Planning Europe in September! Help!!!

[Bisquitlips]

Well, the Yanks are coming.............!

We land in London on Saturday September 5th and depart from Edinburgh on Friday September 18th. What happens in between is almost completely undecided.

I have booked the 16th and 17th in Edinburgh at the Old Waverly Hotel ( http://www.oldwaverley.co.uk/ ) on Princes street just across from the Castle and on Thursday the 17th we have dinner reservations at The Witchery! http://www.thewitchery.com/intro.html

I am leaning toward spending at least 2-4 days in London finishing up what we started 3 years ago (sightseeing that we had to rush through) and then I can't decide whether we should take some day trips to Bath, York, and ?? or take a quick flight to Paris for $30.00 and spend 3 or 4 days there.

We are totally open to suggestions.

One of the things that really appeals to me are the canal cruises in and around London and the countryside, but for the life of me I can't find what I am looking for. These seem to be very laid back and charming. I would love to find one that leaves from London and goes through Bath and York, but I am not sure that is possible. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Anyway, chime in all ye world travelers! We are excited and looking forward to a few weeks in beautiful Europe

[KKB]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Well, the Yanks are coming.............!

We land in London on Saturday September 5th and depart from Edinburgh on Friday September 18th. What happens in between is almost completely undecided.

I have booked the 16th and 17th in Edinburgh at the Old Waverly Hotel ( http://www.oldwaverley.co.uk/ ) on Princes street just across from the Castle and on Thursday the 17th we have dinner reservations at The Witchery! http://www.thewitchery.com/intro.html

I am leaning toward spending at least 2-4 days in London finishing up what we started 3 years ago (sightseeing that we had to rush through) and then I can't decide whether we should take some day trips to Bath, York, and ?? or take a quick flight to Paris for $30.00 and spend 3 or 4 days there.

We are totally open to suggestions.

One of the things that really appeals to me are the canal cruises in and around London and the countryside, but for the life of me I can't find what I am looking for. These seem to be very laid back and charming. I would love to find one that leaves from London and goes through Bath and York, but I am not sure that is possible. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Anyway, chime in all ye world travelers! We are excited and looking forward to a few weeks in beautiful Europe

Are you on some kind of a tour, or are you just wingin' it? We were thinking of going to England this Fall also.

[The GMT Master]

If you love the countryside, you should visit Derbyshire and the Peak District - great history, lovely places to wander round in, and some breathtaking scenery.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Well, the Yanks are coming.............!

We land in London on Saturday September 5th and depart from Edinburgh on Friday September 18th. What happens in between is almost completely undecided.

I have booked the 16th and 17th in Edinburgh at the Old Waverly Hotel ( http://www.oldwaverley.co.uk/ ) on Princes street just across from the Castle and on Thursday the 17th we have dinner reservations at The Witchery! http://www.thewitchery.com/intro.html

I am leaning toward spending at least 2-4 days in London finishing up what we started 3 years ago (sightseeing that we had to rush through) and then I can't decide whether we should take some day trips to Bath, York, and ?? or take a quick flight to Paris for $30.00 and spend 3 or 4 days there.

We are totally open to suggestions.

One of the things that really appeals to me are the canal cruises in and around London and the countryside, but for the life of me I can't find what I am looking for. These seem to be very laid back and charming. I would love to find one that leaves from London and goes through Bath and York, but I am not sure that is possible. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Anyway, chime in all ye world travelers! We are excited and looking forward to a few weeks in beautiful Europe

Stayed in Edinburgh recently and dined at the Witchery which was traditional food, good but expensive. Heard good things about this one which I have not eaten in http://www.thekitchin.com/kitchin/home. Also ate in this one which was very good and our group rated better than the Witchery http://www.townhousecompany.com/thebonham/restaurant/
If you go to Paris from London get the train, Eurostar http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/index.jsp.
Bath and York are good destinations.

[Rockrolex]

Where are you staying in London, Richard?

Are you planning on doing any theater? If you are going to do a West End theater, I highly recommend J. Sheekey for a post theater dinner. Excellent fish and seafood and great people watching.

PM me if you would like some restaurant suggestions in London.

[onkyo]

I haven't been to Europe in 20 years so I can't recommend anything.....

But I do wish you a great and safe trip!

[SilverTrain]

Hi

I live in SW London and often show foreign relatives around the UK.

Bath is a must-see I think, also Oxford, which is about an hour from London.

I often take visitors to the south coast, usually Dorset, which has great villages and fantastic coast line and beaches. Bournemouth is good all year-round.

I would personally take the Eurostar train to paris rather than fly: it costs more but (a) you get to travel under the sea (which is rare..) and (b) you leave from the a city centre and arrive in a city centre, without having to go 10 miles out of town to an airport and hang around for 2 hours before check-in. It takes 1 hour 50 mins and goes about 130 mph, which is quite fun, especially when standing up!

all the best,

[shandy]

Well, having spent a large part of my life in Scotland I would say spend some time exploring up there, this time of year the remote west coast above Ullapool is stunning as is the isle of Lewis, an incredible place, very barren with beautiful beaches and a great place just to breath and do little else!

If you have never done it before I would recommend driving from Edinburgh to Stirling (worth exploring for half a day) the on to Balloch at the southern end of Loch Lomond and then up the A82 on to Glencoe, as far as I am concerned one of the most beautiful drives in the world. I would break that part of the trip in two, spending a night somewhere near loch lomond, the Drovers inn at the north end of Loch Lomond would be a great and atmospheric place for that, am amazing place to stay oodles of atmosphere!
http://www.thedroversinn.co.uk/

September is my favorite month in Scotland, the Midges are dying off and the colours, especially the further north you go are starting to change. I really can't reccommend more highly the remote west coast though, it is another world up there!

Here is a great site that I reccommend to anyone who wants to visit Scotland,
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/
Just click on the map and it will take you to the areas!

This was taken near Fanagmore on the northwest coast.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

Where are you staying in London, Richard?

Are you planning on doing any theater? If you are going to do a West End theater, I highly recommend J. Sheekey for a post theater dinner. Excellent fish and seafood and great people watching.

PM me if you would like some restaurant suggestions in London.

No plans for London accommodations as of yet. No theater plans either as we are more interested in touring the city.

Leah wants to eat a LOT of Indian cuisine. Other than that we are completely open.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by onkyo

I haven't been to Europe in 20 years so I can't recommend anything.....

But I do wish you a great and safe trip!

Thanks!!!

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

No plans for London accommodations as of yet. No theater plans either as we are more interested in touring the city.

Leah wants to eat a LOT of Indian cuisine. Other than that we are completely open.

For Indian, I have two recommendations:

Chor Bizarre
16 Albermarle St
London W1X 3HA
Tel: 44-020-7629-9802

Red Fort
77 Dean Street
London W1D 3SH
Tel: 44-020-7437-2525

Both excellent. Chor Bizarre is at the east end of Mayfair; Red Fort is in the middle of Soho. I recommend you make reservations before going.

[ratae1950]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

If you love the countryside, you should visit Derbyshire and the Peak District - great history, lovely places to wander round in, and some breathtaking scenery.

And the beautiful gardens at Chatsworth House!

[Xenophon]

Edinburgh's not a bad choice but the weather could be dreadful at that time of the year. By the way their are some great curry houses in Edinburgh. The Witchery isn't bad. I have bad memories of the place though. I took fiancee number 2 there and she was in an atrocious mood all night because "I looked at her in a funny way". If you're in London and fancy a day trip I recommend my city of Winchester http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/ . It's an hour from Waterloo by train and is the ancient capital of England.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by ratae1950

And the beautiful gardens at Chatsworth House!

Indeed, that's a must see for anyone in the area!

[Bisquitlips]

Thank you everyone for the great recommendations!!!

These really help us!

[33JS]

I'll come up with some stuff about Edinburgh for you later, but in the meantime I suggest you compare your anticipated travelling wardrobe with the guy below. Any similarity at all, or the addition of a big camera hung round the neck or red-check shirts will immediately mark you as an American tourist...and worthy of 'special' attention.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by 33JS

I'll come up with some stuff about Edinburgh for you later, but in the meantime I suggest you compare your anticipated travelling wardrobe with the guy below. Any similarity at all, or the addition of a big camera hung round the neck or red-check shirts will immediately mark you as an American tourist...and worthy of 'special' attention.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by 33JS

I'll come up with some stuff about Edinburgh for you later, but in the meantime I suggest you compare your anticipated travelling wardrobe with the guy below. Any similarity at all, or the addition of a big camera hung round the neck or red-check shirts will immediately mark you as an American tourist...and worthy of 'special' attention.

Sheesh!!!!

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by KKB

Are you on some kind of a tour, or are you just wingin' it? We were thinking of going to England this Fall also.

Winging it as usual!

[1MAC]

Hey Bisquitlips!

Long time, no see! We went to London in May and had a great time. I'd highly recommend spending some time in Bath - it's a beautiful place. I really enjoyed a short stop at Stonehenge. Don't listen to those people who say it's just a bunch of rocks.
We stayed at the Copthorne Tara hotel in Kensington, it was very comfortable without being too expensive. Very close to bus and underground stations. Hope you all have fun.
Mike