UK Travel Planning

We share ten smaller London museums that go beyond the British Museum and the V&A, including a secret underground Mail Rail ride, a Roman temple beneath the City and a ceiling so good it earns the "Britain's Sistine Chapel" nickname. Along the way, we flag what to book, what is free, what works with the London Pass and how to group stops into an easy museum day.The Postal Museum and Mail Rail: booking tips and how to see it if you cannot ride the trainThe Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street: queues, price expectations and who will love itThe Florence Nightingale Museum for nursing, healthcare and Victorian social reform interestsHMS Belfast for naval and Second World War history, with nearby sights to pairThe London Mithraeum, a free Roman London highlight beneath Bloomberg's HQThe Old Royal Naval College and Painted Hall as a full Greenwich day outThe Charles Dickens Museum for Victorian London fans, and why December is the time to goThe Foundling Museum for social history and the human stories behind London's pastApsley House for Wellington, Waterloo and grand townhouse interiorsLeighton House for art, interiors and a peaceful visit to the Arab HallBritish Library Treasures as a free bonus stop near King's Cross St PancrasIf you have a museum you are thinking of including in your trip and we have not covered it, let us know through SpeakPipe, and we will try to fit it into our itinerary next year. You can find all the information, prices and links in the show notes at uktravelplanning.com/episode225. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with anyone planning a trip to London.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 [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

November in London means dark afternoons by half past four, fireworks, the first Christmas lights, and a city gearing up for the festive season. This is the third episode of our monthly London bonus series from our sister brand London Travel Planning, where we look ahead each month at what’s on, what to book, and what will sell out before you get there.This episode is sponsored by City Cruises.Everything you need to know if you are visiting London in November 2026, from the weather to the Christmas bookings you need to make this month.November weather: highs around 12°C (54°F), lows around 7°C (45°F), and rain on roughly one day in threeDaylight: sunset around 4.30 pm at the start of the month and just before 4 pm by the end, and how to plan your days around itWhat to pack: a warm waterproof jacket, layers, waterproof comfy shoes, a hat and gloves, so you stay warm without overheating on the TubeBonfire Night, Remembrance Sunday and Armistice DayThe Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday 14 November, back on the river for 2026Afternoon tea on the Thames with City Cruises, plus the £9 one day River PassChristmas lights: switch-on dates for Carnaby Street, Regent Street and Covent Garden, and Oxford Street’s Harry Potter lightsChristmas at Kew, the ice rinks and the Christmas marketsHogwarts in the Snow at the Warner Bros. Studio TourTheatre and exhibitions: Lear with Ian McKellen, One Day the Musical, Agatha Christie at the British Library and Van Eyck at the National GalleryThe Bayeux Tapestry: sold out for 2026, and when the next tickets are releasedBook in November: Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve cruises, the Ceremony of the Keys, Christmas at Kew, theatre and Christmas Day restaurantsEXCLUSIVE LISTENER OFFER: 10% off the City Cruises afternoon tea cruise with code UKPLAN10. Book and travel by 31 December 2026. Valid on the standard afternoon tea ticket only, not festive or special event cruises. 👉 Book the afternoon tea cruise herePlanning London at Christmas? Our Festive London Planning Guide has the full festive calendar, what to book and when, and a map for your phone.Do you have a question about visiting London? Leave us a message on SpeakPipe, and I will answer it in the next bonus episode, London in December. If you know someone heading to London this winter, do share this episode with them.📝 Show Notes - Bonus episode 3Support 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 [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

A city where you can walk a Roman wall, shop in a medieval gallery and be in Wales twenty minutes later. Briony Wilson from Mountain Goat spent ten years living in Chester, and she’s back on the podcast to share what you need to know before you visit, from what to see and how long to stay to using the city as a base for North Wales, Liverpool, and Manchester.Where Chester is, and how to get there by direct train from London Euston or via Liverpool and Manchester airportsGetting around on foot, and whether you need a carThe city walls, the Rows and the Cross explainedThe Eastgate Clock and where to take the photoWhere to stay: inside the walls, or just outside for more space, parking and spa hotelsHow many days to give ChesterRace days and why they matter for your plansBig days out: Chester Zoo, Jodrell Bank, Tatton Park and moreNorth Wales from Chester: Llandudno, Conwy, Caernarfon and EryriChester as a base for football fansBriony’s full day in Chester, from walking the walls anti-clockwise to the Roman Gardens and Watergate StreetQuickfire picks: Oddfellows, the pasta stall at Chester Market, the view from the Groves and Cheshire cheeseUse code UKTRAV10 for 10% off Mountain Goat tours. The link is in the show notes: https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-224/If you have a question about your own itinerary, leave me a voice message through SpeakPipe. If you know someone planning a UK trip, please share this episode with them, and if you’re enjoying the podcast, a review really helps other travellers find us.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 [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

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 mattersYour three choices on a wet morning: carry on, swap your days or leave LondonWhat to save for a dry day, including the Tower of London and Kew GardensWhat to pack: a hooded waterproof, shoes with grip and spare socksFree museums and galleries, and the tunnel from South Kensington TubeChurchill War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s and the London Transport MuseumCovered markets, arcades and department storesSame-day theatre tickets, afternoon tea or a long pub lunchSeeing the sights from a red London bus or an Uber BoatDay trips by train when it’s drier outside LondonA one-day itinerary around Trafalgar Square and Covent GardenEverything 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.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 [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

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 tavernThe 1900s pit village and town: drift mine, school, sweet shop and dentistThe 1940s farm and the 1950s town, cinema and hairdresser’sTalking to the costumed staff and volunteersWhy Beamish is one to visit if your family came from the North EastWhat to eat: the sweet shop, the bakery and coal-fired fish and chipsGetting there by train, bus or car, with 25% off if you arrive by busGetting around on the historic trams, buses and steam trainsPlanning a full day, and why Samantha says start at PockerleyThe pay once, visit for a year ticket, plus Halloween and Christmas eveningsWhere to stay and what else to see nearbyAccessibility: mobility scooters, the accessible bus and quiet spacesIf 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. 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 [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

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 trainWhy the scale catches first-time visitors outArriving by train via Oxenholme to Windermere Getting around by bus, cruise and toursParking, narrow lanes and steep passes: when a car is more hassle than helpMountain Goat tours for first-timers: Ten Lakes, Six Lakes and Beatrix PotterHow many nights to plan: two minimum, three or four if you canChoosing a base: Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside, Keswick or KendalOn the water: Windermere, Ullswater, Derwentwater, Buttermere and ConistonLiterary stops: Dove Cottage, Hill Top and Swallows and Amazons countryGentle walks: Orrest Head, Tarn Hows, Aira Force and Miles Without StilesQuickfire picks: sticky toffee pudding, Blea Tarn and Kendal Mint CakeMountain 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 221Support 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 [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

We break London down into 12 areas so you can choose a neighbourhood that matches your plans, your budget and the kind of trip you want. Doug and I share which area suits each of us, the pros and cons of each one, and three things to check on a hotel listing before you book.In this episode:- Covent Garden, Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square: a top pick for first-time visitors who want theatres, restaurants and sights within walking distance- Tower Bridge and the City of London: beside the river, steeped in history and much quieter once the office workers go home- South Bank, Bankside, Southwark and Waterloo: riverside walks, the Christmas market and easy day trips from Waterloo station- South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea: free museums, great for families and close to Hyde Park, with prices to match- Greenwich: a village feel, maritime history and an easy trip back by DLR, train or Uber Boat- Shoreditch and Spitalfields: markets, street art, some of the best food in London and late nights- Camden and King's Cross: three train stations, the Eurostar and a wide range of accommodation- Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia: a calmer central stay near the British Museum, and what to check in townhouse hotels- Mayfair, Marylebone and Oxford Street: special occasions, shopping and Chiltern line trains, and why I would not stay on Oxford Street itself- Westminster and St James's: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and St James's Park on the doorstep- Soho: for theatre lovers who want to walk back after the show, with noise to consider- Notting Hill and Little Venice: pretty streets, photos and the canal, a little removed from the main sights- Three checks before you book: a lift, air conditioning in summer, and room and bed sizeYou'll find our full guide to all 12 areas, with hotel picks at three budgets and a map, at londontravelplanning.com. Everything is linked in the show notes at https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-220/, along with Episode 68 on how to choose your area and our Ultimate London Travel Planning Map.If you have a question, leave us a voice message on SpeakPipe.If you know someone planning a trip to London, please share this episode with them, and leave a review in your podcast app to help other travellers find the show. We also write a free weekly newsletter, The Great British Trip, every Saturday morning. 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 [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

October in London feels cosy, colourful and much easier to enjoy when you plan around the rain, the shorter days and the half-term rush. This is the second episode of our monthly London bonus series from London Travel Planning, where we look ahead each month at what is on, what to book, and what will sell out before you get there.This episode is sponsored by WalksDevour, and I am joined again by Charley Sullivan from their London team.Everything you need to know if you are visiting London in October 2026, from the weather to the tickets to book now for Christmas.* October weather: highs around 16°C (61°F), lows around 10°C (50°F), and rain on roughly one day in three* Daylight and the clocks: shorter afternoons, and the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October* Half term (26 to 30 October): what it means for the Tower and the Abbey, and the quieter times to visit* What to pack: a fold-up waterproof, comfy shoes and plenty of layers* Autumn leaves: St Dunstan in the East, Little Venice, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park and Crystal Palace Park* Halloween at the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kew, plus Charley's picks* Exhibitions and theatre: Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Frida at Tate Modern, the David Bowie Centre and The Lives of Others with Keira Knightley* Diwali on the Square and the three NFL games in London* Book now: Christmas at Kew, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Bonfire Night at Alexandra Palace* Sold out for 2026: the Bayeux Tapestry and Her Life in Style, and the dates for 2027 tickets* Ceremony of the Keys: how to still go this October with the VIP WalksDevour evening* October's most booked tour: Tastes, Tales and Traditional Ales* Tour of the month: the new Express Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace tour, and who it suits* Your questions: visiting in half-term week, and the Changing of the Guard in October* A quick note: the regular Changing of the Guard runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Sundays have a separate Sunday Parade, so check the Household Division calendar before you goEXCLUSIVE LISTENER OFFER: 5% off WalksDevour tours with code LTP5. Book before midnight UK time on Thursday 8 October 2026, valid on any tour departing to the end of 2026.👉 Book with WalksDevour hereDo you have a question about visiting London? Leave us a message on SpeakPipe, and I will answer it in the next bonus episode, London in November, on 29 October.📝 Show Notes - Bonus episode 2 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 [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

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 EdinburghWhy you do not need a car: cobbles, snickelways and a walled centre you can cross in 15 minutesPark and ride at £4 return against £15 to £20 a day to park in the cityAccessibility: the one step-free way onto the walls, Jorvik's one wheelchair at a time rule, wheelchair hire and accessible toiletsHow long to stay: 2 to 3 days for the city, 6 or 7 to add the Dales, the Moors and the coastInside or outside the walls: character and Minster bells against lifts and parkingYork Minster: what the £20 ticket includes, the free guided tours, the £6 tower climb and the best stretch of wall for viewsOne day in York: the Minster first, the Shambles early or late, and which museum to chooseWhat most visitors miss: Treasurer's House, Holy Trinity on Goodramgate and the riverside walkDay trips: Castle Howard, Whitby, Harrogate, Knaresborough and the North Yorkshire Moors RailwayWhen not to book: race days, Residents Weekend in late January and Christmas market crowdsThe one thing to book before you go: afternoon tea with a Minster viewListener discountsMountain 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/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 [email protected] 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 endsHow the train divides at Crianlarich, and why you will not end up in the wrong portionGlasgow to Loch Lomond: when the commuter belt gives way to the HighlandsCrianlarich to Fort William highlights: Rannoch Moor, Corrour and the approach to Ben NevisFort William to Mallaig: the Glenfinnan Viaduct, lochs, white beaches and island viewsMallaig or Oban: overnight stay, quick turnaround, or gateway to Skye, Mull and IonaWhich side of the train to sit on, and why it is not worth stressing overCaledonian Sleeper Highlander: sleeper up, daytime backJacobite steam train versus the regular ScotRail service on the same routeTickets, Railcards and the BritRail Pass, and why a return is good valueSeat reservations, Wi-Fi, catering and luggage: what to expect on boardDoing the full route in a day, and why daylight hours matterAccessibility: step-free stations and Passenger AssistIf 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 218Support 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 [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...