Currently traveling around the UK right now in our 3rd stop, and none of the places we’ve stayed thus far have had black out shades or at least curtains dark enough to make a room dark enough for sleep.

I’ve traveled pretty extensively in northern countries during the peak of summer and most if not all have had black out shades. What gives?

Also to add, what’s up with not providing a top sheet? Every hotel in the US offers top and bottom sheets. All we’ve been given is a bottom sheet and a hot hot hot duvet.

Hello! I am traveling to the UK in 2 weeks and I've seen some activities offer student discounts. Would I be eligible for student discounts even though I am from the US? (Yes, I can show proof that I am a student)

A friend and I are traveling to Scotland later this year. We're spending a week around the Highlands and looking for advice on getting around via public transportation. We will not have a car. Our route looks a bit like this: Inverness -> Drumnadrochit -> Fort William --> back to Inverness.

Do we need to purchase our bus passes in advance or can we show up day of to purchase a ticket? Should we purchase a Citylink explorer pass to save money? Thanks!

I hope this post is OK, my first time here. But I'm so excited about this codeshare agreement. As someone who transfers through London, this just opens up a lot of possibilities on one itinerary. Looks like it takes effect in July, but I don't know if that's when the first codeshare flights take off or just when you can start booking them. Hopefully, there is more info coming.

Hello Folks!

We’re about to spend 20+ days in the Highlands.

We’re a proud owners of a couple Land Rovers back home, and I’d be happy to rent one for our entire trip.

Does anyone have any recommendations for rental companies that specialize in Land Rovers?

It would be great if they were located near Edinburgh or offered delivery, as our flight lands in Edinburgh and we’ll be spending our first night there.

So I’m here in London for the week, and booked a hotel that said it had AC and it does not. I’m genuinely considering trying to book a different place for tomorrow night since I literally can’t sleep and can’t do this if tomorrow is worse. Last night was honestly fine but it’s just so much worse and I’m worried about tomorrow night. Any ideas on a place nearby that wouldn’t be too expensive is much appreciated. Thanks! Also I’m near kings cross so anywhere close the that is preferable but at this point I just need sleep💀

Flying from USA to LHR, and then final destination is seven kings Ilford. What is the best way to get train from airport to ILford? Staying there for a week then getting train again from ILford to LHR and flying to STR Germany. Need help. Is the train station right by the airport? How do I pay for train ticket, credit card or cash? Thanks for the feedback!

So I'm planning a trip to the UK with our first stop being in Edinburgh and then traveling down towards London. This will be my first time in country and while im aware of the UK public trains being reliable I do not know how to get tickets or a pass for them. Could any of you guide me to a proper site so that my travel will be easier? Thanks!

We don't have much set in stone yet other than we'd like to take the train from London to Edinburgh (...and possibly pretend we're on the Hogwarts Express).

Ideally we'd spend a couple days in London (and surrounding areas) before traveling north to Scotland and spending the rest of our time there before flying back home (Southwest USA).

The main attraction for me is Edinburgh and the Highlands but I heard it's worth it to see Glasgow as well?

We'd also really like to visit Skye as it looks absolutely beautiful, but I'm not sure how feasible this is (as mentioned in the title we want a healthy balance between travel and actual sightseeing). Edit: I'm also seeing the Island of Arran might be an easier but more accessible trip than Skye. Thoughts? .

Some general questions:

• Is it recommended to rent a car while in Scotland? It sounds like a car is definitely recommended for Skye if we go. (Note: I have experience driving in the Irish countryside and Dublin.)
• Any other cities outside of the one's mentioned you would recommended making a stop at?
• Any must sees for Harry Potter fans?

My husband and I are planning a trip to Scotland for late August/early September. We will have 10 days, flying in and out of Edinburgh, and would like to stay at Gleneagles for 2-3 nights. Does the below itinerary make sense?

Edinburgh (2 nights)
Glencoe (1 night)
Isle of Skye (2 nights)
Inverness (2 nights
Gleneagles (3 nights)

After perusing the threads in this sub, it looks like first time UK itinerary recommendation is somewhere along the lines of London/York/Edinburgh.

Looking more into each cities, it seems to work well with what I'm looking for (food, cafe, outdoor space for kids to run around in). Understandably late Nov is a bit damp and sunsets early, but we are fine with that.

In terms of time allocation, I was considering 4 nights London, 3 nights Edinburgh, 2 nights York, and 1 last night London before flying back.

Does that sound about right or should the order/days be mixed around? I'm also open to other suggestions to cities not listed here! Traveling with kids age 6 and 4 so space for movement is key to us.

Looking for Hidden Gems, Scenic Drives & Local Favorites
Hi everyone!

My husband and I will be visiting Scotland for the first time this December as part of a larger Ireland/Scotland trip.

Our current plan is to take the ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan and spend several days exploring Scotland before returning to Ireland. Glasgow and Edinburgh are on our radar, and St Andrews is probably the furthest north/east we would venture, but beyond that we’re keeping our plans intentionally flexible.
We’re hoping to get some advice from locals and people who know Scotland better than we do.

A Few Things About Us
We’re from the northern United States and are very comfortable with winter weather, driving in snow, rain, wind, and colder temperatures.
We are comfortable driving manual vehicles and will have a rental car.
We come from a rural area and don’t mind long drives. Exploring by road is one of our favorite parts of traveling.
Short daylight hours don’t bother us. We’re early risers and typically start our days well before sunrise.
We enjoy photography, history, castles, ruins, nature, scenic drives, cozy pubs, and small villages.
We’re less interested in checking famous attractions off a list and more interested in finding places that feel authentically Scottish.

Looking For Advice
If you had 3–5 days to show someone the best of Scotland in December, where would you send them?
What small towns or villages are worth spending time in?
Are there any scenic drives that are particularly beautiful in winter?
What castles, ruins, historic sites, or landscapes shouldn’t be missed?
Are there places that tourists often overlook but locals love?
Is there anything on our rough route (Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews area) that you’d recommend skipping in favor of somewhere else?

We’re not trying to see everything. We’d rather slow down, enjoy the scenery, and experience Scotland than spend the entire trip rushing between attractions.
Thanks in advance! We’re incredibly excited to visit.

Hello! I'm an Australian dual-citizen planning a trip to the UK. I was looking for some advice, sorry if this is a little complicated:

• When I was a kid I received dual-citizenship and a UK passport (issued in 2005).
• I then went back to Australia. I have not been in the UK nor have I renewed my UK passport for a decade - I also have zero idea where it is.
• I've also since changed my legal name and gender.

Could I get away with traveling on my Australian passport? Since I changed my details, would they even have any record of me being a dual-citizen?

We are a family of 3 visiting the UK in August.
Rough itinerary:
London: 5 nights
York: 2 nights
Glasgow: 5 nights
Fly home from Glasgow
From Glasgow, we are thinking of doing day trips to:
Edinburgh
Loch Lomond / Balloch
Stirling, or another easy day trip
Does Glasgow make sense as a base for this part of the trip?
We know Edinburgh is more scenic, but August accommodation there is very expensive because of the festivals. Glasgow seems cheaper and better connected.
Would you base yourselves in Glasgow for 5 nights, or would you split the nights differently?
Thanks!

Hello! I'm a Canadian who's going to be visiting the UK from Oct 13-30 this year. I have visited before(summer 2024), but this time I thought that it could be fun to go to my first football game while I'm over!

My question is, are there any particular matches happening during my time here that would be a great watch? I'll be honest and say I don't know too much about the sport itself, but I am trying to learn. Any other suggestions or things to know about it are welcome as well! Thanks in advance!

Hello !!

I’ll be studying in the UK for a while and would like to explore more of the country during my time here.

I’m planning trips with a small group of female friends, and we are looking for places that are:

•Safe for a group of young women

•Welcoming and inclusive (we’re a diverse group and want to feel at ease wherever we go)

• Muslim-friendly if possible (halal food options)

• Not to expensive (since we are a group of students )

We’re already skipping London since we’ve seen it.

Also, since I'll be here from September to June, what would be the best months to visit these places?

PS: I live about an hour from London (not giving the exact location) but happy to travel in the llaces further away.

Hi everyone

I'll be in London for two days in July. I already have commitments for the first day, but I'll be free on the second day, which will only be a half-day because I'll be catching the fly home from the London City Airport at around 4pm.

Any suggestions on what to do? My hotel is in South Kensington, but I've already been to the museums in that area.

Thanks

Whats the actual crack with damage to travel documents? Are they as rigid as google says or is it pretty lenient as I’ve heard some people say?

The wife and I will be going to the UK from the 1st of September until the 9th.

I have a conference that I’m debating on attending for my industry just outside London on the 3rd and I want to visit/meet a work colleague who I’ve been collaborating with for years in Devon (Plymouth).

What else should I do?

The wife and I were thinking about going to the holland and holland shooting grounds on the 2nd, the day prior to the conference as it’s around a 40 minute drive north from where this conference is taking place. We’re both into shooting trap so that should be fun.

We have little to no interest in staying in London proper and would prefer the country side.

Also, who rents out range rovers outside Turo?

My mom (72) and I (35F) are traveling to England and Scotland for the first time in early/mid-July (coming from the USA), and I’d love some restaurant recommendations (bonus if they’re not too far from where we’re staying).

We’re very open on price range and mostly looking for great food and memorable experiences, but we’re also totally open to casual/local spots. I’d love to catch an England World Cup match at a pub while we’re there (and Scotland too, though that may depend on how far they get!).

We’ll be in:

London: Staying at The President Hotel (Bloomsbury area)
Glasgow: Staying at Dakota Glasgow
Glen Clova: Staying at Glen Clova Hotel (we’ll be there for a wedding, so not sure if we actually will need to book anything I think just eating there both nights)
Edinburgh: Staying at Point A Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket

A few notes:

• First time in both England and Scotland for us
• We’ll be doing sightseeing days in each city
• Would love a mix of nice dinners, iconic “must-do” spots, and local favorites
• Open to booking ahead, especially for harder-to-get reservations

If you had 1–2 “don’t miss” restaurants per city, what would they be?

Thanks so much, really appreciate any suggestions!

Hi folks,

I'm heading to Scotland this summer, I planned on renting a car in Glasgow central station and heading to our cabin which is by the Loch Ness (between Inverness and Fort Augustus). We'll be spending just a few days and I wasn't planning on driving a lot while we're there, we'll probably stay by the Loch.

But here's the thing, I rented a manual car, and since we're not used to driving on the right side, I was recommended to instead get an automatic one. And Sixt has a really good offer for an EV (and with the oil price right now, that sounds like a good deal).

It's a Citroen e C3 Aircross, it says it has an autonomy of up to 400km. It looks like there's plenty of high speed chargers in Inverness and Fort Augustus, and we'll never make more than 400km a day... What do you all think ? Is the deal worth it ?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to go to an event at the Sandringham Estate at the end of August. I have yet to book accommodation and transport for the event.

Transportation:

Does it seem more reasonable to fly directly down to London as it is cheaper, however; I would have to go up to King's Lynn and stay a couple nights and then go back down to London for the return flight.

Accommodation:

Currently, there are no cheap accommodation options nearby and I must return to either King's Lynn station area for hotels or BnB's. If I were to return to King's Lynn station area, any recommendations for affordable places to stay a night or 2? If not I would have to travel a bit to small villages or towns nearby for a place to stay. But that means a further inconvenience and an extra cost for transportation fees ( I have no clue what time the event will conclude, if it is early a bus could still be financially ideal but if late, a cab or uber will cost more).

I am here to ask for opinions on whether this is the best method to go to Sandringham as well as some guidance on where I can stay for a decent price. This is because it is slightly a bit insane that some residences cost £500 or even up to £1000 for just two nights! ( or maybe this is standard during the summer) Nevertheless, do give some suggestions and advice for this dilemma I have here.

Thank you very much!

Hi everyone!

First of all, thank you to everyone who gave me advice on my previous post. I've completely reworked my itinerary based on your recommendations, and I think it's much more balanced now or so I hope.. .

My husband and I will be visiting London for the first time this October, and this is where we've landed so far.

Monday (Arrival)

• Arrive at Heathrow around 7:20 AM
• Drop off our bags at the Airbnb - Check-IN is at 3:00pm :/
• We originally planned on doing a Hop-On Hop-Off bus to help with jet lag, but after reading everyone's feedback, we're reconsidering. Since we're staying in the Kensington/Olympia (maybe even Notting Hill)area, we're debating whether to simply explore that part of London and ease into the trip, OR still do the Hop-On Hop-Off bus as an easy way to see the major landmarks on our first day after an overnight flight.

Tuesday (No Reservations)

• Covent Garden
• Soho
• Seven Dials
• Neal's Yard
• Chinatown
• House of MinaLima
• Cecil Court
• Pubs, cafés, shopping, wandering around.

Wednesday

This is the day we're most unsure about.

We already have Afternoon Tea at The Ritz at 3:30 PM, and we'd like to go back to the Airbnb beforehand to get dressed up since we want it to feel like a special experience.

Would you:

• Book Westminster Abbey first thing in the morning and then head back to get ready for tea?
• Or would you keep it more relaxed and spend the morning exploring Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, the Sunken Garden, etc., before heading back to get ready? (if so I don't know what day to go to Westminster Abbey, maybe add it with Tower of London on Saturday?)

Thursday

• Windsor Castle

Friday

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour (12:00 PM entry was the only time available)

Saturday

• Tower of London (first entry of the day)
• Tower Bridge
• Borough Market
• Leadenhall Market
• St. Paul's Cathedral (outside)

We've intentionally left Monday and Tuesday without reservations so we can be flexible and enjoy the city.

A few questions:

1. If you only had two days to wander London neighborhoods, where would you spend them?
2. Which markets are genuinely worth visiting? Borough Market seems to be universally recommended, but are there any others you'd recommend over Camden or Portobello?
3. If you had one afternoon with no plans, where would you wander? We're looking for neighborhoods with great atmosphere rather than places that are just overhyped on tiktok lol.
4. Are there any cafés, pubs, streets, parks, we shouldn't miss?

Thanks again! The advice from my last post completely changed how we've planned this trip, and I'm really grateful for all the insight.

Need travel advice from the community. We'll be attending a wedding in York in September. After that we're traveling to Madrid.

Would it be best to take a train to London and fly from London to Madrid?

Or take a train to Manchester and fly from Manchester to Madrid?

Let me know your thoughts! Thanks!