It’s raining in London and your plans for the day were a walking tour and a wander through the parks. We share how much it really rains, what to pack, 12 things to do when it’s wet and a one-day itinerary that keeps you almost entirely under cover.

• How much it really rains in London (about half what Sydney and New York get)
• The Met Office and BBC Weather apps, and why the hour-by-hour view matters
• Your three choices on a wet morning: carry on, swap your days or leave London
• What to save for a dry day, including the Tower of London and Kew Gardens
• What to pack: a hooded waterproof, shoes with grip and spare socks
• Free museums and galleries, and the tunnel from South Kensington Tube
• Churchill War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s and the London Transport Museum
• Covered markets, arcades and department stores
• Same-day theatre tickets, afternoon tea or a long pub lunch
• Seeing the sights from a red London bus or an Uber Boat
• Day trips by train when it’s drier outside London
• A one-day itinerary around Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden

Everything mentioned is linked in the show notes at uktravelplanning.com/episode-223, including our Ultimate London Travel Planner map.

If you have a question about your trip, leave us a message through SpeakPipe. We’d love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with anyone planning a trip to London.

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• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.
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A 1900s sweet shop, a tram ride through a pit village and a 1950s hair salon, all in one day. I’m joined by Samantha Shotton, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO of Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, in County Durham.

• The 1820s landscape: Pockerley, the waggonway and the new tavern
• The 1900s pit village and town: drift mine, school, sweet shop and dentist
• The 1940s farm and the 1950s town, cinema and hairdresser’s
• Talking to the costumed staff and volunteers
• Why Beamish is one to visit if your family came from the North East
• What to eat: the sweet shop, the bakery and coal-fired fish and chips
• Getting there by train, bus or car, with 25% off if you arrive by bus
• Getting around on the historic trams, buses and steam trains
• Planning a full day, and why Samantha says start at Pockerley
• The pay once, visit for a year ticket, plus Halloween and Christmas evenings
• Where to stay and what else to see nearby
• Accessibility: mobility scooters, the accessible bus and quiet spaces

If Samantha has you adding Beamish to your itinerary, everything mentioned is in the show notes at uktravelplanning.com/episode-222, including the accessibility guide, how to get there by train and bus, and places to stay nearby.

If you have a question about your own UK trip, leave me a voice message through SpeakPipe. I’d love to hear from you.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with anyone planning a trip to the UK.

Planning your UK or Ireland trip?

Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning it all yourself. With departures including Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary.

See their tours and current offers: Rabbies. com. Use code UKTP10 for 10% off.

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🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.
• Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.
• 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.

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The Lake District looks compact on a map, but valleys, passes and narrow lanes turn "nearby" into a proper journey. Briony Wilson from Mountain Goat Tours in Windermere, a Lakes local of more than 20 years, shares how to get there by train, whether you need a car, how many nights to plan and where to base yourself.

• Where the Lakes sit: 90 minutes from Manchester, three hours from London by train
• Why the scale catches first-time visitors out
• Arriving by train via Oxenholme to Windermere
• Getting around by bus, cruise and tours
• Parking, narrow lanes and steep passes: when a car is more hassle than help
• Mountain Goat tours for first-timers: Ten Lakes, Six Lakes and Beatrix Potter
• How many nights to plan: two minimum, three or four if you can
• Choosing a base: Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside, Keswick or Kendal
• On the water: Windermere, Ullswater, Derwentwater, Buttermere and Coniston
• Literary stops: Dove Cottage, Hill Top and Swallows and Amazons country
• Gentle walks: Orrest Head, Tarn Hows, Aira Force and Miles Without Stiles
• Quickfire picks: sticky toffee pudding, Blea Tarn and Kendal Mint Cake

Mountain Goat Tours discount: use code UKTRAV10 for 10% off.

If you have a question for Briony, leave us a SpeakPipe message, and we'll pass it on.

Share this episode with anyone planning a Lake District break, and leave a review to help other travellers find the show.

⭐️ Guest - Briony Wilson from Mountain Goat Tours
📝 Show Notes - Episode 221

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🗺 FREE UK Trip Planning Roadmap - plan your UK trip step by step

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• UK Trip Quick Answers - a 30-minute live Zoom for your UK trip questions.
• Video Reviews (available anytime) - send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.
• 🚆 Travelling by train? - Get expert help from Doug, our resident rail expert with 25+ years on the UK network.

🎤 Leave us a voice message

➡️ Sponsor our show
➡️ Leave us a tip

Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...