburgh and work from there. It could be Cotswolds, Peak District, Yorkshire (Dales or Moors) Northumberland, Scottish Borders... the choice is endless. Wherever you do finally choose I am sure you will find lots of things to fit your criteria of 'visiting the tourist sites, museums, castles, etc., but also enjoy hiking and and just walking around.'
Also how are you planning to get around - public transport of hire a car as this could well affect where and what you do.
Jul 2nd, 2015, 07:49 AM
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To the OP: everyone knew you were talking about American dollars. Geez.
Either dotheboys is having fun at your expense or being extra fussy. Considering that there are 300,000,000 Americans, or about 5x as many as the other dollar-using nations s/he mentioned combined, "dollars" without a qualifier means American.
As for the notion that you're going to get advice from "those who know the country" - those people all have different ideas as to what is and isn't worth your time. So if YOU prioritize and state what YOU want to do, then you can get better suggestions.
Either dotheboys is having fun at your expense or being extra fussy. Considering that there are 300,000,000 Americans, or about 5x as many as the other dollar-using nations s/he mentioned combined, "dollars" without a qualifier means American.
As for the notion that you're going to get advice from "those who know the country" - those people all have different ideas as to what is and isn't worth your time. So if YOU prioritize and state what YOU want to do, then you can get better suggestions.
Jul 2nd, 2015, 07:51 AM
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As jamikins said on your other thread "We cant make up an itinerary based on nothing...besides being unrealistic, thats really taking advantage."
In other words, you're asking us (who are not paid for this - and most don't even receive free Fodor's books) to plan your trip for you. Start it yourself, come here to get advice. You do the first draft, the board will help with rewrites.
In other words, you're asking us (who are not paid for this - and most don't even receive free Fodor's books) to plan your trip for you. Start it yourself, come here to get advice. You do the first draft, the board will help with rewrites.
Jul 2nd, 2015, 08:24 AM
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I agree that you should work out exactly why you want to visit. You've obviously been thinking about it for some years.
Are there any writers who have inspired you? For example, you might want to explore Dickens' London.
Painters? You could visit Constable Country in Suffolk.
Ancient cities, picturesque villages?
Do you like hill walking? Long distance trails? You could walk the Thames Path from London.
Old unhappy far off things and battles long ago?
What made you think, "I really must see England and Scotland before I die".
When you've had a good think and done a bit of research, come back to us and we'll all wade in
Are there any writers who have inspired you? For example, you might want to explore Dickens' London.
Painters? You could visit Constable Country in Suffolk.
Ancient cities, picturesque villages?
Do you like hill walking? Long distance trails? You could walk the Thames Path from London.
Old unhappy far off things and battles long ago?
What made you think, "I really must see England and Scotland before I die".
When you've had a good think and done a bit of research, come back to us and we'll all wade in
Jul 2nd, 2015, 08:49 AM
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How much time do you want to spend in London (keeping in mind that there are several day trips you might enjoy - one to Windsor and Eton, one to Hampton Court Palace, perhaps one to Greenwich)?
How much in Edinburgh?
Do you want to see some of the highlands (seems like a small group tour might be better for this since you don;t want to drive)?
Between London and Edinburgh I would
Spend a couple of days in York, including seeing Castle Howard and stopping at Hadrian's Wall (may need to rent a car or hire a car/driver for this)
Spend a couple in Oxford, including seeing Blenheim Palace and perhaps a tour or Warwick Castle
Perhaps a couple of days in the Cotswolds - but you really need a car to do that efficiently
But there are dozens of other choices.
As for lodging $500 per night is generous and will get you a pleasant hotel even in London and you will probably pay less in other towns. For a first trip I would reco a full service hotel with a concierge who can help provide guidance on the ground in a very central location versus B&Bs (often not near the center and does not have hotel services).
BUT, you rally need to do the research to figure out what you want to see the most - since the above doesn't even include Wales, the southwest, Bath/Stonehenge, etc.
How much in Edinburgh?
Do you want to see some of the highlands (seems like a small group tour might be better for this since you don;t want to drive)?
Between London and Edinburgh I would
Spend a couple of days in York, including seeing Castle Howard and stopping at Hadrian's Wall (may need to rent a car or hire a car/driver for this)
Spend a couple in Oxford, including seeing Blenheim Palace and perhaps a tour or Warwick Castle
Perhaps a couple of days in the Cotswolds - but you really need a car to do that efficiently
But there are dozens of other choices.
As for lodging $500 per night is generous and will get you a pleasant hotel even in London and you will probably pay less in other towns. For a first trip I would reco a full service hotel with a concierge who can help provide guidance on the ground in a very central location versus B&Bs (often not near the center and does not have hotel services).
BUT, you rally need to do the research to figure out what you want to see the most - since the above doesn't even include Wales, the southwest, Bath/Stonehenge, etc.
Jul 2nd, 2015, 02:01 PM
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If going for a month and riding trains presumably then you will be taking enough trains to look at a BritRail Pass - which lets you hop on any train anytime - fully flexible tickets that typically cost a ton - but it depends on how many train trips and their durations that counts - anyway for lots of great info on British trains and railpasses and discounted tickets that may be best for a handful only of train trips check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets by a British train guru; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
Jul 3rd, 2015, 02:16 PM
#19
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Here are my trip reports from 2007 and 2014. If any of those things appeal to you, let us know and we can help you figure out how to get there, how much time to spend, etc.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...yjune-2014.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...yjune-2014.cfm
Lee Ann
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...yjune-2014.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...yjune-2014.cfm
Lee Ann
