plan a trip to london ireland and scotland

The Ultimate London-Scotland-Ireland Itinerary

Last Updated on December 6, 2023

by Maggie Turansky

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Travelling through the British Isles is something many people want to do in their lifetimes. And it’s no surprise as to why. England, Scotland, and Ireland not only have a fascinating history that dates back thousands of years, but is home to both bucolic natural scenery and some of the world’s most vibrant and diverse cities. With so much to see and do in a seemingly small landmass, it can be hard to plan out the perfect London-Scotland-Ireland itinerary.

Luckily, I’m here to help. Read on to find out the best places to visit in Great Britain and Ireland and where you should spend your time!

Table of Contents

Planning a Trip to England, Ireland and Scotland

If you’re wondering about the best way to see England, Scotland and Ireland, then make sure to follow the tips and tricks outlined below.

Though it can be fairly easy to travel around this area, there are a number of logistical things and considerations to take into account in order to make the most out of your trip.

Everything from the time of year you visit to the mode of transport you use to get around can make an impact on your trip, so we’ve taken the time to outline all major options out there.

Best Time to Visit the United Kingdom and Ireland

Contrary to popular belief, it is not always cold and rainy in Britain and Ireland. The weather tends to be mild in the British Isles no matter what time of year, with no extreme variance between the seasons.

However, there are some seasons to travel to this beautiful corner of the world that are better than others which is important to consider when wondering how to plan a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland.

Summer is the most popular time to plan a trip. The days are long and the weather is as warm as it can be.

Highs in most of England and Ireland in the summer average around 20-22ºC (68-72ºF) and you can expect highs in Scotland to be about 15-17ºC (59-63°F). Though there are definitely rainy days, you can generally expect more sunshine this time of year than in other seasons.

While the weather is fantastic (for Britain) in the summer, it is also the busiest time for tourism. That means that the prettiest cities and towns will be filled with people and accommodation will book out well in advance. Prices are likely to be higher as well.

If you plan to go to Edinburgh, it is best to avoid the city during the month of August when its world-famous Fringe Festival is going on (unless you specifically want to visit for this occasion). Accommodation books out months in advance and it can be absolutely packed with people.

Autumn could arguably be the best time to visit Britain and Ireland because you get fewer crowds and decent weather. It doesn’t tend to get properly cold in the British Isles until November, so if you don’t mind a bit of rain and needing to wear a jacket outside , then autumn might be the best bet for you.

Along with the beautiful colours of the changing leaves, average highs in England and Ireland land somewhere around 10-17ºC (50-63ºF) and 8-14ºC (46-57ºF) in Scotland. Plan your visit for late September to early October and you very well might get some beautiful sunny days that are over 20ºC!

Spring in Britain and Ireland can be quite chilly still as the weather doesn’t start warming up properly until mid to late May and doesn’t consistently stay warm until June.

It can be quite rainy, windy, and miserable through most of the spring and even a bit dreary as the leaves don’t return to the trees until May. If you’re travelling in the spring, expect highs to be between 9-14ºC (48-57ºF) in England and Ireland and 7-13ºC (45-55ºF) in Scotland.

Winter is the coldest and darkest month in England, Scotland, and Ireland. While the majority of the isles don’t get a lot of snow, it does get dark quite early (around 3 or 4 PM depending on where you are) and it can be extremely wet and rainy.

Snow and sleet are common so make sure to pack accordingly. Average high temperatures in England and Ireland in winter clock in around 5-7ºC (41-45ºF) and 0-5ºC (32-41ºF) in Scotland.

Winter in Britain and Ireland can be miserable, however, many do like to travel around Christmas time in order to enjoy the decorations and markets scattered throughout the cities.

Cities like London and Edinburgh have wonderful Christmas markets and carnivals set up, but most major towns and cities all throughout this England-Scotland-Ireland itinerary will have something to fill you with holiday cheer.

How to Get Around

When it comes to planning a trip around England, Ireland, and Scotland, many people assume that it is easy to see a great portion of all three countries relying solely on the train. While the train network, especially in England, is extensive, it can be very expensive and they don’t always connect to smaller towns and more rural areas.

We recommend relying on the train and public transport systems while visiting England and then hiring a car once you arrive in Scotland and Ireland respectively if you’re following this itinerary. Both of the countries are noticeably more rural than England and don’t have as extensive of a train network.

The bus is also another option and there are more reliable bus connections within Ireland and Scotland than there are with the train.

Bus tickets can also be considerably less expensive than train tickets, however, it is almost always cheaper to book tickets for both at least a little bit in advance instead of on the day of travel. We suggest looking on Omio to book tickets for trains and buses in the UK

If you can drive, however, and your budget allows for it, then we would seriously recommend you hire a car in Ireland and Scotland . There are many places on this Ireland and Scotland itinerary that are much easier reached if you have your own mode of transportation.

Having a rental car not only allows you to get to more off-the-beaten-path and hard-to-reach areas, but it also gives you more flexibility. Nobody likes to be at the mercy of irregular bus timetables! You can browse car rental options here.

It can also be worth taking out an excess insurance policy with iCarHireInsurance to ensure you don’t need to pay a cent if you get into an accident. This will be significantly cheaper than taking out additional insurance from the car rental company.

It is worth knowing that the majority of rental cars available have a manual transmission. If you can only drive automatic, you need to expect to pay a little bit more for that! Also, this goes without saying, all three countries drive on the left-hand side of the road.

Finally, are you considering taking out a travel insurance policy before your trip? World Nomads   offers flexible and simple travel insurance policies with coverage for more than 150 activities that you can buy or extend while on the road.

3-Week London-Scotland-Ireland Itinerary

In order to get a good feel for each country, we recommend you spend at least one week in each of them. Obviously, you could easily spend weeks exploring all three countries on their own, but then that is what future trips are for!

If you have a shorter period of time, why not make it solely a London-Scotland-Ireland itinerary? While we recommend spending as much time in the massive city that is England’s capital as possible, you can see all of the biggest tourist attractions of London in just three or 4 days before taking the train or flying up to Scotland.

Week 1: England

London — the capital of the United Kingdom — is the most logical starting point for this itinerary. London is an absolutely massive city and while most visitors only spend a couple of days exploring, we would recommend that you spend the entirety of your week in England solely staying in London .

While there is certainly more to England than London, due to its central location as a transport hub, it is easy to visit other English cities as a day trip by train. And also a week in the city allows you to dig deeper and see beyond the main tourist draws and get a glimpse at how and where locals actually live in this diverse metropolis.

If you have never visited London before, then it is only understandable that you might want to spend a couple of days seeing everything that makes The Big Smoke so famous. Take the time to visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament.

If you plan on visiting many paid attractions, then consider investing in a London Go City Pass that includes entry to several of the most popular places in the city and will save you money if you visit enough places!

Enjoy free entry into some of the best museums in the world like the British Museum, Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. And, if you can, be sure to catch a West End show.

If these are the only things you plan on doing, then we suggest planning to stay in Central or West London (neighbourhoods like Soho, Kensington, and Knightsbridge) in order to avoid wasting valuable time sitting on the tube or bus.

Many first-time visitors to London grossly underestimate the city’s size and expect everything to be quite close to each other when, in reality, travel times in the city can take a very long time.

One benefit to spending one week in London, however, is that you will have time not only to do that traditional “touristy” things but also be able to get a little bit off the tourist trail and significantly reduce your overall London trip cost .

After you’ve spent your first couple of days exploring Central London and the museums, take a journey east and hang out with the hipsters in Shoreditch, walk along Regent’s Canal to London Fields, or see some live music in Camden.

London is much more than what is displayed in movies and in the media — it is easily one of the most multicultural cities in the world and has close to 9 million residents. Take the time to realise that London is not solely British and you won’t be disappointed.

Another benefit to spending one week in London is that it gives you the opportunity to take some day trips to other English cities. London is very different from the rest of the country, so it can be a really great experience to see how other cities function in England. Cities like Oxford , Cambridge , and Brighton are very popular day-trips from London and are all within about an hour’s train journey.

If you want to visit some less touristy cities that are still easy to do as a day trip, we would recommend getting up early and catching a train to Bristol or Bath in the west, which is a very cool and completely underrated city with an amazing craft beer and arts scene. Or, if you want to see a beautiful walled medieval city, head north to York , which can also easily be visited as a day trip from London.

If you don’t want to spend your entire week in England completely in London, then we would actually recommend spending five nights in the capital before spending two nights in York. There, you can spend one day exploring the city and another venturing out into the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

Where to Stay in London

It really depends on what you want to do and see in order to find the best area to stay in London . These are our suggestions for some of our favourite areas of the city:

Z Hotel Soho  – cool boutique hotel located right in the centre of Soho. The rooms have been stylishly decorated and there are a number of great cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. 

Astor Hyde Park Hostel   – great budget option in this area offering a mix of dorm and private rooms. The hostel has a brilliant common area, large kitchen and cheap breakfast available with proceeds going to charity. 

Eden Plaza Kensington   – a mid-range hotel located just a few minutes walk from the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. Also well connected with nearby Tube stations.

Shoreditch: 

Prime Backpackers Angel  – this hostel is located in Angel, just a short walk along the canal to lively and bustling Shoreditch. They have a range of great dorm and private rooms available and come quite highly rated. 

The Hoxton   – boutique hotel with funky and stylish rooms, located only a few minutes from Old Street Tube Station. Downstairs is a popular bar and restaurant that gets busy on weekends, however, rooms are completely soundproof. 

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other London hotels.

Week 2: Scotland

After spending one week in London and exploring England, it is time to head north to Scotland. You can reach Scotland either by taking the train — which is incredibly scenic, though expensive — or flying, which is often cheaper. If driving, there are a number of great stops between London and Edinburgh to check out!

Begin your adventures in Scotland by spending two days in Edinburgh , the Scottish capital. This beautiful city has an incredible history but it is quite compact and easy to get around — and it’s drastically different from London!

Take the time to walk the Royal Mile, tour Edinburgh Castle, swill some single-malt whiskey in a convivial pub, or maybe let your inner Harry Potter nerd run wild at Greyfriars Kirkyard!

After spending two days in Edinburgh, it’s time to venture into the Scottish Highlands and to explore the largest city there: Inverness. Inverness has the feeling of a small town and the main tourist appeal is its proximity to Loch Ness , however, it is very much worth exploring in its own right.

Spend one day in Inverness itself and another on a day trip from Inverness to Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle, or the famous Loch Ness.

From Inverness, it’s time to get in the car and drive to one of the most beautiful areas of Scotland and a top place to visit in the country: the Isle of Skye . Though many people treat Skye as a simple day trip or stopover spot, it is quite large and really deserves to be explored fully.

That is why we recommend spending 2 full days here in order to see some of the main attractions while also getting a bit off the beaten path. There are some really fantastic hikes to do on Skye as well, so make sure you have proper boots!

After you have spent a wonderful two days exploring the beautiful Isle of Skye, head back to Edinburgh of one night before catching a flight to the Emerald Isle.

Where to Stay in Scotland

Apart from the traditional accommodation options listed below, you can find a number of private rentals in Scotland such as this contemporary cottage on the Isle of Skye or this charming riverside cottage in Inverness.

Edinburgh  

Cityroomz Edinburgh — Located in the heart of the city, this small hotel had a number of rooms on offer and comes very highly rated.

Castle Rock Hostel   — This small, centrally located hostel continues to be one of the highest-rated places to stay in Edinburgh. They have a number of rooms on offer, from dorm beds to privates, a friendly staff, and are a great option for both budget and solo travellers.  

Torridon Guest House – a quaint bed and breakfast that is a great place to stay in Inverness. It is within a short walking distance of the city centre and a good option if you don’t want to stay in a hostel.

Black Isle Hostel  – a great hostel offering dorms and private rooms that is a fantastic option if travelling solo and if you want to meet other travellers. 

Isle of Skye 

An-Airidh Bed & Breakfast Portree – located in Portree, this is a cosy bed and breakfast with plentyof great rooms, a hearty breakfast and friendly owners. Perfect for mid-range visitors.

Skyewalker Hostel — one of the top-rated hostels in all of Scotland, it’s excellently located, they have a number of different room options, a friendly staff, and they sometimes organise social events in the evening. 

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other Scotland hotels

Week 3: Ireland

Ireland is a country that fills many people with visions of rolling green hills, pastoral beauty, and incredibly friendly people — and upon visiting you will find that it certainly delivers!

While most people spend one week in Ireland going a pretty standard route from Dublin south to Cork and then following the coast up to Galway , we suggest that you venture on a path less taken when you get to this portion of the London-Scotland-Ireland itinerary.

It is easiest to begin your Ireland trip in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland. Dublin is a large and dynamic city with many layers, however, it can be quite expensive for tourists and there aren’t a plethora of things to do.

Two days in Dublin should be more than sufficient to see the main sites such as Trinity College, Temple Bar, and the Guinness Storehouse.

From Dublin, instead of following all too many tourists ahead of you and going south, it’s time to instead head west for the naturally stunning Connemara region in County Galway.

Situated on Ireland’s west coast, Connemara is famed for its rugged scenery, mountainous and boggy terrain, and unique Gaelic culture.  Though Connemara is your eventual destination, there are a number of interesting stops you can make in the drive along the way.

Spending two days in Connemara will give you time to experience all of the fantastic things to do in this beautiful peninsula.

You can spend the day driving the famous scenic Sky Road outside of Clifden, explore charming fishing villages like Roundstone and Letterfrack, lie on the pristine white sand of Dog’s Bay Beach, and visit the gorgeous and historic Kylemore Abbey.

The final stop sees you in the wonderful Irish city of Galway. There are a number of great things to do here from exploring the main sites like the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, whiskey tasting at Garavans Pub, listening to traditional Irish music in the trendy West End, and eating at some of Ireland’s top restaurants.

Spend two days exploring Galway city and one more day to take a day trip to one of Ireland’s most famous natural attractions: the Cliffs of Moher . These amazing cliffs are a popular spot for a reason: they are absolutely stunning. Avoid the tourist crowds by trying to get there early, you won’t be sorry!

Where to Stay in Ireland

Apart from the traditional accommodation listed below, you can find a number of private rental properties in Ireland including this stunning city-centre flat in Dublin or this lovely restored barn in Connemara.

Hotel 7 – This perfectly located boutique hotel is the ideal place to stay if you’re looking for a bit more comfort in Dublin. Situated within easy walking distance of some main attractions, they have a number of plush rooms available and a restaurant and bar on site.

Jacobs Inn – This centrally located hostel is a great place for solo and budget travellers. As one of the best-rated hostels in Dublin, they have a range of dorm rooms and privates available and they also organise social events. 

Island View B&B  – Located in the small seaside village of Roundstone, this B&B is the perfect base to explore all that Connemara has to offer. They offer a tasty and filling breakfast and the rooms were clean and comfortable. This is absolutely one of the best places to stay in Connemara. 

Galway  

The Stop B&B   – This is a great bed and breakfast located in the Claddagh neighbourhood of Galway. Though the location is more quiet and residential, it was only about a ten-minute walk to the city centre and even closer to Galway’s vibrant west end. They also have a fantastic breakfast in the morning, included in the room rate. 

Kinlay Eyre Square Hostel – Centrally located just off of Galway’s Eyre Square, this is one of the top-rated hostels in Galway City. They have both dorm and private rooms on offer and also include breakfast in their nightly rate. It’s a fantastic option for both budget and solo travellers alike. 

Additional Information

If you have more time to devote to your itinerary, it can be worth adding a week onto all three countries or forgoing visiting one country altogether.

If you want to see more of England, consider spending a week in the beautiful southwestern region of Cornwall (there are a number of great stops from London to Cornwall to explore!) or heading north to the perennially popular Lake District. The latter makes more sense for an England-Scotland itinerary.

If you have more time and want to spend it in Scotland, consider adding on the Orkney Islands or driving all or part of the North Coast 500 route – this will allow you to see some of the most beautiful areas of the country where few tourists ever venture.

If you want to spend more time in Ireland or want only an Ireland-Scotland itinerary, you can head south from Dublin and spend time in Cork and the Ring of Kerry before tacking on Galway City and Connemara or alternatively head north from Dublin to Belfast and explore Northern Ireland!

Planning the perfect itinerary for England, Scotland and Ireland can be difficult as there is so much to see in each country. With these suggestions, however, you are sure to have the trip of a lifetime!

Are you trying to plan a trip to England, Scotland and Ireland? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts:

The Ultimate 2, 3 or 4 Days in Dublin Itinerary

10 Best Stops on the London to Cornwall Drive

Planning a Loch Lomond Day Trip from Glasgow & Edinburgh

About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

I am a widower and solo traveller of 76 years old can you recommend a company that would cater to my age group to see england scotland and Ireland, would it be better to take a cruise on small ship or land tour. I want to spend some time in London as well. It’s been thirty years since Ive been there. I realize this may be too much for one trip but not sure I would ever get back. I am not one to organize tours on my own look forward to hearing from you martin taffel

Hello Maggie,

Hope you are doing great and thank you for having chat blog which would help travelers like us.

We are a family of three adults and fan of Manchester United. We are planning to travel in September/October to see or 2 matches of Man U then travel to Scotland and Ireland. . I also want to know how could travel to the three places, train or air would be better. We are coming from Singapore. Any tips and guidance for us would be good.

Thank you very much Seli

Hi Selvi, if you don’t want to drive yourself, I’d recommend taking the train from London to Manchester and the same onward to Scotland. Then it’s a quick flight to Ireland 🙂

Thanks for the ideas and feedback. This helps stop the head spinning.

One question as we are planning something in June or July 2024 ( I know need to get going), but it will be a family of 3 (2 adults and 1 14YR Old Son). Knowing all cool viewing points will not always be as fun for a 14 year old, any thoughts/suggestions for his consideration?

Hi Tom, maybe plan to spend more time in the cities rather than in the country? There are lots of things that could be of interest to a teenager depending on what your son likes!

Love your recommendations! We will likely visit England, Scotland and Wales in a three to four week trip. Any thoughts about a brief Wales tour? My ancestors are from Llanddulas and we’ve never been to Wales.

I saw you suggested Ireland and Scotland if you only plan to spend 10 days, but what do you think about Ireland and England? I’d love to know your thoughts.

Thank you so much for the great info! My husband and I just booked a trip in and out of London from 9/12-10/16. We plan to do 2 weeks in England and a week each in Scotland and Ireland. He has roots in County Cork so we definitely want to go there. Can you help with an itinerary? Since we’re flying in and out of London, do you recommend one week in the city and one week in the countryside? We definitely want to go to Bath. York, Cambridge, Oxford and maybe the Cotswalds? What do you suggest? Also, is there a ferry from Scotland to Ireland and how are the roads in the rural areas of these two countries? We’ve never driven on the UK side of the road. Will we need a car at all in England? Thank you so much! Debbie

Hello Maggie, I enjoyed your article. My wife and I are planning a Sept 2023 trip to Scotland/London area. Will spend 14 days or so. Wondering if we fly into a Scottish airport or London on a RT ticket from Seattle, WA? The only thing in England we want to see is Sudeley Castle (family relationship), then it’s off to Scotland for 11-12 days (focused on highlands), probably by train then rental car. We could do Sudeley on front end or back. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I am planning a 13 days trip to the UK in January.

I want to understand if I should do both Scotland and Ireland with london.

Please guide.

Thanks for your super helpful blog! I have just a couple of questions:

– Would you recommend separate car hires for Scottland and Ireland? – If you recommend separate car hires, would you recommend travel to Ireland from Scottland via ferry, or plane?

Hello Maggie,visiting Europe for the first time- London – Paris – Italy – would love some advise from you Is the Oliver plaza hotel a good choice to stay in London We are considering 3 to 4 days in London ( sight seeing the most famous sites) – traveling to Paris via the eurostar – 4 day stay in Paris- need advise on hotel close to normal sight seeing- then Italy Rome-pissa -Venice- any and all advise is welcome Thanking you in advance for your help! Adriana

Greetings Maggie! We have a reunion meeting in Belfast on 16-20 Sept 2022. I am flying from New York to Heathrow with connection to Belfast. After the reunion we want to explore Wales and Edinburg and Loch Ness (20-22 Sept) then back to London for return flight to NY. Would appreciate if you could recommend a good itinerary (I don’t drive manual so driving is not for me) taking the ferry from Belfast to Wales and maybe by air to Edinburg (pls suggest the best transport to take). Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Wonderful information. I have a 1 week trip to London in August and want to spend 2 days in Ireland. My family is from County Fermanagh but I am not sure I can get that far in such a short time and still enjoy it leisurely. Any must do’s or suggestions?? I am not too interested in Dublin.

Spending 2 days in Ireland will definitely be a bit rushed, especially when you consider travel times. I would recommend planning to visit another time if you’re strapped for time on this trip 🙂

Hello Maggie we are 6 people from India all 60 plus of age want to visit London & Countryside in second half of June for around 12 nights what can be best ittenary for the same.My daughter living in London suggested Isle of Wright,Cotswold & Scotland

Hi Maggie- My son is graduating from college and we are planning to go to Ireland, Wales and London. We have approximately 2 weeks. We fly into Dublin and will finish up in London. I’m going home then and he’s heading over to the continent for another 10 days before he returns home to Chicago. I’m considering renting a car in Ireland so we can have more flexibility getting to more places “off the beaten path”. Any advice? Thanks!!

Hi Patrice – sounds like you’re planning a really memorable trip! I think that renting a car in Ireland (and in Wales, too) is a great idea as it will give you a lot more flexibility. Hope you have a great time!

I’m returning to the British Isles in April with my husband & son, as we will be visiting our older son studying in Swansea, Wales. Do you have any recommendations/links for a bed & breakfast or hotel in Swansea and for a bed & breakfast in Dublin, Ireland? Thank you for your kind consideration.

Hi there Maggie,

Thank you for this interesting read! I’ve actually been wanting to do a eng-sct-irl tour like this for quite a while (due in part to being a huge Harry Potter nerd), but I’ve never actually looked into it until now. Your itinerary guide has been really informative!

I know it’s almost impossible to say, BUT if you were to give a ballpark cost figure for the full tour for a single traveler hiring a car, what would it be?

Thanks again! And best wishes.

Thanks for your comment, Jason! We actually have a few cost guides that you might find helpful when coming up with a rough budget. England: https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/england-trip-cost/ Scotland: https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/trip-to-scotland-cost/ Ireland: https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/ireland-trip-cost/

Great article, thank you. In terms of a budget for the three locations, do you have anything on this? Many thanks, Ken

Hi Ken! We actually have separate budget guides for England ( https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/england-trip-cost/ ), Scotland ( https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/trip-to-scotland-cost/ ) and Ireland ( https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/ireland-trip-cost/ ). To help you even further we also have budget guides specifically for London ( https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/london-trip-cost/ ), Edinburgh ( https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/prices-in-edinburgh/ ) and Dublin ( https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/prices-in-dublin/ ). Hope this helps!

Dear Maggie, thank you so much for putting this information out. 6 of us (3 couples family) want to plan a vacation to these locations in June 2022. This really helps us. My mother in law was from England and my husband and siblings want to see it all again. Fingers crossed. Thank you, Barbara

Thanks for your comment, Barbara! Really hope you’re able to have a fantastic trip 🙂

Dear Maggie, This is wonderful information. Thank you so very much. I along with 3 other nurses who have worked off and on together for over 30 years are planning a 6 week trip through England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. Your tips have helped me with the planning of this trip. Thank you again,

Thanks for your comment, Terry! So happy that we’ve been able to help you plan your trip and I hope that you’re able to have an unforgettable adventure.

Hello, we are considering a 4 week trip for our family of 5, and I was wondering how your 6 weeks went? I am starting to think 4 weeks isn’t enough time

I am planning a trip to the U.K next year. I’m planning on moving to the U.K from Maryland. Where are the best location to settle down. It’s just me and no kids.

Hi Felicia, thanks for your comment! Where you plan to live in the UK really depends on what you’re after. There’s quite a lot of options so make sure to do some research and see where you like the most when you’re visiting next year 🙂

My husband and I are hoping to travel next year to London, Scotland and Ireland. This was a very informative and helpful article. We unfortunately will only have two weeks and not three to do this trip so we may leave off Ireland. Any suggestions on how to spilt the 3 of them in a 2 week period or do you suggest skipping one for a later time date by itself? Thank you

Hi Vicki, thanks for your comment! If you only have two weeks, I think the right move is to only concentrate on England and Scotland and leave Ireland for another trip. It is way better to visit fewer places and actually get to see and experience them then feel as if you have to rush through too many places and not really get the most out of them. Hope this helps and you’re able to have a great trip in the future!

Thanks for your tips etc on visiting Scotland/Ireland. A question can I rent a car in Scotland go over to Ireland leaving the car behind and pick up another car with the same rental company. Thus saving Ferry costs for the car. Whick port do you advise to use?

Regards Sakkie

Hi Sakkie, I’m not aware of any particular companies that you could do this with — you’ll need to contact a few yourself. Hope you have a great trip!

hello maggie,me and my wife are leaving USA,first time for our 30th anniversary.taking 2 1/2 weeks.wanted to visit all 3 places plus amsterdam,and normandy.was planning on flying to all of them,we heard it was the less expensive and doing small day tours in each.3 days in each,London,Edinburgh,dublin,amsterdam and normandy,all in may 2021.think too much?trying to plan a headstart.

Hi Jeffery, I think if you want to visit all of these places in 2.5 weeks it’s going to be a bit too much. Personally, I would limit yourself to just England and Scotland and maybe Ireland and save continental Europe for another trip 🙂 I think you will be able to enjoy the places you visit more this way.

Wondering what the best itinerary would be for 17 day trip. We would fly into the suggested city and rent a car for sure. Looking to get all 3 in and definitely want to see all the highlights. Any recommendations ?

H John, if you have 17 days, I would follow the 3-week itinerary that I’ve lined out and just pick one or two places that don’t interest you in order to meet your time constraints.

Dear Maggie, Thanks for the great information I’m planning for my short vacation (one week ) trip to London . North iceland and Scotland. Do you have any idea or suggestions for this short period ?? Regards Joanne

Hi Joanne, that is a lot of places to pack into one week! I would honestly only suggest sticking to the capital cities (London, Edinburgh, Belfast) and maybe take a day trip or two from them. That would allow you to get a good feel for the places without cramming too much in. Hope you have a great time!

Wonderfully insightful and helpful information on traveling the British Isles. I am planning an 18 day trip next September for my wife and I. Following your suggestions, I think 3 days in London would be enough for us to see many of the important and historic sights there. Then we would take the train to Edinburgh and stay for 2 or 3 days (maybe a short trip to St. Andrews one of those days). Then off to Inverness and the Isle of Skye for 2 days. I’d like to know if you think Glasgow is a must see. If not, we will simply head to Ireland and have a few more days to spend there.

I like the idea of Air BnB sites, but have no experience with them and want to make sure there is no concern necessary. I am a bit cautious at this point.

I’m looking forward to your response and any further/additional suggestions for helpful information.

Best regards, Pat

Thanks for your comment, Pat! I’m glad you’ve found this information helpful and it sounds like you’re planning a great trip. A lot of people tend to skip Glasgow when visiting Scotland (I, myself, have never been) as I don’t believe it has the same kind of beauty and historical sites that you can find in Edinburgh or elsewhere in the country. It is pretty up and coming, however, and there is a great music scene (so I’ve heard), so it all depends on what you’re after.

As for Airbnb, I have stayed in many many Airbnb properties all over the world and have never once had any sort of safety issue. It is actually my preferred kind of accommodation and I use it more often than not. All I would say is make sure you read the reviews of whichever property you want to stay in so you know what to expect. But there isn’t anything to worry about 🙂

Hope this helps!

Maggie, I really enjoyed your discussion and suggested itinerary. I is a great start for us. We are planning a five week trip to England, Scotland and Ireland (hopefully including Northern Ireland). A bit of Wales if we can fit it in would be nice. We are deciding between May and September. Do you have any recommendation/preference? I was thinking September since we would be heading pretty far north in Scotland. Also, do you have any thoughts on additional places to add for a trip of this length. We would likely limit our time in London to two-three days max. Both my wife Sue and I have visited London multiple times, but that is the extent of her travels to Britain. I have seen a fair share of the West Country and South Wales, but would appreciate any thoughts from an expert on how to expand your suggested itinerary. FYI, I have been no further north than the Cotswolds and have not seen Oxford/Cambridge/York and only limited places in Kent/Sussex/Hampshire/Dorset. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for your comment, Bob. I think that planning to go in September is a better bet, the weather is more consistently warm then — May can be really cold throughout Britain. If you’ve already been to London, then I would recommend spending some time in Cambridge and York. The Lake District could be a good option for you, as well, especially if you like nature. I hope you have a great trip!

Thank you so much for such informative articles (I’ve read several of them tonight)!

My husband and I are celebrating our 40th anniversary this December. We never had a honeymoon, so we have been planning a trip to Ireland and Scotland in March/April of 2020.

After reading this article, however, I’m thinking we might be better off to wait until Fall of 2020. ?

I have been looking into tour group trips, but none of them seem to be what we really want. After waiting all this time to go on a trip we’ve dreamed all our lives, I want it to be as special as can be. You have given me the courage to try and plan a trip myself and even hire a car! ?

Thank you again for the insightful advice.

Hi Lorrie, thanks so much for your comment and I am so happy that I’ve inspired you to travel independently for your 40th anniversary “honeymoon!” I’m sure you and your husband will have an amazing time! If you have any questions regarding your trip, please don’t hesitate to get in touch 🙂

we plan to travel to London 14 days on 19dec2019 onwsrds for Christmas celebration n New year 2020 and knowing that daylights short..about 4pm will b dark..

We don’t plan to drive.. can u recommend which date shall we stay in London ? will like to travel to Paris, Scotland or any better suggestion.

Regards Amie

Hey Amie, you can stay in London on any of these days but keep in mind that virtually everything shuts down on Christmas (25 Dec), including all public transport. Other than that, I’m sure you will have a great time — there are lots of markets and fun, festive things to explore that time of year. Just make sure to pack warm clothes!

We are planning a 10 days trip to London Scotland and Ireland.Please suggest an itinerary.

10 days in all three of London, Scotland, and Ireland is going to be too rushed. I would suggest concentrating on either London and Scotland or Scotland and Ireland depending on what interests you most. Hope you have a great trip!

Hi Maggie, Planning a 2.5 week trip and a friend has offered for me to use her vehicle (starting point West London). Would this be a good option or will I be wasting time driving long distances?

Hi Stephanie, if you have the option to borrow your friend’s car for the trip, I would definitely recommend it! Driving in London can be a nightmare, but otherwise, you will have so much more flexibility on your itinerary without being beholden to bus and train timetables. The UK is a small country, so no drives are really that long, either. And you can always find somewhere great to stop along the way!

Hi Maggie! We are looking for a 2 week trip to all 3 places. London we only want to do a few days and see the highlights. Then Scotland and Ireland. We want to stay a night in a castle in Scotland. Ireland we have to kiss the Blarney Stone. Touristy stuff as we have never been. Guinness and Jameson yours too! Ideas?

Hey Maureen, sounds like you’ve got a great trip planned! Hope you have a great time 🙂

Dear Maggie, Read your wonderful and infomative blog. Planning a trip to England, Scotland and Ireland in Mid September for family of 4 adults , a 4 years child and a 8 months baby.

We have only 2 weeks to spend. Please recommended some suggestions and an itinerary. Would like self driving in Scotland and Ireland.

Glad you found the information helpful! While the above itinerary is 3 weeks long, it is entirely possible to cut it down to 2 weeks if you just decide to skip some of the destinations that don’t interest you. For instance, you can only spend a couple of days in London, and skip one destination from each Scotland and Ireland and you will be able to plan to perfect 2-week trip. Hope you and your family have a great time!

Dear Maggie, Happy New Year! Your information is great but I was wondering if you have info on just navigating travel to these beautiful cities via train or other types of transportation between your suggested cities What is your opinion of taking a ferry to one of our selected city? I will be traveling with my 16-year-old daughter and will not be renting a car. I would be too freaked out and make our trip unbearable. We have been to London but never to Scotland or Ireland. We are traveling from Los Angeles and look for to making this a reality. Our travel will be in June of 2019. Great Article and look forward to reading more of your articles.

Happy New Year, Rosemarie! Thanks for your comment 🙂 Depending on where you want to go in Ireland/Scotland, renting a car isn’t entirely necessary, it can just make things more convenient if you want to visit more rural areas. Bus and train connections between the bigger cities in both countries are frequent and reliable, so you shouldn’t need to worry much about that. I’m not sure where you plan to take a ferry to, however, in my experience, the ferries are large, clean, and comfortable and tend to operate on time. If you’re not renting a car, you can also take day tours from all of the bigger cities/towns to visit more difficult-to-reach areas as well. I hope this helps you plan your trip! If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to send us an email 🙂

Hi Maggie, my husband and I are planning a trip Oct 1-15 for his work to Tenby, Wales. He will have to work each day and I would love to see the UK, my daughter is planning on flying for one week of our stay and just wondering how we could see Ireland-Scotland-London in a 7 day period or is that too much to see in such a short time? Would love your suggestions!!

Hi Pam, thanks for your comment! I personally wouldn’t recommend trying to cram a visit to England, Scotland and Ireland into one 7-day trip – you’re likely not going to get a lot out of it and will spend more of your time travelling between places rather than actually seeing anything. I would recommend staying simply in England and Scotland (or just one of them) and then plan to visit Ireland some other time when you have enough time to properly dedicate to it.

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The perfect scotland and ireland itinerary.

Trips to Ireland and Scotland are some of my favorites to help plan. Both countries are some of my favorites and they can be easily combined. This Scotland and Ireland itinerary will help you plan the best trip!

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• Should I go to Scotland or Ireland?

I often get asked by my readers which trip they should take, Ireland or Scotland? While both destinations are amazing and beautiful with so much to offer, and I always try to help them make the right choice for their needs, I don’t think this has to be an either-or choice. If you’re really struggling with the Ireland vs Scotland debate, why not choose both? When you use this itinerary to travel to Ireland and Scotland you’re getting the best of both worlds within two weeks.

Here's a Short Cut

Best Time to Visit Ireland and Scotland

Fly between scotland and ireland, ferry from ireland to scotland, ireland and scotland tours, ireland scotland map, scotland and ireland itinerary, day 1: arrive in dublin, day 2: explore dublin, day 3 & 4: take an overnight trip to the west of ireland, day 5: wicklow mountains, day 6 & 7: northern ireland and back to dublin, days 1-2: explore edinburgh , day 3: scottish highlands, days 4-6: isle of skye, day 7: depart from edinburgh.

The best time to visit Ireland and Scotland is usually off-peak in shoulder season between April-May and September-October. If you go to Ireland and Scotland during these times you’ll avoid the crowds, but still be able to enjoy nicer weather than in the winter.

Getting Between Scotland and Ireland

Trips to Ireland and Scotland offer the best of both worlds and can be done affordably too. Getting from Ireland to Scotland is easy and affordable. There are many companies that offer Ireland and Scotland tours that are great, or you can choose to take the trip on your own.

There are plenty of cheap flights from Ireland to Scotland and from Scotland to Ireland. You can fly with Ryanair for as little as $21 USD! Honestly, that’s cheaper than the cost of a nice dinner! So if you really are having a hard time deciding between Ireland and Scotland, go ahead and do both!

Learn how to find cheap flights to and from Ireland and Scotland by reading my   guide to flying for cheap or nearly free here.

If you have your own car or are using this itinerary as part of a larger European trip, you might also consider taking the ferry from Ireland to Scotland or vice versa. This would also work if you’re planning to fly in and out of the same airport. However, if you are flying into Scotland or Ireland and plan to fly out of a different airport, I would not recommend taking the ferry. Especially since flights between Scotland and Ireland are so cheap! If you do decide to go for a rental car in one country and leave it in the other, it will cost you at least $1500 USD ($500 for a cross border fee and $500 for a one-way rental fee). And then you have the cost of the ferry on top of that which is a few hundred dollars. While sailing across the North Chanel is truly beautiful, It’s not worth the expense if you will be renting a car.

Visiting Ireland and Scotland can seem a little daunting on your own and tours can be a great way to go if you’re feeling a little nervous about it. These are some great Ireland and Scotland tours that will help you get a great overview of these two destinations:

This interactive map should help you plan your Ireland and Scotland itinerary. You can click on each destination to find more information.

I outline a great Ireland and Scotland itinerary below, but if you want to skip all the planning and simply use this downloadable, printable, detailed itinerary , you can find it here.

Get the Full Itinerary I’m giving you a detailed day-by-day Ireland and Scotland itinerary. You can do this itinerary in any order you wish, but this seemed the most logical to me. This itinerary begins in Ireland and ends in Scotland, where you can choose to fly home from, or simply fly back to Ireland for a round trip ticket. The choice is yours. I recommend flying in and out of wherever you can   get the best deals .  I generally find Ireland cheaper to fly to from the United States but have occasionally found great deals to Scotland as well.

Ireland could literally take you years to explore! So if you’re planning a trip to Ireland , I’m giving you just a week in this itinerary of things to do in Ireland , but I think it will show you some of the best places to visit in Ireland in a short amount of time. If you’re interested in a longer, more detailed trip to Ireland, you can check out my full  Ireland Itinerary. 

For the first day of your Scotland and Ireland vacation, arrive in Dublin airport and adjust to the time change. Dublin is Ireland’s capital city, so you’re sure to visit places while you’re here. Keep yourself awake until a reasonable hour (between 8 pm and 11 pm) and wake up early the next morning.

Now that you’re hopefully feeling well-rested and not too jet-lagged, it’s time to explore the capital of the Republic of Ireland. Don’t miss these stops in Dublin:

• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Dublin Castle
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Trinity College Library
• St. Stephens Green
• Lunch at Avoca Wool Shop & Cafe
• Little Museum of London
• Take a   Bus Tour   of Dublin
• Howth Cliffs
• Phoenix Park

Take an entire day to explore the west of Ireland. If you’re self-driving it will take about 3.5 hours to get to the west coast known as the Wild Atlantic Way. If you’re feeling nervous about driving in Ireland there are several great day trips from Galway that will take you to the west for this 2-day trip.  This amazing tour   explores the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Killarney National Park, with an overnight stay in Dingle.

Don’t miss these stops on your trip to the West:

• Killarney National Park (learn more about   Killarney   here.)
• Muckross House & Traditional Farm
• Muckross Abbey
• Killarney Town
• Cliffs of Moher
• Blarney Castle

Spend a day in the beautiful County Wicklow. Be sure not to miss these:

• Powerscourt Estate: Dating back over 200 years, these are some of the most beautiful gardens in all of Ireland
• Glendalough: Beautiful lakes surrounded by stunning mountains!
• Silver Strand Beach: A beautiful and secluded beach
• Wicklow Gaol: This old jail is a great place to learn some interesting and sad Irish history.
• Wicklow Town: Adorable Irish town

Spend two days in beautiful Northern Ireland! You can take the three-hour drive yourself or take  this great two-day tour   that will take you to all the best sites. Be sure not to miss these:

• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
• Giant’s Causeway
• Dark Hedges

In between your exploration, make sure you also visit the city center and get to experience local dishes and listen to traditional Irish music while you’re in town!

Now that you’ve enjoyed a full week in Ireland, it’s time to hop over the Irish Channel and visit the beautiful and rugged Scotland! Most flights will take you into Edinburgh where you can either rent a car or spend a few days in the city then do some tours in the highlands. If you want to experience a great overview of the country, you can do my full  Scotland Itinerary.

I normally like to advise people to get out of the big cities and explore the countryside, but Edinburgh has so much to offer that I think it’s worth spending at least 2 days here. You can learn about what to do in Edinburgh in  my detailed guide here,   but be sure not to miss these top spots:

• Edinburgh Castle
• Holyrood Palace
• The Royal Mile
• St. Gile’s Cathedral
• Scott Monument
• Grass Market
• Princes Street Gardens
• Take a    Harry Potter Walking Tour
• Visit the Elephant House Cafe where JK Rowling ate
• Victoria Street
• Hike Arthur’s Seat
• Calton Hill
• Cairngorms National Park

If you’ve ever dreamed of staying in a castle, be sure to check out these awesome castle hotels in Scotland.

Spend day 4 exploring the highlands of Scotland. Visit Inverness and try and find the Loch Ness Monster! You can drive here or take   this easy day tour from Edinburgh.   Be sure to read my   guide to the highlands   and don’t miss these sites:

• Urquhart Castle
• Fort William

You can’t visit Scotland without taking a trip to visit the breathtakingly beautiful Isle of Skye. It’s rugged beauty and history combined with its rugged island charm is sure to win your heart! Driving to the Isle of Skye can be a little scary if you don’t know what to expect. The roads are one lane so you must share the road with oncoming traffic. If you’re not comfortable driving in those conditions, it might be a good idea to take a tour to the Isle of Skye.

Rabbie’s does an amazing 3-day tour that comes with your own comedic  kilted tour guide to take you through the Isle of Skye while learning all about its interesting past and natural wonders. You can find the  tour here. 

Be sure to read   my complete guide to the Isle of Skye   before going.

Whether you decide to drive to the Isle of Skye on your own or take a tour, don’t miss these sites:

• The Quiraing 
• Old Man of Storr
• Neist Point
• Dunvegan Castle
• Fairy Pools
• Eilean Donan Castle
• Museum of Island Life & Flora MacDonald’s Grave

On the last day of your Scotland and Ireland vacation, travel back to Edinburgh and either fly home from there or fly back to Dublin to fly home.

I hope this itinerary will help plan many trips to Ireland and Scotland. They are both such amazing destinations and I know you’ll love them! If you need help planning, please feel free to reach out  Facebook   or  Instagram , or send me an email me  [email protected]

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

2 Weeks in the UK – My Perfect UK Trip Itinerary

Last updated: April 16, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 219 Comments

If you are looking for a two week UK itinerary which includes Ireland, you have come to the right place. This UK road trip itinerary has you starting in London, and using a rental car as the transportation method. It covers some of our highlights in the UK, including cities, castles, and stunning natural scenery.

I have spent a great deal of time living in and exploring the UK. I’ve drawn on my experiences travelling here to put together my perfect two week UK trip to help you plan your own trip.

This UK itinerary (which also includes Ireland) covers England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. It’s a self-drive road-trip, although could also be modified to support travel by public transport if you prefer.

If you haven’t driven in the UK before, do check out my guide to driving in the UK for helpful tips. We also have a guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK if you need budget planning help.

Without further ado, allow me to present my two-week UK itinerary.

A 2 week UK Trip itinerary

This itinerary is very busy and fits a lot in, including time in Ireland. It is doable, but just be aware that it will be fast paced with quite a lot of driving. Naturally, you are welcome to take the itinerary and adjust it to meet your own interests and pace.

For example, many folks prefer to focus on the UK with their two weeks, and skip the island of Ireland, returning instead via the Lake District and Wales. However, if you want to see as much as possible, this itinerary is how to do it.

Days 1 & 2: London

The UK’s capital is one of my favourite cities in the world. It’s been hanging around for over 2000 years on the banks of the Thames, and there is just an incredible wealth of things to see, from historical sights, to amazing museums, to crazy street markets.

It’s a wonderfully walk-able capital, and you can easily take in the major central sights in a day or so, leaving you the second day to explore museums, art galleries, or go a little further afield and take in some of the other sights, from crumbling cemeteries to massive parks. And if all else fails, you will never be short on an incredible pub to while away some time before heading on.

For inspiration for your visit, take a look at our 2 day London itinerary , which covers the major highlights of the city, and also links to lots of other information about visiting, including tips on finding Harry Potter locations in London through to Winston Churchill locations in London – something for everyone!

My advice for London is to invest in an Oyster card to save money on your transport (don’t hire a car until you leave the capital) and if you think you’re going to use it, look into buying a London Pass to save money on London’s top attractions.

Available in 1, 3 and 6 day versions, as well as a version with an included Oyster card, the savings can really be quite impressive if you plan on visiting a few locations. You can read a full break down on when the London Pass is worth buying here , and buy one yourself here .

Finally, London is probably going to be the most expensive city in the UK for your accommodation. We recommend booking well in advance to get a good deal.

Some of our recommended accommodation options in London are:

The Walrus Bar and Hostel , The Z hotel in Shoreditch , Point A Hotel , Lime Tree Hotel and the  Resident Victoria Hotel . You can see more London hotel listings here on booking.com . We also love the curated apartments available on Plum Guide .

Once you have finished up exploring London, we suggest collecting your car hire and heading out of town. For car hire we recommend Discover Cars , they search all the major providers so you can compare and find the best deal for your trip.

Days 3 & 4: Oxford & the Cotswolds

One of the stipulations of the original question was the wish to avoid feeling too much like a tourist. Unfortunately, this is nearly impossible in Oxford , as nearly everyone there is either a tourist or a student. I lived in and around Oxford for a number of years, and generally felt like a tourist most of that time too.

Part of the reason for that is that this tiny city is absolutely jam packed with incredible buildings, largely in the form of the Oxford Colleges. These are seriously wealthy establishments, who clearly had no problem flaunting that wealth in an architectural fashion back in the day.

This means that yes, it is full of people wandering around, mouths agape, at quite how pretty the whole thing is. Yes, it’s jam packed with tourists. But for good reason!

So strap that camera on and snap away. Then go for a punt on the river, and enjoy some Pimms or a cream tea. Seek out the Harry Potter filming locations . Take a walking tour of the Universities . There’s no shortage of way to fill your time!

Read more tips for spending a day in Oxford, here .

From Oxford you are also well located to take in the incredibly picturesque Cotswolds area – all quaint villages and rolling countryside. The England that everyone imagines England to be like, with country pubs, village greens and cricket ovals. Lovely stuff. Check out hotel prices for  Oxford here .

Days 5 & 6: Peak District and Manchester

From Oxford I’m going to suggest heading “up north”, towards the Peak District national park. Think rolling hills, quaint villages, and beautiful walks.

There are also some fabulous stately homes to visit , not to mention that on the way from Oxford you can stop off at Warwick Castle – one of the UK’s best-preserved castles.

If you’re interested in the industrial revolution in the UK I can highly recommend a visit to the city of Manchester.

Of course, if the industrial revolution isn’t your thing there are plenty of other reasons to visit Manchester, including excellent retail therapy, an awesome food scene, and a variety of architectural highlights. Not to mention the music scene!

You can see my guide to things to do in Manchester for lots more ideas, and you can see hotel prices for Manchester here .

One other thing you might consider as you pass through the Peak District and Manchester is a visit to Alton Towers . This is arguably the UK’s best known theme park, and would make for a great thrilling day out for those of you who like that sort of thing.

Day 7: York

Not that far from Manchester (England is so quaintly explorable!), the city of York is another of my favourite UK cities.

From the incredible Gothic York Minster (a climb to the top is highly recommended) to the winding, tumbled down alleyways of the shambles, to the Viking history – this is a city that just cries out for exploration.

It’s also an awesome place if you’re into ghost stories. There are a whole number of ghost walks that take in the spooky past of York, so if you want an evening of entertainment and intrigue, likely accompanied with a number of fine drinking establishments, an evening ghost walk is a great bit of fun.

I’m not a great believer in this sort of thing usually, but I took a tour and thoroughly enjoyed it!

If you do plan on seeing a few things in York, you might save money with a York City Pass , which includes most of the attractions in the city as well as access to the York Sightseeing bus or York City Cruises. You can buy that in advance here .

For more York ideas, see our guide to spending two days in York , which has a comprehensive itinerary as well as tips on where to stay and how to get around.

For accommodation, you can check out and book the best York hotels here .

Days 8 & 9: Edinburgh via Northumberland

From York we’re going to wave farewell to England, and head up to Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. On the way though, you’ll be passing through some of England’s least travelled, yet stunningly beautiful, landscapes.

I am of course talking about Northumbria. From miles of deserted beach, to crumbling castles, to the Roman equivalent of the great wall of China, Northumbria really has a lot to offer someone looking for a slightly off the beaten track England experience. The rolling landscapes are breath-taking and you’ll find yourself alone much of the time. Worth taking a bit of time to explore, in my opinion.

Then of course, it’s up to Edinburgh , where you’ll not be short of amazing things to look at. From Edinburgh castle, to Arthurs Seat, from fine whiskys, to Princes Street, there really is enough here for a number of days of entertainment. And if you visit during the Fringe festival… well… plan on being entertained for a good many weeks!

See more ideas on spending some time in Edinburgh in this detailed two day Edinburgh itinerary that I put together, as well as our guide to things to do in Edinburgh , our tips on visiting Edinburgh in winter , and our guide to finding Harry Potter in Edinburgh .

Then  check and book your Edinburgh hotels here.

Days 10 – 12: Ireland

Because the UK is an easily explorable place with decent roads and relatively short distances to drive, it is totally possible to include another country – Ireland! – in a trip like this if you’re up for it.

Do be aware that if you are renting a car, some car rental companies have restrictions on taking cars on ferries, or into other countries – so make sure you check before you go as there may be an additional fee to pay.

Of course, you could also fly to Ireland (Edinburgh to Belfast or Dublin for example), and use different rentals for different parts of your adventure!

If all that sounds like too much hard work, you could extend your time in Scotland, or alternatively, you could take in the west coast of the UK, including Glasgow , the Lake District, and Liverpool, as well as popping into Wales for the stunning Snowdonia national park, and rejoin this itinerary in South Wales or Bristol . The choice is yours!

If it is Ireland you want though, it’s a short ferry ride from Scotland (Cairnryan to be precise, which is 2-3 hour drive from Edinburgh) across to Belfast in Northern Ireland, from where you can spend a few days exploring the Emerald Isle.

We have travelled from Cairnryan with both Stena Line and P&O Ferries, both of which have been a fast, comfortable and efficient service. We normally use Direct Ferries for ferry booking as they compare prices across all the providers and support payment in multple currencies. You can book your ferry tickets here .

This part of the world has a lot to offer, and three days is quite a short amount of time. We can recommend spending some time in Belfast and driving north along the causeway coastal route to see such highlights as the Giant’s Causeway, ruined castles and spectacular coastline. Then, head south into Ireland, and see fabulous Dublin.

I’ve explored Dublin and her surroundings, taken a trip down to the Dingle Peninsula , kissed the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle, gazed at the Cliffs of Moher ,  and visited the Dark Hedges of Game of Thrones fame – to name but a few of our wonderful experience on the Irish Isle.

In Dublin there’s the Guinness Factory, of course, as a popular highlight, but also oodles of Gaelic history and culture to get excited about.

There are also of course the Irish people, well known for their love of a good time! Personally, I’d head on down the coast from Belfast, through Dublin and down to the port of Rosslare, where after three exciting days in Ireland another ferry service will whisk you across to the last of the four countries to make up the UK: Wales!

Day 13: South Wales and Cardiff

In Wales you will arrive either at Fishguard or Pembroke – both excellent places to explore the Pembrokeshire Coast national park . Here you will find beautiful beaches, rugged cliffs, and fabulous opportunities for walking.

You’re also not too far a drive from Cardiff, the Welsh capital. Four capitals in a fortnight – not bad going! Here you’ll find castles, sporting venues and more Welsh based culture than you can shake a stick at. Plus, arrive at the right time of year and you’ll find the Great British Cheese festival in full swing. What’s not to be excited about? For more about travelling in Wales and highlights along this route, see our detailed Wales road trip itinerary .

Find and book your Cardiff hotels here .

Day 14: Bristol & Bath

From Cardiff you’ll cross the enormous Severn estuary over the impress Severn road bridge and be back in the UK, or Bristol to be precise. Here you’ll find all sorts of interesting items of historical interest, largely running on a nautical theme, as well as some of the best street art in Britain .

For over a thousand years Bristol has been an important English port. From early explorers and traders, to the dark years of the African slave vessels, to filling Australia with immigrants, it is hard to understate the role that Bristol has played in Britain’s sea faring history. There is, after all, a reason for the expression “ship-shape and Bristol fashion” having a place in the English language.

I can highly recommend taking a trip round the SS Great Britain when you’re in Bristol. Built in 1843, and designed by the engineering genius who was Isambard Kingdom Brunel – the man who almost single-handedly revolutionised both engineering and public transport in the UK.

The SS Great Britain is notable as being the first steamer to cross the Atlantic – setting a record pace for the time of 14 days. An amazing bit of history. Note that tickets are slightly cheaper if you book them online, which you can do online here .

For more ideas in Bristol, check out our guide to things to do in Bristol , which should give you plenty of ideas to fill your time. Find the best prices on Bristol hotels and book here .

From Bristol it’s on to the Roman spa city of Bath, a world heritage site. Like Oxford , this is a difficult place to be anything other than a tourist, but it is so worth it all the same!

Day 15: Back to London, via Stonehenge!

Our last day of our just over two week UK itinerary takes us back to London. No trip to the UK though would really be complete without taking in perhaps our most famous monument – the circle of rocks known as Stonehenge.

There is just something about the place that makes you wonder. A circle of rocks, built by a people who had nothing but their hands and some bits of wood to help them out, in the middle of the Wiltshire countryside, hundreds of miles from an actual quarry, is just mind blowing.

Add in the pagan ritualism, the relationship between the rocks and the sun, and the sheer mystery of the place, and you have somewhere that is capable of really capturing the imagination. Worth your time to visit (see more thoughts from a trip to Stonehenge here ).

Plus, while you’re there you can pop into Salisbury and enjoy the cathedral, which boasts the highest cathedral spire of any church in the UK.

And then… back to London, where this tour finishes!

2 Weeks in the UK: Road Trip Map

Here’s a map of the route , for your reference.

2 Week UK Itinerary Summary

• Days 1 & 2 : London
• Days 3 & 4 : Oxford & the Cotswolds
• Days 5 & 6 : Peak District and Manchester
• Day 7 : York
• Days 8 & 9 : Edinburgh via Northumberland
• Days 10 – 12 : Ireland
• Day 13 : South Wales and Cardiff
• Day 14 : Bristol & Bath
• Day 15 : Back to London, via Stonehenge!

Can you do this 2 Week UK itinerary by public transport?

A popular question from readers is whether or not this itinerary can be done by public transport. I appreciate that of course not everyone wants to drive in the UK, and the answer, for the most part, is yes.

Certainly, between the major cities on the itinerary there are good rail and/or bus links, with the train usually being a little faster. The main challenge is the rural sections of the route – for example, exploring the Cotswolds, Northumbria or the Peak District. This is possible using local buses of course, but it can definitely slow you down a fair bit, and so you would need to adjust the itinerary a little to fit the schedule.

Another option is to add in some days in London or Edinburgh, and doing some specific day trips from these cities to take in the out of town attractions.

For example, there is this  day trip from London that takes in highlights such as Bath and Stonehenge. Then, for Northumbria and the Scottish Borders, including beautiful Alnwick Castle, consider this tour from Edinburgh .

If you are interested in doing this itinerary by public transport, check out my guide to taking a 10 day UK trip by public transport, which as well as a route, has lots of ideas for how to book different forms of transport in the most effective and cost-efficient way.

What About Touring the UK With A Tour Company?

Another popular question is whether or not this sort of trip can be done with a tour company, and if we have any companies we would recommend for this.

So you have a few options for doing this which I have outlined below.

The first option is to take a group tour of the UK. There are a number of companies offering small group tours – we’d recommend finding a service which operates tours of 15 people or less. We usually use and recommend Rabbie’s Trail Burners , who operate trips around the UK and Ireland, and have a number of tour options to choose from.

We haven’t found a tour that exactly matches our UK wide itinerary, but we still have a solution for those of you wanting the do a similar trip as part of a guided tour.

First, we recommend you spend two or three days in London, following our suggested London itinerary .

Next, we recommend you take something similar to this small group tour , which takes eight days to take you from London to Edinburgh.

In Edinburgh, you can spend a couple of days following our Edinburgh itinerary , after which you can easily fly to either Belfast or Dublin direct from Edinburgh.

Here you can either explore these lovely cities, or take a tour to explore more of the country, we’d recommend either this three day tour of Northern Ireland  or this three day tour of the southern and western coast .

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to skip Ireland, you could take something like this five day tour of the Scottish Highlands and Skye .

Finally, you can either return to London, or have your flights home depart from Dublin or Edinburgh, depending on your tour choice.

The other option is a bespoke tour company and/or a private tour guide, who will be able to put a tour together for you, including guiding, transport and accommodation.

Of all the options, this will generally be the most expensive way to travel, but it will also give you total flexibility in terms of your trip and schedule, plus you’ll have a guide with you every step of the way, taking all the hassle out of your trip.

For this sort of tour, we recommend the services of Robina Brown, who is a blue-badge guide offering tours across the UK. See her website here .

When to Visit the UK

You can visit the UK at any time of year, although for the best weather and longer daylight hours, we’d definitely suggest visiting in the warmer months – from May to September. May is probably our favourite time of year, the weather is usually quite reasonable but the tourist crowds are not too intense.

Christmas, and the period leading up to Christmas, can also be a wonderful time to visit, when the streets and shops are all brightly lit and decorated for the festive season. For a good example of this, check out our guide to visiting Edinburgh at Christmas .

Where to Stay in the UK:

For accommodation , there are a great many options to choose from, ranging from cosy B&B’s through to upmarket hotels, and everything in between. Finding the best deal on your accommodation is an important part of trip planning – helping you to get the most from your budget, as well as find the property that is right for you.

• We’ve tried a lot of booking sites, and nearly always find ourselves using Booking.com. They have an extensive selection of properties, many with no-fee cancellation policies, and often run discounts and special offers. Click on each city title to see their listings:  London , Oxford ,  Manchester , York , Edinburgh , Dublin , Cardiff and Bristol .
• If you prefer an apartment or more of a hosted stay, then we recommend Plum Guide . We’ve tried all the others, and in our experience Plum Guide consistently has the highest quality options for the locations they are available.
• If you can’t find what you want on Plum Guide, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the best alternatives to AirBnB , as well as a guide to our favourite holiday cottage accommodation in the UK , which you should check out!

Between these options, you should find the best prices and places to stay for your trip, as well as a good selection of reviews and feedback to help you make an informed decision.

How to Get Around the UK

For this kind of trip I also obviously recommend that you look into renting a car. We have used and can recommend Enterprise Car Rental , they usually have great rates, especially for one way rentals. We also recommend comparing car prices using a service like Discover Cars , which compares prices across a range of providers to help you find the best deal.

A hire car will give you a lot more flexibility than public transport, and prices are generally fairly reasonable. However, if you would prefer to do a trip like this by public transport instead of driving yourself, check out our UK itinerary by public transport for ideas.

Another option for travelling in the UK is to hire a motorhome. Whilst this might not be practical for a city focused trip, you might prefer it if you are planning on visiting more rural locations.

For campervan rental we suggest checking out Motorhome Republic . They offer a campervans from a range of companies at different price points, so you can find the right one for you. You can see their UK listings here .

Further reading for your UK Trip

We’ve got lots of resources to help you plan your trip to the UK, from posts we’ve written ourselves to third party content we’re happy to recommend. Here it is:

• If you want a shorter trip, taking in some more off the beaten path destinations, check out this one week itinerary of the UK that I put together. If you’d prefer not to drive yourself, we also have a 10 day UK itinerary by public transport .
• To prepare for your trip to the UK, we’ve put together a detailed UK packing list which covers both London and the wider UK at any time of year
• This is a self-drive trip, so you should definitely check out our guide to driving in the UK for helpful tips.
• We also have a guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK  which will help you cost out a trip like this.
• A guide to driving Scotland’s epic North Coast 500 , as well as accommodation options on the North Coast 500
• When you’re near Glasgow, you should check out the beautiful Devil’s Pulpit in Finnich Glen
• A two day Edinburgh itinerary & 21 Highlights in Edinburgh
• Edinburgh: Getting off the beaten path
• A Two Day Glasgow and Loch Lomond itinerary
• A guide to 10 of the best Stately Homes in England , to give you some ideas as you plan your itinerary
• For London, we have some detailed itineraries to help you plan your visit. These include a 1 Day London Itinerary , a Two Day London itinerary and a Six Day London itinerary
• The top Harry Potter sites in London
• The Best Photography Locations in London
• Tips on Buying and Using the London Pass
• Eight Things to Do in Kensington
• The Highlights of Oxford
• Our guide to things to do in Cambridge
• Visiting Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds
• 20 Things To Do in Dublin , a 2 day Dublin itinerary and a 3 day Dublin itinerary
• A Guide to Touring the Scottish Borders
• Getting online when travelling in a foreign country can be daunting – check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options for your trip
• If you’re interested in getting better photos when you travel, take a look at my online photography course , where I’ll teach you everything you need to know about getting better photos – whatever camera you have!
• If you want a physical (or digital!) book to accompany your travels, then Amazon do a good line in UK Travel Guides , and there is naturally a Lonely Planet and a Rough Guide to the UK available.

If you’re planning on visiting a number of historical properties, there are a couple of options you have for saving money as a visitor to the UK. Two main organisations exist to preserve these properties, the National Trust, and English Heritage.

Both of these organisations offer specific passes for visitors to the UK, which represent great value for money for visitors.

For the National Trust you can pick up a National Trust touring pass . This is valid for 7 or 14 days, and gives you access to every National Trust property in the England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For English Heritage , you can get an English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass . This is valid for 9 or 16 days, and gives you access to every English Heritage property in the UK.

Alternatively, you can also buy a full membership to these organisations, which will last a full year. You can buy an English Heritage Membership here and a National Trust membership here .

So those were my thoughts for taking in a slightly longer than two week trip in the UK. I’ve obviously missed out a great number of places, as no two week trip can possibly hope to see everything, but I’d like to think I covered a great many highlights of this truly fascinating country.

As always, if you’ve got any thoughts on this post, do hit up the comments below!

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25th February 2024 at 6:30 pm

Hello, we are planning a trip this summer. On my list is scotch tasting in Islay. How many days should we add? Do you have any recommendations?

Laurence Norah says

25th February 2024 at 9:28 pm

Sure thing. Islay is beautiful and very much worth a visit. I’d suggest spending a couple of day at least if you can spare it as it takes a bit of time to get to and from the island and there is plenty to see and do there. I have a guide to things to do on Islay which might help. In terms of whisky distilleries, if you have a favourite whisky that I’d obviously recommend going to that distillery. My favourite whisky is Laphroaig, so I enjoyed visiting that distillery particularly. However my guide to Islay lists all the currently active ones so you can make a choice as to which one you prefer.

Have a great trip!

Marcelo Gurgel says

18th January 2024 at 11:52 pm

Hello ! Your post is very good ! I would like to do a similar tour, but on a motorcycle. Including Isle of Man where the TT Isle of Man race will take place. Please for I leave the bike on the London side and take the Ferry by foot and the best option? Cheaper in this case? How much do ferries generally cost? Where do I search for tickets and itineraries? Thanks a lot for the help !

19th January 2024 at 12:02 am

Hi Marcelo,

Thank you! So the only company which operates ferries to the Isle of Man is the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and the best way to book a ferry is directly on their website here . They operate services from Heysham, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin.

If you plan on visiting during the TT race then you should book as soon as you can as this is a very popular event.

The price will vary depennding on when you go but it is definitely less expensive to go as a foot passenger. Looking at a route, it’s around £40 – £50 one way for a foot passenger, and £120 – £140 for a passenger with a bike. However, remember that you will need to pay to park your bike somewhere secure, and you will also need to have transport on the Isle of Man. Also, at more popular times, such as during the TT races, prices can be higher.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions! Safe travels!

PAUL BASILE says

10th December 2023 at 10:20 pm

stumbled across your blog and was pleasantly surprised! my wife and I will arrive in London on 6/19/24 in advance of Wimbledon where we’ll be staying from 7/5 though 7/10. we want to sorta do your route in reverse, heading out of London straight away renting a car, and heading out. we have around 2 weeks and want to start heading to Ireleand, then Scotland, then visiting cousins in Durham in northern GB, returning car in London before wimbeldon.

would love to get some advice on that reverse route, forgoing the London stuff until later, but wanting your insights on anything else! thanks in advance!

13th December 2023 at 12:19 am

It’s great to hear from you. So you can do the route either way without any issue. The main thing if you do decide to include Ireland is to be sure to check if the car rental company you choose allows you to take the car on a ferry to Ireland. Some will and some won’t, you’ll just want to confirm before booking. Otherwise I think you have the structure of a good itinerary. You can follow my route and just adjust it to suit your interests and available time. I’d definitely recommend booking in advance for places to stay and the ferries as you are coming at a popular time for travel so things will start to book up. Otherwise, just have a great time and let me know if you have any questions!

13th December 2023 at 2:38 am

Lawrence….thanks so much…great info on the ferry and booking places….do you have a fav booking site for places to stay?

13th December 2023 at 3:37 am

It’s my pleasure! We primarily use Booking.com when we travel because we like the filters. We usually filter by rating (8+) and then depending on the trip things like having free parking (handy for a road trip). Then things like WiFi, laundry, free breakfast, free cancellation, depending on what we are doing. Also like that you can apply the filters to the map view (again, handy for road trips). You can also book apartments. We also use various other sites depending on where we are going, some places have more AirBnB options. In the UK we also book holiday cottages but for a trip like yours which will likely have more shorter stops I’d say hotels or B&Bs are likely to be an easier option as apartments often have the extra overhead of needing to arrange check in and check out times.

Let me know if I can help any further 🙂

Linda Haddock says

2nd December 2023 at 7:38 am

Hello, thank you for this helpful blog! Do you have any recommendations on when, where and what to include for sites for a JRR Tolkien fan?

2nd December 2023 at 8:46 pm

It’s my pleasure. So Oxford would be my main recommendation as it was here that Tolkien studied and worked. Fun side story, a dear friend of mine was Tolkien’s Doctor and knew him well, although he has now passed. Anyway, Tolkien studied at Exeter Collge in Oxford and was also a fellow at Pembroke College and Merton College, so many of the sights in Oxford like the Radcliffe Camera and Ashmolean museum would be of interest. The Bodeleian Library in Oxford (the Radcliffe Camera is part of this) does have the originals of many of his works but these are not usually on display unfortunately.

I hope this helps a bit! Have a lovely time in the UK and do let me know if you need any more input 🙂

Ingrid Ermanovics says

24th May 2022 at 3:45 pm

Hi, Love your blog. I hear that the traffic in July can be daunting and cause very long delays. As such, would you still recommend a private car hire (car rental)? Or have other suggestions to avoid the issue? Thanks!!

24th May 2022 at 4:33 pm

Thanks very much! So in my experience, the main factors that contribute to traffic in the UK are road works, which can happen at any time, and travelling at specific times. For example, when there is a public holiday on a Monday or Friday, this tends to lead to a lot of holiday traffic. So avoiding those dates makes a lot of sense. July is not particularly worse in my experience, it can be a bit heavier, but it’s not normally awful unless you are unlucky and encounter an accident, or there are road works. I would advise against trips on Friday or Sunday afternoons, as this is when the traffic can be quite bad at any time of year as people go away for or come back from the weekends.

I’d also advise using an app like Google maps with real time traffic, and trying to plan your travel times so they don’t align with the busier times of day. In general though, i would still recommend using a car rental even in July 🙂

I hope this helps!

Debbie Hebert says

16th May 2022 at 12:16 am

Hi Laurence and Jessica, this trip looks super fun and we are looking to visit July-Aug of this year starting in Dublin (as the airfare is best to there from our home in New Orleans). Just a few questions. Would you suggest going North or South from Dublin? How many miles is the entire itinerary? Is there is a stretch where we could ditch the rental car and take the train and then pick up another car? And/or if we drop off the car before and after London and train in which cities would be best to do that? Thank you so much!

16th May 2022 at 3:11 pm

Thanks Debbie!

So I’d probably recommend dropping the rental car in Belfast or Dublin and then flying across to Cardiff or Edinburgh, depending which way you go. Many car rental firms don’t allow for rentals to be taken on the ferry, plus you have to pay more to transport a car, so this would likely save you money.

Direction wise in Ireland, it really depends what you want to see. In the Republic of Ireland you have lovely landscapes and places like the Dingle peninsula and Ring of Kerry. If you head north to Belfast (also a lovely city), then you can visit places like the Giant’s Causeway and the Coastal Causeway route.

Putting a mileage total on the entire itinerary is tricky as there are likely to be many detours but I’d say a ballpark of 1500 – 2000 miles seems about right. In terms of areas where you can drop the car and take public transport, a lot of this will depend on what you want to see. If you are happy with primarily cities, then you can easily get around between cities with a train instead of a car. So for example, Edinburgh to York, York to Manchester, Manchester to Bath and Bath to Oxford would all work. Then if there were specific day trips you wanted to do there’s the option to either rent a car for that day, or take a day tour. But if you are thinking of spending more time in the countryside and smaller towns, then a car would be a lot less useful. I’d definitely recommend against taking a car into London, and dropping it off somewhere like Oxford or Reading before taking the train into London.

Farooq Ghouri says

6th May 2022 at 2:56 am

Hi Laurence and Jessica We are visiting UK this summer for two weeks. Your two weeks itinerary is great resource for us. I wonder how we can squeeze Wales in it . Any suggestions will be much appreciated We will be using rental car Sincerely Farooq Ghouri from Chicago USA

6th May 2022 at 9:44 am

Thanks very much! So the southern part of Wales is included in this trip on the return from Ireland. However, if you wanted to add Wales your main option would be to do it as you drive north, or to consider skipping Ireland and to drive back down through Wales to Bath. The second option might be easier as it cuts down having to think about a ferry / flight across to Ireland, but it’s up to you. This itinerary is already very busy, so adding more to it as it exists would be a bit of a challenge in my opinion.

Let me know if I can offer any further advice, and have a great time in the UK!

6th May 2022 at 5:06 pm

Thank you much Laurence I will keep your suggestion in mind when finalizing the itinerary

Heather says

28th April 2022 at 2:35 am

I noticed your recommended the The Resident Victoria and I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions. I will be travelling with 3 people, one of which is a full time wheelchair user. Do you think the room size is adequate for a 5 day visit? Did you happen to notice if the showers were roll in or a wet room with chair? I realize most hotels only have accessible showers and whatnot in certain rooms so will understand if you don’t know. I found your travel blog a month ago and love it. Thanks from Canada

28th April 2022 at 12:01 pm

Hi Heather,

Sure thing. So, the first thing to be aware of is that rooms in central London tend to be quite small, especially if you are used to the size of hotel rooms in North America. Another thing to be aware of is that baths are quite common, and having a shower over the bath rather than a separate stall is also fairly common. So if looking for an accessible room it’s really important to specify that, and it’s always worth checking with the hotel what that actually means.

I would say that none of the rooms in the Resident Victoria would really be suitable for three adults to share for a longer stay, if that was what you were thinking. The superior rooms do have the option for three single beds, but these are not accessible rooms. In general, the rooms are fairly compact and I think a wheelchair user in particular would struggle in their standard rooms.

If you were thinking of separate rooms, some of their King Rooms are accessible so that would be an option. I called the hotel this morning and they confirmed that it is their King rooms which are accessible and the showers in these rooms are fully roll in. The toilets and sinks are also accessible. They can also provide a chair in the shower if you want. However these are definitely rooms for two people.

I hope this answers your question! The property is very well located for sure. Let me know if I can offer any further advice. I also have a full guide to where to stay in London which has a lot more options 🙂

13th April 2022 at 11:47 pm

Hi Laurence,

Was very interesting to read this trip. But it’s more suitable for adults without kids to travell to Ireland within two weeks. Can you please look for following trip plan: We are 2 adults + 2 kids (12 and 10) for 14 days. My daughter likes Harry Potter, so preference on these kind of attractions. So i wanted to divided for following parts: 1. London 5 days –>>> museums, parks and so on. 2. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London 1 day 3. Oxford or Cambridge .. yet not decided… for one day + Windsor Castle 4. Rent a car(or by train) and drive to the north >> York 1 day Manchester + Alton Towers – 1 day 5. Drive to south Birmingham (Cadbury world + other attractions) – 1 day Costwolds area – 1 day Bath + Stonehenge – 1 day Total 12 + 2 days (driving + bufffer for other changes during the trip)

Do you think is it good? What to add or remove? Or continue to Edinburgh and cancel some places in current trip? Thanks in advance Sam

14th April 2022 at 11:23 am

Great to hear from you. I agree, trying to include Ireland on the trip would be challenging with family. I think your itinerary sounds good, spending more time focusing on a smaller number of areas is a good choice. For your options, I think I might suggest Oxford over Cambridge if your daughter likes Harry Potter as there are quite a few filming locations in Oxford (see the Oxford section of our Harry Potter guide here ). I would also probably allocate a whole day to Oxford and maybe do Windsor Castle on one of your days in London. Oxford is very easy to reach by train from London so makes an easy day trip, but the day might feel rushed if you include Windsor as well.

I think otherwise your itinerary sounds good. A car will make things easier for sure, especially for things like exploring the Cotswolds and getting to Alton Towers. These are doable by public transport but it will take up valuable time. I also think focusing on England is a good idea. Depending on how much of a Harry Potter fan your daughter is you might consider stopping at Gloucester as well to see Gloucester Cathedral, which was used for various Hogwarts scenes .It’s a spectacular cathedral and lovely city in its own right as well, easy to see in 2-3 hours between Birmingham and Bath before dipping into the Cotswolds.

Have a great trip – let me know if you have any questions!

Vincent Choo says

12th April 2022 at 11:04 am

Laurence, My family and I ( 4 of us intend to tour Great Britain for 2 weeks before joining our friends in Belfast to continue another 10 days covering the island of Ireland. We intend to travel with a combination of car, train , ferry and air and hope to have your recommendation on which sectors should I use the above modes of transport. The intineary is roughly the same as your 2 weeks ( loop from London and ends there ) Thank You

12th April 2022 at 2:43 pm

Hi Vincent!

This is a great question, and the answer will come down to both budget and your interests.

If you are primarily interested in cities and larger towns, then travelling by rail might be easier for the majority of your trip. You can get between most cities and towns quite easily by train, and if you book well in advance you can also get cheap fares. You can also use a Friends & Family railcard to save even more. Travelling by train has the advantage that you don’t have to worry about car rental costs, fuel costs and finding car parking, the latter of which can be a challenge in many cities. I’d definitely advise against a car in London at the very least.

If you prefer a mix of city sightseeing and countryside, then a car is going to be more useful as most countryside sights and places like the Lake District are going to be a lot easier to get to and around with your own vehicle. I’d just suggest leaving the car out of the London part of the trip, and remembering to think about parking and fuel prices as part of your budget. I think a car might end up being slightly more expensive than public transport, but honestly the car rental market is so turbulent these days it’s hard to know without doing the math.

My recommendation would be to fly to Ireland – low cost flights with budget airlines will likely be the best option, and most car rental companies actually don’t allow for their vehicles to go on a ferry. Then you could pick up a hire car in Ireland on arrival.

It sounds like you have a great trip planned – let me know if I can offer any more input!

Sanchay says

7th April 2022 at 8:05 pm

Hello, Im planning a 2 week trip which shall include England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland during the month of October 2022. Is it feasible to cover all the places in 2 weeks considering that we are a group of 6 adults and 2 children ( 11 and 12 yrs) or shall we skip any of the destinations. We shall use Public transport in London and prefer Self drive cars / Trains / Ferries elsewhere. I also want to know if you could share some ranch stays where in we can stay and enjoy the country side instead of hotels. Awaiting your kind suggestion

Thanks and Regards 🙂

8th April 2022 at 11:04 am

Hi Sanchay,

Thanks for your comment. So I would probably recommend that you focus on maybe a couple of countries so you can enjoy yourself a bit more. I would probably recommend perhaps the mainland UK, as the extra effort required to get across to Ireland will eat into your time with two weeks. So perhaps a trip which includes London and Edinburgh, and then areas like the Lake District and / or Wales. One thing to be aware of is that the weather in October can be a bit variable, so spending more time in the cities might be more appealing rather than the country side where the weather might not be suitable for a lot of outdoor activities. Of course, you might be lucky and get good weather, but this is not guaranteed.

For ranch stays, probably the closest in the UK would be countryside B&Bs. Some farms do have accommodation option, and there are some lovely self catering options in the country as well.

Have a great trip and let me know if you have any further questions!

Derek Bowen says

2nd June 2021 at 5:16 pm

A really good trip, but I would skip Manchester and head right up through Rawtenstall, up through Burnley and Nelson. This would be a really good look at the cotton industry as well a real feel of northern England, as well as the best fish and chips. Then carry on up through Skipton, trying to time market day, and over to York, which is a must.

3rd June 2021 at 12:53 pm

Thank you Derek! For sure, there are so many ways to change this route depending on interests, and your suggestion is a good one 😀

Patrick Russell says

22nd March 2021 at 5:18 pm

This is absolutely amazing itinerary. What would a rough cost be for a trip like this? Minus airfare, and passports.

Thank you, Patrick

22nd March 2021 at 5:23 pm

Thanks Patrick! So it will vary quite a bit depending on your travel style. The main costs on a trip like this are transport, accommodation, food and attraction entry. Accommodation will obviously depend on how comfortable you like to travel, and food will also vary a lot depending on if you prefer fine dining or simpler fare.

To help cost a trip like this I put a guide to the costs of travelling in the UK in a post, which should give you some guidance 🙂

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/cost-travel-uk/

Hope this helps!

Matthew says

8th December 2020 at 2:51 pm

Interesting itinerary. As a British person, rather than a traveller, my comment would be it doesn’t have much of the coast in, though I understand the time constraints. But a trip to the UK with no seaside towns! At least add Brighton, easy to reach from London. Dorset isn’t too far either, and has a fantastic coast. Also, Chester is beautiful and well worth inclusion.

8th December 2020 at 2:52 pm

Hey Matthew,

Great feedback. When I wrote this guide initially it was in response to a specific request, but of course there is so much of the UK that it doesn’t cover for various reasons (including time restraints!). I always encourage folks to use it as a rough guide, but to modify it for their own interests 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

Tammy Howard says

25th February 2020 at 11:07 pm

Dear Laurence,

Thank you so much for this itinerary. It is fabulous!! We would like to sleep in a castle while on our trip. Are there any that you know of that allow this along this route?

26th February 2020 at 11:20 am

Dear Tammy,

My pleasure! So yes, there are quite a few options along the route, depending on your budget. Some options to consider:

Thornbury Castle – just north of Bristol

Glenapp Castle – just south of the Scotland – Ireland ferry crossing. We’ve stayed here and it’s wonderful

Kilkea Castle Hotel – south of Dublin. We’ve also stayed here.

Cringletie Castle Hotel – about a 40 minute drive south of Edinburgh. Another of our favourites.

Of course, this is just a small selection – there are many more across the UK to choose from, at a range of budgets. One tip when staying in a castle hotel – some of them have built more rooms outside the castle itself. So make sure when booking that you get a room that inside the castle (I think otherwise it sort of defeats the point!).

Have a great trip, let me know if you have any more questions!

Abdiaziz says

29th February 2020 at 8:27 am

How much will I pay if I want to travel next month

29th February 2020 at 10:14 am

Hi Abdiaziz,

March is not too busy a month for travel in the UK, so prices should be reasonable. To figure out your costs for this trip, see our guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK 🙂

Dhaval says

3rd February 2020 at 9:17 am

Hi Laurence, Thanks a lot for this amazing itinerary. We are a group of 4 adults + 4 kids (1Y,3Y,5Y,7Y) and are planning a 15 days trip to the UK. This will be our first time. Can you please assist us with the below queries:-

1. Considering we have small kids, what is the best mode of transport to travel from London to Edinburgh to Dublin? Should we keep one separate day for travelling in our itinerary? We will also have Kids Strollers everywhere we travel. 2. We want to do Day tours from London to Oxford, Cotswold, Stonehenge, Bath etc keeping our base in London. But few of my friends suggested that the Local operators don’t include kids below 5Years and we will be forced to take a rent a car. Any suggestions? 3. Also if we follow your above itinerary, can you guide us the exact cities in which we need to book our apartments/hotels to avoid hassle-free travelling.

Thanks a lot in Advance. Cheers 🙂

3rd February 2020 at 2:45 pm

My pleasure 🙂 I will do my best to help of course. To answer your questions:

1 – From London to Edinburgh I would recommend the train. This takes around 4.5 hours and will be a lot quicker than driving / taking a bus, plus you will have more space for your stroller / bags etc. You could fly too, but as it will take time to check everything in, go through security etc, I think the train will be easier. Just be sure to book your train well in advance to get a good price, and be aware that if you book a ticket in advance, you must take the booked train, the ticket will not work on a different train, even on the same day.

For Edinburgh to Dublin, your only option is realistically to fly.

2 – This is correct, for safety reasons most group tours do not accept children under a certain age, which is often 5. However, you can instead book a private tour. For a group of eight of you this should not work out much more expensive than a normal tour, plus you will be able to customise the itinerary. So I would advise reaching out to private tour operators who should be able to assist.

3 – All the cities are in the itinerary, you would need to stay in whichever ones you want to visit that don’t fall within the day tours you wish to take from London.

I hope this helps – have a great trip and let me know if I can help any further,

Serafina Macdonald says

11th January 2020 at 9:09 pm

Hi there, we are planning a trip to England, Scotland, and Ireland at the beginning of July. We are thinking about 16-18 days. I looked at your itinerary and love your suggestions! My husband does want to spend a half-day in Liverpool and I think we can tweak your itinerary to fit it in and try to do Isle of Skye as well. Since we do have the few extra days at the end of the trip, do you think it would be worthwhile to travel over to the other coast of Ireland to explore that side? (Galway, Aran Islands). Would love some suggestions.

11th January 2020 at 9:18 pm

Hi Serafina!

So Liverpool would definitely be an easy addition to the itinerary. The Isle of Skye is a bit more of a trek, as it’s a five hour drive each way from Edinburgh, so I’d suggest allocating at least 3 days for that, one day each for the drive and one day to actually explore. So do keep that in mind.

For Ireland, absolutely. The west coast is stunning, and if you can find time to head over there I would definitely suggest doing so. There’s a lot to see over there, so the hardest part will be choosing, but certainly the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry are some good candidates for your shortlist 🙂

Have a great time, and let me know if you have any more questions!

12th January 2020 at 2:15 pm

Thanks so much! Looking forward to this trip!

3rd December 2019 at 9:40 am

Dear Laurence, This is the first time I visit UK so could you help give a good advice to have plan visit UK during time 24th Dec- 08th Jan

Thanks Duong

3rd December 2019 at 6:11 pm

Thanks for your message. The majority of the information you need should be available on the site, both in this post and in the posts I link to. I am happy to try and help answer any specific questions you might have – is there anything in particular you are worried about?

The main things I would suggest, depending on where you are travelling from, are to plan what you want to see, to plan your accommodation and transport, and to pack properly for winter. Obviously you are visiting over Christmas and New Year, which is a busy time of year, so if you have not booked your accommodation yet you will definitely want to look into that, especially over New Year as that can be a busy time for both travel and accommodation.

Let me know if I can offer any more specific help for your trip,

Hang Tran says

26th November 2019 at 3:59 pm

Hi Laurence, Thank you for your advice and emails. I was able to put together our 2-week itinerary in England. I changed our lodging to London instead of Heathrow and booked different places when we travel around with our Britrail passes. I can’t say thank you enough. It’s very helpful for us. We will stay in London (3 days), Edinburgh (3 days:Edinburgh and York), Bristol for 5 days, Bath for 2 days and travel to other nearby cities (Stonehenge, Oxford, Cardiff) by train to make one-day trip. Is it right time to visit Cardiff in winter? If not, do you have any other places to spend a day? We’re thinking about Liverpool but it takes about 3-hours ride. If so, what should we can see in such a short time in Liverpool? We never ride a train before so we don’t mind riding the train everyday and enjoy the view together.

26th November 2019 at 5:20 pm

I am so pleased to have been able to help you and to hopefully make your trip a memorable one. It sounds like you have a wonderful itinerary planned now.

I would say that Cardiff is fine to visit in winter. Like many cities in the UK, lots of the attractions are indoors, so you can visit at any time of year and have a good time. Obviously you’ll want to dress warmly, but this will be the same all around the UK. Cardiff will definitely be one of the easier places to visit given its proximity. Another option would be Birmingham. I think I would probably not do Liverpool from Bristol – the 3 hour trip each way would be 6 hours on a train, so I don’t think you’d really have enough time to enjoy the city.

Let me know if I can be of any further help! We actually live in Bath too, so maybe we’ll see you 😉

28th November 2019 at 5:30 am

Hi Laurence, Thank you for the suggestion. We will look into Birmingham instead of Liverpool. We might be able to meet you for breakfast or lunch in Bath on Dec 22 or 23. I was able to find a place to stay that we can walk up or down the street to get to Bath Spa. Everything is in walking distance. Thanks to you again.

Sincerely, Hang

28th November 2019 at 7:22 pm

My pleasure – have a lovely trip. Do pop a comment here or send me an e-mail if you have some free time!

Laurel says

9th October 2019 at 7:23 am

Hi, love your itinerary of the UK. It includes much of what we want to see. Howev r, we are a senior couple of nomads from Australia and we are trying to organise a four week trip of the UK and Ireland including the islands off Scotland but we are steam train buffs and have the 10 best day trips on steam trains to try to include. Do you help with itinerary planning to include as many of these as we can but in some sort of order? If not can you head us in the right direction? We don’t need London as we have a couple of days there prior to a cruise of Norway. Is it feasible to do this trip in September and will he days still be long and fairly warm? Thanks in anticipation for your advice.

9th October 2019 at 6:16 pm

Thanks very much! So we don’t offer custom itinerary planning as it’s quite a time intensive process. We’re happy to answer specific questions and help where we can of course. Steam trains aren’t really an area of expertise though!

I can definitely answer your questions about September – I’d say September is a great month to travel. If you are lucky it might still be reasonably warm (recent years have been lovely in September), but you skip the crowds of the summer months and the schools will have gone back as well. September and May are our favourite months to travel. Of course, this is the UK, so rain and cooler weather is certainly possible (although you can get this in July and August as well!), so it’s always best to be prepared with layers of clothing, but you should be fine generally. The days will still be long, light until around 8pm depending on which part of the month you visit 🙂

Have a great trip, and let me know if I can answer any more specifics!

Kevin Ortyl says

19th September 2019 at 6:51 pm

Love the website and your two-week itinerary. Very easy to follow.. So glad we found your site. Need advice please… (Coming from Boston, USA) Thinking of a two-week vacation late August 2020 (family of 4… 2 college age kids) flying into London and out of Dublin. So similar trip you outlined but not returning to Heathrow once in Ireland. Planning on rental car and driving everywhere. Can the one way car rental work in this scenario (London, Scotland, ferry to the Emerald Isle, drop rental at Dublin)? Second Q… if we were to eliminate the Wales back to London segment how would you fill in that itinerary staying in Ireland?

19th September 2019 at 7:20 pm

Thanks very much. So dropping off the car in a different country might be a challenge. Most car rental companies will let you drop the car off in a different part of the same country, but as the Republic of Ireland is separate from the UK, that would likely be a challenge. So your best option is probably to rent the car in the UK, then drop it off at Edinburgh airport and fly to Dublin, then pick up a new rental there.

For your time in Ireland, you have a lot of options! If you are looking for a road trip the Causeway Coastal Route in northern Ireland is a favourite of ours, and the Wild Atlantic Way is also a great drive. Of course there is so much to see in Ireland and Northern Ireland depending on what you are interested in, with both Dublin and Belfast being worth a visit. It would just depend if you wanted to do more city or more country 🙂

Let me know if I can be of any more help – we have quite a few posts on Ireland as well on the site with some ideas!

19th September 2019 at 9:58 pm

Thank you for the reply, and the good information regarding rental cars.

To follow up, once in Ireland probably interested in seeing some of the quaint cities/towns, visit the pubs, little urban culture, castles, etc and those types of places in lieu of say hiking and biking. Hoping of course between destinations to see beautiful countryside and such!

20th September 2019 at 9:02 am

My pleasure 🙂 So I would suggest that driving the Causeway Coastal Route ( https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/causeway-coastal-route-northern-ireland/ ) Might be a good option 🙂

4th September 2019 at 2:13 am

Hi Laurence, I really like the two week trip itenerary. We’ll will be driving and are experienced with that. We’d like to see some worthy gardens along the suggested route. Any ideas?

4th September 2019 at 7:02 pm

Certainly. The gardens at Alnwick Castle are wonderful, as are the gardens at many of the stately homes in the UK (you can see our list of good stately homes in England here ). Not all of them have gardens of course, but that’s a good starting point. Many cities also have botanic gardens, including Edinburgh and Kew Gardens in London, which are well worth the visit.

I hope this helps a little 🙂

Rachel Sales says

16th August 2019 at 5:15 am

Hi! This post gave me lots of ideas. However, can you help me out in modifying this itinerary which will make Edinburgh as the last stop? My flight booking is DXB-LHR, EDI-DXB. I thought it will be nice it it’s an onward journey and not have to go back to my starting point. Thank you in advance!

16th August 2019 at 12:12 pm

Glad to be able to help! So as this itinerary is a loop, it’s a bit challenging to modify it that easily. My suggestion would perhaps be to drop Ireland from your trip, and instead to spend more time in Scotland. So you could follow the itinerary up to Edinburgh, and then add in time exploring more of Scotland before returning to Edinburgh. Let me know your thoughts,

Robin Major says

13th August 2019 at 12:53 am

Hello Lawrence,

I just found and love this site!! I’m trying to plan a 25th wedding anniversary trip for next September (2020) to surprise my hubby.

He’s never been to Europe. I was fortunate enough to get two and half lovely days in London a couple years back courtesy of my employer.

I’m not sure if what I want to do is totally doable though… No driving.. we would do transit and rail… I’m thinking a week in Britian and a week in Scotland. Maybe fly into London, spend two full days exploring the sites.. then I’m sort of lost. We are interested in Castles, love the supernatural aspect of York so that will be a must, definitely want to see Stonehenge.. and as odd as it sounds, my parents did Sherwood Forest and Nottingham on their 25th Wedding Anniversary many years ago so wondering if that would be a recommendation? Just not sure of the logistics for a week in Britian.. where to stay etc.

For Scotland, again, Castles and we are both big Outlander fans so we’ve have to see Loch Ness, Inverness and any and all sites made famous by Outlander. I am thinking a week up there and we fly home from either Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Do you have any suggestions/recommendations on an itinerary for us? I would greatly appreciate any knowledge you wish to share with me.

Thank you so much! Robin

13th August 2019 at 10:19 am

Thanks very much! It certainly would be possible 🙂 I’ve actually written a 10 day UK itinerary by public transport. Whilst the route isn’t exactly what you want, the post does have some useful information to help you plan your trip, especially around booking the trains etc. If you’ve not seen that post yet, it’s here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/10-day-uk-itinerary-public-transport-train-bus/

Regarding your specific itinerary, I would suggest you start in London as you suggest. You could then take a day tour from London out to Stonehenge. This is doable by public transport, but is way easier as a day tour, plus they usually have some extra stops like Bath. You can read our guide to doing that here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/Stonehenge-bath-cotswolds-day-trip-from-london/

So Nottingham is nice (I went to university there), but with limited time I wouldn’t say it was a must do. My suggestion would be to take the train from London to Oxford, and then up to York. A day in each location would work. You are now up to five days in England. Castles are a bit tricky by public transport as many of them are out of cities. I would perhaps suggest extending your time in London and taking the extra day to visit either Windsor Castle or Hampton Court Palace. From York you could head up to Durham which is a beautiful cathedral city.

From Durham the train to Edinburgh is not too far. I’d suggest basing yourself in Edinburgh for at least three days. Two days to explore the city, and then one day to take an Outlander tour. We have specifically done 1 day tour with Rabbies , and thought it was great. We have more suggested day tours from Edinburgh here:

https://independenttravelcats.com/day-trips-from-edinburgh-scotland/

From Edinburgh our recommendation would then be to take the train up to Inverness, from where you can explore more castles, Loch Ness and the Highlands. Again, plenty to do in this area, and there are lots of great day trips to plan. You can see our guide to some of the best here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/day-trips-from-inverness-scotland/

I think that should give you plenty to work with – let me know if you have any more questions!

8th August 2019 at 9:35 pm

I just found this page and so glad I did especially your “Best Stately Homes in England” We will be visiting England and Scotland for 2weeks October 16-29, 2019 and I am excited about your itinerary. We have been to Northern Ireland (once)and Republic of Ireland (4 times) so we can leave those out, so are there any other places you might suggest? My husband has driven every time we have visited Ireland so he can handle a manual transmission. We land at Gatwick Airport and I thought we could head to Edinburgh via a easterly route and return to London via a westerly route. We do not have to travel only motorways but don’t wait too many small country lanes (did plenty of those in Ireland). Any suggestions you could make would be greatly appreciated. Love Manor Houses, Castles, rolling landscape, waterfalls, quaint English market towns or villages, etc. THANKS

9th August 2019 at 8:54 am

Sounds like you have a great trip planned, and I will certainly do my best to help. It sounds like your route is pretty good already, coming down the west side of the UK gives you the chance to pop into the Lake District, explore towns like Chester, and even larger cities like Birmingham. In terms of stately homes, well, I would obviously recommend the majority of those in my post on stately homes. I’d also add Edinburgh Castle of course if you like castles, as well as the more ruined Craigmillar Castle on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Alnwick Castle on the way up through Northumberland is stunning, as are many of the other castles in Northumberland, like Bamburgh and dunstanburgh. For rolling hills and greenery, the Lake District is lovely, but I can also recommend the Hadrian’s Wall area of Northumberland, particularly the area near Housesteads.

For quaint English towns, of course the Cotswolds would be by number one pick. The counties of Kent and Dorset are also good options.

I think that should get you started, let me know if you need some more ideas!

Christine Greentaner says

5th August 2019 at 12:26 pm

Hello!! I stumbled on your site asking google if I could do the this kind of trip and wow, here you are! Unsure of the driving though since we zero experience. However, this two week itinerary gives us something to start thinking about. Thank you so much!! Christine

7th August 2019 at 2:52 pm

Hi Christine!

Driving in the UK is definitely a bit different, especially if you are coming from a country where they drive on the right hand side. Also, if you’re coming from the USA, be aware that most cars in the UK have manual transmissions, so when you rent a car if you are not used to driving a manual you should specify an auto. I have a guide to driving in the Uk which you might also find useful 🙂

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/tips-for-driving-in-the-uk/

Let me know if you have any questions, and have a great trip!

Danie marais says

11th July 2019 at 8:54 pm

What will it cost for 2 adults

12th July 2019 at 4:17 am

Hi Danie – this really depends on your travel style – you can see a guide to how much travel in the UK costs here for some estimates: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/cost-travel-uk/

Margaret says

9th July 2019 at 6:29 am

HI , Just wanted to ask. I am getting a little a little worried,as our trip is getting closer and closer. Your site has helped so much. Does this sound ok to do. Day 1 arrive late afternoon explore Paddinton. Day 2 & 3 follow your 2 day guide of london sites. Day 4 train to oxford, free 2 hour tour. free time to explore oxford Day 5 train back to oxford ,pick up car. Drive to Cotswold explore.. Drive on up to peak district stay over night . 1 night Day 6 explore peak district , drive to Manchester and york .explore. Now I am unsure to travel to the Lake district Or follow onto Alnwick. as some people say not to miss out on the lake district. We dont have enought time to cut back over to Alnwick unsure . We arrive in paddington on the 20th want to leave Edinburgh 31st. So take into account at least 2 night in Edinburgh and head onto Belfast. We will then explore Belfast and Dublin for 2 weeks as we have friends there. follow onto wales Bath but we do want to stay in Southampton for two days once again friends. Can you get to Heathrow airport from Southampton We have 5.5 weeks for this trip but I do want to spend time with friends in Belfast and Dublin. I am so over whelmed .

10th July 2019 at 5:43 am

Hi Margaret!

First, I’m delighted we’ve been able to help 🙂

Your comment covers a few points so I will try to help where I can. For your itinerary, the first six days look good, the only feedback I would offer is that trying to do the Peak District, Manchester and York in one day is likely going to be too much. Even Manchester and York in one day is quite a bit. York would need at least four hours to fully enjoy it, so I might suggest skipping Manchester unless you are particularly invested in it.

For your Lake District dilemma, I can’t really answer this for you. Everyone has a different idea as to what is “unmissable”, so it really depends on your priorities and interests. The Lake District is certainly very pretty, but so is much of the UK 😉

From Southampton you can definitely get to Heathrow airport. It takes around 2 hours by train. It’s not a direct train though, so you do have to change, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. If you would prefer a direct route, I believe National Express operates a coach service between the two locations.

I think for the rest of your trip you might want to reach out to your friends and ask for their advice in terms of what to see and do. I would try to relax and enjoy yourself instead of trying to see everything and becoming overwhelmed if you can. Travel is definitely a bit of work, but ultimately it is supposed to be fun. I always find that the less planned adventures are the more fun ones. So certainly come up with a framework, but don’t spend too much time worrying about it to the tiniest detail, as it will likely detract from the enjoyment.

22nd July 2019 at 4:35 am

Thank you Laurence, Your advice is so helpful. I have added days, so we can get the most out of our trip 2 days in the Peak District, Manchester and 1 day for York. Now I am on the end part of our trip and once again would like some advice. : After spending 18 days exploring Ireland. We will be catching the ferry to Wales. 20th Fishguard pick up car, early afternoon explore the country driving towards Cardiff, Bristol Question : Unsure as to time length of time needed

I was thinking, see Cardiff, then drive towards Bristol arrive around tea time. sleep overnight and have full day to explore Bristol. 21st after exploring Bristol drive towards Bath. arrive around tea time, find somewhere to sleep for 2 nights (21st and 22nd) 22nd full day to explore Bath. 23 th drive toward Stonehenge, Amesbury, drive onto southamption return Car

24th southamption .explore Southamption see family member. we need to be at Hearthrow airport on the 26th at 9:20 flight take off , My next question is , Should I return to paddington for the 25th so I can get the express train to airport , Is my flight to early to return from southamption. Once again . please guide me. Margaret

22nd July 2019 at 6:03 pm

Hi Margaret,

My pleasure! I will try to help again. Your timings for Bristol / Bath etc seem reasonable. They are very close together, my only advice is to avoid travelling at rush hour (4pm – 6pm), as it will make your journey much longer due to the traffic.

For your second question, in theory you could get from Southampton to Heathrow in time, but it’s around a 2 – 2.5 hour journey. You’d want to check train times for the day you are going, but the earliest trains are around 5am based on my research, so you would get to Heathrow around 7.30am. So yes, it’s possible, but it depends how happy you are with an early start and also the risk of any train delays. Up to you, but personally I avoid early mornings at all costs, so would personally probably just find a hotel near Heathrow 😉

Diana Cottrell says

1st July 2019 at 1:57 am

Loved seeing your site. Very helpful since I’m trying to plan a driving vacation for my husband and myself and really didn’t know were to start. I have some questions but will start with only one. We were in London last year but I could go again. Loved it. Hubby sick and had a different feeling. Would it be hard for someone from the US to land at Heathrow and rent a car…then drive to Windsor right after landing? Is it far enough out of London to get comfortable with driving on a different side of the road?

1st July 2019 at 10:18 pm

So, funny story, after passing my UK driving test the first thing I did was rent a car and drive out of Heathrow! I’m not sure I’d exactly recommend it, you’d be driving onto one of the busiest motorways in the UK (our equivalent of a freeway) which might be quite stressful. It’s possible of course, and I’m sure many people do it, but I would advise caution. Also, make sure you specify you want an automatic as most cars in the UK are manual 🙂

3rd July 2019 at 12:01 am

Thanks for the information. Think we’ll skip Heathrow. How would landing in Edinburgh, then heading up through Scotland and back down England (maybe to Bath). Then going up through York and returning back to Edinburgh to return car.

3rd July 2019 at 2:57 pm

That would likely work quite well. My only advice, if you plan on spending time in Edinburgh, is not to pick up the hire car until you leave, as you won’t need it in the city and you’ll just be paying for car rental and parking for no good reason – the city is very walkable.

6th July 2019 at 11:11 pm

Thanks so much. Will start planning.

Amanda says

23rd June 2019 at 5:59 pm

This is such a great detailed itinerary! We are planning to get a rental car in Cambridge and then driving to Scotland from there, so some of these places we will definitely have to visit! I do have one question, about renting a car. Is there a boarder crossing fee or any other type of fee the rental company could charge to go from England to Scotland? We are planning to do a one-way trip so I know there is a fee for that, but in terms of crossing between the two countries is there a fee? When I read about the boarding crossing fee it was unclear to me if that is only if we leave the UK?

Thank so much!

23rd June 2019 at 6:02 pm

Thanks very much! There’s no fee or anything like that for crossing into Scotland, it’s not really a border like that. It’s all part of the UK, so it’s one country.

Opal joiner says

18th June 2019 at 1:37 pm

Hi Do I need to purchase a London pass and a heritage pass? Or just one pass?

18th June 2019 at 7:05 pm

It depends what you want to see and where you are travelling, but for London the London Pass will cover the majority of the attractions 🙂 I definitely recommend checking what they cover before purchasing though 🙂

Chris Ryan says

17th June 2019 at 8:44 am

From an English persons point of view this is an excellent itinerary. It would be good to include the Lake District and Snowdonia but to cover all this in two weeks would be a nightmare and far too much time on the road. The average Brit would allow at least a month for the whole trip. If only two weeks available I would suggest you save Ireland for another time, it’s sacrilage not to explore more of that country, and maybe see more of the west of Scotland instead.

17th June 2019 at 11:06 am

Thanks very much 🙂 I agree, I was actually born in Snowdonia and that part of the world is wonderful. Have spent many happy weekends camping in the Lakes as well. The itinerary was in response to a specific request – we normally encourage folks to slow down where possible and spend more time seeing and less time travelling, but unfortunately many people don’t have much leave to play with and want to try and see as much as possible 🙂

Lillie says

15th June 2019 at 2:56 pm

Hi! So glad to have stumbled upon your site, as I am planning this trip to the UK in October, and I didn’t even know where to begin. I like the idea of doing all the traveling by road ourselves since we’ll be traveling with our baby who will be 9 month old at the time. I was thinking 10 days, including Ireland, but would you consider that possible? We are really interested in doing the whiskey distillery tours in Scotland and anything and everything related to Harry Potter. We’re also interested in visiting landmarks like the cliffs and stonehenge. We’re usually good at squeezing in a lot in our vacations, but this will be the first time we travel with our son, so I don’t want to set ourselves up for failure either. Any advice on what to cut out or if we need to lengthen the trip?

15th June 2019 at 8:38 pm

So, first off, I have to say that we’re not really experts on travelling with children as we don’t have any of our own. So any advice I offer you is based on what friends and other readers have shared with us about the logistics of travelling with a young person. Of course, everyone’s experience will also be different.

Generally, most folks say that you definitely need to slow down when travelling with young children, as you have to factor in things like feeding, changes and so on. This will definitely vary though depending on age and individual personalities 😉

That said, you are trying to do a great deal in 10 days. Scotland and England are around a 6 – 7 hour drive apart, and if you want to get up into the Highlands you’re looking at another few hours. To then add Ireland would make it more of a challenge for sure. It’s not impossible of course, but it would definitely be rushed. It might be that you would be best off focusing on Ireland and Scotland on this trip, perhaps five days in each, rather than trying to see everything and just having a stressful time. Alternatively, add 3 or 4 days and include some time in England 🙂

I hope this helps a bit!

Ashok Agarwal says

15th June 2019 at 6:01 am

Wow. I looked up the WWW for a 2 week itinerary for the UK and am glad I clicked on your site, from the numerous options that sprang up. The information contained here is so so exhaustive. Not only did I get a fantastic plan but ab amazing read, too. We are planning our first visit to the UK in October and are going to follow your tips to the T. You guys are fantastic. Thanks.

15th June 2019 at 11:04 am

Thanks very much Ashok! Much appreciated 🙂

9th June 2019 at 9:56 am

Dear Laurence!

Thank you SOOOOO much for your inspirational itinerary and all other articles you provide here. They’re great help!

We are going to spend 15 days in UK in August and this is cause we’ve planned to take our son to Warner Bros HP Studio as we are all massive HP fans :). We’ll start and finish in London, though initially we want to hire a car at the airport and start a trip and spend couple of days in London in the end.

Could you kindly give us some advice / decide whether it is possible, to plan a trip considering these simple priorities: 1) we’d love to see Scotland with its green hills, waterfalls etc. 2) we would really like to visit Snowdonia 3) I guess Stonehenge is sth 8-year-old traveler to England must see 4) I personally have dreamt all my life too see PUFFINS (I mean – free puffins) 5) we can skip Irelnad, no problem 😉

I must admit – reading about UK – I am getting a bit lost in huge amount if options and sites one must visit, so I’d be grateful for some advice.

10th June 2019 at 10:57 am

My pleasure 🙂

So my first tip, if you haven’t already booked the Harry Potter Studio Tour is to do it as soon as possible as it books out well in advance 🙂 I also have a guide to visiting which you might have already seen, but just in case you haven’t, it’s here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/taking-a-harry-potter-studio-tour-everything-you-need-to-know/

Then, on to the question of your itinerary. Assuming two days in London, that gives you around 12 – 13 days to play with. I would suggest you spend them as follows. Given that you are Harry Potter fans I’m also including some HP filming locations you might enjoy 😉

Day 1 – head to Oxford, overnight here. Lots of awesome history, plus lots of Harry Potter filming locations to explore. Day 2 – head to Bath via Stonehenge Day 3 – head up to Snowdonia. Will be a bit of a drive, but worth it. I’d advise a couple of days in Snowdonia to do some hiking and exploring the towns, castles etc. The roads are slower here so it will take longer go get around

Day 5 – Head across to York Day 6 – Drive up to Alnwick Castle, another HP filming location. Then continue on to Edinburgh. Day 7 & 8, Edinburgh. Lots to see, lovely castle. Where Rowling wrote many of the HP books. Note the Edinburgh festival will be on so the city will be very busy. If you decide to stay in Edinburgh, you need to book now. Also, if you want to see puffins, the Isle of May just near Edinburgh is one of the best places to get up close to them. You need to book a trip, which you can do here: https://seabird-centre.seafari-edinburgh.co.uk/forth-ferry-and-isle-of-may

Day 9 – head across to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Overnight here or in Oban Day 10 – head up to Fort William / Glencoe. You can ride the HP train from here, or go see the viaduct at least Day 11 – head down to Glasgow, overnight Day 12 – drive down to Liverpool, overnight Day 13 – return to London.

I would say that would be a good way to do it! We have lots more info on Harry Potter sites if you are interested: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/london-harry-potter-locations/ https://independenttravelcats.com/guide-top-harry-potter-sites-in-edinburgh-scotland-jk-rowling/ https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/harry-potter-filming-locations-uk/ https://independenttravelcats.com/harry-potter-filming-locations-in-scotland/

10th June 2019 at 8:52 pm

Thank you a lot for your advice! The plan sounds great and we are definitely going to follow it step by step :)))

with best regards!

7th June 2019 at 9:00 am

Hi, what a great article! However, do you have any tips for hire car? Are there any fees/ extra charge or need to notice the supplier that the road trip route is involve Wales, Ireland and Scotland?

7th June 2019 at 8:37 pm

Thanks very much!

For driving in Wales and Scotland it won’t matter because they are part of the united Kingdom, so it’s still the same country.

The republic of Ireland however is a separate country, plus you have to take a ferry to get there. So that would be something you would need to check with the rental agency.

S. Steinback says

26th May 2019 at 9:16 am

Hi, my daughter and I are leaving mid August to the UK for 2 weeks. We are planning to start our trip in London. Then wanted to see Brighton, Cornwall, Wales and Scotland. We also want to see Bath and Oxford too. Is this doable using the train? We are unsure of how we should book our traveling using train, car or bus. Can you provide and manageable itinerary and recommendations on how we should travel from each place on a 2 week trip?

26th May 2019 at 11:04 am

Hi Sabrina,

So you should be able to see most of what you want to see by train. As an example, I’d suggest:

2 days in London 1 day in Brighton (train to Brighton takes about an hour, so can be done as a day trip from London or overnight) 1 day in Oxford (1 hour train from London to Oxford, overnight in Oxford) 1 day in Bath (1 hr 40 minute train from Oxford to Bath, overnight in Bath) 2 days in Cornwall (around 3 hours by train from Bath to Cornwall. You might want to take a tour in Cornwall as there is less public transport to get around) 3 days in Wales (train from Cornwall to Cardiff is around 3 – 4hours, but then you will have to plan how to get around Wales. Again a tour might be easiest) 3 days in Scotland (you can either fly from Cardiff to Glasgow / Edinburgh, or take the train, but the train will take around 8 hours)

I’d also suggest looking into Rabbie’s Trail Burners . They do a number of tours from London which might suit what you want to do and save you the hassle of planning. These cover the majority of the destinations you want to visit.

I hope this helps a bit with your planning!

Ed Hyland says

17th April 2019 at 12:01 am

Thankyou for your guide it was really helpful I am living in Argentina and j am planning on bringing Argentinian tourists to Wales and central England on a tour of castles and important historical sites .I plan on bringing groups of around 10 people and using a rented mini bus to move around. Do you have any helpful tips as this will be our first tour ,we are planning on visiting early September All the best .Ed,x

17th April 2019 at 10:56 am

My pleasure. So I don’t have any experience of running this kind of trip, so it’s tricky to give very specific advice. I am sure you have considered things like insurance and liability and so on, as well as any other legal requirements involved with running a tour.

THe only tips I have would be around admission to sights – there are usually group discounts available for attractions that you might be able to take advantage of, although you might need to call in advance to arrange these. I’d also advise to definitely book your accommodation in advance as you have a larger group.

Otherwise, I hope you have a great trip!

12th April 2019 at 12:04 am

I was planning this itinerary since I saw and had 15 days in the region. After more research I am now wondering what it takes to get a rental car from London to Ireland and back? Do you use the same car the entire trip, or would you switch cars at the water crossings in order to not have to pay to ferry the car across? Also I’ve heard rental agencies in England don’t really allow their rentals (or at least coverage) in Ireland? And yet another concern is time, I keep hearing that driving over there is quite a bit slower going than say the US, or by train, would this itinerary still give enough time to enjoy the locations or would it be quick stops and rushed in order to get to the next place? Sorry a lot of questions, just trying to decide if I need to break the trip up to just one or two countries. Thanks. And love you blogs and all the information and amazing photography.

12th April 2019 at 11:46 am

So it is certainly possible to take a hire car on the ferry, it just depends on the hire car company, and some of them charge a fee for doing so. Here’s an example of the Enterprise UK policy: https://www.enterprise.co.uk/en/help/faqs/driving-across-borders.html

Obviously you also then have to pay the ferry fee for the hire car as well. So an easier option to be honest is just to fly, for example to take a flight from Edinburgh to Belfast or Dublin. You would drop off the hire car in Edinburgh and pick up a new one in Belfast.

I appreciate this might be a bit of hassle, so certainly adjusting the itinerary so you skip Ireland is another option. In this case, I’d suggest either spending more time in Scotland, or coming down the west coast of the UK, visiting the Lakes and Wales.

The roads in the UK are definitely a bit busier and can also be slower than roads in the USA. This itinerary is definitely doable, but I’m always a fan of slowing down and seeing more, so that is a good option too 🙂

Let me know if you have any more questions!

David Cameron says

11th April 2019 at 1:56 pm

“You’ve packed up every possible solution in this one blog. I’m over the moon! I really am! How much would this trip cost, approximately? And if I’m going on this trip, Ireland will definitely be included coz from the moment I saw P.S I love you and Leap Year movie, I’ve been dreaming of visiting those places. Thank you. Thank you so much, Laurence !”

11th April 2019 at 2:04 pm

Thanks very much! So it’s hard to give an exact price as it will depend on your travel style. The best option is to cross reference this post with our guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK, which will let you come up with a budget based on your travel style 🙂

Have a great trip, and let me know if you have any more questions!

Usha Gupta says

10th April 2019 at 6:02 pm

Hi, we are travelling to London for a holiday from India. My 2 sons (29 & 27) and I are planning on spending 2 weeks in London and Wales. 13th-18th in London 19th-21st in Wales 22nd-26th in London Please advice how best to spend our holidays? We do not want to visit any of the normal places as we have seen n visited them all. What are the best places in wales to see and visit? We have not been to wales. Is it safe to take a road rrip from London to wales? Are 3 days in wales enough to get around? Pl advice

10th April 2019 at 6:52 pm

Well, there’s a huge amount to do and see in London beyond all the normal tourist things that you have likely already done. I can advise visiting Greenwich for example if you have not been out there already, and perhaps some of the palaces out of the city, like Kensington or Hampton Course. Sometimes we like to pick up the London Pass and visit some of the many attractions we’ve not been to before!

Wales is lovely but it is quite big so you will want to consider visiting a region. My favourite part of Wales is the northern part, including the Snowdonia national park and towns like Caernarfon, but there are many nice regions and places to visit. If you want to see more you will likely want a few more days in Wales.

It is certainly safe to take a road trip from London to Wales, of course, I can’t guarantee your safety, but it is no less safe than travel anywhere else in the UK 🙂

I hope this helps – have a great trip!

Usha gupta says

14th April 2019 at 3:24 am

Ty for you advise. We decided to spend all our time in London and do day trips, theatre etc.

14th April 2019 at 11:46 am

My pleasure. Enjoy!

Darlene Williams says

24th March 2019 at 6:10 pm

Lovely ideas here! My Granddaughter and I did a trip last summer to the Cotswolds, London and Paris. I’m thinking of a trip with my Granddaughter (18) in 2020 and would like to base myself in the Lakes District or Wales and take in Ireland and Scotland in a 2 week trip. Since I’ve been there I’ve decided I could probably drive it myself or possibly rent cars when needed and travel via train/bus/tours between Ireland & Scotland. I’m guessing the Highlands is probably out of reach for a 2 week trip? I would welcome your knowledge and suggestions. Thank you, Darlene

25th March 2019 at 3:44 pm

Thanks very much Darlene!

I would definitely recommend hiring a car for the Lakes – it’s a more remote part of the UK, and there are fewer public transport options, both for getting there, and for getting around. I would say that it would make for a good base, but just to be aware that the roads are not very fast in either the Lake District or Wales, so it can take a bit of time to get from place to place.

The Highlands would be achievable, but it would involve a great deal of driving, and if you wanted to head up there i would suggest that as a standalone trip, perhaps flying to Inverness (or overnight train from London), and then renting a car from there 🙂

Do let me know if I can provide any more specific information to help you plan!

Deep Shah says

22nd March 2019 at 5:43 am

Hello Laurence and Jessica,

It has been a pleasure reading about all your experiences in and around UK. I am planning to visit UK between April 22 and May 1. I am planning to start my trip from Edinburg cover a bit of scotland and than move on and end my trip in London.

Here is my itinerary Inverness (23 April) –> Isle of Skye (24 April) –> Fort William (25 April) –> Edinburgh (26 April) –> Jedburgh (27 April) –> York (28 April) –> Cambridge (29 April) –> Cotsworld (30 April) –> London (1 May)

Do you think this is doable? Or any particular section is too aggressive? Your help will really help me plan this better.

22nd March 2019 at 10:00 am

This is in theory do-able, but you will be spending a lot of time driving. From Inverness to the Isle of Skye is a 2.5 hour drive for example, and then there’s a lot to see and do on the island which will also require driving. If you are ok with lots of time driving then yes, this is doable, I just wanted to be sure you knew 🙂

24th March 2019 at 12:35 pm

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I am aware that we will have a lot of driving. But thats ok with me. Thanks again for your time. I have made the reservations to follow this itinerary. Will let you know how it goes.

Thanks for sharing all the information on your website.

24th March 2019 at 12:38 pm

My pleasure – have a great time and do let us know how it goes! You can drop in here or in our facebook group 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelloversandphotography/

Omker Mahalanobish says

21st March 2019 at 5:22 pm

Thanks for your detailed itinerary. Looks exciting. By the way, could you please let me know, what should be the expected cost for the said trip? Further : I dont want to drive. Me and my wife would be travelling, and we would rather prefer a chauffer driven cab.

Thanks, Omker

21st March 2019 at 5:27 pm

I have a guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/cost-travel-uk/

However, if you want to travel with a private guide, this will generally cost in the region of £500 – £800 per day for the car / driver guide, and then you would need to add accommodation expenses and so on on top of that. We recommend Robina Brown for this sort of trip: http://driverguidetours.com/

Heather Reid says

20th March 2019 at 5:20 am

This site is the most perfect one for my needs. I am a solo traveler female aged 74 and I wish my 75th Birthday be spent on the next trip. If there be another solo person I would be happy to meet up before departure….male or female.

20th March 2019 at 12:49 pm

Thanks Heather – have a great trip, and we hope you find someone to travel with!

Phillip Armanas says

5th March 2019 at 12:20 am

Stumbled over your website while looking for ideas for a two week trip to the UK, glad I did. You’ve got a fantastic itinerary which includes a number of destinations my wife and I had in mind already. We are a retired couple, living in Australia six months of the year, and Atlanta, Georgia the other six months. This gives us great flexibility in travel terms, both in SE Asia and from the USA to many places including UK/Europe. A question I have is whether you have done any family history work on any of your travels? My ancestry is Scottish in the mid-1800s when my great-great-grandfather arrived into Port Adelaide, Australia. As yet we have been unable to track him accurately back into Scotland, but his surname is from a very ancient clan that can be traced back to the 13th century in Fife county. Have you any tips on places I might visit to pursue my elusive ghosts? Phill & Patti

5th March 2019 at 1:35 pm

Hi Phill & Patti!

We’re delighted you have found our content useful : ) So this isn’t something we have personally done, however I have some resources that might be helpful:

http://www.scottishgenealogyresearch.com/ https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/research-your-ancestry/steps/ https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/family-history https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/local-family-history-centres

It helps if you know the person’s name you are researching and where they lived before leaving Scotland. If you know this, you can look for a local research center or records office or clan center. The Visit Scotland link above is a good place to start. The Scottish Genealogy Research is a professional service that will do research for you for a fee.

Good luck, and have a great trip!

Ronald Rieder says

15th February 2019 at 1:22 am

My wife and I would like to take your “ideal itinerary” beginning Sept. 30, 2019. Is there anyone or any group that we could join?

17th February 2019 at 3:56 pm

So this itinerary is a self guided tour for those wanting to drive themselves. However, we appreciate not everyone wants to do that, and we’ve put some suggested tours that will allow you to do a similar trip but in a group tour format. My suggestion for that would be to focus on England and Scotland, and to take this small group tour followed by this five day tour of the Scottish Highlands and Skye .

I hope this helps – let me know if I can offer any more advice!

Cass Baron says

11th February 2019 at 2:19 am

Laurence and Jessica, We are from Utah, United States and have never traveled abroad (except a short trip to Canada and a Western Caribbean cruise). It has been our dream to come to England and retrace our family history roots. We were looking for trip ideas that covered the areas for both a historical trip as well as a family roots trip. We found your site and loved everything that you have written about. We like the 2 week itinerary but don’t want to do the Ireland and Wales portion. We would like to include Nottingham and Hastings areas, do you have any suggestions to add these in for the same amount of time. We are planning on this May. Thanks!

11th February 2019 at 7:40 am

Certainly. I’d recommend Hastings first, then heading from there along to Stonehenge and Bath, then the Cotswolds and Oxford. From there, start heading north, with Nottingham your next stop, before continuing with the itinerary. You could even drop the car off in Edinburgh and fly out from there if you didn’t want to drive back down to London 🙂

I hope this helps – let me know if you have any more questions!

Lashaun says

5th February 2019 at 11:42 pm

Hello. If we skip the Ireland portion where should we extend our time or add another destination for the 2 week adventure? Also we’d like to see a football game, suggestions for city (Manchester, Liverpool?), tickets etc? thank you!

6th February 2019 at 10:36 am

I’d say you could extend by visiting the Lake District and northern Wales, or by heading further north into Scotland, where there’s lots to see. You definitely won’t have trouble finding places to see!

For football, if you don’t have a particular affiliate with a team, then Manchester will likely be a good option as they have the largest stadium. Tickets can be bought online in advance for any of the teams from their official websites, just be aware that they can sell out so you’ll want to book well in advance to be sure of getting a spot.

I hope this helps! have a great trip 🙂

Steve Geller says

2nd February 2019 at 3:10 am

Hi there, Curious if this itinerary, or part of it, could be done in a motorhome (midsize RV) for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids. I’ve never been to most of these places, outside of some brief time in London and Dublin. For itineraries like these where there is a lot of moving around, I like the idea of a motorhome vs going from hotel to hotel (or apt to apt). Thanks!

3rd February 2019 at 11:45 am

So yes, it would be possible to do this is a motorhome. However, I’d probably advise modifying the itinerary fairly substantially, especially the city parts. Most UK cities don’t have centrally located motorhome camping locations, and the streets tend to be fairly narrow, which can make driving and parking a motorhome very challenging. I would instead suggest, if you wanted to do a motorhome holiday in the UK, to look at a driving route like the NC500 (see our camping itinerary for the NC500 here ), or adjusting this route so it visits more of the countryside parts, like the Cotswolds, Peak District, Lake District and Northumberland.

Let me know if we can answer any more questions!

Iskandar Zulkifly Bin Ali says

29th January 2019 at 10:05 pm

Hello there ! finding this website was such a blessing for me! i am a student who wishes to travel around UK for 2 weeks before i go outside UK ( around Europe for a month ). my only problem is, i am studying in london therefore i’m gonna skip london from this amazing itinerary, and am also skipping Scotland cuz i went there last Dec already. which will give me extra days to fill in to make it 2 weeks. would you please help me to suggest places to fill in between the itinerary ? ps; i really really want to see Jurassic coast and cambridge and watergate bay. where should i put these places in terms of best route wise?

thank you in advance for your time !! you got a follower on your ig !

30th January 2019 at 7:33 pm

Hi Iskandar!

Thanks for your lovely comment and following on IG! We’ve actually just recently visited Cambridge and written a detailed guide to the city, which will be live on the blog in the next few weeks 🙂

To answer your question, first I have to assume you are driving. If not, this might have to change a bit to accommodate public transport. But I would say I would go from London to Cambridge, then up to the Peak District, Manchester and York. You could then go across to the Lake District if you wanted, then across to Holyhead and to Ireland (if you wanted to visit Ireland). Then south wales, Oxford and the Jurassic coast.

I hope that works for you 🙂 Have a great trip!

HANNAH JOHNSON says

29th January 2019 at 3:07 pm

This has been an amazing help! If possible, I did want to ask about more recommendations as far as castles/history goes. This is a very close itinerary for what I think we want to do, but I was wondering if you had any more info on what I could add/take away from this list in order to do more of that. Also, we will be departing from the atlanta, GA airport, and returning back to (or starting from) england isnt entirely necessarily. I definitely agree and would take your advice of ending in dublin and returning from there or wales, but im basically trying to avoid flying/ferrying more than need be. What would be your recommendation for doing everything in the UK in one vehicle and then only crossing into ireland once? if that makes sense

30th January 2019 at 7:38 pm

So there are a lot of great castles in the UK, and it’s hard to travel anywhere without finding history! Some of my favourite castles are in Scotland and the Northumberland area, and you’ve also got Hadrian’s wall up there. But York has all the Viking history too, and then cities like Oxford or Cambridge have more from the middles ages, Bath has the Roman empire.. So there’s really no shortage of history to find.

If it was me though, I’d spend a bit more time exploring some of the castles in Northumberland like Alnwick, Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh, as well as some in Scotland.

If you want to do everything in the UK that would be possible, just continue from Oxford to Bath and Cardiff, and then head north from there to York. You might want to bypass Manchester in order to get more of the history you are interested in as it’s more of a town that had it’s heyday with the industrial revolution, which might be a bit too recent history for your interests. You could instead add Warwick, which has a popular castle and a lovely town centre.

Have a great trip and let me know if I can be of any more help!

Hannah says

30th January 2019 at 8:25 pm

For sure! Thank you so much.

Maribel says

17th January 2019 at 4:13 am

Hi, I am planning a 2-week trip to Great Britain flying from Mexico City to London. Your post is very helpful. My trip HAS to include the Isle of Man but I do want to go to Edinburgh and Ireland. What do you think would be the best route? Thanks for your amazing post!

17th January 2019 at 6:37 pm

Hi Maribel!

Great question, and the first time anyone has asked me about the Isle of Man, which I have to admit, I haven’t been to!

There are direct ferry connections to the Isle of Man from Belfast, Dublin, Lancaster and Liverpool.

So assuming you want to do a fairly similar route, mug suggestion would be to follow the general outline of this trip, but take the ferry from Dublin to the Isle of Man, and then on to Liverpool, instead of from the southern end of Ireland to Fishguard. I think that’s the most logical option.

There are other option too – you could go London -> Oxford -> Liverpool -> Isle of Man -> Dublin -> Belfast -> Cairyan -> Edinburgh -> London.

So up to you really! Have a great trip, and let us know if you have any more questions!

Maribel Felix says

17th January 2019 at 6:40 pm

Muchas Gracias! I appreciate you advice very much. I will send you an update of my trip on my way back to Mexico.

17th January 2019 at 9:50 pm

Please do Maribel – we love to hear back from people on how their trips go, and incorporate feedback into our content to help everyone!

16th December 2018 at 12:15 am

Hello! I am planning a 28 day trip in in May 2019. What would you recommend to fill in the extra days? Thank you so much! And thank you for sharing such a lovely itinerary!

16th December 2018 at 11:49 am

Hi Sara! It’s hard to give a precise answer without knowing your interests, but if it was me I would extend my trip up into the northern half of Scotland, perhaps spending 7-10 days driving the North Coast 500, visiting the Isle of Skye and seeing the highlands. You could also head out to the some of the other islands, like Lewis. May is a great time to head up into that part of Scotland.

Other options include Wales or Cornwall, or extending your time in Ireland. There’s so much to see and do, even 28 days will be filled easily!

Nathaniel says

14th December 2018 at 7:57 pm

Could I use this itinerary for a school project. You will be credited and cited, obviously. Thank you if yes and thanks anyway if no. This was fun to read, regardless of your reply Thank you again, Nathaniel

14th December 2018 at 11:43 pm

Hi Nathaniel,

Thanks for asking! Could you e-mail me about this so I get more of an idea of the use? It’s [email protected] 🙂

9th December 2018 at 8:26 am

We are planning a 3 week trip to UK (2 weeks) and Amsterdam (1 week).. We will fly to Amsterdam from London. We were looking at your 2 week itinerary and wanted to ask what would you suggest instead of Ireland, We only want to visit London, Wales and Scotland start at London and return to London. Family with kids who like a bit of adventure, culture so interested in castles, nature etc. Also would like to visit Whisky distilleries preferably Glenfiddich and Aberlour. Also we will be hiring a car in London and return there. Would really appreciate your suggestions.

9th December 2018 at 10:37 am

So my suggestion would be to do a loop from London, similar to that I’ve described here, but instead of going across to Ireland, to head down the west coast of the UK, and then visit the Lake District and Wales on your way down.

In terms of distilleries, certainly, Aberlour and Glenfiddich are achievable from Edinburgh, but you are looking at a three hour drive each way. So you might prefer to visit a closer distillery like Deanston, which is also right next to Doune Castle, which I’m sure your kids will also enjoy 🙂

Hope this helps a bit!

Navtej says

22nd October 2018 at 11:18 am

Hi, a very helpful article. As I plan my next year travel to Europe after a gap of 15 years…it’s a god send. I propose to spend a few days in Amsterdam-Bruges and then fly to London. Here I catch up with another couple and there 12 year old daughter and plan to drive to Scotland and Ireland. We have a total of 10 / 11 days for this.

Am thinking will cut Wales from my itinerary and which other place would u recommend I skip ?

Many thanks

Navtej from New Delhi, India

PS another slighlty unrelates question : If I fly into London should I take a flight into Amsterdam and the train back from Bruges or is this complicated and expensive?

22nd October 2018 at 8:22 pm

It’s hard to give specific recommendations as to what to skip as I’m not sure as to your personal interests. If you are more interested in culture / museums etc, then you will want to include more of the cities, and less of the countryside. Conversely, if you are less interested in the outdoors, perhaps leaving out some of the countryside attractions would be a good idea 🙂

Generally my advice would be just to stick to flights as it’s likely going to be easier and probably less expensive. The train though can be a good option if you book far enough in advance, it will just take a little bit longer.

Hope this helps – have a great trip!

Leslie says

21st July 2018 at 11:12 pm

Four women from Texas will be traveling to the UK in September and wanted to drive (one of us is brave enough to drive on the wrong side of the road). We spend 8 days in London last September with side trips to Bath and a tour to Oxford and Cotswolds and Warwick Castle. We have relatives in Glasgow, so plan to see that area of Scotland. Your information is a Godsend and thank you so much for all your planning. We will let you know how it goes!

22nd July 2018 at 9:36 pm

Thanks Leslie – please do! We always love to hear feedback as to how our posts help people (or if they need changing, we love to hear about that too!)

Have an awesome trip!

Ruth Deane says

11th July 2018 at 6:24 am

A good travel guide to the UK. I know it is difficult to provided a balanced approach due to limited wordage but the emphasis should be on the UK. N. Ireland and its capital Belfast have been sadly neglected in this article and the focus was Dublin which is not part of the UK. Surely something coulf have been added about Belfast and N. Ireland in general. It is a beautiful place. The author did make a reference to the Dark Hedges but associates them with Dublin. Last time I checked they are quite definitely in N. IRELAND. Hope this criticism is constructive. N. Ireland continues to get a bad press but it is a beautiful place and the majority of the people are that bad either.

11th July 2018 at 9:44 am

Constructive feedback is always welcome! We’re actually visiting Northern Ireland next week for a week to fully explore Belfast and the Coastal Causeway, and will be updating our content (and creating new content!) to have more information on this part of the UK 🙂 Stay tuned!

Craig Grimston says

26th June 2018 at 2:47 am

Thank you!!

September is a perfect month to come to Texas – the weather is perfect then! I’d be happy to answer any questions you have to the best of my ability (I’m not a native Texan – originally from Australia), but there is a lot of great things to do here. Austin and San Antonio are great too.

Thank you for offering to answer any questions! We are going in a group, so I’m sure a lot of questions will come up! I’ll try not to bombard you with them, but I may just hit you with a few! We are planning for somewhere in June to August next year (I plan ahead big time!) and couldn’t be more excited to see your beautiful country!

But please, definitely hit me up with any questions you have about Dallas or Texas. If I can’t answer them, I can track someone down who can!

Thanks!! Craig

22nd June 2018 at 8:02 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica,

I just wanted to say thank you for posting this itinerary. I really wanted to plan a road trip in the UK and after googling about it all I got was a bunch of blogs pointing out all of the negative things and basically saying “don’t bother”!

As I was about to give up and go the typical tourist route, I came across your website. It was exactly what I was looking for! It is inspirational, and put the joy and adventure back into my travel plans.

I’m pretty much going to stick to your itinerary with the exception of Ireland (I wanted to check out the Lake District and Liverpool), so Ireland may have to be a separate road trip!

I have a million questions, but I’m going to spare you of that! LOL. I really just wanted to say a big thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge!

Kindest Regards, Craig – Dallas Texas

25th June 2018 at 9:28 pm

Thank you so much, it always means a lot to hear that people are finding our content useful. I think you are making a sensible choice – there is a lot to see on the mainland of the UK, and it’s also less hassle to worry about rental cars and ferries if you leave Ireland for another trip 🙂

We’re happy to answer any questions you have. We’re actually planning a trip to Texas for late September, and will be swinging by Dallas, so may have some questions for you in return!

Vanessa says

14th May 2018 at 9:38 pm

I’ve googled “hire car” and it says “rental car.” But on your site here it seems that a rental care and a hire car are different things. What exactly is the difference? Thank you! And also thank you for this post – it’s amazing and I think I will definitely base my trip -whenever that may be… – around it. Bookmarking this page!!

15th May 2018 at 5:57 pm

Thanks Vanessa! I think in the UK we use the term hire car, wheras in the USA it’s more likely to be called a rental car. But yes, they are the same thing in my mind, you can use the terms interchangeably as far as I know 🙂 Have a great trip, and don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions at all 😀

Saurabh says

7th May 2018 at 7:55 am

Hi Lawrence, This is a great post! I think I can use some help. We are planning a 2 week trip to UK in August with a 1 year old toddler. What from above or otherwise will be a good itinerary for us. How realistic is it for me to cover what you have listed here? Appreciate any help. Thanks!

7th May 2018 at 10:03 pm

Thanks Saurabh! First, I should say that not having kids ourselves this isn’t an area of expertise for us 🙂 However, based on experiences of friends who travel with family, my suggestion would be to probably cut the itinerary in half, and focus on some of the major cities. As it is, it’s quite a busy itinerary, and I think you will have a better time doing a bit less and having the time to really explore some of the cities on the itinerary. So for example, maybe just do England and Scotland, and skip Ireland and Wales. This will reduce your travel, and let you spend a bit longer in each city. I’d also advise finding accommodation close to the city centres and attractions, so at least one of you can go out sight-seeing if one of you needs to stay behind for naps etc. I hope this helps – have a wonderful trip!

3rd May 2018 at 12:38 am

My husband and I are following this itinerary this summer, flying round trip into Gatwick from Canada. I was looking at the cost of the ferry from Scotland to Ireland and than Ireland to Wales and was shocked at the cost. Do you know of any Ferry discounts?

3rd May 2018 at 7:12 pm

Hi Sarah – you can try the various ferry search companies like directferries or a1ferries I think they are called. Unfortunately that time of year is school holidays, and there aren’t many companies operating the routes, so the prices go up. You might consider instead flying from Edinburgh to Belfast or Dublin instead, and hiring a car in Ireland rather than taking the ferry, if that is a cheaper option!

Badariah says

21st March 2018 at 8:24 am

Awesome I am planning for a 2 week get away to UK. Your article helpsss a lot. Planning to go in mid sept till end of sept

21st March 2018 at 11:25 am

Thanks very much – have a wonderful trip!

11th March 2018 at 9:06 am

hi lawrence me n my wife middle aged planning to do england and scotland in 15 days in july which would be ideal places to cover by public transport. i am open to hire a car for 2 to 3 days if required. please suggest us best possible train route for this trip we are flying in n out of london thanks waiting for ur reply

11th March 2018 at 10:02 am

My advice would be to follow my 10 day UK itinerary, which is designed for public transport: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/10-day-uk-itinerary-public-transport-train-bus/

You could spend a little extra time in each location, or you could add a couple of stops. My advice would be to add 1 day in Bath near Bristol, stop in Manchester between Liverpool and York, and think about stopping in Newcastle on the way to Edinburgh. If you wanted to see the Cotswolds, you could do that with a hire car from Bath, or on a tour from London.

I hope this helps! That post also has lots of information on using public transport in the UK. Have a great trip!

Christine says

19th February 2018 at 4:57 am

Hello and Thank You!! I was just wondering, I’m not the best with timelines haha, but exactly how many hotel stays are there in total in each location? I’m just trying to determine if you actually spent the night in each location for both nights or if you spent the day touring then drove to the next location and got a room, especially for the 1 day places… if that makes sense? My husband and are are arriving March 10th and fly back out the 24th so just trying to sort out the timelines… Also it was suggested to me to go to Cornwall or Leeds, what are your thoughts? Thanks!

19th February 2018 at 6:11 pm

Hi! And my pleasure 😀

So you’d be looking at:

2 nights in London 1 night in Oxford 1 night in the Cotswolds 1 night in the Peak District 1 night in Manchester (could do Leeds here instead) 1 night in York 2 nights in Edinburgh (could do one night in Northumberland on the way up) 3 nights in Ireland / Northern Ireland 1 night in Cardiff 1 night in Bristol or Bath

You could of course spend more or less time in each destination, and leave say London after two full days but only one night, and overnight in Oxford. So really it’s up to you 🙂

Leeds you could easily fit into this itinerary. Cornwall would be a bit harder as it’s a bit further away. If you wanted to do Cornwall, you might need to leave Ireland out for example to give yourself enough time. Hope this helps!

15th February 2018 at 10:57 pm

Awesome Itinerary, I would add Canterbury to this list 🙂

17th February 2018 at 8:35 pm

I’ve only briefly visited Canterbury, must return!

22nd January 2018 at 4:52 pm

This came a blessing in disguise after searching for a week almost and making all shit loads of itineraries. I am thinking of blindly following this as it looks great to me. Need your help on a few points here if it doe snot bother you much, it would serve a great deal of planning for me in addition to what it already has, 1. Was this too hectic considering the number of places you covered? 2. Was driving time included in the time spent at each place you mentioned? 3. Is driving safe in and around England? 4. Is driving a cheaper option than using rail/bus transport? 5. How much did this two week trip cost you? 6. How much does the drive part of the trip cost?

22nd January 2018 at 5:44 pm

HI Saurabh!

Pleased to hear you found the itinerary 🙂 I’m happy to answer your questions of course.

1. This is definitely a busy itinerary, although as you can see from the other comments, many people have enjoyed it. So it really depends on your own personal style of travel and your preferences, as well as who you are travelling with. If you want a less hectic schedule, I’d suggest perhaps leaving the Irish part of the trip out, and maybe focusing on England and Scotland, and perhaps extending your time in cities like London and Edinburgh.

2. Yes, driving time is included. Driving time is not too great in the UK as distances are not large and the motorways are good, however, be aware that traffic can be bad around rush hour in the morning and evenings.

3. Yes, driving is very safe. Of course, accidents happen like anywhere in the world, but for the most part you shouldn’t have any trouble.

4. It depends on a few factors – mostly how many of you there are. For one person, it might be more cost-effective to take public transport. Also, if you book public transport well in advance, especially trains, this can be much cheaper than buying tickets on the day. Car hire also depends on the size of the car, but you can get pretty good value car hire. Fuel is quite expensive, but most modern hire cars are very fuel efficient. I am shortly going to publish a post with a similar itinerary that focuses on travelling in the UK by public transport, so stay tuned for that 🙂

5. Cost is really up to you, as it depends so much on what you want to see! I’d say you can hire a car for around £180 – £250 a week, fuel costs will be in the region of £50-£70 a week, and accommodation is likely to be in the range of £80 – £150 a night for two people sharing. You can of course get cheaper and more expensive accommodation options, it really depends on your style of travel.

6. The main costs for the car are the car hire, fuel, and any insurance you buy. I’d say between £200 and £300 a week, plus any parking fees. I’d definitely advise always booking a hotel that includes free parking.

I hope this helps with your planning – have a wonderful trip, and don’t miss my one week itinerary post for more ideas 🙂

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/UK-Itinerary-One-Week-Road-Trip/

Steve and Cheryl Bales says

26th February 2018 at 9:09 pm

Thank you for the wealth of information! We are planning to take a trip to visit our daughter who is in the Air Force in the UK this May. I’ve read your itinerary and the questions and answers that followed. There were a couple of questions that popped up for me and I was hoping you could answer them. You mentioned taking a car over on the ferry to Ireland. We will be driving our daughter’s car, but I was wondering if we needed special insurance on the car to have it ferried. My husband are both disabled to a degree; neither of us are capable of walking long distances or sitting for any duration. Is there a need for concern over these issues? And, what is the cost of a London Pass and how many people does it cover, there will be four in our group? Any information would be much appreciated, thank you in advance. Steve and Cheryl

26th February 2018 at 9:19 pm

Hi Steve and Cheryl,

Thanks for reaching out, and I’m happy to hear you have found the content useful. You don’t normally need special insurance on a car to have it ferried, but you will likely need to check with your daughter’s insurer to make sure it is covered in Ireland. As far as I am aware it should be covered in Northern Ireland with the full coverage, and most UK insurers do provide at least some level cover for the EU, which Ireland is a part of, but worth checking.

For the itinerary I’ve put together, it’s really up to you how much you do. All the major cities have good public transport if you choose not to drive, as well as sight-seeing buses and things like that.

The London Pass prices vary – you have to buy one price per person, so that would be four passes total. Again, the value is up to you and how much you can get out of them. My only concern would be to get real value out of them you do need to try and pack quite a lot in – if you aren’t sure if that’s going to be possible you might end up being better off not getting them and just paying the ticket prices. Also, I’m not sure of your ages, but many attractions have senior concessions, which might also save you money rather than getting a pass. Worth checking the individual websites for the different attractions you want to visit to see what those might be.

You can see the London Pass prices here; https://prf.hn/click/camref:1011lbTW/pubref:FTU2WeekQuestion/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.londonpass.com%2Flondon-pass-prices.php

Derian Quek says

4th September 2017 at 1:10 pm

This trip seems a bit rushed when driving over to Ireland..I am also planning a 2 weeks this December to January. Any tips on this? Am planning London/Manchester/Lake district/Edinburgh/Cotswolds/bath/Stonehenge/Paris

Laurence says

4th September 2017 at 4:05 pm

Hey Darian,

This trip is definitely quite fast – unfortunately folks don’t have too much time sometimes, and are keen to see as much as possible, which is what I try to achieve on this itinerary.

Regarding your itinerary – at that time of year do be aware that the weather obviously won’t be great and it will be getting dark around 4pm – just something to bear in mind. Certainly your plan is possible but will also be quite packed. Perhaps focusing on a few less locations and seeing more. From your list I’d suggest London, with a day trip to bath, the Cotswolds and Stonehenge, then Edinburgh and Paris. You could add in Manchester as well of course. It would also depend on if you have visited any of the locations before and how you plan to travel. I’d suggest train from London to Edinburgh, and a cheap flight from Edinburgh to Paris.

4th September 2017 at 4:15 pm

Hi Laurence. It would actually be my first time to the UK. I’m visiting Manchester because I would wanna catch a game at old Trafford and that’s probably the only reason why. Flight from Edinburgh to Paris sounds like a good option though I would most likely be self driving from London up north. I’m thinking 3 days in London, 1 day in manchester, 2 days in lake district, 3 days in Edinburgh, 1 day to cotswolds and then 3 days in Paris via eurostar before heading back to London for my return flight

Mital Khona says

9th August 2017 at 2:43 pm

Hi Lawrence, Thanks a bunch for this wonderful itinerary… 1. We are travelling this September with 2 Kids ( 2 years old and 8 years old) and2 parents ( senior citizens).. Is this still doable.. I was thinking of picking up train for journey from London to Edinburgh 2. We would like to spend 3 days on the alternative route to Ireland suggested by you above. Can you help on the route/ time we should allot to Snowdonia, etc(west coast of the UK, including Glasgow, the Lake District, and Liverpool, as well as popping into Wales for the stunning Snowdonia national park)

7th January 2018 at 1:26 pm

Hi Mital! It really depends on your kids and grandparents and their stamina. I think this trip might be a bit much for some, and you might find it easier to go a bit slower and take things in a bit more. So perhaps a trip focusing on Edinburgh / London, with a hire car for the return journey down the west coast of the UK. I’d say three – four days in London, two to three days in Edinburgh, and then the rest of the time on the drive down the west coast would work!

Sussex Bloggers says

30th May 2017 at 12:56 pm

Can’t believe you’ve completely skipped Cornwall and the rest of the south coast. Such beautiful scenery all along the southern coastline and some wonderful towns and villages. Here’s a little teaser!

ipsita bhattacharya says

3rd May 2017 at 12:19 am

Hi guys, We are planning a trip to the UK in August/September 2017 and this 2-week itinerary is proving to be of great help! But if we plan to take public transport instead of driving, how much of this is doable? We are also looking at two weeks and while I understand taking trains/buses will eat into our travelling time, we are not sure we want to drive. Please advise. And thanks for this wonderful travel plan!

8th August 2017 at 8:56 am

Our pleasure. Much of this is doable, certainly between the major cities by train at least. We’d advice flying from the UK, likely Edinburgh to Dublin, and then back from Dublin to Cardiff or London. It’s definitely achievable in part though 🙂

Jessica says

2nd April 2017 at 1:15 am

I am so glad that I found your itinerary as we will be visiting the UK for a little over two weeks this coming summer. I do have question for a part of the trip when you have to ferry from Scotland to Ireland, is it easy to find ferries that will take your car across? Also do you recommend a car for the entire trip or to break it up with trains? Such as from London to Edinburgh? Thank you and I hope to hear back from you soon.

7th January 2018 at 1:24 pm

Hi Jessica! Sorry for the slow response. Most of the ferries take cars, but the question is as to whether or not your rental car company will let you take the car on the ferry. So you would need to check with them. If not, you might find it easier to say fly from Edinburgh to Belfast or Dublin to continue to journey, and perhaps pick up a hire car in Ireland instead.

Nishant says

19th March 2017 at 10:59 am

My family of 4 is planning in Aug’17 for 2 week and i like your write up here. we would be staying with our friend’s family (4 member) in LONDON and then accompany them to this tour plan. we wish to know approx budget in INR apart from AIR Ticket required for this kind of tour. Consider AIR BnB stay, Home cooking where ever possible, car drive and budgeted expense suitable for family.

แอโรคอม บริษัทจำกัด says

13th March 2017 at 8:24 am

Your 2 weeks itinerary seems very good. I am concerned with parking space in tourist attractions especially in big cities. Is it not so difficult to find parking area in all these recommended places (except London)? How much is a typical parking fee?

Thanks in advance! Pairoj S.

13th March 2017 at 2:24 pm

Thanks very much! Parking fees really vary depending on where you want to park. On road meter parking is usually the most expensive, around £3 an hour. I’d suggest finding a larger car park, like a multistorey operated by a company like NCP. These are more reasonable, and you would pay on a sliding scale where it is better value for staying for longer. I wouldn’t worry though, there is usually plenty of parking available, and sometimes if you don’t mind walking a little bit, if you don’t park centrally you can park for free. Have a great trip!

Mittal Shah says

10th March 2017 at 11:44 am

Hi Lawrence and Norah. I have been trying to plan a road trip in UK around July end for approximately 12days and have found a lot of helpful information.There are certain things i would like to know from you: For road trip should i consider hiring a caravan or a car( 4 of us travelling)? Is it better to book a hotel or bnb? Please help. Awaiting your reply

12th March 2017 at 9:47 pm

Thanks for your comment. A car would definitely be the best option, for four of you it would likely be the most cost effective option. I’d also suggest bed and breakfasts are a nice option, although there are lots of great hotels as well, it really depends on your budget,

Enjoy your trip!

rajul parikh says

19th February 2017 at 11:46 am

Hi Lawrence and Norah just been browsing through your site and taking in the information about the 2 week holiday in the UK. We find your information relevant and useful. We live in India and are considering a trip sometime mid June 2017. This would be our first trip to the UK. Lots of questions: would the weather be ok around that time? To cover your suggested itinerary (including ireland) how much driving would one end up doing everyday? Would your stops which are marked alphabetically on the map suggest overnight stay? Since we would like to spend at least 5 days in London we would need to extend our trip to about 21 days. Look forward to hearing from you.

19th February 2017 at 11:49 am

Happy that you found it useful! Yes, the main stopping points suggest an overnight stay. The weather is likely to be good in June, however, the weather in the UK can be very unpredictable. Coming from India, you’ll probably find it fairly cool 😉 I’d say between 15 and 25C would be the norm, and you should plan for rain whenever you visit the UK.

In terms of driving, the UK is quite small so not too much, probably not more than 2 – 3 hours a day.

Myn Wong says

14th February 2017 at 1:18 am

Hi. May I know the estimated cost of this trip?

George Monaghan says

30th January 2017 at 8:51 pm

Finding this site most interesting !

30th January 2017 at 8:52 pm

Thanks George, appreciated!

Dave_Toni says

18th January 2017 at 2:17 am

Hi guys, I’m staying in London for a short time (4 days) and I’m now thinking I should have booked a longer stay, but I’m on route to another destination. What would you recommend for a four day tour to get the best out of “must see” locations in in short amount of time? Really enjoying the site, keep up the great information. Thanks Dave.

18th January 2017 at 6:52 pm

Four days is a good time to see lots of London 🙂 My advice, if you’ve not been before, would be to focus on the highlights, plus allocate some time just to wander a bit. I have a two day Itinerary here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/2016/06/two-day-london-itinerary-essential-sight-seeing.html That should help a bit, and then an itinerary that focuses on the region of Kensington: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/2015/07/top-8-things-to-do-in-kensington.html I also have a guide for getting around London: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/2016/08/guide-public-transport-london.html Some tips for the best photo spots in London: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/2015/12/best-photography-locations-london.html And finally, we always recommend the London Pass to save money if you’re planning on visiting a lot of attractions. Here’s a great breakdown to find out if that’s worth it for you or not: independenttravelcats.com/2016/05/21/tips-using-buying-london-pass-worth/ Enjoy!

13th January 2017 at 10:19 am

So so perfect! Planning a 2 week UK holiday in June. This was God-sent!

13th January 2017 at 10:21 am

Wonderful, pleased you found it useful

Ashton says

5th November 2016 at 5:24 am

This is perfect! Exactly what I was looking for to start planning my honeymoon!! Thank you for taking the time to put this together

13th November 2016 at 7:58 pm

My pleasure – let us know how it goes and if there’s anything missing we can add to the post!

shiva bhavini says

16th July 2016 at 2:34 pm

Hi Laurence & Jessica, My husband and I are planning to have a 10 days UK trip , reaching London on September 16 and have return flight from london on september 26 , can you please suggest should we take some travel agent to take us around in UK ? Thanks much in advance

Ellana McNulty says

3rd July 2016 at 1:39 am

Hi Laurence & Jessica, My husband and I are planning on following your itinerary when we go over in August. When we first looked at your blog, there was a map at the end that you could zoom in on, but cannot find it now? Is the link still available.

3rd July 2016 at 11:24 am

Hi Ellana! Sorry about that, the map was causing issues for mobile users so I removed it. See comment below with a better answer!

Paul McNulty says

7th July 2016 at 12:09 am

Thanks for this Laurence!

Is it possible to have the whole route on the map like you had it before?

4th November 2016 at 11:13 pm

Hi Paul, I’ve been battling with google maps over this and gave up as it wouldn’t let me have enough waypoints. So I’ve switched to Bing Maps with the embedded image, and there’s a link to the route here: https://binged.it/2fDQGD2

Sorry for the delay!

5th November 2016 at 12:02 am

Thanks Laurence… we toured the UK in the last half of August using your itinerary. We modified it a bit to suit our personal tastes, but the basis of our trip was thanks to you. And it was even better than we expected!! Cheers.

5th November 2016 at 9:49 am

Brilliant! Delighted you had a good trip 😀

Alicia says

7th June 2017 at 3:22 am

The above link does not have a driving route in it. Is it no longer working (or I am doing it wrong)?

Unfortunately Google wouldn’t let me put together a driving route with this many stops, so this was the best I could do!

Seyne Tee says

27th June 2016 at 4:03 am

Hi Laurence & Jessica, I plan to visit UK for 2 weeks and rent a car to travel around places outside UK. Your perfect itinerary is exactly what I’m looking for, thanks! I have a problem here, I can only travel with my husband and son in the middle of November, will the weather be friendly enough to carry out activities as per your recommendation?

27th June 2016 at 9:23 am

Well, the weather in the UK can be quite varied, with sun even in November! However it will more likely be cold and grey, temperatures in the range of 3 – 10 degrees C. It will also be dark fairly early. However, that shouldn’t put you off, a lot of this itinerary is focused on the cities, and indoors activities, so you should be fine, although you might want to edit the itinerary a bit to focus more on indoor activities than outdoor ones 🙂

Stephen Mason says

9th May 2016 at 3:58 am

This trip is incredible! Can you give a price of what the final trip costed?

28th June 2016 at 11:55 am

Hi Stephen – it really depends on many factors, including your budget for accommodation / food. You can find places for £50 / night in most of the locations I’ve mentioned, food per person you could get away with £15 a day, then there’s fuel and car hire, not to mention attraction entry. I’d probably look to budgeting around £700 – £1500 per person, as a guideline, but a lot of variables to take into account 🙂

SharronJ says

8th March 2016 at 6:33 pm

This is just what I was looking for. I am planning on visiting your wonderful country for a month next year and just started doing research. Your article is just what I was looking for Thanks so much!

8th March 2016 at 6:35 pm

My pleasure! Have a wonderful trip 🙂

Edward says

17th January 2016 at 11:32 pm

Thank you for this. I will be going in UK late Spetember to October (one month) and this is a nice itnerary and I can do it in a slower pace. Would you say September and October is a good time to do this? How is the weather usually in those months?

2nd February 2016 at 2:47 am

It’s the Autum time so you might fair pretty well, considering. It starts to cool down in September and the trees start changing. There will be rain, especially in the West of England and Wales but there always is.

The best time to visit England is May – August, but if you don’t mind getting caught in the rain now and then, you shouldn’t have a problem

Joanne says

12th October 2015 at 2:18 pm

Is it possible to do this itinerary relying only on public transportation since I don’t drive? Thank you in advance.

12th October 2015 at 2:21 pm

Good parts of it are certainly possible, as the major cities are linked by public transport, and the trains in particular are an excellent and fast way to get around. One tip – book well in advance on specific trains to get the best prices in the UK, the fares you pay on the day are much higher. I’d also suggest flying from Edinburgh to Dublin if you wanted to include the Irish part of the trip.

You might have a bit more difficulty visiting places like the Cotswolds or other “country” parts on your own, however there are plenty of tour operators who can give you a day trip out from London to say the Cotswolds and Stonehenge.

On the whole though, yes, the majority of this itinerary would be more than do-able by public transport!

Nina Tchernova says

7th October 2015 at 2:43 pm

Hi Laurence, thank you so much for sharing this! We are planning to go in April, and this is exactly what we were hoping to do. And here it all is, so wonderfully explored and illustrated! One question though – what would you recommend about car rentals -one, or three? when we cross on a ferry to Ireland, do we bring the car, or is it better to rent another one there, and then another when we get back?

10th October 2015 at 1:14 pm

My pleasure 🙂 The answer to your question isn’t as simple as it sounds. One way rentals, as you’d need if you were to change cars, are generally more expensive than returning the car to the same place. On the other hand, a ferry ticket without a car is cheaper! So you might want to just check the math and see, depending on your budget. Personally, I’d not bother with the hassle of changing cars and just stick with the same one, you just need to check that it’s ok to drive the car in Ireland as well 🙂

10th October 2015 at 1:28 pm

Thank you very much, we will have to make a few enquiries.

Darryl Chan says

24th August 2015 at 6:03 pm

Hey! Love your itinerary! Is there anyway I can contact you to get more personalised advices from you? Looking forward to your reply!

27th August 2015 at 5:28 pm

Sure, you can just drop me an e-mail via the contact page on the site, or just fire away in the comments and I’ll see what I can do,

17th August 2015 at 4:58 am

Where’s the castle in your first picture?

25th September 2015 at 8:51 pm

The castle in the first picture (with the daffodils) is Alnwick castle in Northumberland. Home to Harry Potter or at least the was some filming taken place there and also some of Downtown Abbey. Alnwick is also home to Barter Books where the original ‘keep calm and carry on’ poster was discovered. Northumberland has one of the largest number of castles in the uk. Some of the most impressive I think are Bamburgh Castle, Lindisfarne Castle (on holy island – which needs a visit itself) and Chillingham Castle (known for being pretty spooky). Contact Wooler Tourist Infomation Office on +44 1668 282123 to learn about accommodation as Wooler is a fantastic base for the best of Northumberland.

25th September 2015 at 9:02 pm

Can I also say there is an awesome place for Brits and tourists alike; Beamish, the living museum. It is an outdoor village fashioned perfectly on olden days northern England complete with coal mine, dentis, working sweet shop and more

Monica says

11th August 2015 at 8:16 pm

I loved you itinerary and pictures. I’m definitely using your steps to trace some of my own. Thanks for sharing. I’m excited to read through more of your posts.

15th August 2015 at 8:32 pm

Thanks Monica, have a great trip!

3rd August 2015 at 9:50 pm

Great review of a nice trip through GB. My wife and I are trying to plan one for May, and we were thinking of spending more time in Scottland. Do you have any suggestions for moving from Endinburgh and into the northern part of Scotland and skipping Ireland. I thinking about Aberdeen and stopping by Ben Nevis, but it’s our first time traveling abroad and I’d love more information. Thanks!

3rd August 2015 at 11:49 pm

Hi Andy! To be honest I’ve not spent a lot of time in Scotland recently, but I can very much recommend taking the time to visit Glencoe. It’s a couple of hours from Edinburgh, and is an absolutely stunning valley in the highlands. I’ve also heard nothing but good things about the isle of Skye! Sorry I can’t be of much more help right now 🙁

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10 days in London and Scotland: a full itinerary

Can you think of a better contrast than the bright lights of London’s city centre and the remote countryside of Scotland? It’s amazing to think that these two different landscapes exist and can be so easily combined.

I’ve explored London and Scotland countless times over the past 20+ years and have used my experience with timings, what to do and transport options to come up with an exciting itinerary for 10 days in London and Scotland.

This article probably contains affiliate links. This means that if you buy or book after clicking, I may get a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

This travel plan will allow time to get to know London and see the sights before whisking you off to the Highlands of Scotland and you’ll also be able to add in the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh too! All in 10 days. Read on for this UK itinerary including London and Scotland and get the low down of what you can do!

A note from the writer: Hey! I’m Kirsty and I’m a UK travel expert – while I grew up in Scotland, as an adult I now return to visit almost every year – there’s so much to see! Shout (or comment below) if you have any questions about your next trip and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Useful links for your London and Scotland trip:

• Park Plaza Westminster – hotel in London with Big Ben or London Eye views
• Apex Grassmarket – Edinburgh hotel with castle views
• Discover Cars – compare car hire companies for renting a car in the UK
• Sleeper train – a good option to get to Scotland from London

Table of Contents

Overview of the 10 day London and Scotland itinerary

Here’s a quick overview of how the itinerary is laid out. Each day is broken down below with ideas on how you can spend your time and where you might like to book for your overnight stay.

Is 10 days enough to explore London and Scotland?

While it’s always nice to have more time than we ever allocate ourselves it’s absolutely enough to visit London and Scotland in 10 days.

You won’t see everything but if you’re clever with timings and how you get from each location (taking overnight trains for example) it’s a good introduction to London and Scotland!

Is it better to hire a car for this London and Scotland itinerary?

You’ll not need a car when in London or while exploring Edinburgh and if you did have one it could prove to be a bit of a hindrance.

I’m assuming use of a car when in the Highlands area. You’ll need 4 days car hire . It’s possible to do this trip with public transport but it’s trickier. A better option for those without a car is to use tours to explore the highlands and I have linked to some good ones.

Another idea is returning the rental car to Edinburgh which will allow for some exploring and enjoyment of the Highlands on the way south. You should check whether there are any restrictions on returning to a different place.

Having your own car allows you much more free time to explore some quieter spots that are away from the bus routes, be able to explore more around Loch Ness to your own timetable and have way more time to explore Skye.

How do I get between London and Scotland

The two main options I advocate in this itinerary are flight and train.

The itinerary advises to use the overnight Caledonian Sleeper train between London and Scotland because that then saves you having to book a hotel for that night, saving time for exploring. It’s also a really nice, romantic train ride if you’re looking for that!

It’s possible to use day trains though or also take flights. You might like my ‘ how to get to Scotland from London guide ‘ which can help a bit more with the options.

How rushed is this itinerary?

While it would be lovely to linger in Skye and explore much more of the Highlands with just 10 days in London and Scotland you need to make a choice as to what you want to do.

Many people want to tick off some classic Scotland landmarks from their bucket list and Skye is certainly one of them, Loch Ness another which is why they are included.

If you’re using public transport and don’t have your own car then you might feel that this is a lot to include. One way to mitigate this is to use organised tours where you fit a lot in one day but you don’t need to figure it out yourself.

There are many day trips to Skye you could try and plenty of Loch Ness trips as well. Some even cover them both in the same day. You could then use some of the spare time afterwards to explore locally, try local restaurants and generally chill a bit more!

The London and Edinburgh portions can be a rushed or chill as you like. It’s up to you what you include in each bit!

Does this include England?

This 10 day itinerary is for solely London and Scotland and doesn’t include any other towns, cities or sights in England outside of London city.

You might like to add other days on, perhaps to visit Stonehenge or other England attractions.

Notes about your days in London:

London can be as busy, cheap, expensive or chilled as you want it to be. I’m adding in ideas of things you can do, see and explore in certain areas but it’s up to you how much you try and include. Not everyone likes to do the tourist hot spots but similarly not everyone wants to miss them, especially if this is their first time in the country.

Ideas to see more and save money:

• Hop on Hop off bus tours are good if you want to see a lot and save your legs!
• The London Pass can also save some money if you want to see a lot of sights.

Evening options:

Theatre lovers will be spoilt for choice and it’s a good thing to do on an evening in London when it gets dark! Check out some tickets here .

Day 0 – Arrive in London

Destination – London

Day 0 is our day to arrive in London. This means that we get 3 full days in the capital city to explore and see some famous landmarks . If you’re arriving early on day 1 this can also work but be kind to yourself with possibilities of jet lag!

Accommodation Option for London:

London has a wealth of places to stay. For this itinerary I suggest sticking close to the center of the city so you don’t have too much travel to do. You’ll need to book either 2 or 3 nights depending on when you’re arriving.

Hotel ideas to get your started –

• Park Plaza Westminster Bridge (amazing hotel with Big Ben views)
• St James’s Court (mid range)
• The May Fair (top end)

Day 1 – Central London

Our first full day in London sees us wander around some of Central London and tick off some of the most popular landmarks in the city.

I recommend sticking around the Westminster and South Bank area. It’s all walking distance (take plenty of rests though!) and there’s plenty to do depending on what you like.

Here are some ideas:

• See Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament
• Explore Westminster Abbey
• See 10 Downing Street
• Explore London’s WW2 history and visit Churchill’s War Rooms
• Go on the London Eye
• Shakespeare’s Globe
• Cross the Millennium Bridge
• See St Paul’s Cathedral
• Take a Thames River Cruise

Accommodation option for day 1:

Day 2 – Greenwich

We’re going to head out of central London today to one of the suburbs and one of my absolute favorites too. Greenwich is known the world over for its role in timekeeping (Greenwich mean time – GMT) and has a huge naval history as well.

It’s a welcome change from the busy center of the city, although can still be fairly busy itself!

Ideas of things to do in Greenwich :

• Take a picnic to the park
• See the Royal Observatory
• Spend time in the National Maritime Museum (free)
• Take a look at the Cutty Sark
• Old Royal Naval College
• See the Queen’s House
• Walk round Greenwich Market and get some great street food
• Climb the O2

Getting to and from Greenwich:

While not in central London it’s easy to get to Greenwich and you have two main options:

Take the DLR – this is the Docklands Light Railway and is like an overground train. Take a tube to Tower Hill and it’s a short walk to the DLR stop Tower Gateway. The DLR will take you through Canary Wharf, London’s financial district and one of the few places with skyscrapers.

Take a boat – some of the Thames River Boats go to Greenwich as well and it can give you a unique perspective of the city!

Accommodation option for day 2:

Day 3 – Royal London

Our 3rd day in London will explore some of the Royal sites around. As you’re leaving your hotel today you might want to check if they will hold your luggage while you spend the day in the city.

Many will know all about Buckingham Palace of course but there’s actually quite a lot to explore if Royal history is your thing.

These sights are spread out a bit more so you might want to pick and choose what to visit. Perhaps start the day around Buckingham Palace and pick another one or two to add in afterwards. Alternatively if you’re flying or taking a day train to Scotland you’ll want to start early and just have a few planned.

Also, you don’t need to go inside all of these sites to have fun – lots are just as enjoyable from outdoors, especially if the weather is on your side! If you’re on a budget that might be a relief!

Ideas for Royal London:

• See Buckingham Palace and get a tour
• Watch the Changing of the Guard
• See the Royal Mews
• Learn more in the Guards Museum
• Enjoy Kensington Palace and gardens – perhaps even have high tea !
• Get a tour of the Royal Albert Hall
• Hear stories of the past and see the Crown Jewels at The Tower of London

Accommodation options for day 3:

Overnight Sleeper train to Inverness .

The train goes from Euston at around 9.15pm and gets you into Inverness (and a whole new world) at 8.42 the next morning.

Alternative: a late flight from London to Inverness is also an option giving you a comfy bed in the Scottish Highlands (see next night for hotel recommendations). Check Skyscanner for flight options.

Day 4 – Inverness

You’ll arrive in the Highlands at around 8.45 in the morning and you might have spent an hour or so enjoying the scenery before arriving (unless you’re travelling in winter when it was likely fairly dark!).

Find your hotel and drop your luggage off and then head into the city to enjoy a late, Scottish breakfast. Maybe it will even include haggis! Certainly some black pudding will be on the menu.

Inverness is a small city and after a busy time in London you’ll probably appreciate wandering around a compact place and having time to savor it.

If you are renting a car in Inverness , then after you’ve picked up your rental car then you might also want to include some different activities just outside of Inverness – depends on how energetic you’re feeling!

Ideas for Inverness:

• Do the river walk
• Explore Inverness Castle
• Lose yourself in Leakey’s Bookshop
• Inverness Museum and Gallery
• Go on a boat trip
• See where the Battle of Culloden happened
• Explore Clava Cairns , an ancient stone circle
• See some dolphins at Chanonry Point (car needed)
• Go to a whisky distillery

Again the Hop On Hop Off bus might be of interest to some.

Accommodation options for day 4:

Hotel recommendations –

• Black Isle Hostel (budget)
• The Waverley Guest House (mid range)
• Glen Mhor Hotel (top end)

Day 5 – Loch Ness

We’re still based in Inverness today, so no need to check out of the hote. An excellent day trip Loch Ness is easy to get to whether you have your own car, take public transport or choose an organised tour.

For those wishing to use a tour to see Loch Ness this one comes highly recommended.

There’s also a lot to do at Loch Ness so you can spend a good amount of time here today. I recommend getting yourself on a walking trail somewhere around and just enjoying Scotland’s nature. Some give great views of the loch too!

Ideas when visiting Loch Ness:

• Take a boat trip
• Explore the local villages
• Take a walk on one of many trails around
• Look out for Nessie
• Check out some local museum/attractions

Accommodation options for day 5

As for day 4

Day 6 – The Isle of Skye

We’re heading out from Inverness nice and early today to get to the Isle of Skye . It’s the only Scottish island that you can get to via a bridge so you won’t need to have to get a ferry! Great for those who don’t enjoy that.

By car it takes around 3 hours to Portree, the main town on the island and where many hotels are. If you leave Inverness by 9am at the latest you should be there for lunch time leaving the afternoon and early evening to explore.

If you don’t have a car then you can get a bus from Inverness to Portree – it takes around 4 hours. Alternatively you could do one of many day tours to Skye from Inverness where someone else drives, you see LOTS of sights and return to Inverness the same day.

Skye attractions to explore on day 6 (and 7)

• The Quiraing
• The Fairy Pools
• Talisker Distillery
• Neist Point and Lighthouse

Accommodation options for day 6

• Portree Independent Hostel (budget)
• The Royal Hotel (mid range)

Day 7 – Isle of Skye

We’re doing the return journey to Inverness today so you’ll want to factor in a 3 hour drive back or a bus journey (check last times to get back!)

If there’s anything left on your list to explore you might want to add that in today before you leave. There’s no huge rush though so take your time and see what Skye has to offer.

On your way back I recommend stopping off at Eilean Donan, one of Scotland’s most beautiful castles and one you’ll likely recognise from many images. Or perhaps from the Highlander film!

Our evening is spent in Inverness again – arrange a drop off for your car hire tonight if you have used one as we’ll be taking the train early the next day.

Accommodation options for day 7

Day 8 – Edinburgh

We’re travelling to Edinburgh today from Inverness and I recommend taking the train just because it’s so enjoyable and you get to see the wonderful Scottish scenery going by.

The train takes around 4 hours and there are a few options. I recommend the 8.42am train which will get you into Waverley Station at 12.49pm. Perfect timing for lunch and to check in to your hotel.

Alternative option – you could fly or you could drive to Edinburgh. Driving is just over 3 hours and means you could stop off along the way to explore some more sights.

For your afternoon in Edinburgh I recommend exploring the New Town which has a lot to offer, plenty of shops (especially compared to how many are in the Highlands!) and amazing architecture. The Princes Street Gardens are a joy when it’s a dry day and there are also a few museums here as well including The Scottish National Gallery.

For something a little different head to Dean Village (which is still in Edinburgh city despite the name). If you’ve seen any instagram videos of Edinburgh you’ll recognise it – its popularity has recently exploded!

Ideas for Edinburgh’s New Town:

• Princes Street – shops!
• Calton Hill
• Dean Village
• Scottish National Gallery
• The Royal Scottish Academy
• Whisky tasting at Johnnie Walker Princes Street
• Princes Street Gardens
• Royal Botanic Gardens

Accommodation options for day 8

• Cityroomz Edinburgh (budget)
• Apex Grassmarket (mid range) (my absolute favorite hotel for castle views in Edinburgh – get a room with a castle view!)
• The Balmoral (top end)

Day 9 – Edinburgh

Our only full day in the city and I recommend using it to explore the Old Town. For many this is the Edinburgh they came to see and it includes the castle, old buildings, street performers and much more!

I suggest that if you want to include actually visiting inside Edinburgh that you do it first thing. It’s the most popular attraction in Edinburgh and it can get incredibly busy.

If you have any left over Scottish currency it’s a good idea to get it spent today – it’s not always accepted in England (just the banknotes – not the coins)and can be hard to change when you get home.

Here are some ideas for what to do in the Old Town of Edinburgh:

• Edinburgh Castle
• Enjoy street performers down the Royal Mile
• Camera Obscura
• Whisky Tasting Experience
• Visit Greyfriars Churchyard (Harry Potter inspiration and home of Greyfriars Bobby)
• National Museum of Scotland
• Palace of Holyroodhouse
• Real Mary Kings Close or do a walking tour of old streets

Accommodation options for day 9

As for day 8

If you need to be back in London early on day 10 for onward travel it may be worth getting the sleeper train overnight from Edinburgh .

Day 10 – Back to London

Today is the last day of the trip and I’m assuming that most people will be heading back to the big city of London for any flights home. Of course if that’s not for you then you can enjoy Edinburgh a little more!

If you have time you could definitely explore some of Edinburgh’s sights that are close to the train station or your hotel this morning (you might need to consider luggage storage though).

Trains from Edinburgh to London take around 4.5 hours and are a good way to get yourself back into the city centre. Trains run all day and so you have a number of options to choose depending on when you need to be back for. I always use Trainline to check times and to book – it’s an easy website to use.

If you’re flying home today you might want to consider the time it will then take for you to get to the airport for check in. Leave yourself plenty of time in case of train delays too.

Alternative – it might be worth thinking about a flight from Edinburgh to London especially if it might get you into the same airport that you’re then flying on from. Many hours can be lost getting to airports around London!

Another alternative could be the overnight sleeper train which will allow another day in Edinburgh and arriving in London early the next day ready for any onward travel. If your day 10 includes an early flight onwards perhaps make the sleeper train your Day 9 accommodation.

🇬🇧 Great Britain Travel FAQ 🇬🇧

Do I need insurance for traveling to Britain?

YES! I always recommend people take travel insurance when exploring the world!

Check Travel Insurance Master for quote comparisons from different providers.

Do I need a car for visiting Britain?

YES – If you’re wanting to explore the whole of Great Britain, or at least some of its wonderful countryside then a car is worthwhile. It will get you around all on your own timetable

I recommend DiscoverCars to compare car rental prices in Britain

How to book accommodation in Britain?

For hotels I recommend Booking.com

For apartments and cottages check out VRBO

Will my phone work in Britain?

Perhaps – it depends if you have roaming enabled and beware this can be an expensive way to use your phone.

If you need a SIM for use in the UK I recommend GiffGaff which you can get and set up before traveling.

What’s the best guidebook for Britain?

I really like the Lonely Planet Guidebooks

Where to get flights for Britain

Skyscanner is my first port of call for finding cheap flights to the UK.

Do I need a visa for the UK?

Many countries don’t need a visa for visiting the United Kingdom as tourists (USA, Canada, Aus, NZ and Europe) – it’s always best to check first though .

Pin for later!

Kirsty Bartholomew

4 thoughts on “10 days in London and Scotland: a full itinerary”

What if we have 15 days in Great Britain?

Either slow down and enjoy more of Scotland or you could add in some of England’s sights – maybe a trip to Windsor, Stonehenge or Bath? Depends what you want to see really and how full on a pace you want.

Thanks. I would like to see another day of English Countryside.

There’s loads to see – I’d probably do some day trips from London and explore that way 🙂

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2 Weeks in England and Ireland: Trip Itinerary

England and Ireland are two destinations that are easy to fall in love with, and it is so easy to fit both into one trip across the pond! My husband and I loved our two week (13 day) trip, and I’m excited to share our itinerary with you. We spent our days exploring royal palaces in London, attending services in beautiful churches in multiple cities, and adventuring through the beautiful streets of Bath. We relaxed in the countryside, boated down the Avon River, and hiked the beautiful hills of Ireland. Our trip was perfect for us, and I hope you enjoy reading about our experiences.

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. We only recommend products and services that we love!

If you would prefer to just read about our time in England or Ireland , you check check out these blog posts: How to Spend 6 Days in England and 4 Perfect Days in Ireland . Keep reading for our complete 13 day itinerary!

Highlights of this post that you might be interested in:

• London, England Itinerary

Where to stay near Putney High Street, London

• Bath, England Itinerary
• Taking a Ferry from Fishguard, Wales, to Rosslare, Ireland
• Driving from Wexford to Killarney, Ireland

Where to stay in Killarney, Ireland

• Killarney, Ireland Itinerary
• Taking a train from Killarney, Ireland, to Dublin
• Dublin, Ireland Itinerary
• Taking a Ferry from Dublin, Ireland, to London, England (via Holy Head, Wales)

2 Weeks in England and Ireland: A Perfect Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – london itinerary.

Note about visiting London: If you’re headed to London as a family, you might be interested in: Tips for Visiting London with a Toddler (or a Baby) .

Putney High Street

We landed at Heathrow Airport in the late afternoon. By the time we made it through customs and collected our luggage, it was evening and time to meet our vacation home host. We stayed on Putney High Street, which we loved. The tube was a short 5 minute walk away, and we loved the area. We ate at Gourmet Burger Kitchen and enjoyed walking around the neighborhood before turning in early.

• “Putney Perfect” 3 Bedroom House with Beautiful Interiors- sleeps 5
• “Putney Hill Pad” 3 Bedroom House with a Balcony- sleeps 6
• “Dolby Delight” Spacious 2,153 sq ft 3 Bedroom with a Patio Garden- sleeps 6
• Spacious Contemporary Flat with a Patio- sleeps 3
• Bright 1 Bedroom Flat on the River- sleeps 3
• The Hotel Lodge- Putney
• Putney Hotel, BW Signature Collection
• Mk Hotel London

Day 2 – London

We began our first full day in London by waking up in our cute little apartment on Putney High Street at 3am (which is unfortunately no longer listed, but you can find other lovely apartments on Putney High Street here ). We couldn’t beat the jet lag so we gave in and watched local news on the tele for a few hours while we waited for Sainbury’s to open at 7am so that we could make ourselves breakfast (I was thrilled with the ingredients lists on so many items at Sainbury’s! As someone with food allergies , I found that London overall was really easy to navigate (you can read about my top 10 places to eat gluten-free in London here ). Our apartment was located on top of a Costa Coffee , so we enjoyed a hot drink before heading out for the day.

Buckingham Palace & the Changing of the Guards

Since we were ready to go bright and early, we headed to Buckingham Palace to grab a great spot for the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace. This was something that I wanted to see since I was a little girl, and I loved checking it off my bucket list on the first day!

Pro Tip: Arrive early! We arrived about 25 minutes before it started, and we had a front front row view of the ceremony. It was crowded (not something I would recommend to people who struggle with claustrophobia!) – but something I am glad I have witnessed at least once in my life!

Buckingham Palace Road & Hyde Park

After the ceremony, we took our time enjoying Buckingham Palace Road before heading over to Hyde Park . We loved every minute of the beautiful walk and gorgeous flowers in the park.

Fun Tip: Considering seeing Hyde Park by bike! This guided tour will allow you to see several amazing sites in London, including the park, and will help you avoid crowds.

The British Museum

We enjoyed the British Museum for a couple of hours in the afternoon. To be honest, it was a little warm inside (no AC), so paired with our jet leg, we weren’t as awake as we would have liked! When you visit this museum, you’ll want to make time for the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon Marbles. They are both beautiful!

The London Eye

That evening we grabbed tickets for the London Eye . This was something we both wanted to do, and we are glad we decided to splurge a little to make it happen. We loved the beautiful views of London and overall loved our experience.

Day 3 – London Itinerary

Notting hill & portobello market.

We started our 2 nd day in London at Portobello Market in Notting Hill. Exploring Portobello Road was near the top of my must-do list, and it did not disappoint! We loved the peaceful walk through Notting Hill. Talk about beautiful homes! The market itself was crowded, and most vendors did not appreciate it when tourists took photos of their inventory without making a purchase, so I avoided that. We bought some delicious street food, a few little souvenirs, and a cute dress for me. We took our time at the market and then explored the side streets more on our way out. We could have spent all day enjoying those lovely streets! It sprinkled a little bit, but we didn’t mind!

Pro Tip: Notting Hill is arguably one of the most beautiful spots in London, so consider booking a local photographer to capture your memories! We are personally big fans of Flytographer and have used their services in several cities around the world (you can read about some of our experiences here and use my referral link for $25 off your first photo shoot). You can also book a professional travel photographer/tour guide here , which looks like another wonderful, high-rated option.

Kensington Palace & Gardens

Then we headed to Kensington Palace – one of the highlights of our trip! We loved exploring the palace, but our favorite memories were actually spent outside enjoying the gardens. So many people skip this portion of the palace, but it was peaceful and something we wouldn’t want to have missed!

When you leave the palace, I highly recommend exiting on Kensington Palace Gardens. This is the street that runs on the west side of the palace, and it is gorgeous (it is the most expensive street in Great Britain). Photos are not allowed to be taken on this street. Stroll slowly and enjoy the beautiful embassies and residencies. They are truly breathtaking.

Fun Tip: Considering booking a Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace for a unique, upgraded experience !

Westminster Abbey

That evening we enjoyed an Evensong service at Westminster Abbey . It was beautiful and fully lived up to our expectations!

Pro tip: When visiting places of worship, attend an actual service. This can save you money on the admission fee (we always give donations but do not need an admission ticket), and you get to truly experience the Abbey (or Cathedral, etc.) in all its beauty. Note that you are not allowed to take photos inside.

Big Ben & the House of Parliament

It took us awhile to make our way to the Abbey, because there was a large political protest going on nearby. Several metro stations were shut down. We originally planned to do the “ Westminster Walk ” before heading to the Abbey, but we didn’t have time. The protests had mostly fizzled out by the time the service was over, so we walked over to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament .

Day 4 – London Itinerary

St. paul’s cathedral.

We started our 3 rd day in London by attending mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral . It was beautiful! (Photos are not allowed inside.) After visiting several cathedrals and abbeys throughout the UK and Ireland, I can happily report that this is my favorite (we returned here on our second trip to London too!). I love the light colors and natural sunshine that flows through the windows of the Cathedral in the morning.

Pro Tip: I mentioned this earlier, but I’ll say it again, because it’s one of my favorite tips for visiting places of worship abroad. Considering attending an actual service. This will give you a true experience and will save you admission costs (donations are appreciated).

Kew Palace & Gardens

After church, we headed by metro to Kew Palace and Gardens , which is located in Richmond, just outside of London. When I researched royal palaces before our trip, it was obvious that many people skip Kew Palace (likely because it is outside the city and easily turns into a day trip). I was fascinated by its history (this is where King George III spent his days after losing the American Colonies) and the beautiful photos of the gardens, and I knew we needed to make it a priority.

There were a fair share of people there that day (it was also Father’s Day), but it was not crowded at all. We loved exploring the castle and the treetop walk in the gardens. We spent the rest of the day there, enjoying their cafes, and exploring the grounds. There is so much see, so be sure to schedule at least half of day here if you add it to your itinerary. Overall, this was one of my favorite destinations on our trip to London.

Looking for more ideas? Check out my post on Visiting London for the Second Time and Parenthood4ever’s post on Free Things to do in London !

Day 5 – Bath, England Itinerary

Traveling from london to bath.

We left by train for Bath from Paddington Station at 7:30am. The train was absolutely packed. We spent the 1 st hour of the trip standing with our luggage in between train cars, before train seats opened up (it was totally our fault for leaving London at rush hour!). We loved the passing view of the English countryside from the train, and decided that we would love to eventually road trip through England (which we did on our next trip! Read about that here !).

Our Cottage in the Village of Southstoke

We arrived in Bath at 10:25am and headed straight to our vacation rental (which unfortunately isn’t listed anymore, but you can fine other amazing rentals in Bath here ). We wanted to drop off our luggage before heading to downtown Bath. Our adorable cottage was located in the village of Southstoke, a couple miles outside of Bath. Our host sent us suggestions for getting there, which including walking directions and bus directions. We opted to walk there, because the directions said it was just two miles from the train station. We thought we would enjoy the beautiful views and cobblestone streets, and then take the bus back into Bath later. We never found out what happened exactly- but the walk was much longer than 2 miles, and it took us almost 3 hours total (which included a 1 hour lunch break stop to refuel). (When we met our hosts later that night, they were shocked when we told them that we had walked there and had no idea that their check-in instructions gave that recommendation.)

Our feet were sore and we couldn’t wait to dump our luggage (thankfully, we traveled with backpacks!), but we knew it was all worth it once we crested the hill into Southstoke. We felt like we has stepped back in time a couple hundred years. We immediately fell in love with our destination. The overall hike was totally unexpected, and we missed our 2pm walking tour of Bath as a result, but we still laugh about our adventure. It made our overall trip to Bath more memorable, and we loved the gorgeous countryside views along the way. That being said- we learned a valuable lesson. We will always map walking directions/distance on our own before we head somewhere on foot again. 🙂

Where to stay in Bath, UK

• Luxury Penthouse in Bath City Centre- sleeps 2
• Luxury Heritage Apartment with Georgian Architecture- sleeps 6
• Luxury 1 Bedroom in the Heart of Bath- sleeps 2
• Boutique Chic Apartment in Bath City Centre- sleeps 4
• Georgian Town House in Central Bath- sleeps 10
• 18th Century Cottage in Wollard, Bath- sleeps 3
• No. 15 by GuestHouse in Bath Hotel
• The Bath Priory Hotel and Spa
• The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

Our cottage was an adorable little garden hut with a magical, breathtaking view. Unfortunately, our hosts moved shortly after our stay, so this hut isn’t available for rent anymore. But I highly recommend looking into Southstoke for other accommodations . Downtown Bath is wonderful, but it did not beat the gorgeous views in Southstoke.

The Bath Abbey & Tower Tour

After enjoying the peaceful view in the country for awhile and freshening up, we walked to the nearby bus stop and rode back into town (and laughed about how quick and easy the trip was). Since we missed our walking tour, we headed straight to the Bath Abbey for a late afternoon Tower Tour. It was incredible! The Abbey itself was immaculate.

On the Tower Tour, we climbed several flights of stairs, learned about the history of the Abbey, and climbed behind the clock. The tour ended with the most incredible view of Bath from the Abbey’s rooftop. If you are able to climb stairs and are ok with some tight spaces, I highly recommend this tour!

The Abbey Church Yard, Dinner, & Tea with the Locals

By the time our tour was over, most of Bath was closed up for the evening (museums, shops, etc.). We enjoyed ice cream in the Abbey Church Yard (a large courtyard) and strolled the streets before eating dinner at “ Lamb & Lion ” (bangers and mash, anyone?).

We headed back to our cottage (by bus this time!) and met our hosts for the first time. They were lovely! They invited us into their kitchen for tea and biscuits. It was a lot of fun to hang out with locals. We discussed travel and American & British politics, and it was lovely to hear how they viewed our nation.

Day 6 – Bath Itinerary

The roman & medieval baths.

The next morning, we went to the Roman and Medieval Baths (you probably don’t want to miss this if Bath is on your itinerary). This is what makes Bath famous (and gives it its name). We spent a few hours here, enjoying the history. While it wasn’t the highlight of our trip to Bath, we did love it. It’s a must-see in Bath!

Boating on the River Avon

After lunch, we went to the Bath Boating Station and rented a Victorian-style wooden rowboat. We spent two glorious hours on the River Avon. If you enjoy boating of any kind (canoeing, kayaking, etc.), then I cannot recommend this experience enough! It doesn’t make the list for most tourists, but we always seek out these opportunities when we travel, and they make up our favorite memories. My husband did most of the rowing while I steered us. I really cannot put into words how peaceful, beautiful, and romantic the whole experience was.

Pulteney Weir & Bridge

We spent the rest of our evening exploring Pulteney Weir and Bridge and the beautiful homes/streets in the city. Again, the attractions and business in Bath close early, so we soaked up as much of the outdoor beauty of the city as we could before heading back to our garden hut for one final night.

Day 7 – Traveling to Rosslare, Ireland

We woke up early in Bath and took a train to Fishguard, Wales , where we grabbed lunch at a local pub before taking the Stena Line ferry across the Irish Sea to Ireland . It was a very fun, positive experience! It was chilly on the deck (most people stayed inside the ship), but we hung out for hours outside. We loved enjoying the beautiful views. While it is popular to take a flight between the two locations, we are so glad we decided to take the ferry, and I highly recommend it.

We docked in Rosslare, Ireland , in the evening, and we stayed in a local hotel in Rosslare . The room was perfectly clean, but we were a little surprised at how little there was in the surrounding area. There were a few places within walking distance to eat dinner but options were slim.

Where to stay in Rosslare, Ireland

• Ferryport House B&B
• Hotel Rosslare

Day 8 – Killarney, Ireland Itinerary

Driving from wexford to killarney.

The next morning, we woke up early and too a bus to Wexford , where we picked up our rental car . We arrived in Killarney in the late afternoon, after driving across Ireland.

The drive across Ireland was magical and was even more beautiful than I had imagined. Ireland was just as green as I had envisioned. Photos and videos cannot do it justice. We stopped for lunch in a tiny town where we were the only tourists in the only open pub (the owner even kicked a few regulars out of their seats for us- which was a little awkward but amusing at the same time). We enjoyed our first true Irish lunch (I had bangers and mash) before continuing on our beautiful road trip. Without stops, the drive took 3 hours and 15 minutes. My husband is a total stud and rocked the whole driving a manual on the opposite side of the car/road thing. We passed countless rolling, green hills and few gorgeous castles along the way.

Pro Tip: I highly recommend renting your own car if at all possible. I realize that many people are not comfortable with this, but if you are up for the challenge, I cannot recommend it enough! It was lovely to move at our own pace, experience local culture, and stop whenever we wanted to enjoy the view.

• Luxury Historic Manor on 68 Acre Private Estate- sleeps 14
• 2 Bedroom Apartment with Private Grounds- sleeps 4
• Killarney Railway Hostel
• The Victoria Hotel in Killarney
• The International Hotel Killarney
• Muckross Park Hotel & Spa
• Old Weir Lodge Killarney

Lodging – The Killarney Railway Hostel

When we arrived in Killarney, it was late in the afternoon and we checked into our lodging- the Killarney Railway Hostel . This was the only hostel we stayed in during our entire trip (the rest of the time we stayed in vacation homes and a couple of hotels). VRBO pickings were slim during our stay, so we opted for a private room in this hostel, which had great reviews. Parking was tight – they had only a handful of spots and they were tiny. One spot was open and it took my husband awhile to squeeze our rental car in, but we made it! (Note: When we returned to the hostel later that night, after we explored Dingle Peninsula, there were not any spots available. We had to park in a public parking lot in downtown Killarney, which was nearby, and walk back to the hostel.)

We opted for the private double bed option, which slept two and had a private bathroom. The hostel had a very rustic feel, and our private bedroom made it feel like a hotel. The room had two beds- one double and one twin, so my husband and I slept together in the double.

Overall, we were really happy with our stay. In true hostel form, it was loud at night with people walking down the hallway, but my husband and I are both deep sleepers and didn’t have any problems with it.

The shared kitchen was nice and spacious, with plenty of refrigerator space. We made breakfast there on our first morning, but we were not able to access it on our second (and last) morning there. The kitchen was locked up at night, and we had to leave before it opened to catch our 7:36am train to Dublin. We couldn’t find an open breakfast spot in town that early either, so I had to eat chips for breakfast (I have several food allergies , so allergen-friendly snacks are a must when I travel!).

Overall, I would highly recommend a private room in the Killarney Railway Hostel , if you’re ok with a little noise. The staff were all friendly and helpful, and we paid 5 Euro to have them wash and dry a load of laundry for us while we were out exploring. We were thankful for that service!

Dingle Peninsula

By the time we checked into our hostel, it was late afternoon. A lot of the major Killarney attractions were closing soon for the day, but we were ready to explore! We headed out for a couple hours in our rental car for the Dingle Peninsula . (The drive around Dingle Peninsula is about 30 miles, and you must drive it in clockwise direction.)

Pro Tip: You don’t want to miss Dingle Peninsula, so if you don’t rent your own car, consider booking a guided tour !

It was so fun . Because it was later in the day, almost all of the tourists were gone. We didn’t see any tour buses, and we only saw 1 or 2 cars on our drive. We loved having the tiny little roads to ourselves!

It started raining, which made our experience that much more fun. We stopped several times to take in the beauty of Ireland and enjoyed the scenery with awe. We fell in love with the view!

Day 9 – Killarney, Ireland Itinerary

Gap of dunloe.

We began the next day by driving to the Gap of Dunloe , which turned out to be the most stunning destination that I have ever traveled to. I really mean it. It was absolutely gorgeous, and it left us breathless. We never wanted to leave, and we wound up spending several hours here (longer than we expected and planned for), because we could not pull ourselves away.

The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow mountain pass in Killarney. There are several lakes, countless rolling green hills, adorable sheep, and authentic cottages in the area. Although it is considered a popular tourist attraction, I have found that many people skip this when visiting Killarney. Please, do yourself a favor, and do not skip it! If you only visit one destination in Killarney, pick this! There are several amazing guided tours that will take you here as well.

You can rent a jaunting car (a horse-drawn cart with a guide- called a ponyman), but we chose to walk the gap. We took our time and explored as much as we could. We relaxed by the streams, enjoyed walking alongside the friendly sheep, and took in as much beauty as possible. We got lucky with perfect, sunny weather.

We ate a late lunch at Kate Kearney’s Cottage , which is located at the entrance to the Gap of Dunloe. It’s been family-run for 150 years. We loved their cheesecake! It was difficult to leave the Gap of Dunloe, but there were a few other sites in Killarney that we wanted to see, so we managed to pull ourselves away. (You can enjoy more of our photos from the Gap of Dunloe in this post.)

Ross Castle

After lunch we drove to Ross Castle , which was beautiful! It was built in the 1400s, and it is open the public now for guided tours. We are really glad we decided to go inside – we learned so much about Killarney history and life for all the social classes. (Spoiler alert- even the wealthy didn’t live very glamorous lives!)

The grounds are stunning and it was well worth our time to explore the outside of the castle. It is right next to Lough Leane (also known as Killarney’s lower lake). We saw several people out on the lake on hired boats , and we decided that we need to make time for that next time we go to Killarney!

Torc Waterfall

Torc Waterfall is a beautiful waterfall at the bottom of Torc Mountain. We did our research and knew that the best views were from the bottom, so we opted out of doing the hiking trail to the top of the mountain (we knew we wouldn’t have enough time in the day to do it all- sadly!).

The waterfall did not disappoint! It was pretty crowded compared to the Gap of Dunloe, but we still had a great experience. People often see red deer here. We didn’t, but I imagine that it would make the experience that much more beautiful!

We originally planned to visit the Muckross House as well, but we decided to skip it after arriving at the Gap of Dunloe. We wanted to see it all, but we knew we would enjoy ourselves much more if we took everything slowly and truly enjoyed our experiences, rather than rushing from one place to the next.

That evening, we returned our rental car (which turned out to be a very difficult task- I’ll blog about it soon!) and then enjoyed dinner at a local pub. My husband drank Murphy’s Irish Stout here for the first time (a bartender’s recommendation), and it has been his favorite ever since (thank you, Trader Joe’s, for selling it here in California!). We were excited to visit Dublin the next day but we were so sad to leave Killarney! We agreed that 36 hours wasn’t enough time, and we will absolutely return again!

Day 10 – Dublin, Ireland Itinerary

Getting from killarney to dublin.

We caught a 7:36am train from Killarney to Dublin . The trip took about 3 hours with stops (we arrived at 10:45am). There were several political events taking place in Dublin that day (it was a Saturday), so the city was particularly busy. After arriving, we had to take a bus to the nearest DART station, where we waited for about 25 minutes (we were expecting the DART system to be more like the Underground in London, but the trains are not as frequent).

We rented a vacation home in Killiney , a nearby suburb. It was just 10 miles from the city, but it took much longer to get there than we had imagined. Our hosts were lovely and picked us up from the Glenageary DART station, which was a few minutes from their house. Our flat was wonderful! It was a one bedroom apartment, attached to a main house. It had a comfortable bedroom, a full kitchen (with a washer/dryer), a bathroom, and a nice living area. Even though we had a nice stay there, we will stay closer to the city next time.

In total, it took us 3 hours to get from the train station to our flat, and by that time we were pretty exhausted from our late night/early morning/half day of travel. Dublin itself was packed and public transportation was slow with all the events of the day, so we made the decision to explore the suburb of Killiney instead. This was not in our initial plans, but it was a decision that were both content with.

Killiney Hill Park & Killiney Hill

We set out on foot and enjoyed lunch at the Killiney Shopping Centre. We took our time with food and drinks and stopped by the market for some groceries so that we could cook later on. It was sprinkling, but we didn’t mind!

We walked to Killiney Hill Park, which turned out to be beautiful! We really had no idea how much Killiney had to offer, and we were glad we decided to explore it. Then we climbed Killiney Hill, which is one of two hills that form a boundary of Dublin Bay. The view from the top of the hill is amazing ! We had a great view of Dublin (to the northeast), and on a clear day, you can see the Irish Sea and Wales to the southeast. It was cold and rainy so we didn’t get to see Wales, but we loved every minute. We took our time, explored, and enjoyed the view well into the evening.

Where to stay in Dublin, Ireland

• Apartment in the Heart of the City with River Views- sleeps 4
• Stunning Penthouse in the Heart of Dublin- sleeps 4
• 2 Bedroom Apartment with Panoramic Sea Views- sleeps 4
• Beautiful Garden Mews on Historic Property- sleeps 4
• Newly Restored Red Brick Apartment- sleeps 4
• Temple Bar Inn
• Temple Bar Hotel
• Clayton Hotel Burlington Road

Day 11 – Dublin Itinerary

Kilmainham gaol.

We woke up the next morning early, ready for a full day in Dublin. We decided to go to Kilmainham Gaol first, because it was at the top of both of our must-see lists. Kilmainham Gaol was a jail, now run by the Office of Public Works. It was used for many years by the British to jail Irish revolutionaries throughout history.

If you love history, then this is a MUST SEE! We were there for several hours, so it was a big time commitment, but it was the highlight of our time in Dublin. My husband and I both loved every minute of it. You have to take a guided tour if you want to really see it, and it did not disappoint. We learned a lot about Irish history and explored jail cells and common areas. It really was fascinating!

Dublin Castle

Then we headed to Dublin Castle ! We decided to walk so that we could see more of the city. We still laugh about this, because we totally got lost. We were expecting the castle to be a bit more obvious- like the palaces in London. We literally walked right by the castle’s courtyard wall and didn’t realize it!

When we finally realized that were right next to it, we went in and enjoyed its beauty! The inside was beautiful, but it was really the courtyard that we loved the most.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

We decided to attend a “Choir of Angels” service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral , and it was beautiful! The Cathedral and its grounds were stunning. Keep in mind that you often cannot take photos inside churches, particularly during service times.

Pro Tip: You can avoid Cathedral/Abbey entry fees by attending services, rather than open admission hours; we always give a donation, but we feel like we get to truly experience these places without paying for standard admission.

Temple Bar Square

By this time, it was evening, so we headed to Temple Bar Square for dinner. We were hoping to make it to their book market (open on Sundays until 6pm), but we just missed it. We still enjoyed exploring the area. We had decided to skip the Guinness Storehouse earlier that day, so my husband enjoyed a Guinness at a local bar. We did some souvenir shopping and took our time enjoying the culture.

We also witnessed a bar fight! One man broke a bottle over another man’s head in front of a bar. It was quite the sight and an interesting end to our time in the square! Thankfully, everyone seemed to be ok, and it ended with the first man being arrested and the second getting checked out by (what appeared to be) paramedics.

Day 12 – Dublin/London

Getting from dublin, ireland, to london, england.

Day 12 was a long travel day for us. We woke up early and made our way to Dublin Port, where we took the Stena Line back to the UK (this time we went to Holyhead, Wales). From there, we took a train back to London . We checked in at the London City Hotel (on Borough High Street) for our last night. We walked around Cheapside and along the River Thames. We enjoyed a relaxing dinner and some shopping.

Day 13 – London Itinerary

Tower of london.

On our last day, we enjoyed one final full English breakfast at the cute bistro underneath our hotel. We got an early start at the Tower of London , where we started with the Crown Jewels (and beat the crowds!). This day was uncharacteristically warm in London (mid 80s F), so we appreciated the air conditioning!

Tower Bridge

After, we enjoyed walking across the Tower Bridge and then did some clothes shopping in Cheapside. We purposely waited to shop until our last day, so that we didn’t add too much to our luggage at the beginning of our trip.

Pro Tip: Do what we did on our second trip to London , and go inside Tower Bridge to walk across the glass floor over the River Thames.

We left London, hesitantly, that evening and traveled back to California (with a long layover in Moscow, Russia). We absolutely loved our time in England and Ireland and immediately started dreaming of going back.

I hope you enjoyed our perfect itinerary for 2 weeks in England and Ireland. If you have ever done a trip like this, I would love to hear how you chose to spend your time. If you haven’t been yet, what are you looking forward to the most?

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73 comments, laura pedlar.

You had an epic time and packed so much into your two week trip! London is a great city, i could Go back each time and still see something new. Have never been to notting hill so may make a point of going next time. Ive nEver visited Ireland and it looks so beautiful from your photos, i really need to book a trip!

I completely agree- there is so much to do in London. We are going back in a few months, and I have a long list of new things to explore. I highly recommend Ireland. It’s beautiful! I see that you love to cruise, so maybe you would enjoy a cruise of the British Isles. I know a few people who have done it and LOVED it!

Linda Healey

Unbelievable!! Loved reading about your trip. We had a trip planned so similar to your that someone would have sworn we collaborated!! Our trip was cancelled due to covid but we will rebook once the pandemic has passed and travel is safe once more. We will spend 16 total days but 14 nights, 7 in England and 7 in Ireland. In addition to just about everything you did we are adding Cornwall and Dartmoor National Park and maybe a side trip from Bath to the Cotswolds. We can’t wait!! Thanks again for sharing!!

Wow…. you guys sure covered some serious ground! That is a massive list of things you did in the 2 weeks trip to England and Ireland! But it lays out well perfectly so definitely bookmarking! Love all the things you did in London and I totally agree about feeling claustrophobic at the changing of the guards. We opted to stand towards the back. Although the view was of course limited, I didn’t fancy being crushed by tourists. Love the markets. They are the best! I have never been to Ireland but sooooo high on our list!

It was a great trip! Yes, the changing of the guard can be so crowded! I’m glad we witnessed it at least once though. 🙂 I hope you make it to Ireland soon! It’s breathtaking there!

Debjani lahiri

Wow, thats an amazing itinerary of UK. i AM PLANNING A TRIP TO UK IN NEXT OCT WOULD DEFINITELY BOOKMARK YOUR ARTICLE FOR MY FUTURE REFERENCE.

I hope it helps you out when planning your trip next year. Enjoy! 🙂

It’s must have been great to WITNESS the Changing Of the Guard Ceremony at Buckhingam Palace. I wish I knew about the ceremony last time I visited. The Kensington Palace Gardens looks really gorgeous. The landscapes of dingle peninsula and gap of dunloe are so beautiful too! Iam surely going to keep your guide next time I visit England and Ireland to make sure I check out all these places.

I am glad you enjoyed this post! 🙂

What an awesome itinerary! I really didn’t think one could cover so much in just two weeks! I’m preparing for a UK trip in a couple of months and I’m so glad I came across this post.

Enjoy your trip! Believe it or not, we actually took is pretty “slow”. Our pace was perfect for seeing a lot but not feeling too rushed.

Archana Singh

Your article brought back my old memories of visiting the UK nad Ireland several times. These are the places i visited too. My favourite was Killarney. However, I ened up staying there for two weeks 😛

I bet it was wonderful to spend two weeks in Killarney!

I so want to visit england! i have met some great people from there and it just seems beautiful. your pics and list just make it that more desirable! thanks for your post.

It’s a beautiful place! full of history and gorgeous destinations!

Wow this trip seems perfect! You relly hit all the highlights of both places. I will have to keep this in mind for a futUre trip idea.

Thanks for sharing!

Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

Parnashree Devi

WHAT A TRIP IT WAS FOR YOU. I WAS TRAVELLING WITH VITUALLY. LONDON IS DREAM FOR ME. I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO VISIT LONDON AND EXPLORE THE CITY’S ATTRACTIONS. I AM SURE HOW IT MUST HAVE BEEN FELT WHEN YOU SEE THE GLIMPSES OF ROYAL LIFESTYLES WHILE VISITING BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND THE GARDENS. NOTTING HILL IS ON MY LIST TOO FOR THE LOVE OF THE MOVIE. BUT IF ANYTHING JUST AMAZED ME IS IRELAND AND ITS BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES. I AM IN LOVE WITH GAP OF DUNLOE. I CAN’T WAIT TO VISIT IT SOON. AND YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING SO ADORABLE IN ALL THE PICTURES. KEEP TRAVELLING

Thank you! I am so glad that you enjoyed this post! 🙂

I think that this is a really fab itinerary! I lived in England for a while and all of these places are so familiar. Well, the ones in England anyway! I never got to Ireland, but I’m looking at going there next year! I love your photos – it looks like you had a really wonderful time.

Thank you! It was wonderful!

Carla Natali

I´m definitely bookmarking this for when i return to London, you were able to do so much…probably because you planned thing out so much better than I did!

I enjoy planning our trips before we leave, but I think it’s great to also be flexible and make changes while we are there! 🙂

Denise Hendrick

So many great ideas! I was just in London for a week and missed most of your list except kensington palace. I guess I better go back 😉

I bet your trip was amazing. But, yes, now you have an excuse to go back again soon! 🙂

I love your mix of major landmarks And quieter moments just enjoying the countryside. I always love the idea of long international trips, but i hate being carted around so much that you cannot actually appreciate where you are.

Yes, it’s so important to take time to slow down while on vacation!

Wow you really covered everything! Great itinerary. I loved Bath!

Bath is so great!

Such a nice itinerary! I lived in London for 6 months on an internship and thought I did a great job at exploring, but every post I see shows me something I missed. I keep having to remind myself that it would take years to see all of the UK. (I was also too nervous to rent a car, so everywhere I went was via public transport.)

Looks like you had a fantastic trip. 🙂 I love it when people enjoy London.

Oh, I bet you were able to enjoy so much of London during those 6 months though. We are heading back again soon, and I look forward to exploring new things. I understand your nervousness about renting a car. My husband is usually our driver when we are abroad, but I think I might give it a change on this next trip to the UK. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words!

Euro travel coach

What a wonderful itinerary! We’ve been to most of these places and loved every minute. It’s so great to see a new, fresh perspective. Lovely post and wonderful holiday. Thanks for sharing and congrats on expanding your family!

Thank you for your kinds words! 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed reading through our itinerary! We are headed back soon, and next time our baby will be with us!

Oh my goodness…you saw so many amazing things. Great round up sights and itinerary to pack them in to planning.

It was amazing! 🙂

Chelsea Sipe

Ireland is on my list, so I’m saving this for when we plan that trip. So many awesome ideas and tips!

I hope you get to go soon! 🙂

When I grow up, I wanna be just like you! ;p In all seriousness, WOW!!! You got to experience so much in only 2 weeks! I’m impressed! I was just talking to my husband about wanting to go to Ireland someday. My fingers are crossed!

Haha! I HIGHLY recommend Ireland. It is so breath-taking! I hope you get to go one day SOON. 🙂

Well I have never been to London or Ireland and now I am convinced I need to go!! What a great itinerary jam packed with amazing things to do and see 😉

Yes- both are worth a visit!

Amazing! Love this! It’s so detailed and it lays out so many things perfectly! Thanks for this!

Thank you! So glad!

Olivia Thibault

England and especially Ireland are definitely on my bucketlist! The pictures I see in Ireland just look sooo unreal!

Beautiful photos and awesome travel diary from your trip!

xoxo Olivia http://www.ourwanderingmind.com

Thank you for stopping by! I highly recommend both destinations. They are so beautiful!

I love the pictures. Seems a tiring but a beautiful vacation. I can wait to see the Ireland.

Thank you! It actually wasn’t tiring! We went at a nice pace, and it was very relaxing overall! 🙂

This looks incredible! Saving for inspo when I finally plan a trip to Europe!

I am so glad! I hope you make it there soon! 🙂

Great itinerary, theres so much to do in both countries that it’s hard to fit everything in. The pictures look awesome!

I agree! ♥️ So much to see!

What an amazing road trip you must have had! You visited all the great things in London and the places you went to in Ireland look so beautiful, especially the Gap of Dunloe! I really want to go now haha!

I highly recommend it! It’s one of the most beautiful places that I’ve ever been to! ♥️

What a great itinerary! It looks like you all really made the most of your time there. I will definitely be referencing this whenever we eventually make it back to Europe!

Wonderful! Hope you make it there soon! 🙂

What an amazing trip! So much fun packed in. One of the things that I loved reading about was the changing of the guard. That is definitely something I would like to see in the future.

Thanks for sharing your adventures. It gives me inspiration!

I hope you enjoy an adventure soon! 🙂

This is an awesome itinerary – it sounds like you got to experience a lot during your two weeks! England and Ireland are two of my favorite places and reading this makes me really want to go back!

Thank you! It was a wonderful experience!

Such an awesome itinerary! Your Ireland pics are especially beautiful and make me so excited to visit one day! I can’t get over how little their roads look!

The roads were very small compared to what we are used to in the USA! 🙂 It was a wonderful trip!

This is so gorgeous – Bath is one of my favourite places (and where my grandmother lives) so I already know it pretty well, but I’m now absolutely pining for a quick hop over the Irish sea to check out some of this gorgeous scenery!

What a lovely place to live!

Ireland looks amazing – I really need to return and see more of the country!

It is certainly beautiful! I feel the same way- I would love to see more!

Looks beautiful! Your Airbnb was charming!

So beautiful and so charming! 🙂

Lucy Tomczynski

Loved seeing these ideas! Planning for this June with our kids (18 and 15) this I a great itinerary and pace. What time of year did you go?

This particular itinerary is based on a trip we took in June. I think it is the perfect month, because it isn’t too cold or hot! Have a WONDERFUL time, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. 🙂

Ankita Sharma

What an incredibly well-detailed and captivating trip itinerary! Your “2 Weeks in England and Ireland” post is a treasure trove of valuable information for anyone planning a similar journey. Thank you for sharing this post with us.

Thank you so much, and I’m so glad you found this helpful! Enjoy your adventure!

Shikha Sharma

This article about these places is well written and the photos in your post are amazing. I’ve never been to London but I’m planning to go there hopefully. Your step-by-step guide is amazing, and I will try to follow this guide.

I hope you make it to London soon! It is truly an amazing city!

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3 Weeks in the UK and Ireland Itinerary

DISCLAIMER: This post might have links to travel services and products that we enjoy. We might make a commission from it at no extra cost to you.

The UK and Ireland are two countries that many people get confused about. These two countries share so much together, from history, culture, traditions, and even the monarchy. The UK and Ireland also sit right next to each other in the western part of Europe.

Don’t get confused with Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland . Northern Ireland is part of the UK, while Republic of Ireland is its own independent country. In this article, we’re talking about the UK (which already includes Northern Ireland) and Ireland (the Republic).

In the UK, you will find the stunning Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge, Lochness, and the Snowdonia National Park. It’s also composed of four different countries; England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. At the same time, Ireland offers you the magnificent Giant’s Causeway, Cliffs of Moher, and its lively atmosphere.

Most travellers to these countries are visiting for the same reasons; to see the ancient and historical sites, try the best fish and chips, drink the incredible Guinness, and more. One thing many people didn’t know though, both countries have amazing hiking trails and very interesting traditions.

It’s also pretty easy to get to this region. Heathrow Airport in London is one of Europe’s busiest and biggest airports . There are tons of flights directly from here, heading almost to any part of the world.

This itinerary of 3 weeks in the UK and Ireland will take you to bustling cities, natural wonders, and historical sites. You can also read our itinerary for 3 weeks in Ireland and Northern Ireland .

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO THE UK AND IRELAND

Before proceeding with the itinerary for those planning to stay for 3 weeks in the UK and Ireland, I compiled some of the most essential tips, such as how to get around and when is the best time to visit. These tips will be helpful when it comes to planning and writing your 3-week itinerary to these two countries.

>> If you want to explore only the UK for now, you can check our 3 weeks in the UK itinerary or maybe you want to travel to western Europe in 3 weeks .

When is the best time to go to the UK and Ireland

The best time to visit the UK and Ireland is quite complicated. The driest months for the UK is from June to August. For Ireland it’s April to July , but it’s also the busiest time of the year, and prices are higher.

The UK has always been the butt of a joke when it comes to weather. This is because it’s quite hard to predict when it’s about to rain. But officially, the UK’s rainy season is from March to May . Make sure to bring umbrellas or raincoats with you whenever you go outside.

Rainfall is immensely common in Ireland, but the rainiest season is from December to January .

If you don’t mind the rain , the shoulder season (April to May and October to November) is a good time to go in terms of fewer crowds and lower prices.

Are 3 weeks enough for the UK and Ireland

20 days in these two countries is doable. However, you will have to smartly choose the places you want to see.

For example, the UK consists of 4 countries . Perhaps on this trip, you can do England and Scotland, then add Ireland. That leaves you to spend one week in England, a week in Scotland, and a week in Ireland.

You can also do a week in Ireland, a few days in Northern Ireland, a week in Wales, then a week in England. Travelling between countries and cities is pretty easy. You can use a combination of domestic flights, trains, ferries, and driving to maximise your time.

Bottom line is plan to see 4-5 cities during your trip and choose ones that are easy from point A to point B.

What to pack

When you pack for a trip to the UK and Ireland, it will be different depending on the activities and season you plan to visit. For example, if you want to include hiking on your travel itinerary, it will be ideal to pack some walking shoes. Exploring London alone will keep you on your feet all day.

We have articles and samples of what to pack for a 3-week vacation . You can also check out our summer packing list for a 3-week trip .

How to get around

You can get around the UK and Ireland by train, it is the most common and affordable way to get from point A to B. You’ll also get to see the lush greenery along the way, which will make your trip more memorable. The cheapest option, on the other hand, is taking the bus.

You can also reach Ireland from the UK without flying. Instead, you can take a scenic ferry ride. If you’re only travelling within Ireland, the main transportation options include trains and buses.

In both countries, you can use ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt, Free Now, and Ola. While renting a car is the most popular choice for visitors, it also gives you so much freedom when it comes to moving around.

However, you will have to figure out how to take the car from the UK to Ireland, or just return the one from the UK and rent another one in Ireland.

RELATED POST: 3 weeks in Europe on a budget

The UK and Ireland have quite identical visa policies in place for people who wish to enter and travel around. The only difference is the fact that Ireland is a member of the EU , which means that people who possess a passport from another EU member country can enter and stay in Ireland indefinitely (in other words, they have freedom of movement).

While travellers from most parts of America, Oceania, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Botswana, and some countries in the Middle East can enjoy a visa-free for 90 days (180 days for Japan).

For the UK, visitors who have a passport from most Americas, Europe, Oceania, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Namibiam, Botsawana, and a few countries in the Middle East can enter and stay in the UK for up to 6-months visa-free.

The rest of the world has to apply for a visa beforehand. On the other hand , if you have a valid visa for either country, you can use that visa to use on ither country too. For example, if you havea visa from the UK, you don’t need a visa for Ireland. Just use your UK visa to enter Ireland and vice versa.

Other travel tips

We have an article about how to stay safe when travelling alone or travelling as a woman . Whenever I plan a trip, these are the travel sites and services I always use. They have a wide selection and pretty much have options available worldwide:

MUST-SEE PLACES IN THE UK AND IRELAND (pinned map)

Click the enlarge button on the top right corner. Credit: map data: Google

3 WEEKS IN ITINERARY THE UK AND IRELAND

We all know that the UK is famous for fish and chips. And the Royal Family. And the Harry Potter franchise. And the Beatles and basically almost everything related to pop culture. But there’s more to the UK than food, history, cinema, and music.

The UK have one of the largest castle in the world, which is Windsor Castle. The locals also have a very interesting annual cheese rolling competition, and one of the world’s largest libraries, with over 170 million items in the catalogue.

Ireland, on the other hand, is known for being the home of St Patrick’s Day, Guinness beer, and Irish whisky and coffee. For visitors to Ireland, there are also natural wonders to explore, such as Killarney National Park, the Rock of Cashel, and the Ring of Kerry. You can also find tons of scenes on Game of Thrones that were filmed in Ireland.

Ireland and Northern Ireland for 5 days

The first thing you need to know is that Northern Ireland isn’t a part of Ireland, it is part of the United Kingdom. If you’re planning to stay for 3 weeks in Ireland and the UK, you could allot 5 days in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The best way to travel around Ireland and Northern Ireland is to rent a car. But you can also buy one of those hop-on hop-off bus tickets that bring you to popular spots in the city. There is a Dublin hop-on hop-off bus and another one for Belfast .

You should visit Ireland at least once in your life because of its unbelievable landscapes. Not to mention, you can visit the Titanic Museum in Northern Ireland.

It also has world-class accommodations, abundant medieval and prehistoric sites, and the world’s longest-defined coastal driving route. Here are some of the things to see and do in Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Extra tip : Once you cross the border to Northern Ireland, you can then rent a car there, which you can take with you all the way to England, where you can catch your flight home.

Things to see in Ireland

• The Cliffs of Moher – book a tour that includes Kilmacduagh Abbey and Galway
• The Rock of Cashel – check the tour price including Cork City
• The Ring of Kerry
• Dublin Castle – combo with Book of Kells tour
• National Museum of Ireland
• The Dingle Peninsula and the Wild Atlantic Way – you can visit this included in a Cliffs of Moher tour
• Aran Islands – enjoy a cruise around the islands and Cliffs of Moher
• Grafton Street
• Jameson Whiskey Distillery – book a whiskey tasting at the distillery
• Torc Waterfall
• Lakes of Killarney – enjoy a boat cruise
• Guinness Storehouse – get your entrance ticket
• Have fun at a traditional Irish House party

Things to see in Northern Ireland

• Game of Thrones Tour – combine with Giant Causeway tour
• Titanic Experience – book a tour including a visit to SS Nomadic
• Climb Slieve Binnian
• Carrick-a-rede
• Explore Belfast on a bike
• Carrickfergus Castle
• The Giant’s Causeway – book a day trip or a combo tour with Game of Thrones
• Visit the Political Murals and Peace Wall – explore with a live tour
• Crumlin Road Gaol
• Ride the Political Taxi
• Glenoe Waterfall
• Book a food and street art tour

Accommodations in Dublin, Ireland:

• Affordable: The Apache Hostel or Abbey Court Hostel
• Mid-range: Leeson Bridge Guesthouse or Egans House
• Luxury: Camden Court Hotel or The Grafton Hotel

Accommodations in Belfast, Northern Ireland:

• Affordable: Vagabonds Hostel or Belfast International Youth Hostel
• Mid-range: Tara Lodge or Ten Square Hotel
• Luxury: Grand Central Hotel or Titanic Hotel

Scotland for 3 days

One of the main reasons why one should visit Scotland is because of its diversity. It has charming villages, glorious icy mountain peaks, bustling cities, and laidback countryside. Whatever your preferences are, you’ll surely be able to find something quite enjoyable to explore.

Scotland is also known for the local folk story the Loch Ness Monster, while its existence is questionable, the Loch Ness River is a real place and it’s magical as it sounds. From there, you can also visit Loch Ness Castle and this beautiful Glenfinnan Viaduct – a scenic railway bridge.

To reach Scotland from Northern Ireland, you can take a ferry and then a bus. If you have a car, you can also take the car on the ferry. The other choice would be to take a very short flight. You can purchase a hop-on, hop-off bus ticket, which is useful for visiting top sites in the city centre – a ticket for Edinburgh and for Glasgow .

Things to see in Scotland:

Edinburg: 

• Edinburgh Castle – get your skip-the-line ticket with a tour guide
• Palace of Holyroodhouse and Holyrood Abbey
• Edinburgh Vaults – book the infamous ghost tour or join an underground walking tour
• National Museum of Scotland
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• Maid of the Forth – enjoy a 1.5-hour cruise
• Arthur’s Seat
• Salisbury Crags
• Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
• Harry Potter filming locations – join a guided tour
• St. Giles Cathedral
• Day trip to Loch Ness – this tour includes Glencoe and Scottish Highlands or a trip that includes the Isle of Skye as well
• Day trip to St Andrew’s – and visit Fife fishing villages

Glasgow: 

• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum – check the price for a city walking tour
• Glasgow Necropolis
• George Square and the Merchant District
• Celtic Park Stadium – book a guided tour
• Riverside Museum and Tall Ship
• The National Piping Center and the Bagpipe Museum
• Glasgow Cathedral
• Glasgow Science Center and Glasgow Tower
• Stirling Castle – do a trio tour with Loch Lomond and Whisky Trail
• Kibble Palace and Glasgow Botanic Gardens
• Distilery tour – learn about whisky and enjoy tasting
• Day trip to Lochness, Glencoe, and The Highlands
• Visit Outlander filming locations

Accommodations in Edinburgh:

• Affordable: High Street Hostel or Royal Mile Backpackers
• Mid-range: Wilde Aparthotels or Point A Hotel
• Luxury: The Balmoral Hotel or Market Street Hotel

Accommodations in Glasgow:

• Affordable: easyHotel or Euro Hostel
• Mid-range: Point A Hotel or The Z Hotel
• Luxury: Native Glasgow or Maldron Hotel or Radisson Blu

Northern England for 4 days

Northern England doesn’t make it on people’s travel lists that often, which is unfortunate because it has so much to offer.

It has extraordinary landscapes, a strong cultural identity, and beautiful historic architecture, among others. It’s also known for incredible music scene, this is where The Beatles, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Smiths, and Artic Monkeys came from.

You can also spend 3 weeks in England alone which will allow you to travel slower and enjoy hiking.

To reach Northern England from Scotland , you can either take a bus, train, or drive a car. The most recommended option out of all of these is to board the train if you don’t have a rented car.

Once you reach Northern England, you could stay in Manchester, which is a middle spot because it would be easier to get to Leeds, Sheffield, and Liverpool.

Get yourself a hop-on, hop-off bus ticket for Liverpool if you don’t have a vehicle to make exploring much easier.

Things to see in Northern England

• Castlefield Canals (M) – enjoy a canal cruise
• Imperial War Museum North (M) – explore Manchester on an afternoon walking tour
• Manchester Museum
• National Football Museum (M) – book a Manchester Stadium tour
• Party at a silent disco – check the tour price
• The Beatles Tour (LV) – get your skip-the-line ticket in advance
• Royal Albert Dock (LV)
• Merseyside Maritime Museum (LV) – book a river cruise
• Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
• Liverpool Foot Club Museum – join a guided stadium tour
• Briggate (LD)
• The Royal Armories Museum (LD) – explore Leed with a local guide for 2 hours or do a heritage beer tour
• Harewood House (LD)
• Civic Quarter (LD)
• Harrogate (LD) – book a food tour or beer tour
• Sheffield Botanical Gardens (SH)
• Tropical Butterfly House Wildlife and Falconry Center (SH)
• Kelham Island Museum (SH)

Accommodations in Manchester City Centre:

• Affordable: Piccadilly Central or YHA Manchester
• Mid-range: ibis Portland Street or Castlefield Hotel
• Luxury: Motel One or Maldron Hotel

London for 6 days

3 weeks in the UK and Ireland itinerary is not complete without checking out London. It is the most famous city in the UK and understandably so .

It is famous for its architecture, art, fashion, food, and football. Some of the most well-known singers, bands and actors are from this city. It’s also one of the four leading fashion capitals of the world.

London is also home to the oldest buildings in the UK. For history lovers, you definitely have to visit London especially if it’s your first time in the UK – Westminster Hall, White Tower, and London Wall. If you have extra time, you can even head down south to Brighton or east to Bristol

To get to London from Northern England, you could board the train, use rideshare, ride the bus, drive or fly. The cheapest option would be to use rideshare or take the bus. But it’s much easier if you have a car rental.

Things to see in London:

• Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament
• British Museum
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square
• Tower of London and Crown Jewels – visit both in one go
• Buckingham Palace
• London Bridge
• Tate Britain and Tate Modern
• Kensington Palace – join a sightseeing tour or book a tour with a high tea experience
• Top of the Shard
• Westminster Abbey
• Madame Tussauds – get your ticket
• Emirates Stadium – book a guided tour
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• London Eye – purchase your ticket in advance
• Hampton Court Palace
• Sign up for a food tour or afternoon tea or pub walking tour
• Horniman Museum and Gardens
• Greenwich Meridian Line and Docklands – enjoy Westminster to Greenwich cruise
• Day trip to Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath in one day – check the price
• ArcelorMittal Orbit
• Warner Brothers Studios – get your skip-the-lin ticket in advance
• Eltham Palace
• Day trip to Cotswolds with lunch
• Day trip to Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Warwick Castle – look at the itinerary and reviews

Accommodations in Central London:

• Affordable: Astor Hyde Park Hostel or Dover Castle Hostel
• Mid-range: Studios2Let or Point A Liverpool Street
• Luxury: Sea Containers or Royal Lancaster

Bonus – Day trips from London:

• The New Forest (90 miles)
• Deal Castle (just over 80 miles)
• Mersea Island (69 miles)
• Margate (76 miles)
• Hastings (54 miles)
• Guildford’s Cathedral (31 miles)
• Cambridge (64 miles)
• Chichester (80 miles)

SUMMARY OF 3 WEEKS IN THE UK AND IRELAND ITINERARY

So it’s settled, you’re now going to have a vacation for 3 weeks in the UK and Ireland. Travelling between Ireland and the UK is very easy, both countries are connected very well in terms of transportation.

Spending your vacation in this region, you can cover so much, from visiting historical sites, going for incredible hikes, trying out local food, and exploring spots related to famous musicians and performers.

I hope that you found the 3 weeks in the UK and Ireland itinerary helpful. I know weren’t able to feature Wales or explore more of the west and east London, but then that’s something to do on your next visit.

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travel inspiration!

Ultimate 2 week trip to Ireland and Scotland itinerary! (photos!)

Planning a vacation to England Ireland Scotland? you can’t go wrong with this epic itinerary that includes some of the most popular sites in each of these these three fabulous European countries!

The original plan: visit the Republic of Ireland. As I puzzled over maps I noted that at their nearest points Scotland and Ireland are a mere 12 miles apart! Only a thin strip of the Irish sea separates them, a short Ferry ride will take you from Scotland to Northern Ireland. So Scotland was added!

While filling out the Ireland and Scotland vacation itinerary I realized that York was an easy day trip from Edinburgh. That is how a two week trip to Ireland morphed into an England Scotland Ireland trip !

other content you may be interested in:

• Ireland Landmarks: 43 popular famous landmarks in Ireland (photos!)

Table of Contents

Two week trip to ireland and scotland itinerary, plus 1 day in england.

We fit a lot into just two full weeks (14 full days! Plus 2 travel days) ! This is a fast paced trip but if you’re determined you’ll have enough time to fit it all in! Pace too fast ? No problem, just pick and choose your favorites.

Travel style for this trip

This itinerary includes some of the most popular destinations in each country. We will be skipping major cities in favor of smaller towns like Edinburgh (our largest city, population 550,000), York, Stirling and Kilkenny . Add the lovely countryside of the Scottish highlands and Ireland ! It makes a great “ first trip ” itinerary to Ireland, Scotland and England!

Here’s what you can look forward to in this itinerary

• 4 days in Great Britain ( Scotland and England) historic cities, stunning scenery, lovely lochs, And much more!
• 10 days in Ireland! Historic pubs with traditional Irish music and dance, ancient castles, ancient sites, more stunning scenery! And much more!

Trip to Ireland and Scotland route

This route was planned to be as efficient as possible, cutting down on travel times , while adding as many highlights as possible via plane, train and automobile rental.

Transportation

public transport

We’ll forgo a car while in Scotland and England , saving money on a rental. Additionally, this was our first time in the United Kingdom / Ireland. We had 4 full days to become accustomed to the new concept of cars driving on the left hand side before getting behind the wheel.

We’ll rent a car in Ireland to allow us to go at our own pace. My husband easily adapted to driving on the left hand side of the road. Have reservations about driving on the opposite side of the road? It may help to:

• rent an automatic.
• remember, the driver is always in the center of the road, right next to the center line

The Best places to search for the best rates are places like Booking.com . Then book with the rental car company directly.

Do yourself a big favor and add the GPS onto your car rental.

Important: Many credit card companies don’t cover rentals in the UK and Ireland. Check with your card issuer and ask for a letter confirming coverage. If they don’t cover you, you will need to pay the additional cost to purchase coverage through the rental car company .

where to stay

I’ve added some recommendations, want more? search for hotels and other accommodations at Booking.com.

where to eat

Find the best options for places to eat on Trip Advisor . Google best places to eat in “blank” and then navigate to the Trip Advisor results. A Good reason to use Trip Advisor: you’ll find listings of the best places to eat with photos and customer reviews!

First up: England and Scotland Itinerary

*** Day 1 *** The historic city of Edinburgh

night 1: Edinburgh travel time: just your flight in

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own.

Edinburgh Scotland

Our adventure starts at Edinburgh Airport (EDI) airport. Try to arrive early in the morning, so you have a full day to spend in Edinburgh.

getting money

We like to hit the ATM before we leave the airport . It’s easy and you’ll get the best rates . Be sure to refuse the dynamic currency conversion. (convert to your home currency no: you want LOCAL currency rates!) In Scotland and England you’ll be using the British pound (GBP)

airport to (Old town Edinburgh)

Either take a Taxi, tram , or bus to your accommodations.

On the first day we explore Edinburgh, a town oozing with Scottish history. The historic buildings in the old town are dark, Gothic and magnificent! Edinburgh is a medieval dream, You’ll feel as if you’ve been dropped down in the middle of one of the Harry Potter Films!

Know before you go: the tourist areas of Edinburgh are horribly crowded , unfortunate because it does detract from the splendor. The best time to explore is either early morning late evening when the day crowds have dissipated. Avoiding crowds can be as simple as getting out of the heavily touristed old town during midday into the lesser crowded areas of Edinburgh, even just a street or two off of the Royal mile! or take a daytrip.

where to stay in Medieval Edinburgh

Johnston Terrace is located right on the steps of the castle! This comfortable 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment has an emergency after hours contact.

Arriving before check in? Ask about luggage storage (quite common in Europe.)

Old Town Edinburgh

Our itinerary focuses on the old town, which contains some of the principal sights of central Edinburgh. Many of the popular sites are part of the Royal Mile, a street that runs between Edinburgh Castle on the hill and Holyrood Palace. (Many buildings along the Mile were added during Victorian times.)

sites along the Royal Mile:

• Greyfriars Kirkyard (graveyard) contains a series of beautifully ornate mausoleums, darkened with age. You’ll find names like McGonagall, Moodie, and Riddle. (Closed on Sunday) Just outside the kirkyard is the Greyfriars Bobby statue, Edinburgh’s beloved mascot.
• St. Giles Cathedral (Gothic 15th-19th century)
• 1688 Canongate Church – The Royal family worship here so don’t sit in the front pew, marked with the crown. If the doors are open, go on in! Sunday, late afternoon, is a good time to try and don’t don’t miss the beautiful kirkyard!
• The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official Scottish residence of King Charles III. Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and when the King is in town. Check before you go. Also here: Holyrood Abbey, and the Scottish Parliament building where the Houses of parliament meet. Get tickets here.

more old town options:

• Harry Potter guided walking tour: daily 2 p.m. 2 hours, free! meet 154 High Street on the Royal Mile. Look for tour guides with YELLOW umbrellas!
• National Museum: this natural history museum has Roman, Viking, witch-burning etc. free!
• How about whisky tasting at the Scotch Whisky Experience ?
• Arthur’s Seat, climb this hill in Holyrood Park for outstanding views of Edinburgh.
• National Portrait Gallery (National Gallery)

This 5 star dining splurge isn’t optional! The Witchery By the Castle. Dark candle lit baroque decor, amazing atmosphere, amazing food. Make a reservation (well) in advance.

Scottish evening entertainment

Frankenstein’s fun gothic venue, eclectic menu and a monster show!

*** Day 2 *** Loch Ness / Scottish Highlands tour

night 2: Edinburgh travel time: 8 hours (total tour time, 12 hours)

Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness

We didn’t have a car but weren’t going to let that stop us from seeing the Scottish Highlands and hunting for the Loch ness monster! So we opted to take the 12 hour day trip with Rabbies .

You can’t go wrong with a Rabbies Highlands/ Loch Ness tour, book it now on Get Your Guide! A local guide takes small groups on day tours from Edinburgh. Tours are by van (16 seat coach) for a more personalized experience. Rabbie’s tours are highly recommended, a good time was had by all. Bonus: our Tour guide was great! funny guy!

Highlights of Rabbies Guided tour: Loch Lomond, Cairngorms National Park, Loch Ness, Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in Scotland) plus more! Price: starting at just £56.00 Per person for first class service!

Read more about the Loch Ness boat excursion here.

Rabbies has a LONG list of Scotland tours including: 3-day Isle of Skye (Isle of Sky) tour 1-day St Andrews & the Fishing Villages tour ( famous golf courses of St. Andrews the home of golf)

*** Day 3 *** Medieval York England

night 3: Edinburgh travel time: 5 hours

York England itinerary

Edinburgh to York, England day trip! York is a short 2.5 hour DIRECT train ride from Edinburgh . Take an early train from Waverley Station and spend the balance of the day in York! WE purchased advance LNER tickets , or purchase at the train station.

Get ready for a packed itinerary that equals a wonderful time! Can’t fit it all in? just pick your favorites!

• First stop, Betty’s Tea room for breakfast! They serve a delightful traditional English tea service….scones, deliciously delicate sandwiches, and delectable pastries!
• St. Mary’s Abbey Benedictine Ruins (11th century Gothic)
• The Yorkshire Museum: Roman, medieval, and natural history. (Due to time constraints you may need to choose between this and the Jorvik Experience)
• Walk the City walls : start at Bootham Bar, then descend the wall at Monk Bar (gatehouse.)
• The York Minster (the largest Gothic church north of the Alps! 1220 AD! This massive church holds 2,000 people (4,000 on holidays!)
• Holy Trinity Church, this 12th-14th century Gothic gem looks exactly that old! free entry
• The Shambles is a crooked little street in York, said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley, of the Harry Potter series. Today, it’s lined with Harry Potter themed shops.
• Jorvik Viking Center: 40,000 real viking artifacts that were dug out of peat bogs here.
• The Ouse river Walk is a 1 mile walk along the riverbanks of York and into the countryside.
• Boat Cruises: City Cruise York offers a short cruise on the River Ouse. Cruises leave from two points: Lendal Bridge or Kings Staith Landing. Every 30-45 minutes. Book here!

where to eat:

York Roast Company is a local restaurant that sells roast meat and toppings wrapped in Yorkshire pudding.

Take a late train back to Edinburgh

for more detailed information on York see my “ 22 Things to do in York ” article! (including Roman baths!)

*** Day 4 *** Edinburgh Castle, Underground Edinburgh, and Stirling Castle

night 4: Edinburgh travel time: 2 hours

Stirling Scotland and more Edinburgh

This is a lot to fit in a day. If you have to choose I would recommend the two castles.

Visit Edinburgh Castle

The castle on the hill was the birthplace of this bustling city 1,300 years ago . The Scottish Crown jewels are kept here . St. Margaret’s Chapel , found inside the castle complex, is Edinburgh’s oldest building (1130). Book a 1.5 hour guided tour with skip the line privileges here on Get Your Guide!

Edinburgh gets even more crowded in the month of August when the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place at the castle. (performances by members of the British armed forces including drills, marching, bagpipes and more)

The Real Mary King’s Close

Tour an underground labyrinth where Edinburgh’s poor lived until the 19th century. Advance tickets recommended, book here on Get Your Guide!

Half day trip from Edinburgh Stirling

After touring the Close we spent the rest of the day in historic Stirling, mini Edinburgh, less crowds (nice!)

Take the train from Waverly Station to Stirling , an easy 1 hour direct train . Purchase return tickets at the train station in Edinburgh.

To fit it all in: upon arrival grab a taxi to the Wallace Monument

• The William Wallace Monument is a very famous landmark in Scotland. The best way to get to the monument is to take the shuttle bus up the hill . You can walk but it’s a haul! Plus, once you get to the monument it is 246 stairs to the top of the tower ( panoramic views of the surrounding countryside! )

You may need to grab another taxi to make the last castle tour. Ask at the ticket counter to have a taxi pick you up and take you to the castle.

• Stirling Castle is a stately 1,000 year old castle perched upon a volcanic crag . Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here in 1543 . We arrived late in the day and joined a small group for the last tours of the day. After the Tour director finished the tour we were allowed to wander the castle unsupervised. We practically had the place to ourselves! a REALLY nice break from the crowds in Edinburgh.

Dinner: The Portcullis, built in 1787, at the base of the castle. Delicious steak and fries!

Get more details in my Stirling Castle article.

*** Day 5 *** Travel day Scotland to Ireland, Kilkenny Ireland

night 5: Kilkenny travel time: 1 hour non stop flight EDI to DUB, PLUS 1.5 hour direct train Dublin to Kilkenny

arrival in Ireland

with its Rich history, spectacular scenery and Beautiful places galore!

fly from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Dublin airport (DUB)

Check the best ticket prices at Google Flights

Hit the ATM before you leave Dublin Airport . You’ll need Euros this time.

getting from DUB to the train station

You can take a taxi to Dublin Heuston Station or for a cheaper option you can take the Airlink bus 747 . It will take about an hour. Cost: around 6 euros.

Train from Dublin Heuston Station to Kilkenny

1.5 hour direct train (we purchased advance flex tickets: ride any train on that day) from Irish Rail.

Kilkenny Ireland

Our Ireland itinerary starts in the great little town of Kilkenny, so full of Irish history, where we’ll spend the next couple of days. You’ll likely arrive sometime mid day.

Here’ what you can do with the remainder of the day:

• Canal Walk -there’s a lovely walking trail along the River Nore. You can access it from just behind Kilkenny Castle.
• Talbot’s Tower, 755 year-old tower, remnants of the town wall.
• Kyteler’s Inn Est. in 1324 by the first convicted witch in Ireland.
• Tynan’s Bridge House Bar , established 1703.
• The Hole in the Wall Tavern Est 1592
• live music? Experience traditional Irish music, song, and dance! What a treat!
• Kilkenny Train Tours: leave from Kilkenny Castle throughout the day. I found it difficult to see anything but it was nice to sit back and relax.

Hibernian Inn

is a cute little Boutique hotel across from the Hibernian House is just around the corner from the castle. (currently not booking but the Hibernian Hotel is just next door.

*** Day 6 *** Historic Kilkenny

night 6: Kilkenny travel time : none…enjoy it!

Day 2 in Kilkenny!

• First thing we took a guided walk from Amanda Pitcairn : Guided tours are a Great way to get to know a new town. On the 1.5 hour city tour: witchcraft, history, 3 historic churches/ cathedrals, and Kilkenny’s fun nooks and crannies!
• St. Canice’s Cathedral, Gothic 13th century cathedral (my favorite of the three, just wow!!!) Don’t miss the 1,500 year old ordination chair!
• Black Abbey is another 13th century Gothic. (be respectful of parishners at worship)
• Kilkenny Castle This castle originated as a wooden fort built by Strongbow in 1172. If you happen to be here on a Thursday don’t miss the market in front of the castle.
• Tea at Langton’s: More tea service? My vote goes to the English on this one but it wasn’t bad!
• Early evening and into the night are a good time for a stroll in Kilkenny. Many of the sites are warmly and romantically lit.
• More lively music in the pubs !

*** Day 7 *** Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castles

night 7: near Cork or Cobh ( Ballintotis Castle?) travel time: approximately 2 hours drive time

Castles of Ireland

It’s time to pick up the rental car, because this trip is now officially a road trip ! We rented through Enterprise and arranged for them to pick us up at the hotel (yay! thank you Enterprise!)

Drive to the Rock of Cashel

The rock of cashel.

was the seat of the ancient Kings of Munster from 300-1100 A.D. Ireland’s famed High King, Brian Boru, who is often credited with banishing viking invaders from Ireland for the last time, once ruled here. Today the hill is topped with a 12th-century Romanesque chapel and a 13th-century Gothic cathedral. Don’t miss the Hore Abbey medieval monastery ruins just down the hill.

additional information: find out everything you need to know about visiting the Rock of Cashel Castle !

Cahir Castle

one of Ireland’s largest and best preserved castles. It has a great feel and was a favorite of our group.

Drive to your accommodations for the night

Need laundry service? Now’s your chance! Once we got into Midleton we dropped off our laundry, pick up your clean laundry tomorrow! Awesome!

Ballintotis Castle

Where to stay? Ballintotis Castle is a super rustic castle that you can rent and have the entire castle to yourself CHEAP (at last check they were not renting the castle to overnight guests. I’ll keep you updated here.)

*** Day 8 *** Relax in your own castle OR spend the day in Cobh

night 8: near Cork or Cobh (Ballintotis Castle?) travel time: minimal drive time

Dealers Choice

I took a break from my tour manager duties and spent a glorious day playing Queen of this castle. I relaxed, read, caught up on my sleep, and took a bath. My idea of a great time!

My husband and his sister headed to Cobh (pronounced Cove) for some sight seeing and a round of golf. See the Ballintotis article for more things to do in the area .

dinner options

The Hunted Hog in Castlemartyr (2.5 miles from the castle) traditional Irish Pub food in Castlemartyr.

Wait, what about blarney castle and the famous blarney stone? Was not in fact on my itinerary but you are close! It’s just north of Cork about 10 km. Consider hitting it your way from Cahir to Cobh, or from Cobh to Dingle.

*** Day 9 *** Dingle Ireland

night 9: Dingle travel time: 2.5-3 hours drive time

Dingle Ireland

Drive to dingle. 2.5-3.5 hour drive.

Dingle is a lively colorful harbor town. Local pubs come alive evenings with traditional Irish music (and step dancing.) Gaelic is still commonly spoken here.

Sea Fishing Excursions, we took a deep sea fishing tour on a shared boat from the harbor with Dingle Boat Tours . Then took our catch to John Moriarity’s Pub where they prepared for us.

If fishing isn’t your thing you can take in the beautiful scenery of Dingle Bay on a tour boat, then spend the rest of the day exploring.

Dingle Harbour Lodge , it sits right on the harbor and is within walking distance of all of the fun stuff!

book it now on booking.com!

*** Day 10 *** Dingle Peninsula Drive ( Slea Head Drive ) for stunning views

night 10: Killorglin travel time: less than 2 hours

Dingle Peninsula drive/Slea head Drive

The Dingle Peninsula / Slea Head drive is a 30-mile loop with stunning scenery and ancient structures. We’ll drive it in the recommended CLOCKWISE DIRECTION:

• Celtic and Prehistoric Museum: ancient artifacts, bones and fossils, some of them millions of years old! You may need to make an appointment, contact information here.
• Dunbeg Fort from Ireland’s Iron Age (500 b.c.-500 a.d.)
• Irish Famine Cottages (hold a baby lamb at the Sheep farm!)
• Dun Chain Pier
• Gallarus Oratory, 11th or 12th century chapel and Kilmalkedar Church , 12th century chapel ruins.

Get all the details here! Slea Head Drive, Dingle Peninsula

drive to Killorglin

You can now either drive directly to Killorglin OR take the scenic drive / panoramic tour instead! Conor Pass is a scenic panoramic drive right here on the peninsula.

Tip: stop for picnic supplies for your Skellig Excursion tomorrow. There’s a Eurostar Grocery just a short walk from Kingston’s.

Home base for 4 nights:

We chose to base ourselves in Killorglin because it was central to our activities.

Kingston’s Bar and Townhouse , Killorglin. This beautiful spotless property is a great home base if you plan to see a lot of the sights in county Kerry. On site beautiful old world themed pub, sauna, and game room. book it here on Booking.com!

unique dining opportunity in Killorglin

10 Bridge street is located in a gorgeous old stone church . Open mid March, weekends only and 5 days per week from June – September. Location: Old Church of Ireland, Bridge St, Killorglin

*** Day 11 *** Skellig Michael Landing Tour / Ring of Kerry

night 11 : Killorglin travel time: 2.5 hours drive time

Skellig Experience and the Ring of Kerry

Drive to portmagee marina: 1 hour drive from killorglin., skellig michael.

is an island in the Atlantic Ocean off of the coast of Ireland. A monk colony lived here over 1,000 years ago . Book a landing tour for this Unesco World Heritage Site . Tours allow you 2.5 hours to explore the island. Climb to the 618 treacherous steps to the top for a 20-minute Guided walk among the “beehives.” Don’t miss the tiny puffins on the island!

IMPORTANT: book as soon as you have your travel dates. It is a ridiculously popular spot (thanks in part to it being a Star Wars filming location) The season is short and permits are limited, it books up fast.

This activity is weather dependent (the Wild Atlantic!) so I worked the next TWO days in as alternate Skellig Days.

Get full details (including which tour company we used) in my Skellig Michael article.

Ring of Kerry

Next stop the scenic Ring of Kerry drive located on the (Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry.)

Leave Portmagee after Skellig and head north to Valentia Island.

Sights along the Ring of Kerry scenic drive:

• Tetrapod Trackway fossilized footprints of a prehistoric animal! (350 and 370 million years old!)
• The Kerry Cliffs . While not as impressive as the Cliffs of Moher you won’t want to miss the Kerry Cliffs. Simply mesmerizing! The intense blue water is indescribable!
• Coom Wedge Tomb -2300 BC?
• Ballinskellig Castle Ruins/Abbey (12th-15th century)
• the photogenic coastal stretch (between Waterville and Caherdaniel.)
• Eightercua Stone Row (1,600 BC)
• Loher Stone Fort (9th Century)
• Derrynane Beach – Caherdaniel Stone Fort (600 AD)
• Staigue Iron Age Ring Fort (400 and 300 AD)

drive back to Killorglin

The Oratory Pizza and Wine Bar , Cahersiveen. Why? it’s on your way back to Killorglin, located in an old stone church, and maye I was just hungry but I had some of the best pizza I’ve ever had!

Day 12: Black Valley and a massage!

night 12: Killorglin travel time: 2 hours 45 minutes drive time

Black Valley and Free time

(Alternate Skellig day #1)

The Black Valley is the perfect place to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Ireland . Get details on how to see the Black Valley here.

After spending the day on one of the best local hikes get some relief from your sore tired muscles with a massage. I am a huge fan of Thai massage. Zen Healing is just around the corner from Kingston’s!

*** Day 13 *** The Gap of Dunloe Ireland Tour

night 13 : Killorglin travel time: 1 hour drive time

(Alternate Skellig day #2)

Gap of Dunloe

The Gap of Dunloe is a scenic mountain pass through Killarney National Park. Take a horse drawn jaunting car ride through the Gap with Killarney Januntings Cars AND a boat ride across the lakes, round trip from Ross castle!

Spend the remainder of the day exploring the national park: 15th century Ross Island/Ross Castle, Innisfallen Island and 7th century monastery, waterfalls and more!

The Tomies Wood hike that includes the O’Sullivan’s Cascade waterfall, I hear it’s better than Torc Waterfall!

*** Day 14 *** Travel Back to Dublin

night 14: Dublin travel time: 1 hour drive time, PLUS 3 hour train ride, Killarney to Dublin

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. We chose not to spend any time in Dublin, Ireland’s capital city as well as its largest city, but if you choose to some popular options are:: Trinity college (with the Book of Kells) Dublin Castle, Phoenix Park,, St. Patrick’s cathedral.

Drop off the rental car

in Killarney and then make your way to the Killarney train station.

Note: Rental car companies often charge extra to drop off at a different location. IF prices are exorbitant you may have to drive the 3 hours back to Kilkenny to drop off the car there .

Train Kllarney to Dublin Heuston Station

3 hours. Consider semi-flex ticket (train before or after). Change trains in Mallow.

Dublin Heuston Station to The Castle Hotel

Red Line Bus OR take a taxi

Where to stay

Castle Hotel has a restaurant in a 19th century wine vault. Live music AND it’s on Airlink 747 route to airport. Book it now on Booking.com!

The pace of the trip was catching up with me so I spent the reminder of the day reading. There is also a massage place close. Nick Angie Guinness Storehouse tour.

at the Castle Hotel, neat looking dining room not far from your bed! Looking for something different?

when in Rome

Things to try “when in scotland”.

• Haggis , minced organ meat with herbs and spices. They served it with neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes.)
• Scotch Eggs , a boiled egg encased in sausage, breaded and deep fried, try them at The Ensign Ewart in Edinburgh (dates back to 1680.)

Things to try “when in Ireland”

• Irish Breakfast , similar to a full English breakfast but the black and white putting isn’t optional! try it!

Two weeks is how much time we had to dedicate to this Ireland and Scotland vacation, (14 days in Ireland and Scotland! plus a bonus day in England!) and that is the absolute minimum! Otherwise, you’ll have to skip some of this fun stuff!

Want to stay in a castle?

Be sure to check out my article on affordable castles to stay at in Ireland !

trip cost and money saving tips

How much does a trip to Ireland and Scotland cost? This 2 week trip to Ireland and Scotland itinerary ” entire trip cost per person ” is based on double occupancy: (as of publication travel prices are quite high now. Let’s hope they go back down!)

Add your airfare ( we fly free, learn here here! ) one-way flight to Edinburgh, Edinburgh to Dublin (prices as low as $87, bag included) Dublin home. Sign up for “Going” (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) to get FREE flight deals sent to your inbox! see the world for less!

Protect yourself with trip insurance

Protect your investment with “cancel for any reason” trip insurance . Did you know that pandemics, as well as a LONG list of other situations aren’t covered by most trip insurance policies (including those airlines offer when purchasing tickets)? MOST of these scenarios are covered when you purchase a “cancel for any reason” policy! Shop for one at Travel Insurance.com! but don’t delay, most CFAR policies need to be purchased within 14-21 days of your initial trip payment, depending on the policy.

Travel Resources

Check out my Travel Resources page to learn how to get the best deals on airfare, rental cars, accommodations, language learning resources and more!

affordable castles to stay at in Ireland (under $300!)

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Exploring Scotland & Ireland

About this tour.

Bask in the warm Celtic culture and majestic scenery of two remarkable lands. Come to know the regal city of Edinburgh on a panoramic coach tour and by foot. Cruise the famed Loch Ness and explore the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Enjoy a traditional evening of Scottish food and entertainment. Visit the Titanic Experience in Belfast and remember the century-old tragedy that shook the world. Walk the Giant’s Causeway (UNESCO) and soak up incredible views of the Causeway Coast, one of the world’s most breathtaking rail journeys. Visit Ireland’s bustling capital city of Dublin and tour historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral. From rugged natural beauty to vibrant and historical cities, the diverse charms of Scotland and Ireland await.

Your Tour Includes

• 6 Handpicked Accommodations

Included Highlights

• Edinburgh Castle
• St. Andrews
• Loch Ness Cruise

Your Tour at a Glance

11 Breakfasts

Travel Style

Best time for travel, customize your tour.

Optional Excursions

Starting at $80.00

Activity Level

• Level This Tour

For specific details about this tour's activity level and other info to know before you book your trip, click here.

Extension Style

Best time for travel exploring scotland & ireland.

While just about any month is great to visit Scotland and Ireland, there are a few prime times of the year for the Exploring Scotland & Ireland tour. Here are some recommendations from our destination experts.

Spring: Springtime is a wonderful time to visit the region! The countryside comes alive with flowers and shades of green, and the days of sunlight are growing just a bit longer, giving you more time to explore.

Summer: August is the perfect time to visit Edinburgh, as the Military Tattoo and Edinburgh Festival both take place then. It’s crowded, but the city is alive with many cultural events. And generally, it’s good weather (fingers crossed for not too much rain!).

Fall: Daylight hours grow shorter, and the weather is not quite as hospitable as summer, but the changing colors of the landscape are truly lovely. Fewer crowds make it easier to navigate sites and take your time to enjoy them.

Travel Styles

Highlights and inclusions.

Must-See Inclusions:

• Tour the "Fair City" of Dublin with a local guide.

Embark on a scenic cruise on beautiful Loch Ness.

Set out on a walking tour of Derry featuring its medieval city walls.

Cultural Experiences:

Embark on one of the world’s most breathtaking rail journeys along the Causeway Coast.

Explore the Titanic Experience in Belfast.

Discover the heritage of Glasgow with a local guide.

Culinary Inclusions:

Taste apple cider at a family-run farm.

Join in the fun during a night of traditional Scottish food and entertainment.

• Urquhart Castle
• Highland Evening
• Titanic Experience
• Giant's Causeway
• The Causeway Coast Rail Journey
• Cider Farm Tour

Book with Confidence

* With Insurance Purchased

• *No Hassle Refunds
• Traveling Well Safety
• No booking fee, *no change fees
• Top Rated Travel Protection

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Getting Prepared

Know before you go, travel tips, enhance your tour.

Pre and Post Tour Extensions

Pre and Post Night Stay

Unique Experience

Cultural Experiences

Enhance Your Trip

• Tour Extensions

Start your trip with 3 nights in London – the capital of England and the United Kingdom. Use your included Oyster card to navigate the city with a local expert – hopping on the Tube and taking a walking tour by Westminster, The houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. Your tour will end in Trafalger Square, one of London's most iconic landmarks. Take advantage of your included Tower of London pass. You’ll have ample time at leisure to make your stay in London exactly what you want it to be.Your other option is to book a pre stay? Guided You’re accompanied by a Tour Manager throughout the extension, except for any time that’s set aside for independent discovery.

• Overnight Flight
• You’re on your way to the United Kingdom. Begin in England and enjoy a 3-night stay in London.
• London, England - Extension Begins
• Experience London, the esteemed capital of the United Kingdom. Often described as a world within a city, London is a sophisticated metropolis with a timeless style all its own.
• Navigate the city with a local expert. Using your included Oyster card, hop on the famous underground Tube. Take a walking tour around Westminster, The Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. Your tour will end in Trafalgar Square, one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Enjoy the afternoon to further explore the city.
• Start your day with a visit to the Tower of London to peek into the city’s storied past and uncover the secrets of this 11th-century fortress. The rest of the day is yours to see London your way!
• London - Edinburgh, Scotland
• Wish London goodbye as you take a high-speed train through the English countryside to Scotland.

Hotel-Radisson Blu Edinburgh

Hotel-Herbert Park Hotel

Enjoy a traditional pub lunch at a historic pub where you will soak up the atmosphere of days gone by. After lunch, continue on to the nearby Guinness Storehouse, Ireland's top international visitor attraction. Learn about the brewing process that creates this beloved beverage and discover the technique needed to pour the perfect pint! Classic Guinness ads and memorabilia create a nostalgic ambiance as you indulge in a complimentary pint and learn about a different yet key part of Ireland's history.

Join us for an entertaining evening of tastes, sights and sounds that are classically Scottish. Feast on a banquet prepared from a selection of local recipes. Your taste buds will savor the true flavor and goodness of this distinctive country. Tonight will be filled with entertainment including Highland pipers and dancers who deliver the very best in Scottish music, song and dance. Be prepared for a Scottish night of food, fun and many fond memories!

Explore one of Ireland's best-kept secrets. Enjoy a fun and engaging evening with a local singer/songwriter and discover how the tale of Derry is intertwined with many of Ireland's most important events. Come and experience a three-course dinner at a restaurant serving pub-style food. See first-hand why Derry was named the UK City of Culture in 2013.

Tour the "Fair City" of Dublin with a local guide.

Accommodations

Arrive earlier.

Pre Night: Radisson Blu Edinburgh From $200 per night

Radisson Blu Edinburgh

Best western palace hotel inverness, hilton glasgow.

Maldron Hotel Belfast City

City hotel derry, herbert park hotel.

Nights 10-11

Stay Longer

Post Night: Herbert Park Hotel From $155 per night

Need More Information?

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Exploring Britain & Ireland featuring England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales

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England, Ireland and Scotland Tours & Trips

If you have been longing to see England, Scotland and Ireland in one go, now is your chance. Book one of our Western European tours and let yourself be carried away through London and Oxford University, the Scottish Highlands, Dublin and Galway. Read here the best 7 day Ireland travel itineraries , 10 day Ireland itineraries , ideas for one week in Scotland  , or find the best Ireland adventures .

102 England, Ireland and Scotland tour packages with 3,566 reviews

• In-depth Cultural

England, Scotland and Ireland end Dublin

Guides were great and the tour was an excellent way to see lots of places in a short amount of time

• Coach / Bus

Essential Britain & Ireland

Liz Ryan is an excellent guide and knows her history of Britain very well. The bus was very comfortable and even had USB ports for charging. And the free bottles of water, as needed, were greatly appreciated. All hotels were very clean with very good provided breakfasts and only one could have used a bathroom upgrade. All beds we used appeared to be queen size. We really enjoyed the optional live Irish dancing and show and dinner at "Taylors Three Rock" in Dublin. Perhaps information on the VAT tax and the procedures to get that refunded should be provided to guests before and after arrival. The tour we were on is called a 10 day tour but is actually only 8 days on the bus. We were impressed and feel it was well worth the cost!

• Christmas & New Year

Aonghus Youth

Jose is a very knowledgeable, talented, and made our tour exceptionally fun at all times - very entertaining as well !!!

Best of UK & Ireland

Great driver Paul and tourleader Peter who wasVery informative and gave us lots of places to see or visit on free time to experience.Would do another tour with. Expat .

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Britain and Ireland Delight (Summer, 8 Days)

I really enjoyed the trip

Wonders of Britain and Ireland (12 Days)

Really enjoyed having Greg for our Tour Director, he was so organized and efficient. Empathetic to people's needs. He is very knowledgeable and made the tour a lot of fun.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Britain and Ireland Experience (12 Days)

Excellent service and planning to maximize our time to see everything

Britain & Ireland Explorer (Classic, 13 Days)

We had a great holiday and highly recommend insight tours . We had lovely hotels and a fantastic tour guide who was very knowledgeable with places and the history.

Britain and Ireland Panorama (16 Days)

Anna was amazing. I really enjoyed the trip it actually was more than I expected. Our guide ANNA really made the trip.

Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland

Time to go around places of interest was limited. Most of the time we reach our destinations just in time for the excursion and no spare time to go around. Overall I enjoyed the tour with the complimentary bit of history narration from the Tour Director.

Celtic Highlights

The itinerary. I do not think we would have ever seen so much of these countries if we had tried to do this on our own. I did feel a little rushed sometimes and would have liked to stay another 30 minutes here and there. So I do think there could be some adjustments made for a few stops.

The Best of Britain & Ireland

I realized that booking through TourRadar for a Cosmos tour was probably a bad decision. There were a number of things Tour Radar left off or did not offer to those who booked straight through Cosmos. My questions is this...why did we not get the same advantages that other Cosmos direct tour members did? Why did I pay a premium when I did not get the concierge-level service? In theory, I should have gotten a level above-and-beyond those who just booked with Cosmos but I did not even get the basics. I am thoroughly disappointed with the Tour Radar aspect of the tour arrangements and that was so fairly obvious to others who booked through Cosmos. No luggage tags, no travel book, no extra information. You had the tour guide wrong, the rooms were not as requested. The Cosmos tour guide was your saving grace. She was fantastic but she works for Cosmos. If I had to do it all again, I would book direct through Cosmos. Also, the Tour Bus was substandard compared to other Cosmos tour buses we saw on our trip. No tray tables, no usb chargers, and the wifi was non-existent. That is more Cosmos than you but I am still disappointed. Driver was great...bus was too full and lacked basic functionality.

Britain & Ireland Discovery (Classic, 22 Days)

Greg was one of the best guides we’ve experienced on tours we have taken. This was our first Insight tour and very pleased with his expertise!

10-Day United Kingdom and Ireland

Jose the tourist guide was excellent, the hotels except for the last one were very good, the landscape and scenery was amazing, very recommended

England Scotland Ireland – Highlights of UK

What people love about england, ireland and scotland tours.

Very nice itinerary ... jam packed days and evenings. I chose not to do any of the extra evening excursions that were offered so I was able to use the time to explore every overnight stop on my own. The tour guide was amazing... so full of knowledge about all the countries/areas we visited.

Loved Jose and his team. They’re extremely professional and you cannot even begin to imagine how much fun you will have ❤️?

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• Travel Destinations

How To Plan A Trip To England, Ireland, And Scotland

Published: December 2, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Eryn Dozier

• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Guide
• Travel Tips

Introduction

Planning a trip to England, Ireland, and Scotland is an exciting endeavor that promises breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and vibrant cultures. These three countries, each with its own unique charm and attractions, offer a multitude of experiences for both first-time visitors and seasoned travelers.

From the iconic landmarks of London to the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the enchanting landscapes of Ireland, this journey will immerse you in a world of ancient castles, bustling cities, picturesque villages, and awe-inspiring natural wonders.

Before embarking on your adventure, it’s important to conduct thorough research and make necessary preparations to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. From choosing the right time to visit to organizing transportation and selecting accommodations, proper planning will help you make the most of your time in these captivating destinations.

During your trip, you’ll have the opportunity to explore historic sites, indulge in local cuisine, participate in cultural events, and engage in a variety of outdoor activities. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or a food connoisseur, there’s something for everyone in England, Ireland, and Scotland.

As you immerse yourself in the local culture, you’ll discover that each country has its own distinct character and traditions. From the friendly people of Ireland to the proud Scots and the cosmopolitan vibe of England, you’ll experience the warmth and hospitality that these nations are known for.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into vital aspects of planning a trip to England, Ireland, and Scotland. We will cover everything from choosing the right time to visit and getting around to must-visit destinations, outdoor activities, local cuisine, cultural events, and essential travel tips and etiquette.

So, pack your bags, set your itinerary, and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the breathtaking landscapes and captivating history of England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Research and Preparations

Before embarking on your trip to England, Ireland, and Scotland, it’s essential to conduct thorough research and make appropriate preparations to ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit. Here are some key steps to help you get started:

1. Destination research: Begin by researching the main attractions, landmarks, and cities you wish to visit in each country. Consider the historical significance, natural beauty, and cultural experiences that interest you the most. This will help you create an itinerary that covers your preferred destinations.

2. Visa requirements: Check the visa requirements for your country of residence before traveling to England, Ireland, and Scotland. Ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of all three countries.

3. Weather considerations: Take into account the weather patterns and seasons of the countries you plan to visit. Check the average temperatures, rainfall, and any extreme weather events that may affect your travel plans. Pack suitable clothing and accessories accordingly.

4. Budget planning: Determine your budget for the trip and research the costs of accommodation, transportation, meals, activities, and souvenirs in each country. This will help you plan your expenses and allocate funds accordingly.

5. Health and safety: Review the necessary vaccinations and health precautions for traveling to England, Ireland, and Scotland. Consult with your healthcare provider for any specific recommendations and ensure you have travel insurance that covers medical emergencies and trip cancellations.

6. Language and communication: While English is widely spoken in all three countries, it’s beneficial to familiarize yourself with basic greetings and phrases in the local languages. This will enhance your interactions with locals and contribute to a more immersive experience.

7. Currency exchange and banking: Research the local currencies and exchange rates for England, Ireland, and Scotland. Determine the most convenient and cost-effective methods for accessing money during your trip, such as using ATMs or acquiring a travel card.

8. Cultural etiquette: Familiarize yourself with the cultural etiquette and customs of each country. Learn about local norms, appropriate behavior, and dress codes to ensure you respect the local traditions and make a positive impression.

9. Travel documents: Ensure you have copies of your travel documents, including your passport, visa, and travel insurance. Keep both physical and digital copies in separate locations for extra security.

By conducting thorough research and making suitable preparations, you’ll be well-equipped to embark on your journey to England, Ireland, and Scotland. This will allow you to make the most of your trip and create unforgettable memories in these fascinating destinations.

Choosing the Right Time to Visit

When planning a trip to England, Ireland, and Scotland, choosing the right time to visit is crucial. Each country has its own unique climate, seasonal events, and tourist crowds that can greatly impact your experience. Here are some factors to consider when determining the best time to explore these captivating destinations:

1. Weather: The weather in England, Ireland, and Scotland can vary greatly throughout the year. If you prefer mild temperatures and longer days, consider visiting during the summer months of June, July, and August. However, keep in mind that these months are also the peak tourist season, so popular attractions may be crowded. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer pleasant temperatures and beautiful scenery without the summer crowds.

2. Seasonal Events: Each country hosts a range of seasonal events and festivals that showcase their unique traditions and cultures. In England, you can experience the pomp and pageantry of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace or attend the renowned Wimbledon tennis tournament. In Ireland, you can immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations or enjoy traditional music festivals like the Fleadh Cheoil. Scotland boasts the world-famous Edinburgh Festival and the Highland Games, where you can witness thrilling sports and traditional Scottish competitions. Research these events and factor them into your travel plans to make the most of your visit.

3. Outdoor Activities: If you’re interested in exploring the stunning landscapes and engaging in outdoor activities, consider the specific activities you wish to pursue. For hiking and exploring the countryside, the months of May to September offer longer daylight hours and milder temperatures. However, for winter sports enthusiasts, visiting during the winter months allows you to enjoy activities such as skiing in the Scottish Highlands or snowboarding in the Cairngorms National Park.

4. Budget: The time of year you visit can also impact your budget. Peak tourist seasons, especially during the summer months, often result in higher prices for accommodations, flights, and attractions. If you have a more flexible budget, visiting during the shoulder seasons or off-peak periods can provide potential cost savings.

5. Personal Preferences: Consider your personal preferences and interests when selecting the best time to visit. Are you drawn to festive holiday celebrations or do you prefer quieter periods with fewer crowds? Are you willing to brave unpredictable weather for unique experiences? Reflect on what matters most to you and plan accordingly.

Ultimately, the best time to visit England, Ireland, and Scotland depends on your individual preferences and priorities. Whether you’re seeking vibrant cultural events, mild weather for outdoor activities, or a quieter and more affordable travel experience, careful consideration of these factors will help you choose the ideal time to embark on your journey.

Getting Around

When traveling to England, Ireland, and Scotland, getting around efficiently and comfortably is essential for a successful trip. Here are some transportation options to consider:

1. Flights: If you’re coming from international destinations or prefer to cover long distances quickly, flying is a convenient option. Major cities like London, Dublin, and Edinburgh have well-connected international airports, making it easy to access different regions of each country. Domestic flights are also available to reach smaller cities or islands.

2. Trains: The train network in England, Ireland, and Scotland is extensive and efficient, providing a comfortable and scenic way to travel between cities. In England, the National Rail network offers high-speed trains connecting major cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham. In Ireland, Irish Rail provides service across the country, while in Scotland, ScotRail offers connections from Glasgow and Edinburgh to other destinations.

3. Buses and Coaches: Buses and coaches are an affordable option for traveling within and between cities. In England, National Express offers coach services that cover a wide range of destinations, while Megabus provides budget-friendly options. In Ireland, Bus Éireann and Citylink operate bus services connecting major cities and towns. In Scotland, you can rely on the extensive bus network provided by companies like Stagecoach and Citylink.

4. Car Rental: Renting a car can give you the freedom to explore at your own pace and reach more remote areas. All three countries have well-maintained road networks, but it’s important to familiarize yourself with local driving regulations and remember that in the UK and Ireland, you’ll be driving on the left side of the road.

5. Ferries: If you plan to visit islands such as the Isle of Skye or the Aran Islands, ferries are a popular mode of transportation. Ferries operate between various locations, including mainland ports and island destinations. Consider booking in advance, especially during peak seasons, to secure a spot.

6. Public Transportation: Public transportation, including buses and trains, is readily available within cities and urban areas. In London, the extensive Underground (Tube) and bus network make it easy to navigate the city. Dublin and Edinburgh also have reliable bus and rail services, allowing you to explore these vibrant capitals efficiently.

It’s important to check transportation schedules, plan your routes in advance, and consider purchasing travel passes or cards that offer discounted fares for multiple journeys. Each country may have different options, such as the Oyster card in London or the Leap card in Dublin.

Remember to factor in travel time, especially when covering long distances. Consider spending a few days in each location to fully immerse yourself in the local culture and attractions.

By utilizing the various transportation options available, you’ll have the flexibility to explore the diverse landscapes and vibrant cities of England, Ireland, and Scotland, ensuring a memorable and hassle-free journey.

Accommodation Options

When planning your trip to England, Ireland, and Scotland, choosing the right accommodation is essential for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. From luxurious hotels to cozy bed and breakfasts, there are various options to suit different budgets and preferences. Here are some popular accommodation options to consider:

1. Hotels: All three countries offer a wide range of hotels, from budget-friendly options to luxury establishments. Major cities like London, Dublin, and Edinburgh have a plethora of internationally renowned hotels that provide top-notch amenities and services. Look for hotels located centrally or near public transportation for convenient access to attractions and dining options.

2. Bed and Breakfasts: Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs) provide a more intimate and cozy accommodation experience. They are typically family-run establishments that offer comfortable rooms and a home-like atmosphere. B&Bs are particularly popular in rural areas, allowing visitors to experience the charm of the countryside.

3. Guesthouses: Similar to B&Bs, guesthouses offer a comfortable and personalized stay. They often have a limited number of rooms and are typically run by the owners, ensuring a warm and hospitable environment. Guesthouses can be found in both urban and rural areas, offering a quaint and local experience.

4. Self-Catering Accommodations: If you prefer a more independent and flexible stay, self-catering accommodations such as apartments, cottages, and holiday homes are a great option. These fully furnished accommodations come with kitchen facilities, allowing you to cook your meals and have a more immersive experience in the local community.

5. Hostels: For budget-conscious travelers or those looking to meet fellow adventurers, hostels are a popular choice. Hostels offer dormitory-style rooms with shared facilities, making them an affordable option for solo travelers or groups. Many hostels also provide private rooms for those seeking more privacy.

6. Unique Stays: If you’re seeking a more memorable and unique experience, consider staying in boutique hotels, historic castles, or quirky accommodations like glamping sites or lighthouses. These options provide a one-of-a-kind experience and are perfect for special occasions or those wanting to add a touch of adventure to their trip.

When choosing accommodation, consider factors such as location, amenities, and reviews from previous guests. Research popular booking platforms, local tourism websites, and review sites to find the best deals and compare options.

It’s advisable to book well in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons and for popular destinations. This ensures you secure your preferred accommodation and potentially benefit from early bird discounts.

With the diverse range of accommodation options available in England, Ireland, and Scotland, you can find the perfect place to relax and recharge after a day of exploring the stunning landscapes and vibrant cities.

Must-Visit Destinations in England

England is a country rich in history, culture, and stunning landscapes. From iconic landmarks to picturesque countryside, here are some must-visit destinations to include in your itinerary:

1. London: Start your journey in the vibrant capital city of London, home to world-famous attractions such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the British Museum. Explore the bustling streets of Covent Garden, take a stroll along the River Thames, and immerse yourself in the diverse culinary scene.

2. Stonehenge: Journey to the mystical prehistoric monument of Stonehenge, located in Wiltshire. Marvel at the ancient stone circle and ponder its mysterious origins and significance. Visit the visitor center to learn more about its history and explore the surrounding landscape.

3. Bath: Explore the historic city of Bath, known for its Roman-built baths and stunning Georgian architecture. Take a dip in the thermal waters of the Roman Baths, stroll along the grand Royal Crescent, and visit the impressive Bath Abbey.

4. Oxford: Discover the world-renowned university city of Oxford, famous for its prestigious colleges and captivating history. Take a guided tour of the historic colleges, visit the Bodleian Library, and explore the charming streets lined with bookstores and cafes.

5. Cambridge: Visit the picturesque city of Cambridge, home to one of the world’s top universities. Explore the stunning college buildings, take a punting tour along the River Cam, and visit the remarkable King’s College Chapel.

6. The Lake District: Head to the Lake District National Park, a breathtaking region of mountains, lakes, and charming villages. Take a boat ride on Lake Windermere, hike through the stunning landscapes, and visit the homes of famous poets like William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.

7. Stratford-upon-Avon: Pay a visit to the birthplace of William Shakespeare in the picturesque town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Explore Shakespeare’s childhood home, watch a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and stroll along the idyllic River Avon.

8. York: Step back in time in the historic city of York, known for its well-preserved medieval walls and narrow cobbled streets. wander through the winding alleyways of the Shambles, visit the magnificent York Minster, and learn about the city’s Viking past at the Jorvik Viking Centre.

9. Liverpool: Immerse yourself in the vibrant music and cultural scene of Liverpool, the birthplace of The Beatles. Visit The Beatles Story museum, explore the historic Albert Dock area, and soak in the lively atmosphere of Mathew Street.

10. The Cotswolds: Experience quintessential English charm in the picturesque region of the Cotswolds. Visit honey-colored stone villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, stroll through the Cotswold Way, and enjoy traditional afternoon tea in a charming tea room.

These are just a few of the countless enchanting destinations in England. Whether you’re drawn to bustling cities, historic landmarks, or idyllic countryside, England offers a wealth of experiences that will leave you captivated and inspired.

Exploring Ireland’s Highlights

Ireland is a country of breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and lively culture. From ancient castles to stunning coastlines, here are some of the highlights to explore during your visit to the Emerald Isle:

1. Dublin: Start your Irish adventure in the vibrant capital city of Dublin. Explore the historic Trinity College, home to the Book of Kells, stroll along the lively Temple Bar area, and visit the Guinness Storehouse to learn about Ireland’s famous stout.

2. Ring of Kerry: Journey along the scenic Ring of Kerry, a 179-kilometer route showcasing some of Ireland’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Marvel at the rugged mountains, pristine lakes, and picturesque coastal villages that dot the route.

3. Cliffs of Moher: Witness the dramatic beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most iconic natural landmarks. Standing 214 meters above the Atlantic Ocean, the cliffs offer breathtaking views of the Atlantic coastline and distant Aran Islands.

4. Galway: Immerse yourself in the bohemian atmosphere of Galway, a lively city known for its vibrant music scene and charming streets. Explore the colorful Latin Quarter, visit Galway Cathedral, and stroll along the picturesque Salthill Promenade.

5. Giant’s Causeway: Head north to County Antrim and marvel at the geological wonder of the Giant’s Causeway. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, creating a surreal and awe-inspiring sight.

6. Killarney National Park: Venture into the stunning Killarney National Park, famous for its pristine lakes, majestic mountains, and ancient woodlands. Take a boat ride on the tranquil lakes of Killarney and explore the park’s diverse flora and fauna.

7. Dingle Peninsula: Take a scenic drive along the beautiful Dingle Peninsula, known for its rugged coastline and picturesque villages. Visit the charming town of Dingle, encounter ancient archaeological sites, and enjoy panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

8. Belfast: Cross over to Northern Ireland and visit the vibrant city of Belfast. Explore the historic Titanic Quarter, learn about the city’s troubled past at the Titanic Belfast museum, and admire the stunning architecture of Belfast City Hall.

9. Connemara National Park: Discover the rugged beauty of Connemara National Park, located in County Galway. Hike through the scenic landscapes, visit the Kylemore Abbey, and take in the awe-inspiring views of mountains, lakes, and bogs.

10. Rock of Cashel: Visit the Rock of Cashel, a medieval fortress perched on a limestone outcrop in County Tipperary. Explore the ancient ruins, including the impressive Cormac’s Chapel and the round tower, and learn about its historical and cultural significance.

These are just a few of the countless highlights that Ireland has to offer. From its bustling cities to its scenic countryside, Ireland’s charm and beauty will leave you mesmerized and eager to explore more of this captivating country.

Discovering Scotland’s Charm

Scotland is a land of rugged landscapes, ancient castles, and rich traditions. From historic cities to breathtaking Highlands, here are some of the highlights that showcase the charm of Scotland:

1. Edinburgh: Start your exploration in the capital city of Edinburgh. Discover the imposing Edinburgh Castle perched on Castle Rock, stroll along the historic Royal Mile, and enjoy panoramic views of the city from Arthur’s Seat. Don’t miss the famous Edinburgh Festival, which takes place in August and celebrates art, music, and culture.

2. Isle of Skye: Venture to the Isle of Skye, known for its dramatic landscapes of rugged mountains, sparkling lochs, and fairy-tale castles. Explore the mysterious Fairy Pools, marvel at the iconic Old Man of Storr rock formation, and visit the enchanting Dunvegan Castle.

3. Loch Ness: Embark on a journey to Loch Ness, famous for its mythical monster, Nessie. Take a boat tour across the dark and mysterious waters, visit the historic Urquhart Castle, and soak in the scenic beauty of the surrounding Highlands.

4. Glasgow: Visit the vibrant city of Glasgow, known for its thriving art and music scene. Explore the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, stroll along the vibrant Buchanan Street, and enjoy the eclectic mix of architectural styles found throughout the city.

5. Stirling: Discover the historic city of Stirling and its impressive Stirling Castle, once home to Scottish royalty. Visit the National Wallace Monument, dedicated to the national hero William Wallace, and learn about Scotland’s pivotal role in its fight for independence.

6. The Highlands: Explore the majestic Scottish Highlands, where you’ll find breathtaking landscapes of mountains, lochs, and glens. Take a scenic drive along the North Coast 500, hike through the stunning Glen Coe, and enjoy the tranquility of the Cairngorms National Park.

7. Isle of Arran: Journey to the charming Isle of Arran, often referred to as “Scotland in Miniature” due to its diverse range of landscapes. Discover ancient castles, picturesque villages, and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and golfing.

8. Isle of Mull: Visit the beautiful Isle of Mull, where you can explore picturesque coastal villages, pristine beaches, and diverse wildlife. Take a ferry to the colorful town of Tobermory, visit the historic Duart Castle, and embark on a wildlife-spotting adventure to see eagles, seals, and whales.

9. The Cairns of Brodgar: Journey to Orkney and marvel at the prehistoric complex of the Cairns of Brodgar. Discover the stone circle and ancient burial mounds, and explore the fascinating archaeological sites that provide insights into Scotland’s ancient past.

10. Scottish Whisky Distilleries: Indulge in Scotland’s renowned whisky culture by visiting one of the many distilleries scattered throughout the country. Take a tour to learn about the whisky-making process, sample different varieties, and appreciate the craftsmanship behind this national drink.

With its captivating landscapes and rich history, Scotland offers a majestic adventure that will leave you enchanted by its charm and eager to discover more of its hidden gems.

Outdoor Activities and Sightseeing Opportunities

England, Ireland, and Scotland offer a plethora of outdoor activities and sightseeing opportunities for nature lovers and adventure seekers. From hiking through majestic landscapes to exploring ancient ruins, here are some of the top outdoor activities and sightseeing opportunities to consider during your trip:

1. Hiking: Lace up your boots and explore the numerous hiking trails that wind through the stunning scenery of these countries. In England, the Lake District and the Peak District offer breathtaking hikes, while Ireland’s Wicklow Mountains and Scotland’s West Highland Way showcase majestic beauty.

2. Coastal Walks: Immerse yourself in the dramatic coastal landscapes by embarking on scenic walks. From Ireland’s rugged Cliffs of Moher to Scotland’s picturesque North Coast 500 route and England’s stunning South West Coast Path, there are endless coastal vistas to discover.

3. Cycling: Rent a bicycle and pedal your way through picturesque countryside and charming villages. Explore the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, traverse the scenic Ring of Kerry in Ireland, or cycle along Scotland’s scenic lochs and glens, such as Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

4. Water Sports: Embrace the coastal locations by engaging in various water sports activities. Try your hand at surfing along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, go sea kayaking in Scotland’s Loch Ness, or enjoy paddleboarding in the serene waters of England’s Cornwall.

5. Wildlife Watching: England, Ireland, and Scotland boast diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife. Look out for opportunities to spot puffins on the Skellig Islands, dolphins in the Moray Firth, and red deer in the Scottish Highlands.

6. Archaeological Sites: Delve into the rich history of these countries by exploring archaeological sites. Visit ancient Stonehenge in England, the ancient city of Newgrange in Ireland, and the standing stones of Calanais in Scotland.

7. Castle Exploration: Journey back in time by visiting majestic castles. Explore the grandiose Windsor Castle in England, the historic Blarney Castle in Ireland, and the awe-inspiring Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

8. National Parks: England, Ireland, and Scotland are home to stunning national parks that showcase the natural beauty of each country. Explore the enchanting forests of the New Forest in England, the serene landscapes of Killarney National Park in Ireland, and the wild and rugged Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.

9. Garden Tours: These countries boast beautiful gardens that are a delight for plant enthusiasts and nature lovers. Explore the world-renowned Kew Gardens in London, stroll through the stunning Powerscourt Gardens in Ireland, or wander the vibrant Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.

10. Heritage Sites: Expand your cultural horizons by visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Explore the historic City of Bath in England, the prehistoric sites of Brú na Bóinne in Ireland, and the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh in Scotland.

With a wide range of outdoor activities and sightseeing opportunities, these countries offer endless possibilities to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, uncover fascinating history, and create unforgettable memories during your trip.

Local Cuisine and Dining Experiences

Exploring the local cuisine is an essential part of any trip to England, Ireland, and Scotland. From traditional dishes to contemporary fusion, these countries offer a wide array of culinary delights that will tantalize your taste buds. Here are some highlights of the local cuisine and dining experiences to savor during your journey:

1. Full English Breakfast: Start your day with a hearty Full English Breakfast. This classic dish typically includes eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, black pudding, and toast. Vegetarian and vegan options are also widely available.

2. Irish Stew: In Ireland, savor a comforting bowl of Irish Stew. Made with slow-cooked lamb or beef, potatoes, onions, carrots, and herbs, this traditional dish is known for its rich flavors and wholesome ingredients.

3. Fish and Chips: Indulge in the quintessential British treat of Fish and Chips. Enjoy crispy battered fish, usually cod or haddock, served with golden fries. Don’t forget to add a sprinkle of salt and vinegar for an authentic experience.

4. Haggis: In Scotland, be sure to try haggis, a traditional dish made from minced sheep’s offal, oatmeal, onions, and spices. Enjoy it with neeps (turnips) and tatties (mashed potatoes) for a truly Scottish dining experience.

5. Roast Dinner: Sundays are synonymous with a traditional Roast Dinner in England. This beloved meal consists of roasted meat (often beef, lamb, or chicken), accompanied by Yorkshire puddings, seasonal vegetables, roasted potatoes, and rich gravy.

6. Irish Soda Bread: Sample the delightful Irish Soda Bread, a traditional quick bread made with simple ingredients like flour, buttermilk, baking soda, and salt. Enjoy it with butter or served alongside hearty stews.

7. Scottish Shortbread: Treat yourself to a taste of Scotland with buttery Scottish Shortbread. This crumbly and rich biscuit, made with butter, sugar, and flour, is perfect with a cup of tea or as a sweet snack throughout the day.

8. Pub Culture: Immerse yourself in the vibrant pub culture of these countries. Visit traditional pubs to enjoy a pint of locally brewed beer or cider, along with classic pub fare like Scotch eggs, ploughman’s lunch, or bangers and mash.

9. Whisky Tasting: Scotland is renowned for its whisky, so take the opportunity to visit distilleries and partake in whisky tastings. Learn about the different regions and distillation processes while sampling a variety of single malts and blended whiskies.

10. Farm-to-Table Experiences: Embrace the farm-to-table movement by visiting local farmers’ markets and farm shops. Sample fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, homemade jams, and baked goods, supporting local producers while enjoying the flavors of the region.

Throughout your trip, also keep an eye out for regional specialties and delicacies. From Cornish pasties and sticky toffee pudding in England to Irish Guinness stew and Scottish cranachan, each country has its own unique dishes and treats to explore.

Remember to make reservations in advance for popular dining establishments, especially in larger cities, to secure a table and avoid disappointment. Indulging in the local cuisine and dining experiences is not only a gastronomic delight but also a way to immerse yourself in the culture and traditions of these fascinating countries. Enjoy the flavors and savor every bite!

Cultural Events and Festivals

England, Ireland, and Scotland are renowned for their vibrant cultural events and festivals, offering a delightful mix of traditions, music, dance, and celebrations. Immerse yourself in the local culture by experiencing some of these exciting events during your visit:

1. St. Patrick’s Day (Ireland): Celebrated on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day is a lively and colorful festival that honors Ireland’s patron saint. Experience parades, traditional music, dance performances, and vibrant street festivities in cities like Dublin, Cork, and Galway.

2. Edinburgh Festival (Scotland): Held during the month of August, the Edinburgh Festival is a world-renowned celebration of the arts. Enjoy a diverse range of performances, including theater, music, dance, comedy, and visual arts, filling the streets, theaters, and venues across the city.

3. Glastonbury Festival (England): Known as one of the world’s largest and most iconic music festivals, Glastonbury takes place in Somerset annually. Enjoy a lineup of renowned artists, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere, and camp out for a few days of non-stop live music and entertainment.

4. Galway International Arts Festival (Ireland): Celebrating music, theater, visual arts, and street performances, the Galway International Arts Festival is a two-week extravaganza held in July. Experience a vibrant blend of local and international talent in one of Ireland’s most cultural cities.

5. Royal Ascot (England): Experience the excitement and elegance of Royal Ascot, one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world. Dress in your finest attire, enjoy the races, and take part in the high-spirited atmosphere that permeates this iconic event.

6. Highland Games (Scotland): Witness the pageantry and tradition of the Highland Games, a series of events held throughout Scotland from May to September. Enjoy feats of strength, bagpipe music, traditional dance competitions, and spectacular displays of Scottish culture in locations such as Braemar, Crieff, and Inverness.

7. Notting Hill Carnival (England): Join one of the largest street festivals in Europe at the Notting Hill Carnival, held annually in London during the August Bank Holiday. Immerse yourself in the vibrant Caribbean culture with colorful parades, live music, dancing, and mouthwatering Caribbean cuisine.

8. Galway Oyster Festival (Ireland): Indulge in a celebration of seafood at the Galway Oyster Festival, held in late September. Enjoy oyster shucking competitions, culinary demonstrations, live music, and a lively atmosphere, all while savoring the finest oysters from Galway Bay.

9. Shakespeare’s Globe Theater (England): Experience the immortal words of William Shakespeare at the reconstructed Globe Theater in London. Enjoy a performance of one of the Bard’s plays in this iconic open-air amphitheater, where you can witness the plays as they were originally intended.

10. Burns Night (Scotland): Celebrate the life and poetry of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, on January 25th at Burns Night. Enjoy a traditional Burns Supper, complete with haggis, poetry readings, live music, and Scottish dancing.

These are just some of the many cultural events and festivals that bring these countries to life throughout the year. Check local calendars, tourism websites, and event listings to plan your visit accordingly and immerse yourself in the rich cultural experiences that await you.

Essential Travel Tips and Etiquette

Traveling to England, Ireland, and Scotland offers a chance to immerse yourself in the vibrant cultures and stunning landscapes of these countries. To make the most of your trip, here are some essential travel tips and etiquette guidelines to keep in mind:

1. Respect Local Customs: Familiarize yourself with local customs, traditions, and etiquette. Respect sacred sites, follow dress codes when visiting religious or cultural sites, and always ask for permission before taking photos of people or private property.

2. Greetings and Politeness: When meeting locals, a polite greeting and a friendly demeanor are appreciated. In England and Scotland, a handshake is common, while in Ireland, a warm smile and a friendly “hello” are commonly exchanged. It’s always polite to use “please” and “thank you” in interactions.

3. Tipping: Tipping is customary in restaurants, bars, and for services like taxis or tour guides. In general, a tip of around 10-15% of the bill is appropriate. However, check if a service charge has already been included before tipping.

4. Public Transportation: When using public transportation, have the exact fare or use contactless payment methods whenever possible. Be mindful of priority seating for elderly or disabled individuals, and remember to queue politely while boarding buses or trains.

5. Driving: If renting a car, familiarize yourself with local traffic laws and signage. In the UK and Ireland, remember to drive on the left side of the road. Be courteous to other drivers and follow speed limits, especially in rural areas where narrow roads can be challenging.

6. Weather Preparedness: The weather in these countries can be unpredictable, so be prepared for all conditions. Dress in layers, carry an umbrella, and have a waterproof jacket handy. Check weather forecasts before heading out for the day to plan accordingly.

7. Currency: In England, the currency is the British Pound (£), while in Ireland, it is the Euro (€), and in Scotland, both Pounds (£) and Scottish Pounds (£) are accepted. Carry some cash as not all places may accept cards, especially in remote areas.

8. Health and Safety: Prioritize your health and safety by taking out travel insurance that covers medical emergencies. Carry necessary medications and have a copy of your prescriptions. Be mindful of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas, and take precautions to guard against theft or pickpocketing.

9. Wi-Fi and Connectivity: Many hotels, restaurants, and cafes offer free Wi-Fi, but be cautious when using public networks. Consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for added security when accessing the internet through public Wi-Fi.

10. Conservation and Environment: Respect the environment by practicing responsible tourism. Leave no trace, dispose of waste properly, and follow designated hiking trails. Support sustainable tourism initiatives and opt for eco-friendly activities whenever possible.

Remember, travel is an opportunity to learn, appreciate, and connect with different cultures. By respecting local customs, practicing good manners, and embracing the unique experiences these countries offer, you’ll create lasting memories and positive interactions with locals along the way.

A trip to England, Ireland, and Scotland promises an unforgettable journey through captivating landscapes, rich history, and vibrant cultures. From the bustling streets of London to the ancient ruins of Scotland and the picturesque villages of Ireland, these countries offer a diverse range of experiences for every traveler.

By conducting thorough research and making necessary preparations, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. Consider the best time to visit, plan your transportation, choose suitable accommodations, and familiarize yourself with local customs and etiquette.

Throughout your journey, indulge in the local cuisine, from traditional dishes to modern fusion creations. Explore the cultural events and festivals that showcase the vibrant traditions and artistic talents of these countries.

Engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing opportunities to immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes, ancient ruins, and natural wonders. Whether you’re hiking in the rugged Highlands, exploring historic castles, or meandering through charming villages, there is something for every interest and adventure-seeker.

As you navigate through England, Ireland, and Scotland, remember to respect local customs, be mindful of your surroundings, and practice responsible tourism. By doing so, you’ll not only have a positive impact on the destinations you visit but also create meaningful connections with the locals.

With careful planning, an open mind, and a spirit of adventure, your journey through these captivating countries will be filled with unforgettable experiences, breathtaking beauty, and a deeper understanding of their rich history and culture.

So pack your bags, embrace the beauty of these countries, and get ready for an extraordinary trip through the enchanting landscapes of England, Ireland, and Scotland.

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How to Plan a Trip to England, Ireland and Scotland

Planning a multi-city trip can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you are trying to visit an extensive territory such as the United Kingdom, full of fascinating history and trendy cities. Because we don’t want you to miss anything that the UK has to offer, we created this ultimate guide on how to plan a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland in order to have the trip of your lifetime. 

Step-by-step guide on how to plan a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland

01. research the best way to see england, scotland and ireland.

The first thing you need to do to organize your trip between Great Britain’s islands is to decide which cities you want to explore during your vacation. In order to do that, we recommend you inspire yourself with:

• Lonely Planet Guides : these world-famous guides are a great place to start when trying to decide the best places to visit in the United Kingdom, and an excellent way to understand more how you can move around each place. You can buy Ireland , Scotland and England guides at Amazon for an estimated price of $15 USD.
• Pinterest : this visual search engine is not only a place for inspiration but also a useful tool for discovering new travel resources. Some boards that you should check out – Unite Kingdom Travel , UK Beautiful Places , and UK Travel Tips & Guides
• Travel Blogs : it is impossible to name all of them because you can find a thousand travel blogs covering these destinations but a good place to start is to check The Blonde Abroad , which specialized in solo female travel, or Hand Luggage Only , two guys based in the UK who blog about travelling light.

Once you start filling your bucket list with destinations, it is time to create a Google Map and pin those places that you want to include on your trip. Because you will fall in love with Scotland, England, and Ireland, and will probably want to see every little town around, we recommend you use one colour for the cities that are a no negotiable place to visit and another one for those that you would like to explore but can take off your itinerary if it is necessary:

02. Decide how much time you can travel around the United Kingdom

You already know which places you would like to explore so it is time to be realistic and answer yourself “ how long can I extend my trip?”. This is a super important question because, based on your answer, we are going to cut some cities from your dream list or add more destinations to it. 

How many days does it take to see Scotland, England, and Ireland?

For a trip to Scotland, England and Ireland you should consider travelling for at least 15 days. However, you can do it in 10 days if you only focus on 1 main city in each country.

03. Figure out Visa restrictions

An important part of planning a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland is figuring out if you need to request a tourist visa in advance in order to enter the UK and Ireland. 

Important clarification: England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are part of the United Kindom, the rest of Ireland is not. If you are planning to include Dublin in your itinerary, for example, you will need to check out the visa restrictions for the United Kingdom and Ireland

If you are from the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand you don’t need a special visa to enter Ireland and UK. In Ireland, you can stay up to 3 months as a tourist, while in the United Kingdom, you can travel around the region for up to 6 months. If you are from another country or want to check that this information is up to date, you can visit Ireland’s Department of Justice and Equality website and the Standard Visitor Visa page of the UK Government .

Even when you come from a non-visa-required country, you will still have to prove to the immigration officer at the border control that you have a reason to visit the country and that you are not planning to stay illegally for longer than what you are allowed. Because of this, we recommend you to have a binder prepared with your travel documents such as your flight back home, hotel confirmations, proof that you have the means to travel around the region (credit cards, money in your bank account, cash, etc)

04. Create an itinerary for your trip

One of the most important steps in planning a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland is to decide your itinerary around each place. After figuring out how much time you can spend in the United Kingdom, it is time to go back to your Google Maps and delete those places that didn’t make the cut.   

With the final list of cities that you want to see on your vacation, you need to decide what are you visiting first and how are you going to travel around each place. 

Tips to plan an England, Scotland, and Ireland itinerary

• Use google maps to estimate car and public transportation travel time from one destination to another.
• Check out the National Rail website for train schedules and fares. For bus journeys, you can check Megabus and National Express (both are the most popular companies in the UK), or Busbud website to see all the coach routes in the United Kingdom.
• If you are short on time, plan to base yourself on bigger cities and do day trips to smaller ones.
• Consider renting a car to move around each city. This option will let you explore more towns during your road trip.
• Schedule to spend more time travelling between each city than you expected. Delays, cancellations and inaccurate planning can happen so make sure that these things won’t ruin your dream vacation
• For flights, consider how much time (and money!) it will take you to travel to the airport and how many hours before your flight you must arrive. Sometimes flying feels like the easiest, cheapest and fastest choice but if you do the math it is not always like that

England, Ireland and Scotland 15-day itinerary (the ultimate two weeks UK itinerary)

As we said earlier, for a trip around England, Ireland and Scotland we strongly advise you to spend at least two weeks travelling. Below you will find a 15-day itinerary that we think is great if it is your first time visiting the United Kingdom since it covers the major touristic spots:

London – 4 days (Oxford included)

While we could easily spend a month in London without seeing everything that this incredible city has to offer, 72 hours is a good amount of time for a first approach. Some of the things that you can see on the first two days are:

• Buckingham Palace 
• Trafalgar Square & the National Gallery
• Parliament Square & Houses of Parliament
• Westminster Abbey
• London Bridge & Tower Bridge
• Nothing Hill
• Camden Town
• Oxford Street
• Piccadilly Circus

For your fourth day in London, you can keep exploring one of the largest cities or do a day trip to Oxford. To get there, you can take a 1 hour, 40-minute coach ride with Oxford Tube or book one of these top day tours from London to Oxford:

Manchester – 3 days (Liverpool included)

After wandering around the beautiful neighborhoods of London, it is time to move to Manchester, home of the famous football clubs Manchester City and Manchester United. You can get from London to Manchester by car (4 hours drive), train (2-3 hours depending on which train you book) or bus (between 5 and 6 hours). During your visit to Manchester, you can plan to see:

• The Northern Quarter 
• Castlefield Urban Heritage Park
• Visit one of the many museums located in Manchester (National Football Museum, The Manchester Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, Imperial War Museum North, and People’s History Museum, among others)
• Manchester Cathedral
• Chetham’s Library

Because Manchester is 1 hour away from Liverpool by train, during one of your 3 days in Manchester you can do a day trip to the home of The Beatles and explore one more city in England before moving to Scotland.  

Edinburgh (3 days) 

If you are a fan of Harry Potter then you are going to have a blast during your 3 days in Edinburgh exploring the many neighborhoods that inspired JK Rowling. From Manchester, you can take the Transpennine Express that takes only 3 hours to connect the England city with Manchester, drive for 4 hours if you are doing an UK road trip, or even hop into a plane for a 1-hour flight. If this is your first time visiting Scotland, these are some of the things that you can see in Edinburgh in 3 days:

• Edinburgh Old Town
• Edinburgh Castle
• Scotch Whisky Experience
• Victoria Street, the inspiration for Diagon alley
• Princess Street Gardens
• Calton Hill
• St. Giles Cathedral

If you’re just planning a trip to Ireland and Scotland, then

Glasgow (2 days)

Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow is a magnificent city to include in your itinerary when planning a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland. The city is home to several art galleries and museums, which makes it a perfect destination if you are travelling the region during winter and don’t want to spend the whole day outdoors. Our recommended things to visit during 2 days are: 

• The Gallery of Modern Art
•  Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
• Glasgow Cathedral
• Glasgow Necropolis
• George Square
• The Lighthouse

Dublin (3 days)

The best option to arrive in Dublin from Glasgow is flying. The flight only takes one hour and, because there are several low-cost airlines covering the route, tickets range between $15 and $50 USD. Once you have figured out your transportation, CONGRATULATIONS! You are in one of the youngest and most fun cities in Europe, so it is time to explore Dublin in 3 days:

• O’Connell Street and Henry Street
• Trinity College
• Dublin Castle
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Guinness Storehouse
• Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
• Dublin Writers Museum

05. Book your flights from home  

Once you have decided on your itinerary, you can detect which are the best cities to start your trip. If you want to save money, it is always useful to spot more than one place to fly from home so you can choose the cheapest option available. 

Suppose you are following our 15 days England, Ireland and Scotland itinerary. In that case, you will see that you can either start your trip in London and travel “in a circle” until you reach Dublin or you can fly to Dublin and follow the itinerary the other way around.

How do find the best flight price to England, Ireland and Scotland

Because we know that booking flights can be a hassle, we will show you step-by-step the process we follow to find the best airfare prices for your multi-destination trip. 

The first step is to pick up from your itinerary two options to travel from and use Google Flights to check the round-trip fares from your hometown to those destinations. In this example, we are going to follow the England, Scotland and Ireland itinerary that we mentioned before and pretend that we are travelling out of Chicago from 07/12/2020 to 07/27/2020.

While flights from Chicago to London cost an average of $400, flying from Chicago to Dublin during the exact same dates goes from $520 to $740, with an average cost of $620. In this first instance, the cheapest option is to fly into London with British Airways for $382.

The second step is checking the multi-city flights on the same dates. In this case, we are going to check the price for the following trip: Chicago – London / Dublin – Chicago

As you can see, by taking advantage of stopovers and airline alliances, the flights from Chicago to London / Dublin to Chicago cost only $100 more than a round trip from Chicago to London on our dates. If you factor in the time you have to spend going back from Dublin to London for your flight back home, the extra airport transfer costs ($9 average cost from Dublin city center to the airport), and the cost of the extra flight (expect to pay between $25 and $60 for a flight from Dublin to London + baggage fees), then this option not only is the most convenient but it also costs barely the same than the first one.

06. Book transport tickets to move around each destination

Now that you have decided on your itinerary and secured your flights to get from and to your hometown, it is time to decide how you are going to move around the three countries. You can choose between:

Car Rental:

England, Ireland and Scotland is a great region to jump into a road trip, and this option will allow you to explore smaller towns while you travel between one of your main destinations to another. However, it is important to keep in mind that you will have to drive on the left and that most of the cars in the UK and Ireland are manual, which means that hiring an automatic one can usually cost more.

Resources: RentalCars.com can help you compare prices between many car rental companies in UK. This guide to UK toll roads can be also helpful when trying to estimate toll fares for your itinerary.

Train connections through Ireland, Scotland, and England are one of the most extensive in all of Europe. This option is one of the most convenient in terms of comfort since trains are the fastest and if you plan the itinerary accordingly, you won’t need to change stations between one destination and another. The downside is that the train is also one of the most expensive ways to travel around the UK and Ireland, so it is advised to book your tickets as soon as you can so you can access discounted fares.

For travelling around England, Scotland and Wales, you can also consider purchasing a Britrail Pass that will allow you to travel across the entire National Rail network of Great Britain. If you plan carefully your itinerary, purchasing a pass for 2, 3, 4 or 8 days can save you a good amount of money. 

Resources: Rail Europe is a great place to compare different train prices and they are also one of the few official sellers of the Britrail Pass. Checking UK’s National Rail website and the Irish Rail homepage is also recommended.    

While buses are the cheapest alternative to moving from one destination to another, in terms of time, they are the slowest option if you compare them to renting a car or taking the train. Depending on your itinerary, sometimes the good thing about taking the bus is that they can serve some direct routes that trains won’t.

Resources: Megabus , Stage Coach Bus and National Express are some of the most known services that offer routes around this area.

England, Ireland and Scotland are served by many budget airlines. A flight from one point to another in this region won’t take you more than 1 hour and a half, and you can find fares for as low as $20. However, it is important to factor in the time and cost of moving from your hotel to the airport, arriving 2 hours before and then moving from the arrival airport to your accommodation again.

Resources: Google Flights is a great place to start when looking for air tickets. You can compare many providers and book directly from the airline.

What is the best option to travel around England, Ireland and Scotland?

There isn’t a unique answer on how to travel around England, Ireland and Scotland because it depends on your itinerary, the length of your trip and if you are planning to travel on a budget or if you prefer to spend more on comfort. However, the best option for travelling around the UK and Ireland will probably involve a combination of trains, buses, and flights. 

Once you have your itinerary around the area figured out, the smart thing to do is to compare prices and timetables between each transportation option and book it as soon as you can, considering that when you book earlier you can get deep discounts fares, especially on trains and buses

07. Book your accommodation in Scotland, England, and Ireland

When doing a multi-city trip, we always advise booking your transportation first because you will be able to know if you need to look for an apartment or hotel with early check-in, if you are going to travel overnight and skip a hotel night, etc. Once you know this, it is time to book your accommodation.

While it is true that the UK and Ireland are not the cheapest destinations, there are many hostels, hotels, beds, and breakfast and apartment rentals to pick from, which means that if you do your research you will be able to find accommodation for your trip that suits your budget. 

Tips for booking accommodation in Scotland, England, and Ireland

• Do a quick look of prices in Agoda and calculate the average cost of a night in your destination. This will help you to set a base price and recognize when a specific hotel/apartment/hostel is a bargain and when it costs a little bit more.
• If you are backpacking and want to keep the costs of accommodation down the first place you should check is HostelWorld. This does not mean that you shouldn’t check hotels too, sometimes when travelling with friends the cost of splitting a hotel room ends up being the same as booking multiple beds in a hostel, so don’t limit yourself just because you are on a budget.
• If you are travelling with your family or a large group consider looking for an apartment at Airbnb instead of a hotel. Most of the time, the cost of a two-bedroom rental is less than booking two different hotel rooms.
• Sometimes you will be tempted to stay outside of the city center in order to save in accommodation. This option only makes sense if you factor first the cost of daily transportation to the center, so make sure to do the math, otherwise, you may end up paying the same and losing more time transferring from zone to zone.
• If you are doing a road trip check parking costs around your accommodation. If you are looking to rent an Airbnb it is worth asking your host where is the cheapest place around the apartment to park your car.

08. Pack your suits and have fun!

No guide about how to plan a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland should be complete without some useful information about what to pack for a trip to Ireland and the UK. Once you have everything sorted out it is time to pack your suits and head to the airport before doing so, it is important to check the weather forecast one week before departing home so you can pack accordingly. Even when visiting the UK and Ireland in summer, you can expect rain and cold weather so keep that in mind when deciding what to bring to your trip.

Packing list: what you can’t miss when travelling to England, Ireland and Scotland

• Windproof umbrella: while there is the truth that people have exaggerated about the amount of rain that the UK region gets, it is true that if you are travelling around England, Ireland and Scotland during any part of the year, chances are that you will have at least one rainy day during your trip. In order to be prepared and avoid having to change your plans due to the rain, it is wise to carry a small and windproof umbrella with you every time you go out.
• Rain coat: as stated above, you won’t escape the rain during your trip, so be prepared with a raincoat. According to your style, you can choose to go for a more sporty one like this Levi’s lightweight anorak or choose a more stylish trench raincoat that will help you blend among locals when visiting more upscale bars and neighbourhoods. 
• International travel adapter : from your smartphones to your hair styling tools, you will need to charge your belongings while travelling so make sure to bring the proper adapter with you. While there are adapters made specifically for England, Scotland and Ireland, we recommend you buy an interna t ional adapter instead since it will cost almost the same and will be useful for future trips.

Recap: how to plan a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland

• Research the best places to see in the United Kingdom
• Decide how much time you can travel around the United Kingdom
• Figure out Visa restrictions
• Create an itinerary for your trip
• Book your flights from home
• Book transport tickets to move around each destination
• Book your accommodation in Scotland, England, and Ireland
• Pack your suits and have fun!

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How to Spend 10, 14, or 21 Days in England, Ireland & Scotland

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We match you with top tour companies that specialize in the trip you want,  whether it's a customized private tour or a group tour.

Eilean Donan Castle in the Highlands of Scotland

Embark on an epic adventure of classic England, Ireland, and Scotland by dividing your time between the three countries over 10, 14, and 21 days.

Explore rich English heritage in key cities such as London and York, then venture into the Scottish Highlands, where cows and sheep roam free in breathtaking scenery. Be entertained by Irish folklore and spend a few days simply relaxing in various villages and coastal gems.

Ensure you spend enough time discovering the highlights and national favorites in all the unique corners of each country when visiting for 10, 14, or 21 days.

How to Spend 10 Days in England, Ireland & Scotland

How to spend 14 days in england, ireland & scotland, how to spend 21 days in england, ireland & scotland, choose the right duration for your england, ireland & scotland itinerary.

Windor Castle in England

With 10 days to enjoy three fascinating countries, planning your stay just perfectly will ensure you make the most of your time in each.

Targeting the highlights is the goal and this means spending time in capital cities for the most part, with day trips to nearby must-see landmarks and sites more than possible.

Discover the main attractions in London and nearby Windsor, while embracing Edinburgh and its magical castle. Enjoy an excursion to the nearby Highlands, then end your experience with two days in Dublin .

Days 1-4: London, England

Tower of London • Trafalgar Square • Buckingham Palace • Big Ben • Kensington Gardens • Soho • Windsor Castle • Madame Tussauds Museum • St Paul’s Cathedral • Shopping in Knightsbridge

Days 5-8:  Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh Castle • Real Mary King’s Close Tour • Holyrood • Arthur’s Seat • Royal Mile • Day Excursion to Loch Ness or Glencoe

Days 9-10: Dublin, Ireland

Grafton Street • Temple Bar • Trinity College • Phoenix Park • Guinness Museum

Expert Tips for Discerning Travelers

Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland

With two weeks for your England, Ireland, and Scotland itinerary, your options of visiting more than one key center in each are varied, affording you the opportunity to mix city and country adventures.

Unwind in the English countryside, visit the Lake District, one of the best places in England , or the Yorkshire Moors, then step into a medieval castle with captivating gardens in which to get lost.

Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher will see you standing in a dramatic landscape and the friendly folk in Glasgow, Scotland, will have you wishing you had more time to spare exploring the city's top places to visit .

Days 1-6 :  London and Surrounds, England

Tower of London • Buckingham Palace • St Paul’s Cathedral • Big Ben • Westminster Abbey • Hyde Park • Kensington Gardens • Hampton Court • Windsor Castle • Bath • York • Stonehenge

Days 7-8:  Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh Castle • Royal Mile • Real Mary King’s Close

Days 9-10: Glasgow, Scotland

City Center Mural Trail • Kelvingrove Art Gallery • Glasgow Cathedral

Days 11-12: Dublin, Ireland

Grafton Street • Phoenix Park • Guinness Museum

Days 13-14: Galway, Ireland

Galway • Cliffs of Moher

Edinburgh, Scotland

England, Ireland, and Scotland invite visitors to take in picturesque landscapes, bustling cities, quaint villages set among rolling hills, or glistening lakes and seaside havens begging to be discovered.

Splitting your time among all three destinations is easy to do when you have 21 days for your adventure. Combine experiences that flow from urban to unique, and take long and windy roads that lead through farms and towns steeped in history.

From London to Leeds, Dublin to Derry, and Glasgow to Glencoe, there is so much to discover and enjoy when traveling for three weeks through England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Days 1-3 : London, England

Tower of London • Buckingham Palace • Big Ben • Westminster Abbey • St Paul’s Cathedral • Kensington Gardens • Hyde Park • Shopping in Knightsbridge

Days 4-7 : Northern England

Yorkshire • Leeds • Lake District Region

Days 8-9 : Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle • Real Mary King’s Close • Royal Mile • Holyrood • Arthur’s Seat

Days 10-12: Scottish Highlands

Glencoe • Inverness

Days 13-14: Glasgow, Scotland

Style Mile • Kelvingrove Art Gallery • City Center Mural Trail

Days 15-16:  Belfast, Northern Ireland

Belfast Castle • Giant’s Causeway • Titanic Belfast

Days 17-18 :   Dublin, Ireland

Grafton Street • Guinness Museum • Trinity College • Temple Bar • Phoenix Park

Days 19-21: Southern Ireland

Galway • Limerick • Shannon

Alyesford Village in Kent, England

Three incredible destinations await you on your next adventure as you travel through the picture-postcard landscapes and embrace bustling cities with rich history and enchanting culture in England, Ireland, and Scotland. Explore our featured England, Ireland, and Scotland tours of varying durations to find the right length for your custom trip.

You can also browse our guide on the best time to visit England, Ireland, and Scotland to find the right months for your trip, and learn more in our England , Ireland , and Scotland travel guides.

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• London, Scotland & Ireland

London, Scotland & Ireland vacation packages

PickYourTrail offers the best Europe package , which includes the best of London, Scotland, and Ireland. Blend into the rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant culture of these iconic locations. This journey promises an unforgettable adventure, from exploring London's bustling streets to witnessing the majestic beauty of the Scottish Highlands and being charmed by Ireland's ancient castles. Prepare to make lifelong memories as you embark on this enchanting journey through three incredible countries.

Sample Itinerary for London, Scotland and Ireland Packages

Day 1-3: London

• Visit the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the British Museum.
• Take a stroll along the Thames River and feel the vibrant atmosphere of Covent Garden.
• Optional day trip to Stonehenge or Windsor Castle.

Day 4-6: Edinburgh, Scotland

• Travel to Edinburgh and visit Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and Holyrood Palace.
• Experience the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands with a scenic drive through Glencoe.
• Explore the charming streets of Edinburgh's Old Town and indulge in traditional Scottish cuisine.

Day 7-9: Dublin, Ireland

• Arrive in Dublin and discover the city's rich literary history with a visit to Trinity College and the Book of Kells.
• Explore Dublin's cultural attractions, including the Guinness Storehouse and Temple Bar.
• Take a day trip to the stunning Cliffs of Moher and the picturesque village of Galway.

Day 10-12: Belfast, Northern Ireland

• Journey to Belfast and explore its fascinating history with visits to the Titanic Belfast museum and the political murals of the Falls Road.
• Explore the scenic Antrim Coast, including stops at the Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
• Enjoy a walking tour of Belfast's vibrant neighborhoods and sample local cuisine in the bustling St. George's Market.

Day 13: Departure

• Bid farewell to the UK and Ireland as you head home with cherished memories of your unforgettable journey.  

Belfast (2N)

Edinburgh (2N)

• City Tours Belfast Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Tour

Belfast (3N)

Glasgow (3N)

Glasgow (2N)

Glasgow (1N)

Inverness (2N)

• Loch Ness Sightseeing Cruise Including Urquhart Castle

Dublin (3N)

• Dublin Highlights Walking Tour
• Visit Scottish National Gallery

Dublin (4N)

• The National Wax Museum - Admission Ticket
• Guided Celtic Park Stadium Tour

Dublin (2N)

• Dublin Christ Church Cathedral Admission Ticket

Edinburgh (3N)

London (3N)

• Visit Big Ben

Nottingham (1N)

• Visit Trafalgar Square

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How to Plan a Trip to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

Posted on Last updated: May 14, 2024

Times are tough. Money is scarce. We have a demonic cheeto for a president and one day, we will tell our offspring of these trying times… our ‘off-spring’ being our fur babies of course – since we can’t afford actual children until our $100K loan is paid off. So why not run away from your problems (like me!) overseas with my ultimate United Kingdom guide?

For your enjoyment (with minimal effort from you necessary), I’ve put together an ultimate United Kingdom guide so you can use your 10 – 14 days of holiday properly. Because you deserve ME TIME in a new place, with new adventures to remember for the rest of your life. Here’s how it works:

In the United Kingdom, there are 4 countries:

• Northern Ireland

Ireland should not be confused with Northern Ireland as it is a free nation and actually part of the European Union. My United Kingdom guide will give you the best route to see all four countries (+ Ireland!), which will check off 5 countries in 12 days. If that’s not service – I don’t know what is!

The Golden Route:

** NOTE: This route can be done entirely with a car! Rent one easily (and affordably) with Expedia **

For my ‘Golden Route,’ you’ll approximately need – 12 days.

3 Days in London

1 Day in Oxford

1 Day in Snowdonia

2 Days in Dublin

2 Days in Belfast

1 Day in Glasgow

2 Days in the Isle of Skye

The reason I put together this adventure is because I really want everyone to get the most out of their experience abroad. Learning about other cultures, languages, and values only makes us more empathetic and understanding,

Plus, the United Kingdom is a great, safe first destination for those who are just starting out their traveling career! Come hungry, come happy, and come with an open mind!… and don’t forget to bring your party pants  (which means underwear in British English FYI) because you’re destined to have a great time!

London, England

For the last 4 years, I’ve called London my home. As the epicenter of the world – yeah I said it – London is filled with culture, history, and dreadful weather. Here are my top tips + my 24 Hours in London Walking Tour!

Weather :  July is the hottest month in London with an average temperature of  19 °C  ( 66 °F )  and the coldest is January at  5 °C  ( 41 °F ).  The wettest month is October so steer clear! ( More here )

Accommodation: The best neighborhoods to stay in are in Zone 1 & 2 . If you stay outside of Zone 1 & 2, you’re likely to make up whatever you would have saved in transportation costs.

Ideal Neighborhoods for Tourism are (click for hotels):

Mayfair  (££££)

Chelsea (£££)

Victoria (££)

Shoreditch (££)

I‘ve lived abroad for many years and love helping others find work abroad and figure out their “Move Abroad Plan.” Check out my class below to get you started ASAP!

Download My London Walking Tour

** All the sights in 2 Hours & 10 km! **

Currency : We use the Great British Pound, which is about 1  USD =  0.75  GBP (Jul 2018)

Safety : London is completely safe for young families, solo female travelers, etc. Like every major city, we do have our issues but I would NEVER say that London is any more dangerous than major cities in the United States.

Food : A few classics that you should give a shot include –

Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding (bread pudding and meat)

Yorkshire Pudding (baked bread pudding)

Fish and chips (battered fish and french fries)

Lancashire Hotpot (lamb stew)

Pie and Mash (pastry pie with meat + mashed potatoes)

Bubble & Squeak (boiled potatoes and cabbage)

Oxford, England

Oxford is always a tourist favorite because it reminds them of Harry Potter and is a perfect example of the quaint British Countryside.

Weather : Like London,  July is the hottest month in Oxford with an average temperature of  16 °C  ( 61 °F )  and the coldest is January at 4 °C  ( 39 °F ) . The wettest month is December. ( More here )

Accommodation:  As public transportation is scarce, it’s best to stay near the city center of Oxford.

Oxford City Center (££)

Airbnb (£-££)

Currency : This is still in England so you’ll be using the Great British Pound

Food : Similar to the food you should try in London, I would also recommend having High Tea whilst you’re in the neighborhood. Have a castle experience along with your traditional high tea at  Malmaison Oxford .

Snowdonia, Wales

With mountains as far as the eye can see, Wales is a lesser-known jewel of the Queen’s crown. Predominantly populated by farmers, civil servants, and everything in between, it’s a welcomed city break from hectic London.

Weather : The average temperature at low altitudes varies from about 9.5 °C (41 F) to 10.5 °C (50 f), with the higher values occurring around or near the coasts. The summer months (June, July, and August) are generally the sunniest and driest months. During the winter (December, January, and February) temperatures rarely drop below zero. They’re normally between 5 C and 7 C degrees.

Accommodation : There are plenty of hotels, B&Bs, and youth hostels scattered around the area. Check them out here.

Currency : Great British Pound

Cawl (stew)

Welsh Rarebit (rabbit with cheese)

Laverbread (seaweed dish)

Glamorgan Sausage (vegetarian sausage with cheese, leeks, and breadcrumbs)

Dublin, Ireland

Even though Ireland is its own entity and part of the European Union, I thought I would include it in my United Kingdom Guide since it’s so easy to get to and WELL worth the pit stop.

Before heading north, brush up on your history regarding why Ireland is NOT part of the United Kingdom. Prepare to have your passport ready as you cross from Holyhead, Wales into the Dublin seaport via one of the many ferries that runs daily.

Just a 2-hour ferry ride connects you to the world!… and you can officially say you’ve been to Europe 😉

Weather : J uly is the hottest month in Dublin with an average temperature of  16 °C  ( 60 °F )  and the coldest is January at  5 °C ( 41 °F ) . The wettest month is August, but this extends all year… bring an umbrella.

Accommodation : I can only recommend The Castle Hotel for those visiting Dublin. It’s close enough to the action (a 5-minute walk to Temple Bar Street), but far enough not to get caught up in the bar brawls. I also know the hotel manager personally and he got us a last-minute reservation to the Michelin Star restaurant – Chapter One – for my birthday! With antiques older than my country (America), it was an ideal location to experience the best that Dublin had to offer.

See more Dublin (££) hotels.

Download My Dublin Walking Tour

Currency : As part of the European Union, Ireland uses the EURO. The exchange rate to the dollar is about  1  USD = 0.85  EUR (July 2018).

Boxty (potato pancake)

Champ (mashed potato, scallions, and milk)

Colcannon (mashed potato, kale or cabbage)

Shepherd’s Pie/Cottage Pie (mashed potato, minced lamb/beef, and vegetables)

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Home to many of the Game of Thrones filming locations, Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom) definitely delivered. In just a few days, I managed to drive clean around the sea and land border of Northern Ireland since it’s only 14,130 km². 

Unfortunately, I didn’t spend any time in Belfast, but I have included my Game of Thrones Driving Tour below so you can map out your own expedition from Belfast if you’re keen.

Don’t forget to read up on the history between Northern Ireland and Ireland to really understand the significance of Belfast’s Peace Wall  and The Troubles between the Royalists and the Unionists.

Weather :  July is the hottest month in Belfast with an average temperature of  15 °C  ( 59 °F )  and the coldest is January at 4 °C  ( 39 °F ) . The wettest month is October, but it’s best to bring an umbrella all year round.

Accommodation : Whilst I never stayed in Belfast, I did stay in the countryside with The Tailor’s House . Because I was planning on taking a full tour around Northern Ireland (below) I wanted an easy launching point to reach all of my intended destinations. More on my trip through Northern Ireland here.

More hotels in Belfast

Download My Game of Thrones Driving Tour

** See all the GOT filming locations in just a few days! **

Currency : GBP

Food : Traditional Northern Irish food includes:

Ulster Irish Stew (mutton, onions, and potato stew)

Steak and Guinness Pie (meat pie + Guinness!)

Bacon Butties (bacon sandwich)

Pastie Supper (minced pork, with potato, onion – fried)

Glasgow, Scotland

I’ve only stopped in Glasgow on my way north to the Scottish Highlands, but the city was full of life, and even at 10 C (50 F)… locals were in shorts.

Glasgow is known as a major student city so there are plenty of affordable things to do for young people in the area. Everyone in Glasgow is incredibly friendly – and slightly difficult to understand – so you’ll be meeting loads of people and have the time of your life!… just, bring a raincoat.

Weather :  July is the hottest month in Glasgow with an average temperature of  15 °C  ( 59 °F )  and the coldest is January at 3 °C  ( 37 °F ).  The wettest month is January, but typically it rains all year round so bring a coat!

Accommodation : Because there’s not a lot of public transportation, I would recommend staying in the city center.

Find hotels in the city center of Glasgow here.

Oatcakes (biscuit)

Scotch Broth (lamb stew)

Colcannon (mashed potatoes with celery)

Haggis (bread pudding with sheep’s stomach)

Isle of Skye, Scotland

Weather :  July is the hottest month in Isle of Skye with an average temperature of  13 °C  ( 55 °F )  and the coldest is January at  4 °C  ( 39 °F ) . The wettest month is October, but be prepared for rain all year round.

Accommodation : We’ve gone several times to the Isle of Skye and we typically use one location to launch our short day trips to alternate islands and locations. Try using Fort William or Broadford as a launching point for your day trips around the various lochs. Read more about my Isle of Skye Guide here.

Airbnb (££) is your best bet for value and location

Hotels in Fort William

Hotels in Broadford  

Download My Isle of Skye Driving Tour

Food : traditional Scottish foods include (same as Glasgow!)

And that’s it!

Congrats! You’ve just made it through 5 countries, in 12 days, without going absolutely mental! I hope all my guides have helped and if you’re looking for more information, I always recommend using Trip Advisor.

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How to Plan the Perfect Scotland Vacation

From fairy-tale castles to charming small towns, the Scottish countryside is every bit as spectacular as you've heard.

Best Times to Go to Scotland

Best things to do in scotland.

• Getting to the Scottish Highlands

Where to Stay in Scotland

With its stately castles , glass-like lochs, and voluptuous glens, Scotland has always been a showstopper. The country's magic extends from its quaint small towns to the snow-capped peaks of its romantic, rugged Highlands to its dynamic modern cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh. It's home to some of the best national parks in the U.K. and more than 900 offshore islands with extraordinary wildlife like regal red stags, majestic golden eagles, humpback whales, and massive salmon (not to mention the fabled inhabitant of Loch Ness, too).

The raw, poetic beauty of this ancient land — formerly known as Caledonia — is difficult to overstate. If you're hoping to head to the U.K.'s ravishing northern nation, read on for our guide to planning the perfect Scotland vacation.

The bad news is that, like the rest of the U.K., Scotland's weather is far from reliable, even at the height of summer. But as long as you're prepared to accept that and pack a raincoat for the odd shower or two, then you'll be fine from May to September. The smart money is on visiting in June and the first two weeks of July, when Scotland basks in seemingly endless summer evenings (the sun doesn't set until 11 p.m. in some parts of the Highlands) and the British school holidays have not yet begun, so prices remain low.

For winter travelers, Scotland has the U.K.'s best ski resort at Cairngorm Mountain , while the capital, Edinburgh, hosts one of the world's biggest New Year's Eve parties, Hogmanay .

If you like the great outdoors, you'll love Scotland. It's an ideal place for hiking, biking, and generally embracing the wildly beautiful landscape. You can summit magnificent Ben Nevis in a day (the tallest mountain in the U.K., at 4,413 feet), take a ferry out to explore the Hebrides archipelago and its stunning white-sand beaches, tour scores of castles, including the Queen's favorite holiday home, Balmoral (open to the public every April through July), and dive into a quirky food scene encompassing dishes like haggis (an offal and oatmeal combo, which tastes significantly better than it sounds), deep-fried mars bars, and juicy scallops, langoustines, and mussels.

Scotland is also a mecca for both golfers ( St. Andrews Old Course is the headline act) and whisky lovers , with some of the world's best distilleries available to tour, including Johnnie Walker on Edinburgh's lively Princes Street, Glenlivet near pretty Ballindalloch, and the legendary Macallan on a sprawling country estate in nearby Aberlour.

If you enjoy driving, you'll find some of the U.K.'s emptiest, most dramatic roads here, too, (as driven by James Bond in "Skyfall"), including the latest official addition, the North Coast 500 , an action-packed 500-mile route (516 to be exact) featuring mind-boggling coastal scenery, jaw-dropping beaches, rolling hillside, quaint fishing villages, and multiple hidden gems.

And if you prefer your challenges on foot, check out the magnificent West Highland Way , the country's best-loved long-distance walking route. Snaking its way from Milngavie to Fort William, it covers some of Scotland's finest scenery over 96 miles and is normally completed from south to north.

Meanwhile, history buffs will also be agog on any visit to Scotland, thanks to its 3,000-plus castles ( Castle Sween in Argyll is the oldest, dating back to the 1100s), as well as plenty to check out in the winding wynds (narrow lanes) and twisted staircases of Edinburgh's enchanting Old Town. ( Edinburgh Castle , towering over the city, is arguably the grandest in the country, too.)

If you can, make time to visit Perth, the former Scottish capital where kings were crowned on the Stone of Destiny and infamous Glen Coe, a beautiful valley full of waterfalls and deer, also known for the brutal clan massacre of 1692 (which inspired the Red Wedding in George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones ).

Where are the Scottish Highlands — and what is the best way to get there?

Jess Macdonald/Travel + Leisure

The clue is in its name: the Highlands are the mountainous upper half of Scotland, covering 10,000 square miles of picturesque scenery. The region's lively capital is Inverness , which sits centrally and is a superb base from which to explore, while other highlights include mysterious, misty Loch Ness, majestic Cairngorms National Park , and idyllic Isle of Skye , which has been connected to the mainland via a road bridge since 1995.

The easiest way to reach the Highlands is to fly into Inverness Airport from London or elsewhere in the U.K., or rent a car and drive from Glasgow or Edinburgh. However, the way to arrive in style is on the Caledonian Sleeper train from London Euston, a chugging time machine where you can fall asleep to the sounds of black cabs and bustle of the British capital and wake up among the red deer and magical glens of the Highlands. Regularly nominated as one of the world's best train journeys , the scenery gets truly spectacular after Fort William, as the route skirts a dramatic chain of lochs before descending into lush glens and crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter films. For the ultimate Hogwarts experience, steam locomotives work this route during the summer months, so check in advance for these special departures.

The major cities have an abundance of hotels for every budget, headlined by Glasgow's Kimpton Blythswood Square , a boutique property in the former headquarters of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, and The Dunstane Houses in Edinburgh, a pair of beautifully renovated 19th-century townhouses.

Scotland arguably does traditional country house hotels and rustic lodges better than anywhere else in the world, with Fife Arms in Braemar and Gleneagles in Perthshire being particular treats (the latter, nicknamed the "Glorious Playground" boasts three championship golf courses, its own dedicated train station, and the only restaurant in the country with two Michelin stars).

Scotland is, of course, peppered with castles, and many have been converted into hotels and B&Bs in recent years, with some of the better fortified accommodation options including Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire, Inverlochy Castle in Fort William, Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry, and Stonefield Castle Hotel on Loch Fyne.

Wherever you stay, you'll get a warm welcome — not to mention a hot bowl of Scottish porridge or a plate of bacon, eggs, and haggis to start the day in a spectacularly scenic country.

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7 Days in Scotland and Ireland: A Detailed Itinerary

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If you are planning a 7 day trip to Scotland and Ireland, you have come to the right place! If you have a limited amount of travel time, whether you are working full time or on a budget (the struggles of a travel addict!), this itinerary will show what to do for 7 days in Scotland and Ireland.

What to do in 7 days in Scotland and Ireland

I based most of my time in Scotland, since there was more that I wanted to do there. However, I will need to go back to Ireland explore more of the countryside! Both countries are great for solo female travelers – they are SO safe, and not once was I ever uncomfortable or approached by anyone.

• 1st day: Travel Day. Arrived in Edinburgh at about 2pm.
• 2nd day: Edinburgh all day.
• 3rd day: Went on a 2 day overnight group tour to explore the highlands and ride the Jacobite Steam Train! (aka the Hogwarts Express).
• 4th day: Returned from my group tour and back in Edinburgh at 8pm.
• 5th day: Another full day in Edinburgh!
• 6th day: Fly to Dublin
• 7th day: All day in Dublin
• 8th day: fly home

Where to Stay in Scotland and Ireland

Edinburgh, Scotland: I stayed at the Safestay Edinburgh Hostel. It was located right off the Royal Mile and felt very safe. The beds had all-female dorms and curtains for added privacy. For $25 CAD per night it was a good deal!

Dublin, Ireland: I had made plans to stay at the Ashfield Hostel, which is right by Trinity College in Dublin and only $50 per night. A very central and busy location, which is perfect if you only have a short amount of time in Dublin. However, a friend graciously let me stay in her flat, located by the 3 Arena (about a 30 minute walk away from Trinity College). Both areas felt safe, although staying near Trinity College would mean you are closer to the main attractions.

How to get Around Scotland and Ireland in 7 days

Scotland and Ireland’s infrastructure is very easy for tourists. I used the airport buses to get into the center of town. I mostly walked around the cities – and sometimes used the Hop-on-Hop-off buses as well!

To explore the countryside, I went on day trips. As a solo traveler, going on a group tour is a nice way to avoid loneliness and meet other travelers. I didn’t rent a car because in Scotland and Dublin they drive on the left, and I am used to driving on the right. If you feel comfortable driving on either side of the road, then this could be an option for you.

7 days in Scotland and Ireland: Itinerary Details

Day 1: travel day.

I flew from Canada, and it was SO much cheaper for me to do a self-connecting flight. What does this mean? Well, I booked a direct round-trip flight from Canada to Dublin, Ireland. Then, I booked a separate round-trip flight from Dublin to Edinburgh, Scotland.

Self-connecting saved me a lot of money (literally hundreds of dollars), but it is more of a hassle. I had to leave to secured area after got through customs in Dublin, and then go back through security. Self-connecting is also risky because if there are any delays and you miss your connecting flight, there is little the airline can do for you.

It was my first time self-connecting, so if anyone has any experiences about this, let me know in the comments below!

To reduce the risk of anything happening, I arrived in Dublin at 7:30am, then flew onward to Edinburgh at 12:35pm. This gave me plenty of time to get through customs, go through security again, and then eat.

Evening: Walking Tour

Since I had all evening free to explore, I ate at the first place I could find, and then went on a free Harry Potter walking tour!

Walking tours are a great thing to do when you first arrive somewhere new, because they help orient you. If someone shows me where to go, it’s harder for me to get lost later!

Day 2: Free day in Edinburgh

Today I had the entire day to explore Edinburgh. Since I hadn’t planned a lot of activities that day, I actually ended up doing a lot more than expected.

Morning: Edinburgh Castle

I went to Edinburgh Castle. I had pre-booked my tickets online for entry first thing in the morning to try and beat the crowds. This activity takes a couple of hours. I recommend getting the audio guide too, so that you can have the exhibits and areas explained to you.

Afternoon: Princes Gardens and Calton Hill

After lunch at Greyfriar’s Bobby Bar, I did a hop on hop off bus tour (tickets can be purchased near Waverley Bridge. This is the first stop of the tour, and there will be sales people there to sell you a ticket if you don’t have one).

I also wandered through Princes Street Gardens, and walked up Calton Hill for beautiful views of Edinburgh (I took the hop on hop off bus to get to Calton Hill to save my feet from walking).

Read about what to do in 2 days in Edinburgh here.

Day 3 and 4: Group tour to the Highlands

If there is a group tour that you want to do, check which days they leave. The group tour I did only left on Tuesdays, so your itinerary may shift a little to accommodate for this.

There are LOTS of options for day or overnight trips from Edinburgh to suit your schedule and interests. Since I wanted to have 2 full days in Edinburgh, I only had time for a 2 day tour.

The tour that I went on was the Jacobite Experience: 2 Day Tour with Hogwarts Express. I went on this tour because I really wanted to see the Scottish Highlands, and also ride the Harry Potter train (I am a huuuuuge Harry Potter fan). Read more about my experiencing riding the Jacobite Steam Train here.

Day 5: Another full day in Edinburgh

Another full day in Edinburgh! I will admit, during my trip I was debating on whether I should spend the day in Edinburgh or last-minute book a day trip to explore more of the Highlands. I decided to stay in Edinburgh, and I’m glad I did!

Morning: Deans Village and a scenic walk

I spent the entire morning going on a scenic walk around Edinburgh . I went to Deans Village. It feels like you go back in time in Deans Village. Old buildings, narrow cobblestone lanes, and a river gently flowing through with a walkway next to it. It’s a photographers dream!

Afternoon: Royal Mile & Hiking Arthur’s Seat

After having Afternoon Tea at Eteaket, a cute and quirky tea shop, I then walked down the Royal Mile. I know, I was staying right off the Royal Mile but hadn’t walked down the whole thing yet! I started at the very top (near Edinburgh Castle) and then walked all the way down to the bottom at Holyrood Palace.

Since the start of Arthur’s Seat is very close to the palace, it was an easy decision to make the hike. Totally worth it! The views over Edinburgh were amazing. Read about my experience here.

In the evening (at 6:30pm) I had reservations to go on a 1 hour tour of Mary’s King Close. This tour starts right off the Royal Mile, and takes you underground to see the hidden streets and houses that are under the Royal Mile. It’s not scary (just a little claustrophobic because, well, you’re underground), so don’t be worried about going alone. You will be with a group the whole time!

Day 6: Fly to Dublin

Today I had a flight at 2:10pm to Dublin, Ireland. There are multiple flights during the day, so pick a time that best fits with your schedule. My recommendation for your 7 days in Scotland and Ireland is to catch an early flight from Edinburgh to maximize your time in Dublin. I spent the morning aimlessly wandering around Edinburgh until it was time for my flight. If I could do it again, I would have chosen an earlier flight.

The original plan (aka: the expectation) : I had planned to do a full loop on the Hop on Hop Off bus tour when I arrived in Dublin. The bus stop for the airport and 1st stop on the Hop on Hop Off tour are right next to each other, so it would have been easy to do.

My apartment was near the 6th stop on the bus tour too. I originally planned to get off on the 6th stop after doing a full loop.

My reality (aka: what really happened): Unfortunately my flight was delayed! (Thanks, Ryanair…). So by the time I got into Dublin, it was closer to 5:30pm. The last loop of the day leaves the first bus stop at 7pm, and an entire loop take 2 hours. So I didn’t have enough time. So, I instead went to my apartment for the evening and ate dinner. If you are staying right in the City Centre (near Trinity College), you will be able to fit more in since it’s so close to everything.

Day 7: Full day in Dublin

Today I had the entire day in Dublin. Thanks to my late flight, it was my ONLY day in Dublin, so I had to make the most of it! For full details of what I did in Dublin, read my post here.

I decided to get a Hop on Hop off bus ticket for Dublin so that I wouldn’t have to try and find my way to each attraction (I get lost easily) – the bus would do it for me! . I started off my day by doing the full loop of Dublin (it was raining in the morning, so this was a nice way to protect myself from the rain!).

The sights that I saw in Dublin were:

• The full bus loop around Dublin
• Ha’Penny Bridge
• Trinity College
• Book of Kells
• Dublin Castle
• Christchurch Cathedral
• Trinity Bar
• Grafton Street
• St. Patrick’s Park
• Little Museum of Dublin

Day 8: Fly Home

I had to leave Dublin really early in the morning for my flight back home. I didn’t want to wait at a bus stop alone in the dark and really early/late at night, so I decided to take a taxi.

I’m sure the bus stop would have been completely fine, but I personally don’t like walking around alone when it’s dark. Especially when I am carrying my passport, money, etc. and look like I’m headed for the airport (aka: a tourist)!

My motto is “don’t skimp on your safety”, so instead of taking public transportation I booked a taxi with FreeNow. It is similar to Uber, and was recommended to me by my local Irish friend.

7 days in Scotland and Ireland: Final Thoughts

Overall this trip was great for exploring Scotland and getting a taste of Ireland. If you have more time in Ireland, I would highly recommend getting out of the city and seeing the countryside.

Have you traveled to either Scotland or Ireland? Let me know what your favourite thing was to do!

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5 thoughts on “7 Days in Scotland and Ireland: A Detailed Itinerary”

This is so helpful. Flying to Dublin early next year and now inspired by this, I am going to try and check for flights to Scotland too.

What a wonderful itinerary. I always wanted to visit Scotland or Ireland. I actually had a whole trip planned for Scotland back in 2018 but we had to cancel it completely because my husband got sick. 🙁

Love that you did the Jacobite Steam Train! I visited Scotland over the summer and covered a lot of ground from Edinburgh to the isles, but didn’t have time to do the train. Guess that means I have to go back a second time 😉

I lived in Edinburgh for 16 years, so it’s funny to see what tourists to the city choose to visit. I adore Dean Village and the Water of Leith walkway – and often walked sections of it (it goes all the way from Balerno to Leith) with my dog. So glad you got a taste of Edinburgh & Dublin – you must come back for longer next time!

Love that you laid this out by day! Just what i need

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The Perfect Ireland to Scotland Itinerary  

Planning an Ireland and Scotland itinerary can be full of pitfalls if you don’t know the countries and have a limited time to spend. Most folks from the United States and Canada will have a maximum of 2 weeks (14 days) of vacation time to spend and will want to get the biggest bang for their buck on their holidays.  

This Ireland and Scotland itinerary will help you plan the best trip and it won’t take up all your time travelling to get to the places on your bucket list. Don’t fall into the Scotland vs Ireland trap – visit both.

First things first as these are two separate countries and it is important to know the major differences, which truth be told are not a lot logistically.

• Tips on how to plan a trip to Ireland and Scotland

#1 currency – Scotland uses the British sterling and Ireland uses the Euro – make sure you let your bank know where you are travelling to and you can use your credit or debit card in both countries. American Express is not as popular in either country but there are ATMs everywhere. Take a little of each currency with you so you have some cash available but you won’t need a lot.

#2 with a Canadian or American passport you can spend up to 90 days in each country or split between the two, so for a two-week Ireland and Scotland itinerary you are good to go – no visas required.

#3 pick the airport to fly into depending on what you want to see first and what is good value for your flights. From the US and Canada flights to Dublin are as easy to find as Edinburgh and Glasgow’s flights are.

#4 If renting a car arrange for pick up of the car when you need it. I don’t recommend driving from the airport through any of these cities as you just don’t want to drive in that kind of traffic. Take public transport from the airport to your hotel or a taxi then get your rental car when ready to leave.

#5 Renting a car in Ireland can be very expensive so double-check if your credit card or existing insurance will cover you when renting. Often it does not and the additional insurance you require will add considerably to the bill. I highly recommend using My Irish Cousin as they will bring the car directly to you and you can arrange to leave it at various airports around Ireland.

#6 If you plan to fly to Scotland make sure you arrange the car drop-off in Belfast or an airport in Ireland as this can add greatly to your rental costs.

#7 the weather in either country is changeable so make sure you have good walking shoes and are wearing layers you can add to or subtract from. Bring a rainproof jacket or coat and keep your wardrobe simple.  

The Perfect Scotland and Ireland Itinerary

Best time to visit ireland and scotland, ferry ireland to scotland, ireland and scotland tours, scotland ireland itinerary, ireland and scotland itinerary day 1: explore dublin,  day 2 – newgrange, wicklow mountains, glendalough ancient east tour, day 3 – day trip to kilkenny, rock of cashel onto killarney, day 4 – killarney and the ring of kerry, day 5 & 6 – bunratty castle, doolin, cliffs of moher, galway, day 7 – galway city to shannon, days 1-2: explore edinburgh , edinburgh castle, holyrood palace, the royal mile, st. gile’s cathedral, princes street gardens, hike arthur’s seat, calton hill, harry potter tour, tours of the highlands and the isle of skye, callander town, fort william, commando memorial, cairngorms national park, day 1: a spectacular route north to skye, day 2: a full day on skye, day 3: monster spotting on loch ness, day 1: loch lomond – oban, day 2: oban – mull – iona, day 3: oban – glencoe – plockton, day 4: quiraing mountain pass, kilt rock, dunvegan castle, day 5: loch duich – loch ness – edinburgh, day 7: depart from edinburgh.

How to plan your trip to the UK, Ireland and Scotland

The best time to visit Scotland and Ireland is usually off-peak in the shoulder season between April-May and September-October if you can. Flights will be cheaper and the costs of accommodation will also be less expensive. There will also be fewer tourists battling to get into the sites you have on your bucket list. Getting Between Scotland and Ireland A trip of a lifetime to Ireland and Scotland can be done affordably and getting between the two countries is very easy. I would not recommend renting a car and taking a ferry as flights between the two countries can go as low as €25 euros.

I would book the trip to a major centre like Dublin or Glasgow/Edinburgh whichever you prefer and can find a deal on. For example, book a flight into Dublin and do the Ireland road trip and then book a flight out of an airport that you are close to at the end of your Ireland trip.

There are flights to Scotland as follows:

TO EDINBURGH Belfast International to Edinburgh with EasyJet – approx cost 1 way £23.00 Cork to Edinburgh with Aer Lingus and Ryanair – approx cost 1-way €20.49 Dublin to Edinburgh with Ryanair and Aer Lingus Derry to Edinburgh with Ryanair Shannon to Edinburgh with Aer Lingus TO GLASGOW Belfast International to Glasgow with EasyJet Derry to Glasgow with Loganair – approx cost 1-way £55.00 Cork to Glasgow with Aer Lingus Donegal to Glasgow with Loganair Dublin to Glasgow with Ryanair and Aer Lingus Belfast City to Glasgow with Loganair

Links: Aer Lingus , Ryanair , EasyJet , Loganair

You can also find flights to Inverness, Aberdeen and Dundee depending on which airport you want to fly out of. Since Glasgow and Edinburgh are the main international airports you will probably want to book a flight out of either of those to get to your home airport.

If you own a car or if this itinerary is part of a broader European journey , you may want to explore the option of taking a ferry between Ireland and Scotland. This alternative is also viable if you intend to fly in and out of the same airport. However, if your arrival and departure airports are different, and you plan to fly into either Scotland or Ireland, I would advise against taking the ferry. It’s worth noting that flights between Scotland and Ireland are generally very affordable, making them a more convenient choice.

If you opt to rent a car in one country and drop it off in the other, be prepared to spend a minimum of $1500 USD. This cost includes a $500 cross-border fee and a $500 one-way rental fee. Additionally, you’ll need to account for the ferry expense, which typically amounts to a few hundred dollars. While the journey across the North Channel by ferry is undoubtedly picturesque, it may not justify the overall expense if you plan to rent a car.

There are several organized tours available for traveling from Ireland to Scotland and they always include a brilliant funny tour guide. Here are a few options you can consider:

• Rabbie’s Tours : Rabbie’s offers a variety of small-group tours that cover both Ireland and Scotland. The tour includes multi-day itineraries, including visits to popular attractions such as the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, the Ring of Kerry , the Scottish Highlands, and Edinburgh.
• Wild N’ Happy : Wild N’ Happy offers adventure tours that combine Ireland and Scotland. They provide guided tours with activities such as hiking, cycling, and exploring scenic landscapes. Their itineraries include visits to locations like the Cliffs of Moher, the Isle of Skye, and Loch Ness.
• Haggis Adventures : Haggis Adventures specializes in budget-friendly tours around Scotland and Ireland. They offer multi-day tours with experienced guides, covering highlights such as the Scottish Highlands, Loch Lomond, the Aran Islands, and Dublin.
• Paddywagon Tours : Paddywagon Tours provides a range of tours that cover both Ireland and Scotland. They offer guided tours with options to explore destinations like the Cliffs of Moher, the Scottish Highlands, the Isle of Skye, and Edinburgh. Their website has further details:

It’s recommended to visit the websites of these tour operators to check the availability, itineraries, pricing, and any additional information you may need to plan your trip from Ireland to Scotland.

If you don’t feel like planning your own great Ireland and Scotland itinerary you can download the printable one I’ve designed from here.   

This day-by-day itinerary for Scotland and Ireland can be done in any order. I’ve tried to lay it out in what to me is a logical order that begins in Dublin but you could do the reverse and head to Scotland first. Just make sure you book your flights correctly – so fly into Dublin fly out of Edinburgh for example.   

I haven’t included Northern Ireland in this itinerary just because you would need at least an extra week to be able to travel to all the fascinating sites in that part of Ireland and to make the most of your time in Ireland so this Itinerary concentrates on the Republic of Ireland. In order to see all that the country of Ireland has to offer it can be very difficult to squeeze it all in in a 2-week trip. 

Here are a few of my Irish itineraries

Planning a trip to Ireland? Everything you need to know

The Perfect Ireland Road Trip Itinerary

Ultimate Ireland itinerary 14 days

7 days Ireland Itinerary

Ireland Scotland Itinerary – Ireland road trip

Ireland will take a lifetime to explore but this part of the itinerary focuses on some of your potential bucket list places to see. These are some of the most iconic Irish attractions to see on your vacation.

For the first day of your Scotland and Ireland vacation, you will probably arrive in Dublin early in the morning. Take public transport or a taxi to your hotel and drop your luggage off until you can check in. Make sure you changed your watch time to Irish and then simply relax and explore Dublin as if you didn’t have jet lag. Book a hop on hop off bus tour ahead of time and bring your printed tickets with you.

On the hop on hop-off buses, you can simply relax and see the lay of the land and if you feel up to it jump off and visit the sites you want to. I like to take the full route and then on the second way around jump off at the specific sites I want to see. I find that this is a great way to see what sites are close enough to walk to.

Here are some stops you don’t want to miss in Dublin:

• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Molly Malone Statue
• Ha’penny bridge across the Liffey
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Trinity College Library
• St. Stephens Green
• Guinness Storehouse

Articles on exploring Dublin

Dublin off the Beaten Path

34 Great things to do in Dublin

20 Famous Pubs in Dublin for a pint, some craic and traditional Irish music

15 tips for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin

15 Dublin Don’ts – a little bit of Irish craic for you

Dublin Airport tips & tricks from a local

Grab your rental car and head up to Newgrange , Tara and Loughcrew you can spend the morning exploring these ancient Irish sites and then easily head to Glendalough National Park in the afternoon which is around an hour drive. I would book a hotel near Glendalough and you can find some recommendations here, and then the following day head out to visit the Powerscourt Estate in the morning and then onto Kilkenny for the afternoon.

In Kilkenny you can explore sites like Kilkenny Castl e, and the Medieval Mil e if you fancy visiting the Rock of Cashe l the drive from Kilkenny is around an hour long and highly recommended. If you can stand another couple of hours in the car head to Killarney and find your hotel here.

On your way to Killarney and the Ring of Kerry why not stop over and enjoy the English Market in Cork or perhaps visit Cobh for an hour or two?  You may be able to take a visit to Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone.

The next day you can explore Killarney and do the Ring of Kerry tour . This will probably wear you out and you can head back to your hotel for the night.

Onwards to see Bunratty Castle near Limerick and after that tour head up to the Cliffs of Moher . I would book a hotel in Doolin for the night and the following day you will have time to take a drive along the Wild Atlantic Way through Dunghaire up to Galway.

Book your hotel for Galway and spend a day or so exploring the area and making a visit to Galway City where you want to stay overnight and get to some of those traditional pubs for some authentic Irish music.

Head to Shannon airport where you can catch a flight to Edinburgh for around €25 euros one way. Make sure you have arranged to drop off your rental car at Shannon Airport before your flight. If you have time before your flight you could visit Adare It is renowned as one of Ireland’s prettiest villages and enjoy some great restaurants and relax for a few hours.

Ireland and Scotland Itinerary – Scotland road trip

Flying into Edinburgh again I would suggest taking a taxi or public transport to your hotel and getting checked in or leaving your luggage until check-in time and exploring the city on foot. I suggest 2 days in Edinburgh as there is just so much to see and then from there heading out to explore more of Scotland.

Edinburgh, the historic capital of Scotland , is home to historic sites, modern restaurants, pubs, and nature. Although Edinburgh is on many travellers’ radar, it isn’t filled with tourists like the major cities of Paris or London. A two-day visit to Edinburgh is perfect for travellers looking for a low-key, historic, culture-filled city. You also can’t go wrong finding amazing Harry Potter sites to visit when in Edinburgh.

The 12th century Edinburgh Castle has a long, crazy history. The castle holds the Crown Jewels of Scotland among other historic artefacts and the National War Museum of Scotland. 

Opposite Edinburgh Castle, you will find the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This palace was Mary Stuart’s and now is one of the Queen of England’s second homes which she stays at for a few days every year.

The Royal Mile is the beating heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. At the bottom, it begins at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and goes up to Edinburgh Castle. The Royal Mile is around 1.8 km long  Its name comes from its tradition as a processional route for kings and queens for the last 500 years.

Located on the Royal Mile, St Giles’ is a stunning Medieval gothic cathedral and is the oldest religious building in the city. It was built in the 12th century but had to be re-built in the 15th because of the terrible fire that destroyed much of Edinburgh in 1385.

Victoria Street & the Grass Market

Victoria Street in the Old Town has to be one of the most photographed locations in the city. Its gentle curve and colourful shopfronts make it a favourite spot for tourist photos, postcards and TV adverts. Grass Market Don’t forget to stop by the Grassmarket for a fabulous lunch or some great artisanal beer tasting.

Princes Street Gardens are two adjacent public parks in the centre of Edinburgh. If you need to take a break from visiting Edinburgh Castle you will find the gardens at the foot of the castle. The Gardens were created in the 1820s following the long draining of the Nor Loch and building of the New Town, beginning in the 1760s.    

If you enjoy hiking, you must go to Holyrood Park. A short bus ride from the city centre (or a longer walk) is a large park with walking trails. This isn’t extreme hiking like you would experience in Colorado, but it can get to be a steep walking path that is rocky. It is best to come prepared with comfortable clothing and good shoes.

Calton Hill is a hill situated beyond the east end of Princes Street and is included in the city’s UNESCO world Heritage Site . Views of, and from, the hill are iconic images of Edinburgh.

The Harry Potter Tour in Edinburgh is a magical 2-hour walking tour of Edinburgh where you can discover the city where the world of Harry Potter was conceived. Test your knowledge with an audio-visual quiz, find out about your Hogwarts House, and visit Tom Riddle’s grave.

Any of these tours can be done with Get Your Guide or you can rent a car and use the itinerary to plan your own tours of the Highlands and other sites you want to visit in Scotland.

1 day Loch Ness, Glencoe, Highlands & Ben Nevis Tour

Out of bed early and get your rental car so you can head up to the Highlands. Or you can take an organized tour by Get Your Guide which includes the luxury coach vehicle so you don’t have to drive. You will depart Edinburgh early and drive cross country where you will pass by Stirling Castle and hear the stories of William Wallace of Robert the Bruce.

Nestled at the foot of the Trossachs National Park your visit will include Loch Lomond and tales of Roby Roy MacGregor.

Follow in the footsteps of James Bond and Harry Potter as you travel through the jaw-dropping Valley of Glencoe. Learn about the Campbell and Clan MacDonald massacre.

On your way to Loch Ness, you will drive by the incredible Ben Nevis which is the United Kingdom’s highest mountain. Loch Ness In the Village of Fort Augustus with its cafes, shops and restaurants you could take a cruise on the Loch to see if you can spot Nessie.

Admire the impressive Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge with views of the Nevis Range. 

Enter the Cairngorms National Park and discover “Monarch of the Glen” country. Drive along Loch Laggan before the roads climb above the Grampian Mountains. Travel over the Pass of Drumochter, linking the northern and southern Central Highlands. Experience the majesty of a mountain pass created by glacial activity during successive Ice Ages. Finally, stop briefly in the beautiful Victorian town of Pitlochry before heading back to Edinburgh city centre, arriving at approximately 8:30 PM.

3-day tour of the Isle of Skye and Highlands

Discover the best of the Highlands and the Isle of Skye on this 3-day tour from Edinburgh. Visit Eilean Donan Castle, explore the Highlands and Culloden Battlefield, take a Loch Ness cruise, tour Urquhart Castle and enjoy a whisky tasting on Skye. This is another guided tour by Get Your Guide.

Tour the Scottish Highlands and explore the Isle of Skye on a 3-day guided tour from Edinburgh. You’ll see castles, craggy mountains, picturesque towns, and maybe even a monster on this excursion. Stay overnight in B&B accommodation.

On the way to Skye, your route takes you past beautiful Stirling Castle, across the brooding expanse of Rannoch Moor, and through Glen Coe. As you near the coast, you’ll see Eilean Donan Castle (optional tour available), which was featured in the film Highlander. Overnight stay in Inverness.

You’ll have the full day to explore the Isle of Skye. If you like, you can take it nice and easy but still see all the sights. Highlights include the craggy Cuillin Mountains, the dramatic hills of the Quiraing, and the stunning Trotternish Peninsula. You might see seals out in the waves as you walk along the coast, or a stag standing on a hillside. Return to Inverness for your overnight stay.

Drive along the banks of Loch Ness where you can take a boat tour to Urquhart Castle or do a bit of monster hunting from the shore. As you head back to Edinburgh, your route will take you through Inverness, the Cairngorms, and Pitlochry. At the Culloden battlefield, the site of the defeat of the Jacobites, there is the option of taking a tour. Continue on through the stunning Cairngorm Mountains and stop to explore the picturesque town of Pitlochry.

5-day tour of Iona, Mull, and Isle of Skye

Spend 5 spectacular days exploring the unruly beauty and fascinating history of the Scottish west coast, and visiting 4 of its beautiful islands with Get Your Guide . On your second day, take a ferry to explore the dramatic coastlines of the island of Mull, and then continue to the island of Iona to visit its ancient abbey and craggy cliff-side. Take advantage of the opportunity to take a small boat to Staffa to explore its beautiful basalt columns, and spend the majority of your third day exploring the famous Isle of Skye.

Your first day of the journey takes you north past Stirling Castle, and then west to Scotland’s first National Park near Loch Lomond. Travel through the mountains of the West Highlands, passing the magnificent white-washed town of Inveraray, and spend the afternoon in the heart of Argyll before arriving to the bustling town of Oban, the gateway to the islands, for your 2-night stay.

Begin early with a ferry ride across the Mull and spend the morning exploring the island’s dramatic coastlines and wild beauty, before taking the small ferry to Iona – the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and the ancient burial ground of Scottish Kings. Visit the historic abbey and its intricate carved crosses or explore the rocky headlands and sandy coves of this island gem.

There is also an opportunity to take a small boat out to the island of Staffa (except Saturday departures in September) and view the dramatic basalt columns immortalized by Mendelssohn in his Hebridean Overture “Fingal’s Cave”. You then return on the ferry to Oban for your second night.

Today takes you north along the west coast around Appin, passing the impregnable Castle Stalker and Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the MacDonald clan in 1692. You then pass through Fort William nestling in the shadow of Ben Nevis which at 1,344 meters is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The tour continues through the Great Glen, a natural fault in the earth’s crust that runs through Scotland and on through Ireland. From here you travel north to the picturesque fishing village of Plockton. You are then dropped off at your accommodation in the early evening.

A flexible Day with many possibilities (depending on the weather). Your driver/guide will use his/her local knowledge to decide on the best day out for the group, which could include travelling north to the stunning Quiraing mountain pass for a walk through some of Skye’s extraordinary geological scenery or a visit to the Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns and cascading waterfalls. After lunch, you may travel to Neist Point for a walkout to the lighthouse at the most westerly point on Skye, or you may pay a visit to Dunvegan Castle, the ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod, returning to your accommodation in Plockton in the late afternoon to enjoy a free evening in the village.

You will be collected from your accommodation and travel south through the Cuillin Hills, stopping to visit the famous stronghold Eilean Donan Castle, before travelling east to take in the stunning views over Loch Duich and the 5 Sisters of Kintail. Onto Loch Ness for lunch and the possibility of spotting “Nessie,” and then head south through the Grampian mountains and long Loch Laggan, passing Dalwhinnie, home to Scotland’s highest whisky distillery. Stop in at Perthshire for some refreshments before heading back to Edinburgh over the Forth Road Bridge, arriving at approximately 19:00.  

On the last day of your Scotland and Ireland vacation, travel back to Edinburgh and either fly home from there or fly back to Dublin to fly home. I hope this itinerary will help plan many trips to Ireland and Scotland. They are both such amazing destinations and I know you’ll love them

Whether you decide to drive to the Isle of Skye on your own or take this guided tour the choice is yours. Hopefully, this two-week Ireland and Scotland itinerary will help you plan your travels to these two fabulous locations.

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Faith was born in Ireland raised in Canada and has lived in over 10 countries in Europe including England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Northern Ireland, Wales, along with Mexico, Antigua, the US and has slow travelled to over 40 countries around the world. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Women's Studies Faith is a student of history, culture, community and food and has written about these topics for over 40 years.

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3 (More) Best Scenic UK Train Journeys Every Traveler Should Take

O ne of the most relaxing and stress-free ways to travel is by rail. Consider that the journey on a train can be as special as the destination, especially when traveling through the United Kingdom. Skip the stress of airports, TSA, and delays. Undoubtedly, sitting comfortably in a cushy chair is a simpler way to travel, forcing you to slow down. 

Imagine sipping your favorite hot tea gazing at the UK’s diverse and extraordinary topography. See the low-lying flat countryside that butts up to rolling hills and rugged, harsh, remote mountains. Travel from Britain to Scotland and witness the beautiful windswept seagrass, pastures, hills, castles, and quaint towns that glide by just outside your window. 

Travel by train across the rural countryside of Ireland from busy, modern, and trendy Dublin to the quaint Gaelic historic town of Galway. Escape the congestion of London for a simpler, slower pace of life in Edinburgh, Scotland. Explore this noble land while giving a nod to a truly romantic homage by rail travel. 

Our favorite scenic train routes offer beautiful unspoiled views along the way. Hop aboard these “no-stress-express” trains and see the UK all from the comfort of your seat.

1. London, Britain

The British Pullman train is by far the most luxurious and iconic train ride in Britain. Catch the Pullman and enjoy day trips from Victoria Station in London. This luxury rail line operates year-round in a variety of destinations. The Pullman is a restored 1920s-era train that has carried royalty and has been on the silver screen. Expect luxury, glamor, and adventure. Each rail car has an iconic history with a name to match. Feel like royalty as you start and end your day in style. 

Schedule a themed train ride — such as a murder mystery, special afternoon tea, or a festive Christmas-themed journey — while enjoying a fabulous meal. Enjoy a round-trip scenic ride through the Kentish countryside. Take the historic route to Chatsworth House and Highclere Castle of Downton Abbey fame, or select a day trip to the seaside town of Hastings. Enjoy a wonderful experience, all with a glass of champagne and a superb meal served by your steward while you depart from the congestion of downtown London and pass by rolling hills, towns, and villages. It’s a true smorgasbord of views!

2. Edinburgh, Scotland

Forget about flying from London to Scotland. Hop aboard a train and enjoy the picturesque views on the 4- to 5-hour rail ride to the most prestigious city in Scotland — Edinburgh. For train enthusiasts, there is nothing quite like a train ride between London and Edinburgh. Two trains operate daily and each offers a slightly different experience. 

The Avanti West Coast train is a bit slower at 5.5 hours vs. the faster LNER train , which shaves off an hour and can reach speeds of up to 125 miles per hour. Both trains leave Kings Cross station in London and arrive at Waverly , the central station in Edinburgh. The views from the large train windows are memorable. While your train races through the countryside, you pass the boroughs of London, witnessing historic castles, cathedrals, grassy hills, and loads of golf courses. 

You won’t forget the views as you enter Scotland with its green rolling hills speckled with grazing sheep! Scotland’s own author, Robert Louis Stevenson, once said, “The most beautiful adventures are not those we go to seek.”

3. Dublin, Galway Ireland

Travelers who are interested in discovering the scenic landscape of Ireland might find that a shorter trip on a train crossing the country from coast to coast is the best option. The journey on the Galway-Dublin train , about 3 hours, is one of the most picturesque routes in the country. 

The countryside of Ireland is so different as you cross from coast to coast. Ireland is called the “Emerald Isle” for a reason. The landscape is vast, green, crisp, and clean. To say the hills are rolling and bucolic doesn’t give justice to the true beauty of this place. Enjoy this cross-county train and see the topography of rolling hills with many gradations of green. Farms are separated by volcanic rock walls and sheep wander while they freely graze. Galway is a festive and lively waterfront village with the Cliffs of Moher nearby. Hop on this train, grab a Guiness, and see the best of Ireland — the countryside, cities, towns, and oceans. Dublin offers a vibrant city, culture, history, and great pubs. Whichever city you start or finish in, this train ride is worth it!

One of the most relaxing forms of travel is viewing the world through a carriage window. The UK has hundreds of beautiful railway lines offering a chance to see unspoiled, rugged, and scenic beauty. Whether you travel by train to skip the hustle and bustle of busy airports, or ease your travel stress by not driving in a foreign country, train travel in these beautiful UK cities can be the highlight of your journey. All aboard!

This article originally appeared on TravelAwaits