Episode 25 : Trip Report

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 hear

• 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

Click the blue button below to listen:

Episode 25 – Show Notes

Revisiting favourite destinations in England with Liz Attwood and Melinda Ecker

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The 2 couples had previously visited England on a coach trip in 2019 but felt they did not have enough time to explore some of the destinations so they decided to revisit in 2022 and travel England by train

• The benefit of Liz booked all their train seats on arrival in London at Paddington Station.

• The various accommodation options the couples chose including hotels, B&Bs, VRBO and Airbnb.

• How Liz shipped purchases back to the US from Fortnum and Mason

• Favourite cafes and restaurants in the various places they visited

• How the couples managed with only carry-on luggage for their 3 week trip

• The importance of wearing comfortable clothes and shoes. Particularly shoes!

Places mentioned in this episode include

• London >> Needs no introduction! The UK capital! Read more about planning your trip to London.
• Moreton in Marsh >> Cotswolds market town easy to reach by train from Oxford.
• Glastonbury >> Town located in Somerset famous for the Glastonbury festival held there most years.
• Salisbury >> Famous Cathedral city located near Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
• Stratford upon Avon >> Famous for being the home of William Shakespeare.
• Bourton on the Water >> Popular Cotswolds village
• St Ives >> Seaside town located in Cornwall
• Fortnum and Mason >> Luxury London department store
• Harry Potter Studios >> An easy day trip from London by tour or train
• Hampton Court Palace >> Former home and palace of Tudor King Henry VIII
• Oxford >> Famous University city
• Cambridge >> Famous University city and rival to Oxford
• Bath >> UNESCO World Heritage City
• York >> Historic city located in northern England famous for its Minster and Viking history.
• York Minster >> Magnificent cathedral located in the heart of York
• Castle Howard >> Popular day trip destination from York
• Minack Theatre >> Open-air theatre located in Cornwall
• St Michael’s Mount >> Tidal island located in Cornwall
• Castle Howard >> Historic house and gardens located near York

• Eateries – cafes and restaurants

⭐️ A PDF transcript of this episode is available to download here.