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Planning a trip to the UK and Ireland | The ultimate guide

So, check out our tips and advice on how to arrange the perfect UK and Ireland getaway.

Visiting the UK and Ireland is the ultimate trip of the year! Prosperous cities, significant historical and cultural backgrounds, stunning landscapes, and friendly people are all in one package. However, planning the holiday thoroughly requires some time, and if this is your first time visiting the region, or the first time planning this big of a trip, you will need some guidance. So, check out our tips and advice on how to arrange the perfect UK and Ireland getaway!

When to visit
While England, Scotland, and Ireland are all incredible places and stay that way throughout the whole year, it is still in your best interest to know which time is considered best for visitation!

For example, while June to August is the most popular time slot, naturally, it means that it also gets the most crowded. Therefore, if you wish to avoid brushing your shoulders, we suggest you plan your Ireland, England, and Scotland trip during other months. 

Weather-wise, yes, summer is the most pleasant time. However, if you travel in early autumn or late spring, it is highly possible to enjoy your time just the same, just without the crowds. That being said, there are always tourists here, so it would be impossible to avoid them altogether, so be prepared for that! 

The museums, monumental sites, and other popular attractions are mostly open all year long, so you should have no problem whenever you choose to go. In this case, our winners are May and September! 

Know your budget
Tours to Scotland, England, or Ireland are typically not the cheapest. That being said, you can plan a trip on a budget if needed! In either case, let’s look through the average pricings. 

  • Accommodations: in Scotland, the approximate price of a hotel is £115, while holiday rentals are usually about £220 per night. In England, you will pay around £220 per night at a hotel, and about €160 in Ireland. 
  • Food: for a meal in an average restaurant in Scotland, you will probably pay around £30-£35, and £25 in England. The Irish charge the least, in this case, approximately €20 per meal. 
  • Sightseeing: there are free sites and expensive tours in all three, but if you mix it up, you can save up quite a lot of money. We suggest you do close research on prices once you have your itinerary. 
  • Transportation: an average bus ticket is £3, taxis are around £5 per mile, plus the additional £4.20 initial charge, and trains usually cost around £20 if you travel to the neighboring city. 

Keep in mind that you should also have some money aside for gifts and souvenirs or spontaneous tours and trips! 


Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Transportation
Now that we have mentioned trains and buses, it is time to get a closer look at the transport system in the UK and Ireland. Public transportation is your number one friend during the trip since there are numerous different options of trails and roads, not to mention the pricing is adequate at most times. 

Of course, you can also choose rental cars to be completely free of schedules and timetables, as you will get to be your own driver. This means going anywhere you want, anytime you want! However, this is quite a luxury considering the prices. Also, what about driving on a different side of the road? If you are new to this, that can be dangerous. 

On the other hand, if you choose to navigate by bus, your trip instantly becomes more manageable. Euroline bus services offer quick and comfortable rides all throughout the countries and journeys to travel in between them. 

The trains operate in a similar way, so you can take the train from Glasgow to London, and then go from London to Dublin! However, they are usually more agreeable when you cross city borders, for example, Manchester to Leeds, and so on. The most important thing to remember is to purchase the tickets beforehand. Actually, the UK is considered to have the second-cheapest railway travel in Europe if the tickets are booked a month in advance, but the most expensive if booked on the same day. 


Image by Sally Wynn from Pixabay

Itinerary
Now that you know all the basic information, it is time to plan the perfect itinerary! 

When planning a trip to Scotland, make sure to include visiting Edinburgh Castle, seeing Lake Lomond, and spending some time in Scottish Highlands. In addition, visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Stirling Castle to gain cultural knowledge. Overall, we suggest you take your time exploring the cities and villages, as they are incredibly scenic and have so much to offer! 

When you reach England, do it with a plan! There is simply too much to see and do, so you will need a good itinerary for it. We suggest you include the British and Natural History Museums, as well as Windsor Castle and the London Bridge. While these are all the most popular tourist places you might consider a cliche, they are important for a reason and gives you an excellent comprehension of what England really is. 

You should also travel to Stonehenge and, if possible, make a day trip to Cambridge to get the essence of one of the oldest universities in the world, as well as a mind-blowing campus and student town. 

The Emerald Isle is like a magical fairytale setting in itself. With so many natural attractions and historically significant monuments, it is difficult to know where to start, but we will happily give you some pointers. Go see the Cliffs of Moher and Giant’s Causeway, as well as the Killarney National Park, for the best natural landscapes. Also, spend some time exploring Dublin, and make sure to hit some pubs! The Irish are extremely proud of their beer and whiskey. As they should be! 

There you go! With our ultimate guide, you are surely more than capable of planning the perfect trip, so wait no more. Check the dates, the prices, and desired objects. UK and Ireland await. Good luck! 

Main image by David Mark from Pixabay

News Editor - TravelDailyNews Media Network | + Posts

Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.

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