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Planning a Trip to the UK in 2026: Essential Tips for First-Time Visitors · UK Travel Planning

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_02: If you're considering a trip to the UK in 2026 and starting to think about the planning, now is a great time to get organised.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_02: In this episode, we're sharing essential tips and what you need to know about travelling to the UK in 2026 to help you plan with confidence.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: Your host is the founder of the UK travel planning website, Tracy Collins.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Each week, Tracy shares destination guides, travel tips and itinerary ideas, as well as interviews with a variety of guests who share their knowledge and experience of UK travel to help you plan your perfect UK vacation.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: Join us as we explore the UK from cosmopolitan cities to quaint villages, from historic castles to beautiful islands, and from the picturesque countryside to seaside towns.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_02: Before we get started, we'd like to thank our sponsor, Walks and Devour Tours.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_02: If you're planning a trip to London, you'll already know the challenge.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_02: There's a lot you want to do and only a limited amount of time to fit it all in.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_02: That's where the right tour makes all the difference because you want experiences that are the best use of your time with more access, less waiting, and a deeper sense of the city.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_02: That's why we recommend Walks and Devour Tours.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_02: They offer walk-in tours and food tours designed to make your time count, often with early or after hours entry.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_02: You'll also be with exceptional local guides who add the stories and context so you leave with a richer understanding of what you're seeing and a trip that feels genuinely memorable.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_02: If you're visiting London as a couple with family or you simply prefer a more intimate experience, Walks and Devour Tours also offer private tour options.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_02: To learn more, you'll find the link in the show notes.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_02: Now let's get into this week's episode.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_02: If you're planning a trip to the UK in 2026 and feel a bit overwhelmed, you're not alone.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_02: We hear this all the time.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_02: You're excited about your trip but maybe worried about making the right choices, booking the things that actually matter, or simply not knowing where to start.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_02: The practical side of planning can feel challenging, whether you should travel by train or by car, where you should stay, choosing what to see and do, what to leave out, how soon you really need to book things, how to keep everyone in your travel party happy, which is often not easy.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: No.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_02: We know that.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_02: And which decisions actually need to be made early.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_02: I'm Tracy, and together my husband Doug.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_02: Hello there.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_02: We run UK travel planning.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_02: Between us, we help thousands of travelers every year plan trips to the UK.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_02: We spend time answering questions, reviewing itineraries, and seeing exactly where people can get stuck.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_02: Our aim is to reduce stress and overwhelm and to help you save time and money by making clearer decisions.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_01: Yep, and I'm Doug, and as our resident train expert, I see firsthand how transport choices, timing and planning order can make a huge difference to how your trip actually feels once you're there.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_01: Everything we're sharing in this episode comes from real trips and real itineraries.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_01: We've helped people plan, not theory or generic advice.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_01: By the end of this episode, you'll know what actually matters, what can wait, and where to focus first.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: So planning your UK trip feels clearer and less overwhelming.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, we can make it easier for you to plan a trip to the UK, and there are a lot of things to consider really when planning your itinerary.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_02: And once you kind of understand those, everything else becomes much easier.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_02: So in this episode, we're going to walk you through what you really need to know to plan a trip to the UK in 2026.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_02: We'll help you understand what's changed, what to prioritize, and how to approach your planet in a way that feels manageable, not overwhelming.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_01: So whether this is your first trip or you've been to the UK before, our goal is to help you feel confident that you're making the right decisions from the very start.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yep.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_02: And remember, there's no one perfect UK itinerary.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_02: There's the itinerary that suits your pace, your interests, and the people you're traveling with.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm going to just say we're going to go through lots of different points.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and I don't want you to feel overwhelmed because the whole point of this is to prevent that.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_02: So you don't need to write all the things down.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_02: First of all, um you just check the show notes for this episode 182, which will be on the website and also in the uh podcast show notes, um, and then you can you know get the links to all the information and everything that we talk about.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so one thing I do want to say before I start is that there's so much information out there at the moment.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_02: It's like information overload.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_02: There's so much on the internet, there's so much from using um AI these days that we just know it can feel really overwhelming.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_02: So we're hoping that our resources, and we know we we have resources and podcasts, and we have the websites, um, but we are trying to kind of help you navigate away through all of this kind of noise that's out there uh when planning a trip.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, let's start with looking at what's different about planning UK travel in 2026.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_02: Um, note that you don't need to write all the points that we're going to go through down, that you can actually find uh links in the show notes for this episode as well.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so one of the things to consider if you're planning to visit in 2026 is how busy the UK is generally all year round, and in even more so during peak seasons, and that's kind of reflected in demand for accommodation, transport, restaurants, car hire and tours.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_02: This is probably no different in 2026 and previous years, but we really did want to start off by just mentioning this.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_02: Popular regions often get booked up earlier than you might expect.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_02: Places like Edinburgh, Scottish Highlands, Isle of Skye, the Lake District can fill up well in advance, particularly when it comes to accommodation.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_02: Um there isn't a huge amount of accommodation there.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_02: So if it's on your list, there's something you really don't want to leave until the last minute.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_02: Popular attractions like Edinburgh Castle can also book out in advance, and we actually have heard from people who have not booked tickets and arrived in Edinburgh and actually not been able to go into the castle.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_02: Now, bearing in mind we're talking about peak season here for this, but also if you're considering like uh limited capacity tours, like if the private or small group, you often need to be, you know, thinking about reserving those earlier as well.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_02: Also, if you're having a car and you need an automatic, that's another thing to be aware of.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_02: Uh as those can be limited and can sell out much faster than manual cars, and that's something we saw in Edinburgh, didn't we?
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_01: We did, yes.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we uh saw a couple, unfortunately, they were given a manual car, they couldn't drive it.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so um there was no automatics available, and the they were just they ended up standing there with the suitcases and had no car.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_02: It was really it was awful.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_01: It is we felt fallen, didn't we?
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we did.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_02: Um, we're also seeing um more travellers combining cities and countrysides, aren't we, Doug?
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so rather than staying in uh say London or just focusing on one region, people are mixing places like London and Edinburgh with York and Yorkshire, the Cotswolds, the Highlands, or Cornwall and many other places.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_01: So a lot of travellers also combine England and Scotland in a single itinerary.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, and we've seen actually more travellers, including Northern Ireland as well.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_01: True, true.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_01: So that kind of trip can be from fantastic, but it does need a bit more planning to make sure it flows well in terms of uh what logistics.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and um well, which is one reason that you've been producing your YouTube videos.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_02: So do check us out on YouTube at UK Travel Planning because Doug's been putting a lot of videos together about how to get around the UK by train.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, recent videos include how to get from London to Bath.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_02: He's working on more videos all the time.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_02: So um, you know, so just check out our YouTube channel if you want to watch how to get from different places and what it's like to travel on the UK by train.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_02: Um, there'll be lots more videos as well coming in uh in the coming year, actually, on YouTube as well.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_02: So, what we recommend is identifying what matters to you and your party.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well, which can take some time, especially when in travelling with a mixed-age travel group, really.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's important, um, and we talk about this a lot when we do um itinerary consults as well, as I guess is is um asking everybody, but everybody in your party what they're interested in as well, and like picking picking must-dos, I guess, for them.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, how wide and varied that can be.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, absolutely.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_02: So again, consider are you a C at all traveller, or do you want to go deeper?
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_02: Do you want one base with day trips, or do you want a point-to-point itinerary?
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_02: Is the trip more about cities, scenery, history, or you know, are you a could just create a small fan or a bridging fan and you want but yeah, do you want to build it around that?
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_02: So there's there's all sorts of different things and uh themes and interests when it comes to visiting the UK.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_02: If there are places you absolutely want to stay, or experiences you really don't want to miss, or regions that are high on your priority list, those are the things to focus on first and then start planning the logistics around it.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_02: Now, and another important thing to remember uh we'll we'll mention this for 2026, um, is even before you get on the plane that you will need if you uh if you're traveling to the UK visa-free, you'll need an ETA, which is an electronic travel authorization.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_02: Now it's not complicated, but it's something people can overlook.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_02: We recommend adding it to your planning checklist early on, and I will add a link to the official government site in the show notes.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_02: Now be really careful, just use the official government link because um there have been uh scammy sites uh trying to are basically charging way, way, way over the odds for this ETA.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_02: So just make sure you go through the UK site.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_02: Um, or if you're an Australian smart traveller, um we'll give you that link as well.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_02: So um it's really worth uh making sure that you have got that.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_02: Well, it's not even worth it, you have to have that.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_02: You have to have it.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_02: Um, to take that bit out with it said worth it.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_02: Um you have to have it if you're traveling to the UK in 2026.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_02: So make sure that you sort your ETA out.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_01: Now, one of the most helpful things we can do at this stage is talk about some of the biggest planning mistakes we have come across when putting together a UK trip so you can avoid them altogether.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we thought this would be really useful just to talk about a few things that we see.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_02: So the first big mistake is trying to see too much.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_02: Now, this is incredibly common, especially for first-time visitors.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_02: Now, the UK looks small on a map, and it's tempting to think you can fit in lots of places in a short amount of time.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_02: But what often happens is that people spend far more time travelling than they expect, far more time in a car, not enough time actually enjoying the places that they've come to see.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_02: Now, again, I'm just gonna say this is your trip.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_02: If you want to fit in lots of different places, that is up to you.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_02: But we would just want to really make you think carefully about this because often we will talk to people who want to do Cornwall and they also want to go to the Scottish Islands and they're only in the UK for a week.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_02: That's just not doable.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, um, so again, I guess that's where it really helps if you're considering where you want to visit and you're getting a bit overwhelmed, is to talk that through with us in a consort.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_01: So, yeah, and closely linked to that is understanding travel times and underestimating travel times.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, definitely underestimated.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_01: So, even when distances look short, journeys in the UK can take longer than people expect.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_01: Trains may involve changes, raw roads are slower than they look, and cities like London take time to move around, can be a lot of time.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_01: This can turn what looks like a relaxed plan to something that feels rushed very quickly.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, another mistake we see a lot is an assumption that because the UK is smaller than many countries, it's easier to get around in the same way everywhere.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_02: In reality, honestly, travelling around London is very different from travelling in the Highlands or the Cotswolds.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_02: The pace, transport options, and distances all change depending on where you are, and planning without accounting for that can lead to frustration and delays and disruption to travel plans.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_01: So, a related issue is treating the UK as one destination rather than a collection of very different regions England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all feel quite distinct.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_01: Even within England, you will find a lot of variety between areas.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: So planning a trip without thinking about these differences can lead to unrealistic expectations and itineraries that don't quite work, such as Cornwall takes longer to get to and around than many people expect.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_01: So planning a one-day visit is not logistically possible from London, for example, unless you want to spend the entire day on the train there and back.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_01: Which I have to say, you have done.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_01: Well, that's me.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_01: I'll spend all day, every day sitting on a train.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, to be fair, you did do that for research purposes.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_02: You took the uh overnight sleeper, didn't you?
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_01: I did.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_01: That's fantastic.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_01: That's cool.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, you did, and then you came back the next day.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_02: So I did.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_02: But it's not something we would recommend.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_02: No.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so one practical mistake we've seen, and one that's often hard to fix later if you didn't book with free cancellation is booking accommodation before understanding the logistics around a proposed itinerary, locking in hotels or holiday rentals early because of worries about limited availability without knowing how you're going to get from place to place can create problems.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_02: Now, during our one-to-one consults and video reviews, we're able to identify and point out if and where plans don't work, and then uh we can suggest alternatives to make plans more realistic, enjoyable, and achievable.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I also want to jump in quickly if I can, uh, to clarify one point about trains that time here all too often.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_01: Many people assume that train tickets in the UK will sell out if they don't book early.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_01: Well, they don't.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_01: Unless you're planning to take a sleeper train service, that is, tickets do not sell out.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_01: So also there's a long morning myth that tickets are available to book sort of 12 weeks in advance.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_01: So, but that's actually more realistic of being six to nine weeks.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_01: So there's exceptions and there's caveats to that.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's Doug's sharing a bit of his um extensive train knowledge there.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_01: And it does irritate me a bit when I keep hearing the myth.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_02: Well, uh I mean, anyway, you've shared that now.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_02: Um, okay, so let's have a look at how to plan a trip to the UK in the in the right order, the order that we suggest.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_02: So the important thing to remember is that the that what we've talked about are very common mistakes, and a bit of structure and the right plan and order can make a huge difference.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_02: So, one of the biggest reasons people feel overwhelmed on planning UK trip is that they're making decisions in the wrong order.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_02: For example, booking accommodation or locking in day trips before you've really thought through how everything fits together.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_02: And as I know there's an overwhelm as well because there's just so much information out there.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but let's talk about a simple plan and order that works and that we use again and again when helping people uh plan their trips.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_01: So, so the first thing to think about is when you're going.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_01: The time of year affects almost everything else, from weather and daylight hours to crowds, prices, and availability.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_01: Travelling in summer, shoulder season or winter can lead to very different experiences.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_01: And knowing when you're going also helps set realistic expectations from the start.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_01: So then it's also worth considering setting a rough budget early on because it will influence how many places you can comfortably include and where you can choose to stay.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely, because uh places like London and Edinburgh, for example, are extremely expensive for accommodation.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so if you set your budget, then you may be able to work out how many days you can spend in London.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_02: Um, if you want to add Edinburgh in, how many days in Edinburgh, or look at accommodation options, um, that may make your trip a little bit more affordable.
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, London is incredibly expensive, I will say that, and that's a lot of feedback we've haven't during recent uh consultations about just how pricey London accommodation is.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_02: So I would imagine for most people London features quite heavily in their itinerary.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so perhaps look at your London parts first of all and accommodation because that is going to be expensive when you're working out uh your budget.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_02: Um, next think about where you're going.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_02: Now, this might sound obvious, but it's more about just listing places you want to visit.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_02: It's also about deciding how many locations actually make sense for the amount of time you have and how those places fit together geographically.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_02: Now, once you've picked your places, plot them on a map.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_02: It might sound basic, but it instantly will show you what groups together and what doesn't.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_02: Fewer places done well nearly always lead to a better experience than trying to squeeze in too much and trying to go from one end of the country to the other.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_02: Really, you need to kind of consider the logistics once you have the idea of places that you want to go to.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_02: Um yeah.
• 16:13
  SPEAKER_01: So once you know when and where, the next step is how you're going to get around.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and also that's a point where I guess m mobility and comfort comes into play as it can affect how you get around and where it makes sense to stay as well.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you've got to consider everybody in the travel group.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_01: So this is a really important decision because it affects the pace of your trip, how much time you spend travelling and how flexible your days are.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_01: Whether you're travelling by train, car, or combination of both will shape your itinerary more than most people realise.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_01: After that comes where you'll stay, when you leave accommodation.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_01: Until this stage, it becomes more easier to choose between places that actually support your itinerary.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_01: For example, choosing accommodation with a car parking or close to a railway station.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's something actually we talk about a lot when we uh talk about when people are hiring cars to consider getting accommodation with car parking because sometimes some places in the UK can actually be quite difficult.
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_02: Finally, you need to look at what needs booking in advance.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_02: This is where you can prioritize the things that really matter to you.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_02: So it might be a specific hotel, a particular tour, a popular attraction or event, or a limited availability experience.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_02: Not everything needs to be booked early, but the things that are most important to your trip usually do, and I would book them.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_02: For example, I'll be in the UK in um April, May, and probably June.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_02: And I really wanted to go to the Chelsea Flower show.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_02: So I have booked my ticket.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_02: I in fact I booked my ticket a good few weeks ago now, and um recording this at the end of December.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_02: So if you want to, if there's something specific you really want to do, another one, for example, would be going to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter studios that gets booked up.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_01: Or to Anfill for the Liverpool football.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, of course, you mentioned that.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, book those.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_02: So once you've got an idea of what you want to do, then start looking.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, you know, get your itinerary together, but think about those experiences that you want to do.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and then you know, those I would be getting booked in and working the rest of your itinerary around that.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_02: Planning in this order helps you avoid a lot of common problems, it will reduce backtracking, cuts down on wasted travel days, and takes so much of the unnecessary stress that comes from trying to force plans to fit together later on.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_02: Um, if you're listening to this and thinking it all makes sense, uh, but you're not quite sure how to apply it to your own trip.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_02: We do have a free UK itinerary planning challenge that walks you through this step by step, and we'll link to that in the show notes.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_02: The key thing to remember is that planning in the right order doesn't mean planning every detail, it just means putting the big pieces in uh place first so everything else becomes easier.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it falls into place.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_01: One of the biggest decisions you'll make when planning a UK trip is how you're going to get around.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_01: This is something people often underestimate, but it really does affect almost every part of your itinerary.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_01: At a high level, most travellers are choosing between trains, a high car, or combination of both.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_01: Neither option is automatically better, and this isn't about finding a single best way to travel, it's about choosing what works best for your specific trip.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_01: So if you're spending most of your time in cities, especially places like London, Edinburgh, or other major towns, trains often make a lot of sense.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_01: They can be efficient, comfortable, and allow you to avoid traffic.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_01: Well, and the parking and the stress of driving in busy areas.
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_01: For many people, traveling by train also means you can relax, enjoy the scenery, and make better use of your travel time.
• 19:35
  SPEAKER_01: For travellers with mobility considerations, trains can also be a good option because stations often have staff assistance available and many services offer step free access.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_01: Although this does vary by station and uh route, it's another reason why understanding your needs early helps you make the right transport choices.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_02: Now, but on the other hand, if your plans include rural areas or more Remote regions, or you have a lot of luggage.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um, a car can offer more flexibility, it can make it easier to reach places that aren't well served by public transport and allow you to explore at your own pace.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_02: However, it also comes down with its own considerations.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_02: Don't say that again, Ryan.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_02: However, it also comes with its own considerations like driving on unfamiliar roads or on the opposite side of the road, parking, and sometimes longer travel days than expected.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_02: This is where the cities versus countryside distinction really matters.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_02: The way you get around London is completely different from the way you'll move around the Highlands, the Lake District, or coastal areas.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_02: Many trips work best with a mix of both, using trains between major cities and a car for specific regions.
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_02: Now, this is something we'll be diving into in much more detail very soon.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_02: In a couple of weeks, we'll be doing a dedicated episode all about getting around the UK, looking at trains versus cars and helping decide what makes the most sense for your trip.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_02: So if this is something you're unsure about, make sure you subscribe so the podcast so you don't miss that episode.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_02: Um for now, just keep this in mind.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_02: There's no single right way to get around the UK, but there is a right truth for your trip.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_01: So let's finish with a quick roundup of practical things that are useful to know for 2026.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_01: Cash or card.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_02: Well, cash is really not used very often these days.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_02: It just isn't.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um you just in fact, I have been I think the last few times I've been in the UK, I've not even seen any cash.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_02: I've not used any cash, I've not had any cash on me.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_02: In fact, I've actually went on a trip around the UK with just my phone, which was probably not the most sensible.
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_02: Um it was absolutely fine.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_02: But I would say have maybe a small amount of backup cash.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's a usual thing.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_02: Um if you want for tips and things like that.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_02: So maybe just take 20 20 or£50,£50, maybe get it in kind of five, ten pound notes, and maybe that would be enough.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_02: I tend to honestly think that these days you just don't need cash at all.
• 21:58
  SPEAKER_02: Um, it's just contactless everywhere.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: So you just tap your phone or you tap your card and away you go, really.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 22:05
  SPEAKER_01: So for 2026, is there any dates that we should be aware of?
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, I just want to mention about school holidays.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_02: They are generally July and August, um, Easter for two weeks, Christmas for two weeks, and then there are half-term holidays which kind of interrupt a full school term.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_02: That is for a week at the end of May and a week at the end of October.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_02: Other things to mention are bank holidays, those are basically public holidays, and the two uh well, three actually I'm going to mention are there's one at the beginning of May, first Monday in May, the last Monday in May, and then also the last Monday in August.
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_02: Those are public holidays for everybody in the UK.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_02: There may be additional ones depending on like maybe Scotland and Wales.
• 22:48
  SPEAKER_02: I'm not 100% sure.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, for for the um Patron Saint Days.
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, but those are the main ones that I really want to talk about.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_02: So obviously, those weekends, if it's a long weekend, so if it's a public holiday on the Monday, it'll just be busy if the weather's good, which is why I'm talking mainly about kind of the May and August ones.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and especially uh for travel plans as well.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_01: A lot of people will be traveling, yeah.
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_02: So it can be really disruptive uh to travel around those times or just very, very busy.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, other one I want to mention is the Edinburgh Festival, which is the fringe festival, which is in August.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_02: Amazing atmosphere, but accommodation books up very early and can be very expensive.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so perhaps staying outside the city may be your best option, um, or just book accommodation as soon as possible, and you will find it is more uh more expensive.
• 23:33
  SPEAKER_02: Um, also the London Marathon catches everybody out every year as well.
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_02: We see that in the Facebook group.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_02: So this year I just want to let everybody know it's on Sunday, April the 26th.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_02: So central London is impacted.
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_02: So you can have a look online at where the actual route of the marathon goes, but it will be very busy that weekend.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_02: It's just on the um the Sunday, but generally people coming into London earlier that weekend, uh, it can make it busier, roads will shut down as well.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so it just will be really, really, really, really busy.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_02: So consider how you're going to get from the airport into your hotel.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_02: Consider where your hotel is located as well, if it's a very central location.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_02: Are you going to be impacted by the London Marathon?
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_02: So uh consider your plans very carefully for that day.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, the other one that's happening, the major event actually that's happened in the UK this year, I want to talk about is the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Glasgow uh 23rd of July to the 2nd of August uh 2026.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_02: So that'll have a big impact on Glasgow accommodation and effects across Scotland.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_02: So plan earlier if you're uh planning to travel to Scotland uh from the end of July to the beginning of August because that will have an impact.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, last one just want to quickly mention is we get asked all the time is what will the weather be like in London, in Edinburgh, in York, and wherever.
• 24:51
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and what should I pack?
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_02: Now, I'm just gonna mention that I wish I could tell you, but I don't know.
• 24:56
  SPEAKER_02: It's the UK.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_02: The weather just is just unpredictable, it's predictably unpredictable.
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_02: Just it varies by region though.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_02: Um, it tends to get cooler the further north that you go.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I will always say take layers, it doesn't matter what time you travel.
• 25:09
  SPEAKER_02: We've actually travelled in May to Edinburgh and arrived on the Sunday and got sunburn, and on the Monday I was dressed up with a scarf and hat and a raincoat because it was pouring down with rain and it's really cold.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so it depends.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_02: You just can't predict anything.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_02: What I tend to do is I will check on the BBC weather, I'll look on the long range forecast, which will give me an idea for the month ahead.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and uh before I usually pack, I will check out so the next couple of weeks what the weather looks like.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but you know, I always take a raincoat, I've got a fold-up raincoat that if you've seen probably my photos, it's a yellow one and it's got flowers on, and I get asked so many times about that, I take that all the time and wherever I go.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_02: And the other thing that I really recommend that you do is that you have comfortable shoes because you're going to be doing a lot more walking than you imagine.
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's true.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so at this point, I'm gonna say um it's it's worth saying that you don't have to figure out all of this on your own.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_02: So when you're putting your plan together, how much help you want really depends on how you like to plan and how much time you have.
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_02: So if you're happy to do your own research, we have a lot of free resources available.
• 26:12
  SPEAKER_02: There are articles and podcast episodes on UK travel planning, and we have a London travel planning website too that covers everything for getting around and where to stay, seasonal tips and more.
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_02: So, for many people, our free resources are more than enough for you to put together a great trip.
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_02: Um, we provide these free of charge, um, but if you would like to leave us a tip, that would be absolutely fantastic.
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_02: There's a tip you guide uh button on the podcast show notes and on the website as well because it helps us to continue to provide all this kind of free information uh for you guys like as much as you can.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_02: We spend a lot of time putting this together.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_01: We really do.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_02: A lot of love and care put together.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_02: That's true.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but if you prefer something a bit more structured, we also have a free UK itinerary planning challenge.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_01: It walks you through the planning process step by step and helps you apply everything we've been talking about to your own trip.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_01: We'll link that in the show notes as well.
• 27:07
  SPEAKER_01: So, also for people who like having everything in one place, we also offer a selection of helpful resources, including itinerary planners, planning maps, and our best-selling guide to UK train travel.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_01: Is that the one you wrote?
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_01: It might well be.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, it's very good, even though I say so myself.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_01: These are designed for travellers who want clarity without having to piece information together from lots of different sources.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I say there's just so much out there, it's crazy, absolutely.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_02: So, Doug and I also offer a few ways to get personalized help if you'd like a bit of extra uh reassurance.
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_02: If you already have an itinerary or you have a draft itinerary and would like feedback, we offer an itinerary review service.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_02: So you send us your plans and questions, we review everything and respond with a personalized video where we walk you through the itinerary, explain what works, and suggest improvements or alternatives, and obviously answer any questions that you have.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_02: If you prefer more interactive help, we'll also offer one-to-one itinerary consultation.
• 28:05
  SPEAKER_02: Now, that's an hour-long session where we help you shape or refine your itinerary, talk through options, answer your questions in real time.
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_02: Now, some people come together with come with a draft itinerary, others come with ideas that need pulling together, which is absolutely fine.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_02: We would say though, um, to consider how long your trip is, because obviously for an hour it's going to be very difficult if your trip is six weeks to do it in an hour.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_02: But we recommend start with the hour and then if necessary, you can book additional um additional time with us if necessary.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so both of those options are designed to help you feel confident that your plans make sense and that you're making the most of your time in the UK.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_02: And for 2026, we're also excited to offer a new personalized itinerary planning service.
• 28:46
  SPEAKER_02: This is a more hands-on option where we'll help design your trip from the ground up based on your interests, timing, and priorities.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_02: Now, because every trip is different, this is something you can contact us about for a quote.
• 28:58
  SPEAKER_02: Um, there's really no right or wrong way to approach planning.
• 29:01
  SPEAKER_01: So, whether you do it all yourself or get some help along the way, the aim is to make planning your UK trip easier and more enjoyable, and to help you end up with a trip that really works for you and everybody else in your group.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's true.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_01: So before we wrap up, we want to quickly mention what's coming next.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_01: Next week we're focusing entirely on planning a trip to London in 2026.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_01: London is an incredible city, and like any other major global city, it has its own consideration when it comes to planning.
• 29:29
  SPEAKER_01: Things like where to stay, how to get around, and how to structure your days can have a big impact on how your time in London feels.
• 29:37
  SPEAKER_02: That's true.
• 29:37
  SPEAKER_02: And then that episode we're going to walk through those kind of London specific considerations and share practical tips to help you make the most of your time in the city.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_02: I'm actually busy planning my um, I don't know, 120,000th millionth trip to London at the moment.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so which is very, very exciting.
• 29:54
  SPEAKER_02: Now um that's it really for this week.
• 29:56
  SPEAKER_02: If you found this episode helpful, make sure you're subscribed or following the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_02: You can also explore our back catalogue.
• 30:04
  SPEAKER_02: We'll find lots of episodes covering different parts of the UK, transport options, practical planning tips um that build on what we've talked about today.
• 30:13
  SPEAKER_02: If you have any questions or comments, leave us a message via Speakpipe because we'll love to hear from everybody, don't we?
• 30:18
  SPEAKER_01: We really do, yes.
• 30:19
  SPEAKER_02: Now, all the links we've mentioned are in the show notes, and that can be found at uktravelplanning.com forward slash episode 182.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_02: But as always, that just leaves us to say until next week.
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_02: Happy UK travel planning.
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of the UK Travel Planning Podcast.
• 30:38
  SPEAKER_02: As always, show notes can be found at uktravelplanning.com.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_02: If you've enjoyed the show, why not leave us feedback via text or a review on your favourite podcast app?
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_02: We love to hear from you, and you never know, you may receive a shout out in a future episode.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_02: But as always, that just leaves me to say until next week, happy UK travel planning.