Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Trip Report - Just back after five and half weeks in the UK

Trip Report - Just back after five and half weeks in the UK

Old Jun 22nd, 2010, 12:41 AM
  #21  
tod
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
GregY2 - Your photos are lovely! I have the same shot of where you were sitting in the bluebells but with a yacht down below. I'd like to show you my photos of Mull but will wait until your report is finished - if you want to see them that is!
tod is offline  
Old Jun 22nd, 2010, 03:53 AM
  #22  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi again tod I'd be very happy to see your Mull photos. I'll be posting the last part of my report in my (Australian) morning.
GregY2 is offline  
Old Jun 22nd, 2010, 01:17 PM
  #23  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
UK Trip Report - Week 6

After our final coffee at Tinderbox we dropped our car off at Glasgow airport to catch a 12:00 flight to Heathrow. Hertz was not quite the cheapest deal from Driveaway but we chose them because there was no extra charge for a second driver; we were very happy with the near new Ford Focus and service from Hertz at pick up and drop off was excellent.

We had again booked for airport pick up with JustAirports (previously used on a recommendation from the Fodors board) and they were waiting when we arrived. At 34GBP plus parking fee direct to the flat in Kensington it seems a better deal than paying train & taxi fares plus lugging suitcases.

http://justairports.com/

We used the flat in Palace Gardens Terrace last year and were happy to return. It is a good location in a very quiet residential street about the same distance from both Notting Hill Gate and Kensington High Street tube stations. Kitchen is small and without windows, although it is well equipped, but with only 4 nights in London we were not planning on cooking anyway.

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/ren...n-zone-1/75461

We arrived at the flat about 3:30, had a stroll along Kensington High Street, picked up some basics at the supermarket, topped up our Oyster cards at the tube station and then just relaxed at the flat. Dinner at Thai Origin, just around the corner. We ate at this restaurant twice last year and were very happy to return for good Thai food and pleasant service.

On Sunday, after Skype video calls to various family members we walked to the Victoria & Albert museum to see the recently renovated medieval & renaissance galleries. We then took the tube to Green park and walked to the Royal Academy of Art to see a small exhibition of photographs of London from the 1880's. Continued our walk to Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Trafalgar Square with a brief call into the National Gallery to revisit the impressionist/post-impressionist galleries, then wandered up to Oxford Street to take the tube back to Notting Hill Gate. Dinner at Café Rouge; one of a chain of French themed restaurants; nothing special but quite OK and reasonably priced.

We started Monday with a visit to the Courtauld Galleries - free on Mondays between 10:00 and 2:00 - and enjoyed seeing their superb collection again. We then walked to Covent garden, stopped for a coffee & pastries, and continued to the British Museum to see an exhibition of bronze & terra cotta sculptures from Ife in West Africa. After a brief look at some favorite parts of the BM we returned to the flat.

In the early evening we took the tube to White City to see, of all things, the new Westfields shopping centre. I was looking for a particular book and thought that the W H Smith store there might have it. We ate at Strada on Kensington High Street, a basic Italian menu, but very good food.

On Tuesday we split up for a bit of shopping then met friends for lunch at one of their favourite restaurants - Galvin Bistrot de Luxe in Baker Street. This was superb - a beautifully presented restaurant, with excellent service and great food. The tagine of lamb was one of the nicest dishes I have ever eaten. Highly recommended.

http://www.galvinrestaurants.com/

Spent the remainder of the afternoon packing and then went out to St Martin-in-the-Fields for an evening concert featuring the African Sanctus. I'm not sure whether it was the piece, the performance, or the acoustics, but we didn't really enjoy it.

We had arranged pick up by JustAirports (28GBP) for 9:00 am and, after some concern with early traffic hold ups, were delivered to Heathrow at 9:45 in good time for check in for our 12:00 noon flight. The flight home was uneventful with good service again from Malaysia Airlines - I'd quite happily fly with them again.

So, it's all over now - delivered on time and under budget - this has been a great trip.
GregY2 is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2010, 05:06 AM
  #24  
tod
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That was a delightful read! It's great when you can relate to someone's travels through having had the experience yourself.
GregY2 here are my photos of Mull- hope you enjoy them:

http://tinyurl.com/37hvzua
tod is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2010, 08:43 AM
  #25  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tod, loved the Mull photos. It looks like a beautiful place. We are planning 2 nights there next May. I know; not long enough. I really hope we get to make our trip. That one little time slot will be the only thing that fits for about the next 3 years!
hopingtotravel is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2010, 12:51 PM
  #26  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some great photos tod, thanks. Despite our best intentions we never went back to Mull to see Tobermory and ther rest of the island. Your photos confirm that we should have made another trip but of course you can't do everything and it's always nice to have a reason to return. hopingtotravel I think 2 nights would be about right for Mull if you cross over early on the first day and return in the afternoon of the last day.
GregY2 is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2010, 12:57 PM
  #27  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
ttt
annhig is offline  
Old Jul 4th, 2010, 05:43 AM
  #28  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the report. So glad you liked the Scottish bits again. There are still a lot of islands and Munros for you to come back for, you know?
sheila is offline  
Old Jul 4th, 2010, 08:36 AM
  #29  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Really enjoyed the report and reliving visits to many of the same places. thanks for sharing!
irishface is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2010, 02:29 AM
  #30  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No question about us wanting to return to Scotland Sheila. I'd love to spend some time in the far north west and it would certainly be great to visit some more islands. Walking up Tarmachan we were chatting to a chap coming down who said he had climbed a few Munros but didn't think he'd do any more. I asked how many he had climbed and he replied 280! I don't think we'll ever be in that league but it is great fun to attempt one or two whenever we are in Scotland. We're off to Italy in a couple of months and are planning a trip to France for 2011 so I don't know when we will be back but I'll be looking forward to it anyway. Glad you enjoyed the report irishface, thanks for letting me know.
GregY2 is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2010, 03:25 AM
  #31  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank for sharing your great memory of UK trip. I also thinking to go for a summer trip in the next vacation.I also like photos you uploaded on Picasa web album. I also like the whole trip schedule.
banee123 is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2010, 11:41 PM
  #32  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for sharing this wonderful trip. I'm from Australia too and the trip over is so long but worth it.
I went to Kenilworth too and agree it is splendid especially the garden.
moonrise
moonrise is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2010, 12:50 AM
  #33  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Interesting report, but I was shocked and astounded that you missed out a great swathe of England from Shropshire up to the Scottish border.

What happened to Manchester, Liverpool, York etc.?
Lifeman is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2010, 01:37 AM
  #34  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Lifeman, check out my prior trip report - Seven weeks in Scotland & England - Trip Report - and you'll see that we covered more of England & Scotland last year.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

More particularly, we visited much of Scotland and Northern England through 2003/2003 and 2007 when we were living in Glasgow. I didn't do trip reports for our weekend jaunts then but we certainly visited York and the Lake District more than once as well as the Scottish Borders, and Northumbria. I have to plead guilty to not visiting Liverpool or Manchester yet.
GregY2 is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2010, 03:26 AM
  #35  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You are therefore sentenced (though it won't be, before C_W says anything) to spending time in the North West and enjoying all it has to offer. After that, you won't want to go anywhere else.
Lifeman is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2010, 03:42 AM
  #36  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well here's hoping that we get another opportunity to return the the UK so we can atone for our itinerary omissions. By the way that was meant to be 2003/2004.
GregY2 is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2010, 03:54 AM
  #37  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am coming in the UK next month....tell me which are the best visitors destination in the UK....where I enjoy my whole time with my family and children....!
banee123 is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2010, 03:55 AM
  #38  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 12,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
After that, you won't want to go anywhere else.>>>


Because you will have lost the will to live.
Cholmondley_Warner is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2010, 04:09 AM
  #39  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think I'll stay on the sidelines of the North West discussion! The Lake District is north west though isn't it?
GregY2 is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2010, 04:17 AM
  #40  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Banee123 it's a bit hard to make recommendations without knowing what sort of things interest you and your family, how long you have, whether you will be driving, and so on. In my opinion you should first consider how long you will have and what interests you the most. You can then plan an itinerary that gets you to your key places. You will see from my two trip reports that we spent more than 12 weeks on holiday in the UK and there is still plenty for us to see if we get the chance to come back. My advise would be not to try and do too much.
GregY2 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -