BigRuss

BTW, if that Day 15 is a weekend, change your Windsor visit. Gawdang place is MOBBED on weekends and it'll have more than enough commoners wandering around on the weekdays without the added traffic.

janisj

Re BigRuss' comment -- same goes for Legoland. Definitely try to avoid weekends.

Are you using a stroller for the 3 yo? If so I think you can easily do Legoland and the Castle on one day. I'd hit the Castle first thing so there will be fewer crowds and less queueing. Then after a couple of hours have lunch and head to Legoland for the whole afternoon. I'd probably have lunch AT Legoland since some of the cafes are so darn cute.

tom_mn

Europe by train vs car is a never ending argument, each has advantages. With a family the financial advantage of getting a car is more compelling, esp. in the UK where roads and bridges are free. You can also pick up a side trip to sights like Hadrian's Wall more easily.

General admission and fare advice: Take 15 seconds when paying to explain how many of you there are and what you are planning to see on your vacation. For example, if you stop at Urqhardt Castle along Loch Ness, tell them you are a family of 4, give the children's ages, and say whether you will be visiting another castle in Scotland, tell them which one it is, and ask if there a multiday pass that covers both that might save money. Check online for ticket discounts because Legoland, Tower of London and others have them. When paying train or city bus fares, again tell them how many rides you will be taking over one (or more) days and if there is a family pass or group discount available (there usually is).

PalenQ

Mon-Fri many of the cheaper train fares I believe cannot be used to leave London before 9:30 am - if you wanna get an early start you may have to pay more - ask about any restrictions on discounted tickets you buy at time of purchase!

shehzadp

Thank you BigRuss, janisj, tom_mn and PalenQ.

BigRuss - I realized the weekend bit today when I was looking at the calendar and of course the day I picked for Windsor is a Saturday. So I am going to move it to Day 17, towards the end of our stay in London.

janisj - Our 3 year old refuses to sit in a stroller so that option is out. However, we will still try and do both the castle and Legoland in one day. If that means a shortened time at Legoland, so be it.

tom_mn - I will keep the family fares/multi-attraction tickets in mind when getting them. Moreover, I will try and get as many tickets (hopefully discounted) prior to getting to the UK to avoid stress and running around with the kids.

PalenQ - We don't have a lot of train rides so I may get the first class where feasible as you suggested earlier. For the Windsor day trip we may have to just pay the higher fare in order to reach early and get in the whole day.

After some more research it appears that the Isle of Arran is another beautiful island in Scotland and has many activities for kids. Which is better (Skye or Arran) in your opinion? Arran is closer to Glasgow so we would fly or train into Glasgow instead of Inverness and rent the car from there, however, if Skye is better we don't mind sticking to the itinerary above and driving more.

janisj

Arran and Skye are sort of apples/oranges. Both are lovely. Skye the more rugged w/ iconic views. Arran is more 'accessible' since it is so near Glasgow. Either one would be a wonderful part of your trip -- read up and decide . . . flip a coin

Maybe these two pages will help you choose:

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/areaarra/

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...kye/index.html

and:

https://www.google.com/search?q=isle...ed=0CAgQ_AUoAw

https://www.google.com/search?q=isle...+skye+scotland

bilboburgler

Arran has been a place of escape from Glasgow for many years, I used to live looking across the sea at it for some months. Like Skye it can rain a bit, but I'd go to Arran, less poetic but very relaxed.

AlysonRR

This is silly, perhaps, but I wouldn't stint on Legoland unless Windsor Castle is really, really worth it to you. If you have family there, perhaps you'll travel there again when the kids are older?

My kids at that age loved Legoland and we didn't live near it (the one in CA) so it was a (we thought) once-in-a-lifetime trip. It took a full day to do everything people really wanted to do, and there were still a few new things to do when we (surprise) went back because of a family move. They still wanted to re-do all the things from the first trip. The one in CA is an excellently designed park for younger kids. But my kids outgrew it by age 11-ish, so there's only a little more time for your kids to have fun there.

I remember when I was on my first trip to Europe when I was 12. By the end of it my brother and I groaned when we heard we had to see a new castle or church. I still can't tell you the names of those we saw (though I recognize them when my husband and I take our kids), but I remember all the campgrounds, playgrounds, pony trekking, fetes, the coal mine tour, the miniature village at Stratford-upon-Avon, etc... What makes a trip memorable for kids is much different than for adults, of course

janisj

I agree w/ Alyson. W/ kids the ages of yours -- I'd make sure to spend enough time at Legoland and the 'left over' time at Windsor.

Both of your kids are the perfect ages for the park.

Some of Windsor on the other hand may interest the 8yo - the 3yo is too young to enjoy most of it and too old to 'confine'

shehzadp

Thanks janisj, bilboburgler and AlysonRR for your comments.

We are still deciding between Arran and Skye, but being this is our first time in Scotland we are leaning towards Skye for its rugged beauty (not to discount Arran's beauty in anyway). Thanks janisj for the images link.

As far as Legoland goes, point taken and we will dedicate a full day to it and then if time permits do Windsor Castle the same evening or go there the next day (if kids are up to it). As AlysonRR correctly pointed out we will have seen enough castles at that stage for the kids to really remember Windsor.

Thank you all for your comments and valuable suggestions. This forum is a very very big help.

janisj

Just a quick note -- >> . . . then if time permits do Windsor Castle the same evening . . . <<

the castle is not open in the evenings -- last entry is at 4PM and it closes at 5:15

BigRuss

<<Our 3 year old refuses to sit in a stroller>>

That's why you have shoulders.

shehzadp

Thanks janisj. I think in that case we will just go to the castle another day if we are all up to it.

Thank BigRuss. I wish he would sit still any place for more than 3 minutes let alone shoulders. He is in the "I will do it myself" phase.

janisj

Instead of Windsor maybe consider Hampton Court Palace instead. Kids really love it. Medieval kitchens w/ demos, docents in character/costume, the maze.

NorCal_Jo

Just a few more little tips for max fun and minimal frustration on your LEGOLAND day (we had season's passes as we lived nearby with kids the same age so I developed a strategy over the years). 1) You've already made the smart move to try to go on a week day. 2)Get there early and ideally before the gates open. 3) Once the gates open, walk down the path past the Hill train and don't bother to wait in line for it as there little slides built into the stairs along the path going down the hill that the kids can enjoy and you can take the train back up the hill at the end of the day 4) With kids that age, maybe head straight to the Duplo Valley/Lego city area for the boat rides and other rides that the 3.5 (and 8yr) can enjoy and afterwards you can find the more exciting rides in the Pirate/Knights kingdom areas. 5)By then they will need lunch and usually we grab something (or bring our own snacks) while watching the "Pirates of Skeleton Bay" show which is cheesy but kids love it. At the height of the crowds, give up on the rides and visit the miniland where our 4 year old could stay for hours watching the little trains and scenes all built from Legos....

shehzadp

Thanks janisj and NorCal_Jo.

janisj - I will look into Hampton Court Palace as an alternative to Windsor.

NorCal_Jo - these are great pointers from a seasoned visitor to Legoland. I will definitely follow your advice.