England / Scotland anyone?

[tinker1bell]

Hmm, that'll take some getting used to, but if we play our cards right and don't try to drive the car until we get to a smaller area, I think I can handle it.

friends of ours practiced by riding in a car that has a shift and when the driver needed to shift-- you --sitting in the passenger seat did the shifting. using the feet is the same just the left arm instead of the right is hard to get used to

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Yup on the Ceremony, so I'm planning to try to get to Tower fairly late in the touring time, or at least be around the tower area for dinner. Assuming, of course, we can get ressies.

I'd recommend visiting the Tower first thing in the morning while you have your Hop-On/Hop-Off tickets going. I don't recall there being much in the way of restaurants in the Tower Hill area. Much of the immediate area has grown into the Financial District and the sidewalks really do roll up when the trading bell rings in the afternoon. The Tower closes at 6pm -- long time to wait.

Don't worry about this, however. You can enjoy a lovely supper anywhere else in London and get to Tower Hill with great ease. The Circle Line and District Line both serve Tower Hill. You could enjoy supper at a nice restaurant in Picadillly Circus, hop on the Bakerloo Line to Embankment and transfer to the District or Circle Line to Tower Hill and be there in plenty of time. Here's all you need to know about getting ressies for the Ceremony. Keep in mind that many people have no clue that this happens at all. It is, however, something I have done both times I've been to London and will continue to do it whenever I'm in London. There's just something about being locked in the Tower of London at night and hearing the bugle sound Last Post -- it sends shivers down my spine.

As to Wellington Barracks. Well, it isn't quite the ceremony of the Changing -- but it's all the uniforms, the inspection. If Changing is what mom wants, then give mom the Changing of the Guard. Do pop by Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall to see the mounted guard there.

 

[Rajah]

Which airport should we fly out of? Edinburgh or Glasgow?

 

[Rajah]

Okay, the schedule continues to be refined. I think I'm getting more reasonable -- am I right?

----

Fri: Depart Houston

Sat Apr 29:
Arrive London
Check into hotel
Portobello Road
(if time)
Ride the hop on / hop off bus to get a feel for London
Take the London By Night bus tour
Night: Hotel in London, Sat & Sun night

Sun Apr 30 & Mon May 1:
Hop on / Hop off bus tour
Changing of the Guard (~2 hours incl wait time?)
British Museum (~2 hours)
Library's room with ancient maps, etc (~1-2 hours)
Tower Bridge (~30 minutes max)
Tower of London (~2-3 hours)
Tower of London Keys ceremony
Westminster Abbey (~1 hour)
Big Ben and Parlaiment (~30 minutes max)
Trafalgar Square (~30 minutes)
Globe Theater (~1 hour)
St Pauls Cathedral (~1 hour)
(if time)
Queen's Garden in Regent's Park
National Gallery
Brief stop in Kensington Gardens & view of Kensington Palace
Mon Night: Transfer to Hampton Court Palace B&B, Mon & Tues night http://www.paddocklodge.co.uk/about.html

Tu May 2:
Hampton Court Palace & Gardens

Wed May 3:
Train to Southampton (1.5 hours)
Pick up rental car in Southampton (1 hour)
Drive to Salisbury (1 hour)
Salisbury Cathedral (1 hour)
Stonehenge (1 hour to reach, 1 hour to view)
Night near Stonehenge

Th May 4:
Avebury
Bath
Up to Cotswolds
Night in Cotswolds

--Fri May 5:
Down-day in Cotswolds

Sat May 6:
Warwick Castle
Stratford-upon-Avon
More Cotswolds
(if available, dinner at Warwick Castle)
Night in Cotswolds

Sun May 7:
Great Tews & Oxford
Night in Cotwolds

Mon May 8:
Cotswolds

Tu May 9:
Drive from Cotswolds to Cardiff
Castle(s) in Cardiff
Night in Cardiff

Wed May 10:
Drive from Cardiff to lower Snodonia via Brecon Beacons & waterfalls
Night in Snowdonia somewhere

--Th May 11:
Down-day in Snowdonia area

Fri May 12:
Snowdonia to Chester via Conwy
Night in Chester

Sat May 13:
Chester to Lakes District
Night in Lakes District

Sun May 14:
Lakes District to outside Edinburgh
Rosslyn Chapel
Night outside Edinburgh

--Mon May 15:
Edinburgh & down-day
Night outside Edinburgh

Tu May 16:
Edinburgh -> somewhere near Blair Castle
Night central Scotland

Wed May 17:
Up to Loch Ness
Night Loch Ness

Th May 18:
Loch Ness to near Glasgow (the flowers town)
Glen Coe region
Night near Glasgow

Fri May 19:
Glasgow region & Glasgow
Night near airport

Sat May 20:
Fly home

 

[wendym]

Rajah - I hope you have a wonderful trip. Having just come back from a trip with pupils to London I would recommend walking past HMS Belfast when you are going to or leaving Tower Bridge - it is a naval warship that is docked near by. You won't have time to tour it but at least you can see it - we actually stayed aboard it with the pupils.
I am intrigued by the flowers town next to glasgow - which is it? Loch Ness is very scenic but try and avoid some of the tacky tourist spots - I love my native country but our tourist attractions are not in the same league as the US! However we do have far more history LOL!
Wendy

 

[Rajah]

I'm not sure, Wendy -- I'm going to have to look it up again. I just know it was nick-named something like the flower capitol, and it's near Glasgow.

As for Loch Ness, the main thing besides the Loch I want to see is the castle. (Urquart?)

 

[wendym]

Urquhart Castle is lovely.I'll have to put my thinking cap on about that town as my city, Aberdeen often wins Britain in Bloom but we are at least 3 1/2 hours away from Glasgow.
Wendy

 

[Rajah]

Yeah, it wasn't Aberdeen...

 

[Rajah]

It's official! We have our plane reservations, and are working on hotel / B&B ressies now!

We opted to go with London/Gatwick and Edinburgh as the less crowded of the airports, so we'll swing through Glasgow on our way up to Loch Ness.

 

[wendym]

That's wonderful - have a great trip!
Wendy
PS If you come across the capitol of flowers again let me know as it is driving me nuts!

 

[Rajah]

LOL! Will do, Wendy!