Please sign in to post.

2 weeks London/Edinburgh - looking for some grouping help on itinerary

Thank you, in advance, for all your feedback and help. it is truly appreciated.

We are a family of 4 (Mom, dad and two boys aged 15 & 13) First time to GB for my husband and boys (I spent 4 years in Paris as a child, visiting GB once a year, and spent a semester in Malvern, student teaching in Worchester while in college). We recognize that there i sno way we can see and do everything and have tried to make our trip focus on interests and not be too rushed.

August 4th: Arrive Heathrow Airport at 9:00pm from Montreal. We are assuming it will be late by the time we clear immigration and get luggage, so we are planning on getting a cab to our flat - located 3 minutes walk from Warwick Tube Station in Maida Vale. Is there a place at the airport or neaby our flat open 24 hours that we could at least purchase a few food items for the morning?

August 5th: (Saturday) We will need to purchase our Travel Cards to utilize the 2-4-1 deals at a train station and we'd like to walk around the Portabello Rd Market in Notting Hill.
Maybe do a HOHO Tour around the city
Little Venice Walking Tour at 2:00 through London Walks
Explore some of the Park's near our flat

August 6th: We have already booked a 2 hour Harry Potter Walking tour at 10:30am - leaving from Leicster Square and ending at Kings Cross Station.
in the afternoon we were thinking either The Brisitsh Museum or Churchill War Rooms (kids would also like to see the Bond in Motion exhibit, but I am not sure where to fit it)
Maybe the Sky Garden or Primrose Hill this evening

August 7th: Day trip to Dover Castle (kids love everything WWII)
If we make it back in time the Westminster by Gaslight walking tour through London Walks (meets at 7:00pm - too ambitious?)

August 8th:Tower of London and Tower Bridge and Monument in the morning.
Lunch at Burroughs Market
Either Churchill War Rooms or British Museum for the afternoon

*August 9th and 10th: * Leave, by train, for Robin Hood's Bay (via Scarborough and then taxi)
Spend 2 nights at Victoria Hotel. Beach comb, hike, bike, Ghost walk - would it be easy to get to Whitby Abby or not?

August 11th: Train to Edinburgh - check in to flat, which is on the corner of North Castle Street and George St.
get groceries, walk to Grayfriars Kirkyard and Elephant Cafe (maybe have dinner there)
Walk up to Carlton Hill at Sunset

August 12th: Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Outlook Tower and Camera Obscura (maybe). Ghost and Gore Walking Tour

August 13th: Tour through Rabbies - probably St. Andrews as oldest son is interested in applying there in a few years

August 14th: Holyrood Park and Arthur's seat - or maybe another tour
Military Tatoo 9:00pm (tickets already purchased)

August 15th: Rent Car and drive to Alnwick. Check in at Hogs Head Inn. Visit Alnwick Castle. Dinner Reservations at Tree House already made. Would there be time to see Hadrian's Wall on drive down or not?

August 16th: Drive to York and drop car. Stay at Hotel Indigo for the night. Explore York, York City Walls, The Shambles, Castle Museum

August 17th: Spend the morning wandering around York - take 3:00pm train to London and check in to Hotel Marriott by Heathrow

August 18th: 8:30 am flight out of Heathrow to Montreal

Posted by
3896 posts

There are grocery stores near Warwick Avenue tube station which deliver. Tesco's at 21-29 Clifton Road. tesco.com
+44 345 026 9291
Open 7AM–11PM.

Posted by
477 posts

When you arrive at Heathrow, there are M&S Simply Food shops after you've exited Customs.

When in York don't miss the National Rail Museum IMO an outstanding museum.

Posted by
3896 posts

Your schedule looks good.
About Whitby Abbey. Your hotel is a fair distance away from there. There are cycle routes in that area, but I think it's too far to ride on a bike. Best bet would be taxi from the hotel to Whitby Abbey and back. The hotel, I am sure, could call a taxi for you.

Posted by
96 posts

Hi
If you have bikes, it is only about 5 miles from Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby Abby. You will have a big climb to start then it is relatively flat to the Abby. The Abby is south of the town and easily accessible by smaller roads. Don't cycle into Whitby unless you want to walk your bikes up a very steep hill. There is also a bus that runs hourly into Whitby.
There is also a rail to trail bike route from Whitby to Scarborough and a steam railway from Whitby onto the North Yorkshire Moors that you might enjoy.
Enjoy your trip.

Posted by
3896 posts

The time to visit Hadrian's Wall would be on the morning of the 16th, as you leave Alnwick and are driving to York.
I would recommend that you drive to Hexham, park the car, and take the tour with Peter Carney, a local guide.
See this thread:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/hadrian-s-wall-guide-peter-carney-outstanding-tour-service

There is a lot more to Hadrian's Wall than you can take in from just doing a quick stop in one place.
I recommend you make a reservation with Peter Carney ahead of time, meet him in Hexham, enjoy his tour, then continue on your way to York.
http://www.hadrianswall-walk.com/
Email: [email protected]
Mobile phones;
+44(0)7585139016
+44(0)7810665733

However, it is a bit out of the way if you are pressed for time on your drive south. The A1 will take you all the way from Alnwick to Newcastle Upon Tyne, below that, the A1 and A1 (M) will take you to near York. Cut off of it onto the A59 to go into York.
So it's a straight shot driving south if you don't include Hadrian's Wall. Take a look at a map and see if you want to make the side trip to Hadrian's Wall.

Posted by
12 posts

Thank you so much for each and every one of your replies. You have provided us with some much needed information and some really good ideas. We are getting very excited for our trip and can't believe how quickly it is coming up.

Posted by
11294 posts

For your late arrival into London Heathrow, it will be cheaper to take a minicab than a regular taxi. Minicab is Brit-speak for a prebooked car service. I have no personal experience, but you can get quotes directly from them for the size of car you need, the exact address you will be going to, and whether you will be paying with cash or credit card (some have a substantial discount for cash). Three that are often recommended are Just Airports http://www.justairports.com/, Simply Airports http://www.simplyairports.co.uk/index.aspx, and Blackberry Cars http://www.blackberrycars.com/.

Posted by
3896 posts

On the morning of the 15th, on your way down you could visit Bamburgh Castle, to the north of Alnwick. It overlooks the beach and the sea. A beautiful medieval restored and somewhat remodeled (interior) castle. I am sure you could do both castles in one day. They are very different.http://www.bamburghcastle.com/