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Mid June Diy UK Two Week Trip

Putting together plans for a two week trip to the UK for family of four adults. Tentative plans are flying into London, 1-2 nights, mainly for Warner Bros Studios/Harry Potter, then renting a car to start tour. Will travel to North York (Moors National Park) 2-3 nights, via Bedford and Lakenheath. From there to Edinburgh area for another 2-3 nights. Travel to Fort William (Jacobite Steam Train) for 1 night Will travel to Cotswold for 2-3 nights. From there back to London for return flight. We lived in the Bedford area in the early 70s for a couple years, so are somewhat familiar with driving habits and public transportation. Would prefer less traveled routes for scenery purposes, and lodging in the smaller villages to the extent possible. Will be flying from Arkansas. Would like your thoughts on the following as well as any other advice

1/ Staying in Watford Junction area vs London
2/ Bed n Breakfast vs Motels
3/ Points of interest at each of the locations
4/ Is London best for arrival and departure
5/ Car rental companies

Posted by
691 posts

Wow! That's covering a lot of ground! Can you fly into London and out of Edinburgh?
We love using Arnold Clark (out of Heathrow; have also rented from York). I don't know their fee for drop off at different location.

Posted by
30 posts

Seconding what was said above about covering a lot of territory in the time alotted. We did London>Costwolds>Liverpool>LakeDistrict>FtWilliam>Edinburgh>London in 16 days. It was loads of driving time, and we took the M roads wherever possible. Not in Scotland, and it was slow going, a tyre blow-out and 2-hr ride in the cab of a recovery vehicle nonwithstanding. By the time we got to Edinburgh we had enough (especially the bridge leading into the city which rises at a terrifyingly steep angle!) turned in our hired car and booked train back to London rather than what would have been an 8-hour drive. If we did it again it would be at least a 3-wk trip (or 2 separate trips). And I've driven Chicago to Vancouver to LA and back to Chicago in 2 weeks but that was when I was in college!