We will be arriving in London. Will go West to Wales...Ireland...Northern Ireland...over to Scotland..down to Newcastle where our daughter is at University...then back to London to the airport. What would be the best way to travel? I would like the freedom of renting a car, but would also like to take a train at some point. Do we wait until after visiting the White Cliffs to rent the Car? Do we rent the car at the airport and park it while in London for 2-3 days? How do we get the ferry to Ireland and then back to Scotland? We have 16 days of travel. Does this sound do-able? Thanks for all of your suggestions! Ann
Posted by
OP
Hudson, Wisconsin, United States
6 posts
Thanks for the ideas!!
We have already bought our tickets into London...so that is a done deal. Our daughter will be taking the train/bus down from Newcastle to join us in London. We have hotel reservations there for about 3 days.We could possibly take a tour to White Cliffs, then transport to Bath/Avebury...see Stonehenge. From there to Cadiff, Wales because that is where "Dr. Who" resides.. We considereded taking the main road M4 to Fishguard. Take the ferry to Rosslare and visit Waterford if it's worth it. Then off to Dublin for a day or so. Continue North to Belfast...and up to Giant's Causeway. My son wants to visit Carrickfergus Castle, so we may take the ferry from Larne to Cairnryan. Then up to Loch Ness and as far East to drive down the coast. Enjoy the drive and stop anywhere on a whim, find our way back to England and stop at Barnburgh Castle, Hadrians wall possibly, stay in Newcastle a couple of days site seeing and then make our way down through York to London. Basically we want to explore and experience like the locals. We do not have any reservations for hotels after London, but have been looking for small B&B's with own bath. Other than that, I'm willing to try anything. I'm not sure I'd like to stay in a hostel though...been there, done that and now want my own room and bathroom.....I'd love to find local markets for fresh produce or fish and chips places...experience all the wonderful beer and just see things other than the "typical" tourist things...Thanks, Ann
Posted by
Green Bay
20979 posts
I'll start the ball with my ideas, not knowing all that is on your bucket list. No reason to rent a car at London airport and then pay the rental fees plus parking in London. You can get to London on public transport and visit the White Cliffs form London either by a tour bus or on your own via train. I don't like to rent a car at one place and drop off at another because of drop off fees, but maybe others more knowledgeable of the ins and outs of British car rental scene will chime in. So I would take a train to perhaps Birmingham where maybe the rental will be less or have to pay high airport fees like in the states. Drive through north Wales to Holyhead, ferry to Dublin, work your way north to Larne, NI, ferry to Ayr or Troon, work south to New Castle. Leave New Castle and drive back to Birmingham area, drop car, the rail to departure airport. you could also look at open jaw if using Delta. They can fly you home out of Birmingham or Manchester.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8308 posts
You've already received some specific info about your trip. My concern is that you're running circles instead of straight lines. With the price of their gasoline, flying open jaw'd into one airport and out of another is preferred. Why don't you fly into Ireland? Then take a ferry or fly on a budget air carrier to Scotland. You can head south to England by train city to city? If you want to see the countryside in Ireland, Scotland or Wales, rent a car for day trips. Then, fly out of London.
And like was said, you want to stay away from picking up or returning cars at airports due to high taxes and tolls. City rentals are often so much cheaper.