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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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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⭐️ 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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• 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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Many people give York a day and leave wishing they had stayed longer. York local Sinead from York Travel Expert joins Tracy in the next episode of our Before You Visit series, covering what to know before a first trip: how to get there, where to stay, what to book, and when not to go.

• Where York is: two hours from London King's Cross by direct train, roughly halfway to Edinburgh
• Why you do not need a car: cobbles, snickelways and a walled centre you can cross in 15 minutes
• Park and ride at £4 return against £15 to £20 a day to park in the city
• Accessibility: the one step-free way onto the walls, Jorvik's one wheelchair at a time rule, wheelchair hire and accessible toilets
• How long to stay: 2 to 3 days for the city, 6 or 7 to add the Dales, the Moors and the coast
• Inside or outside the walls: character and Minster bells against lifts and parking
• York Minster: what the £20 ticket includes, the free guided tours, the £6 tower climb and the best stretch of wall for views
• One day in York: the Minster first, the Shambles early or late, and which museum to choose
• What most visitors miss: Treasurer's House, Holy Trinity on Goodramgate and the riverside walk
• Day trips: Castle Howard, Whitby, Harrogate, Knaresborough and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• When not to book: race days, Residents Weekend in late January and Christmas market crowds
• The one thing to book before you go: afternoon tea with a Minster view

Listener discounts
Mountain Goat (small group tours from York and the Lake District): code UKTRAV10 for 10% off
York Travel Expert (Sinead's guide to York)

Full show notes: https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-219/

Planning a trip to York and still have a question? Leave Tracy a voice message on SpeakPipe, and she will pass it on to Sinead. Know someone adding York to their UK itinerary? Send this episode their way, and a review helps other travellers find the show.

We also write a free weekly newsletter, The Great British Trip, every Saturday morning: https://thegreatbritishtrip.substack.com/

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.

Support the show

🗺 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 ...

The West Highland Line is the kind of train journey you plan a whole trip around. Tracy and Doug take you from Glasgow Queen Street into the Scottish Highlands and explain how the route works in real life: where it splits at Crianlarich, whether to choose Oban, Fort William or the full run to Mallaig, which side of the train to sit on, and how the Caledonian Sleeper, ScotRail services and the Jacobite steam train fit into a plan.

• Where the West Highland Line starts and ends, and why it has two very different ends
• How the train divides at Crianlarich, and why you will not end up in the wrong portion
• Glasgow to Loch Lomond: when the commuter belt gives way to the Highlands
• Crianlarich to Fort William highlights: Rannoch Moor, Corrour and the approach to Ben Nevis
• Fort William to Mallaig: the Glenfinnan Viaduct, lochs, white beaches and island views
• Mallaig or Oban: overnight stay, quick turnaround, or gateway to Skye, Mull and Iona
• Which side of the train to sit on, and why it is not worth stressing over
• Caledonian Sleeper Highlander: sleeper up, daytime back
• Jacobite steam train versus the regular ScotRail service on the same route
• Tickets, Railcards and the BritRail Pass, and why a return is good value
• Seat reservations, Wi-Fi, catering and luggage: what to expect on board
• Doing the full route in a day, and why daylight hours matter
• Accessibility: step-free stations and Passenger Assist

If you have a question about train travel in the UK, leave us a message via SpeakPipe or drop us an email.

Doug runs train travel Q&A sessions and can also help you plan your rail itinerary.

If this episode helps you plan your own West Highland Line adventure, share it with anyone planning a trip to Scotland and leave us a review.

Show notes - Episode 218

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.

Support the show

🗺 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 ...

Want a UK autumn trip that feels more atmospheric and less frantic? In part two of our autumn special we travel from the far north of Scotland to London to find out why autumn might be the most rewarding time to explore, from dark skies and quieter roads to cosy streets and early festive sparkle.

Sally-Ann from North Coast Explorer Tours and Charley and Becki from WalksDevour Tours share practical planning tips, the best places to look for seasonal magic, and how to make the most of shorter days without feeling rushed.

• The far north of Scotland's autumn mood: quieter roads and better value hotel prices as the season shifts
• Realistic Northern Lights chances, where to look, and why the dark skies are worth the trip anyway
• Autumn colour without forests: heather, layered landscapes and morning mists over the lochs
• Where to see the deer rut, and safe driving advice at dusk and in low light
• How to plan your days around shorter daylight hours in October and November
• London's post summer rhythm, cosy streets, and why the parks are underrated for autumn colour
• Theatre, museums, galleries and tours that suit cooler weather and lighter crowds
• Autumn evenings done well: canal walks, gas lamps, bookshops and fireside pubs
• When London's Christmas lights and markets switch on, and why late November can beat December

If autumn is in your plans, we'd love to hear where you're heading, so send us a message via SpeakPipe (link below), and if you've enjoyed this two-part special please share it with someone planning their own UK trip.

A quick review on your favourite podcast app helps other travellers find us too.

Show notes - Episode 217

Support the show

🗺 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 ...