Expert: David Stewart White - 8/9/2004

Question
Dear David
we are just beginning to explore our adventure to the UK. I gather your book would be a good start but do you have any other hints on where we could begin. We plan to stay for three months in 2005. The budget will be tight (isn't everybody's?)so accommodation is a big issue The family consists of two aging oldies and three "we know everything"aged 6, 10 and 12. We are thinking about doing most of our travel by rail and basing ourselves for a week at a time in various places. Any help is appreciated
regards
Ian Jones  

Answer
Hi Ian,

Yes, my book would be helpful (along with my website-- www.KidsToLondon.com) especially for the London portion of your trip, as well as travels near the city.

In that light, you will have a challenge finding reasonably priced, good quality, and centrally located accomodations for 5 in London.  If you plan to stay a week in the city, renting an apartment--"letting a flat"--may be a good answer.  London does have budget hotel chains, but most would require you to take two rooms for a family group of 5, and that would increase your cost.  Feel free to email me (mail@kidstolondon.com) for more specifics on this topic once you have an idea of how long you might stay in London.  Keep in mind that you can do day trips by train from London to places like Bath, Salisbury (Stonehenge via connecting bus), Windsor, etc.

Traveling by train can have some impact on where you can plan to visit in the UK. For example, you can easily take the train to the city of York--which I highly recommend--but you can't really tour the Yorkshire Dales without a car.  Same thing for Scotland--you can reach Edinburgh easily, but touring the Highlands would be problematical.  

That said, have you considered renting a car (or a minivan for your group)?  That would make seeing the countryside much easier.  At any rate, I would not rent a vehicle for use in or near London--the congestion makes driving difficult at times.

Your idea to base yourself for a week at a time in various places is very sound.  Many folks travel day-by-day from one spot to another...this can get very tiring, especially so for kids.  

Some areas that I would put on my list of possiblities:

--The walled medieval city of York and the Yorkshire Dales.  Your kids will enjoy parts of York--like the Viking museum.  If they know the James Herriot stories ("All Creatures Great and Small") or the "Wallace and Grommet" Claymation characters, they already know a bit about this area.  It is rural, beautiful, with a fair number of castles and lots of market towns, great hiking, etc.

--The Lake District.  Again an area of beautiful landscapes, with lakes (duh!), hiking, mountains, historic sights and literary connections (Beatrix Potter, Wordsworth, etc).  If your family enjoys outdoor activities, consider visiting here.

--Scotland.  Edinburgh is worth a visit, but I prefer the countryside of Scotland. The Highlands is most popular, but the southern Borders area is also worthwhile (lots of castles, ruined abbeys, etc).  

--The southwest (Devon, Cornwall).  Lots of seaside to explore here, gardens, castles, etc.  During the summer, like the Lake District, this is a popular vacation spot.

Accomodation in rural areas is certainly less expensive than in London.  B&Bs are popular, although you will need to research these to see how suitable a particular b&b is for a family group. The British Automobile Association--AA--has written guides that may be helpful and there are a number of internet sites that list b&bs too.  Do as much cross-checking as you can before selecting a property.  Renting a vacation cottage is also a possiblity, if you plan to stay a week in one area.

I hope this information is helpful as you make your plans. Again, feel free to email me as you develop more specific questions.

David White
mail@KidsToLondon.com
www.KidsToLondon.com