Tips for UK vacation?

[DSNY4ever]

Hey guys I hope you don't mind me butting in on your board to ask a few questions.

I have to get together our plan for our trip to the UK this April. We have 16 days and we are flying in and out of Edinburgh (using trains, buses and car rental from there).

We plan to see Scotland, Wales and some of England (possibly Bath and we are going to a wedding in Durham). We have already done another trip to London, so we don't need to include that again. We loved it, but we want to see new places.

Any favorite cities/attractions that you guys love and recommend? Something that is just not to be missed?

How's the weather in Spring? From what I have been finding online- cold(ish)? I am thinking mostly pants and sweaters...and since we are from California, jackets too

Any tips you guys can to offer would be great- thanks so much!

 

[karentan]

yeah definately wrap up warm, its getting a bit better at the mo, but its been bitterly cold recently.
i'm from near london so cant really help as you're not planning on going back there, but i'm sure someone will be along soon

 

[Dimplenose]

April can bring very mixed weather - sometimes we've had snow and sometimes a heatwave! Usually it is a mild but very wet month.

My favourite non-London attraction is Warwick Castle. This is even better during UK school holidays as they include special attractions which are well worth seeing. I've spent a whole day there but overseas visitors often combine it with Stratfort-upon-Avon which is known as Shakespeare' s birthplace - his plays are often on at the theatre here.

Warwick Castle

Stratford-upon-Avon

 

[Netty]

If you pm me your address I will send you some leaflets for N. Wales

 

[florida sun]

If you need any info on South Wales and Cardiff, let me know

 

[Disney Princess Elli]

On your way from Scotland to Wales, go to Liverpool

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

If you like historic houses - I vote to go to Chatsworth (Derbyshire) and take a visit to Bakewell and sorrounding area in the peak district.

For coastal, I love Whitby - on the east coast - great for fish and chipe - there are also lots of lovely villages around there - like Helmsley and Pickering (where you can take a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway) - or combine with a visit to York. A lovely city with York minster and the famous shambles shopping area - you can also take a boat ride at York and visit the free railway museum.

I hope you have a lovely trip Please ask if you require any further information.

 

[A Small World]

York, Chester, Cambridge, Oxford,

 

[luke]

On your way from Scotland to Wales, go to Liverpool

Yep! Liverpool is looking great at the moment and full of history from its maritime history to the Beatles

 

[Netty]

Yep! Liverpool is looking great at the moment and full of history from its maritime history to the Beatles

 

[DSNY4ever]

Okay, I am overwhelmed in a very excited way! You guys are so lucky to have so many beautiful areas, I am looking at all of these cities and they are amazing...now narrowing it down and fitting it all into 16 days- yikes. I will definitely have more questions soon- thank you, thank you!

 

[Netty]

Snowdonia is a beautiful part of north wales, about an hr away from where i live!

http://www.snowdoniaguide.com/

 

[Disney Princess Elli]

Yep! Liverpool is looking great at the moment and full of history from its maritime history to the Beatles

i just love the shops haha

Snowdonia is a beautiful part of north wales, about an hr away from where i live!

http://www.snowdoniaguide.com/

snowdonia FTW!
i went there last year to do geography coursework xD
i love betsw-y-coed (i can't spell it ahah) ;D

 

[A Small World]

Of course you could also visit the Lake District on your way from Scotland to Wales

 

[Floridadreamlel]

If you can fit it in, the Yorkshire Dales are beautiful. York is a city not to be missed and, if you can get to the east coast, visit Whitby

 

[gemmybear83]

If you can fit it in, the Yorkshire Dales are beautiful. York is a city not to be missed and, if you can get to the east coast, visit Whitby

I agree York and Whitby are lovely - very English!

Durham is a beautiful city (I live just down the road from it!). There are plenty of attractions nearby too, I would advise hiring a car to see most of these places. Train travel isnt up to much in the U.K

This website will be useful for your trip to Durham - lots of info about the North East of Egnland and you can book accomodation too http://www.visitnortheastengland.com/

 

[Alibaba]

Hiya
On your way from Edinburgh to Durham you will go past Alnwick Castle, that is definatly a must see, i think they filmed some of Harry Potter there, also on your way to Durham is an Attraction called Beamish, this is a sort of alive museum if you get my drift, it has a working Victorian Farm, Shops, Schools, Coal Mines, Banks etc, all pretending to be in the Victorian era. It is brilliant.
You will find this on the visit north east england website which has been previously posted, also another vote for York, the shambles are great

Ali

 

[DSNY4ever]

Thank so much everyone for all your suggestions. I loved them all so much that I made a rough draft itinerary that included pretty much everything you guys recommended.... but we now think it might be a little too ambitious for our amount of time and I have to cut something out which I am literally losing sleep over- this is the hardest vacation I have ever planned!

We are also starting to try to figure our train tickets and car rental pries and I am blown away at the prices. For some reason I thought train travel would be a lot cheaper. Do you guys have Magical Express?

**Okay, one sort of stupid question... what kind of shoes do you guys wear when you go out sightseeing? I want something comfortable to wear all day, but I want to be prepared for cold/wet weather. Last time we went to Europe I could get by with my nice sandals and tennis shoes on real walking days, but I think I need something else this time as neither of them are waterproof or warm!

Thanks for all the tips- I might PM some of you with questions about specific cities once we make our final choices. Thanks again

 

[gemmybear83]

I live in my ugg boots, or I would get a nice pair of comfy boots.

In terms of train travel it is confusing, our rail system was privatised and is now run by a number of different companies. Train tickets are usually cheaper the earlier you book them (they come out 3 months before).

I just did a quick search and this site came up for passes that you can buy before your arrive in England with unlimited usage - might be worth a look http://www.britainontrack.com/buypasses/passes.cfm (you can't get these type of tickets in England!).

 

[Dimplenose]

I live in trainers/sneakers for sightseeing.