Travel to Great Britain question

[WeirdEyes]

My family and I are planning a trip to England and Scotland within the next couple of years. My DH wants me to find out prices of everything from hotels, car rental, trains, meals, etc. so we can figure out how much money to save.

We are thinking that a trip for 3 of us for about 10-12 days will cost about $10,000. We want to do this on our own and not with a tour group. We want to visit many different places...not just London or Edinburgh. So we plan on staying at multiple places throughout both countries. I especially want to visit Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

So, if any of you have visited England or Scotland, please let me know of your experiences and if we are "on target" with the actual costs.

Oh yeah....when is the best time to go taking into consideration weather and prices?

Thanks sooooo much!!!!!

 

[caitycaity]

depending on what you do, i'd say you are on target, since you plan on visiting multiple places. let me recommend train travel from london to other british destinations. i loved the trains there and they are competitively priced (moreso than here).

one thing that might help you out is that a lot of things in london looked at first glance comparable in price to stuff here...until you realised that there was an exchange rate to factor in. (for example, around here a burger is about $7-8. when i was in england it was about 7 or 8 pounds.)

enjoy -- you will be visiting my two favorite european locations (england and scotland!)

in terms of the best time to go for weather and prices, it's hard to come up with something thatw ill satisfy both. summer is GREAT weather-wise, but then it is more expensive. i really like the fall there as well, and it is less pricey, but the weather isn't as nice.

 

[mrsv98]

I second taking the train. Brit Rail has a great plan where if you buy a "return" (round trip) ticket, if you go to the farthest destination first, you can make as many stops on the way back as you want. For expample, I was in London and bought a return to Edinburgh. I went directly to Scotland and stayed a few days. On the way back, I stopped in York for a day or two, and a couple of other places I can't remember and it didn't cost me any extra. Also, if your child is school-age, get a student card for discounts. If you base yourself in London, you can take great day trips to Bath, Canterbury, Salisbury, Southhampton, Portsmouth, Windsor, and my favorite, Cambridge (OK, I am prejudiced, I went to University there!) $10,000 will certainly be enough but you can do it for less. If you can swing it, go in late May or early June. Schools in Europe don't get out until mid-July so late summer gets crazy, if you can go earlier, the weather is really nice and not so crowded. Look out for Wimbeldon weeks and the Royal meeting at Ascot, that can make crowds jump (both of those are in mid-June).

When you budget, take in mind that VAT (value added tax) is already added into everything, so the price you see is the actual price. When I was there, if you saved your receipts, you could apply to have the VAT refunded on certain items when you left. You might want to check on that with a travel agent. Tipping is not really expected and if you do it, only leave a pound or two.

There is so much to do, I could write a novel! Let me know if you have more questions and I will see what I can do (I lived there for a year). Also, you might want to post this on the UK Community Board, they will have tons of info for you. Have fun planning! (You are making me "homesick"!)

 

[Grog]

Try not to plan too much to do. 10-12 days will barely scratch the surface in London, much less multiple cities. This is just me, but for a first trip I would stick near London. Maybe venture as far as Bath or Cambridge (another vote for Cambridge... I lived near there for four years as a child and have visited a couple of times since. Great place to visit). If you want to venture far afield I would suggest York as another really cool destination.

As for changing money...when possible try to do it at a bank. I wouldn't use any of the places that cater to tourists changing money (like Thomas Cook) as they all hit you with fees on top of the the exchange rate. My last trip was in '97, so unless it has changed the banks didn't charge for changing currency last time I was there. Keep in mind too that london has a high cost of living so expect prices to be high.

Lastly, I wouldn't rent a car unless at least one of you has read up on the traffic laws there and feels comfortable driving on the "wrong" side of the road. It can be confusing to the uninitiated. Public transportation in the UK is really good and you should be able to get from point A to Point B with relative ease.

 

[WeirdEyes]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. You've given me some great advice. I know that I'm probably trying to see too much on this trip, but don't know if I can talk DH into taking me again. It's taken me 10 years to talk him into this trip. He went to England while in the Navy so he really didn't have time to see much. I LOVE English/Scottish history so I am soooo excited!!!

We have decided to take the train wherever we go. We will be taking our teenage son so I guess we can get him a student pass. Also do you think that purchasing the London Pass is worth it? There are A LOT of things that I want to do in London...will probably spend at least 5 days there. I'll need a vacation from this vacation for sure!

Here's what I really want to see, but hope I can see more:
Buckingham Palace
Windsor Castle
Tower of London
Big Ben
Madame Tussaud's
St. Paul's Cathedral
Tower Bridge
Trafalgar Square
Warwick Castle
Hatfield House
Edinburgh Castle
Leeds Castle
Balmoral Castle
Culloden
Cambridge

Let me know if I'm planning too much or if there's something else I NEED to see. Thanks for all of the help. I will head on over to the Great Britain Community Board just as soon as I can find it! LOL

 

[RUDisney]

While in London, don't forget Westminster Abbey, Parliment & Big Ben. There is no picture that captures how beautiful Big Ben is in person... especially if you come up from the Westminster Tube and it is there in front of you.

Also, check out the London Theater while you are there. Similar to Broadway, but in some ways different. You must go to the National Gallery, too. It is on Trafalgar Square. When I was there, they had a wonderful DiVinci display and many Degas and Van Gogh works. Magnificent!

The tour of the Roman bathhouse in Bath, and the cathedral there are worth the trip.

You shouldn't miss shopping at Herrod's either.

 

[caitycaity]

i think you are planning too much, but i understand that this isn't the kind of trip you can take all the time. i was there for a year and still didn't get to see everything i wanted too. i really enjoy just absorbing london too. it's a great city.

make sure you make a shopping stop at harrod's, and there used to be a "sega world" near piccadilly circus that was really fun (i'm sure your son would especially enjoy it).

if you like asian food make sure you have a meal at wagamama -- great food there.

also, are you partial to cambridge for some reason? i liked oxford better.

 

[Grog]

If you are going to visit Warwick Castle, you might want to also consider Stratford-upon-Avon. They're not that far apart and you should be able to do them both in one day.

 

[WeirdEyes]

Great! Great!! Keep 'em coming! I'm making a list.

Oh yes!! Harrod's...how could I have forgotten that?
Big Ben is on my list.
Stratford-upon-Avon - isn't that where Anne Hathaway's cottage is? Definitely need to go there.

See, I knew they're be places I'd forget. Good thing I have a long time to plan!

Thanks so much!

 

[DocRafiki]

Yes, keep it coming. I've added London to my trip. I only have 2-3 days there, so I'm not even attempting to "see it all" -- just an overview, hopefully for a future visit.

 

[WeirdEyes]

DocRafiki, are you going to London when you go to Paris?

I've decided not to visit Stonehenge due to it being "out of the way" and "only a bunch of rocks." That's the advice I got from the UK Community Board.

Visit that board for some more tips from the Brits. They have great advice.

Let me know how your trip went and what all you did. I plan on visiting Paris one day....trying to learn French now. I definitely won't go until I can at least communicate some. Hopefully when I go to Paris, I can visit London again.

Cheers!

 

[Claudia1]

We bought a BritRail pass that let us come and go at any time over the covered period, all over GB. One of my favorites from our '86 trip was taking the sleeper car from Inverness, Scotland to southern England. It was quite inexpensive and I loved sleeping to the rhythm of the train.

On our last trip in '01, we took a day tour to Stonehenge & Bath by a bus tour. YOu will find brochures all over the place.

 

[cabmom]

Hi, you should post this on the uk board here. They'll be plenty of help as well. When I went over for 10 days, I flew from London to Edinburgh for 36 pds return. It is much cheaper to fly than take the train if you want to get some where quick. You also have to book ahead to get cheap flights while there.
www.ryanair.com
www.flybmi.com
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/
Hope this helps some. I love all of England and Scotland.
Marilynn

 

[FOJMO]

What? You aren't planning any West End shows? That would be my FIRST stop! It's the equivalent of Broadway and not to be missed.

Also, the Globe Theatre! My DD loved it there!

Have a GREAT trip and happy planning!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I was just going to suggest the Globe. I teach british literature and England is my dream trip. I'd go to Stratford to see anything Shakespeare related and then to the Globe, plus of course the Tower, Big ben, ETc.
I was hoping DD#1 would go with the HS drama club when she gets up there and I could chaperone (I went to HS with the director) but since 9/11 the school board refuses to sanction any out-of-country trips.
Robin M.

 

[WeirdEyes]

Yes, I will definitely check into the Globe. I'm sure we'll see at least one show while we're there.

I did post the top on the UK Community Board and have gotten lots of help!

I just saw that it only takes one hour to fly from London to Edinburgh so we might fly, but then we'd miss the countryside. Can't decide on that one.

Thanks all!

 

[RUDisney]

Take a drive down the highway at home and you can see the countryside. Trees look the same here and there and the grass is green here and there. Honestly, the countryside out of Moscow, Russia, looked just like the countryside in Moscow, PA. Granted, you can say that you've seen it, but if you're short on time, or travel at night on a sleeper car, you won't see it anyway.

 

[FOJMO]

Originally posted by RUDisney
Take a drive down the highway at home and you can see the countryside. Trees look the same here and there and the grass is green here and there. Honestly, the countryside out of Moscow, Russia, looked just like the countryside in Moscow, PA. Granted, you can say that you've seen it, but if you're short on time, or travel at night on a sleeper car, you won't see it anyway.

That's a shame -- you must really miss a lot when you travel if you don't see the "forest for the trees." You never know what the road may bring you...

 

[DocRafiki]

Originally posted by WeirdEyes
DocRafiki, are you going to London when you go to Paris?

I've decided not to visit Stonehenge due to it being "out of the way" and "only a bunch of rocks." That's the advice I got from the UK Community Board.

Visit that board for some more tips from the Brits. They have great advice.

Let me know how your trip went and what all you did. I plan on visiting Paris one day....trying to learn French now. I definitely won't go until I can at least communicate some. Hopefully when I go to Paris, I can visit London again.

Cheers!

Yes, I'm going solo on a group tour that includes London and Paris. Stonehenge & Bath are also included. I only have a couple of days in each city, and I think most of the visits will be short. I'm pretty stressed about the limited time, so I have to keep thinking of this as a preview trip. I'm lucky to be going during London's "open house" where 550 buildings are opened up to the public once a year. The one I'm really interested in is Buckingham Palace. It's all so overwhelming on such short notice!

I've been trying to learn French on and off for over 10 years, and I've given up on making any progress before my trip. I'm sure I could get by even if I didn't have French-speakers in my group. I'm also hoping to do Disneyland solo. Anyone want to join me?

 

[RUDisney]

Originally posted by FOJMO
That's a shame -- you must really miss a lot when you travel if you don't see the "forest for the trees." You never know what the road may bring you...

But if your on a limited amount of time, sometimes you can't stop and smell the roses. That can be saved for other trips.

Think about your first Disney trip. If it was like mine, you tried to jam in as much as you could. You didn't necessarily stop for awhile in the flowered courtyards that were on Main Street, except for a fast picture. You didn't stop at different places around the castle to view its beauty. When you've been there a few times, you can slow down because you don't feel like you're going to miss anything, plus you learn more and more about what you like and what others suggest as you go more. Heck, the first time we were there, my parents had us in the park from its opening until it closed... back when they had REAL summer hours. Talk about us being hard-core park commandos. I really do prefer the way we do it now, but in the past, that was our way. Not wrong... not right... just the way it was then.

There is really nothing wrong with deciding that you want to spend your vacation time in a specific destination instead of spending it by getting there.