Traveling by Train in Britain on Holiday? Recommend it?

[Nine Elms]

Sadly I am the other side of the Country. I did look at that trip and will make it a must another time.

John

[Chops]

Thank you again, will investigate. A little sea journey can only be wistful at best, terrifying at worst.

[IanS]

Useful information. Having spent the last sixty years driving on the wrong side of the road, I would probably pose a hazard to the unsuspecting....

Thousands of British people venture over the Channel each year (in normal times at least) in their cars with the steering wheel on the 'wrong' side of the car and the majority manage it OK.

Thousands more venture over the Pond to the US and hire cars and the vast majority manage OK too.

The notion of a guided tour is useful as someone has already done the editing. But whom would I trust to such an adventure?

An escorted tour of course would be best. Maybe travel agents in the US offer them, coach holidays are the nearest I can think of that are readily available but I don't know how they'd work out for you - the itinerary is fixed and presupposes you meet a coach at a particular point, either a motorway (freeway) service station or a local bus station in a lot of cases. With careful planning it will be possible to do a mix of car driving (the coach holidays return you to where you started), coach holiday and rail excursions.

[sandy]

I remember when I first drove in France on the right hand side of the road it did not take long before it seemed to be normal to me. So I would not worry to much if I were you. Just do it. Traveling by train is nice and fast over large distances. Some times but when you arrive you may find you need a car. Up in Scotland for instance you do have Railways but you cant get to some parts by rail. Can think of a few you need 4 wheel drive.

[Brian]

Anne Sacoolas may not agree with the "Dont worry too much" statement! She drove on the wrong side of the road in the UK and killed motorcyclist Harry Dunn, then almost immediately went back to the USA! However, its not that difficult especially when driving a car with the steering wheel on the right-hand side.
Just remember when a red traffic light shows in the UK you do not pass it even to turn left (turn right on red in the US). Also, our traffic lights show Red and Amber together before going to Green. The red is still illuminated meaning you're not to move off until the red goes out, just get into gear and be ready to move upon the green displaying. Green to red is the same in both countries via a short amber. Amber meaning Stop at the stop line unless it is not safe to do so.
Useful link to UK traffic lights etc https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/light-s ... affic.html

Places of national railway historical interest in my book are .... York national Railway Museum. Beamish living museum. The Black Country living museum. Many of the preserved steam railways such as The Great Central Railway. Churnet Valley line, North York Moors railway to name just three (there are many more!) Take a steam hauled special like for example Settle to Carlie and return. All those I've listed are in the Midlands and North of England.

Manly though bring a rain coat or umbrella and enjoy everything the UK offers.

[sandy]

I only said I had no problem getting used to driving on the right. But I am a police / fire service EFAD driver.

[Chops]

Useful commentary, and I thank you. My notion of roaming Britain by train is sounding more romantic than practical. I might end up spending a large portion of days sitting in empty train stations, I fear. Whenever driving, on whatever side, my attention is fixed upon the road. However, if I can pull this off with a pal, who finds pleasure in driving, (I do not), then that could be a win-win for both of us. The idea of being able to zip from one destination unto another, as a means of experiencing so many things, from meadows, to rivers, to tea houses, to museums, to coast lines could be a much more effective use of precious time.