UK Travel Planning

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 matters
• Your three choices on a wet morning: carry on, swap your days or leave London
• What to save for a dry day, including the Tower of London and Kew Gardens
• What to pack: a hooded waterproof, shoes with grip and spare socks
• Free museums and galleries, and the tunnel from South Kensington Tube
• Churchill War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s and the London Transport Museum
• Covered markets, arcades and department stores
• Same-day theatre tickets, afternoon tea or a long pub lunch
• Seeing the sights from a red London bus or an Uber Boat
• Day trips by train when it’s drier outside London
• A one-day itinerary around Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden

Everything 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.

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🗺 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.

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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 tavern
• The 1900s pit village and town: drift mine, school, sweet shop and dentist
• The 1940s farm and the 1950s town, cinema and hairdresser’s
• Talking to the costumed staff and volunteers
• Why Beamish is one to visit if your family came from the North East
• What to eat: the sweet shop, the bakery and coal-fired fish and chips
• Getting there by train, bus or car, with 25% off if you arrive by bus
• Getting around on the historic trams, buses and steam trains
• Planning a full day, and why Samantha says start at Pockerley
• The pay once, visit for a year ticket, plus Halloween and Christmas evenings
• Where to stay and what else to see nearby
• Accessibility: mobility scooters, the accessible bus and quiet spaces

If 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
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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 train
• Why the scale catches first-time visitors out
• Arriving by train via Oxenholme to Windermere 
• Getting around by bus, cruise and tours
• Parking, narrow lanes and steep passes: when a car is more hassle than help
• Mountain Goat tours for first-timers: Ten Lakes, Six Lakes and Beatrix Potter
• How many nights to plan: two minimum, three or four if you can
• Choosing a base: Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside, Keswick or Kendal
• On the water: Windermere, Ullswater, Derwentwater, Buttermere and Coniston
• Literary stops: Dove Cottage, Hill Top and Swallows and Amazons country
• Gentle walks: Orrest Head, Tarn Hows, Aira Force and Miles Without Stiles
• Quickfire picks: sticky toffee pudding, Blea Tarn and Kendal Mint Cake

Mountain 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 221

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 ...

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 size

You'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 go

EXCLUSIVE 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 here

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 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 Edinburgh
• Why you do not need a car: cobbles, snickelways and a walled centre you can cross in 15 minutes
• Park and ride at £4 return against £15 to £20 a day to park in the city
• Accessibility: the one step-free way onto the walls, Jorvik's one wheelchair at a time rule, wheelchair hire and accessible toilets
• How long to stay: 2 to 3 days for the city, 6 or 7 to add the Dales, the Moors and the coast
• Inside or outside the walls: character and Minster bells against lifts and parking
• York Minster: what the £20 ticket includes, the free guided tours, the £6 tower climb and the best stretch of wall for views
• One day in York: the Minster first, the Shambles early or late, and which museum to choose
• What most visitors miss: Treasurer's House, Holy Trinity on Goodramgate and the riverside walk
• Day trips: Castle Howard, Whitby, Harrogate, Knaresborough and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• When not to book: race days, Residents Weekend in late January and Christmas market crowds
• The one thing to book before you go: afternoon tea with a Minster view

Listener discounts
Mountain 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 ends
• How the train divides at Crianlarich, and why you will not end up in the wrong portion
• Glasgow to Loch Lomond: when the commuter belt gives way to the Highlands
• Crianlarich to Fort William highlights: Rannoch Moor, Corrour and the approach to Ben Nevis
• Fort William to Mallaig: the Glenfinnan Viaduct, lochs, white beaches and island views
• Mallaig or Oban: overnight stay, quick turnaround, or gateway to Skye, Mull and Iona
• Which side of the train to sit on, and why it is not worth stressing over
• Caledonian Sleeper Highlander: sleeper up, daytime back
• Jacobite steam train versus the regular ScotRail service on the same route
• Tickets, Railcards and the BritRail Pass, and why a return is good value
• Seat reservations, Wi-Fi, catering and luggage: what to expect on board
• Doing the full route in a day, and why daylight hours matter
• Accessibility: step-free stations and Passenger Assist

If 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 218

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 ...

Want a UK autumn trip that feels more atmospheric and less frantic? In part two of our autumn special we travel from the far north of Scotland to London to find out why autumn might be the most rewarding time to explore, from dark skies and quieter roads to cosy streets and early festive sparkle. 

Sally-Ann from North Coast Explorer Tours and Charley and Becki from WalksDevour Tours share practical planning tips, the best places to look for seasonal magic, and how to make the most of shorter days without feeling rushed.

• The far north of Scotland's autumn mood: quieter roads and better value hotel prices as the season shifts
• Realistic Northern Lights chances, where to look, and why the dark skies are worth the trip anyway
• Autumn colour without forests: heather, layered landscapes and morning mists over the lochs
• Where to see the deer rut, and safe driving advice at dusk and in low light
• How to plan your days around shorter daylight hours in October and November
• London's post summer rhythm, cosy streets, and why the parks are underrated for autumn colour
• Theatre, museums, galleries and tours that suit cooler weather and lighter crowds
• Autumn evenings done well: canal walks, gas lamps, bookshops and fireside pubs
• When London's Christmas lights and markets switch on, and why late November can beat December

If autumn is in your plans, we'd love to hear where you're heading, so send us a message via SpeakPipe (link below), and if you've enjoyed this two-part special please share it with someone planning their own UK trip. 

A quick review on your favourite podcast app helps other travellers find us too. 

Show notes - Episode 217

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 ...

Golden woodlands, quiet villages and cosy pubs. Autumn in the UK has a magic you do not get in high summer. In part one of our two part autumn special, three local experts share what really changes across September, October and November in the Lake District, the Cotswolds and Devon.

• Lake District autumn colour hotspots including Tarn Hows and Wastwater
• How September, October and November differ for weather, light and atmosphere
• Walk ideas for non hikers and why low-level routes often win in autumn
• Mountain Goat tours running through autumn, including the September-only Mountain Passes tour
• The Cotswolds in the quieter months and why market towns suit autumn travel
• Best timing for Cotswolds autumn colour, plus Hidcote and Batsford Arboretum
• Harvest farm shops, local produce and Bonfire Night fireworks
• Go Cotswolds autumn favourites, Oxford departures and the Bath Christmas market dates
• Devon's tree tunnels, woodland colour and wildlife on Dartmoor and Exmoor
• Cider, apple orchards, top farm shops and the rise of English vineyards
• What stays open through autumn and when visitor hours start to shorten

LISTENER DISCOUNTS

• Mountain Goat Tours, Lake District: 10% off with code UKTRAV10 https://www.mountain-goat.com
• Go Cotswolds: 5% off with code UKTRAVPLAN https://www.gocotswolds.co.uk
• Unique Devon Tours: https://www.uniquedevon.tours

Show notes - Episode 216

Part two lands next week with the far north of Scotland and London. 

If autumn is in your plans, send us a message via SpeakPipe and tell us where you are heading, and do share this with anyone planning a UK trip. Reviews help other travellers find the podcast. 

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 ...

September in London feels calmer, brighter and more walkable once the school holiday rush fades. This is the first episode of our monthly London bonus series from London Travel Planning, looking 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 by Charley Sullivan from their London team.

Everything you need to know if you are visiting London in September 2026, from the weather to the tickets that sell out first.

• September crowds: what changes once the school holidays end
• Weather and packing: highs of 19 to 20°C, lows of 12 to 13°C, and why layers win
• Daylight hours: 13.5 at the start of the month, 11.5 by the end
• Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum: sold out, and how to get tickets for 2027
• British Museum membership: what it costs and what priority booking gets you
• Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, extended to April 2027
• Buckingham Palace State Rooms: the last month of the year they are open
• Ceremony of the Keys: a rare photo-free experience, and how to visit with the VIP WalksDevour option
• Free and quirky: Totally Thames, Open House Festival and the Southwark Bridge sheep drive
• London Fashion Week and the Last Night of the Proms
• UK ETA: what it costs, when to apply and which sites to avoid
• Tour of the month: London in a Day, plus private options and accessibility
• Correction: the Sheep Drive is on Sunday 27 September 2026, not October as mentioned in the episode

EXCLUSIVE LISTENER OFFER: 5% off WalksDevour tours with code UKTP5. Book before midnight UK time on 10 September 2026, valid on any tour departing to the end of 2026.
👉 Book with WalksDevour here

Do you have a question about visiting London or about the WalksDevour tours? Leave us a message on SpeakPipe, and we will put it to Charley in the next bonus episode on 24 September. 

📝 Show Notes - Bonus episode 1

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 ...