Vacation in Britain

[Jock Scot]

Isn't that just the excuse you need to go to Scotland instead?

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

My thoughts exactly.

[PEEDYC]

Just a note about travel in the UK. From London to Edinburgh by train takes between 4.5 to 5 hours so the best part of a day is taken by travel each way. Even if you fly check in times and travel to and from airports can take just as long. Driving that distance is just not worth it ..... I would concentrate on one country and see what you can in the time you have available.

Being Scottish by birth and having travelled a lot around I would opt for Scotland as it is much smaller and a lot more can be seen within your timescale. The only drawback is the midgies when you get into the countryside in July.

What ever you chose I hope you will enjoy the trip.

[Lime]

I would be inclined to suggest a few days in York and a few days in Edinburgh.

Both are big enough to offer plenty to do, small enough to be able to enjoy adequately in a few days and cosmopolitan enough to wear the kilt!

Both Edinburgh and Scotland have plenty of Tudor connections and places of interest for your wife to see (Holyrood House in Edinburgh which was the home of Mary Queen of Scots and was used, briefly, by the Bonnie Prince as a headquarters during the 45; York is inexorability linked with Tudor history so plenty to see as well - just do the walking tour and pick anywhere that takes your fancy).

There is a plethora of great places to eat and drink in both. Moreover Edinburgh is home of one of the 6 classic malts of Scotland (Glenkinchie) and there is a tour culminating in a tasting.

As a final sweetener: there is plenty of Kilt related paraphernalia in Edinburgh. Geoffrey Tailor, 21st Century Kilts, Kinoch Anderson (in nearby Leith) and the charity shops on the Royal Mile always have a decent selection of second hand kilts. Also Armstrongs (both branches in Edinburgh) are worth a visit as they have a load of vintage kilts, jackets, sporrans etc.

(If you do end up going to London you could nip to Hornets in Kensington who generally have a few good quality vintage kilts).

Both cities are also a bit cheaper than London for accommodation, eating out etc and there is no need to hire a car as the train journey between them is relatively short and pleasant.