In this week's episode of the UK Travel Planning Podcast Tracy shares information and tips for visiting London in December. This is her favourite time of year to visit the UK capital with so much to see and do and the fabulous festive atmosphere to enjoy.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What to expect when visiting London in December
  • What sort of weather you can expect 
  • Hours of daylight in London in December (sunrise and sunset times)
  • What to pack 
• Answers to frequently asked questions about visiting London in December 
• We share some of our favourite things to do in London in December including
  • Enjoying the Christmas lights
  • Taking a festive tour whether a walking tour, cruise down the Thames, Christmas market tour or bus tour
  • Some of our favourite markets
  • Special events such as at Kew Gardens or Harry Potter studios
  • Going to a Pantomime
  • Talking a stroll through one of the Royal Parks
• What is open (and closed) on Christmas Day plus suggestions about things to do
• What is open (and closed) on Boxing Day plus suggestions about things to do
• Information about public transport in London on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-23/

>> 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
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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 ...

In episode 22 of the UK Travel Planning podcast, I chat with special guest Debbie Harsen about her month-long trip to England and Scotland in 2022 with her eldest adult daughter Emily.

Debbie lives in Pennsylvania and has a lifelong love of the UK.  She is an experienced traveller who has visited the UK on many occasions. This was her daughter Emily's first trip.

In this episode, Debbie shares UK travel inspiration plus tips about how she planned her trip, how they got around, their favourite destinations, favourite foods and how both herself and Emily managed to pack for a month with carry-on and no checked baggage!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How far in advance Debbie started planning their month long trip and useful resources she found to help her plan.
• How Emily and Debbie worked together to plan their itinerary and choose the destinations to visit on this trip.
• Why Debbie decided to use tour companies for two main parts of the their trip.
• Debbie and Emily's highlights - both experiences and destinations.
• Favourite foods including good ole British fish and chips and Sunday Roast.
• Their favourite accommodations during their stay.
• Day trip destinations from London including Bath, Stonehenge and Canterbury.
• Debbie's tips for anyone planning a trip to the UK for the first time.

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-22/

>> 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 episode 21 of the podcast, we share our favourite experiences from our 12-week spring/summer tour of England and Scotland.

These include 3 very different accommodation options, a castle famous for appearing in a popular TV costume drama, a road trip, a train ride, a photoshoot in London, a football match and a landmark which is the title of a song associated with Vera Lynn.

We have chosen experiences which include destinations in England (including London) and Scotland and we know will provide inspiration for your own travels around the UK.

We struggled to choose only 10 and I am sure if we chose on a different day we would probably come up with a different list.

Listen to this episode to discover our favourites.

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-21/

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 episode 20 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast Tracy chats with Victoria of Cotswold Teacup Tours. Victoria has lived in the Cotswolds her entire life and is the founder and owner of the Cotswold Teacup Tour company.

In this episode, Victoria provides an introduction to the Cotwolds including sharing some of her favourite towns, villages, and gardens plus insider secrets and knowledge.

If you are considering a visit to the Cotswolds in this episode you will learn about the area but also how Victoria plans her bespoke private tours based on the interests and needs of her guests to ensure they have an unforgettable experience exploring this beautiful area of England. 

Learn about

• Victoria's background and why she started Cotswold Teacup Tours
• What makes the Cotswolds area of England so special
• Information about the Cotswolds such as its size and how long it takes to drive from east to west and north to south (it's longer than you may think)
• Examples of the bespoke tours that Victoria has created for previous guests including tours which include activities of interest to children and also her new luxury shopping tour of the Cotswolds
• Some of Victoria's favourite towns, villages, pubs, and gardens
• What to expect on a tour with Victoria (she shares some of her favourite hidden gems too!)
• How to book and join a tour with Victoria of Cotswold Teacup Tours
• Frequently asked questions from people on her tours about the Cotswolds
• Victoria's top tip for those planning a visit to the Cotswolds

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-20/

>> 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 discover our top tips to help you choose the best day trip/s from London including factors to consider when deciding which day trips to add to your itinerary.

You will get a taste of some of the most popular day trip options plus practical considerations which may influence your choice of where to visit. This includes your interests, how far you want to travel plus the advantages and disadvantages of independent travel, group tours or private driver-guided tour options.

In the second segment of the podcast, John Coupland of John England Tours who specialises in private driver-guided tours of SE England shares with us trends he has experienced in 2022 for those who have booked day tours from London with him plus 3 of his most popular options including Tudor and Medieval-focused day trips.

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-19/

>> 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 this episode, Tracy chats with Rob Bruns who, with his wife and son,  spent 4 weeks exploring the UK in June 2022. Rob shares information about how he planned the trip (including the various resources) plus his process of putting together the itinerary which was suitable not only for himself and his wife but also their (at the time) 11 year old son.

He also gives an overview of their 4 week itinerary including the various destinations they visited, highlights of the trip plus accommodation options, favourite restaurants and more.

Rob shares how he managed driving in the UK and how he prepared for this experience (spoiler alert - he really enjoyed driving on the other side of the road!) with the help of Tripiamo.

Other topics covered in this episode include packing for a 4 week trip, enjoying the British tradition of afternoon tea and his tips for others planning a trip to the UK.

What you will learn in this episode

• How Rob planned their trip to the UK including the various resources and systems he used to keep track of the itinerary as it developed
• How Rob managed the itinerary so that it catered for every member of the family
• How the Bruns family got around England and Scotland - including how Rob prepared to drive in the UK and how he coped with rail strikes which impacted some of their plans
• The different accommodation options Rob chose plus his favourites
• Highlights of the trip - both destinations and experiences
• Their favourite restaurants and British foods they tried along the way
• How the Bruns family planned and managed laundry stops during the trip
• How the family packed for their trip 
• What surprised Rob about the trip
• His top tip for anyone planning to visit the UK for the first time

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-18/

>> 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 of the podcast, Tracy talks to Sinead who lives in the beautiful and historic city of York in northern England.  Sinead shares her favourite day trips from York including practical tips and considerations to ensure you make the most of your day.

In this episode you will :

• Discover the best day trips to take from York including scenic train journeys, coastal seaside towns, ruined abbeys, stately homes, waterfalls, walks and more.
• Learn about the geography of Yorkshire - the largest county in England.
• Discover the county's famous literary, historic and even Hollywood movie connections. 
• Hear practical tips and information to help you to plan your day trips from York.

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-17/

>> 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, Tracy is joined by Domi of Scalens Studio a professional photographer who specialises in London photoshoots.  

After travelling the world and many destinations solo Domi realised that it was not easy getting great photos of herself to record her adventures. When she moved to London she decided to offer photoshoots for visitors to ensure they would have great memories of their visit.

Listen now to learn:

• The advantages of booking a London photoshoot
• How Domi will prepare you for the photoshoot to ensure you get the most out of the experience
• Some of the most popular areas of London for those iconic shots
• Answers to commonly asked questions such as how many outfits to take (and where you can get changed) and what happens if it is raining on the day of your shoot
• The special offer code from Domi for 10 extra shots for free 
• How to book a photoshoot with Domi

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-16/

>> 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 of the podcast we chat to guest Tina Lou Lang who (with a friend) spent 14 days in April 2022 exploring Ireland. Tina chose to visit Ireland as it was a bucket list destination chosen by herself and her late husband. In 2022 in memory and honour of her husband Tina visited many of the destinations they had on their bucket list including Ireland.

In this episode Tina shares her itinerary, highlights and tips she learnt after exploring both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland over a 14 day period.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• An overview of Tina's 14-day itinerary
• How Tina put together her itinerary
• The highlights of the trip including a few hidden gems 
• How Tina travelled around Ireland
• How Tina managed her extensive food allergies when travelling Ireland
• Tina's thoughts (and tips) for driving in Ireland
• Tips for anyone planning a visit to Ireland

For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-15/

>> 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, Tracy is joined by friend and UK and London Travel Planning Facebook community member Karen who is in the final stages of planning a 5 week trip to the UK. Karen (and her family) have not been to the UK for over 8 years and in this episode, Karen chats to Tracy about her recent 3-month vacation around England and Scotland.

As well as asking Tracy questions posed by the UK and London Travel  Facebook Community Karen, is keen to get some up-to-date insights and tips for travel to the UK.

In this episode you will discover:

• The highlights of Tracy and Doug's 3 month trip to the UK
• Their favourite destinations and experiences 
• The logistics of planning a trip to the UK
• Considerations when planning travel around the UK by rail or car
• What to eat in the UK (and the best restaurants for some traditional British meals)
• What to pack for the UK climate
• Money - Cash versus card in the UK
• Tips to help save money and budget on the go
• How they accessed WiFi
• What they took (but wished they hadn't)
• What souvenirs they purchased
• A destination in London you need to add to your itinerary
• Tracy's top tips for anyone planning their visit to the UK

For further information and the show notes from this episode visit https://uktravelplanning.com/episode-14/

The podcast also has an accompanying private Facebook group where you can meet fellow travellers who are planning their UK travel adventures. Go to the UK and London Travel Planning Facebook group to join our community.

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

Show Credits:
Presenter: Tracy Collins

>> 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 ...