First, let me just say thank you for all the Scotland and England posts and advice that has been given on this board! I wrote a lot of it down, took some suggestions, and because of it had an amazing three weeks in the UK! Second, I was extremely blessed by fantastic weather - it was sunny and warm everyday except for my last day
Scotland: Spent the first five nights in Edinburgh (rented a flat via AirBNB - the flat was right on the Royal Mile), 3 nights in Oban (lodging was Best Western The Queen's Hotel), and then 2 nights in Glasgow (lodging was citizenM hotel - I stayed there based on a suggestion from this board...thank you to whoever recommended it!).
Edinburgh is a fantastic city - it was the perfect place to start my UK adventure. Based on suggestions from this board I ate at Tex Mex 2 and Ecco Vino. I would highly recommend both places to future travelers to Edinburgh. I hiked Arthur's Seat the morning of my 32nd birthday - it has fantastic views and was just so incredibly peaceful. Also did the Scotch Whiskey Experience which is a bit tourist/hokey but I still had a good time. Plus since it was my birthday my guide gave me a free second whiskey tasting I also did a day trip to St Andrews which is gorgeous!
Oban is a gorgeous coastal city - it was a great change of pace and scenery after Edinburgh. I did a day trip to the Isles of Mull, Scaffa, and Iona with West Coast Adventures. It was absolutely fantastic and I even got to see the puffins on Scaffa Glasgow was fine - not really worth more than a full day in my opinion so a day and a half there (2 nights) was just the right amount of time. It was cool to see the city gearing up for the Commonwealth Games though.
England: Spend three nights in York (lodging was Best Western Dean's Court Hotel) and then the last six nights were in London (rented a flat via AirBNB - flat was a five minute walk to and from the Fulham Broadway tube station on the District Line).
York is a great historic city. My hotel was literally right outside the Minster and from my room I could see part of the Minster. The main area is incredibly walkable and beautiful. I did a guided one hour tour at the Minster which was fanatastic. I spent almost three hours at the Minster. I highly recommend going when it opens - when I was leaving the line was really long. Also went to the Castle and the Yorkshire Museum - both are very good and probably about 1.5 hours each of your time. York was also great because there is so much enthusiasm in the city about the Tour de France which is going through there.
Lastly, London. Absolutely love that city. It was my second time in six months going there and I stayed in the same neighborhood (different flat though) as last time. This trip I went to Victoria and Albert Museum (I spent four hours there and barely scratched the surface as there is so much to see), Westminster Abbey (the audioguide is narrated by Jeremy Irons - best audioguide ever! Also go before it opens if you go during a busy tourist time.), Churchill War Rooms (really cool, and again there is a great audioguide), Tate Modern (wonderful museum), Borough Market, National Gallery, and had tea at Fortnum and Mason in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. My last day I took it easy and went to the Pride Parade to compare to the one in DC, and then in the evening I went to see Once (I saw the original cast on Broadway and wanted to compare - the show was great, but I give the edge to NYC).
I flew Virgin Atlantic which is such a great airline - I felt so spoiled and I don't want to go back to American carriers now. Connecting in Heathrow was not a problem as my bag was transferred directly since I was flying the same airline - however, it does take about an hour to process for a connecting flight so make sure to keep that in mind if you ever transfer at Heathrow. Going home, I flew direct from Heathrow to Dulles and was through security pretty quickly so I had plenty of time to spend my last few pounds on some gifts and snacks.
All and all, I had a great three weeks traveling by myself. People were so friendly and I always had someone to chat with if I wanted to. I got some great suggestions of future places to visit so I hope to head back to the UK in two-three years as there are some other places I want to go first. Thanks again for all the great help people gave and continue to give on this board!
And I am stupidly excited and encouraged to read that you had this great adventure by yourself!!! I plan on taking my first solo domestic trip next year and hope to one day take an international trip alone. I bow to you. Great trip report, also!
Post by mrsukyankee on Jul 4, 2014 14:27:02 GMT -5
So glad you enjoyed London - the V&A is my fav museum (I went there this week) so happy that it was enjoyable. And I try to only fly Virgin! My first trip on my own was in London and it's a great place to visit that way.
I am stupidly excited that you ate at the places I recommended and that you liked them.
Sigh I can't wait to get back to Edinburgh.
Tex Mex 2 was nothing compared to Cantina (if I'm remembering which one it is)!
They're both on the same(ish) road, right? George Street or something in New Town.
Tex Mex 2 its in thistle street, one down from George. I think cantina is on Frederick or Hanover between George and princes. Is that the one? I've never been. Why didn't you take me
Tex Mex 2 was nothing compared to Cantina (if I'm remembering which one it is)!
They're both on the same(ish) road, right? George Street or something in New Town.
I really really really need some good Mexican food in my life so I'm taking both of these recs for our trip in August!!!!
Cantina was my "holy shit I haven't had Mexican in years Mexican NOM NOM NOM", so my desperation might have clouded my judgement. It was our most loved go to place, though!
First, let me just say thank you for all the Scotland and England posts and advice that has been given on this board! I wrote a lot of it down, took some suggestions, and because of it had an amazing three weeks in the UK! Second, I was extremely blessed by fantastic weather - it was sunny and warm everyday except for my last day
Scotland: Spent the first five nights in Edinburgh (rented a flat via AirBNB - the flat was right on the Royal Mile), 3 nights in Oban (lodging was Best Western The Queen's Hotel), and then 2 nights in Glasgow (lodging was citizenM hotel - I stayed there based on a suggestion from this board...thank you to whoever recommended it!).
Edinburgh is a fantastic city - it was the perfect place to start my UK adventure. Based on suggestions from this board I ate at Tex Mex 2 and Ecco Vino. I would highly recommend both places to future travelers to Edinburgh. I hiked Arthur's Seat the morning of my 32nd birthday - it has fantastic views and was just so incredibly peaceful. Also did the Scotch Whiskey Experience which is a bit tourist/hokey but I still had a good time. Plus since it was my birthday my guide gave me a free second whiskey tasting I also did a day trip to St Andrews which is gorgeous!
Oban is a gorgeous coastal city - it was a great change of pace and scenery after Edinburgh. I did a day trip to the Isles of Mull, Scaffa, and Iona with West Coast Adventures. It was absolutely fantastic and I even got to see the puffins on Scaffa Glasgow was fine - not really worth more than a full day in my opinion so a day and a half there (2 nights) was just the right amount of time. It was cool to see the city gearing up for the Commonwealth Games though.
England: Spend three nights in York (lodging was Best Western Dean's Court Hotel) and then the last six nights were in London (rented a flat via AirBNB - flat was a five minute walk to and from the Fulham Broadway tube station on the District Line).
York is a great historic city. My hotel was literally right outside the Minster and from my room I could see part of the Minster. The main area is incredibly walkable and beautiful. I did a guided one hour tour at the Minster which was fanatastic. I spent almost three hours at the Minster. I highly recommend going when it opens - when I was leaving the line was really long. Also went to the Castle and the Yorkshire Museum - both are very good and probably about 1.5 hours each of your time. York was also great because there is so much enthusiasm in the city about the Tour de France which is going through there.
Lastly, London. Absolutely love that city. It was my second time in six months going there and I stayed in the same neighborhood (different flat though) as last time. This trip I went to Victoria and Albert Museum (I spent four hours there and barely scratched the surface as there is so much to see), Westminster Abbey (the audioguide is narrated by Jeremy Irons - best audioguide ever! Also go before it opens if you go during a busy tourist time.), Churchill War Rooms (really cool, and again there is a great audioguide), Tate Modern (wonderful museum), Borough Market, National Gallery, and had tea at Fortnum and Mason in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. My last day I took it easy and went to the Pride Parade to compare to the one in DC, and then in the evening I went to see Once (I saw the original cast on Broadway and wanted to compare - the show was great, but I give the edge to NYC).
I flew Virgin Atlantic which is such a great airline - I felt so spoiled and I don't want to go back to American carriers now. Connecting in Heathrow was not a problem as my bag was transferred directly since I was flying the same airline - however, it does take about an hour to process for a connecting flight so make sure to keep that in mind if you ever transfer at Heathrow. Going home, I flew direct from Heathrow to Dulles and was through security pretty quickly so I had plenty of time to spend my last few pounds on some gifts and snacks.
All and all, I had a great three weeks traveling by myself. People were so friendly and I always had someone to chat with if I wanted to. I got some great suggestions of future places to visit so I hope to head back to the UK in two-three years as there are some other places I want to go first. Thanks again for all the great help people gave and continue to give on this board!
What day trips did you do in Edinburgh and through who?
Post by osumelissa on Jul 20, 2014 10:22:49 GMT -5
I planned the day trip to St Andrews on my own. I booked a rail ticket via ScotRail and then walked around on my own. I wanted to do a day trip to Loch Lomond, but decided at the end not to. I was going to use Rabbie's for Loch Lomond. They have some really good day trips from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London from what I could tell on their website.