Two To Three Weeks In The Uk

[UbonOz]

The UK is not that big. London to Edinburgh is only four hours by train.

Maybe start in London go North with maybe one or two stops checking out the east coast, return south on west coast to Devon and Cornwall and along the south coast to Brighton and finish in London.

With a car could take a week to do that journey, now you have to decide where you want to stay and for how long to fit your three weeks.

So many nice places to see.

UK is not cheap for travelling etc, hope you have allowed sufficient funds.

[CHANGOVER]

Liverpool Manchester and Newcastle, on a holiday, you are joking surely! I think some posters are winding up the OP with some of these suggestions.

Some people haven't been further north than the Watford gap in UK and are ignorant

about GB so don't listen to them. Take a train London to Bristol, then to Wales as suggested,

then carry on to the lake district (Penrith/Cumbria), head up to the highlands

after Fort William and back down on the east coast through Edinburgh, Newcastle, York....

I get lost after there as it turns muckier as you head towards Londinium

[CHANGOVER]

I've nothing against those cities but frankly, you just wouldn't send anyone there on a holiday, it's a bit like comming from Europe to Thailand for the first time and being advised to spend your vacation in Samut Prakan.

or...Pattaya/Phuket/Samui or Phanghan.

Exactly why you need to see the 'country' not just the 'tourist traps'!

Liverpool/Glasgow/Edinburgh/Newcastle - fantastic cities....London and

suburbs like Oxford etc are good too

Edited March 31, 2012 by CHANGOVER

[monsieurhappy]

The UK is not that big. London to Edinburgh is only four hours by train.

Maybe start in London go North with maybe one or two stops checking out the east coast, return south on west coast to Devon and Cornwall and along the south coast to Brighton and finish in London.

With a car could take a week to do that journey, now you have to decide where you want to stay and for how long to fit your three weeks.

So many nice places to see.

UK is not cheap for travelling etc, hope you have allowed sufficient funds.

At last! Someone has admitted the truth. A hire car will set him back at least 100 pounds a week with fuel at well over 6 pounds a gallon! Train fares are the most expensive in Europe. Taxis from stations etc. will be much more than the OP is bargaining for. Who suggested hiring a car with chauffeur driven lady drivers! Is this guy a millionaire?

Then the cost of hotels? The OP won't get much for less than 50 pounds a night ( double that in big cities especially London ) and not including meals. All in all he's looking at a minimum of 1000 pounds a week for some of these suggestions. Maybe he should buy a tent and a couple of sleeping bags.

OP - if you have at least 5000 pounds to spend including your flights you may just get to see 3 weeks in the UK using these suggestions. If not you may well have to curtail your holiday by at least a week.

[cardholder]

Don't forget to visit at least one of the beautiful University cities.... I recommend you avoid Cambridge

.... and Hull - amongst others.

[lovelaos]

The UK is not that big. London to Edinburgh is only four hours by train.

Maybe start in London go North with maybe one or two stops checking out the east coast, return south on west coast to Devon and Cornwall and along the south coast to Brighton and finish in London.

With a car could take a week to do that journey, now you have to decide where you want to stay and for how long to fit your three weeks.

So many nice places to see.

UK is not cheap for travelling etc, hope you have allowed sufficient funds.

At last! Someone has admitted the truth. A hire car will set him back at least 100 pounds a week with fuel at well over 6 pounds a gallon! Train fares are the most expensive in Europe. Taxis from stations etc. will be much more than the OP is bargaining for. Who suggested hiring a car with chauffeur driven lady drivers! Is this guy a millionaire?

Then the cost of hotels? The OP won't get much for less than 50 pounds a night ( double that in big cities especially London ) and not including meals. All in all he's looking at a minimum of 1000 pounds a week for some of these suggestions. Maybe he should buy a tent and a couple of sleeping bags.

OP - if you have at least 5000 pounds to spend including your flights you may just get to see 3 weeks in the UK using these suggestions. If not you may well have to curtail your holiday by at least a week.

I agree, our 3 week trip cost around 3500 - 4000 GBP and that was staying mostly with family. You could do it for less but to watch the pennies is not my idea of a holiday.

[chiang mai]

That's a good point, from experience: hire car at £50 per day, hotel (ex-London) at £50-80 per day and daily expenses, meals/spending money et al figure £100 per day.

[Ricardo]

Agree with the suggestion to see York for a day.

Might also be worth investing in a copy of the Lonely Planet Guide for G.B. ?

[theblether]

Liverpool Manchester and Newcastle, on a holiday, you are joking surely! I think some posters are winding up the OP with some of these suggestions.

Agree.

I don't agree..........Manchester United and Liverpool are two of the greatest football teams in the world, people fly in every week in life to watch matches at their stadiums, the suggestion was to go in and do stadium tours. Liverpool have a scheme where they withhold 500 tickets per match for overseas people to come watch games.

Can you imagine getting to watch a match at these stadiums, especially if you are a Man U or Liverpool fan?

The added benefit of Liverpool is the link with the Beatles, the greatest pop group in world history. Once again people fly in every week in life to visit the home of the Beatles.

This is the problem with not thinking like a tourist, too fast to condemn the city and forgetting the worldwide allure of the places.

[PattayaPhom]

How much have you to spend....transport costs in teh UK are probably the most expensive in the world...and traffic is a nightmare....you may want to concentrate on just the South or North as two weks spent sat on a dirty train or stuck in traffic isnt an ideal experience....Dont forgett his year is the Olympics so you may want to avoid London altogether

[theoldgit]

We've found Travelodges to be a fair mid-priced option, GBP 50-60 per-night, without breakfast.

If you're really lucky and can latch onto one of their sales you can get rooms for about £10 a night, I managed to get ten nights in one of their hotels just outside of London last year for a total of £90, it wasn't The Ritz but it was clean and comfortable. Eat breakfast every day in Wetherspoons a few doors along for £3 or £4 a pop.

[theoldgit]

Double post - sorry.

Edited April 1, 2012 by theoldgit

[MsClueless]

Then the cost of hotels? The OP won't get much for less than 50 pounds a night ( double that in big cities especially London ) and not including meals. All in all he's looking at a minimum of 1000 pounds a week for some of these suggestions. Maybe he should buy a tent and a couple of sleeping bags.

OP - if you have at least 5000 pounds to spend including your flights you may just get to see 3 weeks in the UK using these suggestions. If not you may well have to curtail your holiday by at least a week.

I know uk is very expensive but yes never really know how much until get there

1000 pounds a week - is that for one person? Or two if we are sharing hotel?

We don't drink. So it's food, train or bus and accomm. Room don't have to be fancy but clean and in safe areas.

Someone else said 3500 to 4000 - for how many people and roughly how many days. I understand you didn't stay in hotel. So just food travel and entry to sights.

I have not checked prices of train. Buses equally expensive?

Thanks for everyone inputOlympics - if we go early may or early June will it already be busy even Olympics is in July?

Edited April 1, 2012 by MsClueless

[Kwasaki]

I know uk is very expensive but yes never really know how much until get there

1000 pounds a week - is that for one person? Or two if we are sharing hotel?

We don't drink. So it's food, train or bus and accomm. Room don't have to be fancy but clean and in safe areas.

Someone else said 3500 to 4000 - for how many people and roughly how many days. I understand you didn't stay in hotel. So just food travel and entry to sights.

I have not checked prices of train. Buses equally expensive?

Thanks for everyone inputOlympics - if we go early may or early June will it already be busy even Olympics is in July?

UK Trains, Buses & Coaches are not considered expensive, and you can stay in places already posted, no worries.

You'll be running around in circle's if you are not careful, don't read too much into what some people are saying.

You started your post with 3 places so do that, getting to Heathrow UK it is OK for you to stay outside of London here is nice, http://www.masterrobert.co.uk/ it is not far from London City.

Then go on to Wiltshire look on internet here :-http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/ and stay in a place near Stonehenge.

Then you want to go to Bristol so just go, internet here http://visitbristol.co.uk/ after that what time you have left you can visit other places here :- http://www.tourist-guides.net/ on your round trip back to Heathrow.

That's my itinerary, have a nice holiday. K

Edited April 1, 2012 by Kwasaki

[Billmont]

Somebody mentioned Holiday Inn, these can be expensive. Premier Inn is about the best in my experience and they are everywhere, also their inhouse restaurants are excellent value. The have offers from GBP 39 per night for the room but this offer varies depending on the area and time of the year. Otherwise the room will cost about GPB 70 to 80. Most of these budget hotels are used by businessmen and mostly full during the week and less full at Weekends. Early bookings are essential. Also check coach holidays, you may be stuck with elderly people, but they represent very good value for money, take you to all the right places and arrange accommodation and food. In London you can get a three day bus and tube (underground) for unlimited use. Great value for money. We used this when I took my wife to London and really enjoyed sitting in the upper deck and looking down on everything and more relaxing that the tube. We saw the most important things in 3 days.

[transam]

Sorry but haven't read the thread. Your itinerary depends totally on what your interests are. Really the UK boasts magnificent ancient architecture and beauty if you know where to go. My Thai wife wanted to see the London Eye, Wheel , I thought l was lost before l started.

What do you have planted in your head that will make your visit something to remember ?.

Edited April 1, 2012 by transam

[theblether]

Then the cost of hotels? The OP won't get much for less than 50 pounds a night ( double that in big cities especially London ) and not including meals. All in all he's looking at a minimum of 1000 pounds a week for some of these suggestions. Maybe he should buy a tent and a couple of sleeping bags.

OP - if you have at least 5000 pounds to spend including your flights you may just get to see 3 weeks in the UK using these suggestions. If not you may well have to curtail your holiday by at least a week.

I know uk is very expensive but yes never really know how much until get there

1000 pounds a week - is that for one person? Or two if we are sharing hotel?

We don't drink. So it's food, train or bus and accomm. Room don't have to be fancy but clean and in safe areas.

Someone else said 3500 to 4000 - for how many people and roughly how many days. I understand you didn't stay in hotel. So just food travel and entry to sights.

I have not checked prices of train. Buses equally expensive?

Thanks for everyone inputOlympics - if we go early may or early June will it already be busy even Olympics is in July?

If you come early June you will be here for the Queens Diamond Jubilee, The Golden Jubilee was excellent and subject to weather this one should be even better.

Firm up your dates, give us your thoughts on your itinerary, and I and others will direct you to the best deals. Travelodge amongst other do good, clean rooms, ensuite with TV etc, get booking now and you'll get cheap rooms, expect to pay about £25.00 a night booking now.

http://www.travelodge.co.uk/saver_rooms/

Advance booking is the key in the UK, you can get some superbly cheap deals on buses and trains, flights too.

[chiang mai]

As also mentioned, go to the British Council and get details and promotions for tourists, especially the Brit Rail travel pass.

[MsClueless]

Sorry but haven't read the thread. Your itinerary depends totally on what your interests are. Really the UK boasts magnificent ancient architecture and beauty if you know where to go. My Thai wife wanted to see the London Eye, Wheel , I thought l was lost before l started.

What do you have planted in your head that will make your visit something to remember ?.

When I was little I dream of England as the graceful place. Castles and beautiful people, cultured - you know...the tea drinking kind

Maybe a bit of old castles and lots of greenery without freezing? Where do you suggest?

In London I have ideas where I want to visit. Museums, markets

It is from there I am lost

From people here I think

Bath good

Stonehenge not so good?

Can head further into Cornwall from there? What to seee there?

Then go north into Scotland?

I don't understand when you talk of region lake district etc etc.

[transam]

Sorry but haven't read the thread. Your itinerary depends totally on what your interests are. Really the UK boasts magnificent ancient architecture and beauty if you know where to go. My Thai wife wanted to see the London Eye, Wheel , I thought l was lost before l started.

What do you have planted in your head that will make your visit something to remember ?.

When I was little I dream of England as the graceful place. Castles and beautiful people, cultured - you know...the tea drinking kind

Maybe a bit of old castles and lots of greenery without freezing? Where do you suggest?

In London I have ideas where I want to visit. Museums, markets

It is from there I am lost

From people here I think

Bath good

Stonehenge not so good?

Can head further into Cornwall from there? What to seee there?

Then go north into Scotland?

I don't understand when you talk of region lake district etc etc.

Ah, forget the big towns except perhaps London must see photo opportunities. Will post tomorrow to try and help.

[chiang mai]

Sorry but haven't read the thread. Your itinerary depends totally on what your interests are. Really the UK boasts magnificent ancient architecture and beauty if you know where to go. My Thai wife wanted to see the London Eye, Wheel , I thought l was lost before l started.

What do you have planted in your head that will make your visit something to remember ?.

When I was little I dream of England as the graceful place. Castles and beautiful people, cultured - you know...the tea drinking kind

Maybe a bit of old castles and lots of greenery without freezing? Where do you suggest?

In London I have ideas where I want to visit. Museums, markets

It is from there I am lost

From people here I think

Bath good

Stonehenge not so good?

Can head further into Cornwall from there? What to seee there?

Then go north into Scotland?

I don't understand when you talk of region lake district etc etc.

Go see Leeds Castle and/or Warwick Castle (google them for location). Visit Oxford and the Cotswolds (only one hour from London and there's pleanty of quaint tea shop type villages in the surrounding countryside). Cornwall, hmm, nice scenery and a rugged coastline but not a lot more than those things! Stonehenge, don't go, it's very very disappointing. Western Scotland, stunningly beautiful, Inverness and the northern lochs, ditto.

[monsieurhappy]

Hi MsClueless, in my first reply to your query I told you to check out coach tours in the UK which I still maintain is your best way to see more of the UK for less money. I have been Googling and found this site that might interest you. There are 3 tours on the first page that to me look good value for money. The 20 day tour would take up your 3 weeks and cover most of the UK. All hotels and most meals are included so you would only need to find some pocket money. No driving, no parking just door to door. BTW I am not anyway associated with this company. I honestly don't think you could see as much of the UK for less money, the cost is per person. See the price in $ or pounds sterling.

Escorted Coach Tours Britain Scotland | UK tours, Britain + UK Vacation Packages - England, Scotland and Wales Travel Tours 2012

[petertucker48]

This is a good site for down to earth advice have used them for years all over the world well worth the price.

If you get a chance call in at Asia Books or similar pickup any Lonely Planet book and you will see how organised their books are and all have the same layout:

http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/england

[chiang mai]

BTW, I wonder if the OP is prepared for English food, Thai food is very expensive in the UK and the quality is generally not great, figure on £10/12 for Cow Pad Gai in London (500 Baht +).

[brit1984]

BTW, I wonder if the OP is prepared for English food, Thai food is very expensive in the UK and the quality is generally not great, figure on £10/12 for Cow Pad Gai in London (500 Baht +).

This is a very good point - so if you buy 4/5 dishes and some drinks you are looking at 70 GBP per meal for two.

When we lived in London, food for my wife and me was costing us +3,000 GBP/month (150,000 baht/month) because my wife likes to eat mostly Thai food.

Outside of the cities, the Thai restaurants become pretty awful - we rarely left London for more than a few days for that reason.

However, if you are not fussy about eating Thai food, there is plenty of cheap food available. Fish and chips is around 6 GBP (300 baht) and is enough for 2 people. With plenty of salt and vinegar it is also very tasty (much nicer than Som Tum in my opinion).

Edited April 3, 2012 by brit1984

[theoldgit]

However, if you are not fussy about eating Thai food, there is plenty of cheap food available. Fish and chips is around 6 GBP (300 baht) and is enough for 2 people. With plenty of salt and vinegar it is also very tasty (much nicer than Som Tum in my opinion).

My girlfriend was weaned on som tum, during a visit to the UK she sat on Hastings beach eating fish and chips out of the paper, she loved it and cannot wait to go back to eat some more.

Actually got an email from Holiday Inn today, they have got a spring sale with rooms from £49, suspect they will be mainly at weekends and certainly not that price in London.

Whilst I agree that Stonehenge has little to offer, I have taken American friends there and they loved it, my girlfriend wanted to go there, she had seen it in a Thai movie and wanted a photo shoot, she was not disappointed. We combined it with a drive through some of the smaller villages, even came across a traditional market town with a market in full swing, we also stopped off at one of those mobile food vans where she got an egg and bacon roll, loved that as well, as she did the English strawberries from the side of the road.

She loved England very much, but is adamant she wouldn't want to live there, such a pity Thai people have to go through the demeaning visa process before they can visit.

Edited April 3, 2012 by theoldgit

[transam]

However, if you are not fussy about eating Thai food, there is plenty of cheap food available. Fish and chips is around 6 GBP (300 baht) and is enough for 2 people. With plenty of salt and vinegar it is also very tasty (much nicer than Som Tum in my opinion).

My girlfriend was weaned on som tum, during a visit to the UK she sat on Hastings beach eating fish and chips out of the paper, she loved it and cannot wait to go back to eat some more.

Actually got an email from Holiday Inn today, they have got a spring sale with rooms from £49, suspect they will be mainly at weekends and certainly not that price in London.

Whilst I agree that Stonehenge has little to offer, I have taken American friends there and they loved it, my girlfriend wanted to go there, she had seen it in a Thai movie and wanted a photo shoot, she was not disappointed. We combined it with a drive through some of the smaller villages, even came across a traditional market town with a market in full swing, we also stopped off at one of those mobile food vans where she got an egg and bacon roll, loved that as well, as she did the English strawberries from the side of the road.

She loved England very much, but is adamant she wouldn't want to live there, such a pity Thai people have to go through the demeaning visa process before they can visit.

Hastings Beach eh. My ex boat is still there on the beach. Fond memories.

[smokie36]

However, if you are not fussy about eating Thai food, there is plenty of cheap food available. Fish and chips is around 6 GBP (300 baht) and is enough for 2 people. With plenty of salt and vinegar it is also very tasty (much nicer than Som Tum in my opinion).

My girlfriend was weaned on som tum, during a visit to the UK she sat on Hastings beach eating fish and chips out of the paper, she loved it and cannot wait to go back to eat some more.

Actually got an email from Holiday Inn today, they have got a spring sale with rooms from £49, suspect they will be mainly at weekends and certainly not that price in London.

Whilst I agree that Stonehenge has little to offer, I have taken American friends there and they loved it, my girlfriend wanted to go there, she had seen it in a Thai movie and wanted a photo shoot, she was not disappointed. We combined it with a drive through some of the smaller villages, even came across a traditional market town with a market in full swing, we also stopped off at one of those mobile food vans where she got an egg and bacon roll, loved that as well, as she did the English strawberries from the side of the road.

She loved England very much, but is adamant she wouldn't want to live there, such a pity Thai people have to go through the demeaning visa process before they can visit.

Hastings Beach eh. My ex boat is still there on the beach. Fond memories.

Used to pop into the pub in the old town for a real ale or two and a cheese toastie thing....nice!

[lounger]

The south is more biscuit tin stuff. Thatched cottages and rolling hills. But dont ask me where as i am a northern guy. The north is for you if you like rugged. The further north the more windswept and bleak. Personally I love it. North England is a good compromise. The Yorkshire Moors and Dales and then Northumberland with the Roman Wall, The Lake District which is a bit twee in the villages but majestic on the fells.

If you like travel from say London go west and up the western side of the country all the way to Carlisle then go east into North Northumberland on your way back take in the East Yorkshire moors. Avoid the towns as they are not what they used to be. If you really like exposed dont do Northumberland go straight from Carlisle into Scotland and keep on up the west coast. It is beautiful. For a really rugged trip keep going upto the North coast of Scotland where the trees gave up fighting the sea breezes (!) years ago.

If you prefer a drink Newcastle upon Tyne is the stag night ( weekend) centre of The UK.

[MsClueless]

I dont know much about English food, but I dont need to eat only Thai food

not big fan of fish chips, but can eat if have to

i like pizzas. can you get good pizza that are not very expensive?

but first I still have to decide the route and itinerary

still cant decide. I dont want rugged. I want to relax. and mostly will be by train and by bus.

someone show me link for escorted bus. It is nice that you can see many things, but maybe too busy...try to do too much in one day? I dont know...

but thank you for all your ideas. will also check for hotel deals