A trip down the UK

syl
Mon, 08 Jan 2024 21:33:15 +0000

Hey y'all, I was wondering if anyone had any advice/warnings/comments/thoughts/etc. about an anniversary trip (10 years!) my partner and I are planning for late May. For context, I have been to the UK before a few years back but my partner has not. Also, I'm American and I've never driven anywhere but the US. This is the rough and very basic itinerary:

Day 0: Edinburgh

Land in Edinburgh

Check in to hotel

Wander around the city

Day 1: Edinburgh

Rent car

Drive to St. Andrews

Drive around in the Scottish Highlands

Day 2: Edinburgh > Redmire

Drive south to a bed and breakfast in Redmire

Check out the English countryside

Day 3: Redmire > Manchester

Drive to Manchester

Turn in car

Check in to hotel

Day 4: Manchester > Bath

Take a train to Bath

Wander around Bath

Stay at bed and breakfast

Day 5: Bath > London

Take train to London

Check in to hotel

Do touristy things

Eat a lot of food

Day 6: London

Anniversary dinner

Day 7: London

Wander around

Eat a lot of food

Day 8: London

Depart from Heathrow

I fully intend to add plan out the details and activities as we get closer, though I would be grateful for any recommendations for things to do or places to see. It's my partner's real first time out of the country and given it's an anniversary trip I wanted it to be mostly relaxed.

The first half or so of the trip is predicated on me, an American who drives on the right, driving good distances in the UK. I've plenty of experience doing long distance driving in the US, it's mostly the driving on the opposite side that concerns me. Is this recommended? Would it be better to just use rideshares or transit in the cities and take trains over the longer stretches between instead of a mini-roadtrip? Thanks y'all!

EDIT:
Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses! I will try to get to as many as I can as soon as I can!

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