mikej48

Here is what I tenatively have planned.
1. Thursday, June 23 Arr Gatwick, 12:00. Arrive Edinburgh at 1:25pm: Bus to Edinburgh.
2. Friday, June 24, 2011- See Edinburgh then pick up rental car and drive to Callander Overnight Callander.
3. Saturday, June 25, 2011-Loch Lomond Area Overnight Callander.
4. Sunday, June 26, 2011-Loch Lomond Overnight Callander.
5. Monday, June 27, 2011-Drive to Yorkshire/Helmsley. Tour Helmsley and Rievaulx Abby Overnight Helmsley.
6. Tuesday, June 28, 2011-Yorkshire See:Castle Howard Drive to Scarborough, Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby Overnight Helmsley.
7. Wednesday, June 29, 2011-York See: Free Walking Tour (go to Exhibition Square opposite the TI Center) York Minster, City Walls, The Shambles, York Castle Museum. Overnight Helmsley.
8. Thursday, June 30, 2011Drive Warminster Overnight Warminster
9. Friday, July 01, 2011-Warminster visit relatives Overnight Warminster
10. Saturday, July 02, 2011-Warminster Overnight Warminster
11. Sunday, July 03, 2011-Drive to Windsor , Tour Castle then to London and drop off car Overnight London
12. Monday, July 04, 2011-London, Walking Tour, British Museum. See Musical at night Overnight London
13. Tuesday, July 05, 2011-Westminster Abby, Parliament Square, Buckingham Palace Overnight London.
14. Wednesday, July 6, Return to Orlando.
Do you think this is doable? Would you add or leave anything out?

PalenQ

If you have never been to London then i'd cut some days out of out of London and paste them into London. But if you've been there it seems OK just for two days. (janisj - note 'cut and paste!')

CaliNurse

It's doable, albeit a bit hectic, as you no doubt realize. Since you have family there, I am guessing you have ben before, or will e again, so anything you especially love, (for me, that would be London) you can return to in the future.

janisj

Day one confusesme a bi

"<i>1. Thursday, June 23 Arr Gatwick, 12:00. Arrive Edinburgh at 1:25pm: Bus to Edinburgh. </i>"

Are your times right? If you land at LGW at noon, you won't be on a plane to Edinburgh by 1:25, let alone arriving there.

Days 2-4: There is a LOT more to see w/i driving distance of Callander than just Loch Lomond. Plan on Stirling and Doune castles (enroute to Callander), Inchmahome Priory, Killin Falls of Dochart, Drummond Castle Gardens and a whole slew of wonderful scenery.

Day 11: You could drive into London since it is a Sunday. But few rental locations in the city are open on Sundays. So I'd just drive the 7 miles from Windsor to Heathrow and drop the car there. You can take the tube into London from the Airport.

Over all your plan is very doable. London is a bit rushed but that really can't be helped much.

PQ: >>i'd cut some days out of out of London and paste them into London.<< What does that mean?

PalenQ

janis - i meant to say cut some days out of non-London and paste them into London as just two days there, if never been there, is simply not enough for the average tourist. Sorry OP about my typo.

mikej48

Thanks for the input. What I meant by 1. Thursday is we Depart Gatwick at 12:00 arrive Edinburgh 1:25 pm. I do plan on going to the places you recommend. Matter of fact, I think we will just skip Edinburgh and go right to the country side. We have enough cities in there anyhow. I am taking my 9 year old granddaughter on her first trip to Europe on this one. Good advise on London - thanks!

alanRow

I'd be tempted to return the car at York and take the train to London from there and do Warminster as an overnight or even day trip from London, ditto Windsor

Unless there are plans for the Warminster area (Stonehenge, Avebury, Marlborough, Westbury White Horse, Stourhead, Bath...) that you haven't mentioned

I'd also point out that Callendar to Helmsley is a 6 hour drive even by the quickest route which ISN'T down the east coast of the UK. York to Warminster is also a 5 hour drive and it isn't pretty. Both of these drives are essentially motorway slogs with little to recommend them f you can find any other way of doing them

PalenQ

For kids that age in London consider doing some things some Fodorites at least would call tacky - like the London Dungeon and perhaps Madame Tussauds - two of Britain's most popular family attractions - and of course do a tour on the London Eye - the huge Ferris Wheel that sits in the Thames right in the heart of tourist London - great views from up above - and you may be able to see Windsor Castle from up there and then save yourself a trip out there.*

(*joking)

alanRow

BTW why Callander, it doesn't seem to offer much that staying in Edinburgh could offer. If I wanted a Highland experience I'd be heading further north - but that would make your trip south harder.

Having looked at it further I would change the whole trip round and do it as

Train from London to York - day trip to Helmsley
Train from York to Edinburgh
Do what you want to do in Scotland
Fly Edinburgh to Bristol (Easyjet), drive to Warminster
Do Warminster visit
Return car (probably at Bath or Trowbridge, train to London
Visit Windsor as day trip.

Removes all the long drives saving you at least one day of travel

alanRow

Flying to Bristol also means you could go further north into Scotland as you could fly there from Inverness - or even take the Sleeper train to London and an early train to Warminster

mikej48

Well I already have the tickets booked to Edinburgh. I could take the Easyjet from Inverness to Bristol - cheap enough and it might work that way. I agree the less driving the better. Any rough idea what a train ticket London to York costs?

mikej48

Oops I meant to say I could fly out of Edinburgh. Any other advise about the driving times?

nytraveler

Unless you have been to London and Edinburgh before you are cutting both way short - for sights that may not measure up.

I would give youself a minimum of 2 full days in Edinburgh and 4 in London (and that's still minimal).

mikej48

I have been to London about 6 times. This trip is for my granddaughter. I just don't know if Edinburgh, which I know is a beautiful city can beat the countryside in Scotland.

PalenQ

Are 9 yr old kids more enthralled by bucolic countrside or places like Alton Towers? Think a bit in the mind of a 9-yr old. More London - say the Science Museum or even then much plaudited London Aquarium and less marathon drives thru bucolic countryside? Please do not take this as too critical - what you are doing, taking a young grandson on such a trip is tremendous but just to keep the kid's interests in mind as well.

Maybe swing by Blackpool on the way south and take him to Pleasure Beach, the most visited tourist sight out of London i understand and let him ride, with you the Pepsi Max, one of the world's highest roller coasters and ride the vintage double-decker trams along the seaside - whatever - do not think what a 9-yr old will love is what you will love - and i do not see much of kid-centric in your OP.

Please take this in the kindest comment.

janisj

Ignore any reference to Alton Towers or Blackpool . . .

Just sayin'

"<i>I think we will just skip Edinburgh and go right to the country side. We have enough cities in there anyhow.</i>"

I personally think that is a huge mistake. I can't think of any 9 yo girl who wouldn't be captivated by Edinburgh. Have her read up about Greyfriars Bobby and Mary Queen of Scots.

You'll have plenty of countryside in the rest of your itinerary -- don't drop Edinburgh.

Some of the others suggesting completely changing your plan may not have seen your other threads. Sure there are a lot of other ways you could arrange things. But the plan in your OP is totally doable. (now that day 1 is straightened out )

alanRow

<<< Any rough idea what a train ticket London to York costs? >>>

Anything from £10 to £90 depending on when you travel and when you book. As a rule cheap tickets are issued about 12 weeks in advance (but it may be as little as 6 weeks) and they restrict you to particular travel times. It's similar for York to Edinburgh

See eastcoast.co.uk firstscotrail.com crosscountry.co.uk all of which will accept foreign CCs - sometimes though it can be a bit flaky so just use another website. Pick up tickets before you travel

progol

If I was a 9-year old girl, I think I would love to be in Edinburgh. It's such a wonderful city that is also accessible. Personally, I'd get tired from the pace of your itinerary, especially sitting in a car so much of the time. It's been many years since I've been to Edinburgh, but I would spend more time there and perhaps relax a little on the number of stops/sights along the way.

Paule

alanRow

<<< We have enough cities in there anyhow >>>

York, Edinburgh, London. Everywhere else you are going is a town. And neither York or Edinburgh are large

PalenQ

Whilst in York another kid-friendly thing you may do is to pop into the National Railway Museum, right behind the York train station - this is one of Britain's top family attractions - at least judging by the times i've been there - lots of families and besides old steam trains and modern trains and all kinds of transports from royal carriages to Royal Mail cars there are lots of inter-active things for kids that age.

But it seems from others that a 9 year old is about the same as an adult in what enthralls them but i demure - I see only things in the itinerary that adults will love - kids may too but still try for some kid-centric attractions.

and yes Alton Towers is Britain's premier theme park - if i had a grandkid 9 yrs old i would love to go there with her. But that's a personal thing. Having traveled lots in France and Britain with a kid that age i know how blase kids can get - what is fun to a 9 yr old may not be to an adult and vice versa.