5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Plan Your UK Trip

Planning a trip to the United Kingdom (UK) probably seems pretty easy. Language is almost never a problem, visa requirements are not particularly burdensome for tourists from North and South America, Australasia, or Europe, and there are a good variety of ways to get around and around.

And, you know, it's probably that easy. You could stop by London and take day trips in the immediate areas and then spend a day or two adventuring a bit more: to Oxford, the Cotswolds or Stratford-upon-Avon and voila, that fantastic holiday for you!

But whether you're buying your holiday basics online for yourself or using a travel agent to book a tour, a little advance planning can open your eyes to corners of the UK you've never heard of - and a lot. the less he thought about visiting.

It's about asking the right questions. Considering who you really are (from a travel standpoint, at least) and what you really enjoy seeing and doing, you can turn a good trip into a great one.

But where do you start? The following 5 questions should help you keep your vacation planning in focus

1. Who goes

Unlike some holiday destinations that are more suitable for couples than families, or for people older than young, the UK has something for everyone. It's just a matter of choosing wisely for your party. Time to focus on your travel profile.

You're:

A couple planning a romantic getaway? Think of romantic things to do and see the best places to kiss in Britain, or some really cool places to ask the question.
A family traveling with children? Young and old alike will enjoy all the treasures of the Harry Potter Trail, fun at Legoland Windsor, farm holidays, family biking and camping.

The UK has one of the best (and first) safari parks in the world. And there's even a rich family line-up at the world-famous Edinburgh Festival.

A large group? Plan a trip for a sports team, a hiking party, a cycling group, a clan gathering, a school trip visiting hostels, or the newest and most glamorous poshtels.

Or consider great vacation rentals; There are some extremely luxurious houses, suitable for a large family gathering, that are good value for money per person.

Adventure-seeking outdoor enthusiasts? The UK's many national parks offer some of the best free walking and cliff climbing in the world.

Go fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast and watch the waves on Cornish beaches.

Some of the most remote parks in the UK, in England, Scotland and Wales, are now registered as world-class Dark Sky Reserves, where you can gaze at the stars in peace.

And for an adrenaline rush, check out the fastest zip line in the Northern Hemisphere in Wales.

Millennials and partiers? The UK has some of the best rock and pop festivals in the world and almost every UK city worth its salt has great clubs and venues for live music and hot DJs.
Mature and looking for a quiet environment? Experience one of the UK's adorable farm hotels, where accommodation ranges from traditional to trendy boutique, where spa retreats and swimming pools are common, and where food is almost always excellent.
Pet owner? Find out more about the UK Pet Travel Program, which makes it easier than ever to take your family pet on your travels.

Being clear about exactly who is going to the UK - your party members, you, or your travel agent - reduces the myriad of options and makes planning your UK trip that much easier.

We hope you enjoy watching this video about Plan Your First Trip to England

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Source: Danny Brown

2. How much can you spend?

How much do holidays cost in the UK? There is no upper and lower limit depending on the season, the last-minute deals you can find, where you start from, etc. Consider these prices as rough guidelines.

Getting there

The round-trip fare for two people flying to London from a departure point on the US East Coast ranges from $ 1,200 to $ 4,000, depending on the time of year.

How to save: Some tour packages (including car and hotel) can cost less than booking a flight alone.

Most of the major transatlantic airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic, offer affordable packages.

Before you book a hotel, flight, and car separately, spend some time looking for inexpensive packages.
moving

Renting the smallest car with a manual transmission will cost between $ 350 and $ 500 for a few weeks.

Add to that the cost of gasoline and you'll find that renting a car, in a country with great trains and public transportation, may not be a good idea.

You can save by using other ways of getting around. Take the London Underground, experience Britain's rail services, and take the train.

For total freedom, buy a BritRail pass. Even cheaper: take a bus.

Accommodations

The average price for a hotel night in the UK in 2020 was just under £ 100, but the average price for acceptable hotel accommodation in most major cities was still above £ 100, with London and Edinburgh at around £ 100.

From £ 200. Some of these ideas on how to save on hosting.

And if London is your goal, take a look at some cheaper places to stay outside of the capital.

Food and drink

Expect to pay a minimum of £ 25 to £ 30 per person per day.

If you're really on a tight budget, here are some ways to save on food and beverages.

Admissions

£ 10 to £ 25 + per adult, per attraction. You can save a lot by purchasing a UK discount pass.

Some of them are only available to foreign visitors and are excellent value for money.

3. How Much Time Do You Have in the UK?

Trying to fit too much into your UK holiday is sure to leave you feeling rushed and dissatisfied.

But you probably don't cross oceans very often, so you want to make the most of your time. Consider these planning approaches.

The short break

If you are a week old or less, you can:

Plan a vacation in two centers: You can visit two cities that you find interesting (London and Edinburgh or London and Glasgow are popular combinations) or plan a short city break with an adventure on the beach or in a national park.
Use a city as a hub: If you are in one of the UK's major urban centers, you can explore it and take a day or two-day trip to nearby towns or picturesque regions.

Most UK cities have good bus and train connections to neighboring regions.

If you make your central city or local holiday resorts have good connections to the international airport, good rail hubs, and good road connections to venture further afield, you will have more stress-free time to spend your holidays.

These places are all well connected:

London
Birmingham
Bristol board
Glasgow
Edinburgh
Manchester (useful also for Liverpool)

Longest vacation

If you have two weeks or more... You should have plenty of time to visit one of the major cities in the UK and do some tours as well. You can:

Try using various cities in different parts of the UK as a base to explore further.

Combine London with York and Edinburgh, for example, Cardiff with Birmingham and Manchester or Glasgow.

There are numerous opportunities to explore historic sites, family attractions, castles, and stately homes in an easy journey by train or car from most UK cities.

Spend a few days in a city and then explore a region in depth.

Some adventure hunters who hike the Lake District, for example, go well with the UK indie music city of Manchester. Edinburgh or Glasgow go well with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

London is a good partner for some time to explore Suffolk: he dreams of England and East Anglia.

Walk long distances, cycle, or mountain bike along with one of the UK's national trails, such as The South Downs Way or 7stanes Trails.

4. When Do You Want to Travel?

The UK has practically a two-season climate. Spring and fall are brief, with signs of summer and winter.

Which of the two main reasons you choose will influence the price you pay and what you can do.

Visiting the UK in summer

Summer is the peak season. Prices for accommodation, flights, and local excursions are the most expensive.

If you come in summer, essentially from May to mid-September, this is what this premium price will bring you:

Very long days, so more time for sightseeing and outdoor activities. By mid-August, there will be enough light to stay outside until after 10 p.m. in some parts of the country
English gardens at their best and open for longer hours
Edinburgh festivals
Glastonbury and many other music festivals

Visiting the UK in winter

Prices are lowest from mid-October to the end of March, but the days are also the shortest.

In the dead of winter, the lights can stay on all day in bad weather. Sunset before 5 pm is typical for December and January.

If you enjoy indoor activities, shopping, museums, theaters, dining out, and nightlife, you can save a lot and have a lot of fun in the UK in winter.

Here are some of the things you can expect:

European-style Christmas markets across the country
The best and newest theater in all the big cities.
Bargain rates or bargain breaks at hotels and other accommodations.
Wonderful Christmas choir concerts in historic UK cathedrals.
Fire festivals in England and Scotland.
Hogmanay, Beer Festivals, and Up Helly are like a Viking festivals everywhere.

5. Where Do You Want to Go?

People sometimes forget that there is much more to the UK than there is in England. After all, this is the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

And each nation in the UK has its own distinct personality.

England

Probably the most diverse of the United Kingdom's nations, England offers urban lifestyles, country living, deserted beaches, rugged coastlines, national parks, historic walks, markets, shopping, lakes, walks, horseback riding, cycling, and sort of a Miniature Kingdom.

Scotland

Scotland is the emptiest nation in the United Kingdom, with large and beautiful stretches of highlands, spectacular lakes, rolling borders, and mountainous swamps. It also has two of the UK's most exciting cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and some of its wildest Christmas celebrations.

Wales

Wales is more rural than most of the UK. It has beautiful fairytale valleys and wonderful hiking areas.

In Snowdonia, it has the UK's highest mountain outside of Scotland, as well as several glittering waterfalls and cascades.

In 2017, the view from the top of Snowdonia was voted the best view in Britain in a survey of 3,500 visitors.

And if you like castles, this is the place to be. Wales also has beautiful beaches and miles of protected coastline, a heritage site.

If you take a tour and visit local pubs, you are likely to hear Welsh as a first language in some parts of North Wales.

North Ireland

Belfast is experiencing a cultural renaissance and visitors are finally discovering Northern Ireland. Ulster, as it is also known, has beautiful scenery, spectacular coastal features like the Giant's Causeway, and some of the oldest historic landmarks in the UK.

It maintained an open border with Eire (Republic of Ireland), but following the official withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU (Brexit), this open-border policy may change.

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