I would like some feedback on the following plan for a trip to Great Britain next summer with my son (who will be 13 yrs old by travel time). Here is a list of where we would stay each night:
Day 1: Arrive London
Day 2: London
Day 3: London
Day 4: Canterbury
Day 5: London - Overnight Train to Edinburgh
Day 6: Edinburgh
Day 7: Edinburgh
Day 8: York
Day 9: York
Day 10: Stratford-upon_Avon
Day 11: Stratford-upon_Avon
Day 12: London
Day 13: Depart London
So we would end up with 5 days in London, 1 in Canterbury (We would see Dover Castle while here also), and 2 days each in Edinburgh, York, & Stratford-upon-Avon (We will also see Warwick Castle while here).
Is this overly ambitious? We want to see as much as we can, while still being able to relax and enjoy it. I know the trip to Edinburgh is long for only a 2 night stay, but I thought he would like the overnight train (and since the travelling is overnight - it doesn't seem like such a big deal). We could also shift days around a bit, for example 3 days in Edinburgh and 1 day in York, etc.
Any insight and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Not bad at all. I might cut York back to 1 night but maximize your time there by taking a morning train from Edinburgh and the next late afternoon take the train to Stratford. Will still give you most of 2 days in York but give you a bit more time in Edinburgh.

I don't have time right now to research - but have you verified the train schedule from York to Stratford? I suspect it is fairly convoluted w/ changes. If so, you might consider taking the train from York to London and stay the 4 days there -- taking a day or overnight trip to Stratford/Warwick from London.

janisj -
There is only one stop on the York - Stratford trip, but we have to walk (22 minute walk according to National Rail)to the connecting station. Do you think this will be a big hassle? I think we will have one suitcase, and a backpack each . . .

I meant to also ask about Jetlag. We will be taking an 8 hour flight that leaves at 8 PM US time, and arrives in London @ 7:30 am (London time). I have never experienced Jet Lag, but have noticed on a lot of posts that people were not able to do much on the first day because of it. I am hoping we will sleep some on the flight, and would like to plan some activities for Day 1 (especially since we will get there quite early), but since I have no experience with Jet Lag, I do not know if this is realistic. . .

There is actually an excellent thread about "best things to do in London with jet lag" which describes the best way (in posters' opinions) to deal with the fact that you want to go to a dark quiet room for about 12 hours but really, really shouldn't.

a 22 minute walk might not sound too bad - but what if it is during a driving rainstorm? Or even just drippy/cold?

Your itinerary is definitely OK - but just think about revising it since Stratford/Warwick are easier to reach from London than they are from York.

As for jet lag your first day or two. No way to tell how you and your sone will be affected. Generally though, just plan on taking it easy the first day. Fresh air, light meals, easy sightseeing (avoid big indoor venues like the British Museim).

Some options might be a hop-on-hop-off open top bus tour, a boat ride on the Thames, a picnic in one of the parks, wander around Covent Garden and watch the street performers -- something like those.

I agree with janis about taking a daytrip from your London base hotel. Looking on the internet I found a couple companies that do this sort of thing.
First is the trip to Canterbury/ Dover (but notice that it says "view" Dover Castle.

http://www.londonenglandtours.net/to...m?tour_id=6024

Next is the Oxford/Warwick Castle/Stratford trip

http://www.grayline.com/Grayline/des...80&sid=590

Daytrips might suit you best because of the luggage problem and where to store it. Also you will not be so tied to a train schedule and , in fact, be taken right to the place of interest (no 22 minute walk).

Good luck, Margo

Just to clarify - I didn't mean to take an organized coach tour to Warwick/Stratford.

I meant taking the train from London and then local buses or a taxi between the two before catching a train back to London. Trying to squeeze Oxford, Stratford upon Avon and Warwick all into the same day really leaves too little time for any of them.

And I wouldn't recommend that Canterbury/Dover tour at all. Dover Castle requires at least 4 hours to even scratch the surface and the tour literally allows one a glimpse of the castle from the bus. The only real stops are at Leeds Castle and in Canterbury.

janisj -
Thank you for all of the helpful advice. Any suggestions on hotels/B&B's? Budget is an issue (hoping to stay under $175.00 (@ 90 British pounds) per night), and we want to be close to central London sites, and we don't want to stay in a "hole." In addition, I would prefer to avoid chain hotels and stay in places that we do not have in the US. Does such a place exist?
I'll check other related posts, but I wanted to ask you directly, as you seem to know so much!
Thanks!

For that much travel investigate the BritRail pass - especially since your kid under 16 would get a totally free Family Pass to match the one you bought.

Passes not sold in U.K. stations and can be used on any train anytime - online tickets can be cheap but no changes, no refunds and for all your travels with the free kids pass the BritRail may be the way to go.

Sold in U.S. by www.britrail.com (ACP Rail) or their agents - i always recommend BETS www.budgeteuropetravel.com; ask for their free European Planning & Rail guide that has a good chapter on Britain including coverage of your itinerary stops) for any Brit Rail pass due to their expertise and willingness to answer questions by phone. Pass prices are all the same but postage and handling fees many can and do impose. www.ricksteves.com also has good info on British rail travel and passes.

Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk for sample prices - and as the pass can be used on any train anytime you'll see such a flexible fare is awfully expensive if you buy at stations, making the pass a goldmine if you want flexibility to which of oft two trains and hour or more on most lines to hop on without having to meet pre-determined discounted tickets for one exact train. Even at discounted rate with the free kid pass i think the pass would be a good deal. Also good on Heathrow and Gatwick Expresses - and on every one of U.K.'s 28 or so separate privatized rail lines - every train in Scotland, Wales and meryy ole England.