Visit to UK for 10 days
Dec 17th, 2012, 04:51 AM
#22
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Hi
The negative comments above regarding Leeds and Manchester are some of the most absurd (and incorrect)I have ever read on here!
I'm fortunate enough to work 3 days each week in Leeds and its a lively, vibrant and exciting city. The shopping is superb, and the restaurants first class. However I actually think you'll have plenty to see and do in York itself, but if you do decide to visit Leeds then it's only a quick trip by train, a regular service.
I can't better Bilboburgler's suggestions for York - the Minster (cathedral) is one of the most spectacular buildings you will ever see. There's more than one museum in York and my favourite is the Castle Museum. It has a terrific Victorian street (indoor) amongst its attractions.
http://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/Page/Index.aspx
I'd also suggest afternoon tea at Bettys, a Yorkshire tradition.
http://www.bettys.co.uk/bettys_york.aspx
Fountains is amazing, a World Heritage Site, but an absolute beggar to get to via public transport. Would you consider hiring a car? Castle Howard is also a highlight and easier to get to from York using public transport. It reopens for the season in late March.
http://www.castlehoward.co.uk/House-...Transport.html
The negative comments above regarding Leeds and Manchester are some of the most absurd (and incorrect)I have ever read on here!
I'm fortunate enough to work 3 days each week in Leeds and its a lively, vibrant and exciting city. The shopping is superb, and the restaurants first class. However I actually think you'll have plenty to see and do in York itself, but if you do decide to visit Leeds then it's only a quick trip by train, a regular service.
I can't better Bilboburgler's suggestions for York - the Minster (cathedral) is one of the most spectacular buildings you will ever see. There's more than one museum in York and my favourite is the Castle Museum. It has a terrific Victorian street (indoor) amongst its attractions.
http://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/Page/Index.aspx
I'd also suggest afternoon tea at Bettys, a Yorkshire tradition.
http://www.bettys.co.uk/bettys_york.aspx
Fountains is amazing, a World Heritage Site, but an absolute beggar to get to via public transport. Would you consider hiring a car? Castle Howard is also a highlight and easier to get to from York using public transport. It reopens for the season in late March.
http://www.castlehoward.co.uk/House-...Transport.html
Dec 17th, 2012, 05:34 AM
#23
Hi Morgana and Nakuls
I thought I'd try the public transport link I offered just to see.
Basically Fountains is an hour's drive by car from York (depending on car pick up and variable traffic)
mixing bus and train you can take between 1.5 and 2 hours to get there by public transport in February 2013 and this takes you through Ripon which might mean you could take a break and visit the Minster (where the pews have many of the "Alice" creatures carved into them, though obviously carved before the books were published) Now an extra 2 hours traveling is not a bad return from a days car hire??
I thought I'd try the public transport link I offered just to see.
Basically Fountains is an hour's drive by car from York (depending on car pick up and variable traffic)
mixing bus and train you can take between 1.5 and 2 hours to get there by public transport in February 2013 and this takes you through Ripon which might mean you could take a break and visit the Minster (where the pews have many of the "Alice" creatures carved into them, though obviously carved before the books were published) Now an extra 2 hours traveling is not a bad return from a days car hire??
Dec 17th, 2012, 06:19 AM
#24
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Good research! I live pretty close to Fountains and I know that there are buses that go there. In fact we were going to go for a walk there today via the deer park but it hasn't stopped raining!
It's also walkable from Ripon through Studley Park and the Watergardens but that's a fair hike.
Hiring a car would mean they could go to Fountains (it opens at 10) and then maybe explore the Dales or the Moors on the same day.
However, they have very little time up here in North Yorkshire so a few difficult decisions will need to be made about what they decide to see and what they miss out.
It's also walkable from Ripon through Studley Park and the Watergardens but that's a fair hike.
Hiring a car would mean they could go to Fountains (it opens at 10) and then maybe explore the Dales or the Moors on the same day.
However, they have very little time up here in North Yorkshire so a few difficult decisions will need to be made about what they decide to see and what they miss out.
Dec 17th, 2012, 06:29 AM
#25
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Don't wish to be a party popper but is there any reason you're visiting Birmingham? I'm sure it's a fine city but wouldn't be on most visitors essential places to see. Plus you're only there for one night en route from London to the north.
Which begs another question do you have to fly into Heathrow? Far better to fly into Manchester then head to the Lake District, up to Scotland, down to York then London.
Travelling from Birmingham to Windermere by train will take 2 1/2 to 3 hours. You'll be there probably by midday at the earliest, go to your accommodation, walk around for a couple of hours, have an evening meal, crash out and leave the next day. Hardly worth the effort.
I think you should devote more time to Edinburgh at the expense of Glasgow.
A better trip would be
Days 1 & 2 Lake District
3 & 4 Edinburgh
5 & 6 York
7, 8, 9 London
Even the above is hectic but staying somewhere for 1 day is often a waste of time.
Which begs another question do you have to fly into Heathrow? Far better to fly into Manchester then head to the Lake District, up to Scotland, down to York then London.
Travelling from Birmingham to Windermere by train will take 2 1/2 to 3 hours. You'll be there probably by midday at the earliest, go to your accommodation, walk around for a couple of hours, have an evening meal, crash out and leave the next day. Hardly worth the effort.
I think you should devote more time to Edinburgh at the expense of Glasgow.
A better trip would be
Days 1 & 2 Lake District
3 & 4 Edinburgh
5 & 6 York
7, 8, 9 London
Even the above is hectic but staying somewhere for 1 day is often a waste of time.
Dec 17th, 2012, 08:13 AM
#26
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You cannot "Tube to Birmingham" - the Tube only goes as far as the London suburbs. Know your terminology or everyone gets confused. The Tube is the London Underground, so named for the shape of the tunnels for the deeper lines (Northern, Jubilee, Bakerloo, Piccadilly, Victoria, Central).
Definitely don't get Birmingham.
Devoting more time to London is a better way to see more of England - Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, Salisbury, even Dover Castle are all a short day trip from London. Do not underestimate the size and scope of London - it is the largest city in Western Europe and the runners-up (Berlin, Paris, Rome) are not close.
Definitely don't get Birmingham.
Devoting more time to London is a better way to see more of England - Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, Salisbury, even Dover Castle are all a short day trip from London. Do not underestimate the size and scope of London - it is the largest city in Western Europe and the runners-up (Berlin, Paris, Rome) are not close.
Dec 17th, 2012, 09:50 AM
#27
sorry nakuls, but I just don't see the point of stopping off in all these places for a night or two. you are going to have a far too high travelling to seeing/doing ratio. Sofasogood's itinerary is much better but still involves a lot of moving about.
before you book please work out what you want to see in all these places, and whether you've got the time to do it. The Lake district is a place for walking, taking boat trips, exploring - yet you have no time to do this. Edinburgh is full of culture, enough to keep you going for several days, but you will see very little in the 24 hours you are giving it.
if you want some countryside, combine York and the places around it as day trips as suggested above, otherwise stick to Edinburgh, York and London.
Honestly, you'll be glad that you did.
before you book please work out what you want to see in all these places, and whether you've got the time to do it. The Lake district is a place for walking, taking boat trips, exploring - yet you have no time to do this. Edinburgh is full of culture, enough to keep you going for several days, but you will see very little in the 24 hours you are giving it.
if you want some countryside, combine York and the places around it as day trips as suggested above, otherwise stick to Edinburgh, York and London.
Honestly, you'll be glad that you did.
Dec 17th, 2012, 11:15 AM
#28
Your new plan is if anything more difficult that the first one.
Why Birmingham??? (and yes, there is no tube to B'ham)
• Start by flying up to Glasgow (you seem to REALLY want to see it for some reason) and stay 1 night.
• then train to Edinburgh - 2 nights
• train to York - 2 nights (skip Leeds)
• train to London stay 4 nights - fly home.
This is still pretty hectic/crazy but is doable. And if you book ahead flying up to Glasgow will not be any more expensive and could be cheaper than taking the train.
Why Birmingham??? (and yes, there is no tube to B'ham)
• Start by flying up to Glasgow (you seem to REALLY want to see it for some reason) and stay 1 night.
• then train to Edinburgh - 2 nights
• train to York - 2 nights (skip Leeds)
• train to London stay 4 nights - fly home.
This is still pretty hectic/crazy but is doable. And if you book ahead flying up to Glasgow will not be any more expensive and could be cheaper than taking the train.
Dec 17th, 2012, 02:56 PM
#29
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Don't know that I get the concept of Glasgow over Edinburgh - that's generally true in football matches but not for tourists. Did Craig Ferguson make Glasgow seem that lovely on his trip to Scotland last year?
Stay three nights in Edinburgh and if you get bored, you can catch a train to Glasgow for the day and ride back that evening.
They're closer than New York and Philadelphia so staying in both is just more hotel switching than necessary unless you're doing a loop starting at one and ending at the other.
Stay three nights in Edinburgh and if you get bored, you can catch a train to Glasgow for the day and ride back that evening.
They're closer than New York and Philadelphia so staying in both is just more hotel switching than necessary unless you're doing a loop starting at one and ending at the other.
Dec 18th, 2012, 01:27 AM
#30
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Thanks again for all your comments guys. Sorry but I need to touch Birmingham as I have a cousin living over there so can't avoid it, only thing I can do is to keep it minimum as a day.
2 days - York, 2 days - glasgow, 1 day - Edinburgh and finally 4 days - London. This is what I am planning now.
Yes sofarsogood, I am landing in Heathrow and infact got my return from same place.
Thanks again for making it clear that there are no tubes to Birmingham. I believe I checked some train connection which leads me to B'ham from Heathrow. Also wondering for last 4 days in London - should I go for an Oyster? Would it be useful in cost-cutting as we both would be travelling most of the time sight-seeing in London.
Nakuls
2 days - York, 2 days - glasgow, 1 day - Edinburgh and finally 4 days - London. This is what I am planning now.
Yes sofarsogood, I am landing in Heathrow and infact got my return from same place.
Thanks again for making it clear that there are no tubes to Birmingham. I believe I checked some train connection which leads me to B'ham from Heathrow. Also wondering for last 4 days in London - should I go for an Oyster? Would it be useful in cost-cutting as we both would be travelling most of the time sight-seeing in London.
Nakuls
Dec 18th, 2012, 06:10 AM
#31
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Since you're traveling by train, you could take advantage of the 2-for-1 tickets for certain London sights: www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london. You have to print out the vouchers ahead of time, then show them and your train tickets at the site's ticket booth. (Make sure to keep your train tickets by going through a manned exit gate from the track.)
This half-price discount applies to the Tower of London, the London Eye, and Hampton Court Palace among other sites. And a good many of London's museums are free.
Fodorites, do the 2-for-2 tickets apply elsewhere in Britain?
This half-price discount applies to the Tower of London, the London Eye, and Hampton Court Palace among other sites. And a good many of London's museums are free.
Fodorites, do the 2-for-2 tickets apply elsewhere in Britain?
Dec 18th, 2012, 06:56 AM
#32
I don't think so but "bogoff" buy one get one free is very common. You also find that at some entertainment parks/houses that the price of entry is the same as the price for year round access, so if you are going for two days...
Dec 18th, 2012, 09:18 AM
#33
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. Did Craig Ferguson make Glasgow seem that lovely on his trip to Scotland last year?>
Agree with BigRuss in that Glasgow rates a day trip from Edinburgh - but disagree that Glasgow is not a charmer - certain parts of very Victorian in looks with vast parks and lots of imposing old brick buildings - and great museums. But a day at most for the average tourist.
Agree with BigRuss in that Glasgow rates a day trip from Edinburgh - but disagree that Glasgow is not a charmer - certain parts of very Victorian in looks with vast parks and lots of imposing old brick buildings - and great museums. But a day at most for the average tourist.
Dec 18th, 2012, 11:30 AM
#34
Thanks again for making it clear that there are no tubes to Birmingham. I believe I checked some train connection which leads me to B'ham from Heathrow. >>
no direct train that i can find [unless Pal knows different]. either get the Heathrow tube to Euston and get the train to B'ham or get the H'row express to Paddinton, the tube to Euston, and then B'ham as before.
once you've paid your courtesy visit you can get back on the train and go straight to Glasgow.
As a general rule, the earlier you book train tickets the cheaper they are.
no direct train that i can find [unless Pal knows different]. either get the Heathrow tube to Euston and get the train to B'ham or get the H'row express to Paddinton, the tube to Euston, and then B'ham as before.
once you've paid your courtesy visit you can get back on the train and go straight to Glasgow.
As a general rule, the earlier you book train tickets the cheaper they are.
Dec 18th, 2012, 11:49 AM
#35
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One quick question friends:- Is it difficult to reach Excel or Docklands area from Central London? Why I am asking is because I am getting some serious good hotel deals in that area but I am wondering why the cost is cheaper as compared to that of other surroundings of London. Should I go for it??
Dec 18th, 2012, 12:01 PM
#36
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Because these areas have no atmosphere and are pockets of new builds in industrial areas or large conference centres. Docklands is likely the area around Canary Wharf which reminds me of downtown Vancouver and houses the banking towers. They lack charm and you can't walk anywhere else plus there are not a lot of places to eat outside of the Canary Wharf area. They are on the DLR into either Bank or Tower Gateway. I personally would not find the savings worth it. CW is also on the jubilee line...but be careful of location to be sure you can easily walk to a station.
