rachill_az

Hi All,

I'm back to planning for my 2017 UK trip. Looks like we will be aiming for September 2017. Based on some feedback I've received (both from here and elsewhere), I've fine-tuned my itinerary to include less driving, more utilization of trains, and less moving around. Unfortunately, I've cut out Wales which make me a little sad Let me know what you think of the new and improved itinerary... I'm still very much open to suggestions.

Day 1: Saturday - Flight from USA to London
Day 2: Arrive in London, overnight in London
Day 3: Full day in London, overnight in London
Day 4: Full day in London, overnight in London
Day 5: Day trip to Beachy Head, overnight in London
Day 6: Take the train from London to Bath, spend the day and night in Bath
Day 7: Rent a car and take a day trip to Stonehenge, Salisbury, and Wells. Overnight in Bath
Day 8: Drive to Cotswolds, spend the day and night in Cotswolds
Day 9: Drive to Ludlow, spend the day and night in Ludlow
Day 10: Drive to Manchester, spend the day and night in Manchester
Day 11: Full Day in Manchester, overnight in Manchester
Day 12: Full Day in Manchester, overnight in Manchester
Day 13: Drive to the Lake District, overnight in Lake District
Day 14: Full day in the Lake District, overnight in the Lake District
Day 15: Drive back to Manchester and return rental car. (Do I need to drive back to Manchester to do this??) Take the train to York. Overnight in York.
Day 16: Full day in York. Overnight in York.
Day 17: Spend the morning and afternoon in York. Take a late afternoon train to Edinburgh. Overngiht in Edinburgh.
Day 18: Full day in Edinburgh, overnight in Edinburgh.
Day 19: Join a 2 day/1 night tour of the Highlands. Full day in the Highlands, overnight in the Highlands.
Day 20: Highlands and then back to Edinburgh. Overnight in Dalhousie Castle near Edinburgh.
Day 21: Full day relaxing at castle, overnight in Dalhousie castle.
Day 22: Saturday morning flight Edinburgh - USA

PalenQ

www.nationalrail.co.uk is the site for booking British trains like to Bath - can score deep discounted tickets if you book early enough - www.seat61.com has great info on discounted UK train tickets - which also come in first class sometimes at not much more than Standard Class (2nd cl) and the difference between classes on British long-distance trains is huge IME - lot bigger seats and lot fewer people in same-size train car. For general info on British trains like 1st vs 2nd class also check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Sounds like a wonderful trip with wonderful help from janis and other British travel experts. Well done or as they are like to say in Britain "brilliant".

Tony2phones

Lake District ~ Drive through the Yorkshire Dales to York drop the rental in York rather than back to Manchester and Train to York (depends who you are renting the car from?)

I have family in Manchester, as said already grew up in the Pennine and Peak districts but not sure why you need 3 nights, maybe 2 for Mcr and one for Derbyshire and the peaks? If you do want 3 nights in Mcr pinch a night from somewhere else.

For the Cheapest rail options set up a 28 day email alert with National Rail and book the tickets as soon as they are released at the sale price.

Forget anything Rick Steves has to say about Ireland and that also goes for the UK.

thursdaysd

Surprised to read the put downs for Manchester. There seems to be more than enough to see there for two full days.

janisj

I agree w/ Tony -- drive to York and see the Dales en route. Drop the car when you get to York.

I might even cut one night from Manchester and use that 'extra' day for a one night stay somewhere in the Dales on the way to York.

rachill_az

Thanks for the review of my new itinerary.

<<Drive through the Yorkshire Dales to York drop the rental in York rather than back to Manchester and Train to York Great idea!

<<not sure why you need 3 nights, maybe 2 for Mcr>> See the original post: *Must-Haves for this trip: Minimum 2 full days in Manchester to visit my family.