How to Plan a Trip to the United Kingdom

If you’re figuring out how to plan a trip to the United Kingdom you’re certainly not alone. According to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection research, it’s the most popular international destination for U.S. travelers – and for multiple reasons: 

1. It’s historic 
   
   
2. It has some of the world’s most recognizable landmarks 
   
   
3. Its cities are amazing 
   
   
4. It’s easy to get to and get around 
   
   
5. The people speak the language (or a close facsimile) 

Given that, planning a trip to the United Kingdom should be a no-brainer. 

It’s not. 

Here’s why it’s not, and what people should do to plan the U.K. vacation they’ve dreamed of. 

Understand the U.K.’s Geography 

The United Kingdom has some awfully diverse terrain and weather. Just for starters you have: 

• The chalk cliffs of Dover 

• The hills and waters of the Lake District 

• Wales’ desolate mountains 

• The Scottish moors 

• The warm Brighton coast 

• The cold north coast 

If you take a trip during the shoulder seasons that touches all these destinations, you’re liable to be going from swimming suits to parkas. (Though you’ll always need an umbrella.) 

That stresses your suitcases and your psyche. 

Understand the U.K.’s Weather 

It’s reasonable to state that nobody goes to the U.K. for the weather unless they’re a duck.  

While weather patterns have changed over the last several years, in general the U.K.’s weather is dampish and coolish. 

That means fewer sunny days and more days of everything from fog to drizzle to downpours. 

Because of that geographic diversity we just mentioned, there are time/place exceptions (the southwest coast; London during Wimbledon). But in general, the U.K.’s climate is quite ducky indeed. 

Take Advantage of the U.K.’s Weather 

Believe it or not, that ducky weather is actually a plus for travelers.  

To begin with, many of the things you’ll want to do in the U.K. are not weather-dependent, or can be just as easily enjoyed in the rain! 

For instance, tramping around a castle in the Scottish moors is arguably better on a dreary, drippy day when you can get the full Macbeth effect. Same with the Tower of London. 

If your plans are to catch a football (soccer) match, the effect is enhanced if you’re arm-in-arm singing with your Liverpool or Man City mates while a sleety rain pelts you. 

There’s a huge advantage in this: You can plan basically the same U.K. trip for practically any time of year, get the same weather and not mind it, take advantage of cheap fares and lodging, and not have it adversely affect what you want to do.  

That’s marvelously liberating for trip-planning. 

Relax! Getting Around is Easy 

Okay, so we’ve addressed packing (pack for anything, because you’re liable to get it) and weather (lousy but lovable). 

Let’s talk transportation. 

Because of the U.K.’s rather diminutive size and well-developed infrastructure, you should have no trouble getting around. 

Getting Around in London 

The London Underground – “The Tube” – is one of the wonders of the world, and unbelievably efficient at whisking you around the city. 

Unlike many other cities, there’s actually a je ne sais quoi to taking the bus or traditional black cab. Bus and taxi rides in London are practically required. 

Practically required but not essential, since London is also one of the world’s most walkable cities. Not sure where to stroll? My London Walks is a great resource. 

Getting Around Elsewhere 

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to explore beyond London you have a similar plethora of options.  

Traveling from city to city, you can choose from: 

• National Rail, which has passenger trains going practically everywhere 

• easyJet, which has regular plane service to most major cities 

• Ryanair, which does the same 

• A variety of comfortable, rapid intercity bus lines 

• Bicycles, which are an incredible way to see the countryside 

And once you’re in a city, you’ll find that their transport may not have the cachet of London’s, but it’s equally efficient and user-friendly.  

The Citymapper app can help with transit options as you’re traveling around the U.K. 

Stress Out! Driving is Different 

You noticed we didn’t say anything about driving. That's because driving in the U.K. is STRESSFUL for international visitors. 

It’s not just that the roads are: 

• Narrow 

• Full of sheep 

• Populated by slowcoaches in Vauxhalls and speed merchants in Lotuses 

It’s that the steering wheel is where the glovebox should be and vice versa, AND you’re driving down the wrong side of the street. On purpose. All the time. 

Driving in the U.K. is not something you do casually never having done something similar. It requires practice, ideally in a large parking lot with a vehicle made of bubble wrap, like those sumo suits you see at sporting events. 

In all honesty, it doesn’t take long to master the backwards alignment. A couple of days of scaring the wits out of your passengers should do it. And to be fair, if you get a vehicle with a manual transmission, shifting with your left hand feels ... dare we say, natural? 

However, the problem is that very often your first experience with driving U.K. style takes place in the environs of a major airport like Heathrow. And that is not the place to ease into right-hand drive. 

There’s no ideal way to get used to driving in the U.K. The best suggestion is that you take the train or bus to a smaller city near a highway, rent a car there and try it out. Or go to Ireland and drive there. But expect an adjustment period. 

Where Food Takes Us has helpful details for American drivers. 

Be Adventurous! Explore Beyond London 

Assuming you’re not so thrown by driving that you’ve given up venturing outside of London, there are wonderful parts of the country to explore. Consider adding these to your itinerary. 

The Lake District: England’s Poet Country 

The fabled home of poets like Wordsworth really does live up to the hype. It’s gorgeously wild in a quintessentially British way.  

By that we mean if you think of a lake district as the Great Lakes, or northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, or the Finger Lakes or Thousand Islands of upstate New York, this is not that.  

The Lake District is more civilized and controlled, with hillsides covered in broad meadows as opposed to deep forests. 

That openness makes the Lake District an amazing place to hike through. Lake District National Park offers more than 1,900 miles of rights-of-way that can be walked along. This includes: 

• Well-marked trails 

• Historic paths 

• Ancient tracks 

• Scenic roads 

Together they link: 

• Mountain passes with spectacular views 

• Peaceful lakeshores 

• Protected forests 

• Charming villages 

• Summit overlooks 

Because there are so many different qualities of hiking paths linking so many different types of terrain, having good maps is essential. Also note that it's easy to get disoriented in the rain and fog, so: 

• Don’t hike alone 

• Take your phone (though you might not have service) 

• Let people at your lodgings and/or back home know where you’re going 

There’s more to the Lake District than hiking. The region is full of distilleries and historical sites, as well as charming little towns like Keswick and Borrowdale. 

If this sounds intriguing, the Lake District National Park is your destination and Wilderness England is your information source. 

The Cotswolds: Quintessential English Countryside 

The Cotswolds are what many people imagine the English countryside to be: honey-colored thatched cottages, overflowing gardens, quaint villages, cozy pubs, narrow cobblestone streets, and plenty of history. 

The villages have names like Stow-on-the-Wold and Castle Combe, and they’re perfect for exploring.  

There are modern restaurants and lodgings to complement the old pubs and inns, but you can still get a taste of the old ways at places like The Potting Shed in Crudwell or The Wild Rabbit in Kingham. 

Many locations in the Cotswolds were featured in Harry Potter movies. Once you visit you’ll understand why the filmmakers chose these settings. 

Kelly Prince Writes is a great source for more personal insights into the Cotswolds. 

Wales: Rugged Beauty and Cultural Heritage 

Wales is one of the constituent countries that make up the United Kingdom. It’s a little hard to explain, but imagine if Missouri were its own country but still part of the U.S. That’s what Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are to the U.K. 

Wales is a rugged country, full of wild places (as wild as the U.K. gets, anyway). Still, it has an incredible softness you can’t appreciate unless you see the countryside around Cardiff at sunrise or sunset. 

You know what you’re in for when four of the articles on the home page of Visit Wales deal with what to do when it rains (and only one discusses what to do when the sun is out).  

Regardless of the precipitation level, expect to have a memorable time: 

• Exploring the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park 

• Checking out the castles of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park 

• Investigating one of the multitudes of UNESCO World Heritage sites that highlight Welsh history, scenery and culture 

Wales is not England, but it’s wonderful. 

Scotland: Vibrant Cities, Wild Landscapes 

Where to begin with Scotland?  

• Edinburgh is a thriving center for the arts.  

• Glasgow is working-class grit through and through.  

• The Scottish isles are windswept and unforgettable.  

• The coast is straight out of the cult-classic movie Local Hero.  

• And Loch Ness is ... we’ll say it, creepy. 

Scotland is many people’s favorite part of the U.K. because the people are incredibly friendly and the cities are so cool to wander around, with their smart shops and gray stone facades. 

It doesn’t hurt that the countryside and coast are wild and open and ripe for exploring. 

Are there kilts? Occasionally. Do they toss the caber? Only on special occasions. Is truck-stop haggis something to be avoided? At all costs. 

If you’re the active sort, try the UNESCO Trail, a hiking path that joins 16 World Heritage sites – everything from mountains to arts districts.  

If you’re more of a sightseer, buses and trains take you all across Scotland, from Loch Lomond to the mystical Isle of Skye.  

And if you’re into golf and/or scotch, there are specialty tours and trails that delve into the history of the game and the spirit. 

Northern Ireland: Hidden Gem 

The least-visited part of the U.K., largely because it’s geographically part of Ireland, Northern Ireland is worth a visit: 

• If you’re adventurous  

• If you plan on visiting Ireland anyway 

• If you want to escape the crowds 

• If you’re interested in the history of the Catholic-Protestant battles – ”The Troubles” – that shaped modern Northern Ireland 

There’s certainly plenty to see, from the once-divided city of Belfast to the spectacular Causeway Coast, and it’s not as though you’re heading into a wilderness. There are plenty of places to eat and drink and stay, and the people are, if anything, even warmer and friendlier than you’ll find in Ireland proper. 

Driving is probably the best way to see Northern Ireland, so if you’re practiced in the dark art of right-hand drive this is the place to try out your skills. 

Get Going! A Sample U.K. Vacation Itinerary   

If you want to see as much of the U.K. as possible, what’s a reasonable way to go about it? 

Start in London, Then Explore the Cotswolds 

London is the natural arrival point – not because it’s geographically centered but because it’s practically centered. Almost all roads (and trains) lead out of London. 

From there, consider a car, bus or train trip to the university town of Oxford. Try punting (pole-boating) on the Thames and then head to the Cotswolds for a day or two, and/or travel west to Wales and explore the countryside, using Cardiff as your hub. 

Head North to the Lake District and Scotland 

Leaving the Cotswolds, travel from Gloucester to Manchester. Great Britain’s “second city” is experiencing a renaissance, plus it’s always fun to dive into the city’s football culture, even if you’re not a fan. 

Manchester is your gateway to the Lake District. Spend a couple days exploring there, then a day in Liverpool walking in the Beatles’ footsteps, and then trek north to Glasgow.  

Figure a minimum of three days to explore Scotland – more if you plan on heading to the far north or visiting the islands. 

Return Through the Moors and Downs 

Once you’ve gone as far as you dare go in Scotland, head south through St. Andrews to Edinburgh and explore the U.K.’s moor country as you travel through Newcastle. 

You can continue following the coast, skirt London and explore the historic town of Canterbury and South Downs National Park before finally returning to London. 

That would be your opportunity to head off in one of two directions – to Dublin and then to Northern Ireland, or to the train that runs under the English Channel to Paris, and from there to explore the continent. 

Figure Out Your Itinerary ... Then Protect It 

As you can see, the problem with planning a trip to the U.K. isn’t figuring out what to do – it’s narrowing down what to do. 

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection can’t help you with that, but we can help you protect your travels with comprehensive travel insurance specifically designed for your travel type.  

Claim payments are fast and getting covered is as easy as getting a quick, no-obligation quote.  

With that, your U.K. trip planning is complete. The only thing left to do is enjoy your U.K. vacay!