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