UK or Bust 2020

[Chops]

So, I've been wanting to get back to the UK for some time now, and now that things are getting a little more even, I've kicked off a Vacation Account, depositing what I hope is a fairly healthy $800/month through July 2020 to bankroll a proper tour of one of my favorite Nations. With luck, will be traveling in the company of my wife and eldest daughter.

Much has to be decided:

1. Do I take advantage of the tourist Rail Pass and simply bounce around the UK by rail, stopping off and find lodgings at an interesting place?
2. Do I find a pleasant place, like say Brighton and the Lakes District, sort of set up my base from there and simply try to take in as much as
possible with a 50 kilometre radius.
3. A prepackaged rail tour that shuttles me too and fro to cardinal events.
4. A bike tour.
5. A walking tour.

One thing I'm keen to avoid is extensive travel by automobile. Roadways do not particularly interest me, unless they can accommodate bicycles. While I'd really like a good solid couple of days to hit some of the better London museums, such as the Transport Museum, I'm not really fascinated with big cities as I am with the countryside and coast. I hope to take in some of these amazing preservation railways, particularly that one that was a slate hauler in Wales, I think it was. Not sure where to start.

[bulleidboy]

Hi Chops

You have varied list of what you would like to do and see. I think you should make a list of the essential things you wish to do and see - see where these places are located in the UK, and then work out where a central base could be. Although the UK is smaller than the USA, it could take hours or the best part of a day to get to some places - you mention the ex-slate railway - almost certainly in Wales, depending where you were based this could be a day trip. How long would you be in the UK - do your wife and daughter have the same interests as you? BB

[IanS]

Hi

As BB said, it could depend on how long you'd be in the UK. A round Britain tour by train may be possible with sufficient time.

You'll probably fly into either Manchester or London so they would be your starting and ending points.

Manchester to parts of the Lake District by train is possible - Spend time in the Lakes area, then move via Carlisle to Glasgow - from there a trip north to Fort William - double back to Edinburgh and up to Perth. Down to Bamburgh, Newcastle, Durham and York - each with their own heritage connected to railways. From York back down to either Manachester or London.

A round trip of this type could be done mainly on the train although Bamburgh can't. It brings in the countryside for walking experiences and rail travel too. It also brings in cities for the ladies if they wish (or need) to spend some $$$$$'s

[bulleidboy]

Just had a quick look, and it appears you cannot fly "direct" El Paso to UK - you have to change at Dallas Forth Worth - that's assuming you were flying to London (it would be Heathrow) with American Airlines.

[Chops]

Thank you for the excellent advice and suggestions. Dallas to UK is about standard for this spot in the country. One of the things that has always astonished me about the UK is that while relatively small, its history and prehistory almost defies the imagination. Starting out as a peninsula
of what is now France, it became an island after a series of at least one glacially induced tsunami having first drifted up from somewhere around
the equator. If one were to do a time line of the UK, it would probably extend to the moon and back. As such, not sure where to start, but looks like Manchester/London would be the place. Nine days is what I am hoping for, and four to travel to and from. Jet lag will be interesting.

[bulleidboy]

"Starting out as a peninsula of what is now France, it became an island after a series of at least one glacially induced tsunami"

Might be the first time a tsunami had a happy ending!!

[collectors]

A real catch 22 getting around the UK with three of you without a car, as you will miss a lot of fantastic places. A lot of the UK is not bike friendly unless your in the towns/areas that are built for it. I personally would head for the main areas you would like to visit by train & then decide what sort of transport you need to make life easy in that area. Big towns & cities are no problem. So, start in London for a week of museums & alike, then down to Brighton for 3-4 days. Then to the New forest & hire bikes for a few days. Then over to the cotswolds for a few more days for some of the best of England's scenery. From here you are boardiring on Wales & you really need a car to get to some areas, but you could hire a narrow boat & spend a few relaxing days on the Llangollen canal. You can then head about 70 mile north to the ffestiniog railway & slate village & the Snowdon mountain that you could climb, or take the funicular rail to the top & walk back.
From here you could go to Liverpool for a tour of the Beatles home & may other things. From here I would head up to the lake district for at least a week & the walking part of your hols.
From here it not far to Scotland & some of the many walks along the Lochs & hills.
I am sure there will be many more suggestions.

[IanS]

He's only in Britain for 9 days! That list will take considerably longer and highlights the problem.

Maybe a 6 month stay would do the tour!

[collectors]

He's only in Britain for 9 days! That list will take considerably longer and highlights the problem.

Maybe a 6 month stay would do the tour!

Ah! didn't see the 5th post. In that case book another few weeks. Nine days will turn into only seven/eight with the time diff/jet lag. & imo, it's not enough time to see all the good places around the UK Slight problem at this time of year is getting accommodation unless pre booked.

[Walkingthedog]

I reckon I’d base myself near York. A fantastic City, NRM, North Yorkshire Moor Railway plus many other places of interest and the Lake District not far away. And that is coming from a southerner.