Never been to England or. Ireland, will have 14 days in the fall. I would appreciate the wisdom of the forum! Will only do public transportation (no car or hired driver). Love to walk. Flying in to London, home from Dublin (airline tickets are final).
Plan so far is to stay 8 nights in London and would like to do a day trip one of the days to Liverpool, happy to get up early, train in, see The National Trust Beatles home tour, then back to London. But I eventually will need to get to Ireland, and don't know is it better to fly London to Dublin, or Liverpool to Dublin logistic-wise (time versus $, I value time more) with wanting to see a garden and beach? Staying in a London location with good access to train and tube.
Nothing set in stone yet for the remaining days, reservation-wise.
I would love to see a beautiful beach, water or ocean and have read about Rosshili Bay, but It seems prohibitive for public transport and long to get there unless it is on the way to Liverpool? -- don't know that I can do it with public transportation or amount of time? -- would like to find something beautiful that is either near London (a day trip) or on the way to going to Ireland. Or, if there is a pretty beach to visit near Dublin? Have read about Dingle of course, but is there something decent on the east side of Ireland? (Seems like to see Dingle, would need to fly from London to Shannon, bus to Dingle, and eventually to Dublin, a lot of travel).
Gardens, I have read about Kew garden (London) and Sissinghurst, and others, but would just like to see anything with the rolling hills, flowers, tailored hedges. I love that Jane Austen feel (but do not need to go to Bath for the garden).
Again, no experience with England or Ireland (have been to Europe, and am happy to this time go where I speak the language.
Thank you for any suggestions,