we would like to spend three weeks in the UK .We are in our upper 70's, can walk 3-5 miles a day and would like to stay in three different areas and do day trips from these locations. What are your recommendations?
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6837 posts
Good starting points for your research on this website: England, Scotland, and Wales. There's also Northern Ireland, but it's easier to visit along with the Republic of Ireland. I suggest you look for a good guidebook (RS is one but there are others), first in a public library and then one you purchase for the trip.
A lot depends on your interests, whether you've been to the UK before, whether you'll be driving, and what time of year you want to go. If this were my trip, for the first time in a good-weather season, the three bases I'd choose would be London, York, and Edinburgh.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
We will be traveling in the month of May, we want to visit charming villages or market places, drive through beautiful countryside and seashore. Taking walks, enjoy great food and pubs. I trust Rick Steve and have several of his books. Thank you for your response!
Posted by
California Central Coast 🐚
753 posts
We did something like this earlier this year. We picked Oxford, North Wales, the Lake District, the Northumbrian Coast and the Yorkshire Dales. We enjoyed beautiful country side, villages and market towns. We took walks and spent time in pubs and gardens. We also enjoy canal boat rides and museums. You can't really go wrong with any of those and many other locations. Find something that sparks your interest and start building your trip from there.
Posted by
Virginia
1531 posts
A lot depends on your interests, whether you've been to the UK before, whether you'll be driving, and what time of year you want to go. If this were my trip, for the first time in a good-weather season, the three bases I'd choose would be London, York, and Edinburgh.
This.
mlbcalle45,
Your criteria are a start, but because "charming villages, countryside, and pubs" could describe nearly the entire UK, it may be easy to pick a base that doesn't actually fit your specific style, just someone else's.
To show you what I mean, if I suggested Ironbridge in Shropshire, it perfectly fits your broad criteria: it has lovely countryside, walking paths, pubs, and charm. However, its true draw for me is its identity as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, set in a beautiful, wooded river valley with great museums.
On the flip side, I might suggest Chichester on the south coast. For me, the true draw of Chichester is its perfect proximity to the Mary Rose museum in Portsmouth and the historic timber-framed buildings at the Weald & Downland Museum.
Both Ironbridge and Chichester check the boxes on your list, but they are completely different trips. If you have no interest in industrial heritage, Ironbridge might bore you. If you don't care about maritime history or open-air architectural museums, Chichester and its surroundings might not be for you either.
To help us give you meaningful recommendations instead of random guesses, what is the true draw for you?
Posted by
10476 posts
Highly recommend three nights in York, it is amazing.
Also, 2 nights in Bath. Stratford upon Avon if you love Shakespeare.
North Wales is great, Conwy a must. Also, consider Chester.