Help with 2 weeks Itinerary Planning - England/Scotland

"Day 2 Thurs Bath – (Day tour: Stoneheges, Avebury -Mad Max?)"

Not a "hege" but a henge (a circle).
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/?gclid=CjwKEAiA0ZC2BRDpo_Pym8m-4n4SJAB5Bn4xBzEEoBGvnS6XhHe03KSdJElYW6pblEugLCuf4bnIcRoCa27w_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I wouldn't recommend trying to do a day tour of Loch Ness from Edinburgh - you will have a very long day with most of the time spent driving there and back. Instead, there are many other fabulous day tours that will give you more time at different places. I recommend Rabbie's - I took the West Highlands Lochs and Castles day trip with them, and absolutely loved it.

You don't mention it in your itinerary, but as a Harry Potter fan I hope you'll be visiting the studios when you are in London!

Try for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs instead of Loch Ness, which is about 4 hours drive from Edinburgh.
Also, one night in Manchester and one night in York

Day 1 Salisbury
Day 2 Bath
Day 3-4 Cotswolds
Day 5 Oxford
Day 6 Manchester
Day 7 York
Day 8-10 Edinburgh
Day 11-14 London

I agree with David's plan as it is doable by train. London to Salisbury: go to Cathedral, take reserved tour to Stonehenge. Then to Bath: enjoy Georgian Architecture and Roman Baths. Back to Oxford: enjoy Ashmolean Museum, etc. Take 45 minute bus to Woodstock : see Blenheim Palace. Take escorted tour of Cotswolds. Make connections to Manchester: See Football Club etc. Train to York: see Minster, take tour to Castle Howard. Train to Edinburgh: tour the Castle, walk Prince St. walk High St., take tour to Loch Lomand, go to Distillery in Edinburgh. Take train to London: Look at all the free Museums. Go to Tower. Make reservations to go to Westminster. See Changing of the Guard. Go to Madam Tussauds, the Flea Markets and the Imperial War Museum. Be sorry that you can't spend more time in London. Check into the different passes available if they apply to what you want to do.

My only concern about your itinerary is that you've allowed hardly any time in Bath. If you go there direct from Heathrow (which I think is a good idea, and I have done it myself), you will have very little time that day to do anything and you may be too tired to enjoy it. Time will be limited the next day if you are going to Stonehenge and Avebury (which I also recommend). You don't want to miss the Roman Baths and you will want to have enough time to walk around the town and enjoy the beautiful architecture. The latter can be done in the evening so you might be alright. But I like to plan a fairly relaxing pace for my first couple of days to adjust after the long flight. (I'm assuming you are arriving from North America.)

York is definitely worth while, so if you can steal time from Manchester, do it. I don't think you have time for Hadrian's wall, especially without a car. There is a lot to do in York.

The high speed trains from Edinburgh to London are only around four hours, so I don't think you need a night train. Edinburgh is my favorite city in the world, so don't feel like you need a day trip when you are there. I know there are day trips into the highlands, but I have not taken one. It will make your trip seem a bit rushed, but if you just have to see the highlands, it might work for you. I think it's better to save the highlands for another trip when you have more time to spend there, but that might not be the right decision for you.

Whatever you decide, have fun! You have some wonderful places on your itinerary.

Kathleen makes a good point re Cotswolds. If you are without car and relying on public transport then you may be considering a full day organised tour, from either Bath or Oxford. In this case 2 nights in Bath followed by 2 nights in Oxford may work best. It really depends on what your thoughts are to experience the Cotswolds.

Wow, thanks for all your replies!!

harleydonski: Sorry about the typo error. Thanks for correcting!

Bonnie: Thanks for recommending Rabbies. I've read good reviews about them elsewhere in the forum too. Will check them out. Is the Harry Potter Studios worth going? I'm more keen to visit the outdoor locations actually. I visited a touring exhibition here in Singapore and it covered most of all the props & costumes from the movies so I wasn't too sure if I should go.

David: Thanks so much for the suggested itinerary! The change to the 2nd half definitely makes more sense. Need to read up on Salisbury though as it was never on my mind to include it. As for Cotswolds, I really would like to stay one night there, wanted to experience how it's like to stay in a British village. But if it's too much of a trouble transport wise, then I guess day tour will have to do. But if I were to stay in Cotswolds, is it best to stay in Moreton-in-Marsh?

Kathleen: Thanks for fleshing out Edinburgh & London portion. Hope to catch a play/musical too in London. :)

Carroll: It's reassuring to know that travelling directly from airport to Bath is manageable! Will put York in my itinerary & skip Hadrian's Wall, thanks... :) Any particular places that you would recommend in Edinburgh?

pika, are you looking for places to stay or things to do? My last trip to Edinburgh was 10 years ago so I can't really help with places to stay. I think you need more current information.

About 90mins by direct train from Bath to Cheltenham, where you can get a bus to the pretty villages of Bourton-on-the-water or Stow-on-the-wold.

pika...I think I went to that same travelling exhibition when it came to Boston! And I still absolutely loved the Studios...however, you are short on time in London, and there are a number of different walking tours you can do of the outside locations. If you want a guided walking tour, check out London Walks. I've never been on one of their Harry Potter tours, but have done a number of day trips and other walking tours with them and really enjoyed them all.