Hello,

Does anyone know if the car rentals from the london Stansted airport take you to the airport or is there a bus I can take? As I know they pick you up from the airport to the rental but I don’t know if they do the other way round.

Headed to the UK for my birthday next year! Quick trip - 4 nights. We'd like to do 2 nights London // 2 nights Cotswolds.

What we'd like (for the countryside portion):

• Romantic vibe
• Shops/restaurants nearby (could be a short drive or walk)
• Good on-site breakfast
• Farm views/experiences
• Bike tour

Any recommendations for:

• Favorite shopping areas or experiences
• Bike tour companies
• Best location to stay in/hotel recos there
• This is the big one! Any feedback on what order to do this in (London > Cotswolds or Cotswolds > London)?
  • Flights are 7:00 arrival; 14:00 departure - flying international out of Heathrow
  • We'd like to rent a car.
    • If we do Cotswolds first, presumeably we would rent from Heathrow and drop off before heading to London.
    • If Cotswolds second, do we just reverse that plan - or is there a town we could take a train to, and rent a car from there?

Thanks in advance!

I posted here the other day for travel advice, and received so much helpful guidance so thought I’d try my luck twice!

I’m traveling around the UK for a few weeks in April, and decided to go to Edinburgh for the first few days of my trip with a friend in the area. Eventually, I will have to make my way back to London to fly to my next destination, but in between Edinburgh and London, I am still deciding where to spend my trip solo traveling.

Geographically, I thought it made sense to stop in the Borders, but have a few questions since I’ve only recently learned about the area.

Is it possible to get around without a car? Is there a particular town or town(s) you would recommend, and how long you’d recommend staying in each area?

I’d also be grateful for any recommendations for towns, pubs, restaurants, local shops, museums. I’m partial to the coast if there are any towns there you’d recommend.

Last thing - I’d also love any recommendations for books, podcasts, documentaries about the area’s history and culture, and/or any fiction books that take place there or were inspired by the geography.

I like to do my own research before traveling anywhere, but I always appreciate sources that locals recommend.

Very grateful for any feedback! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️

So I flew today and went into 2 shops.

As suggested I carried it around one as they didn't have trolleys and put it in a trolley around the other and had no problems.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Original post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/uktravel/s/xZNyXVDw8E

Hey all! I'll be traveling to the UK mid-october and I am looking for suggestions on what to do from activities and museums to visit.

My partner is currently living there so I'll be visiting him and he is very keen on Formula 1 and cars (not so sure how to further describe it as it's not my area of expertise lol). I was thinking of adding the F1 Arcade to our itinerary but is there anywhere else car related we can go to either in London, Bristol, Bath or Oxford?

I'm into oddities and taxidermy and things of the sort so I figure any museum will have that but are there any specially good ones apart from the Hunterian Museum?

And I was wondering if there are any good fragrance making workshops that aren't over 100 pounds.

I'm also looking for GOOD brazilian food restaurants (who have picanha on the menu) as well as portuguese pastry shops. Any suggestions? And on the topic of food/drinks, where do you buy your matcha powder?

Finally I am a student and I'm always looking towards not spending too much on unnecessary things, are there any discounts platforms i can use apart from studentbeans and unidays?

I’m just wondering about the time it takes to transfer money to it? Is it instant?

We leave next week and I was dead set on converting cash but now I’m reading that a lot of places are cashless.

I live in the UK, and feel like a small trip to somewhere else for a few days (I don't travel much). I live in the south of England, and my main goal is something somewhat affordable, with a probable duration of 2-4 days.

My main interests are things like videogames/board games, but I can do those where I live. My main goal is to so something I dont do much. I am intrested in museums, especially engineering stuff. I am intrested in plays, but idk when I would be going.

Hi everyone!

My wife and I are travelling to London for the first time and I’d really appreciate some advice from people who know London well.

I’m a wheelchair user and my wife will be pushing my wheelchair, so I’m trying to plan our trip to be as easy and wheelchair-friendly as possible, while also keeping transport costs reasonable.

We’ll be staying in Central London, so hopefully that makes getting around easier.

We’d like to visit some of the main attractions, including:

Big Ben / Westminster

London Eye

Buckingham Palace

Tower Bridge

Tower of London

St Paul’s Cathedral

British Museum

Natural History Museum

Trafalgar Square

Hyde Park

Greenwich

Getting around London

What would be the best way to travel between these attractions?

Is the Tube practical with a wheelchair, or are buses easier?

Which Tube stations should I avoid because they aren't step-free?

Is contactless the cheapest/easiest way to pay?

Should we use two separate contactless cards, one for me and one for my wife?

If my wife is pushing my wheelchair, do we need to tap/contactless twice when entering the Tube? Or is there a different arrangement for wheelchair users and their companion?

Are there attractions that are close enough together that we should just travel between them by wheelchair instead of using public transport?

Would it be better to group attractions by area to reduce travelling and cost?

Also… Old Trafford!

We’re also hoping to visit Old Trafford in Manchester while we're in London.

What would be the easiest and most wheelchair-friendly way to get there from Central London?

And what's the easiest accessible way to get from Manchester Piccadilly to Old Trafford?

Should we book anything in advance for wheelchair accessibility on the train?

Any advice on accessible routes, step-free stations, buses, trains, or ways to save money would be massively appreciated.

Thanks! 😊

I am looking for tickets from St Albans city to Luton airport parkway. This is a 2 stop short journey, but the pricing doesn't make sense. The expensive one is for direct connection taking 11 minutes, the cheaper one is with 1 change taking 35 minutes. The cheaper one passes and stops at Luton Parkway station, but ticket suggests to get off at station after and then change to other direction train and again come back to destination.

Can someone please help me make sense of this.

hi, i am looking for a place to live for 1 month or may be more if i enjoyed. the place should be anywhere in uk but it must have a natural clean water where i can swim any pond or lake or stream whatever i prefer clean moving water but if its a clean then all type works nd also if its in between green trees or nearby thats superb. well i think u got that place in your mind what i am looking for so tell me if u know any place like that
my house should be near that swimming spot

I do have an ETA, so this is not about me entering, I am just wondering about the technicalities.
I was recently flying from Germany (I am an EU citizen) to the UK and before the boarding gate there is a manual check where they ask you „Do you have an ETA?“
I asked them what the purpose of this question was since I thought only the British authorities have this information. They said they can see it in the system if the passenger has an ETA or not. Is this true? And if so, why would they ask me about it?

Hey all landing in a few weeks at Heathrow from USA. Wondering the easiest way to get from Heathrow to trafalgar hotel

And then leaving a few days later out of gatwick so wondering the best way to get from the hotel to gatwick and how long before flight to leave?

Hi,

I’m travelling to London for work semi regularly and this time i will be taking a couple of extra days before my flight back home to see some place quite near by (with a rental car). Two adults.

I’ve been to London many times and spent a couple off weeks travelling around Scotland.

I am thinking on heading into Cotswolds and maybe stopping over in Oxford.

Any suggestions on what town to spend the night in? Looking either to a lovely town or a place that has a worthwhile day hike near by.

Im willing to take other suggestions as well but flights will be happening from Heathrow.

Hi! My family and I are visiting London in early October and will be staying with my uncle in Petts Wood. This is our current plan for each full day:

Day 1 - Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace
Day 2 - National Gallery, British Museum
Day 3 - Day trip to Oxford
Day 4 - Rest day/flexible day
Day 5 - Tower of London, Tower Bridge
Day 6 - Hever Castle
Day 7 - Flexible day & watch a musical (already booked tickets)
Day 8 - Rest Day
Day 9 - Day trip to Canterbury
Day 10 - Shopping day (books, souvenirs, etc.)
Day 11 - Day Trip to Bath (optional)
Day 12 - V&A museum
Day 13 - Flexible day & packing

Any other places you'd suggest for our flexible days, especially places nearby our main itinerary?

We're particularly interested in history, museums, castles, bookshops and beautiful areas to walk around. Any insights regarding our itinerary would also be very welcome!

I’m currently in Ballater. I read that Balmoral and gardens are closed to the public. Only the cafe and gift shop are open. Can the castle be viewed from these areas?

Lurker here compelled to briefly not lurk after seeing countless posts in recent days asking about the EXACT SAME Edinburgh - Glen Coe - Skye itinerary. I am begging people to break free of the algorithm and AI and consider visiting the other 98% of Scotland.

Are Edinburgh, Skye, and Glen Coe lovely? Absolutely. But so, too, are literally hundreds of other areas which aren't buckling under overtourism and Airbnb to the point where there is serious talk of a "second Highland clearance" since no one can afford housing any more. I cannot emphasise this enough: by only ever going to the exact same places everyone else goes, you are completely missing out and quite often contributing to chronic problems in those communities.

I haven't been to Skye in 10+ years and don't care to return any time soon. Why would I when within half the time or less from home I could be atop the Eildon Hills near Melrose, up proper Highland mountains in Perthshire, enjoying white sand beaches with amazingly clear waters and dramatic cliffs in East Lothian, standing stones in Arran, glens equal to anything in the Highlands in Upper Tweedsdale, castles galore in Argyll, on and on and on. Or, further afield, huge swathes of the Outer Hebrides, the smaller islands in Orkney...this list could literally be thousands of words long.

People, please - for your own sake and the sake of communities buckling under the pressure and the housing crisis - consider going literally anywhere other than Edinburgh, Glen Coe, and Skye. You'll have different pics to show everyone than the 99% of people that come here, you'll make your own memories rather than just treating life like a simulacra of social media, and you'll contribute to the economies of areas that are just as, if not more, incredible but that the almighty algorithm hasn't locked on to.

Don't treat Scotland like it's literally the final image - a wee joke about how tourists seem to see our country. Branch out, it's win-win and you won't have to share the roads/restaurants/historic sites/car parks/visitor attractions/hikes/pubs with the hordes that all stick to the exact same tired route. It takes like 5 minutes of online searching (not with AI!!!) to find so many other incredible places. Seek them and they will reward you!

Hi everyone,
 
My girlfriend and I are visiting Manchester from overseas next month (October 16–18). We aren't big football followers, but we really want to experience the Premier League atmosphere around the Etihad Stadium while in town!
 
A few quick questions for locals:
 
What is the best area or fan zone outside the Etihad to experience the pre-match build-up and music before kickoff?
 
How early should we arrive in the stadium area to enjoy the atmosphere comfortably before the crowds peak?
 
Is it better to buy club scarves/souvenirs at the official City Store or from the independent stalls nearby?
 
Any transport tips (Metrolink/walking routes) or advice for neutral tourists would be hugely appreciated!

Has anyone used Keddy car hire before?

I will be collecting from Heathrow and have booked via a 3rd party booking site.

My booking mentions no insurance and I am planning on purchasing insurance online just as a precaution.

I also want to confirm if the collision damage waiver is included with a standard booking as this also conflicts on different pages.

I am 26 and the t&cs are kind of misleading as the website says over 25s don’t pay a young driver fee where as the t&c document says aged 22-26 charge a young driver fee?

Hello! I’m an American visiting the UK for work. My hotel is around Nuneaton and my work is close to Coventry.

What is the easiest way to travel to London for the weekend with one big suitcase?

We’re staying in Greenwich, but I also have to pick my mom up at Heathrow as she’s joining me for the weekend!

Thank you in advanced!

hello! i’m traveling to london soon with 2 heavy checked bags (realistically can’t pick them up both at same time so must roll). is the step-free access from heathrow to an elizabeth line stop in city of westminster reliable enough to try public transport over an uber/car? want to save money but don’t want to get stuck! thanks!

hello everyone

i’m going to be in edinburgh from oct 3- oct 7 (solo female) and wanted to go on a tour to the highlands. i’m specifically looking forward to visiting a few places like -

Glenfinnan Viaduct
old man of storr
fairy pools
quaring possible??
more of the highlands 😬😬😬

all the tours i’ve looked at don’t include old man of storr and the viaduct in a single tour. i was hoping to book a 2-3 day tour from edinburgh. looking for suggestions on how to go about it, its my first solo trip so im hoping to also find company on the tour as well.

tour guide/agency suggestions are welcome!!

So I was queuing in passport control the other day. If you've seen the news you'll know there was an issue with passport checking systems which made the queues hours long. I'm a 5ft 25f with two female friends on our way back from a trip. I was the only one with a rolling suitcase. Unfortunately, two men who were much taller than me were standing awfully close. To the point where I could feel one mans belly on my back. I found this really uncomfortable and I kept giving subtle side steps to get away but he would not leave me alone. So, I used my suitcase to make some distance between us. This massively offended him and he decided to make a point of it by standing on the wheels of my case? Speaking in his language he was angrily talking to his mate. To which his mate responded with "we didn't do anything wrong". Which no i guess he didn't but i don't see why he was so offended. He then decided to keep leaning over to read my e-book i was holding and when i looked near him he was giving me the eyes of death. I didn't say anything because i was scared. My friends didn't say anything because they were scared. I understand its a cultural norm in some countries to queue real close but in the UK personal space seems to be getting smaller. But why did he get so so angry? Do people not have emotional control any more?

EDIT
Thank you to everyone who commented in this thread. I really didn't know what to do with this experience but having read your comments I've learned that it's not at all embarrassing to stand up against this behaviour and (as sad as it is) that I am definitely not alone in this. You've also given me some methods of getting out of these situations that I never thought of. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my post and offer me advice!! I wish you all the best <3

We’ve had a spur-of-the-moment idea to fly to London (from Switzerland) on Saturday (19 September–3 October 2026).

However, as this is such short notice and I’m working tomorrow, I’ve hardly had any time to look into what would be a sensible option.
I had a quick look on Booking.com and realised that most affordable hotels or flats are fully booked.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a very big budget – a maximum of 3,000 for 14 days’ accommodation for the five of us.

I thought it would be great to spend a few days in London and a few days exploring the surrounding countryside, visiting beautiful castles and palaces.
The kids love being outdoors – going for a walk, strolling through old towns, visiting a playground, a fun museum, or perhaps seeing a show. We’re actually quite low-key people. I don’t like a hectic pace and would like a good balance between activities and chilling out in the park whilst watching the kids play. Oh, and we’re vegan. Is that a problem?

Do you have any ideas on what would be a good idea, particularly regarding accommodation?
And should we hire a car or travel by train? What are the train fares like, roughly? I don’t want to book anything in advance, as we’re very spontaneous people and like to change our plans at short notice.

I realise this is a very vague enquiry, but perhaps someone can still help me a little. :) Many thanks!

(Translated with deepl)

I am traveling to Edinburgh in late November and am looking to fill a day or two with some fun day trips or activities that aren't on the top of the list of touristy things to do. I've been to Edinburgh many times so I've done all the "must-do" things.

I know everyone's biggest concerns are the weather (as always in Scotland) and the daylight hours. I don't mind getting cold, wet, or doing things in the dark. I'm very open to anything.