ITINERARY HELP Bath and England on way north to Scotland

Sorry, but you can’t fit all that into 10 days.

I know that RS suggests you get to Bath day 1, but this journey is the last thing I would want to do after a long flight. When you say arrive Bath late day 1 - does this mean you then have 3 days or do you have one day for Bath and another for the Stonehenge tour before you move on? Stonehenge is half way back to London.

It’s going to take you 2 hours door to door to transfer to Oxford. Oxford and Blenheim need a day each.

Stratford upon Avon is another 2 hours door to door. A one night stay.

Liverpool is about 3.5 hours door to door by train so if you only have one night here, you aren’t going to see much in half a day so ideally stay 2 nights.

York is about 3 hours door to door and 2 nights would be the minimum that I would want to see the old walls, the Minster, the excellent Rail Museum and The Shambles.

Do you have to head back to London for your return flight, as your 10 days are up.

You need to either focus on England or Scotland for your given timeframe.

I am concerned that you are heading to popular places during school holidays in August (including a bank holiday the last weekend of the month) without any accommodation bookings. Places are busy this year and therefore prices have rocketed.

Rail fares are best booked 10 weeks out for the best prices. Beware that a series of rail strikes are planned (August dates still to be announced) which may impact your plans.

Jennifer has given sound advice. You simply can’t do all that in 10 days.

We stayed in Bath for three nights at the Brooks Guesthouse (excellent) and dined at The Scallop Shell (best fish and chips in the UK).

We used Chipping Campden as our base and visited the Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace, Oxford and Stratford Upon Avon. You need 4-5 days minimum for that itinerary alone.

York, we did three nights there and loved it. There is much to see, some great museums (especially the National Railway Museum).

Liverpool, we did a port stop there and most of the excursions for that city focused on the Beatles. We didn't want that, but did a great tour of north Wales that included Conwy. Frankly, suggest that you skip Liverpool.

No way can you even think of going to Scotland with a 10 day limit. Just doing Bath, Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Stratford Upon Avon, York and Stonehenge, you need about 10 days.

I'm exhausted just reading that!!! Glasgow and Ravenstonedale need to go . The Black Swan may come highly commended by a friend but there are lots of other equally nice places to stay in England. (And there's a lot more to Ravenstonedale and Kirkby Stephen than the Black Swan... )

Does the ten days include the three days you have allocated to Bath making 7 to explore or is it ten days after Bath?

ASSUMING TEN NIGHTS AFTER BATH...
After Bath, catch a train to Oxford. You can do a day trip to Blenheim Palace from Oxford using the bus and you get a discount on your entry ticket!

You probably need to allow three nights for Oxford.

From Oxford travel to Stratford upon Avon (either bus oir train) and spend two nights here (or three is you are planning to visit Warwick as well).

Then Train to York for three nights.

Train to Liverpool for the remainder of the time

HOWEVER, IF IT IS ONLY SEVEN NIGHTS
Then one of these places will need to go.

Don't underestimate the size of the UK. It may look that big on a map but travelling between places does take up a considerable amount of time, especially if doing it by public transport. Less is definitely more.

A note about Stratford-upon-Avon: I've been there twice and both times regretted not staying two nights and two full days. The sights are spread out outside of town, and the town itself is large with potential traffic jams. If you want do to more than just ride around on the HoHo bus -- as opposed to getting off to explore Anne Hathaway's cottage and, separately, Mary Arden's Farm -- you need to get an early start and plan the entire day. A second day would be devoted to the birthplace and other in-town sights.

Also, if you want to see a play in the Royal Shakespeare theater, be aware that legroom is minimal in the lower-priced (upper balcony) seats. It was so cramped that my husband could not stay past the first act; he was in severe pain.

If you only have 10 days total, pick 3 places in England that are easily reached by train-Bath, York and one other.