Hi all, My husband will be in london for work and I am going to go meet him so we can travel around for 6 days. I love london and have been once before, but this time we both wanted to try to get out of the city and see some countryside. Does anyone have advice on maybe doing bath/stonehenge/cotswolds vs. taking the sleeper train to Edinburgh and then getting a car and seeing somethings around there? This trip would be the last week of June. I have always wanted to go to Scotland, but I am concerned about packing in too much travel in a short period of time.
Thanks for any advice!
Posted by
USA
40 posts
It depends somewhat on how much time you would want to spend in each location. A couple of years ago, my husband and I traveled to London/York/Edinburgh and used nothing but public transportation. We split our London time at the beginning and end of our trip but the trains there are wonderful, both in terms of times/service/destinations, and ease of access to many sights.
We started in London for three days, then to York via train for two days, then to Edinburgh via train for five days, and then back to London via train for four days. All trains were during the day, and we bought the London/York and York/Edinburgh and Edinburgh/London tickets advance purchase online weeks ahead. Treated these like airplane tickets in terms of day/time, etc.
Bath/Stonehenge and the Cotswolds are easy to access from London so I would suggest taking a look at train schedules and the sights you want to see to determine how much time you want to spend here. Edinburgh is an amazing city and you would have no trouble filling up a couple of days there. Again, trains make getting around outside the city easy, as do the buses within the city. It's a beautiful and welcoming city, we loved it!
Happy travels!
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2600 posts
If you have six days go to Scotland.
Why the sleeper - you probably won't sleep! A daytime train is only 4 and a half hours
book here ASAP
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7168 posts
I was going to say the same as previous poster - why subject yourself to a sleeper train to avoid a 4-1/2 hour day train journey. With 6 days, I'd also go to Edinburgh and rent a car to see the area, you can see a lot in 6 days.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2600 posts
Here's a thought…
With six days why not fly with easyjet to Inverness, hire a car, see some of the Highlands for 3 days, return the car in Edinburgh, three days in there, then train back to London.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34005 posts
actually, of all the sleepers still running, the Caledonian gets some of the best press. Lots of Scots use it weekly to travel to London for work and return on it at the end of the week.
I wouldn't dismiss it. It recently changed hands, and there have been the inevitable rough spots but generally it is well received and well respected.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
You have direct trains ...
London >> York >> Edinburgh
London >> Salisbury >> Bath >> Cheltenham (Cotswolds) >> London
Rent a car in Cheltenham for a few days touring the Cotswolds.
Posted by
Tyler, TX, USA
169 posts
I know this may sound uninspiring to some but my wife and I enjoyed taking the Grey Line Tour out of London to visit Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath in one day, allowing someone else to do the driving and still having enough time on our own in each place that we enjoyed it. It was a great way to get out of London for a short time and see three interesting places. I may have wanted to explore Bath more but found it satisfying at the end of our trip before we flew home.