London and Scotland 12 days

Posted by mujeeb.anonymous on 06/21/17 07:34 PM

Hi,
I am planning two weeks London and Scotland trip in August (Me, wife and five year old son).

In 12 day 3 days will be for travel.
Flying in on 10th at Gatwick to meet my friend. One day for train journey to Edinburgh/Inverness (still need to decide base in Scotland) and one day for flying out from Glasgow.

Five days planned for London city attractions on public transport. Which includes British Museum, Westminster abbey, Tower of London, Beckinham Palace and change of guards, London eye, Madame Tussauds museum, Trafalgar Square, Transport museum, Belfast Museum, etc.

Four days planned for Scotland and visit Edinburgh, Inverness and Loch Ness with rent a car.

Friends please let me know whether this plan is possible, any other suggested drive or day tour.

Also in Scotland which place is ideal base according to my four days list.

Mujeeb
Dubai

Posted by ianandjulie

Yorkshire

06/23/17 11:11 AM

1287 posts

Four days in Scotland and you appear to want to cover a lot of ground. Scotland is big and remote and travel is not speedy due to the lack of large roads in the Highlands, so you may be 'biting off more than you can chew' so to speak.

For four days I think I would base myself in Glasgow (a great city). Day trips to Edinburgh - you won't get accommodation in Edinburgh in August now if not already booked because of the festival and military tattoo I that month - and Glencoe/Fort William area. Forget Inverness on this trip, it's too far to go and get back in a day. Loch Ness is huge, but no more interesting than many other lochs, Loch Lomond, for instance, and Loch Linnhe.

Similarly in London you might be trying to pack too much in. Better, I think to narrow the options down and savour fewer sites rather than try dash round them all. Central London is best explored on foot - you miss a lot by taking the tube everywhere - and you could spend several days just strolling the streets and South Bank. Well, I could!

Food for thought? Have a great trip.

Ian

Posted by JC

Portsmouth

06/23/17 12:02 PM

5273 posts

Beckinham Palace? Is that Rowneybury House or Buckingham Palace ; )

As for the Belfast Museum, I've never heard of it!

Posted by Tom_MN

06/23/17 04:58 PM

4530 posts

HMS Belfast the ship I think, haven't been.

Posted by jared

06/23/17 08:54 PM

8 posts

My family and I drove from St. Andrews to Oban last Sunday. The trip is only 128 miles but took nearly 4 1/2 hours! We only stopped 2 times during this drive for a total of around 20 minutes. Except for a few short stints on the M roads most of the journey was on small highways that twist and turn and through many small beautiful towns. Most of the roads we took also had speed cameras on them meaning anything over a few miles above the speed limit will result in a traffic ticket. Driving through Scotland is an amazing experience and one that should not be rushed! Also, there is no need for a car in Edinburgh, the bus system is top notch and unless your hotel has parking available to guests you will be hard pressed to find a parking place.