We will be staying in London for a week and will do day trips. The next week I was thinking of going North and staying in York. Is a week to long for York, what day trips could we do. Could we do Scotland by train for the day???

I think a week is too long. We did a day trip from London a couple of years ago and thought that wasn't enough. Scotland on a day trip doesn't do it justice IMO. I'd spend a couple of days in York and then the balance of that week in Scotland.

My problem is we are using Marriott points and I have to stay a week in one location. The week in London is fine but the next week is tricky. I can't believe I can't find a Marriott in Scotland that will take three people in a room.

Of course a week is not too long - it just depends on what you want to see/do.

Besides the city itself which easily will fill 2 days, there are: Castle Howard, the Moors/and the North Yorkshire Morrs steam railway, Whitby/Robin Hood's Bay, Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal, all the Herriot connections - and that is just the short list.

I've stayed a week or more more than in/near York a few times and have barely scratched the surface. Other possibilities - day trips up to hadrian's Wall, or driving through the Dales.

As for which is better for your week - you can fill a week w/ wonderful sites no matter where you pick. IMHO it is so sad when folks think they have "seen it/done it" in a day or two.

I agree with you about not trying to do a city in one day. When we do Europe we usually go for 5 to 6 weeks. But it gets very expensive so we try to do points and timeshare exchanges when we can. I am sure we will love York and find lots to do. thanks for the advice

And a day trip to Scotland to pack in a year's sightseeing is nice not just in getting a peak at Edinburgh, one of Europe's most spectacular cities but you get to ride one of Britain's most scenic rail routes as it goes along the coast much of the way. In fact one poll recently ranked the Berwick-Edinburgh train line Britain's most scenic - though i would give that title to the Maillag- Fort William - Glasgow line. so the train ride itself will be a part of a great day. And Edinburg's Waverly train station - one of the quaintest in the UK, is right in the heart of town, just below the castle and Royal Mile. A day here you will surely enjoy. Buy a cheap advance purchase ticket in London or, for better fares, online at www.nationalrail.co.uk - for walk up fares you could pay top dollar. But if you're doing day trips from London, training to York and Edinburgh and back to London then you should strongly look at the Brit Railpass, which can be used on any train anytime - just walk on - cheaper fares are often highly restricted. For more on BritRail passes in the US i always advise going to BETS (www.budgeteuropetravel.com) and calling them as they are experts with service far exceeding Raileurope - their free European Planning & Rail Guide includes an excellent chapter on Britain and British trains. But if you want to investigate the online fares and lock yourself into certain trains, etc. you can beat the price of a BritRail but not i think for walk up fares - and if going to Edinburgh i'd want to be able to take any train back - no telling how long you'd want to stay. If the not unusual rainy day maybe just a quick look, etc.

I would not do Edinburgh as a day trip from York because you would spend too much time going back and forth.

York for a week would be just fine if you have a rental car. I had a home exchange in Scarborough for two weeks once and used it as a base. I saw many of the sites you would want to see although you would probably make different choices.

In York I recommend the Castle Museum (a museum of daily life), York Minster and the National Railway Museum as "must sees". I am not so crazy about the Jorvik Viking Center but many people like it.

Fountains Abbey is worth 4 hours. It is a world heritage site and there are lots of ruins.

Castle Howard will occupy you nicely for a day.

Eden Camp, a museum devoted to the Home Front during WW II is very interesting. I spent about 4 hours there. You might take more or less depending on interest.

Whitby Abbey (I never got there, by the way, as I ran out of time) is loved by many. I did take the hike down to Robin Hood's Bay (and back UP again).

Of course, Castle Howard is one place you will want to see. I actually visited 3 times during my stay in the area. Once I visited the house and grounds. The second time was for a reenactment of an English Civil War battle between Roundheads and Cavaliers. The third time I went to a concert on the grounds.

There are lots of other places, including many historic homes in the area. I did take the train that goes through the moors from Pickering. I did not go to James Herriot's surgery, as it was closed for rennovation when I went.

The castle in Scarborough is very interesting, by the way. It is only ruins but very well explained. It took a beating in the English Civil War.

There is a theater in York for evening entertainment. There is another in Scarborough called the Stephen Joseph, which has plays that try out before going to London. I saw 3 plays there. One was an Alan Ayckborn play and he was there the night I went. It is worth a look if you like that sort of thing.

During the summer there is lots going on all over. I even saw monks sing vespers at Riveaulx Abbey--a real treat. Check with tourist information when you arrive and they will have information on everything going on during your stay.

Then, the next time you have points, try and find a place near Edinburgh and do it. There is lots to do in both Edinburgh and York. You would not have a bad time in either place.

We have been to York twice, stopping over for couple of days on way by train from London to Edinburgh. I could gladly spend a week in York and do some daytrips. If you plan to travel by train, you can get BritRail passes in USA efore you leave (assuming you are in USA). We took day trip to Harrogate, a lovely old spa town. Would love to go to Castle Howard. Next trip we would go to the village of Thirsk, as we are James Herriot fans and his restored vet office is there. Durham would be easy day trip by train. Edinburgh is around 2 hrs by train and a beautiful trip it is, along the seacoast. If you have a car (we haven't dared to tackle the "wrong" side of the road yet), the possibilities are numerous. York itself deserves 2 or 3 days but we could spend longer just soaking it up.

Everything that FauxSteMarie says is exactly right. Add to it what Iscott said and you have the perfect holiday. I have spent a week in York twice and loved it. I would live there tomorrow if I could afford the house prices. The rental car is what makes the holiday. Go for it. As a former resident of Edinburgh, I much prefer York.

I thank all of you for your advise and will book my York hotel today - I love England and I am so looking forward to seeing another part of this lovely country.

LAab: You will have a lovely time in York. But I will warn you - if you are so sensitive that flanner's fun upset you that much - then do not get into ANY conversation in any Yorkshire pub.

Nonsense. None of my English or Scottish friends have that sort of "humor." (And I use that term very loosely.)

Almost every Brit on here has that sort of "humor" to one extent or another. Some people just may not notice when they are being sent up . . . . .

Oh, and do go to Harrogate as was suggested. I spent a few days there & loved it.

Flanneruk's remarks were just as LSab portrayed them--nasty and an effort to posture itself into superiority. Fortunately, I have never met anyone in the UK cut from that sort of cloth.

Or being put down.

My DH and I stayed a week in Leeds, not too far from York. If we had planned better, we would have stayed in York - a MUCH cooler city!

Here is our trip report, we did lots of daytrips around the area, most of which have been mentioned above. Lots to do!

http://www.greendragonartist.com/BItripreports2005.htm

Another suggestion for a daytrip from York would be Durham. I studied there several years ago and it was a very nice place to visit. There was a grand cathedral, a castle (that has been incorporated into the university) as well as a nice town square. It's worth a visit with you being so close. Have a great trip.

When you "do" York Minster, don't neglect to go down to the undercroft where they have done some interesting excavations. We found it quite interesting.

I'll also chime in with FauxSteMarie in stating that the Jorvik Viking Center is a bust. I suppose if there's absolutely nothing else to do, then proceed at your own risk!

Gee all these people agreeing with me today.

I have done a lot of home exchanging in the UK, France and Germany--which makes for some unusual trips. You just go where you get the swap and do day trips from the location. It is never boring and always an adventure. You never know when you start out looking for a swap where you will end up and when. Scarborough didn't sound like such a great location but it turned out to work for me for exploring the moors.

Insofar as Durham is concerned--get this--there is a baseball time. You read that correctly. When I swapped in Scarborough, I ran into the team posing for promotional photos on the beach. I started "razzing" them putting on my best NY accent and they got a kick out of it. I really do not know what level they play at compared to Americans. It was a team of young men. I gathered there is a league. Who knew there was baseball in the UK?

Leeds is supposed to have a wonderful museum of armour. I have never been to it but it is on my very long--ha!--list. That's another day trip.