Need seasoned traveler advice on our itinerary

Hi Michellene- we've really enjoyed having an apartment (sometimes with a clothes washing machine), although sometimes it's required booking the place for an entire week. Being able to have breakfast in one's pajamas and having the option to fix lunch and/or supper is a real plus. Unless you're planning on eating out for every meal in London, has Holiday Lettings confirmed how well-stocked the kitchen might be, including spices (if you have to provide your own salt, pepper, etc. you'll be a well-seasoned traveler, too!), maybe butter, maybe other food items. Some places even stock some basics (eggs, bread, milk, etc.), sometimes for an additional fee. If these aren't an option, knowing your nearby grocery store location/hours could help you plan your arrival.

We visited Bath only as a day trip years ago from London - would like to be able to stay longer on a future trip, and have yet to visit Cotswolds or Wales!

For Edinburgh (took train years ago, and this past summer flew Virgin Air from London to Edinburgh), the flat we had for a week (you might be able to get it for just 3 nights, especially since it wouldn't be August) couldn't have been more perfect, unless you're more than 4 people. See the listing at HomeAway (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p565608vb).

You must have heard this from posters on your previous inquiry, but I'll say it again. Two nights in a place means one full day of sightseeing. Your plan will have you moving around so much you may not experience much of what you came to see.

I haven't been to Bath in many years, or to the Cotswolds ever, but giving each just a day (between travel days) seems inadequate to me. I was in north Wales a few years ago and just one full day there won't let you "explore a couple of castles, the coast, and do some moderate hiking in Snowdonia." Conwy has a fine castle and good access to Snowdonia, but you won't have time for much more. Three nights in Edinburgh equals two full days, so train to Stirling one day and Borders another day leaves little time for Edinburgh, where you could easily spend all your Scotland time. One night in York gives you two partial days there, competing with your train schedule.

You won't "experience different places by actually staying there," unless your goal is to experience trains, stations, and motorways. You'll spend a lot of time packing and unpacking, getting to and from stations, checking in and out of lodging, etc. You'll be glad you packed light, but you and your kids might appreciate more time to experience the very interesting and attractive places you've chosen to visit.

I'd suggest paring down the destinations some more, maybe skipping the outliers like Bath and North Wales. London, York, and Edinburgh would be a great trip, could all be done by train unless you really want to drive or find it more economical. But of course you and your family know your travel style better than anyone else. Whatever you decide, I hope you have a wonderful trip.

I think that two-night stays in each of Bath, the Cotswolds, and York are adequate, but single-night stays are not great. Each stop has a lot to see. With one full day, you can see quite a few highlights and not be distracted by checking in and out of hotels on that day. Do pencil in driving or train travel time on your planning calendar. Rick's guidebook will summarize transportation to the next typical destinations, or you can get more specific timing from How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online or driving time estimates from www.viamichelin.com or Google Maps.

How old are the kids? That can make a difference as to what is advisable. Each area is packed with things to see with places you have probably never heard of. For example, near your route from Bath to Stonehenge is Longleat House & Safari Park.
http://www.longleat.co.uk

If you are looking for places to stay with locals - how about farms? www.farmstay.co.uk

In north Wales, you might like to visit Portmeirion (near Porthmadog).http://www.portmeirion-village.com
You might wish to consider taking the train up Snowdon http://www.snowdonrailway.co.uk
Then we have Bodnant Garden - near to Conway >http://www.bodnantgarden.co.uk

Consider your route from the Cotswolds to N Wales. You will head west to join the M5 (Motorways are like Interstates). If you travel north towards Birmingham before taking the M54 west, it can be quite congested. Other 'A' roads cut across country & can be twisting but may pass interesting places. Try and look at potential routes on Google Earth & see what is right for you.

If you are going to Scotland, I would probably give Liverpool a miss & ditch the car in Chester.http://www.visitchester.com
Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk and put in for CTR to EDB (Edinburgh). Looking 1 week ahead, I got fares ranging from £31.80 to £90.50 one way. You would need to change at Warrington- click 'Details' to find change. Best advice would be to book your rail journeys about 10 to 11 weeks in advance. Most of your travel (to/from Scotland on BOTH the west coast & East Coast routes) will be on Virgin Trains so might like to book with them. www.virgintrains.co.uk
(Turn up & pay on the day will cost much more). The trains from London (Paddington) to Bath are www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk but you may also be able to pre book this route via Virgin.

If you are going to drive from Chester/Liverpool to Scotland, the Lake District is worth a detour if the weather is good & you have time - baring in mind that it is quite a long journey up to Edinburgh. Off M6 at Junction 36 & A591 to Windermere, then A592 over Kirkstone Pass to rejoin M6 at J40 (Penrith). (The Lake District really deserves more than a quick look). You won't have time for Hadrian's Wall.

Wow! That's a lot of moving around unless your group is already "seasoned travelers". I just returned from 9 days in London/Paris with my wife and teenage kids and your itinerary sounds grueling. I think you may be sacrificing an awful lot to teach them about packing light. My kids packed all in a carry-on suitcase and made it, so I don't see the point in the beat-down of moving so much. They are going to be tired. Plus, you're missing out on the chance for them to dive deeper into fewer places, get to know their way around a place, and get the essence of a town. Too much too fast is the problem with so much travel in Europe.

Your schedule will mean that much of your time is spent in transit, constantly on the move, which means you will be lost sometimes, run into obstacles more often. The big sights are in London and 4 days is not enough to cover them well. There is nothing in Bath of real uniqueness. The Cotswolds are great for the contrast of country life and scenery. I would stay 2 nights in York to give you one day with no travel to worry about. In fact, stay a 2-night minimum anywhere you choose to go.