travel to western Europe from India
Aug 15th, 2014, 02:29 AM
#22
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<i>Is there some particular reason you want to see Birmingham, Manchester, Portsmouth and Plymouth?
Actually no, don't have any specific reason to visit these cities, just have read in few newspapers that these are famous tourist spots, so thought of mentioning it here.</i>
There's nothing "wrong" with any of these places, and there are things for visitors to see/do. It's just strange to hear them described as "famous tourist spots" - they would certainly NOT be on most first-time visitors lists of things to visit in the UK. The same could be said for Dundee and Aberdeen in Scotland.
We see many posts here from first time visitors who appear to build itineraries around an apparently random selection of large towns/cities that they happen to have heard of, and as a result miss out on areas that are big on scenery and countryside (The West Country, Cotswolds, Lake District, New Forest, The Trossachs, Western Isles, etc etc - there are many more...)
I can't help thinking you should get hold of a good guidebook (Lonely Planet, DK, Fodors...) and build a potential itinerary from the places that interest you.
Actually no, don't have any specific reason to visit these cities, just have read in few newspapers that these are famous tourist spots, so thought of mentioning it here.</i>
There's nothing "wrong" with any of these places, and there are things for visitors to see/do. It's just strange to hear them described as "famous tourist spots" - they would certainly NOT be on most first-time visitors lists of things to visit in the UK. The same could be said for Dundee and Aberdeen in Scotland.
We see many posts here from first time visitors who appear to build itineraries around an apparently random selection of large towns/cities that they happen to have heard of, and as a result miss out on areas that are big on scenery and countryside (The West Country, Cotswolds, Lake District, New Forest, The Trossachs, Western Isles, etc etc - there are many more...)
I can't help thinking you should get hold of a good guidebook (Lonely Planet, DK, Fodors...) and build a potential itinerary from the places that interest you.
Aug 15th, 2014, 07:41 AM
#23
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Satvik--
Your problem is that you don't have enough time to do all what you wanted to do--now you're adding places.
Gordon is right--get a good guidebook or two and read about what there is to do and where it is. That way, you'll discover what YOU want to do. E.g. I always wanted to go to South America so I got a guidebook and read it through. I had thought I wanted to go to Argentina, but Peru seemed more interesting to me given my interests. I've now spent about seven weeks in Peru over two trips and am thinking about going back again (although I'll probably make it to Argentina first). The point is that only you know what you enjoy doing.
Fodor's is good because it gives suggested itineraries; that will be a good guide to how long it will take you to see what you want to see. It is NOT good for places to stay--they go for quaint and expensive, IMO.
It looks to me like you really want to go to Scotland. My spouse and I loved the few days we spent in Scotland--particularly the Borders (south of Glasgow and Edinburgh and just north of England) and are planning to return just to Scotland (with a few days in London and perhaps a day in Portsmouth and Manchester). So you won't go wrong in doing only Scotland, York and London.
Haven't been to Glasgow, Dundee or Aberdeen but I do want to see all of them at some point, particularly Glasgow for its role in the Industrial Revolution--had we had one more day in Scotland, we would have taken a day trip there from Edinburgh. However lots of people on this board discourage going to Glasgow because it's too industrial or not quaint enough.
Again, you should do what you want to do, and if you really want to visit the Sherwood Forest area, then do it, again keeping in mind that by spending time there, you'll have to cut someplace else (or extend your trip.)
Your problem is that you don't have enough time to do all what you wanted to do--now you're adding places.
Gordon is right--get a good guidebook or two and read about what there is to do and where it is. That way, you'll discover what YOU want to do. E.g. I always wanted to go to South America so I got a guidebook and read it through. I had thought I wanted to go to Argentina, but Peru seemed more interesting to me given my interests. I've now spent about seven weeks in Peru over two trips and am thinking about going back again (although I'll probably make it to Argentina first). The point is that only you know what you enjoy doing.
Fodor's is good because it gives suggested itineraries; that will be a good guide to how long it will take you to see what you want to see. It is NOT good for places to stay--they go for quaint and expensive, IMO.
It looks to me like you really want to go to Scotland. My spouse and I loved the few days we spent in Scotland--particularly the Borders (south of Glasgow and Edinburgh and just north of England) and are planning to return just to Scotland (with a few days in London and perhaps a day in Portsmouth and Manchester). So you won't go wrong in doing only Scotland, York and London.
Haven't been to Glasgow, Dundee or Aberdeen but I do want to see all of them at some point, particularly Glasgow for its role in the Industrial Revolution--had we had one more day in Scotland, we would have taken a day trip there from Edinburgh. However lots of people on this board discourage going to Glasgow because it's too industrial or not quaint enough.
Again, you should do what you want to do, and if you really want to visit the Sherwood Forest area, then do it, again keeping in mind that by spending time there, you'll have to cut someplace else (or extend your trip.)
Aug 15th, 2014, 08:02 AM
#24
You have very limited time and it seems London and Scotland are your major "must see" areas.
So plan on JUST that. At least 5 nights in London and the rest of your time in Scotland.
One note: up thread you mentioned you couldn't rent a car because you'd have to get a UK drivers license. That is not required - at all. A visitor can drive w/ just their own, home license - and perhaps an International Drivers Permit that translates it if the home license is not in English.
Not that you'd necessarily need to rent a car in Scotland - there are terrific small coach tours. But driving in rural Scotland is easy and a wonderful way to see things.
So plan on JUST that. At least 5 nights in London and the rest of your time in Scotland.
One note: up thread you mentioned you couldn't rent a car because you'd have to get a UK drivers license. That is not required - at all. A visitor can drive w/ just their own, home license - and perhaps an International Drivers Permit that translates it if the home license is not in English.
Not that you'd necessarily need to rent a car in Scotland - there are terrific small coach tours. But driving in rural Scotland is easy and a wonderful way to see things.
Aug 19th, 2014, 01:54 AM
#25
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Thank You all for your advice and time.Turns out I was being too Ambitious.
I'll go as advised to me by Gordon,dwdvagamundo and janisj.
London(plus Stonehenge),York,Nottingham and Edinburgh and Highlands (yes again seems too ambitious) 15 days, 14 nights.
Please suggest me the places,cities,town etc for Highlands.
Rabbies tours of Scotland have a 1 day tour from Edinburgh to cover up Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands . Is this enough????
Are they good, The Internet is All praise for them.
They also have a 1 day Loch Lomond National Park and Stirling Castle Day Tour ,is this better??? Since it covers Sterling (Brave-heart).
Now About England.
London,Nottingham, York.
Wikipedia puts it in the counties of Oxford.By this means I understand that it should be close to London.I am getting it right??(I am not very great at Geography)
I have been reading Google maps quite thoroughly I do realize that Plymouth and Portsmouth are quite far from each other.
If I literally go through a map Cotswold is about 1.45 min of a drive from Nottingham. So I might be able to cover up London(plus Stonehenge),York,Nottingham and Cotswold in about 9 days and the rest of it in Edinburgh and rest of Scotland. Does this sound feasible and Logical???
As janisj mentioned about renting a car and driving in Scotland,I might not be able to do so,the reason being I dont enjoy driving too much and being alone in a foreign land and then driving,I might miss the scenic beauty that I would enjoy while sitting in a bus/Train.(Most possibly a Bus).
Advice's are most welcome..
Cheers
Satvik
I'll go as advised to me by Gordon,dwdvagamundo and janisj.
London(plus Stonehenge),York,Nottingham and Edinburgh and Highlands (yes again seems too ambitious) 15 days, 14 nights.
Please suggest me the places,cities,town etc for Highlands.
Rabbies tours of Scotland have a 1 day tour from Edinburgh to cover up Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands . Is this enough????
Are they good, The Internet is All praise for them.
They also have a 1 day Loch Lomond National Park and Stirling Castle Day Tour ,is this better??? Since it covers Sterling (Brave-heart).
Now About England.
London,Nottingham, York.
Wikipedia puts it in the counties of Oxford.By this means I understand that it should be close to London.I am getting it right??(I am not very great at Geography)
I have been reading Google maps quite thoroughly I do realize that Plymouth and Portsmouth are quite far from each other.
If I literally go through a map Cotswold is about 1.45 min of a drive from Nottingham. So I might be able to cover up London(plus Stonehenge),York,Nottingham and Cotswold in about 9 days and the rest of it in Edinburgh and rest of Scotland. Does this sound feasible and Logical???
As janisj mentioned about renting a car and driving in Scotland,I might not be able to do so,the reason being I dont enjoy driving too much and being alone in a foreign land and then driving,I might miss the scenic beauty that I would enjoy while sitting in a bus/Train.(Most possibly a Bus).
Advice's are most welcome..
Cheers
Satvik
Aug 19th, 2014, 02:07 AM
#26
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Hi All
Another quick question I have,Although I have mentioned it earlier also about Nottingham but wanted to ask again.
I was going through the street view on my computer for the Sherwood Forest in Nottingham, TBH it seems today like an ordinary national park/ Forest. (No offence to Nottingham in any sorts)
It is actually worth seeing it or there are any other Good locations to see in Nottingham? Or Is it altogether that Google Street View can't show what a real Human eye can see and feel?
Another quick question I have,Although I have mentioned it earlier also about Nottingham but wanted to ask again.
I was going through the street view on my computer for the Sherwood Forest in Nottingham, TBH it seems today like an ordinary national park/ Forest. (No offence to Nottingham in any sorts)
It is actually worth seeing it or there are any other Good locations to see in Nottingham? Or Is it altogether that Google Street View can't show what a real Human eye can see and feel?
Aug 19th, 2014, 02:34 AM
#27
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Nottingham, bluntly, is a dump.
It's highly rated by students at its universities, mainly because few other people choose to live there, so rents are low and pubs are cheap. It has very, very little else going for it.
"Forest" in English doesn't mean dense woodland. It's a legal term referring to the kind of law operating in certain kinds of land controlled directly by the monarch. In late Norman England (the time of King John), such places tended to be used for deer hunting - which meant modest amounts of trees, with lots of more open pasture where the deer could graze.
In some colonial dialects of English (especially in North America), the term's come to refer to dense woodland. But most places in England called a Forest are still pretty much as they were 800 years ago, though now as a rule privately owned, and managed for other kinds of agricultural use.
None are particularly picturesque - and they're generally worth visiting only if you live close by and want a walk in woods. The belief visitors create for themselves that Sherwood (or Epping) Forest are examples of destroyed woodland is pure fantasy.
There is terrific scenery close to Nottingham in Derbyshire, and many of Nottingham's rural suburbs are fine places to live. Not worth travelling from India for (though Derbyshire's Peak District may well be for many)
It's highly rated by students at its universities, mainly because few other people choose to live there, so rents are low and pubs are cheap. It has very, very little else going for it.
"Forest" in English doesn't mean dense woodland. It's a legal term referring to the kind of law operating in certain kinds of land controlled directly by the monarch. In late Norman England (the time of King John), such places tended to be used for deer hunting - which meant modest amounts of trees, with lots of more open pasture where the deer could graze.
In some colonial dialects of English (especially in North America), the term's come to refer to dense woodland. But most places in England called a Forest are still pretty much as they were 800 years ago, though now as a rule privately owned, and managed for other kinds of agricultural use.
None are particularly picturesque - and they're generally worth visiting only if you live close by and want a walk in woods. The belief visitors create for themselves that Sherwood (or Epping) Forest are examples of destroyed woodland is pure fantasy.
There is terrific scenery close to Nottingham in Derbyshire, and many of Nottingham's rural suburbs are fine places to live. Not worth travelling from India for (though Derbyshire's Peak District may well be for many)
Aug 19th, 2014, 07:15 AM
#28
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Satavik--I think four to five days in Scotland for a first trip is fine. My spouse and I took the Rabbies day trip from Edinburgh to Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond, enjoyed it, and learned a lot about Scotland ftom the driver/tour guide. Can't speak to the other tours or other places to go in the Highlands. As I stated previously, we really loved the Borders--ruined abbies, beautiful scenery, Scott's home, etc. Stayed in Jedburgh and liked it a lot.
I just finished rereading Ivanhoe, which concerns Robin Hood, etc., and much of it is set in castles and abbies. So you might do an on-line search to see if you can find any that are open to the public in the area around Nottingham, then tour one or two. York and Sheffield were also mentioned a lot. You'd see some of the countryside as well.
I'll let someone else speak to the rest of your trip. But it looks like you're zeroing in on what you really want to do.
I just finished rereading Ivanhoe, which concerns Robin Hood, etc., and much of it is set in castles and abbies. So you might do an on-line search to see if you can find any that are open to the public in the area around Nottingham, then tour one or two. York and Sheffield were also mentioned a lot. You'd see some of the countryside as well.
I'll let someone else speak to the rest of your trip. But it looks like you're zeroing in on what you really want to do.
Aug 19th, 2014, 08:00 AM
#29
>>Wikipedia puts it in the counties of Oxford<<
What does this refer to? Do you mean Nottingham? If so, no, it is not in Oxfordshire. I don't think you'd want to waste time going to Nottingham in any case.
In your time you could have a nice visit in London with a day trip for Stonehenge, York, and Scotland. If you wanted to see the Cotswolds I'd suggest you take a couple of days and stay in Bath (a really lovely city) and then take a day trip from there with Mad Max. They do great tours to Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, etc from Bath.
http://www.madmaxtours.co.uk
Rabbies is a terrific tour company - either of this two tours would be fine. But since Stirling is an easy day trip on your own from Edinburgh by train, I'd probably do the Highlands tour.
Definitely - Forget about Nottingham.
What does this refer to? Do you mean Nottingham? If so, no, it is not in Oxfordshire. I don't think you'd want to waste time going to Nottingham in any case.
In your time you could have a nice visit in London with a day trip for Stonehenge, York, and Scotland. If you wanted to see the Cotswolds I'd suggest you take a couple of days and stay in Bath (a really lovely city) and then take a day trip from there with Mad Max. They do great tours to Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, etc from Bath.
http://www.madmaxtours.co.uk
Rabbies is a terrific tour company - either of this two tours would be fine. But since Stirling is an easy day trip on your own from Edinburgh by train, I'd probably do the Highlands tour.
Definitely - Forget about Nottingham.
Aug 22nd, 2014, 06:31 AM
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janis--while I agree that Satvik's trip is too short to see Nottingham as well as other places, if she really wants to see it, she should. Some of our best trip memories are going to quirky places based on our interests, family history, etc.
Aug 22nd, 2014, 08:17 AM
#31
dwdvagamundo: >> if she really wants to see it, she should.<<
But I <i>think</i> it is pretty obvious there is some misunderstanding of the 'pleasures' of Nottingham. Satvik123's last post does indicate they are now questioning whether it is 'worth' visiting.
IMO we'd be doing the OP a huge disservice to encourage this visit.
But I <i>think</i> it is pretty obvious there is some misunderstanding of the 'pleasures' of Nottingham. Satvik123's last post does indicate they are now questioning whether it is 'worth' visiting.
IMO we'd be doing the OP a huge disservice to encourage this visit.
Aug 22nd, 2014, 10:51 AM
#32
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janis--While I agree and am not encouraging her, I do think that if she wants to, she should try to see it, and was simply pointing out how she might approach it. I have to admit I've been tempted to stop in the area and see what is there (even knowing there is nothing there).
Aug 25th, 2014, 03:02 AM
#33
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Hello All
Thanks for your valuable time and input.
Firstly I am a male.I have decided to skip on Nottingham since it is not matching the travel plan.
Rabbies tour company seems to be my best bet for the highlands once I reach Edinburgh,May the 2 day tour, and then as said by janisj of taking a an easy day trip by train to sterling from Edinburgh . As I have found and heard a lot about Rabbies for tours to highlands, is there any good tour company for England??
As we have discussed earlier.
For England it will be
London(plus stone henge-a must)
York
Cotswold and maybe 1 more place if time permits(suggestions are most welcome)
Many thanks
Satvik
Thanks for your valuable time and input.
Firstly I am a male.I have decided to skip on Nottingham since it is not matching the travel plan.
Rabbies tour company seems to be my best bet for the highlands once I reach Edinburgh,May the 2 day tour, and then as said by janisj of taking a an easy day trip by train to sterling from Edinburgh . As I have found and heard a lot about Rabbies for tours to highlands, is there any good tour company for England??
As we have discussed earlier.
For England it will be
London(plus stone henge-a must)
York
Cotswold and maybe 1 more place if time permits(suggestions are most welcome)
Many thanks
Satvik
Aug 25th, 2014, 03:07 AM
#34
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Also Apologies as I am deviating from the topic,But yesterday I did a tour to Taj Mahal in Agra.
I did a tour of total 3 places
Krishna Janm Bhumi(Lord Krishna Birth Place) in Mathura
The Agra Fort in Agra( Built by Mughal Rulers Humayun and Akbar)
And Last but not the least The Taj Mahal (Built by Emperor Shah Jahan)
I along with my friend booked the tickets of a Bus provided by Panicker's Travels India Pvt Ltd.
Had an amazing trip.If anyone wishes to visit the Taj Mahal Ever,I strongly recommend booking through them.
Thanks
Satvik
I did a tour of total 3 places
Krishna Janm Bhumi(Lord Krishna Birth Place) in Mathura
The Agra Fort in Agra( Built by Mughal Rulers Humayun and Akbar)
And Last but not the least The Taj Mahal (Built by Emperor Shah Jahan)
I along with my friend booked the tickets of a Bus provided by Panicker's Travels India Pvt Ltd.
Had an amazing trip.If anyone wishes to visit the Taj Mahal Ever,I strongly recommend booking through them.
Thanks
Satvik
Aug 25th, 2014, 06:36 AM
#37
For touring where you want to go in southern England . . . I might suggest you stay maybe 2 or 3 nights in Bath. It is a lovely city worth visiting - plus there is a great tour company that does day trips to places like Stonehenge and the Cotswolds . . . and they are much cheaper than tours leaving from London.
http://www.madmaxtours.co.uk
So several nights in London, 2 or 3 nights in Bath (3 nights if you want to take 2 Mad Max tours) and the rest of your time up north/Scotland.
http://www.madmaxtours.co.uk
So several nights in London, 2 or 3 nights in Bath (3 nights if you want to take 2 Mad Max tours) and the rest of your time up north/Scotland.
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