taniajura

hi,

me and my family (wife & 2 young girls) are planning to visit the UK from November to December. As we have relatives in London, we do not worry so much about the accomodation. However, we are not so sure about the timing. As Southeast Asians, we are used to warm weather and so we thought that it would be a good idea to go somewhere cold. Thus we picked the winter season. We just want to get some advise as to where to go in the UK, and what's the best way to go. Friends & relatives have told us that there aren't much places to go during this period. And with children, i think our mobility is a bit restricted. We specifically want to see and experience Christmas in London, and hope to see Edinburgh castle (if it's open). Any advise is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

m_kingdom2

If you want to see Edinburgh then you're best to fly there from London and spend a few nights there. What's the attraction with the castle?

London in the winter will be more wet than cold...very occasionally a little snow. Most attractions close for the festive week, but major ones will be open throughout the winter - the museums for example.

janis

I LOVE the UK in the winter - but do realize the days will be very short - and the farther north you go the shorter the daylight is.

If you are staying w/ relatives in London then you can celebrate Christmas w/ them since many things in London will be closed from dec 24 through Dec 27. But before and after those dates there is sooooo much to see and do.

As for Edinburgh - If it were me I'd take the train. The kids might enjoy that - plus for a special adventure you could take the overnight train. You leave late at night from Euston Station and wake up in the very center of Edinburgh the next morning. If you didn't want to do the sleeper train - then the daytime trains only take about 4.5 hours -- which is actually faster than flying since you don't have to travel out to the airport and check in early. But w/ advance purchase, flying can be a lot cheaper.

Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle etc are all open in the winter. You don't need a car in Edinburgh and can take the train from there to other places in scotland if you wanted. Another place you might really enjoy would be a day ot 2 in York. it is a gorgeous small city and you could go there on the train on your way back from edinburgh.

flanneruk

Virtually nothing closes during the winter. Why on earth would anyone expect it to? Attractions make their money from us, not from foreigners, and it's the summer when we all abandon the place to prop up the Eurozone's decaying economy.

A lot of major attractions are closed between Dec 24 and Dec 26, and on New Year's Day. And some country houses close in December and January. But if anyone's telling you everything's closed, they're either making it up or they've got some very specialised interest - like nude sunbathing - which might get tricky in midwinter.

Now this weather. It won't be cold (though you might feel very cold sometimes outdoors, and you'll be amazed how chilly you can feel indoors in London's typical disgracefully insulated private houses). You almost certainly won't see any snow (though you might see a bit in Scotland). You'll see a few articially-frozen ice rinks in London. But if you've seen Christmas cards of icicles hanging off Westminster Abbey, they're all memories of a climatic warp that came to an end 150 years ago. If you want picturesque cold, Britain is simply not the place to be. You need the Alps or Scandinavia for proper, bracing cold. Ours is just gloomy, damp, and about the temperature of a glass of red wine. Or English beer.

Barbara

I agree with Janis.

If you do plan to take the train, if you book in advance it is also pretty cheap, plus you don't have the expenseof getting to the airport in London and into the city from the airport in Edinburgh. One note of caution,if you want to travel within Britain by train or plane around Christmas or New Year, you must book as soon as you are able. With the train, that would be three months before your travel date.

m_kingdom2

Trains are a complete waste of time, you're losing an entire day/night, and after the journey you'll be tired. It's not the Orient Express, you won't get a good night's sleep, and you'll have wasted over eight hours. In contrast a plane - including airport affairs - will take a little under three.

GeoffHamer

I agree with Janis: the train to Edinburgh via York is a very good idea. November and December are rarely very cold in the UK, and snow is now very unusual in London. If you go to Scotland, you may want to try an excursion to the Highlands where you should see some snow.

Maria_H

Virtually all National Trust, English Heritage and other similar sites close in the winter (from late October to Easter), so that means many stately homes, castles, etc will not be open. City centre attractions are more likely to be open, so you should be fine in London and Edinburgh. If there are specific places you want to see, it is worth checking first.

janis

m_kingdom - I just don't understand your math. HOW can one waste 8 hours on a sleeper train???? presumably you will be sleeping somewhere -- either in London, or in Edinburgh or on the train. It all works out the same.

In fact the overnight train wastes less time than any other form of transport - since most folks are not out and about at 3 in the morning. You go to sleep just outside of London and wake up in Edinburgh w/ a full day ahead of you. How is that wasted time????

I know you just try to be provocative sometimes - but at least TRY to make sense . . . . . . .

janis

re flanneruk's mention that virtually nothing closes in the winter -- that IS true for the cities. But MANY places out in the countryside do close for the winter. It does seem that the closed season is shrinking tho' - for instance Blenheim Palace used to always close the last weekend in October but now stays open right up to early December.

But major sites like Edinburgh Castle, etc are open year round.

Stellarossa

m_kingdom is correct, the train would be a complete waste of time. Fly to Edinburgh and spend the time you would have spent on a train in the city instead.

janis

OK, stellarosa, think about it -- for a daytime trip: 1 hour from central London to LHR, 1.25 hour advance check in at LHR, 1.25 hour flight, 30 minutes into Edinburgh. total: 4+ hours if everything goes like clock work.

daytime train: 15 mins to Kings Cross, 4+ hour train journey to the center of Edinburgh. Total 4.25 to 5 hours total.

Just where exactly is all the wasted time?

Now, I am not against flying- have done it several times -- but taking the train is more convenient/faster for many people depending on where they are staying in London and Edinburgh.

And a night train actually gains them time in a way since, they are traveling during the time they would be sleeping anyway.

Barbara

Not only is the train really more convenient, but for people who have never been to Britain there is a lot of pretty nice scenery to look at.

Stellarossa

Janis

you've skewed your calculations; taniajura doesn't mention where in London they are staying. you assume central London which could well be wrong. Bang goes your 1.25 hours to Heathrow. You also assume Heathrow, when you know perfectly well that you can fly to Edinburgh from other London airports. Flight is only 50-odd minutes, not 1.25 hours unless you're flying via Stavanger.

There's your wasted time, bud.

historytraveler

I've been tweaking my fall/winter travel plans and have opted for 4/5 days in London and 4/5 days in Edinburgh. The looming question was whether to fly or go by train. After working out the actual travel time involved it seemed a bit quicker via plane. However after considering the hassle involved of getting to the airport, checking in, picking up luggage at the destination terminal and then finding a shuttle or taxi into Edinburgh, I decided a train ride to Waverley Station and a short walk or taxi to my hotel seemed much easier. So I lose an hour, my mental state is more important than that extra hour.

hanl

If taking the train during daylight hours, it is worth sitting on the right side of the train (facing the direction of travel) on the way north, or on the left on the way south. That way you get to see the fabulous scenery between Berwick upon Tweed and Edinburgh. The train goes right along the edge of the coast, and you get some amazing sea views. Worth every 'wasted' second in my book

Stellarossa

Then I'm lucky I don't want to read your book.

m_kingdom2

If you have the time, which you don't, it's quite nice to drive to Edinburgh over a week or so, especially in summer with the roof down, and whizzing along empty country roads. However, you want speed, and ease. You need to be at the airport about 45mins before take-off for a domestic flight, that's plenty of time.

bbib

I would fly from London to Edinburgh, it can work out cheaper than the train, especially at holiday time.

caroline_edinburgh

janis's timings are perfectly correct : it takes about the same time to travel between central London and central Edinburgh by air or by train. While the actual flying time is admittedly only 50 minutes, flights are officially timed at 1.25 hours since that's usually exactly what they take from door closed to getting off - i.e. including hanging about on the tarmac, getting to the gate/runway, etc.

As is janis, no doubt, I am perfectly aware that flights go to Edinburgh from London airports other than Heathrow. However, Heathrow is in general terms the quickest to get to : the timings would certainly be even longer to get to Stansted or Luton, and possibly to Gatwick too, depending on where you start.

Whenever I go to London I check the trains & all the airlines (BA, bmi & Easyjet) & take whatever's cheapest - which admittedly is usually a flight.

But for vistors, I'd probably recommend a day time train at least one way so they can see the country in between. Plus I think you can get good deals when travelling as a family.

han's tip about which side of the train to sit is a good one. As well as the lovely Northumberland coastline, you can see the Angel of the North and Durham.