London -Scotland 10 days
 

All,

Before you all tell me that 10 days is not enough I want to make it clear that we do not plan to visit every museum or castle in this trip.
We are travelling with a 3 year old, we plan to spend 5 days in London and 3 days in Scotland.

My question mainly is Scotland, we will be taking a train from London to Edinburgh.
Spending 1.5 day in Edinburgh and planning for a day trip to the Scottish Highlands by car. please pour in your suggestions and comments.

Also, any recommendation for London also will be appreciated.

Book London to Edinburgh trains as soon as possible - check National Rail Enquiries - Official source for UK train times and timetables to see various fares and when you can book in advance - early bird gets the cheap tickets - sold in limited amounts. There is also an overnight train that could be fun for all - get a private cabin and bring any food or drink aboard. Saves daytime travel time and fare offsets cost of a hotel - https://www.sleeper.scot/ - for lots on British trains check also www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. 1.5 days ain't much to tour Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh - maybe cut a day off London and add in.

It is not necessarily true that you must book train tickets as soon as possible to get cheapest fares. In fact, if you book too far in advance, you may end up paying more. Simply look for those departures that offer advance fares. They will usually show-up in a yellow box.

One day will barely get you into the Highlands especially if done as a day trip from Edinburgh. I'll let others make suggestions for that aspect of your trip. I would not cut any days from London. It has so much to offer. It would be helpful to know if your 10 days include arrival and departure days or not. You will loose a half day traveling to Edinburgh which only gives you one and a half days in Edinburgh and assuming another day for Highlands trip? The Edinburgh day and a half is fine, a bit short for me but doable. It's trying to do the Highlands in a day trip that is more problematic, but a loop tour pass Stirling, to Loch Earn, through the Trossachs and over to Loch Lomond ( not in the Highlands ) and back is a possibility. It'll give you a small tase of the Highlands and you can also go over the Rest and Be Thankful Pass.I'm sure janisj and Gardyloo will have better suggestions.

What kind of recommendations were you wanting for London? Things to do, places to stay?

It is not necessarily true that you must book train tickets as soon as possible to get cheapest fares. In fact, if you book too far in advance, you may end up paying more. Simply look for those departures that offer advance fares. They will usually show-up in a yellow box.>

Do you mean cheaper fares may pop up later? Those that offer advance fares - it is wise to book those as soon as can or can they go cheaper later.

Curious - as what I meant by book early as possible was to get lowest fares with flexibility of departure times - those departures advertising advance fares - it is wise to book them as soon as can or are they always available at that fare - I of course defer to your expertise and wish to know why what I said was wrong - why would too far in advance possibly end up paying too much?

Cheers!

>>In fact, if you book too far in advance, you may end up paying more.<<

True.

>>Before you all tell me that 10 days is not enough I want to make it clear that we do not plan to visit every museum or castle in this trip. We are travelling with a 3 year old, we plan to spend 5 days in London and 3 days in Scotland. My question mainly is Scotland, we will be taking a train from London to Edinburgh.
Spending 1.5 day in Edinburgh and planning for a day trip to the Scottish Highlands by car. please pour in your suggestions and comments.<<

Lots of suggestions but you may not like some of them. First of all though WHEN is this trip? That can make a huge difference re what you can do. And no one would assume you are trying to visit every museum or castle --- that would take years -- and you would still miss some.

Is your 3 days in Scotland four nights? Because if it is only 3 nights you will have 2.5 days free in Scotland. That is definitely not long enough for Edinburgh and the Highlands. To get somewhere like say Aviemore sort of mid-high;ands -- would require 6+ hours in the car without a single stop. So in real life with any stops and exploring at all you are talking a 10 to 12 hour day. Or say a simple loop to Killin > Aberfeldy > Dunkeld and back to Edinburgh would be about 7 hours car time without a single stop anywhere. So a 'day trip to teh Highland with a 3yo is a non starter. There are small group van day tours that do a loop through the highland s . . . but IMO totally inappropriate for s 3 yo. Not fair to the child and not fair to the other passengers.

Do you have to return to London to fly home? If so I would skip Scotland completely. If you are flying home from Edinburgh . . . then do JUST London and Edinburgh.

But again - time of year can make a significant difference

As for London there are hundreds of things for families in London so - do you have any guide books or any specific ideas of your own.

I didn't say that -- it is as historytraveler explained, simply booking in advance does not guarantee cheap fares.

Sorry for asking - deleted the Q.

We will be in the first week of September, we have considered skipping Scotland but looking for what we could do in 3 days
from what I am hearing highlands is not recommended given the time I have

Maybe something closer to London like Cotswolds by car - take train to Oxford pick up car and drive to a neat cottage somewhere in the hills - visit Oxford after returning car and take train back to London?

>>from what I am hearing highlands is not recommended given the time I have<<

You could easily do London and Edinburgh in your timeframe. Or London and York. Or London and Bath + a bit of the Cotswolds. Or London and Liverpool or Manchester. Or London and some of Kent/East Sussex. But London and Edinburgh AND the Highlands really isn't a go. Even IF you did a one day Rabbies small group tour to the Highlands it really still wouldn't work. (and I'm not 100% sure they take toddlers -- I'll have to check) It will eat up half a day traveling from your hotel in London to your accommodations in Edinburgh and another half a day back south to fly home so in effect you'd barely have 1.5 days free in Edinburgh.

But honestly -- 8 days in London with a small child would be just about perfect IMO. You could take a day or half day trip to Hampton Court Palace and take a boat for a day/half day trip to Greenwich. There is sooooooooo much for families in London you certainly wouldn't run out of things to do.

Just a few:

https://www.mudchute.org
https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/...ial-playground
https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo
https://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/
Home | Natural History Museum

Rabbies only allow children over the age of 5 years. Janisj has listed the best options, but if traveling with a 3 year old, staying in London with all its possibilities especially for young children really is the best option.

>>Rabbies only allow children over the age of 5 years. <<

Thanks - I suspected that was the case.

After lot of research we are considering spending 1.5 days in Edinburgh and 1 day trip to Glencoe only. Please provide me with any comments/input

>>and 1 day trip to Glencoe only. Please provide me with any comments/input<<

Driving or a tour?
In any case -- I wouldn't. Central Edinburgh to Glencoe without any stops would take 3.5 hours or more (that would be the tram or a taxi out to EDI, collecting the car, and the drive out) So 7 to 8 hours travel time plus any stops. And with a 3yo you'll likely have to stop for more than just the many photo ops. So with just a couple of hours IN Glencoe, you are talking a 10 to 11 hour day.

With just 3 days -- stick to Edinburgh. You could take a short train ride to Stirling or Linlithgow for a half day trip but that is about all you have time for.

St Andrews also makes a wonderful easy day trip from Edinburgh - train to Leuchars and bus the few miles from there into St Andrews which IME is much more than just golf - neat university town and nice seaside area. Janis in past has recommended a bus tour to St Andrews because it stops in some quaint seaside villages en route. And Edinburgh itself is so fantastic - to me one of the most beautiful cities anywhere. Listen to janis and historytraveler two Fodor absolute experts on all things Scottish.

>>St Andrews also makes a wonderful easy day trip from Edinburgh - <<

Not with a 3 yo IMO/IME. Too much hassle and too much walking . . .

No walking in Edinburgh? But OK valid point though seems same as Edinburgh in that regard? What should they do in Edinburgh that would not involve walking like in St Andrews would?

I was talking about a day trip -- I personally think a day trip via train and bus both ways and then walking around St Andrews is too much. In Edinburgh they will have a base and can return to the hotel if the little one gets tired or needs a nap.

Fair enough.

There are usually a number of entertainers on the Royal Mile which young kids enjoy. The Museum of Childhood and West Princes Street Gardens are good options along with the National Museum of Scotland.
I think having fairly easy access to your accomodation would make your trip more enjoyable for both you and your child. A quick trip out to Rosslyn Chapel would be my limit for a day trip.

The main reason I recommended Linlithgow is it is a very short train ride, there are wonderful ruins to clamber over, and explore, very easy walking around the loch, feeding the swans and ducks, renting a row boat, a couple of playgrounds . . . all within a 20 minute train ride.

I missed janisj's suggestion of Linlithgow. Yes, a very good choice and the short train ride might be a new experience for a 3 year old.

I like Janis's idea. But I am wondering if they are willing to rent a car, what about the south end of Loch Lomond?

I went on a boat tour there from Balloch. I thought it was beautiful.

Thank you everyone for your input. We have finally decided to stick to Edinburgh and do a day trip to Loch Lomond and Glasgow instead. We will be renting a car as we have a toddler.

You mean Glasgow and Loch Lomond the same day? If so reconsider - Glasgow with car not fun and though I found it interesting in architecture and a pleasant city why spend your valuable time there - just to a more relaxing day at Loch Lomond and may hit Stirling and its awesome castle instead?

Why Glasgow?

NOT a god idea -- really. OK -- Why Glasgow? Glasgow is a great city but you seem to want country/scenery. Glasgow ain't that.

First of all a car will be a HUGE hassle in Glasgow. And Edinburgh to Glasgow, up the west side of Loch Lomond and back through the Trossachs to Edinburgh would be a 5 to 6 hour drive without a single stop. So a minimum 10 hour day with the hassle of getting around Glasgow and visiting anything there.You simply have no time for a driving tour anywhere. Honest. Renting a car for one day will be another hassle. You need to get out to EDI, collect the car, drive where ever you decide (NOT Glasgow), return to EDI, then travel back in to Edinburgh. All with a 3 year old.

Either do JUST London (with an easy day trip or two); JUST London and Edinburgh; or JUST Edinburgh and a few days touring Scotland.

I have been to every corner of where you are considering, some more times than one can count, and what you want to do just won't work.

I would not do London and Scotland - especially with a 3 year old. That is a lot of travel with a small child who probably still takes naps, will be bored to tears to be on a long train or car trip.

Personally I would do London and a day trip to Hampton Court, Oxford, or the Cotswolds,

If by train maybe overnight train would be best for kid that age - would probably sleep like a baby! But if kid can take 8-9 hour plane ride guess could take 5 hour daytime train ride but a lot of travel.

I would NOT take a 3yo on a London > Edinburgh sleeper train. If she doesn't sleep neither would anyone else in the car.

If you do go to Edinburgh, what about a day trip to Stirling Castle? Or to the Falkirk Wheel?

A day trip to York is great too. York has the walls you can walk about and fun snickleways although probably not easy to navigate with a stroller.

London has so much to do and I highly agree that a day trip to Hampton Court Palace is wonderful. The kitcken, the gardens, the maze, etc. etc.

There is the London Zoo too--small but easy to spend a couple of hours and that is in the city.

Don't forget the Tower of London. We spent about 5 hours there when we visited. There is so much to do there and you can take a boat ride over to Greenwich from the Tower Pier. You can visit the Tower Bridge observation deck.

Thank you for the feedback. Quick question on London tourist attractions- would you recommend getting a london pass?

Absolutely NOT. It is a huge rip off for most visitors. They overwhelm you with the number of 'covered' attractions. But it is almost humanly impossible for someone to race around fast enough to visit enough of them in the limited time to pay off.

A much MUCH better deal would be the 2for1 scheme https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london

It actually costs nothing extra -- but you need to buy paper travel cards at a train station (instead of an OysterCard at an Underground station) to travel around on the buses and Tube

Ditto on the 2for1 vouchers...a great deal.

I usually say that the one attraction you should not miss IMHO is the Tower...though not so sure with a 3-yr-old. But you should research it and consider it.

I have to say that traveling with a 3-yr-old is a whole different thing. We did Paris with our 3-yr-old grandson (&his parents), and you really have to allow a lot more time to do everything than you would if you were by yourselves.

ssander