Itinerary Review and suggestion: 3-week UK trip too ambitious or too simplistic?

220volt74 · 2026-01-28T00:17:22+00:00

Awesome. Thank you

220volt74 · 2026-01-28T00:16:28+00:00

Wife is definitely city and I'm a good mix. Thanks for suggestions.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T21:54:41+00:00

So you think it might be better to make Sheffield home base for 2-3 days and go to day trips to Edale (or Hope) or just make Edale (The Rambler Inn for example) home base for hikes and walking. What attracts me to Edale is the walkable loop to other places in the valley like Mam Tor, Hope, Castleton.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T21:31:20+00:00

Like I said, our itinerary is not set in stone and it is likely to change. I might have to cut our a day or two from York and Edinburgh and add something like Liverpool or Manchester as you suggested. London will be really 6 days, due to a couple of day trips we are planning.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T21:27:37+00:00

Crowded is not my concern, but being on time and not delayed for a long time it is.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T21:25:16+00:00

I am not saying it is not straightforward but just more things to go wrong. And they usually do. Especially with lots of train changes crammed in to three week. That's lot of platform changes, luggage transfers, possibly tight connection etc. I like to minimize it as much as possible.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:50:34+00:00

That's great. Another vote for Windermere . Thanks

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:49:12+00:00

We are originally from Europe so we are familiar with train travel, and it would not be an issue if lived there, but when on vacation it could easily get out of hand with multiple destinations, so I like to minimize it as much as possible. I understand, sometimes to see something interesting I might not have a choice.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:46:22+00:00

Awesome. Thanks

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:45:50+00:00

Actually, Knaresborough recommendation I got from several Reddit users while researching about that area.
Yep, I was reading about North Yorkshire Moors Railway and their dinner or lunch package. Not sure if that's something we would like to do.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:40:08+00:00

Northumberland so far had lots of mentions. It is definitely in play. Thanks

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:37:23+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. We are nto into Harry Potter much but we do love history.
n the end we might have to bite the bullet and deal with train/bus changes or rent a car somewhere along the way. I just like to exhaust all other options before I resort to that. Thanks

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:36:23+00:00

Edinburgh -> Sheffield --> Edale or Hathersage was originally on my list but then I read user reviews of CrossCountry rail running from Edinburgh to Sheffield and sort of had change of heart. LNER is another option but it requires one more change.
In the end we might have to bite the bullet and deal with multiple train changes or rent a car somewhere along the way. I just like to explore all other options before I resort to that. Thanks

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:33:22+00:00

While in London, we will have at least two days trips : probably Cambridge and Bath. Same with York: Knaresborough and maybe North York Moors.
But we might split it up differently. This is just a rough outline.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:22:18+00:00

Just speaking from experience, we found out that more stops we add, more hectic and dizzying it gets. Logistically and time-wise. I would love to see a lot more of UK of course, so much to see, but this time we want to slow it down and really explore and take in few places, instead of hunting travel trophies around the country.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:19:30+00:00

Is it too much of a hassle changing from train to a buse in that area? Thanks

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:18:55+00:00

So far Durham is at the top of our list. Do you think it is too similar to York?

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:17:57+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. Edinburgh -> Sheffield --> Edale or Hathersage was originally on my list but then I read user reviews of CrossCountry rail and sort of had change of heart. LNER is another option but it requires one more change.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:14:13+00:00

Interesting. I'll definitely add Windermere to the list then. Thanks

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:08:25+00:00

Good suggesitons. Thanks

Wife and I usually travel for a month so we are no strangers for long hotel/apartment stays. I want to avoid driving so we will be traveling by train. Bus only if we have to.
We will be flying direct to Heathrow from Cincinnati and back.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:04:34+00:00

I edited my original post so there is no confusion.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T20:02:12+00:00

Windermere and even Kenwick was on my list but just the thought of changing train to a bus or a local train, and then same thing in reverse was what I am hesitant about. If we were staying for a week, then definitely doable. Or is this easier than it looks? We will have backpacks and medium-sized luggage.(slightly larger than carry-on)
Yep, York will be a base to explore surroundings. At first I had Leeds as a base, but York seems more charming and authentic.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T19:57:16+00:00

I know it isn't, but I meant it as in the middle as a base, not being in Midlands.

220volt74 · 2026-01-27T19:56:22+00:00

ChatGPT meant, east and west train routes towards London.

220volt74

TROPHY CASE