UK trip coming up soon
 

Hi Fodorites,

I’m late to do some of my planning, but wanted to ask about where to stay for one night on our UK trip. Any other comments or suggestions welcome.

Here is our itinerary:

Sept 9. Fly out from Indianapolis
Sept 10 arrive Edinburgh via Heathrow. two nights in Edinburgh
Sept 12 train to Gleneagles where friend will pick us up. Stay three nights in Comrie, Perth with friend
Sept 15 train back to Edinburgh, pick up car at airport. Drive to Bamburgh. Two nights Bamburgh.
Sept 17. Here’s where I need a recommendation. Had planned to stay at Holly Bush Inn, but I guess I didn’t make reservations as I thought. Where is good one night stay, between Bamburgh and York? Liked the idea of Holly Bush Inn, but they are full and B&B a mile out from them is also full.
Sept 18. Drive to York. Three nights in York.
Sept 21, drop car in York, train to London
Sept 21,22,23. London. Fly out 24th to US.


This may seem strange itinerary, but we originally had not planned to go to Scotland. I’m visiting a friend I haven’t seen in 45 years and I had to track her down. She is English and last contact with her she still lived in North Yorkshire. When I finally found her again it turns out she had moved to Scotland. So we are only going to Scotland to visit her.

we are in our early 60s, my husband has never been to the UK and I was there 46 years ago. I still have a journal I wrote in 1976 so it’s very interesting planning this trip and reading that journal.

All reservations For lodging and the car are made other than the accommodations for the 17th.

Unfortunately, I have not made any reservations for any sightseeing or meals yet. That’s what I’m working on next.No train tickets purchased yet either.

thanks for your help!

"Sept 17. Here’s where I need a recommendation. Had planned to stay at Holly Bush Inn, but I guess I didn’t make reservations as I thought. Where is good one night stay, between Bamburgh and York? Liked the idea of Holly Bush Inn, but they are full and B&B a mile out from them is also full."

Where is this Holly Bush Inn? The only one I know of is just outside of Derby and definitely not en route Bamburgh > York.

But where to stop between the two, there are lots of options depending on what you want to see/do -- along Hadrian's Wall, In Durham, Richmond, Whitby, the northern Dales. For sort of mid way -- Durham or Hexham would be good.

I may be way off base here, but would rethink spending three nights with a new/old friend. What if intervening years have changed either you or her to the point, well, where there’s not much point. Make it two nights…

You might well wish you had an extra night in Edinburgh or London?

Janis

It’s actually in Northumberland National Park, near Hexham or Kielder.

Oh -- that makes more sense :) Found it . . . That Holly Bush is only 50-ish miles from Bamburgh. Its maybe 20 miles north of Hexham. If you want to explore Hadrian's Wall then Hexham or Corbridge would be good. - The George Hotel is less than half a mile from Chesters Roman Fort which is one of the best sites along the Wall.

Or -- if you want too see Durham Cathedral etc -- anywhere close to Durham would be good (if in the city itself be sure to check parking availability)

The George Hotel is a real possibility - I will look at Corbridge also.

thank you.

Nyse- no chance. I have been looking forward to this for years. We met each other in Châlonnais-Sur-Saône France in 1975. Both of us of staying with families on summer exchange programs.

Each of the following two summers we spent 4 weeks together - I stayed with her family for four weeks in 1976 and she stayed with my family in Indiana for four weeks in 1977. We corresponded until around 1990. Sometimes you get to know someone is an intimate way and there is no way she has changed so much that I don’t want to spend three nights at her home. Her and her husband are taking us to St Andrews and some other places. If you are right, I can suck it up for a few nights. But I do appreciate the thought because it will help me be realistic.

You say you've already booked the car rental for pickup at EDI... If your friends are leaving you at the Gleneagles/Auchterarder station, you could train 20 minutes to Stirling and pick up the car there. Europcar has a "Meet & Greet" office at the Stirling train station. Then you could drive directly to Bamburgh without going into Edinburgh and then to the airport.

Jean, very interesting. I’ll see if I can make a change on the reservation. That would save us some precious time.

Can i suggest that for researching northern England you have a look at MaiTaiTom's recent TR? Loads of great info about staying, eating, sightseeing and very entertaining too. Just search for his name and you'll easily spot his TR.

Ed: Found it for you.

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...022-a-1708578/

Annhig, thank you! I have been following along with his report! Extremely helpful to us!

Where do you live in England?

I live in Cornwall, Cindywho.

Cindy, I was also gonna suggest MaiTaiTom's recent TR--Ann helpfully linked it first.
Btw, we too met an old schoolmate on our recent Brit trip. That person and I had never been close during high school, but mutual pals here in Toronto had stayed in touch with her over the decades and had agreed to provide the contact info. She lives in Broadway and we were renting in nearby Chipping Campden (don't you know---editor). NYSE raises the reasonable query about length of stay with pals. We've had such stays work in some cases and not so much in others. I wish you Good Luck. throughout, or at least better than I once had in York. Was supposed to rendezvous there with my dad's best friend and his fiance, only to have them give up waiting for me @Tourist Office after my train was a mere 20 minutes late.

York=scones n' strawb jam and a bottle of fresh, whole milk.
I am done. the coming soon

Zebec - undoubtedly their loss not yours.

Durham is very popular and it's not that big so you easily see everything. The County hotel is nice in the centre or the Ramside Hotel is on the outskirts with a park and ride scheme opposite. If you are rich there is Seaham Hall at Seaham on the coast. This was formerly the home of Lord byron the
poet and is now a luxury spa hotel. I was in York last week. Accommodation tends to be very overpriced but it's a lovely place with lots of lovely tea rooms.

Hello, with the news of Queen Elizabeth's passing I am wondering if our plan to spend Sept 21 through Sept 24 in London should be adjusted. Does anyone have any insight? Will London sights and roads be shut down? Will it be overrun with those who want to pay tribute to her? Should we stay somewhere else those three final nights of our trip?

I know that nothing is certain as of now, but asking the questions anyway.

Thank you!

The date if the State Funeral hasn't been set yet -- but the mourning period and lying in state will be before the funeral. After lying state at Westminster Hall for 4 days, the services will be at the Abbey, followed by transport through London and out to Windsor for interment. Reports are that the earliest date the funeral could be held is Sept 19. AFAIK nothing should be shut after the funeral - except for Buckingham Palace AND Windsor of course.

. . . the final plans will likely be published in the next 24 hours so no need to make any decisions yet

Just read in the Times "The government will confirm the length of national mourning, which is likely to be about 12 to 13 days, from now up to the day after the Queen’s funeral." and they are listing the funeral date as being the 19th but two other sources (Telegraph and Sky News) say that isn't totally firm yet.

But it does sound like Sept 21-24 should be OK.

Operation Unicorn comes first - lying in state at Holyrood then a procession up the Royal Mile to St. Giles for a service, THEN to London for the rest of the events.

The events Gardyloo mentions are figured into the estimate of the 19th being the first (and now sounds likely) date of the State Funeral.

It seems to be generally accepted that the state funeral will be on the 19th. The Crown Jewels will presumably be taken out of the Tower for the lying in state and for the funeral.

Westminster Abbey has already announced that they will not be open for tourist visits until the 22nd.
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...n-elizabeth-ii

The various current royal palaces are closed: no word yet on when they will re-open - keep checking their website
https://www.rct.uk/important-information

Otherwise, it's up to individual organisations to decide whether they want to close, but that's unlikely to happen after the funeral.

I think the royal palaces remain closed for the length of the Royal (as opposed to National) Mourning. The new HRH has already said that will be until 1 week after her funeral.
National mourning is expected to end the day after her funeral I believe, though Truss has yet to say.

Good news, our local church has been practising bell ringing for the two ceremonies. My goodness this radio is getting boring, Queen still dead.

Thank you to everyone for the information. I will keep checking various websites for information.

Public holiday on the day of the Queen's funeral.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62862225
However that date has oddly not been announced. Most newspapers suggest Monday 19th the day after the laying in state finishes.

<<Good news, our local church has been practising bell ringing for the two ceremonies. My goodness this radio is getting boring, Queen still dead.>>

yep. US tennis commentary team [for UK audience] in head to toe black is what I call overkill, especially as most aren't brits.

Dressing in black shows respect as a Brit I appreciate this.This is a massive event in the UK and an amazing opportunity to witness History happening before your very eyes.

History happens everyday, but I do understand that for many people this is an emotional experience. Our local town crier will be proclaiming the King at 2:30 in our market square (think large red faced man in coat, hat and ringing a bell). Radio at the moment is full of people talking slowly and carefully, hour after hour. Even Extinction Rebellion https://extinctionrebellion.uk/ have declared a 10 day break in activities.