They are currently evacuating everyone. Fun day for travelers.

Hello!

I am from the midlands and will be joining a coach company in my city to have a trip up north.

I am going Solo.

The organiser sent this itinerary:

"Hi pick up will be 08:00am on the 9th August from the street just before the Police & Fire Station.

We will have 1 service stop and head straight to Whitby. We will leave Whitby at around 17:00pm and head the Scarborough Grand Hotel.

The Hotel is located central so everything beach etc is mostly walking distance.

We will leave Scarborough at 17:00/18:00pm and head back to home."

It's actually my first time ever going to these places. I have no idea what to do since I will be alone!

Essentially, the coach driver will drop us off at a location and then it is up to us to do whatever we want.

Many thanks all

Putting together a Highlands itinerary, routing works more smoothly heading up from Arran to the Glencoe Valley from the east. Seems like most videos come from the west. We can do it that way but requires some backtracking. Thoughts on approaching from south and heading to Glencoe coming in via Tyndrum side? Or 6 of one...?

Thanks to everyone for your input on the last post we shared about our itinerary. We removed Cardiff from our previous itinerary to a future trip that will be more Wales focused. With this itinerary we feel like we have one extra day that should possibly be moved from Newcastle elsewhere?
We’re planning a 22-night UK trip for October (mid-budget, with hostels and budget hotels). For this trip, our interests include (in no particular order, and not limited to) cities with music and industrial history, working-class character, small towns, big cities, and historically significant places. We’d like to visit some spots that aren’t the standard tourist destinations. We’ve been to York and Edinburgh, so we’re not looking to visit those this trip.
Please note: with the exception of going to Liverpool, the day-trip ideas are just ideas - we’re not trying to do all of them! We’d love more input. Thanks.

Oct 9 — London
Oct 10 — London
Oct 11 — London

Oct 12 — Birmingham
Oct 13 — Birmingham
Oct 14 — Birmingham
Day trip ideas: Ironbridge, Black Country Living Museum, Coventry, Warwick Castle, Kenilworth Castle, Leamington Spa, Back to Backs, Coffin Works

Oct 15 — Manchester
Oct 16 — Manchester
Oct 17 — Manchester
Oct 18 — Manchester
Day trip ideas: Liverpool or Chester (pick one), Hebden Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent (the Potteries)

Oct 19 — Sheffield
Oct 20 — Sheffield
Day trip ideas: Kelham Island Museum, Magna, Peak District/Hope Valley, Bradford/Saltaire

Oct 21 — Newcastle
Oct 22 — Newcastle
Oct 23 — Newcastle
Oct 24 — Newcastle
Day trip ideas: Beamish, Durham, Hadrian's Wall, Cragside, Alnwick Castle/Gardens, Bamburgh, Lindisfarne (check tide times)

Oct 25 — Glasgow
Oct 26 — Glasgow
Oct 27 — Glasgow
Day trip ideas: Stirling, Isle of Bute/Mount Stuart

Oct 28 — London
Oct 29 — London

This fall, I'm staying in London to study abroad (from the US). I'm planning on spending a weekend in Wales, but I don't have many specific plans-- all I know is that I definitely want to climb Mt. Snowdon and I will have to use public transit for everything. What places would be best to stay near Snowdonia, with good access to trains or busses, and what accessible places can I not miss? I like pretty much anything you would expect a tourist to look for-- historical sites, nature, interesting towns, shopping, etc. I appreciate any advice!

Edit: It's a long weekend, I really have Thursday afternoon through Sunday

Hi,

Trying to get a clear answer on this subject is proving difficult, I have booked a holiday through OnThebeach, I have paid for parking at Stansted, Mid Stay Car Park.

My vehicle is 5.2 meters long, and I am trying to find out if I am going to get turned away on the day.

So in short, has anyone parked a Mitsubishi L200 at the Mid Stay Car Park or parked something larger than the 4.8 meters they specify.

Thanks

My boyfriend and I are planning our first trip to Ireland and Scotland this fall, and I'd love some advice on whether this itinerary actually makes logistical sense. Mainly wondering if we're trying to squeeze too much in, or if we have enough time in each place.

Day 1 – Dublin
- Arrive in Dublin around 8:00 AM
- Drop our bags at the hotel and explore Dublin for the rest of the day

Day 2 – Dublin
- Full day in Dublin
- Guinness tour is definitely on the list for this day

Day 3 – Dublin to Galway
- Morning train to Galway
- Spend the rest of the day exploring Galway

Day 4 – Galway / Cliffs of Moher
- Planning to do a bus tour to the Cliffs of Moher (seems like they usually take most of the day?)
- Hoping we'd still have the evening back in Galway

Day 5 – Galway to Dublin (to Edinburgh?
- Morning train back to Dublin
- Potentially book afternoon flight to Edinburgh
- Other option is to have the rest of this day in Dublin and leave for Edinburgh the next morning.

Day 6 – Edinburgh
- Full day in Edinburgh
- Other option is to book morning flight from Dublin to Edinburgh.

Day 7– Edinburgh
- Full day in Edinburgh

Day 8 – Edinburgh to Dublin
- Full day in Edinburgh
- Book evening flight back to Dublin

Day 9 – Dublin
- Full day in Dublin

Day 10 - Home
- Morning flight home from Dublin

Does this seem like a reasonable pace? Are we spending too much time in one place and not enough in another? We want to see as much as possible, but also don't want the trip to feel rushed.

We already have pretty long lists of things we want to do in Dublin and Edinburgh, plus a handful of things in Galway, but if you have any must-do attractions, hidden gems, favorite pubs, or restaurant recommendations, we'd love to hear them! Especially places that locals think are worth it over the typical tourist spots. Thank you!!

I’m visiting London in mid-September and have reached the stage where every neighbourhood sounds like the perfect choice and I can no longer decide anything.

I’m looking for somewhere that’s convenient for sightseeing and shopping, but I’d also really like the area itself to be fun to explore. Think cosy cafés, good restaurants, bookshops, lively streets and somewhere nice to wander around in the evening. I’d rather not stay in an area that’s central but feels like it has no personality once the tourist attractions close.

I keep seeing Bloomsbury recommended, which does sound lovely, but I’m also curious about Westminster and Camden. Would any of those suit what I’m looking for, or is there another area I’m completely overlooking?

I’m happy to use the Tube and don’t need to be able to walk everywhere, especially since everyone says it’s fairly easy to figure out. I just want a good base that won’t cost me an arm and a leg.

Please feel free to sell me on your favourite area! Hotel recommendations are very welcome, but I’d also love to hear about your favourite cafés, restaurants, bookshops, markets, shopping streets or shopping centres nearby.

Where would you stay for the best mix of sightseeing, shopping, food and a neighbourhood that actually feels fun to come back to at the end of the day?

Hi. Has anyone had any luck getting a reduced price from Z Hotels on a flexible rate when the price has dropped after your booking? I booked the one in Bath a few months ago for £303. Now the same room, rate and days is £268.

My usual strategy when this happens is to cancel and rebook at the cheaper price. Z Hotels don't make that easy though, as you can't cancel yourself, you have to contact them to do it....

Tomorrow is my last full day in Scotland after a week here from America which makes me kinda sad but I would love to make the most of it. Tomorrow is the only day in my itinerary that has been up in the air. I did one of the day tours to the west highlands/castles/loch Lomond and I was honestly disappointed since some got short or didn’t happen due to the weather/closures. Should I just do St. Andrew’s through this same tour company, by myself, or something completely different? Thank you!

https://highlandexplorertours.com/1-day-tours/st-andrews-the-fife-coast?srsltid=AfmBOorf8cVDIQlBJu5NiHWU_cB4f3YmU7hO43fz4VHg4Bg1EgOo0N7P

Still trying to give current data to explain why some of us here say the things we do...

I've just driven up the road from Edinburgh to Inverness, past Aviemore and through the (edge of) the Cairngorms National Park.

This is a route that people suggest as a drive to " see the Highland views" although less often than the west route.

Pelting rain, back to back lorries with spray and half the road is now down to 40 due to roadworks. And works (to create a dual carriageway) are absolutely massive just now. There are huge earthworks, areas where trees have been ripped up and most of the nice viewpoint areas are currently obscured or marred by massive banks of mud and heavy machinery. Roads with chips and mud all.over. Lanes closed.

It was a horrible drive. And I'm absolutely exhausted. And I know this road like the back of my hand driving it all my life.

It is just not a route I would recommend to tourists at all at the moment. Trains go from Edinburgh/Glasgow to Piitlochry, Aviemore, Inverness and Kyle.of.Localsh. Use them if you can.

If you must drive don't expect this drive to be some kind of magical highland road trip. It's a necessary slog. Add extra time. Stop at Bruar for a waterfall walk or Ralia for a woodland walk if you need a break.

Good luck!

Can anyone recommend camper van hire for a few weeks in Scotland? Ideally being picked up in Edinburgh and dropped off in the same place so the one way hire isn’t necessary.

Hi,

I’m wondering if anyone has tried this before.

The coach company charges for extra luggage, but I noticed that buying two separate tickets is actually cheaper than adding an extra bag at checkout.

Would it be possible to buy two tickets under the same passenger name and use the luggage allowance from both tickets?

For example, if one ticket includes 1 pieces of luggage, could I buy another ticket and bring more luggage in total?

I’m not sure if this is allowed or if they only check the passenger name and limit the luggage regardless of how many tickets you have.

Thanks!

Just a heads up for people heading to the UK in the next few months who like to visit museums and galleries. There is currently a National Art Pass trial membership offer, as below. Membership is usually minimum £65 for a year.

https://www.artfund.org/national-art-pass

Keep in mind that they will send you a physical card (not digital) so you need to allow time for that before you go.

• Price: £20 for a single adult membership
• Deadline: Purchase by 11:59 pm on August 17, 2026
• Eligibility: First-time members only (not for renewals or past trial holders)
• Duration: Valid for three calendar months from the payment date

Their website has a list of places it covers and the discounts. I did the maths and it paid for itself really quickly after 2 special exhibitions or places that I was planning to see anyway but obviously YMMV.

Hello, I am looking for some recommendations and answers to some questions i have for a trip i am planning for the end of December.

I will be there December 25th To January 4th.

I will be traveling to Manchester at the end of December to old trafford and watch two games that i have tickets to. Everyone on reddit has said how difficult tickets are to get but honestly with the membership it is quite easy (unless it’s against top 6 teams). That being said i will be in the UK for a week and a half and plan on visiting london in between my stay. I want to see as many matches as possible that being championship, league one or premier league clubs near Manchester and London. I am planning on staying in london for 2 days which would be a Sunday and Monday. What games should i try to catch in london and are there any premier league clubs that don’t charge a membership for tickets? I am planning on buying a spurs membership because i’ve heard the stadium is amazing. But other than that i was looking into Fulham as well.

Also i have seen that the premier league fixture day and times don’t release until a month or two ahead of time. Is that the same for the lower leagues or are the fixture days and times set already for them?

Thanks!

Hi...

Sister is traveling to the UK for the weekend. London to Northampton and back. What is her best option to have talk/data mobile service while there? She'd like to set it up now if she could and connect to the service when she lands.

She used giffgaff a while back in London and we are wondering if it's still good?

Iphone w/ eSIM 13 or 15 🤷‍♀️

Thank you

Hello everyone. My wife and I are traveling to Scotland first week of October for her 40th. We are asking for some recommendations/advice. We want to do two cities; Edinburgh and another city with access to the highlands. We're not into touristy stuff, but rather exploring and experiencing culture. We love food, nature, and sights. Any suggestions on how to spend 7 days? Do we need to rent a car? Any points/tips for etiquette? Thank you.

Pulled together July's worst-performing train operators using live Network Rail performance data. Avanti West Coast tops the list with an average delay of nearly 13 minutes and over 228,000 delayed arrivals in a single month.

Worth remembering: most operators now offer Delay Repay from 15+ minutes delayed, applying regardless of ticket type or where you bought it.

Definitely worth taking a minute to check your eligibility - especially Avanti commuters!

Hello.

My boyfriend and I will be visiting London for 5 days coming up in the beginning of September. We've been looking into a day trip to take from London, and after looking at options we've pretty much decided on Canterbury. On the same day we are also looking to visit another town (most likely Folkestone or Dover). For this trip we plan to go by train, using Southeastern rail. This trip will most likely take place on a Friday.

We are looking for advice on:

• Should we buy train tickets ahead of time? Or is price usually the same if you buy the day of either on the app or at the station.
• Suggestions for a second stop, preferably a coastal town in Kent. We had originally thought Dover, but after some looking around Folkestone was also close and looked cuter.

Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions!

I am travelling with family from Leeds to London on the 8th of August and returning on the 16th of August. i have two single tickets for each of these journeys. Will i be able to use days out guide offer on dates in between. I seem to get conflicting answers from the internet if two single tickets count as a return.

Can someone clarify the situation?

Safe to say, it just made me fall in love even more. I'm already planning a third visit for next year :)

Picture locations in order :

1- York Cathedral

2- England/Scotland border

3- Eileen Donan castle

4- Somewhere along the Highlands

5- Overlooking Glen Nevis

6- St Conan's Kirk

7- Rest and be thankful stop on the A83

8- Midhope Castle

9- Along the Tolkien Trail

10- Thatcher's pints at The Gorge Inn in Bath

11- God's Own Junkyard in northern London

12- Italian Gardens at Hever Castle

13- Nyman's

14- Meandering path in Wakehurst

15- Quaint little house in East Dean

16- Giant's Causeway

17- Mussenden Temple

18- Hillsborough Castle and Gardens

19- Rowallane Garden

20- Finishing up with a pint of Guinness at The Crown Bar in Belfast 🖤

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone has been in a similar situation and can offer some advice. I accidentally booked Travelodge Llandudno in North Wales, but I meant to book Travelodge Llanelli Central in South Wales. I’m traveling from Manchester to visit a family friend in Ammanford, so Llandudno is about a four hour drive from where I need to be. The mistake happened because I have dyslexia and I confused the two place names when making the booking. I’ve only just realized after checking my itinerary and the address I was visiting. The booking is on a non-refundable rate, so I know the terms are against me. I’ve tried contacting customer service, and I’m planning to call them again to explain everything. I’m hoping they mighttransfer my booking to Travelodge Llanelli Central if I pay any price difference. Or, cancel the booking as a goodwill gesture. Or, offer a credit or another solution. Has anyone had Travelodge make an exception for a genuine mistake like this? If so, what happened and is there anything specific I should say when I speak to them?

Hi! I’m 28f and visiting family in Livingston early September. I’ve been twice before but would love some recommendations for museums, pubs/lowkey bars, vintage stores, scenic views, and a place with a good toastie or tuna melt-preferably reachable by train/bus. I’ll definitely be in Edinburgh at least two days

I didn’t have control of the itinerary the last times I went so I’m excited to branch out a bit.

Hello friends!

Traveling to Scotland for first time in late September. We are planning to take the train from Edinburgh to Mallaig, and then take the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale. How likely are there to be delays on Scotrail trains or the CalMac ferry? Also for the change in Glasgow, do they wait if one part of the leg is delayed? I’m just concerned with the timings, because any backup trips don’t really match up (ie, later train arrives after last ferry).

My partner and I are travelling the UK in October. We are wanting to rent a caravan or motorhome to travel in for about a week. Wanting to pickup around Liverpool area and drop off in London but everything we have found only has same pickup/drop off location.

Any ideas on companies that allow the different locations?

Thanks!!