Heading Across The Pond, Sights?

My vacation for the year is rapidly approaching, and as luck would have it the wife and I are heading to the UK with a couple of good friends. We are flying into London and staying there for about 4 days. Then we get a rental car and head north, stopping in Leeds on the way up to Edinburgh. Stay there for 2 days and then head down the west coast stopping in Stratford upon Avon. Then back to London to drop off our friends (they have kids, so have to shortcut the trip a few days) and then the wifey and I head over to Bath for the final day or two.

We tried to get tickets to get into Top Gear filming but have not heard any sort of response so that is probably out. The lotus factory is opposite of where we are going to be and the Isle of Man will not be in the picture either. Now I can probably finagle one car related even when traveling with the other couple, and the wife is a car person so going to something around Bath is also possible.

Not that being said I am not sure where anything else that would be cool to see might be. Any cool places I might try to go see?

Any cars I might try to use as checked baggage and bring back?

I would try to rent something sporty and spend a day lapping Olton Park.

If you're going to visit Scotland, don't just stay in Edinburgh. Drive up through the highlands. I did a little tour of Glasgow -> Loch Lomond -> Oban -> Fort William -> Edinburgh last year. One of the most absolutely beautiful drives I've ever done. Hell, one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to in general. I only had three days but that was lots of time to go hiking in the foothills around Ben Nevis and do a distillery tour (naturally); the distances aren't as far as they look on a map, but the roads can be slow going.

Avebury was cool. Similar to Stonehenge, with out the touristy no touch rules.

Bath is cool. As you can visit the Roman baths and check out the Crescent.

And I agree about touring Scotland. The Western Highlands were fantastic. Saw castles and Pict ruins. Great backroads and fish-n-chips. Only regret was not visiting the Island of Skye.

Just went to Scotland, myself.

Highlands:

The family castle:

And if you get the opportunity to drive around Perthshire, take it...

Get off the motorways and take the smaller A and B raods. But rememebr, the roads are quite narrow and sometimes a smaller A and B road becomes a single lane road for long stretches.

More here:

Scotland trip pictures...

I was in London for a day once. You can just walk around the city or get a ticket for a tour bus and see an awful lot of stuff. Every 20 feet, there is something famous! 10 Downing Street! Parliament! Big Ben! Famous Church! Trafalgar Square! Museum! Place where Royal People Live!

I would recommend The Tower of London. It's cool to walk up stairs that were laid down in 1100-something and have been in use ever since. There is a lot to see inside including the Crown Jewels, an Armory, and the place where they beheaded royalty. Chop!

You should also hit a pub for lunch. Order food and drinks from the bartender, and the waitress will bring it out. If you sit at a table waiting for service you will look like a dumb tourist. (ask me how I know) HP Sauce on fries rocks!

Dont' know if this is close to where you're going but it's a place I'd like to go to: http://www.duns.bordernet.co.uk/tourist/attractions/clark.html

Fellow club members went to England years ago on a guys-only car related trip. Within 45 minutes of touchdown they were in an Austin Healy parts dealer. They stopped by Stratford upon Avon, but could not get out fast enough. Said it was the tourist trap from hell. Worse than Disney World.

One of the guys brought back a set of wire wheels packed into his luggage. Of course you couldn't to that now without paying more than the shipping would cost.

They also learned to eat most of their meals in pubs. If you see empty seats right inside the door, don't take them. Those are "handicapped" seats and the locals will burn holes through your bodies with their glare.

Glad this thread came along. The Wife and I are going to London for a week in July.

InigoMontoya wrote: Any cars I might try to use as checked baggage and bring back?

A Caterham might make it as a carry on.

Try the Heritage Motor Center for a little local culture

So many great choices!

If you have any interest in MG's and their history, this article provides a handy guide to the charming market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, not far west of London: Abingdon for MG Enthusiasts

Since the trip is planned in terms of where we are staying every night the Highlands will have to wait. However my one side trip up in that area is to go to the castle they used in Monty Python for The Search For the Holy Grail.

I might try that MG place to visit, the wife and I might like that since we are headed towards Bath anyway.

Stratford upon Avon is for the others, and since we are only staying there on the way back down we cannot spend time around the town.

InigoMontoya wrote: ...my one side trip up in that area is to go to the castle they used in Monty Python for The Search For the Holy Grail.

That's Doune Castle, very near Stirling. Our route took as by it, so we parked next to a baby blue Triumph TR2 and walked around the castle grounds. The movie shows the castle's exterior pretty well - you couldn't mistake it. The grounds (along the river Teith) are lovely but they're not gardens and they're not expansive. The castle (interior) was closed to visitors on the day we were there, and I can't honestly say visiting Duone Castle was among the high points of our visit to Scotland.

However, we stayed that night in a bed-and-breakfast and toured Stirling Castle the next morning. IMHO, it's as historic and architecturally interesting as you're likely to find anywhere. Great views over the surrounding countryside. Our guide was exceptional. Take note that a project is underway to create absolutely authentic full scale reproductions of the famous "Hunt for the Unicorn" tapestry series (in original form with unfaded colors). We particularly enjoyed watching the weaving techniques and studying the design/construction of the looms. Stirling Castle certainly was one of the high points of our Scotland trip.

Our next visit to the isles will include a visit to Donington: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donington_Grand_Prix_Exhibition

London, and England in general, is a good place to get the passport stamped and to get out of. I would not waste money on a car while there since it is much faster and easier to get around on trains and buses. Wait till you hear about the "Congestion Tax" for driving within a delineated area within downtown.

Scotland rules for driving and scenery. WAY fewer people and the scenery is beautiful.

You don't say when you are going, but Goodwood is not until September and would have been worth it if you did nothing else.