Hi
Planning 3-4 day visits each to Edinburgh and York. We're thinking about
using Britrail from London, but are wondering if a rental car will be
necessary upon arrival to see the city sites, restaurants, etc. Would prefer
to use public transportation if available.
Thanks

george a irwin wrote:

    > Planning 3-4 day visits each to Edinburgh and York. We're thinking about
    > using Britrail from London, but are wondering if a rental car will be
    > necessary upon arrival to see the city sites, restaurants, etc. Would prefer
    > to use public transportation if available.
I wouldn't bother with a rental car in Edinburgh (I'm not familiar with
York). Parking can be difficult, and traffic congestion can make walking
faster than driving. Public transportation is fine - although not as good
as it was many years ago. Buy a day pass for the bus, good for 24 hours.
Taxis are readily available, and the drivers know the city well.

"george a irwin" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
ring.net...
    > Hi
    > Planning 3-4 day visits each to Edinburgh and York. We're thinking about
    > using Britrail from London, but are wondering if a rental car will be
    > necessary upon arrival to see the city sites, restaurants, etc. Would
prefer
    > to use public transportation if available.
    > Thanks

What are you planning to do in York for 3-4 days ?
The main sites in the city are easily walkable.
But if you want to go out and explore the Yorkshire moors and the villages a
car would be useful, there will be local buses, but I don't know how
frequent or reliable they are.

"Miss L.Toe" writes:

    > What are you planning to do in York for 3-4 days ?
    > The main sites in the city are easily walkable.

Similarly in Edinburgh the main sights are easily walkable. You
really DON'T want a car in central Edinburgh; the parking is difficult
and/or expensive and the traffic is heavy. And there's an excellent
local bus company that can get you round the city -

http://www.lothian-buses.co.uk

Just buy a day ticket from a bus driver if you think you'll be using
the buses much on any particular day. Cost is £1.80 after 9.30am. If
there's a group of you you might find taxis cheaper or more convenient
for travelling within the city. There are also reasonable excursions
available by public transport - e.g. get the train to the town of
North Berwick to see the Scottish Sealife Centre, or to Linlithgow to
see Linlithgow Palace. You might need a car if you want to get out
into the middle of nowhere.

--
-- Chris.

george a irwin wrote:
    > Hi
    > Planning 3-4 day visits each to Edinburgh and York. We're thinking about
    > using Britrail from London, but are wondering if a rental car will be
    > necessary upon arrival to see the city sites, restaurants, etc. Would prefer
    > to use public transportation if available.
    > Thanks

A car is unnecessary in either city. York's historic centre is easily
walkable, as are most of the things you would want to see in Edinburgh.
In fact, a car is likely to be a bloody nuisance in terms of parking in
city centre carparks. As another poster has suggested

Be aware that nothing called "Britrail" exists. This is the name of a
rail pass sold in the United States, Canada and other places outside the
UK. You may wish to check whether it gives value for money when compared
with point-t-point fares in the UK. Note, however, that the prices
quoted for the latter in America may well be extortionate when compared
with the cheapest advance purchase fares available in Britain. If I
remember correctly, the website for the company operating the route
(Great North Eastern Railway) is www.gner.co.uk.

Alan Harrison

Momentary slip of attention - and I sent an unfinished message. I had
intended to add at the end of the first paragraph, "As another poster
has suggested, a car may be useful if you want to venture out into the
country."

Alan Harrison

George Irwin:
    > > Planning 3-4 day visits each to Edinburgh and York. We're thinking about
    > > using Britrail from London, but ...

Alan Harrison:
    > Be aware that nothing called "Britrail" exists. This is the name of a
    > rail pass sold in the United States, Canada and other places outside the
    > UK. You may wish to check whether it gives value for money when compared
    > with point-t-point fares in the UK. Note, however, that the prices
    > quoted for the latter in America may well be extortionate when compared
    > with the cheapest advance purchase fares available in Britain. ...

However, also note that when using a pass, you *don't* need to decide
several days in advance which train you'll use, and you don't pay more
for trains at busy times. You can just show up at the station and board
the next train. (If traveling at busy times, you may want to reserve
seats a day or two ahead, but it costs you nothing if you end up using
a different train.) To my mind that *is* value for money, even if a more
restrictive fare would be cheaper.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto "Yet Another Wonderful Novelty -- YAWN!"
[email protected] -- Liam Quin

My text in this article is in the public domain.

"Mark Brader" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
a...
    > Alan Harrison:
    > > Be aware that nothing called "Britrail" exists. This is the name of a
    > > rail pass sold in the United States, Canada and other places outside the
    > > UK. You may wish to check whether it gives value for money when
compared
    > > with point-t-point fares in the UK. Note, however, that the prices
    > > quoted for the latter in America may well be extortionate when compared
    > > with the cheapest advance purchase fares available in Britain. ...
    > However, also note that when using a pass, you *don't* need to decide
    > several days in advance which train you'll use, and you don't pay more
    > for trains at busy times

This is true. I'm nevertheless inclined to wonder whether the OP *will*
achieve value for money if the trips London-Edinburgh, Edinburgh-York,
York-London are the *only* ones he will be making. I don't actually know the
prices charged for the Britrail pass in the USA, Cnada, etc. but the small
number of trips envisaged by the OP may cast doubt on the whether the price
for a pass for unlimited travel at any time will be worthwhile as against
the prices for the cheapest tickets for specific trains. I don't know, but
it may be worth the OP's time to find out.

Alan Harrison

Use the train between cities. Book tickets on trainlink.com and have the
tickets mailed to your hotel.

Barbara in CT

"george a irwin" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
ring.net...
    > Hi
    > Planning 3-4 day visits each to Edinburgh and York. We're thinking about
    > using Britrail from London, but are wondering if a rental car will be
    > necessary upon arrival to see the city sites, restaurants, etc. Would
prefer
    > to use public transportation if available.
    > Thanks

Having visited both Edinburgh and York without a car, I can assure you that both cities are most suitable for walkers or even using public transport.

Are you travelling from London to each of the cities? If so, that's exactly what I've done in the past and neither is so huge that it requires a car to get around.

York is the most compact of the two cities. 3-4 for York is certainly enough. You may find that you have done most of the sights in three days and leave one day for a day trip out of York by train. Harrogate is nice.

As for Edinburgh, there is a pretty good bus service to get you from one side to the other.

Enjoy your trips.