We snagged a good fare from Florida to England via Gatwick in mid-May. We planned to work our way to Scotland for a general sightseeing trip. However, friends have booked a lovely place near Bognor Regis that we can use for a few nights on the front end. I’m a Jane Austen/ Downton Abbey fan. I’m trying to justify spending the time south before we swing north to Scotland for what could be 4-5 nights. But I don’t know how we get around in either the south or north ends of this trip. I’m assuming we would take the train north and south. We need to end near Gatwick for our flight back out. No kids, healthy 60ish couple. We’ve been through London, Bath, Salisbury, Oxford and Liverpool (Beatles) on an earlier trip. Oh, and, Highclere is open with a lecture day during that window. Is it worth it? Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Austin, Tx
149 posts
Highclere is lovely, but I would save it for another trip and just head north. When I went, there were train delays, and even if there wasn’t, it felt like it took a long time to get there. It wasn’t easy.
I had to google Bognor Regis, didn’t know where it was. So you are for sure heading that far south and then heading to Scotland? Too much for 8 days, assuming that is 8 full days on the ground. If any less, definitely too much.
Or...just stay south and save Scotland for later.
Posted by
Camano Island, WA, usa
1526 posts
Take advantage of being in the South! Check the National Trust UK web site for 7 day Overseas Visitor Pass for a couple for only 58 pounds. This gives you access to 300 homes, gardens and nature preserves. English Heritage has a similar pass available with another selection. I don't know if there is an overlap. See which one works for you. I would go to the Isle of Wight and visit Osborne House, and Portsmouth and visit the Mary Rose. Check their maps and you can see that this area has a wealth of wonderful and historic places to visit. I would give Scotland a week of it's own another time.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Do you have 8 full days on the ground excluding your arrival and departure days or is it 8 days total? If you head to Scotland, you are going to waste a day back tracking to Gatwick, so if you only have 8 days in total ie 6 useable days, then I would suggest that you either head north or stay in southern England.
Bognor isn’t the prettiest place on the planet, but it’s a good base for exploring Chichester, Chichester Harbour, Portsmouth and Arundel. You could also spend some time in the New Forest, the Isle of Wight or Rye/Lewes.
If you want to see Scotland, then it would make more sense to fly there directly, rather than going via London. Getting from Bognor to Scotland would probably be best by flying from Gatwick as taking the train will take 8-9 hours door to door.
Posted by
401 posts
You could also look at the option of taking. Cheap flight from Southampton to Glasgow or,Edinburgh. Schools are on holiday from 25th May- 2nd June so flights will be expensive around then.
Posted by
8322 posts
8 days and you are spending 4-5 in Scotland.
You want to spend a few nights on the front end near Bognor Regis! OK, then I would imagine you will be going right north to Scotland.
I suggest that you need a health dose of trip planning, including research. Decide where you want to go, decide how you want to get there and on to the next place, etc.
We did S. Wales and England in 4 weeks and didn't even go to London.
You may want to take the overnight train to Scotland.
Posted by
OP
Southwest Florida
8 posts
Thanks for great input! Y’all have been most helpful.
We will head straight to Scotland from Gatwick, and the flights are advertised at around $50-60 each. Sold!...well, soon. Our flight is scheduled to land at 6:30 am. How much time should I give us to get comfortably through Customs, etc. and over to the terminal to catch a plane to Glasgow? There’s a 10:30 nonstop available that’s tempting.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5554 posts
What terminal will you be landing in and what terminal will you be flying out of? There is a shuttle between the two terminals which only takes a couple of minutes so it's not a big deal but you need to factor that in if you're changing terminals. I'd say that a 6.30 am arrival should give you plenty of time for a 10.30 am flight even with a potential slight delay. No-one can tell you how long it will take you to make it through immigration, I've flown into Gatwick and been through in less than ten minutes, other times it's taken longer, there are too many variables to give you a meaningful approximation.
Posted by
Florida
509 posts
This is nonresponsive, but it's author Bill Bryson's take on Bognor Regis excerpted from his fairly recent book on travel in England, The Road to Little Dribbling: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3760798/Britain-Beware-natives-BILL-BRYSON-s-latest-journey-sees-struggling-say-hi-locals-Bognor-Regis.html