So just got back from our trip and it was amazing.
we are starting to think of our next trip.
We are looking at:
london 5 nights
brighton 2 nights
birmingham 2 nights
manchester 2 nights
outside of manchester with relatives 3 nights
dublin 3 nights
dingle 1 night
galway 2 nights
belfast 2 nights
Edingurgh 3 nights
is there anything we should be including or forgetting
ya we are planning on London for sure.
I'd suggest skipping Edinburgh this trip and saving it for another. Add more time to London for day trips or to Ireland. Then plan a Scottish trip another time. Here is a link to an article about doing day trips out of London by train that I wrote. On second thought you could add Cardiff Wales in place of Edinburgh. http://www.aaacarolinas.com/Magazine/2008/Jan-Feb/britain.htm?zip=28201&stateprov=nc&city=charlotte If it asks for a zipcode use 28208 Also if it goes to current magazine articles or the home page, click on archives and then on Jan/Feb 2008
Without knowing what your interests are, I can't really say what you should add or forget. I personally would not pick birmingham or manchester, but you might enjoy them. I do think this itinery does not seem very efficient, at least the Ireland part. You will spend most of one day getting from Dublin to Dingle and then you'll leave the next day for Galway, which is a good half day trip. That's a lot of traveling with no where near enough time to enjoy Dingle, which is absolutely beautiful (my favorite place in Ireland). I hate to say skip Dingle, since I like it so much, but it would make for an easier travel schedule. I also question why you want to tack Edinburgh on at the end. That's going to be another trip across the water. Again I hate to say skip it because it's my favorite city in the world. Could you go there after Manchester?
This trip is more spread out than I think is advisable, but perhaps it will work for you.
Two nights in Brighton is fine as it is less than an hour by train from London Victoria and there are several things to see here such as the Royal Pavilion and the Pier. Also if you are coming in May then there is the Brighton Festival which has lots of free and low cost concerts etc.
See last years webpage here: http://www.brightonfestival.org/
Cheers
Steve.
