Where are the other two tips?

Posted By Tim on June 20, 2008, 10:02 AM

I can vouch for not visiting Stonehenge, totally a waste of time :(

Posted By Journeyetc on June 21, 2008, 6:49 AM

As one who has often carried my luggage on London's Tube, I will say that a) Many locals indeed do the same, and b) If you have a manageable load, it's doable without a whole lot of inconvenience to anyone. In fact, I've had more trouble with narrow B&B staircases (no lifts) than I ever had with luggage on the Tube. Essentially, the idea of packing light is universally a good one - but has zip to do with the basic concept of taking luggage on public transport.

Posted By BGB on June 22, 2008, 12:41 PM

As a UK based travel blogger I agree with Mark. If you try to see too much you end up not really seeing anything properly, less is definitely more. You do need to have a rough itinerary but do allow some time for spontaneity and to wander around.

Stonehenge has to be one of the most over hyped attractions in the UK, too over crowded with tourist to have any real atmosphere. I'd encourage you to venture, even slightly, off the beaten track to see more of the real Britain and get better value for money.

Posted By Karen Bryan on June 22, 2008, 2:31 PM

Stonehenge is worth seeing, but as a stop off on your way to Bath.

Posted By Laurie J. Schultz on June 22, 2008, 7:34 PM

Was just at the stones last summer and hate to be the rogue here but I loved it. True, it sucks that you have to view it from the other side of a rope, but still - looking around at all the sprawling green spaces and wondering what secrets they still held made the trip worth it.

Cambridge and York were both very enjoyable too - but then again, you can only see so many cobbled streets, cathedrals, chip shops, and old pubs. :)

A visit to the mostly missed "Woodhenge" was cool as well - and as a bonus there is no barrier and we were the only ones there! (+ its free).

Posted By Greg on June 23, 2008, 3:31 AM

As a fellow Londoner myself ditto-ditto on Stonehenge, but my daytrip suggestion would be to the southeast through Kent (The Garden of England) Leeds Castle, considered the most beautiful castle in England and is still a working castle, grounds include white peacocks and black swans, this is where the natives go when they want a day out, on to Canterbury,(yes the same as Chaucers Canterbury Tales) here you have the tudor buildings, cobblestone streets and an awsome cathedral that you will miss if you dont look for it, (look for the spire and follow the side streets)this is where Thomas Becket was murdered and head of the Church if England, lots and lots of history in this city, then on to Dover Castle, this is a 12th Century Castle, again lots of history and most of it still standing, but underneath the castle are tunnels these were used as a War Room in WWll and are now open to the public, Dover is the closest point to France (21 miles)and you can pick up pieces of the chalk (White Cliffs of Dover). You can do this whole trip in 1 day or spend a day at each place, all the time traveling through the beautiful English countryside.

Posted By Shirley Hayden on June 23, 2008, 10:19 AM

I did the one day tour recommended by the above poster and loved it. I was glad we didn't spend much time at Stonehenge~I have to admit although there is an air of mystery regarding how it came about, the time spent in Canterbury and Leeds Castle was much more worthwhile. One of the very best parts was having a picnic lunch overlooking the cliffs of Dover on a lovely fall day!

Posted By Kimberly on June 23, 2008, 12:51 PM

As a professional photographer, Stonehenge was marvelous. The energy is great. I took a panoramic photo there with an approaching storm in the background that hangs over our bed and has sold a number of times. Wish I could post pics.

We drove 2,000 miles - bottom to almost the top and loved every minute of month we were there. Stayed in B&Bs exclusively and made a host of friends. Get on the back roads and see what you find.

Posted By Jimmy P. on June 23, 2008, 1:57 PM

Mark, I can explain my fellow Americans' urge to see as much as they possible can: different from Europeans, we get only 10 working days vacation a year. With the plane ticket often the largest expenditure, and with a mimimum of 8 hours of flying across the pond to get anywhere from the US, we want to make the most of the trip, because our circumstances may never again allow us to take a similar trip again. We live in a very different world from Europeans who get 8 weeks vacation with pay each year, and who in Holland get an additional minimal 8% vacation pay bonus on May 1 each year. Does that explain our frantic behavior? We are simply not in a position to take such a trip but only very rarely.

Posted By Molly Shannon on June 23, 2008, 1:58 PM

There are prehistoric sites all over the British Isles. "Henges" can be stone circles or just earthworks. If you look at a hiking map of any area you are visiting, they will be marked and you view see them in solitary splendor. Locals can direct you and frequently there are "fingerboards" (signposts) We have marveled at them in Yorkshire and the Cotswolds. Next trip I want to look at some of the huge figures of humans or horses in chalk. (I know that some are recent).

Posted By Carolyn on June 23, 2008, 2:19 PM

I have always taken the subway from the airport (Heathrow) with luggage. A taxi ride is just too expensive to consider. I do follow the above advice to pack light. If you can, stick to just one small-ish wheeled suitcase and be prepared for stairs in some of the tube stations. Many stations do have elevators, though, and in those that don't, I have had English men kindly help lift my bag down steps without my asking.

The best thing to do would be to study a tube map (you can view one at www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/) to find the most direct routes and to find out what routes may be closed, overly busy at certain hours, etc. There's also a "contact us" option where you can inquire about specific details to make your travels on the tube with luggage as easy as possible.

Posted By Shannon H. on June 23, 2008, 4:48 PM

I agree with much of what Mark has said. 1)Stonehenge was truly a magical place when you could wander among the great stones on midsummer's morn, but now I prefer Avebury, the Merry Maidens, or Castlerigg in the Lakes District.
2)Packing light is always your best bet, particularly now that airlines are beginning to charge for any checked baggage. And it has been my experience that the longest escalators in the underground stations are frequently out of order and it can be difficult enough hauling yourself up out of the depths without carrying your weight in baggage as well. Take clothing you were going to donate to Goodwill and leave it behind after you have worn it, or take an almost empty suitcase and fill it up on your trip.
3) Unless it your first and possibly only trip to the UK, AVOID LONDON in Tourist season. You can rent a cottage or a flat in other parts of England for a week for the cost of a couple of nights in London. And there is wonderful regional theatre, music,and art in the hinterlands. If you must visit London, go in November or March when the weather is not stiffling and you don't have to spend most of your precious time standing in queues.
4)Opposed to what you may have heard, driving on the "wrong side of the road" is relatively easy (everybody else is going the same way), just be sure to specify automatic transmission. If you have never driven a stick shift, now is not the time to learn. Unless you plan on spending all of your time in cities, a car offers a chance to get out into the countryside and enjoy the natural beauty, historic houses, and tiny villages that you can otherwise only glimpse from train or coach windows.
5) I agree that you should not schedule yourself so tightly that you leave no time for impulse or opportunity. Remember that travel is not only to see places and things, but to meet people from other places and backgrounds. Visit the local pub in a village for lunch. Shop in small greengrocer's, street market, or local craftsman, and visit OxFam shops and car boot sales (equivalent to Yard or Garage sales) The best souvenirs are those that come with interesting stories attached. If you do go in Nov. or Dec., many local churches have their Christmas sales with lots of handmade items and homemade goodies (like treacle and fudge). But do your homework before you leave . Some travel bargains are only available for advance purchase.

Posted By Lois on June 23, 2008, 5:37 PM

Agree that Stonehenge is a mixed experience. I was fortunate to see it before "development" and after on a slow day. Can you still "rent" personal time before opening time? However, the many other circles are well worth a little research and often empty of others. Some can be busy, but Avebury was worth every effort - even did some unbothered watercolor and sketching.

Posted By Kathleen Guest on June 23, 2008, 6:24 PM

I agree completely with slowing down, skipping Stonehenge, and packing light, but having visited England in April, I must say that the savings on booking early train tickets is pretty substantial. An early ticket from Bath to Oxford was about 1/3 the cost of a same-day ticket.

Posted By jeff on June 24, 2008, 8:59 AM

We have visited England twice, staying with friends. They were expert at having us see the most for our time allotted (17 and 10 days). We did visit Stonehenge (back when there were no barriers) and found it wonderful. However, it was simply a stop on the way elsewhere. Also, the chalk men and horses are amazing! Well worth seeing.

Posted By T. Fix on June 24, 2008, 10:09 AM

Do these travel mistakes not apply in all of Britain (i.e., Scotland)?

Why not travel to Edinburgh rather than see Stonehenge? Why stop at York? Glasgow has a tube, too, and it is, um, orange and goes in a big circle (ellipse, really). Do tips #1 and #4 cease to apply when you reach the Borders?

By the way, I am an American living in Scotland, and the subtle rivalry between England and Scotland amuses me to no end. On the other hand, the not so subtle aspects are dismaying.

Jokes and sarcasm aside, this is very good advice - there is so much to see on this (relatively) small island that you shouldn't try to do it all in one go...you'll miss the best part of traveling and that is meeting and connecting with new people...regardless of whether they are English, Scottish, or British.

Posted By Russell on June 24, 2008, 10:35 AM

Advice aside, we enjoyed Stonehenge immensely but my favorite area during our entire stay in England was the Cotswold area. As far as castles go, we were also very impressed with Warwick Castle. I also have a tip of my own...check into purchasing the British Heritage Pass. It was relatively inexpensive and allowed us admission into many, many areas, castles, historic sites, etc. We were even able to bypass the lines (yes, even at Stonehenge). We simply showed them our passes and walked on in. It can be purchased at any major city or online and was definitely worth the minor investment.

Posted By Terri on June 24, 2008, 11:04 PM

Great tips! I will never understand the mentality that a tourist must run around like crazy, see absolutely everything, then feel exhausted at the end of each day. A vacation is supposed to be relaxing, right? One of my best travel experiences involved spending 8 hours in a pub in Nottingham. My husband and I might have missed some touristy spots, but we had a blast hanging out with the locals and made friends we still keep in touch with. I also appreciate the recommendation to see Bath. We saw Stonehenge, but kept it brief and continued on to Bath. It's a great city and a must-see if you're a Jane Austen fan.

Posted By Beth on June 26, 2008, 12:44 PM

I don't buy that not visiting Stonehenge bit.......My partner and I had a rental car this past trip so on our last day we drove out there in the morning before our evening flight from LHR. It's something to see just once in your life so you can understand the magnitude of the whole thing. It looks a bit different in pictures. Well worth seeing once!

Posted By Scott on June 26, 2008, 12:53 PM

Russell is right. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when writing a blog about the UK is to solely concentrate on England. They are not one and the same!

Posted By Chris on June 27, 2008, 5:45 PM

I visited Scotland, England and Wales in 2001, just before 9/11. I loved Scotland and all its sights. The people were very proud of their heritage and couldn't wait to show it to me. When I mentioned I had Scottish ancestors, they were very nice about telling me some great stories about my "clan" members. Stonehenge was okay, but it was during the hoof and mouth disease era, and we were not able to see the stones up close. There weren't enough of the informational phones available for the 5 busloads of people visiting, so it was difficult to know what I was seeing. A nice stop along the way to Bath, however, and I could say "I was there". I agree, seeing more than you can take in is a mistake, so I bought a little booklet at every stop, so when I got home, I could match up my photos with the books, and try to remember where I had been. I will probably never get a chance to revisit the British Isles, so I was glad to be able to see and touch as much as possible.

Posted By Claire on June 27, 2008, 10:15 PM

As an English woman, married to a Scot, now living in California, it was interesting to read all the comments. Most of which I agreed with, but please do not miss out on visiting the West Country when in the U.K.
Devon and Cornwall are unique areas with a lot of History.
Try the 'Cornish Pasties' and the 'Devonshire Clotted Cream'
Hike along the coastal paths down in Cornwall,
Visit Plymouth's Barbican area where the Pilgrim Father's finally set sail to go to America. See if your family name is printed on the original list of passengers hanging on a Barbican wall. Play 'bowls' on Plymouth Hoe, where Sir Francis Drake was playing when the Spanish Armada was sighted.
Reasonably priced B&B's, and 'Pub Grub' too.

Posted By Eileen Lamont on June 28, 2008, 6:22 PM

My 74 year old Welsh mother and I traveled for three weeks in the UK in May 07. We started in London (family there), traveled by car down to ancient Canterbury, with it's breathtaking cathedral and neat town, onto bustling Brighton, seeing the Seven Sisters on the way! Then all the way to lonely Land's End, with their narrow lanes and very tall hedges. We had an incredible cream tea in Cornwall. Onward to Bath via the Cheddar Gorge, then to Avebury, where there was an ancient ceremony taking place. Up to the blooming Cotswolds, and then down into Wales with their musical accents (family again). We then traveled into the Lakes District, seeing the largest rhododendrons in Europe! Up the west coast we traveled, into The North. Scottish moors and lochs, lovely Edinburgh, and down the east coast to beautiful Yorkshire. Traveling farther south to the flatlands of Peterborough and Norwich, then back to big city London. I believe we saw at least 20 historic properties. Basically, we made a big loop through the country.
This was a similar trip that my mother and late father made on their honeymoon, over 50 years ago. It was worth all the traffic hassles (including a car breakdown & tow in Edinburgh) and sore bums from driving just to hear the stories and half forgotten memories about my parents first trip together!

Posted By K Cummings on June 30, 2008, 3:09 PM

While I agree that pre-booking every last minute of your trip is not advisable, I don't agree with the writer when it comes to pre-booking train tickets - they can cost a lot less if booked well in advance. Try it out with some dummy dates just to get a feel for it and see how much difference it can make.

As to Stonehenge - it's awesome for some, so-so for others; but since it is on the way to and from so many superbly worthwhile sites, why not swing by when headed to, say, Bath (stay overnight!), Salisbury, or the southern Cotswolds? A slight detour from the major freeway gets you there without much loss of time.

Posted By Wally Kringen on June 30, 2008, 6:30 PM

I guess we are not typical Americans. Our usual trip to the Isles is to book a hotel the evening of our arrival near the airport and have a car waiting the next morning. We have a general idea of where we want to visit, but never make reservations until around noon, stopping at the local information office for those, and staying longer if we are enjoying the area, or moving on when we want something else. We have met such wonderful people everywhere, but I must say I most enjoyed Wales. Don't be afraid to leave the main road and strike out cross-country - we have seen some beautiful sites that none of our friends even suspected to exist. Also, B&Bs are great sources of local knowledge. We have made so many day trips on their recommendations that have turned out to be highlights of our trip. On the other hand, understand that most rural locals, especially in Scotland and Wales, may have never been more than a few miles from home. We still laugh about our experience in a Scottish bar when we were discussing Balmoral Castle with the locals and found out they had never been there, despite it being 10 miles from us. Be adventurous, try new things and rely on the friendliness of the locals for the best trip you will have.

Posted By Jay Williams on July 3, 2008, 10:03 AM

You are absolutely right!! Been there, {many times}... and done that! Especially agree with taking several days in a city...A city tour is a nice start to get acquainted and just sit out your jet lag. Then pick your special sights and linger!Also agree with your evaluation of Stonehenge.. a waste of a day... We found York VERY interesting, and not too touristy...Everyone really needs to see the wonderful English countryside and day trips can take in a lot. Too true about the luggage... it can ruin a trip!

Posted By Maureen Eagan on July 3, 2008, 12:32 PM

Wow. Lots of great comments and differing viewpoints and ideas. I've travel to and around the UK from the USA seven times now. Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities, by I love York as well. I rented a car from Bath just to visit Stonehenge (I was told tour buses were out of season). I'm glad I went once, but for me the driving on the other side of the road and the roundabouts were pretty stressful. I'm better at it now, but it took some getting used to. The Britrail pass is the best way, in my humble opinion.

Posted By David Thurber on July 3, 2008, 12:45 PM

I made the mistake of not buying Eurostar train tickets months in advance. That mistake cost us $500 each when we waited to buy our tickets after we arrived in Paris.

Posted By Jerome Weingart on July 7, 2008, 12:38 PM

Stonehenge makes a great am or pm trip from the charming city of Salisbury especially by tour bus. Just enough time. Brit buses in general also are great and they give terrific senior discounts.

Posted By john irvin on July 7, 2008, 1:05 PM

British heritage passes are a great bargain; our 15-day pass saved us over $100. You can also get Inner Circle passes for Stonehenge (before opening and after closing times) for about $25. You are allowed within the ropes, up close to the stones. The morning we went (June 6 at 7:30 AM), there were just 6 other people.

Posted By Joan OD on July 7, 2008, 3:34 PM

I actually liked Stonehenge. The GPS led me right to it going from Bath back to London. It was worth the few hours we spent. What you might want to tell some of us Yanks is to NOT drive in London even with GPS. Thank goodness for some understanding police when I also took a wrong turn. ("You're the second Yank I've stopped in a rental car today!") I now have charged to my card from Hertz almost $200 a day (times 2) from a congestion charge that was way more than what I thought it was going to be.

Posted By The other Mark Smith on July 7, 2008, 4:33 PM

If you can it is easier when flying into London to travel into town on the tube or airport bus, and pick up a rental car when you are leaving to see the countryside. Public transport is great and although I learnt to drive in London and am quite comfortable driving in big cities it makes no sense to sit in traffic jams wasting your precious vacation, when you can be wherever you want to be on the tube. I didn't actually own a car until I went to live in California.

Try a visit to Hampton Court it is a lovely place has a great maze and was once home to Henry 8th. Stonehenge is over-rated. We went by there just as it closed and saw almost as much from the outside, I had been before the barriers but my husband was quite satisfied with his quick look.

The last time I was in London with my family we bought a regular weekly season ticket rather than a visitors pass. I know the price of things changes all the time but it is worth looking into, they work on bus and tube and worked out cheaper. If there are three or more in the party though it is not always economical to use public transport. I had booked a private car for my daughter and Grandson to get from Stanstead to Heathrow as they had to leave earlier than we did and she would have had difficulty on her own with a two year old. My husband and I and our niece did the same journey the following week, but we went on National Express. The cost was the same for both journeys but our daughter had much the better experience. Airport to hotel whereas we had to find the bus stop and then take a taxi to the hotel. Next time we will book the limo. Check it out before you go.

Autoeurope is the best company for booking cars, much cheaper than Hertz and we have always had good service. Be aware though that cars in Europe are smaller, and packing light may be the only way you will get all your luggage into the car, as well as make any public transport journey easier. If you forget anything you can always buy it there.

Posted By Kris on July 8, 2008, 7:32 AM

I would add one thing to all the observations on Stonehenge. You can park your car by the main road, avoiding the car park run by English Heritage - and just walk up to the wire. From there you can see the monument almost as well as the people who pay a pile of money to go inside.
Stonehenge has got into the clutches of English Heritage - a sanctimonious organisation with a talent for charging a pile of money and making a great fuss over conserving things that weren't in much danger in the first place. Don't encourage it by feeding it any more!

Posted By ian chandler on July 10, 2008, 1:39 PM

Stonehenge is magical at sunset. You can get a tour (at extra cost) with a tour company that has made an arrangement to get inside the wire after closing time. So, you can actually walk among the stones and take amazing photos.

Posted By Manny Nestle on July 10, 2008, 2:07 PM

Skip Stonehenge (unless driving by anyway) and visit Avebury if you want a "henge" experience. Charming village, huge stone circle, and it's not roped off.

After learning my lesson in London with a huge suitcase on my first trip, I now travel with a small rolling bag and clothes that wash and air dry in the hotel room. The freedom is wonderful. On the one occasion in Rome when I needed a jacket, I bought one in a small discount clothing store near Trevi and the Pantheon. The clerk took us into the basement to see exposed Roman ruins. If I had overpacked, we would have missed an amazing experience!

Posted By Deborah Miller on July 10, 2008, 5:13 PM

As for packing, I always pack a small light bag. If I'm going for a week (7 days), I pack clothes for 4 days. On day 4 I drop the others off at a service laundry. It's not expensive and you don't have to wash them in a sink!

Posted By Stevin on August 14, 2008, 9:15 PM