doloresmercado

hello Fodorists

I just came from a trip to LON and PARis and plan to make SCOTLAND next year. I travel solo
with just a carry-on and prefer staying at one hotel and not check in-out many hotels

Would need to know if Edinburgh can be done in one day.
Take train, visit castle get a bike tour or a walking tour and come back very late also by train like 8pm.
Another day do the one day tour to Leeds and Dover.
Another day do Cambridge and York if it exists a one day tour to make both. Or if I can do them separately by myself by train... can I walk to the uni and castle from train station?

Would appreciate your opinions.
I did Windsor and Eton in one day and was ok by myslef by train.
No budget for car rental... Very economic budget but willing to do one day visits and come back to same hotel and carry no luggage.
I rather visit many places than stay in one. London would be like my camping grounds

Then from LON train to France to do more of the Loire, La Provence and finish at French Riviera.
Many people have told me French Riviera is not worth...(?)

Appreciate ideas and opinions... thank you!

PalenQ

You are doing a day trip from London to Edinburgh? Not worth it IMO- Edinburgh has many sweet things besides the very touristed castle.

Anyway easy to take train to Cambridge and walk to uni - I've done it several times - ditto for Oxford which some like a tad more.

Leeds Castle to me is overhyped and lacks the romance of older-looking more fortified castles - but if interested in the dog collar museum go for it - Leeds - take train to Maidstone then a bus to Leeds Castle.

Hever Castle, an easy day trip from London, would be my choice - home of Anne Bolyene as a child I do believe.

anyway for info on trains check www.nationalrail.co.uk for schedules and prices and discounted tickets you can buy in advance - for general info check www.seat61.com- expert on British trains and discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. If doing more than two day trips from London check out the London Plus railpass which also gives you two rides into London on airport express trains from major airports.

doloresmercado

Thank you PalenQ!..are you one of Fodors writers? thanks for your feedback..did my homework
http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/visit/
amazing place and is in Kent!! maybe i could plan Hever plus Dover!!. and god I will def stay for a jousting!! I live thru english romantic novels!!

Would you tell me what would you do in Edinburgh ?? ..
I know I want a walking tour with one of the locals and a bike tour..and if there is a night tours as well..



Thank youuuuuuu .amazing idea Hever Castle..!! wont miss it!!!

Any other suggestions are welcomed...!

cheers and thanks again

Dolores

doloresmercado

palenQ can u give me references of this trip? wud be perfect for me travelling solo

https://www.theenglishbus.com/trip/e...ationalfriends

thank you

janisj

Of course you could do Windsor and Eton in one day - they are only 20 miles from London and are walking distance from each other.

Edinburgh is 4.5 hours on the train each way so a silly day trip. The first train of the day leaves London at 5:30 AM and arrives at 11:02. The last train south leaves at 7:35PM and arrives back in London at one o'clock in the morning. So you spend 9 hours on the train for 8 hours in Edinburgh.

>>Another day do Cambridge and York if it exists a one day tour to make both.<<

There won't be a day tour that covers those two cities. You could do either one on your own by train - but not both. York is about 2 hours from London, and Cambridge is about an Hours from London.

>>Another day do the one day tour to Leeds and Dover.<<

Be sure to say Leeds <u>Castle</u> because just 'Leeds' is a city in northern England. There are commercial bus tours from London that include Leeds Castle, Canterbury and Dover on the same day . . . but they do not go inside the Castle. If you want to visit Dover Castle you would do better taking a train and doing it on your own.

PalenQ

The last train south leaves at 7:35PM and arrives back in London at one o'clock in the morning. So you spend 9 hours on the train for 8 hours in Edinburgh.>

there are also Caledonian sleeper trains that leave later and get in in the morning - save on cost of a hotel each wauy- do it after your stay in London is finished?

janisj

>> save on cost of a hotel each wauy- do it after your stay in London is finished?<<

I never understand that frequent statement. Yes, one doesn't have to pay of a hotel, but one does have to pay for the sleeper which is expensive. Now, it <i>can</i> optimize sightseeing time, but IME it doesn't usually save much if any money.

The OP didn't ask about an over night trip -- if that is what she wants then the sleeper might make sense.

doloresmercado

THANK YOU janisj and palenQ... I HAVE DECIDED TO stay in Edinburgh for 3 days 2 nights, do castle and walking tour and then the next 2 days one day tour to Stirling and the abbey and the other to the highlands..thank you palenqO .. and yes I could take that Caledonian! just for the sake of not wasting time ... maybe go on down to Dover..instead of stopping in London.. do the White cliffs and then head to Canterbury where I could then spend the night..it is all a draft as the trip is for next year! so I can think it over many times get back to London and then see to do Cambridge... as per palenQ I have already registered at Heuvers castle..will sure do that one...
thanks..this site has helped me a lot on my previous trip..so I will follow your suggestions!.. cheers

janisj

>> just for the sake of not wasting time ... maybe go on down to Dover..instead of stopping in London.. <<

If you mean taking the train from Scotland to Dover -- you can't -- not a single train anyway. You must go via London. You would take one train from Edinburgh to London (Kings Cross station for the regular train or Euston station for the sleeper) then from St Pancras to Folkstone to Dover. If you take the day train, it is a 7 hour journey w/ three changes. If you take the sleeper - first you travel over night, then walk or take bus/tube to St Pancras then catch a train to Folkstone, then change for Dover.

>>one day tour to Stirling and the abbey<<

Which Abbey do you mean? There is no Abbey near Stirling.

>> as per palenQ I have already registered at Heuvers castle..<<

Do you mean Hever Castle? Not sure about 'registering'? But in any case, you really can't combine Dover w/ Hever -- not easily anyway. It is either a 3.5 hour journey having to travel all the way back in to London Victoria then out to Hever -- or a 3 hour journey w/ 3 changes.

Hever is very nice but it is FAR form the best castle in SE England an it does not fit w/ your other plans.

janisj

Typo - should read >> . . . it is FAR from the best castle . . . <<

PalenQ

Dover Castle however if not FAR from being the finest castle of your dreams in this part of England - one and perhaps the only reason for going to Dover besides seeing the White Cliffs from up close and hiking up on top of them.

janisj

Yes - no one ever said Dover Castle isn't great -- and Hever is good, but the OP is traveling from Edinburgh which makes both difficult and Hever nearly impossible.

He needs to re-think the order of things . . .