In this week's episode of the podcast Tracy chats with guest Victoria of Cotswold Teacup Tours about all things British.

The episode was recorded as a live Facebook session to answer questions posed by the UK Travel Planning Facebook group. (Click here and request to join)

In this episode Tracy and Victoria chat about topics such as their love of tea, why they enjoy visiting gardens (and name some of the favourites) plus why they recommend staying in a B&B or heading to a local village pub if you want to meet the locals when travelling the UK,.

They also answer questions such as where to stay in London, their favourite UK foods, recommended castle hotels and more destination specific topics such as the best place to eat in Chipping Camden in the Cotswolds for afternoon tea or a roast dinner, and how long to actually allow for a visit to the Tower of London.

They also chat about the books they're reading at the moment which are set in or about the UK.

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit UKTravelPlanning.com/episode-33

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

Still planning your UK or Ireland trip?

Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning everything yourself. With departures from cities such as Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. 

Have a look at their tours and any current offers on their website - Rabbies.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

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Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast ...

In episode 32 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast Tracy chats with Australian Wendie Hume who, in October 2022, spent a month exploring England, Scotland and Wales on a road trip with her husband. 

Wendie wanted to see as much of Britain as possible, including where her grandparents originated from in northern England. 

Wendie shares information about how she planned the trip, where they stayed, her highlights, favourite experiences and tours plus tips for anyone planning their own UK road trip.

In this episode, you will discover

• How Wendie planned their 31 day driving trip around Britain
• The various destinations Wendie included in her itinerary including the highlights of each
• The different accommodation options they chose and why Wendie loved staying in B&B's during their trip
• Tips from Wendie for anyone planning their own UK trip
• Wendie's recommended tour options and experiences - Meneage Tours and the Jacobite Steam Train were particular favourites.
• What Wendie packed for her trip (and what she wished she hadn't)
• What surprised Wendie about the UK
• Wendie's number 1 tip for anyone planning to visit the UK

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit UKTravelPlanning.com/episode-32

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

Still planning your UK or Ireland trip?

Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning everything yourself. With departures from cities such as Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. 

Have a look at their tours and any current offers on their website - Rabbies.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 ...

In episode 31 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast learn about 9 of London's main train stations including Kings Cross, Euston and Paddington!

If you are planning train travel from London but are not familiar with the city it can be confusing to navigate its major London train stations.

Whether you plan to journey from London for a day trip by train to one of the popular cities or attractions nearby or for a longer rail adventure around the UK these are the train stations you will be using. It is also worth considering when planning your accommodation in London so you are not spending too much time crossing the city to access train services.

In this podcast learn about

• Each of the principal train stations you may use if you are travelling from London to other destinations in the UK including Kings Cross, St Pancras and Liverpool Street Stations
• The locations of each of the train stations
• Which train stations connect to which London airports (for your arrival or departure) 
• Which areas of the country each station serves
• Examples of travel times to popular UK destinations 
• Answers to commonly asked questions about rail travel in the UK

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit UKTravelPlanning.com/episode-31

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

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 ...

In episode 30 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast Doug and I talk through our Scotland road trip itinerary from May 2022. We spent 18 days travelling around Scotland - starting and ending in Edinburgh.

We carefully planned our itinerary to make the most of our time in Scotland and visited many beautiful destinations. We also spent 5 days of the trip driving the famous North Coast 500 route around far north Scotland. 

What you will learn in this episode

• How we planned our Scottish road trip
• Our exact day-to-day itinerary
• Information about each destination
• The highlights along the way (there were many)
• Where we saw Highland cows 
• What it was like driving part of the North Coast 500
• Some of our favourite accommodation choices
• Things we learnt along the way and tips to help make the most of your Scottish road trip.

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-30/

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

Still planning your UK or Ireland trip?

Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning everything yourself. With departures from cities such as Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. 

Have a look at their tours and any current offers on their website - Rabbies.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 ...

In episode 29 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast, we chat with Ken Lambert a lifelong fan of the Beatles and in particular George Harrison.

In 2022 Ken bid on (and subsequently won that bid) to purchase George Harrison's childhood home in Liverpool.

In this podcast, he shares his fascinating story from George Harrison fan to now owner of a property closely associated with the Beatles. Also, learn how you can actually now stay in the former Beatles home - an absolute must for any Beatles fan.

He shares how he redecorated the front room using photographs taken in the late 1950s and early 1960s. And it is in this front room the Quarrymen practised and where George, John and Paul's creative juices flowed.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How to book a stay at Upton Green >> Email [email protected] and quote "Upton Green/ UK Travel Planning" in the subject line
• Information about Ken's Facebook group >> See more photos and videos of the Beatles and Upton Green here
• The story behind Ken's love of the Beatles and in particular George Harrison and how he ended up placing the winning bid to purchase the Upton Green property
• Information about when George Harrison lived in the house.
• How Ken redecorated the front room home to look as it did in the days when George lived there and Paul and John would practice with him.
• How Ken since he purchased the house has met many people associated with the Beatles including the manager of the Cavern Club in the 1960s and some former members of the Quarrymen.
• Ken's number one tip for any Beatles fan visiting Liverpool

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit UKTravelPlanning.com/episode-29

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

Still planning your UK or Ireland trip?

Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning everything yourself. With departures from cities such as Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. 

Have a look at their tours and any current offers on their website - Rabbies.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 ...

In episode 28 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast, we chat with Rob Bruns about his family's week-long visit to London in the summer of 2022. This visit was at the end of a month-long trip around England and Scotland (you can hear our chat with Rob about the previous 3 weeks of the journey in episode #18)

In this episode, you will learn

• How Rob planned their London itinerary
• A day-by-day account of what they did and where they visited
• How Rob and his family took 2 day trips out of London and how they got there
• Where they stayed in London
• The souvenirs they purchased
• Their favourite experiences in London included taking part in the Big British Bake-off
• Which afternoon tea the Bruns family enjoyed in London
• Their favourite places to eat (including ice cream and for bubble waffles)
• How Rob and Heather prepared their 11-year-old son for the trip

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit UKTravelPlanning.com/episode-28

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

Still planning your UK or Ireland trip?

Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning everything yourself. With departures from cities such as Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. 

Have a look at their tours and any current offers on their website - Rabbies.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 ...

In episode 27 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast discover the magical beauty of the Cotswolds with Victoria from Cotswold Teacup Tours.

"The Cotswolds is such a beautiful and quintessential English part of the country. And to live in it and to be able to take tours around there I'm not surprised you absolutely love it." -Tracy

Victoria is the owner of Cotswold Teacup Tours which takes small groups on private tours of the Cotswolds. She loves the area and is passionate about sharing her local knowledge and experience of this beautiful part of England.

In this podcast, Victoria chats with Tracy about the Cotswolds and answers a variety of questions from members of the UK Travel Planning Facebook group. 
She also shares interesting stories and photos of the Cotswolds including photos she took of the snow which fell in the Cotswolds in December 2022.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

• Discover the beauty of the UK in winter by exploring the picturesque snow-covered Cotswolds.
• Learn about some favourite English pubs and tea rooms in the Cotswolds.
• Uncover a little of the history of the Cotswolds. 
• Learn about locally produced foods, goods and souvenirs available to purchase when you visit.
• A few walks that you can take in the Cotswolds.
• Find out how to book a private tour of the Cotswolds with Victoria's Cotswold Teacup Tours

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit UKTravelPlanning.com/episode-27

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

Still planning your UK or Ireland trip?

Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning everything yourself. With departures from cities such as Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. 

Have a look at their tours and any current offers on their website - Rabbies.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 ...

In episode 26 of the UK Travel Planning podcast, we discuss the various train routes available between London and Edinburgh. 

Learn about the various options you have to travel by train between London and Edinburgh plus suggested places to stop off along the way. 

We share how it is possible to spend a few hours in York (plus what to do with luggage) and what you can do and see in the city. Durham and Newcastle are also discussed as possible places to alight the train for a few hours before continuing to Edinburgh.

We share some tips about what to look out for along the route north of Durham and also where to sit on the train for the best views of the Northumberland Coast.

Various ticket and pass options are discussed including the BritRail pass and Global Eurail Pass.

Train route options back to London are covered too including which major cities through which each route passes. Learn about the various trains that operate on these lines including the Caledonian Sleeper Service and Lumo service.

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-26/

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

Connect with us - Website | Newsletter | Facebook group | Instagram | YouTube

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 ...

In episode 25 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast, I chat with friends Liz Attwood and Melinda Ecker who, with their respective husbands, Kent and Ken, planned a trip to revisit the destinations they had enjoyed during a coach tour around England together in 2019. 

While the coach tour had provided them with an introduction to many places they just knew they had to return for further exploration and to spend a few days in their favourite destinations. And in September 2022 the 2 couples did just that travelling around England by train.

In this episode, you will learn

• How Liz and Melinda planned their trip
• The destinations they chose to revisit including London, the Cotswolds, Bath, St Ives and York plus highlights of their itinerary
• Accommodation options they recommend
• Their experiences of train travel in the UK and using BritRail Passes
• Favourite cafes and restaurants along the way
• Favourite tours and day excursions
• How they travelled around England for 3 weeks with only carry-on 
• Their top tip for anyone planning a trip to the UK

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-25/

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

Connect with us - Website | Newsletter | Facebook group | Instagram | YouTube

Still planning your UK or Ireland trip?

Rabbie's small-group tours are a brilliant way to see more without the hassle of driving or planning everything yourself. With departures from cities such as Edinburgh, London and Dublin, it's easy to add a multi-day adventure to your itinerary. 

Have a look at their tours and any current offers on their website - Rabbies.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 ...

In this episode, we address one of the most frequently raised questions from those planning a visit to London. The question is quite simply how to get around London on public transport.

The good news is that the public transport system in London is excellent with many options available to get around. The downside however is that all those options can be a bit mind-boggling!

First-time visitors to London and returning travellers alike can find the transport system a real challenge. With multiple forms of transport on offer and multiple ways of getting around London, it can make travel planning seem very daunting.

This podcast is aimed at introducing you to the many options available for getting around London to make it a little less stressful and more fun!

In this episode, you will learn 

• The various public transport options in London includes the Underground (or Tube), Overground trains, the Elizabeth Line, London buses, Docklands Light Railway and Uber Boat. 
• The different methods of paying for transport in London such as the Oyster card and contactless.
• Practical tips to help you get around London.

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-24/

>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.

Connect with us - Website | Newsletter | Facebook group | Instagram | YouTube

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 ...