Just the UK....

Hi Michelle: Welcome back to the Helpline! About your question, you said "UK" and I wanted to clarify (so that we can be more helpful) whether you want suggestions that include all four parts of the "UK": England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland--or something less than all four?

You didn't say how you will travel and it makes a difference whether by auto or train.

I would go north to Aberdeen and Edinburgh, then across to Belfast, N Ireland. Then south to Dublin, Ireland.

Your personal interests will determine where you go. Do some research in travel guides at the library or on the web to learn more.

You may want to see Hadrian's Wall at Greenhead, Northumberland, England. And Lock Ness, home of the monster, in S Scotland.

We have always found the people in Scotland much friendlier than those in London.

You will find both Irelands a different world and very welcoming to you.

Get a good map and plan where you want to go.
ma

I'd suggest you consider the following places: Inverness- well worth 3 to 4 days or more- lots of day trips (Isle of Skye, Orkney, Great Glen, Glen Coe, etc.)
Aviemore- a great small village with good location for day trips and lots to do- walks, hikes, horseback riding,etc.
York- wonderful shopping, good history
Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon, Canturbury- could do as day trips while in London
Cardiff and the Snowdonia area of Wales

Hi,York,and York. A must only 2 hours from London.
There very cheap limited overnight sleeper trains from London to scotland(£29)as I remember.
Megabus , do cheap bus fares between amny Uk cities to.
Maybe take in the Settle-Carlise railway through the Yorkshire Dales.
I went this summer to the far north of scotland, as differnet a landscape as possible from so cal!.
Theres a daily bus from inverness which dawdles its way up the west coast.
If yuo are in Newcastle maybe spent a day on hadrians wall.
What time of year are you travelling?
Best wishes ,richard

I would add my voice to the chorus for York and for some time in Scotland. I would also think about the Lake district or the borders. I did a nice trip a number of years ago that started in York, went north to Durham and then explored the Borders and Hadrian's Wall and down a bit into Cumbria and the Lake District. I really liked Hexham. There is a great little Border's Museum. If you are based in Newcastle for a bit that or Durham would be nice side trips. If you go up into the Borders the Abbys are interesting to visit. I love the north of Scotland, but you can see beautiful bits in Perthshire or the Trossachs.

I would go to York for sure--walk the wall, see the Minster, the Shambles (street from the 1450s, I believe. Great history. I would also go to Bath. Stay at a B&B in Cotswalds which is beautiful and peaceful.

I am going to Hadrians Wall in March, so it is hard for me to recommend it yet, but some of my research shows it is a great place to see how the Romans lived during that period and there are great walks. I am also getting recos to go to the Lake Distirict north of Lancaster on the Western side.

York and Bath and the Cotswolds. If you go to Scotland, Oban.

Joe - please post back after your trip! I'm debating where to spend the last week of my trip, and amongst those options is the Lake District and in particular doing some walking along the Hadrian's Wall path. I'll be very interested to hear your experiences.

Michelle: You don't say when you plan to be in the UK so I want to mention that we went to York in the middle of summer one year and it was so crowded we couldn't stand it and left post-haste. I have never been back but hope to one day, either in early spring or late autumn. Newcastle-upon-Tyne is an interesting city and probably seldom over run with tourists.

Michelle- You will find the UK very "public transport" friendly. We have been more than 40 times and have NEVER driven!!! We only took a cab one time (7-7 after the bombing- it was the only way to get to the airport for our flight that day). Trains are easy and often! London- 2 to 4 days with day trips. London to York- good trip about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Spend 1 or 2 nights. I've never found it too crowded- even in July. Then train to Edinburgh- 1 or 2 nights. Train to Aviemore- 1 to 2 nights. Train to Inverness 3 to 6 nights. Train to anywhere mid- UK- Sterling, Birmingham, etc. 1 night Train to London. 1 night then home. We did this trip 2 years ago and it was my absolute favorite! The only thing I wish we could have added was Betws-y-Coed and Cardiff Wales. Just too far out of our way that trip. (both are awesome places) Feel free to private message me for ideas, more comments, questions, etc.

Norma, yeah Newcastle probably won't be run with tourist, but I do have 3 dear friends that I made a promise to visit. The 2x's we were in London they came to see us.... so its payback time. Also my friend is expecting a wee one, so I'm very excited about seeing the baby!!

So London (actually Harrow): 3 days.
New Castle: 2 or 3 days

With 10-14 days on the agenda... would it be best to stay in York for 3 days?? Longer? Shorter??

That leaves me with 5 spare days... so I guess just a few places to seriously consider.

York can be "done" in a day, if pushed. Unless you want to go out to the castle. I'd suggest either going to Scotland or Durham. (see above for Scotland)If you go to Durham, then maybe back down the center of the island- Stratford, Oxford, Bath, etc.

oh wow, if York can be "done" in a day... goodie... I get more days to explore other places.

I was waiting for your reply to Kent as to whether you want to go to England only or other parts of the UK. York is wonderful and should never be "done in one day". There's The Minster, The Shambles, The Railway Museum, The Castle Museum, The City tour to get your bearings. There is just so much to see just walking aroung this beautifil place. York should be enjoyed not "done". And don't forget tea at Betty's. I'd try to go up the coast and visit Robin Hoods Bay and Whitby or take the train to Edinburgh and spend as much time there as possible. It's my belief that if you spend enough time in a place you will have enough memories to hold you for a long time and the next time you visit England, or the UK, you can go to a different part of the country.