Speaking of BritRail passes, have a look here. Pick the pass that most resembles the trip you’d like to take. You can only purchase these passes prior to your trip overseas. You can purchase online or through a travel agent.
Tip: Make sure the pass is worth the cost! Tally up how much the total trip would cost
you if you paid for straight tickets.
Tip: The Rail sites (like this one) will
discount tickets at three weeks prior to departure. You may be able to get a vast discount if you
can wait for it.
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| Our Sample Itinerary |
London
Of course, almost all trips to the UK begin at
Heathrow. I find that staying in London
at least one night prior to taking off just to shower, relax, and prepare for
the rest of your journey works a treat! If you plan to
do more sightseeing in London, then of course, book extra days!
York
From London, I would take the train to York. York is one of
the most beautiful cities in Europe, in my humble opinion. The York Minster is an architectural delight
with the largest collection of medieval stained glass in Europe. The cobblestone streets of York, the
Shambles, Betty’s, the Roman Wall, the Castle Museum, and the Viking Museum
make it a wonderful place to sightsee.
Knaresborough
From York, I would make the short train jaunt to
Knaresborough and would spend a day or two just soaking up the local
atmosphere. Knaresborough is home to
Knaresborough Castle (a ruin) and probably the most scenic Viaduct in
England. The River Nidd is the scene of
one of the craziest fundraisers of all time, “The Great Knaresborough Bed Race”
which ends in
an icy plunge into its waters.
You can also visit the local Market (on Wednesdays), the
cave of Mother Shipton (a 16th century witch), and the Petrifying
well.
Durham
From Knaresborough, consider taking the rails north to
Durham. Durham is yet another city set with a gorgeous viaduct over the River Wear. If you fancy shopping, you are in the right
place as there are tons of shops in the center of the city. To get to the Cathedral, Durham has a
convenient Cathedral bus.
Durham Cathedral is amazing and contains the remains of the Venerable Bede (one of the most
famous chroniclers of English history)
as well as relics from St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne,
and a copy of the Magna Carta!
Edinburgh
From Durham, it’s a short train ride of about two hours to
Edinburgh, Scotland. I love this city,
but be prepared to walk up and down steeply graded streets! The treasures of this city are so numerous. Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood
Palace, and for hikers, the treat of a walk up to Arthur’s Seat! Come and stay for a few days exploring this
wonderful city.
English Lake District
From Edinburgh, we’ll hop aboard the train once more for a
trip to the English Lake District and the town of Windermere. Windermere is extremely crowded, but also
very scenic. The Lake District is home
to the poet William Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter (of Peter Rabbit fame), and many
other famous historical characters. In
Windermere, you can take cruises around the lake (Windermere is the largest in
the Lake District), shop, walk, and soak up what nature has to offer in England’s
northern territory.
Oxford
Passing through the midlands, on to your next destination,
Oxford! How can you not fall in love
with a town renowned for its educational facilities, its list of academics to
include Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, President Clinton, and others… and its links to…
Harry Potter! Tour the universities and museums!
Oxford
is charming, full of things to do and places to shop. Street musicians play for the crowds and the
weekends are full of adventure!
Bath
Leaving Oxford, the train continues southward to the city of
Bath. If you
love ancient cities with a country air about them, you could do worse than
Bath! Of course, one of the main draws to
the city is its Roman Baths, but the city itself is so beautiful that it was
awarded UNESCO Heritage status! Spend
your days shopping, walking, and taking in the air of this unique destination!
Salisbury
Not far from Bath is another amazing city, Salisbury. Today, it’s a bustling hub of business, but
it boasts a stunning ancient cathedral that contains another one of four known
copies of the Magna Carta. The
Cathedral is a 10 minute walk from the train station and sits next to a lovely
city center and plenty of shops to keep you busy. Try the Wig and Quill for a nice lunch or the
Refectory Restaurant and Bell Tower Tea Rooms in the Cathedral for afternoon
tea.
London
Sadly, all trips must end, so we’ll head back to London for
a few days of London sightseeing before leaving the country.
I hope you enjoyed our train excursion through Great
Britain. There are many more trips to be
planned by train, but this example may give you an idea of what’s
possible. Add a stay in Wales at the cities
of Conwy and Llandudno or toss in a trip to Truro on the “Lizard Peninsula” of
Cornwall to soak up the sea air. Perhaps
a trip to Portsmouth where you can catch a ferry to the Isle of Wight or a look
at the windmills and broads of England’s east country with a trip to
Norwich.
Great Britain is your oyster by any means of transportation,
but traveling by rail leaves you hands free to enjoy the countryside as you move
through the hills, lakes and vistas of this ancient land.
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