Visiting the UK...my 2p worth
Driving
1. Remember we drive on the correct side of the road.:wink: I have driven in USA and all over Europe and have been known to pull onto the wrong side of the road when leaving the hotel first thing in the mornings. Scary!!
2. Our fuel price for petrol is around £1.20 / litre. Filling up on a motorway will cost more.
3. Get a hire car with a separate Satnav if you can. They have far more 'touristy' info.
4. We rarely have posted speed limits. Your Satnav will show the speed limit of the road you are on. Watch out for 'Average Speed Cameras' through roadworsk. Your car hire company will hammer your credit card if you get caught. DAHIKT:frown:
5. I would set your Satnav to 'Avoid Motorways' if you really want to see the best of UK.
Phone/ Communication
1. You can indeed get a Sim only at many places, mostly supermarkets. But if you have a Smartphone then look into Facetime or Whatsapp. My daughter is in China at the moment and calls would be prohibitively expensive. Maybe even buy a dirt cheap throw away Pay as You Go phone from a supermarket….Asda, Tesco,..etc. Most hotels, MacDonalds, Costa Coffee shops have free wi-fi. Not good enough for streaming movies but fine for internet calls.
Places to visit.
1. Buy a cooler bag and make up daily picnic stuff.
2. Make a list of your own 'must see' places and see where they are on a map. Then Google those places to see what events may be on those days. You may be planning to be in say Ludlow on Saturday, only to find they had a wonderful Jousting display at the Castle on Sunday. Or maybe if in Scotland, you miss a Highland Games by a day. County Shows, big Car Boots and Market Days are all good to see.
3. Check out the AA Route Planner on the web. It will give you realistic times between places, so you can plan a bit before you come. Your Satnav here will also take traffic into account.
4. England Personally, I'd avoid Manchester city. Chester is well worth a visit. A Roman Walled City. Lots to do and see. From museums, galleries, cathedrals, markets, walk the wall, a trip on the Dee. (15miles from my place). Maybe do the open top bus thing, then walk around.
5. England Not far away, drive towards Ellesmere Port and get the famous 'Ferry Across the Mersey' and visit the Liverpool Waterfront. Pretty good.
6. England Welsh Borders. Ludlow and Church Stretton, are beautiful. Go on Farmers Market day and get some cool grub for a picnic in the immaculate grounds of the Ludlow Castle.
7. Telford has the first iron bridge I think.
8. There's an amazing old aqueduct nearby where you can take a trip over in a longboat. I'll remember the name soon
9. North Wales. Take the mini Steam Train up Snowdon Mountain and if you are reasonably fit, walk back down. Wave to the Rat as you go past my place!!
10. Mid Wales. Betwys Coed is pretty. Scenic and touristy
11. West Coast Wales. Port Merrion near Port Madoc, is a bonkers folly. But worth a visit.
12. England. Oxford old city is OK… Abingdon / Culham is OK….ish. I work at the UKAEA site a lot and I'm not sure it would rock your boat. I'm sure their Visitors Centre is very interesting but I can assure you won't see any of the fancy Fusion / Fission machines as they are having major alterations.
13. However, Google Oxfordshire Villages. There are several stunningly beautiful places in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.
Stratford Upon Avon is fantastic. Take a romantic row-boat ride.
14. Scotland. I love Scotland. You need a couple of days at least to see Scotland. If you can't manage to get into the Highlands then at least see Edinburgh, go over the Forth Bridge just for fun( they are currently building a new one next to it) maybe stop at the Kelpies and take a short trip on the Falkirk Wheel.
15. Scottish Borders. Really beautiful areas and great scenic route to Edinburgh.
16. London??? If you must visit London then there is plenty to see and do. You can do the Google thing. I can't recommend it.
No doubt I'll remember more the instant I post this…so perhaps more to come.
PS…I travel a lot for work but if you are in my area, then feel free to give me a shout.
Enjoy the trip:biggrin: