No chance of getting him anywhere near a Manchester United museum>>

clearly a man of taste!

Michelle, I think an apartment like that would suit us to the ground. What is the best website to check these out? I've looked at booking.com etc but not much comes up like what you're talking about.

billets - you could look at HomeAway, or VRBO

https://www.homeaway.co.uk ; https://www.vrbo.com

[though I see that they now seem to be the same company]

or simply google holiday apartments in London -there are loads of listings - or search this forum.

Also in France

http://en.gites-de-france.com

there is problem in Paris in that the city government is trying to stop "illegal" lettings; illegal in the sense that private apartments are rented out to tourists without permission for change of use, taxation as commercial premises etc. There has been a vast amount of space here spent discussing this but you need to be aware that the problem exists.

[there is always Air BnB of course!]

You have left it very late to plan a 'holiday of a lifetime' especially with a 2-year old. I am a 72 year old widower and have done a lot of traveling for business and pleasure over many years. While you may think you have decided where to go and what to do to a large extent I get the impression you really haven't done enough research. That takes time and I think you will be surprised how often you change where to go and what you want to do before you have your final plan.

A 2-year old and long trips taking in multiple stops definitely do not go easily together. There is a very high probability that you will have a fractious child and tired parents in just a few days. Been there, done that. There may well be places you would like to go but cannot take a small child. Children under 16 are very restricting and the younger the more restricting. You mention cruises in Paris and Amsterdam. Been there, done that. An evening romantic cruise is by far the best and something to remember. I strongly suggest you consider either leaving your child behind or having a grandparent(?) travel with you.

Your plan as laid out covers 18 of the 28-35 nights available. May I suggest you re-work your itinery:

Fly to Amsterdam then by rail to Paris & London. Hire a car in London, you drive on the left as does the UK, and drive scenic routes rather than motorways to your other destinations.

You intend going to Liverpool. Google 'manchester museums'. You will be surprised what is there.

Drive to Scotland via the Lake District, the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park (http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/fore...ark/dark-skies - so if you like stars .....), and Ayr (to visit Robbie Burns' museum). Then take the coast road to Glasgow via Troon and Largs to stop at the viewpoint above Greenock (55.955056°N, 4.7949°W) from where you can see a long way over Argyll and Bute.

Spend a few days in Edinburgh & Glasgow, visit the Falkirk Wheel, and tour The Trossachs National Park.

Go to Fort William to see Ben Nevis and take The Jacobite (http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/j...in-details.cfm) to Mallaig - considered one of the most scenic train journeys in the world.

By now you will be running out of time so may have to miss out the Yorkshire Dales as you drive back to London. A great pity as it is a lovely area however, may I suggest you stop at Harrogate then drive to Glossop to take the A57 & A6013 (Snake Pass) which will take you through the Peak District National Park as you visit Bakewell (the home of the Bakewell Tarts) and Matlock - one could easily spend a week just enjoying this county town of Derbyshire. Thinking on, I would do the Peak District/ Snake Pass first and go London - Manchester - Liverpool. You'll see what I mean when you look at a map.

If I were taking this trip starting from Sydney I would be arranging Multi-Stop or Round-The-World air tickets. It would allow me to break the long Sydney - Amsterdam leg somewhere in the Far East or Middle East, do everything in Europe & the UK, then travel back from eg. Edinburgh, Glasgow or London via the USA to take in some beach time.

Imager: I'm a little confused - you say >><i>A 2-year old and long trips taking in multiple stops definitely do not go easily together.</i><< and then come up w/ an itinerary that is nothing but long days and multiple stops.

I doubt they will be leaving their son at home.

Everyplace you mention is totally worth visiting -- but that is a wholly different trip than the OP is planning.

You have left it very late to plan a 'holiday of a lifetime' especially with a 2-year old.>>

I don't necessarily take issue with everything you say, imager, but it so happens that I was just looking at the gite de France site and there is plenty of availability for gites for up to 4 people in Provence for July. Yes, I was surprised too.

So whilst it might be a bit tight, I don't think that the OP needs to panic.

It's more than a little specious to criticize the OP for planning out a nice trip that takes into account the needs of a 2-year-old and then suggest a trip that is incredibly rushed and complicated. Seems to me the OP has a pretty firm grip on the trip she envisions and has done a good job of cobbling one together. Of course it can be refined - trips always can. But the latest trip by imager isn't even remotely appropriate as an answer to the actual question.

I spent 20 years taking my kids to Europe at least yearly, from the time they were a few months old until they were in college. It's not at all restrictive to travel with infants and toddlers and young children if you structure the trip around them, and not you, and don't pout if you have to miss out on the "romantic dinner cruise" instead of having to enjoy a daytime cruise with a possibly active or even sleeping toddler.

I do wonder if Imager might be an old Fodorite w/ a new screen name this morning.

Maybe not ??

curious . . .

<I do wonder if Imager might be an old Fodorite w/ a new screen name this morning.>

Exactly what I just thought!

bitlost...As Ann stated. Gites, VRBO and HomeAway would be great places to start. Elevators are pretty rare so be sure to check which floor the accommodations are on especially a little one. At our first stop we would purchase tiny staples: oil, vinegar, roll of paper towels etc and just bring to each apt. Bring a small folding cloth bag to bring to the markets and grocery stores as many places do not supply these. We did stay in Paris before the apt regulations came into effect so I hope others here can give some guidance about that.

Clothes dryers are also rare so plan to do laundry a few days before you pack up at each location so it allows time for your clothes to adequately dry. Pack a a few metal hangers, a small clothesline and a sink plug so you can rinse things out as you go (this is true for hotels as well as apts). And a tiny empty bottle you can fill with water to spray away the wrinkles. You would be surprised at how well this works. When we arrive at a location we unpack, spritz the wrinkles and hang up...no ironing needed.

I think your plan is a fine one and not rushed at all. This is exactly how we traveled for 13 weeks: mostly one week stops spread throughout Europe. It lets you get a bit comfortable in each place: shop the local markets, prepare some food, spend time in parks, just rest and relax in your apt when the little one (and big ones) need a rest. We absolutely love traveling like this. Best of luck with your planning.

I do wonder if Imager might be an old Fodorite w/ a new screen name this morning.>>

mmmm - the style does seem a little familiar.

perhaps we should start a thread about Italy......

As you mention "history museums to get to know a bit more about each city", you might like to include the Museum of London: http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london

There should be a lot of things you can do with your little one in London: http://www.timeout.com/london/kids/1...s-and-toddlers

it wouldn't occur to me to go to France to see an essentially american attraction particularly with a 2 year old for whom it will mean very little. If that's what the OP wants to do, that's fine but it was your only suggestion, which seemed to me to be rather strange given that they are visiting France, not Florida

annheg, it will mean a lot to a two year old,and its not just for him but mum and dad, and while there, why not,its not there just for the French, not a stange reco at all. They may never visit Florida. Its up to them to take my suggestion or not and it sounds like a hit!
bitlost, use the oppurtunity,you may never get that again,thats the whole point, and like i said, you are never too old or too young.

Visiting Disney would never be on my list of things to do in France, no matter what the age of the kids. It's expensive, it's not French, and it's logistically problematic from Paris with a 2-year-old. IMO Disney is a waste of time and money no matter what your age, when the entire real world is right there to enjoy.

If you must engage in a fantasyland with the kid (which it doesn't seem as though you want to, and I'm all for that), at least go to Parc Astérix, which is French. Otherwise, the Jardin d'Acclimatation, the pond in the Tuileries, the carrousels everywhere, and the Cité de Science should be quite adequate to keep a toddler amused.

Disney anywhere would be a waste of time for a 2-year-old - why pay all that money for rides the tyke can't take - like StCirq says children's play areas in parks would be just as fun or more.

I am surprised at how many people from Aussie land traveleling Europe, put Paris on there list, not just to see Paris but to do Disneyland because they have no intention of visiting America,to some people, its on their bucket list, we are all different, i know 1 over there atm because of that having a great time and another couple who recently returned with there kids....each to their own, if you can kill two birds with one stone...go for it, you spend all that money, travelling that long distance, makes sense to me!

Yes if from a country sans Disney Parks then Euro Disney,especially for families, could be a highlight of your trip.