Drive from London to Scotland
 

My husband, five-year old son, and I will be driving from London through Scotland in late July. We've never ventured to northern England or Scotland and are curious about the "must-sees" along the way. We'll have about 9 days for our journey and will be flying out of Glascow. Any suggestions? thanks.

A straight drive from London to Edinburgh will take at least 5.5 hours. More likely it will take about 7 - 8 hours. Why not stop off on the way at York or Durham? Do a search for either of these on this site and you will get a good idea of both places. They are full of history (and likely tourists in late July!), though York is more of a 'honeypot' in tourist terms than Durham.
Both have bed and breakfasts and cheaper hotels. The tourist is well catered for. Your child would love the diorama-style Jorvik Viking Centre in York, which looks back at the Viking history of York complete will Viking smells.

I am an English Scotland lover so you will hardly surprised that I think you are spoiled for choice. If you e-mail me I'll send you my notes on Scotland and Yorkshire - and those on places between York and Edinburgh but you will be the first to get that and I haven't put the websites on that one yet. [email protected]

Stop off in Derbyshire's Peak District. Visit Chatsworth House and Gardens for a lovely day out.

If you decide to take Nigel's advice and stop over in the Durham area, I would highly recommend the Beamish Museum. In November, we planned an hour or so side trip to the Beamish Museum and spent over 4 hours there and still didn't see it all. It was my favorite place of our two week trip - a 1913 community complete with homes, offices, shops, people, cars, buses, trolleys, a school, a church, a coal mine, and more, with everything as it was in 1913. Sort of like Williamsburg, VA in the US. I think a five year old would enjoy riding the cars and trolley and probably wouldn't be too bored with the other sites.

Hi

You've got a choice between the western and eastern route, with a few chances to cross over.

The Western route is highway all the way with chances to branch off to St Albans, Shrewsbury, Chester, Lake District, etc.

The Eastern route offers York, Harrogate, Newcastle and the NE coast which is excellent.

Both offer access to Hadrians Wall.

Problem is that North of Newcastle the road becomes very slow ( I admit I haven't driven it for a few years ........ it may be better now).

Once N of York, the roads are not too busy, but you could draw the short straw on a small road and follow a truck for an hour !

Research what you want to see, and ask the question again ?

Peter
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