"Heading Over in July" Topic

My family and I are coming to the UK for two weeks in July. Still working on an itinerary, but will definitely be in London on 11 July and 12 July, then in Edinburgh from 13 July to 17 July.

I'm pushing to return to Weymouth and visit Martin Goddard again. I still owe him a dinner and a pint, as we never had a chance at Historicon last year.

I'd love some suggestions for the North, and a chance to have a drink or something with some of you all.

Visit York…we lived in England for eight years and went there several times….I think it's one of England's best kept secrets.

The North? Spoils for choice, there are lots of good places!

York is great, but gets very busy. There are loads of historical things, shopping etc. If anyone likes trains the National Railway Museum is also in York.

Further up, Alnwick Castle has something for everyone. Brilliant Castle that has been lived in for centuries, so you also get a bit of stately home inside. Massive gardens for plant lovers. And some scenes of Harry Potter were filmed there.

Are you asking about the north of England or the north of the UK? York is great, but is way south of Edinburgh.

Lots to do in Scotland. I've only seen a tiny bit of it. Edinburgh itself is lovely – thoroughly recommend the guided tours at the castle and a visit to the Panopticon just outside. Stirling Castle, Stirling Bridge and the Wallace Monument are about an hour's drive outside Edinburgh and worth a look (especially the hilarious "FREEDOM" statue of Wallace that looks like Mel Gibson crossed with a gorilla). York is a very good shout – lots to do there.

Hadrian's wall is obviously a prime site of interest in the North. There are also a few Roman Villas as well. The Royal armouries in Leeds are also worth a look. If you are into aviation then the last flying Vulcan Bomber (as in it was the last one to fly – it's grounded now) is at Robin Hod airport near Doncaster. There's also the IWM North in Manchester. I have never been, but my wife has worked with them and says it is spectacular.

Between London and Edinburgh on the main rail, line you have York as already mentioned plus the Royal Armouries at Leeds just slightly south, which now has the Agincourt diorama by the Perrys. The Imperial War Museum North in Manchester is interesting, but a bit sparse in my opinion – lots of empty space. A bit of a "trendy" design over a great use of the area.

It pretty much depends on how you are grovelling whilst in the UK, just don't make the mistake of saying you are in England whilst in Scotland, the locals don't like it! England and Britain are not interchangeable terms.

If you go to York unfortunately the Jorvik Viking Centre is closed until Spring next year due to the severe flooding last Christmas. I would recommend visiting Leith whilst you are in Edinburgh and going aboard the Royal Yacht Brittania.

Inverness, in Scotand, is a great base to explore the Highlands. Culloden is just 5 miles away, plus Loch Ness on the door step.I would second York as another great base to visit Yorkshire. Northumbria (Northeast Engand) has stunning scenery, Hadrians Wall, Vindolanda, and between it and the Scottish Borders, a wealth of history on the Riding clans of the border reivers, the Scottish and English families who terrorised the"debateable lands" of the Marches.You'll have a great holiday no matter where!

Lots of great ideas.

While in Edinburgh, we are planning a daytrip to Stirling Castle, and another up to Loch Ness and the Highlands. In Edinburgh, we have to go to the castle and museums therein. We might also go to the College of Medicine I think they have a museum? Might pop over to Glasgow as well. The Royal Yacht is also one of the considerations.

It looks like York and Manchester are probably two good bases to work from at least for visiting the north of England (I am fully aware of the difference between England and Scotland and "English" v. "British", but thanks for the warning!) For the record, what is the official defined border between Scotland and England? Just so I don't trip myself up in the border region, you see.

Definitely want to see Hadrian's Wall, and the IWM North.

If you are driving north towards Edinburgh you will notice the change from multi-lane highways into narrower roads with head-on traffic when you cross the border.

If you are doing Edinburgh Castle make sure you are there at one o'clock. You'll notice why.

The medical museum you refer to will be the Royal College of Surgeons.

museum.rcsed.ac.uk

If you get as far as Loch Ness ignore all the monster trash and visit Urquhart Castle instead. Go for a few beers afterwards then you'll see Nessie nae problem.

I understand you are from Texas, been there, done the long drive across Interstate 40. Distances in the UK are shorter but will take longer. York to Edinburgh is a 4 hour drive, Edinburgh to Inverness is 3 hours plus and that is outside rush hours at either end.

The border these days is north of the Wall. I believe most major roads have a sign saying "welcome to Scotland" or "welcome to England" depending on which direction you are travelling!

As your going to pass through it some point don't forget Hadrians Wall, lots of different highlights along its length so you can plan your route to take in the one you like best, my suggestion is Housetseads Fort. Edinburgh castle etc mere latecomer toys by comparison lol
L

Durham City and the Cathedral is a must!

Hello J

Would be nice to see you chaps again. Let me know your arrangements nearer the time

martin

Hello Martin. We are considering a swing through Weymouth again, this time with my eldest in tow as well. Haven't finalized that yet, but I will certainly let you know.

We won't be driving. Trains, my good man, trains. Let someone else do the driving.

Gave some thought to Caernarfon as well (I know, that's Wales, not the north of England), but it's quite out of the way for us on this trip, and may not be feasible.

Besides IWM North, what's on around Manchester? Note that we are not football fans. Well, we are rugby football fans, just not that other game.