Why To Visit?
UK something to offer everyone. From Ancient Ruins to Beaches to Scottish Highlands. It is a trip which will satisfy all kinds of travelers.
Places Visited
My trip included London, Oxford, Salisbury – Stonehenge, Canterbury, Dover, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Isle of Skye, Glencoe, Sterling, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bristol and Bath.
Logistics
Visa for Indian Citizens - Yes. Before the trip.
Accommodation - Mostly Hostels, Stayed at Holiday Inn in Liverpool and Birmingham.
Transportation - Trains, Buses if the trains turned out to be too expensive. In Edinburgh, London and Liverpool I did walk a lot instead of relying on public transport. It helped in not only saving money, but also was a lot of fun exploring these cities by walk.
Tours - I personally dislike planned tour and travel companies. But, I wanted to explore in Scottish Highlands, personal transportation was not possible so I ended up taking a three day tour from Backpacker company called Haggis. They were fantastic. Plus I could see the Highland beauty without stressing out too much. Rest of the trip I avoided tours like a plague.
Planning?
I did pre-plan extensively before I went to UK, but I kept changing it so much. Unexpected stops, Staying longer than intended was becoming a norm. So, when I went to Edinburgh, I decided to stop pre-booking my hostels a week ahead and started to plan two days at a time. Yes, your expenses might be a tad bit on the expensive side, but it gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of what do you want to do.
Also, sometime things do go out of your hand, like when my trip to Cambridge didn’t go as planned because of incessant rain. My stay in Edinburgh got extended cause I didn’t want to leave the place. I was stranded in Dover for a night in shady hostel because I missed my bus to Brighton. I spent more days in London than intended cause I wanted to see the museums in my pace.
Things I loved?
Although travelling on itself is an amazing experience, I find few places which captivate you and haunt you. These are the few places in UK which I will never forget. These are personal experiences which I treasure the most.
London - Museums - Borough market - Food!
I loved Edinburgh. I happened to be there during the peak of Festival season and it was fantastic. The streets were vibrant and lively till wee hours in the night. Check out Edinburgh Castle and if you can book in advance the Annual Military Tattoo is fantastic.
Visit during Festival Season (August-September), the prices are on the higher end but it is so totally worth it. Catch some shows in the Fringe where the whole town turns in to a live auditorium. Great Food, do not miss Haggis. Pubs in the Old Town are great. Go to the Free Walking Tour, my Guide was fab, we bonded over Harry Potter and he is one entertaining Scot.
I recently read something which Neil Gaiman wrote about Isle of Skye. "There are people who discover Skye and will not leave, and even for those of us who do leave, the misty island haunts us and holds us in its own way." Though I paraphrased a little it is exactly how I feel.
I bawled like a baby after visiting International Museum of Slavery in Liverpool. It changed the way I looked at life and my perspective on humanity.
Bristol - Street art - Bohemia - Eclectic Hipster Crowd - Great Night life - Dismaland - Banksy - Amaze Balls!
Things I would have skipped / would have loved to go
Personally, I think I did see what I wanted to see and I wouldn't skip anything on my list. I would have loved to go to Cumbria and also would have loved to see Hadrian's wall. Maybe for the next trip?
' fill='%23359391'%3e %3cpath d='M46.1538462%2c43.5714286 L41.5%2c50 L36.8461538%2c43.5714286 L36.8670256%2c43.5714286 C36.3173077%2c42.7142857 36%2c41.6851429 36%2c40.5714286 C36%2c37.4854286 38.4535641%2c35 41.5%2c35 C44.5464359%2c35 47%2c37.4854286 47%2c40.5714286 C47%2c41.6851429 46.6826923%2c42.7142857 46.1329744%2c43.5714286 L46.1538462%2c43.5714286 Z M41.4294872%2c39 C40.6150641%2c39 39.9487179%2c39.675 39.9487179%2c40.5 C39.9487179%2c41.325 40.6150641%2c42 41.4294872%2c42 C42.2439103%2c42 42.9102564%2c41.325 42.9102564%2c40.5 C42.9102564%2c39.675 42.2439103%2c39 41.4294872%2c39 L41.4294872%2c39 Z' id='Location-white'%3e%3c/path%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
