Planning Family trip London + Lake District

What you would be looking to book for flights is called multi-city; not one way. Fly into London then fly home from Paris or vice versa. Use the multi-city function when searching. One way prices are outrageous.

If your daughter is interested in Monet, be sure and visit L'Orangerie museum in Paris as well. And if she loves Impressionist art (Monet and others, the Musee d'Orsay is the go to museum!

As for tours for WW2, I would consider at least one overnight stay; but really more is much better. Stay in Bayeux. Many on this forum, including me, recommend Overlord Tours out of Bayeux. (Lots of options with Overlord; depending on if you are coming in for the day from Paris or staying in town.) Also, you're so close, perhaps you would want to visit Mont St. Michel.
I do want to say that you might search the forum for how people visit Normandy without renting a car. It appears to be very possible. We took the train to Rennes, picked up a rental car and drove through Normandy. It was very easy and convenient. You could also take the train to Caen and pick up a rental car.

If you are concerned about crowds at Westminster Abbey; you would be much more concerned about the Louvre, Giverny and definitely Versailles. So you sort of need to accept that crowds are part of the equation; visiting two major European cities with lots of popular sites that everyone wants to visit.

We did Stonehenge as a day trip out of London. Loved it. We took the train to Salisbury. Visited the cathedral; then caught a tour to Stonehenge.

KD is correct- you need to be looking at multicity fares, not 2 one ways. Even if the fares are slightly higher, you need to weigh that against a return fare from Paris to London, and the hassle of one more change of hotel and a vacation day lost to just travelling.

Stonehenge and Salisbury are easily done as a day trip from London. Visit to Hill Top House and the Lake District would need at least 1, preferably more, nights in Windermere (if you won't t have a car.) I'll let the Lake District experts chime in on using public transportation there.

Versailles and Giverny can both be done as day trips from Paris, but not, of course on the same day.
By a WWII tour, were you referring to the Normandy D Day sites? If so, then Bayeux has train service from Paris and you can choose from several tour companies. Unfortunately the Bayeux Tapestry will be closed to viewing from the fall of '25 til sometime in '27.

But you have lots and lots of time to flesh out your itinerary and all the details. Sounds like a great vacation.

Thank you both very much!
Yes, sorry, I meant D Day sites. My grandpa was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne and while he wasn't there on D Day, it would be meaningful to my family.

I had wondered about staying overnight somewhere other than Paris vs day trips from Paris.

While this is all preliminary, I'm thinking about 13 days total. The concept of a multi city search takes a load off my mind,I really do appreciate that. I also am coming to realize that there will be many amazing things we'll just have to miss because we truly can't see everything.

The logical way of doing it would be to fly into Manchester, hire a car for the Lake District, then train to London, Eurostar to Paris, return flight from Paris to home. Or the same but in reverse. This avoids backtracking.

This is going to be an expensive trip whichever way you cut it so to me you might as well maximise your time on the ground.

You have said that you don't want to drive ideally but Helen then tells you to hire a car for the Lake District.

That is not at all necessary.

You can get to anywhere Beatrix Potter in the Lake District very easily by public transport and London to the Lake District is only 3 hours by train- well faster on Avanti trains from London Euston than you could ever drive it.

In fact in most of the relevant places a car will just be a confounded nuisance and burden.

Of course Beatrix was born in London- you may find this interesting- https://londonist.com/london/books-and-poetry/beatrix-potter-london-locations-plaques-birthplace-brompton-cemetery#
and this in Essex- https://www.countingtoten.co.uk/2016/04/peter-rabbit-trail-in-essex.html

In the Lake District see this web page (the Armitt and Wray Castle are two attractions most people miss, the Armitt is a must for you)- https://www.visitcumbria.com/beatrix-potter-lake-district/

Wray Castle has it's own little ferry across Lake Windermere to the Castle's own private harbour.

Given your interest you may want to stay at Yew Tree Farm. That is the only circumstance where a car would be useful- but train to the Lake District then rent one locally in Kendal. And plan to the other honeyspot locations carefully- https://yewtree-farm.com/

You may find this walk (easy to break into sections) useful- https://www.visitlakedistrict.com/things-to-do/beatrix-potter-walk-p1219391

Also do take a walk around Esthwaite Water (a less well known lake) where her ashes are scattered.

The other thing you could do, on the Beatrix Potter trail, is to multi city Edinburgh or Glasgow and Paris.

You don't need to spend time in Edinburgh but rather go straight to Dunkeld for https://birnamarts.com/Beatrix-Potter

That is easy by public transit.

Then the Lake District by train via Edinburgh or Glasgow. By 2026 there may even be the proposed new Stirling to Lake District direct trains.

Then after the Lake District to London.

Ooh I’ve had my wrist slapped for making a mistake. I might get a bus route wrong the next time and see what happens ;)

As you get closer to your dates, compare the air prices on an open jaw - London - Paris - vs round trip London and Eurostar London to Paris round trip (allowing you to arrive and depart from LHR with round trip Eurostar London to Paris) prices. The open jaw advice above is fine, but I have had several instances where Chicago to London was very well priced, more than making up for a round trip Eurostar ticket. I don’t know where you are flying from. My experience may well not apply. I find Paris airfare often high from Chicago - let the critiques dispute me, my experience only. Eurostar is cheaper if booked when first available.

It all sounds like a great trip to me!!!!!!

I think the idea of fly to Manchester, visit the Lake District (by car or train, as best suits you), then train to London, train to Paris and fly home from Paris is the most logical order - or, of course, the same in reverse.

Trains in the UK can be expensive, once you've sorted out an itinerary you might want to look into what options there are to cut the cost of train fares.

Thank you, all! I hadn't even considered flying into Manchester. We would start our flight from Omaha, and would connect somewhere in the US, often Chicago or Dallas Fort Worth, or potentially somewhere else depending on the airline. I've seen flights from Omaha to Heathrow for around $500 which is why I was originally thinking of round trip there, and I know airfare varies all the time but last night I saw the multi city Omaha - Paris (CDG) and London (LHR) to OMA in the $600 which , when considering travel time and Eurostar tickets, seemed like a good arrangement. However, I am keeping in mind that anything we do for tickets is multiplied by 6.
It really won't be a cheap trip, but this is why I'm frugal, so we can spend money on what we really value, save, and give.
Thank you, all!

Just looking at Omaha airport- United does flights from Chicago to Edinburgh so you could fly multi city Omaha to Edinburgh via O'Hare to take up the above suggested BP itinerary then multi city back from Paris CDG via O'Hare.

Choosing random dates next April that is £925 round trip.

With 6 of you in the Lake District it may be worth inquiring about a multi day private hire with the Mountain Goat on a bespoke Beatrix Potter itinerary- https://www.mountain-goat.com/Transport-Services/Exclusive-Hire

Thank you for the mountain goat tours link! And the Edinburgh idea. I'm going to post in the France area for the France portion.

Thanks all for your help! I appreciate all the knowledge here and help.

Things may change in two years but I find that the departure taxes in the UK are much higher than France so it was always cheaper for me to fly into the UK, Eurostar to Paris and fly back from there.

Also, in Paris, the Marmottan Museum on the west side of Paris is another excellent location for Monet paintings. It is also a nice leafy area.

Giverny is lovely but the river cruises make it very crowded. Last time, we stayed the night and got to the House and garden early. I would also walk or bike from the Vernon station to Giverny rather than take the shuttle.

Finally, go to Caen or Honfleur by train and rent a car for WW2 sites in Normandy. Highly recommend Mont St Michel because you are in the area and I imagine there is nothing like it in Nebraska.

Sounds like an amazing trip!

When we visited the Normandy beaches we (2 children in their 20s, myself and husband) spent a whole day training from London to Paris, taxi to another train station, train to Bayeau. Whew. Then we hired Dale Booth to drive us around (2 days, Utah and Omaha beaches), and spent a day seeing Bayeux (walked the town, toured the tapestry and cathedral, did laundry). So allow four nights.

If the multi-city (also called open-jaw) costs are similar I'd fly into London and home from Paris, so you can get over jet lag in a country where you speak the language. A round trip from London means you lose a day backtracking, but if you have an extra day to devote to that then it makes sense for your situation. Some airlines hide the "multi-city" choice behind an "advanced search" button.

Your children are old enough to be involved in the planning. We used Cynthia Harriman's "Days to Choose" method (see her book "Take your Kids to Europe" for details) but the general idea is everyone comes to a family meeting with ideas of maybe two or three things each person wants to see. Everyone gets some input and agrees to participate in the choices of others. From these suggestions you build an itinerary. Sometimes it works better if an adult lays out the route then the family contributes suggestions of activities in those locations. We use a Captain for the Day approach where the captain plans meals (chooses restaurants) as well as activities.

It takes some "group mindedness" but in my family at least everyone is willing follow the Captain's plan knowing that each will have a turn. On our trip to Japan we saw some of the sights everyone sees but we also went to a bird refuge, a baseball game, a video arcade and a Samurai house.

Have a great trip!

My spreadsheets are two years old now, but most of the links should still be good. You will notice that I bought City Tickets and I highly recommend them....London & Paris

Thank you for those spread sheets! Great job traveling on a budget!

I have a Lake District question - https://www.armitt.com/visiting/ looks like the Armitt, which I would really like to visit, is not open until April 2 , am I wrong?

2 April this year was the Tuesday after Easter, so in 2026 the equivalent date will be 7 April.

What they have on their website at the moment is the dates/times for 2024- so they are not opening during "Twixmas". I have a paper brochure for the Armitt but can't immediately trace it. I think they close for 5 or 6 weeks after the New Year until the February Schools Half Term Week- but then reopen and stay open on the same winter hours as in November/December until Easter.

Those six weeks are dead low season. In a good winter those weeks are ski-ing season!

I need to get another copy of the brochure (or wait until the end of 2024 for the website to update) to confirm that thought.

Since you are pretty far ahead in your planning, I'm going to be a negative Nellie here and say I think you've got too much for 13 days. Does that mean 13 days on the ground which would count your arrival day? When I am planning I like to think of the number of nights because for myself 2 nights in one location = 1 full day.

I know you are tempted to see everything on your wish list but I'd probably hold Beatrix until your next trip when you can spend some time in the Lake District. With a group of 6 you are also going to travel slower than a solo traveler or a pair.

Here is an itinerary suggestion even though I'm not sure exactly how your days are going to fall. There are dozens of ways to do this and your travel style might not match my own! For planning purposes, here's something to start with:

1 - Arrive in London? Overnight London
2 - London
3 - London
4 - Train out to Salisbury, overnight Salisbury
5 - Local shuttle to Stonehenge, stop at Old Sarum on the shuttle on the way back, see Salisbury Cathedral, maybe Evensong there. Overnight Salisbury
6 - Return to London, overnight near St Pancras. See the British Library Treasures Collection (perhaps they will have some Beatrix Potter manuscripts on display?)
7 - Eurostar to Paris
8 - Paris
9 - Paris
10 - Out to Bayeux. Overnight Bayeux
11 - Private day tour of D Day landings with an emphasis on the 101st. The forum folks can give you ideas on who to book with. I love Dale Booth, others love Overlord Tours. With 6 a private tour is going to work well. Overnight Bayeux
12 - Overnight Paris
13 - Do you have another day or is this your departure day?

BTW, I have 2 things already scheduled for 2026, hahaha!

Since you are pretty far ahead in your planning, I'm going to be a negative Nellie here and say I think you've got too much for 13 days. Does that mean 13 days on the ground which would count your arrival day? When I am planning I like to think of the number of nights because for myself 2 nights in one location = 1 full day.

I know you are tempted to see everything on your wish list but I'd probably hold Beatrix until your next trip when you can spend some time in the Lake District. With a group of 6 you are also going to travel slower than a solo traveler or a pair.

Here is an itinerary suggestion even though I'm not sure exactly how your days are going to fall. There are dozens of ways to do this and your travel style might not match my own! For planning purposes, here's something to start with:

1 - Arrive in London? Overnight London
2 - London
3 - London
4 - Train out to Salisbury, overnight Salisbury
5 - Local shuttle to Stonehenge, stop at Old Sarum on the shuttle on the way back, see Salisbury Cathedral, maybe Evensong there. Overnight Salisbury
6 - Return to London, overnight near St Pancras. See the British Library Treasures Collection (perhaps they will have some Beatrix Potter manuscripts on display?)
7 - Eurostar to Paris
8 - Paris
9 - Paris
10 - Out to Bayeux. Overnight Bayeux
11 - Private day tour of D Day landings with an emphasis on the 101st. The forum folks can give you ideas on who to book with. I love Dale Booth, others love Overlord Tours. With 6 a private tour is going to work well. Overnight Bayeux
12 - Overnight Paris
13 - Do you have another day or is this your departure day?

BTW, I have 2 things already scheduled for 2026, hahaha!

Blockquote

Hi Pam, I'm sorry I wasn't too clear on here. Someone early on suggested I post in France as well so I've been updating both threads and I guess this one didn't keep up?

Current plans are fly into Manchester or another close location, train to Lake District
Stay in Windermere or near there 4-5 nights, Beatrix Potter and Charlotte Mason touring

Train to London, 4-5 nights London, one day trip to Stonehenge but not an overnight accomdation change

Train to Paris, 5 nights Paris, no day trips from Paris

Day 15 - fly out of Paris to Omaha/home

I cut out Bayeux, Versailles / any day trips from Paris in my brain, several people suggested that Paris was too tight for day trips and I'm fine with doing a D-Day trip another year. I don't want to wear the kids out with too much bus time, either.

This is an interesting looking new Beatrix Potter trail in Gloucester- regarding her book The Tailor of Gloucester- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-67145393

I know this is adding to, not subtracting from, your pressures of time.

But Gloucester is an easy day trip by train from London. But also, by changing trains at Birmingham, is an easy diversion on the way between the Lake District and London, as a one night stop then continue to London next day. One of those cities which doesn't seem to get mentioned very often on here.

And there turns out to be a BP museum in the city as well.

And back in the Lake District there is also this BP trail at the Brockhole National Park Centre- https://www.brockhole.co.uk/activities/trails-and-orienteering/
Using the Brockhole pier for the lake boats (or the 599 open top bus) that would be easy to fit in with Wray Castle

The more you look at this the more I think you could easily do the two weeks in the UK, themed around Beatrix Potter and your other interests and leave Paris + Normandy as a whole different trip.

You also have Gwaenynog Hall (Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies) in North Wales and Tenby in South Wales (the Pond in the Tale of Peter Rabbit).
And back in Scotland the collection of her sketches at Perth Museum.

Just a tip for avoiding crowds at Westminster Abbey.

Book the earliest possible time (I went on a Monday) and get there early so you have a place close to the front of the line to get in I did this last year and got to see the Lady Chapel (Henry VII) and other side chapels almost free of other visitors. Also the tomb of Elizabeth I and Mary I. I didn't dilly dally, as the Abbey fills up fast, but it was truly wonderful seeing it without all the crowds. I also went in 2018 with a London Walks tour, and while the guide was wonderful, it was just too crowded to really see much or enjoy it.

I also recommend doing a Verger tour while you are there. They'll take you into the tomb of Edward the Confessor, which you can't see without their tour, and they give wonderful information and details you wouldn't otherwise get. I enjoyed it very much. Sign up immediately after entering the Abbey, but then you'll have time before your tour to walk around and see things with fewer people.

Thank you for the help!

I've been reading all of these and discussing with my husband and it seems that the only 2 who are really interested in Paris and my oldest daughter and me. So my husband agreed that it was sensible to have her and I go on a separate trip and get to just focus on the UK for our family trip! So I think we can get Edinburgh in there and just have more breathing room. The younger kids are definitely more interested in castles than art museums.

Brand new, when on the Beatrix Potter trail in the Lake District- Her farm at Hill Top (adjacent to the better known National Trust Cottage) is now open for tours on selected dates. This is still a working farm so this is quite an interesting opportunity.

https://www.evententry.co.uk/hill-top-herdwick-exclusive-guided-walks

Hopefully this will continue and maybe expand in future years.

Also Mr McGregor's vegetables in The Tale of Peter Rabbit were painted at a garden called Lingholm (as she did not then own Hill Top). She spent ten Summer and Autumn holidays at Lingholm. She also wrote The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin and the first draft of The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle whilst staying at Lingholm.

It is at Portinscale, just outside Keswick- use the 77/77A Honister circular buses.

pbscd - given that the great majority of the posts on this thread are giving advice about how to fit in the Lakes, London, Stonehenge and Paris and you have now taken out Paris I would suggest a new thread with your new plan objectives adding in Edinburgh to get some good advice.

Thank you! I will do that. I just have been trying to think about how to organize including what has already been suggested so as to not waste anyone's time with having to re-suggest something. I've also been a little distracted with preparing for our county fair.