Hi guys,

I think you are probably the best people to ask for local knowledge of the UK and Ireland Looks like its going to be 10 days in October and we have to make a stop off in Birmingham for a business deal which is what this whole trip is revolving around.

I have been to London numerous times so I know pretty well what to do there but its more Greater England Wales, Scotland and Ireland we are wanting information on as to where to go and what to do.

It will be me (in my 20's), my dad (who has just taken on the title of retiree) and my mum aswell. I don't really care what we do I am just happy following them around. They are interested in the best scenery and picturesque towns, a bit of natural history, stopping off at old pubs along the way and my dad loves all things 60's music so anything (non-cheesy) that we can encorporate into this trip is fab. I would like to go to the Scottish highlands too but I am happy to just shut up because the whole trip is about buying me something very expensive and I don't want to rock the boat.

Where would ou suggest we go and what should we see?

The Peak District. Forget about the Lake District - it's one long traffic jam.

Have a look at the National Trust's website for some great ideas. You wouldn't be disappointed.

Mrs JTL

... but take care - the NT places are getting so crowded that many are doing timed tickets - often you have to get the tickets from the house itself, and if you are touring it can be almost impossible. An example, last year: Mrs Wol insisted on visiting Beatrice Potter's house (God knows why, they're only rabbits...) and you could only get one of a limited number of tickets at the house during a small window.

I think that was due to the popularity of the movie about the writer. I doubt it will still be that busy now that all the Japanese tourists visiting the UK have already been to the house.

As always avoid going to the NT sites on the weekend and you can have a fairly relaxing time.

Mrs JTL

How true - it was like the Ginza!

Head South-West. Take in Bath, The Cotswolds and Stonehenge. Then head along the bottom of Wales and pick up the Seacat ferry at Fishguard and cross to Rosslare. Drive up through Ireland, taking in Dublin and then get the ferry in Belfast to Scotland and work your way down again. England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland all done

Sorted

If you are going to be in Birmingham, you can't go wrong with Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon. They are just down the road and are some of the best visitor places in the West Midlands. And, of course, Stratford is home to many of Shakespeare's little places. I'd concentrate on these places first and can be done in 2 days. If you drive from Birmingham to Stratford, a stop-off at Henley-in-Arden is a must. Then a short drive to Warwick and the castle.

A trip to Birmingham wouldn't be complete without a stroll down Broad Street (if the weather is good) for all the pubs and also the canals. Even the shopping in the city has come a long way, though the bubble building is still a bloody eye-sore. I wish someone would bomb it, burn it or drive into it before I go back in November.

Depending on how long you've got, you can also go to the birth place of the hobbits - Sarehole Mill in Hall Green, 20 minutes out of the city. Not much to look at, just a nice park; and around the corner from there is where Tony Hancock was born.

You know the Japanese love Peter Rabbit so much that they have their own Beatrix Potter cottage and garden. I can't remember where though. Women (and some men I assume) of all ages visit both the UK and the Japanese cottages like a pilgrimage.

Mrs JTL

Yes, we picked up a delightful little Japanese girl who was walking from the house to the ferry and took her there - she had come across from Paris FOR THE DAY!

Inverness as your base and travel from there. Scenery like no other and very close to loch ness.

Try anywhere on the North Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland - beautiful.

The Giants Causeway is great:



More info here at Wikipedia - clicky

Just come back from a long weekend in Herefordshire. Made me wonder why on earth I am thinking of moving half a world away from such a beautiful area (and I already live in lovely Kent). If you are foodies, try Ludlow then drop south for a night at the Stagg at Titley. Fantastic!

Agreed, and while you're down this way, drive along the Dorset - Devon Jurassic coastline

Can I disagree and say its just a bunch of hexagonal rocks that I looked at for 5 minutes then thought 'I drove 2 hours to see this?'

Rocks are rocks, even geometrically shaped ones.

JTL