london - scotland?

Sharene, Edinburgh is indeed beautiful; it is my favorite city in the world. But that doesn't mean you should necessarily go there. Have you been to London before? If not, I would stay put and see as much as you can there. Why spend more money and time to go someplace else when you have so much to do within a couple of miles. If you want to get out of the city and see something else, Bath is a much easier day trip. It is a beautiful and interesting town, and it's quite easy to see all the highlights in a day.

Now if you've been to London before, you may want to try Edinburgh, provided you can get there without taking too much travel time. I've never tried an overnight train, but if that would get you there and back without tiring you out, then it might be a good option. If you don't get a good night sleep, you may be tired and cranky, in which case it would not be worth it. Hopefully, others who have tried this will offer their feedback.

Edinburgh is a wonderful city, but it is a 5 hour train trip one way. A bit long for a day trip- though I have to admit we did it as a day trip one time, also. If this is your first London trip you are going to have plenty to do and see in London itself. Maybe one or two nearby day trips- I'd suggest Windsor, as I love the castle and it's gardens. Canturbury or Stratford-upon-Avon are also good day trips. You need to decide what you want to see- Bath is great for Roman connections and Georgian architechture. Windosr- the castle. Canturbury- religious and literary connections. Stratford- Shakespear and quaintness.

Hello! Edinburgh is a great city, but London has so much to offer. For the amount of time you are there, I suggest staying in London and possibly taking day trips as the other respondents suggested. My favorite trips are Bath/Stonehenge, Oxford, and Windsor. It is a quick and cheap train ride to Windsor, and the city is beautiful. If you go to Oxford, take the Oxford tube and not the train. The Oxford tube runs from several places in London to Oxford in just under 2 hours. It is a nice ride! But, if you would rather take a tour, the 'blue badge' tours are great. If you go to Bath, don't miss Stonehenge because they aren't far away. However, note that a tour is probably your best option if you choose to go there because no trains take you close enough to Stonehenge.
If you haven’t been to London before, then you might consider just staying there the entire time! I studied there last year, and every week I found something new and exciting. I’m full of restaurant suggestions too; you can send me a message, I'd be glad to answer any questions!
I hope you have a fantastic trip!

Thanks for all your advice! I really appreciate it.

Five days is such a short time to be in London you won't even begin to see all that city has to offer. I've spent 10 weeks there and still have a long list of things I want to see/do. Plan on shorter day trips to Windsor Castle or Kew Gardens. Your time is a precious commodity so don't spend a huge chunk of it traveling to get to a far-off city (although passing through the lovely English countryside is always a pleasure). Bath is charming and Bournemouth is simply wonderful especially if you like beautiful beaches. I love Edinburgh and you should definitely go there but save it for the next time you visit the UK and make your home base somewhere in Scotland.