We just returned from an epic 2 week tour through the UK and I wanted to share my thoughts for those trying to do it all. If you are adventurous, healthy and strong, go for it! I read all the advice about not trying to cram it all in, and we crammed it all in! It was an amazing, epic trip that was everything, and yes exhausting at the end, but worth every sec.
Day 1 Flew a redeye into Heathrow, picked up a car and drove to Cambridge, stopping along the way for coffee, snacks etc. Driving was great but you must be brave and commit. It gets easier! In Cambridge we toured the city, had lunch, ice cream and punted around 6 in the evening on a beautiful sunny afternoon. We stayed at a b&b and woke to a delicious English breakfast served by a kind woman on English china.
Day 2 drove to York, stopped in Stamford for lunch and a walk including the ruins of an abbey. Arrived in York mid afternoon where we stayed in an Inn near York minster and next door to a pub my husband and son went to at least 3 times and are still talking about. Stayed in York 2 nights.
Day 4 Drove to Scotland via Bolton Abbey and the Yorkshire Dales! Best day ever! Stopped in Grassington where All Creatures Great and Small is filmed. We had lunch at the hotel/ pub where they film, toured the town, visited the locals and took a million pictures. Spent the rest of the day driving through the Dales and arrived in Scotland at a tiny village between Glasgow and Edinburg. Arrived early evening. checked into the airbnb and went shopping for groceries etc.
Day 5 Took the train to Edinburg and toured the city where it rained all day. Came back to our house and rested.
Day 6 drove to Pitlochory and stopped for breakfast then on to Inverness for lunch before spending about 3-4 hours at Loch Ness and Urquhart castle. We drove all the way back through the Highlands past Ben Nevis and Glencoe and back to our airbnb. It was about a 12 hour day.
Day 7 Church in the morning in Stirling, then toured Stirling castle and the evening back for rest, pub time.
Day 8 St Andrews! After St Andrews back to Edingburg to visit places we missed and had dinner. Arrived back early evening.
Day 9 up early and back to England to stay at a farm in Stratford upon Avon! Arrived midafternoon, walked the city, rested then had a wonderful dinner.
Day 10 toured the Cotswalds, Stow on the Wold, Chipping Camden and Burton on the water and then decided to look around Oxford on our way to London! We Spent the afternoon in Oxford and arrived in London early evening.
Day 11 London
Day 12 Stonehenge! Afternoon, back on the tube to the National Gallery, honestly feeling tired by now bit at least the rain stopped!
Day 13 We stayed in Hammersmith London, spent the morning walking along the river then back for an early evening flight.
It rained most of the trip and we still managed to do all these things. We walked 5 to 10 miles a day. We went to dozens of pubs, bakeries and shops. It was SO Much Fun! Yes it would have been nice to slow down but honestly we loved every minute. I personally would definitely spend more time in Yorkshire and the Cotswalds. Although the time was brief, we still walked around, had tea, a drink or meal and really took in what we could.
We traveled well and saw way more than I ever had planned to. Oxford and the Dales were never really part of the itinerary but we added them in. We found food easily, parking as well, even in London! We had never planned on staying in the heart of London, or driving our car in, but we had to leave our airbnb right after we arrived due to mold! We found a great last minute deal in Hammersmith. We left the car and tubed to London. We left On Easter so we were there first 2 weeks of April during spring break. The crowds were light but that was why we went when we did. Our family of 4 traveling together, all adults. Best trip ever.