This is all wonderful feedback and I am excited to let my husband know so that way we can make a better decision. I would need to ask my parents where in Ireland my great-great grandmother lived. I just assumed flying into Dublin was "ideal", but glad to know it's not a must.

We may swipe off Ireland completely and stick with the England/Edinburgh plan(maybe throw in Whales) or take off Edinburgh and just do London and areas close to plus Ireland. I almost feel like we should save Ireland for and take our kids there another time since it has some family history.

And just to correct: it's not all about the beer or drinking. I just meant, it will be nice to find some local pubs and enjoy some adult time, since we probably wouldn't partake in it while with the kiddos.

If you are Irish, do you need to spend much time there apart from greeting family members?
You could take the ferry from Dublin and hire a car in Hollyhead. You could see a bit of Wales and perhaps visit Chester before making your way to London

We will probably look at a Friday(fly) to a Sunday(fly)--so 15 days on ground would work, especially with those weekends helping us out and only missing 2 full weeks of work. (if that makes sense)

Flying back the Sunday before Memorial Day in May would allow us to have that Monday to regroup before going back to work on that Tuesday.

Nothing wrong with trips being all about eating and drinking . Nothing like a good pub!!!

There are flights to all parts if Ireland from the UK so you could fly to say Shannon from London, tour the south and end in Dublin to fly home...

Lots of options!

Whoops, I misunderstood. I thought you were Irish. If you have never visited Ireland, you could spend a week there and then fly to London. I think that Scotland and Wales might have to wait until next time

MissPrism: I don't know of any family currently there (which I am sure there are), but I have never been to Ireland, so mainly going to see where my family is from. (My mom knows, so I will need to ask her) I believe my great-great grandmother was a maid at a Castle that my parents and grandparents just visited last year. I know I need to do my homework where that is concerned. I guess I will find out from my husband if Ireland is still a place he wants to go this trip.

My interest is being piqued by everyone about Edinburgh!!! haha

Edinburgh > Dublin. Edinburgh is great; Dublin is the capital of Ireland.

<English beer is not served at room temperature>

Yeah yeah yeah. I was going to put in a temp around 15C (although 10-13C may be closer) but didn't think the OP needed all that detail. Especially since Americans are accustomed to their beer at real refrigerator temps at 2-4C.

PS - jes: English beer is overrated, especially by the English. The number of American brews that are superior is nearly limitless (now watch the Brits go completely bonkers and sputter on about such rot as Coors, Bud, Bud Light and MGD and "making love in a canoe" without realizing that many American craft brews are (1) among the best in the world and (2) increasingly popular in Europe [ http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/...86870467402012 ]).

That'll get the responses into the 100s . . .

BigRuss: Your post seriously made me laugh. I don't even have to drink beer--any local british cocktails/drinks.. anything different to try. More or less just want to enjoy some local/authentic establishments and foods.

There is a restaurant here where I live called "The Pub" and of course is a full British Menu, but we want to enjoy it there and of course, expect it to be a little different.

I remember when I visited London, all the drinks were room temperature and I remember my mom asking for some ice and getting a "look". Luckily, I am not that picky and just want to enjoy what another Culture has to offer.

Beer, cider (it is 'hard') , single malt whisky, . . And if the weather is warm - a Pimm's on the lawn.

Could (very) easily build a trip around that .

<any local british cocktails/drinks>

The quintessential English liquor is gin (Beefeater, Plymouth, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, bunches of brands that start with "B"). Scots are famous for making whisky; the Irish make whiskey. Like every other country, the UK produces various vodkas (Three Olives, Beefeater, Tanqueray, the creepy but normal-tasting Blavod).

Unlike your neighbors with stills in their sheds, none of it can be labeled "bourbon." ;-)

nice Justified reference BigRuss

Room temperature discussion.

Beer is temperature controlled by the space it is stored in and the chilling built into the pipe lines.

So, if you walk into a pub with the beer on the bar tops and there is no chilling system it will be "room temperature" etc

Ain't no myth it "just depends"

I love the drink talks!! It'll be helpful for when we arrive!

So.. after talking to my husband last night, he said to take Ireland off of this trip. I know he wants to enjoy Ireland, so that will be another time. With that said, we are now interested in just England and Scotland (just Edinburgh, unless you all think we should incorporate another must-see in Scotland).

I don't know if there is a good itinerary that includes a day or 2 in Whales, but I am OK with skipping that as well if it means truly enjoying what England and Scotland have to offer.

Based on some suggestions yesterday and planning on being there 14 or 15 days on ground:

7 days in London, which includes 2 day trips (one to Stonehenge and one to Newbury) ??? Sound ok ???

4 days of visiting Bath, Cotswolds, York

3 in Edinbrugh
--------------------------
A couple of questions:

1) Are the Cliffs of Dover worth seeing? And would that be considered a day trip while in London?

2) Is there a particular area in the Cotswold region that is recommended?

3) Would you suggest another location rather than the ones mentioned aside from London and Edinburgh? We just want to see England and all the different aspects of it (countryside, villages, city, etc.) A good taste of what the Country has to offer.

Thank you all so much, again.

Jackie

Wales (not the sea based mammal)
1) No, you have to go out to sea to see. Dover Castle might be worth a day trip but not Dover itself. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d.../dover-castle/
2) The Cotswolds is an area and the type of buildings and land managment they follow. There are some good threads on this site (try surfing)
3) York is my local favorite on the main London to Edinburgh line so easy to step off. A Medieval city centre with walls, cathedral and a lot of "ye-old" fake shops in a real "ye-old" shopping area. Plus a whole bunch of museums, walks etc. Then outside the city some fantastic countryside, steam railways, ruined monestries etc and not only pubs but breweries.

If you like drink talk, this will help though the area is wrong the comments on behaviour is about right

Thank you, Bilboburgler.

Your insight on York is helpful. How long would you give yourself there? It appears there is a lot to see not only in the city, but outside and I would LOVE to see some great countryside.

I am thinking we should stay on the northward direction route and stopping at places along the way to Edinburgh, rather than go from London and westward to Bath and Cotswolds and then up.

and oops, about *Wales* I knew better, but wasn't paying attention. I studied Marine Science in College, so it is habit for me. haha. Thank you for catching my spelling error.

You would have a lovely trip incorporating either the Cotswolds or York and Yorkshire! Both areas would benefit from you having a car to see the countryside - public transit isn't that flexible in those areas.

One option that would give you a bit of both would be:

Fly into heathrow and first day and head right to Windsor (you don't want to drive after a long flight) and spend the first day and night there seeing the castle.

Then pick up your car and drive to the Cotswolds - we enjoyed our stay in Burford but there are many options. Visit the lively villages, maybe a day trip to Bath etc.

Then head back to London stopping at Stonehenge on the way to or from the Cotswolds, dropping the car at Heathrow and take the tube into London.

Spend your week in London with a day trip to Newbury and maybe another as you have already seen Stonehenge. Www.walks.com has great day trips.

Then take the train to Edinburgh, stopping in York for the day if you wish.

Spend a few days in Edinburgh then fly home directly from there.

Or skip the Cotswolds and spend a few days in York, you may want to rent a car there to see the countryside before heading to Edinburgh.

jamikins.. thank you SO much for the breakdown--that definitely helps and gives a better idea of how we can break it down.

How long would you give to stay in the Cotwolds? I am assuming the first 3 days or so (with Bath as a day trip included)?

Day 1 (ground): Windsor (stay the night)
Day 2: Pick up car (@ Heathrow?), drive to Cotswolds (possibly Burford?)
Day 3: Cotswolds
Day 4: Bath
Day 5: Stonehenge and then return car at Heathrow; tube to London
Day 6: London
Day 7: London
Day 8: London (day trip to Newbury)
Day 9: London
Day 10: train to York in the morning; stay the night
Day 11: visit York that morning, train to Ediburgh in the afternoon
Day 12: Edinburgh
Day 13: Edinburgh
Day 14 (maybe 15): Edinburgh

**If we have 15 days on ground, should I scractch a day off of Edinburgh and add a day in somewhere where I mentioned that I am not giving long enough?