I am planning a trip alone in late October 2010. Duration about 2-1/2 weeks. Was planning on working my way from London to Edinburgh. Anyone out there with ideas on the best use of my time. Want to really explore the country and not rush around tourist attractions. Or should I consider somewhere else in Europe/Mediterranean instead. Please help. Thank you

lisa, I'll be following your responses because I'd love to do a driving trip in Scotland. Sorry I don't have any advice to offer, but I know you'll get some good advice.

You need to tell us more before anyone can help very much.

You could spend 2.5 weeks anywhere in the UK - or traveling from point to point. And I assume you want to spend some time IN London and Edinburgh - right? If so, then you'd really only have about 8-10 days for your road trip.

So - what sorts of things interest you? Do you want historic cities, hip/modern places, gardens, castles, walking/hiking, literary connections, seaside - that sort of info.

You might also want to tell us why you have decided on a road trip. My usual practice when visiting is to figure out where I want to go, what I want to do and see, and then determine the best mode of transportation. Usually it ends up as a mixture of train, bus and car rental.

Thank you Janis and Ron. You're right, I didn't really give that much information. I am still trying to list places that I would like to see. Got to London in 2005 for 4 days. Managed Tower of London, Tate Museum, The Globe Theater, Henry VIII Hampton Court residence, shopping in Portobello, and 3 West End shows. Missed the museums though and will need to see those. Want to see a bit of Wales if not too difficult, Stonehenge, Hadrian's Wall. The real fascination of the trip is to actually see more of Edinburgh and Scotland. The idea of doing a more leisurely trip up was to experience some of the English countryside and small towns, but maybe this is more suited to other places in Europe. I love walking/hiking, literary connections, and anything having to do with theater. And coming from Hawaii, anything with water/ocean. I think bus or train is better for me than a car. Know it's a hodgepodge, but that's why I'm starting early in planning.

Try this on for size. 3 or 4 days in London, depending on whether you need a recovery day from an overnight flight. Train to York, full day and night in York, rent a car for 3 days, roam through the Yorkshire Dales to Hadrian's wall, dropping car in Newcastle.

Train to Edinburgh, 4 days in Edinburgh (add a day if you want to do a day trip by train to Glasgow), rent a car for 6 days or so to do the standard Highlands & Islands of Scotland.

trip is finally beginning to take shape, although 8 months out. now traveling with a girlfriend who had Grand Vacation points and got us on the QMII for a 7-day cruise from New York to Southampton. From there, we hop on a train to Edinburgh for 3 days, then train down to York for 2 days. Then onto London, where we decided to get on the Chunnel for 2 days in Paris. I mean, we are so close. Then back to London for 3 days/nights and fly back to New York. We thought that buying a British Rail pass for 3 days looked like a good deal. Not sure about renting a car anywhere because we don't know gas prices. Thanks to all who made comments. Any other suggestions are always welcome.

But why go to Paris then return to London for your flight home? If it was me, I'd do the Paris bit at the end of the trip and fly back direct from there. BTW, it's the "Channel Tunnel" never "Chunnel". But most people would just refer to catching the Eurostar from london to paris.

From Southampton to Edinburgh is a slightly over seven hour train journey involving a change at Birmingham New Street, which rivals ORD for tranquillity and ease. It's slightly quicker if you get a train to London, cross town by tube, then get another train. It exposes you to no worthwhile scenery you won't also see on the train from Edinburgh via York to London

Almost certainly cheaper, and taking about an hour, is the Flybe plane from Southampton - possibly the most civilised airport in Britain.

Everyone has been very helpful and I thought I would update you on this trip. After research and many changes the itinerary is as follows: QMII from NYC to Southampton (7days at sea). Catch Flybe Airline from Southampton to Paris and stay 2 nights. Then Flybe to Edinburgh. Rent car, stay 3 nights. Then Flybe to Manchester, rent car and spend 2 days driving up to Yorkshire Dales and Bentham, Haworth and York then back to Manchester. Catch Virgin Rail to London for 2-3 nights and then fly back to NYC. I am thinking that accomodations in Edinburgh, Manchester and Yorkshire we can get when we arrive. Maybe same with car rental also. The only confirmed accomodations that I would like is Paris and London. So am looking for a clean, inexpensive and centrally located place in London and Paris. haha, can you really get all three at one time? And of course, I still need to get back one-way from London to NYC. Rail prices, even with passes, would have cost $100+ more than all the flying we are doing, so we already booked the Flybe flights. We are committed to those, so now the adventure begins. Still open to any thoughts and advice. Am being as fluid and spontaneous as I can on this trip. thank you again.

Just one thing to remember - it won't get fully light until 8am and it will be getting dark again at 5pm so not much evening sight seeing.

"<i>Flybe to Edinburgh. Rent car, stay 3 nights. Then Flybe to Manchester, rent car and spend 2 days driving up to Yorkshire Dales and Bentham, Haworth and York then back to Manchester. Catch Virgin Rail to London for 2-3 nights and then fly back to NYC. I am thinking that accomodations in Edinburgh, Manchester and Yorkshire we can get when we arrive. Maybe same with car rental also. The only confirmed accomodations that I would like is Paris and London. So am looking for a clean, inexpensive and centrally located place in London and Paris</i>"

random thoughts . . .

• You don't need nor would you want a car in Edinburgh. So if you plan on spending all or most of those 3 days in Edinburgh - no need to rent a car.

• 2 days is not really enough time to see all that in a loop from Manchester w/o serious rushing. And the Dales/North Yorkshire are not places for rushing.

• I'd personally NEVER arrive in either Edinburgh or York w/o pre-booking accommodations. Sure, you could probably find something after you are there -- but it might not be the best and definitely could cost you more than you care to spend. Also not quite sure why you'd need a hotel in Manchester.

• <u>definitely</u> pre-book your cars before leaving home. Walk-up rates can be 30%-60% higher.

• As for recommendations in London and Paris -- what is your budget?