Ideas for Travel in UK?

Question

I am visiting the UK in June and I want to visit other places besides London. What other picturesque, British towns and cities do you all recommend? Some people have told me not to bother with Manchester or Liverpool. What do you all think and should I rent a car to get around the country or do you recommend the train? Thanx.

PS - the US Dollar is pitiful right now so any recommendations on cutting costs will help too : )

Answer 1

The train is more environmentally friendly than the car and the rail network in England is dense and frequent; you can buy various passes such as 'Britrail' before entering the country which will be far cheaper than paying for each journey separately. Ask your travel agent or go to www.britrail.com. You can always hire a car for the odd day to access more remote areas not on the rail system. It is only fair to tell you that you will find prices, particularly hotel prices in Britain higher than the U.S. Restaurants/eating out is expensive too, but food in pubs away from the big cities tends to be good and relatively inexpensive; if its full of locals eating their lunch/dinner, its likely to be a good pub to eat in.
I certainly wouldn't bother visiting the major provincial cities such as Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool which are fairly large and drab.
The uniqueness and beauty of Britain is in its natural landscape so beautiful and in terms of the size of the country, so varied, Try spending a few days in the towns of Ludlow
or Church Stretton for the absolutely beautiful and little known border country with Wales called the Marches. Both towns are on the rail system - travel from London Euston via Crewe
and while in the area explore the wild and rocky 'Long Mynd'
and 'Stpperstones'. There is a good and resonably priced hotel in Church Stretton - the Long Mynd Hotel. www.longmynd.co.uk. Another area I would suggest is Dorset in south west England - gentle and pastoral, where Thomas Hardy wrote his novels but with a dramatic coastline - the Jurassic Coast. You could base yourself in the town of Lyme Regis which is a short bus or taxi ride from Axminster Station on the London Waterloo to Exeter Line. Another favourite area of mine is the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire;
the southern half is made up of gentle green hills grazed by sheep; the northern half is wild and rocky with some really challenging hikes like Win Hill near Hope and Kinder Scout.
Both Buxton and Matlock in the Peak District on the rail system have many hotels; Hope and Edale also on the rail system which are just villages have bed and breakfast places. Have a great time.

Answer 2

visiting the uk eh.
Id say that the train is good but can be expensive. i think you can get month passes. regionally they are around 80 pounds so they will cost loads for a national one. Car rental would definatly be the best. you can get to all the out of the way spots. get a small one that is econimical.

I would say manchester is worth a look at. it is real england. Northeners are definatly more friendly

From London id go down to Brighton, the up to Bristol, then up into wales dont think id bother with the major citys, but the countryside is amazing and vast.
maybe come out of wales threw Shrewsbury which is a nice historic lil town the in to the lake district for walks and nice food,
on to Manchesterr after maybe a night in liverpool, then York which is the capitol of Yorkshire,see the castle etc then maybe Whitby on the east coast, this is the setting for Bram Stokers dracula, (his boat landed here in the book) it is a gorgeous lil town. from whitby you can get to Newcastle and edinbourough easyly. not been round scotland too much so cant say much.
on the way back the M1 will take you all the way down , you can stop off at places on the way

Answer 3

For cheaper travel, have a look at the megabus website. The buses travel between quite a lot of the main cities, and some other random ones, take forever but it's a good way of getting from A to B with minimum fuss. You can get one way tickets for as little as one pound (my sister did from Glasgow to London!), if you are lucky and book in advance. I think the most i've ever paid for a return ticket from Scotch Corner (pretty far north, between Newcastle and Leeds) to London has been 18 pounds, as a really late booking, can hardly compain!

Answer 4

Whilst others might not agree, if you want to see the real UK you need to avoid the south east.
Although to ensure the maximum number of tourists spend their money in London they've knicked all the historical treasures and keep them in London museams.

In reality you need to decide what interests you, if you like buildings, think of a period you want to see and do some reference then visit them, if it's shopping everywhere sells the same things so it won't matter where you visit, if you want dramatic scenery Cumbria, Wales, Scotland or Northumberland, if you want rolling downs I'd go to English/Welsh borders, rugged moorland Dartmoor or Northumberland, if you like sunbathing I'd go to Italy.

As for getting around: public transport is expensive and a joke, car hire is expensive (25-35 pounds a day) as is petrol, if you're going to be here for a month or more I'd consider buying a cheap car and selling it when you leave - there are loads of cars with a good MOT and tax going for next to nothing on flebay.
My brother bought a car when he visited Canada, he was there for 4 months, it cost him $375 Canadian and he sold it when he came home for $300: 4 months car hire = $75

Have fun when you're over here and try not to be like the "full of shite" Americans we see here all the time. Don't be gullible or naive, or wish a nice day upon anyone and expect most of us to take the mickey out of you - in the north we'll do it to your face in the south they'll do it behind your back.

Answer 5

I recomend you go to the lake district (cumbria) It's a lovely place, far nicer than anywhere like manchester! Also go to york, that's another really nice place to see, don't waste your holiday visiting places like liverpool or manchester, they're just ordinary! Nowt much going on.


Also newquay in cornwall is a quaint little town with a nice beach, you should like it there! There's a few places in cornwall that are really nice!

I live in Bolton (uk) and would give anything to go living down south!

hope that helped you abit

Answer 6

Try getting a train to York from London, and exploring the Moors & Dales from there, or go further north to Alnmouth, and explore the most beautiful county - Northumberland!

Answer 7

Lake district is the place you want to go. It is near Scotland and it is amazing.

Answer 8

loads,Stratford Upon Avon is a lovely place,or York, Scotland is also great,but is some distance to travel,or down in the south west,you have Devon and Cornwall.
Car hire can be expensive,but public transport isnt much better,but if you do want to hire a car,then you might find it easier staying in travelodge motels,you can get some good deals away from the citie's.
if you want more info,do email me

Answer 9

Try Yorkshire its a wonderous place particularly The Yorkshire Dales some really picturesque villages there try yorkshire-dales.com and see

Answer 10

The $ great for us though hun! I'm off to Florida after New year! join the YHA and you will get great budget accommodation,you will have to pay to join but it will pay for itself in 1 night!.Make sure you visit Scotland Hunny XXX