MissPrism

I was going to suggest rounding off your London afternoon with a play, but notice that you have to be on the coach by 8am the next morning.

As others have said, you need to look at a guidebook and chose between places like Westminster Abbey, the Tower etc.

I think I would opt for a closer look at one of the "drive bys"'that takes your fancy, or go to Trafalgar Square. It's pretty iconic. You could pop into the National Gallery if you like art. It's free with a voluntary subscription, so you don't have to exhaust yourself getting your entrance fee money's worth.

The National Portrait Gallery has nice restaurants or you could eat in the crypt of St-Martin-in-the-Fields. Again, if you like music, St Martin has free lunchtime concerts, with a voluntary contribution if you wish to donate.

Again, if I were you, I'd sneak away from the Changing of the Guard and go for a relaxing stroll in St. James's Park.

MissPrism

Whoops. I meant donation, not subscription. Usually, with free museums and galleries, there will be a collection box near the entrance. There is no pressure on you to put anything in it.

Gretchen

At each stop she would pull up a chair at the counter and that's where she stayed until there was no possible hope of any of us making another purchase

On a trip to china,at one city stop with one of their guides this was the case. After the first shop we all got together and refused to go in the next ones totally. He got the picture.

sheila

Can you give me a note of the amount of time (and the actual times) you have in Inverness and Edinburgh, please?

janisj

sheila: Per the tour day-by-day description and the OP they will have an evening in Inverness and part of an afternoon in Edinburgh.

bilboburgler

I had to have a look at the tour just to see the flavour. My only thoughts are

1) Land's end is a dump unless you like seagulls.
2) Going to Stonehenge and the visitors centre after Brighton is one weird trip, you pass Winchester Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral without a nod and even old Sarum. I might try and put a swerve on the trip and see if one of the three could be included as a visit.
3) I like the Dublin bit of the trip, get out and see the sights, there is a shed load to do, get on the tourist Info website and dig away.
4) the low point for me, apart from the coach driving, will be the waterford visit. I guess the drink making will take about 15 minutes at which point you'll be allowed to by some Jamiesons, there will be video tour and short walk around a bit of the factory before being allowed into the gift shop. I seriously would look around for something else to do in that town.

I have tried to find a way to help but I think I fall down on janisj's side, cancel.

thursdaysd

The "Local Favorites" list is really odd.

Who needs a demo on how to make Irish coffee? I'm sure there are loads of YouTube videos if the description on wiki is inadequate. As bilbo says, probably just a shopping op. And a Cornish pasty? Hardly the high point of British cuisine - they were invented so tin miners could eat lunch without washing their hands (you held the crimped pastry part and didn't eat that). And if you want gingerbread just walk into a shop.

I, too, had a hard time with the Cornish day. It says "take pictures" of St. Michael's Mount, which implies you don't actually visit it. Land's End is a tacky tourist trap. The point of going to Cornwall is either to wander on the moors or explore the coastline. I'd dump the tour that day after it gets to within sight Of St. Michael's Mount, visit the Mount, and then walk part of the coast path.

Gretchen

AND Irish coffee was invented at the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco at the cable car turnaround.

janisj

>>AND Irish coffee was invented at the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco at the cable car turnaround.<<

I was going to say that -- but thought it would be piling on. (had many a libation at the Buena Vista)

2013gA

This amount of comments is really unexpected for me, and enjoyable. To the point that I may forfeit my $500 deposit and make my own plan (I have no fixed dates). But, where to start? My idea is to see as much of England as possible, a little of Ireland, a little of Scotland. The trip duration can be 4 weeks, and I am prepared to drive a rented car. My wife would like for me not to drive so that I may enjoy more viewing of the countryside. Thanks.
-gA

cathies

2013gA, it's so nice that you've taken the comments on board. Others who know the UK much better than I do will be able to help you plan a very satisfactory trip.

StCirq

I am no expert on the UK (but janisj and bilboburger and others here are), but I am a bit of an expert on other venues in Europe, and I can almost assure you that you'll save that $500 and probably a good deal more if you abandon this insufferable-sounding drive-by tour and let folks here help you plan your own trip. Whether you drive or not, I'm sure you can have a more enjoyable trip than this one was bound to be. Best of luck,and enjoy your travels.

2013gA

I am growing more and more convinced to take a deposit loss and do my own planning. I thought it best to start a new topic "Please help plan a tour of England", in case I go this route. Thanks again.
-gA

thursdaysd

Glad you listened! Have you visited Europe before? Because if not, I often recommend reading "Europe Through the Back Door" - not specific to the UK, but the techniques still apply. Also, for train info, seat61.com is great start, although you may want to use buses (coaches) in the UK as well.

StCirq

Good for you -gA! I'll help as best I can, but I live in France and that's my bailiwick, though I've been in the UK countless times. I have very little to offer, but if an occasion arises, I will. I'm going to count on the experts here, too, the next time I exit France and go touring in the UK, which I hope will be soon.

ESW

I'm sure you won't regret your decision. There is so much do do and see in England and this trip rushes you past so much without bothering to stop. With a bit of thought and planning you will get the trip you want without the shopping experiences or your colleagues on the bus who are always late or wind you up... It could well work out cheaper too!

PalenQ

Driving would be best for getting off the beaten track but trains and buses go everywhere - trains to me are much more comfy - easier to get up to go to the loo - there's a snackbar car and can walk around when legs get stiff, etc. If you book advance tickets and well in advance you can get some nifty deep discounted tickets but they are non-changeable from a specific train - if you will be taking several longer trains then a BritRail Pass may be best - especially if you want flexibility to hop any train anytime - National Express buses are cheap on a flat rate so no need to pre-book I think and there is also some kind of very cheap bus pass.

buses take longer usually and IME are rather congested with folks' shopping bags, etc. For lots on British trains yes check www.seat61.com - writ by a British bloke who worked for the railways for a long spell and also these informative ones: www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Driving is not as daunting at it may seem and you can motor right up to your hotel.

sheila

I'm sad you';re missing out on Scotland. But I hope you have a great trip anyway

MissPrism

I didn't say anything directly, but that tour made my heart sink into my boots. If you change your subject heading as you suggest, everyone will be keen to help. We all have our "pet" places, so you will be spoilt for choice.

There are also several good trip reports. People are sure to send you links to them.

When in the Summer are you coming?
If possible, I'd avoid July and August. It's the school holidays and places can get very crowded, especially Cornwall and the Lake District

bilboburgler

If you are doing this yourself, get a coffee table book or a rough guide to the UK/Ireland. Anything with pictures as that gives you such a feeling of instant decision making, then read a bit and see if it all makes sense. I find that a paper map of the place helps even if just A4 sized.

Then lets assume you are going to use trains as the back bone of the trip. Down load a train map of UK/Ireland. Finally use http://www.traveline.info/ for the UK as that joins up buses with trains. For Ireland you need http://www.transportforireland.ie/ which does the same thing. I'm sorry but I'm not sure if N Ireland falls into one or the other.

Don't forget that flights become interesting for getting to and from the two main islands (honestly only we locals ever take the ferry because we need our cars and stuff with us, visitors fly) there are lots of little airports all over so you don't need to traipse back to London/Dublin

Google maps is good but its timings are about 50% short if you are doing car planning. Motorways are fast and narrower than you may be used to, they also block up. Off the Motorways there are fast back roads but away from urban centres you get down to plodding along, even to single lanes.

I spent a year looking down on Troon from the hills, when it wasn't raining on my hill you could see it raining in Troon, take waterproofs.