Jeez, bilbo, we aren't crippled. We walked all around Montreal, Quebec City, and Franconia area, New Hampshire in Oct. Don't need the cart yet. When i Do need it, it's time go on a cruise. LOL.

Agree, I'm still a few years away from reaching the 70's age group, but I challenge anyone to keep up with me whether I'm touring York ( or any other city) or walking the moors of Scotland. Mr. History who is in his 70's usually starts off his day with a 60 minute walk/run before tramping around the usual tourist sites.

What a shame you can't take in the Lake District. I think it's the best bit of the UK. Admittedly it can be very busy in late July and August and to see the best of it, you need to do some hiking. Maybe next time you can rent a cottage in Ambleside and do some touring in May/June or Septmeber?
If you do spend time in Bristol, don't miss the georgian terraces and squares of Clifton and the Isambard Kingdom Brunel suspension Bridge.

BillJ, no worries I was just offering info..
I have a nasty feeling that if the answer is "take a cruise" then I don't want to know what the question is.

No problem, bilbo. there will come a time, when independent travel is not possible. But until then...........

lynny2. Yes, I want to see the Lake District. Plus a lot of other stuff. But alas, isn't trip planning a series of compromises? I mean, with only so much time, eventually, cuts need to be made. I am also very interested in the Highlands of Scotland. I haven't eliminated anything yet. But the Lakes doesn't look likely at this point. Sad.

You can fly Edinburgh to Cork, therefore putting you closer to Dingle. I did that in reverse, and it was a cinch on Aer Lingus. I'm also in love with the Dingle Peninsula, but anywhere on that corner of Ireland should make you happy.

Great info,sheri. Thanks. Got that in my notes. Good idea. Thanks.

BillJ,Dublin is a good walking city,not so good for driving and parking etc!There is also as in most cities the Hop on/off tour bus that would bring you to the Guinness Brewery,the Royal Hospital Kilmainham,the Gaol(Jail)well worth a visit and Phoenix Park.If i could suggest a good day for you,go early to Trinity College look around,join the queue for the Book of Kells,it opens at 09.30am,first come,everyone has to queue.
Then take the short walk,less than 200yards up Dawson Street to the Mansion House,the Lord Mayor's residence.Across the road you can at 11.30am catch the Saint Kevin's Bus to Glendalough,a spectacular Monastic settlement from the 8/9th century.Nice scenery on the way also.Not sure if you can pre book this trip.
On your return back at 18.00pm go around the corner for a well deserved pint of Guinness or TWO in Kehoe's,Davy Byrne's the Bailey or the Duke.Slainte

Thank you taffey. I have made notes on your recommendations.

On my first trip to Northern England / Scotland I had a car with me most of the way. Rates tend to be cheaper in renting an auto for longer periods.

It allowed me to stop in beautiful Durham without having to carry luggage around. When I spent 3 nights in Edinburgh, I parked my auto in the train station for a relatively inexpensive fee.

It allowed me to cross the Firth of Forth (39 Steps)and on to Scone Palace. Back through Loch Ness (Nessie was sleeping) and down to the Lakes District.

Travel over Hard Knot and Wye Knot was fun. Stopping at a pub with a group of Mog owners.

There are numerous, far too many places to see in 30 days.

My two favorites are York and Edinburgh, with a nod to Durham.

I highly recommend the hop-on, hop-off bus in Dublin. You can see everything from St. Patrick's Cathedral to The Guinness Storehouse. Although Dublinia might seem like a tourist trap, I enjoyed it. If you get off at the stop near the Kilmainham Gaol, although you have to walk a bit to get to the building,if you have any interest at all in Irish history, this is an unusual tour. Also, the National Museum (which I think is on Kildare Street next to the library) is free and has some wonderful exhibits. As for Shannon, if you fly Aer Lingus, some of their flights to Shannon are every other day. On that "every other day," you would not have to fly back to London. If you decided not to rent a car in Dublin (driving is a challenge in Dublin), you can easily hop local busses to get wherever you are going. You might choose a B and B that is near a bus stop. Also, you could take a day bus tour out to Newgrange, a UNESCO World Heritage Sight. Good luck! Jan

I've been only in London and Brighton in UK, but I've been numerous times in Ireland and N.Ireland, and due to various reasons, I never hire a car. Of course a car hire gives maximum flexibility, but I find that walking and public transport plus an organised tour here and there makes the trick for a comfortable trip. I almost never had to use a taxi and never a private transfer on my trips, and note that some of them were 3+weeks long and covered so diverse areas as Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Doolin,Inishmore,Galway, Sligo, Donegal,Derry,Belfast to name but a few...
Just to add some random thoughts, if one loves gardens and nature, I think a trip to Wicklow from Dublin might be interesting. Then Cork city is very pleasant and it is a sort train ride to Fota Gardens (and Wildlife park), and of course when talking about nature, you really can't skip Killarney area. If one is not into hiking, a leisure walk from Killarney town to very scenic Ross Castle is a real treat! Organised tours from Killarney to Ring of Kerry and Dingle peninsula can offer a taste of those areas for those of us who prefer not to drive, there are decent tours and not very expensive either. If car hire is an option, one may want to hire localy for one or two days anyway, no need to drive all around if one can admire the scenery in leisure from a comfortable and fast train or a bus !

As an American living in England, I have done lots of exploring and have found the train to be the best travel option on the island (www.nationalrail.co.uk) and low cost airlines (www.EasyJet.com) the best bets to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, also the north of Scotland. Do not underestimate the stress of driving on the left side of the road and the right side of the car, congested/expensive car parks, narrow country roads taking much longer to travel than expected, and petrol costing nearly £7/$10 per gallon (today is £1.38/litre in East Anglia where I live). If you decide to drive, a sat nav/GPS is a must and look up the UK driving regulations online; Her Majesty does not joke around with traffic violations. The Republic of Ireland, of course, drives on the wrong (i.e. Right) side of the road.
I think 3 nights is too long in the Cotswolds (2 days in Bath, etc is plenty but not to be missed) and overlooking Kent (Dover/Leeds/Canterbury) is a loss. As a WWII buff, the best tour I have been on is the Operation Dynamo exhibit at the Dover Castle, full stop.
My two cents (pence!): some driving may be unavoidable but let someone else do the driving as much as possible and enjoy your holiday much more! Agree highly with the above for the hop on/hop off in Dublin, I saw the entire city this way in 2 days. Also, check into English Heritage, I believe you can join short term for fantastic discounts/free admission to many cathedrals, castles, and sites across Britain. Happy travels!

"<i>let someone else do the driving as much as possible and enjoy your holiday much more</i>"

My perspective is 180 degrees from that. I lived in the UK for 5 years (granted, long ago when the roads were not as congested as now) and one of the joys of my trips back is the driving. I really dislike having to conform to bus timetables. Trains are really good for some long distance journeys (and fordaily commutes) - but w/ a few notable exceptions, train rides are not very scenic. Plus having a car means one can get to all those terrific off-the-beaten path villages/sites/castles/gardens that are not easily accessible by public transport.

Thanks for these thoughts. I am very interested in Durham. Looks neat. I'm afraid with the number of days we have (about 30) we are going to miss out on something, and early on I decided the south and southeast of England, along with the Lake District, will not see us. This time, anyway.

We are predisposed to drive, if possible, (Must be the California in us.) though we recognize the advantages of trains for longer treks, and I appreciate those comments. But, I don't like driving more than 4 hours a day, so I am mindful of the map kind of programs for estimated drive times. We like hop-on, hop-off buses, and generally take at least a half day tour in larger cities.

Thanks again for the continued tips.

"<i>so I am mindful of the map kind of programs for estimated drive times</i>"

The on-line sites are good for route planning - but you will need to add from 25% to well over 50% to most of the drive time calculations. Those are for optimal conditions -- no traffic, no weather, no getting stuck behind caravans (travel trailers), no sheep in the road. Off the motorway just plan on averaging 30-40 mph.

Roger that janisj. Sheep on the road----love it. Also, the temptation to take the odd road now and then. Got stuck behind a herd of dairy cattle in Normandy once. one of those charming little scenes that replays many times in my head.

That's one of the many reasons we like to take the car.