UK Travel Planning

November in London means dark afternoons by half past four, fireworks, the first Christmas lights, and a city gearing up for the festive season. This is the third episode of our monthly London bonus series from our sister brand London Travel Planning , where we look ahead each month at what’s on, what to book, and what will sell out before you get there. This episode is sponsored by City Cruises ....

A city where you can walk a Roman wall, shop in a medieval gallery and be in Wales twenty minutes later. Briony Wilson from Mountain Goat spent ten years living in Chester, and she’s back on the podcast to share what you need to know before you visit, from what to see and how long to stay to using the city as a base for North Wales, Liverpool, and Manchester. Where Chester is, and how to get there...

It’s raining in London and your plans for the day were a walking tour and a wander through the parks. We share how much it really rains, what to pack, 12 things to do when it’s wet and a one-day itinerary that keeps you almost entirely under cover. How much it really rains in London (about half what Sydney and New York get) The Met Office and BBC Weather apps, and why the hour-by-hour view matters...

A 1900s sweet shop, a tram ride through a pit village and a 1950s hair salon, all in one day. I’m joined by Samantha Shotton, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO of Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, in County Durham. The 1820s landscape: Pockerley, the waggonway and the new tavern The 1900s pit village and town: drift mine, school, sweet shop and dentist The 1940s farm and the 1950s town...

The Lake District looks compact on a map, but valleys, passes and narrow lanes turn "nearby" into a proper journey. Briony Wilson from Mountain Goat Tours in Windermere, a Lakes local of more than 20 years, shares how to get there by train, whether you need a car, how many nights to plan and where to base yourself. Where the Lakes sit: 90 minutes from Manchester, three hours from London...

We break London down into 12 areas so you can choose a neighbourhood that matches your plans, your budget and the kind of trip you want. Doug and I share which area suits each of us, the pros and cons of each one, and three things to check on a hotel listing before you book. In this episode: - Covent Garden, Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square: a top pick for first-time visitors who want theatres,...

October in London feels cosy, colourful and much easier to enjoy when you plan around the rain, the shorter days and the half-term rush. This is the second episode of our monthly London bonus series from London Travel Planning, where we look ahead each month at what is on, what to book, and what will sell out before you get there. This episode is sponsored by WalksDevour , and I am joined again by...

Many people give York a day and leave wishing they had stayed longer. York local Sinead from York Travel Expert joins Tracy in the next episode of our Before You Visit series, covering what to know before a first trip: how to get there, where to stay, what to book, and when not to go. Where York is: two hours from London King's Cross by direct train, roughly halfway to Edinburgh Why you do no...

The West Highland Line is the kind of train journey you plan a whole trip around. Tracy and Doug take you from Glasgow Queen Street into the Scottish Highlands and explain how the route works in real life: where it splits at Crianlarich, whether to choose Oban, Fort William or the full run to Mallaig, which side of the train to sit on, and how the Caledonian Sleeper, ScotRail services and the Jaco...

Want a UK autumn trip that feels more atmospheric and less frantic? In part two of our autumn special we travel from the far north of Scotland to London to find out why autumn might be the most rewarding time to explore, from dark skies and quieter roads to cosy streets and early festive sparkle.  Sally-Ann from North Coast Explorer Tours and Charley and Becki from WalksDevour Tours share practica...

Golden woodlands, quiet villages and cosy pubs. Autumn in the UK has a magic you do not get in high summer. In part one of our two part autumn special, three local experts share what really changes across September, October and November in the Lake District, the Cotswolds and Devon. Lake District autumn colour hotspots including Tarn Hows and Wastwater How September, October and November differ fo...

September in London feels calmer, brighter and more walkable once the school holiday rush fades. This is the first episode of our monthly London bonus series from London Travel Planning, looking ahead each month at what is on, what to book and what will sell out before you get there. This episode is sponsored by WalksDevour , and I am joined by Charley Sullivan from their London team. Everything y...

Catherine joins us to share what it is really like to walk 420 kilometres (260 miles) from Land's End to Bath over three weeks, and why the UK makes long-distance walking surprisingly doable, even if you are not an ultra-hiker. Choosing Land's End to Bath as the first leg of a Land's End to John o'Groats dream Booking through a specialist company: one-night stays and luggage tr...

How many days do you actually need? What should you budget? And what is the fastest way in from Heathrow? Tracy and Doug answer the 10 questions listeners ask most about visiting London, with the numbers and the reasoning behind each one. - How many days: why 4 to 5 is the first-timer sweet spot - When to go: the months we avoid, and why April catches people out - Getting around: zones, the £8.90...

We chat with Graham, a Rabbie's driver-guide in Edinburgh, about what turns a simple day trip into a friendly, personal experience. We break down how small group touring works, from the first meet-up at the bus station to the last stop, with practical tips on choosing a route and packing for Scotland's weather. Why a 16 seater bus changes the whole feel of a tour What a driver-guide actu...

The departure boards are flashing, the station is heaving, and there is still no platform number. If that scene makes your heart race, you are exactly who we made this episode for. With more than 25 years working on the UK railways, Doug joins Tracy to walk through London's mainline stations in plain English, so your first UK rail trip starts with calm, not panic. Why London has multiple term...

Rochelle talks us through a 41-day UK road trip from Bath to the Scottish Highlands and back to London, sharing what worked, what surprised her, and how planning early made the whole trip calmer. We swap honest notes on UK driving, smart booking tactics, and the tours, meals and accidental stops that turned into lifelong memories. Planning a long UK itinerary without trying to do too much Leaving...

Planning a London trip? In this episode we share the experiences that earned a place on our 2026 favourites list, and how to make each one work for your own itinerary. From food tours and royal palaces to day trips, exhibitions and a night in a real Tudor castle, everything here is something we did ourselves this year. Which two London food tours are worth booking (and the historic pubs they take...

Tracy and Doug step back from the destinations to share who they are and ten ways they help you plan a smarter UK trip, from the podcast and websites to consultations, products and a 30,000 strong community. Two Brits who know the UK inside out, now based in Australia, with Doug's near 30 years on the railways behind every train answer. In this episode: The lived experience behind the podcast...

Tracy and Doug take you through the Northern England leg of their recent trip: a route across County Durham, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District that blends driving, trains and small group tours. The idea is simple. Copy what worked, skip the stress, and let the small practical tips make the big scenery easier to enjoy. In this episode: Picking up a hire car at Edinburgh Airport quickly via...

Puffins that waddle right up to you, dolphins pacing the bow, sea eagles overhead and a sea cave so famous it sparked a Mendelssohn symphony. It all sounds like a once in a lifetime trip. We wanted to make it something you can actually plan, even if you are travelling without a car and juggling real-world ferry times, bus links and unpredictable Scottish weather. We pick up the journey in Oban and...

We put ourselves on the spot with ten UK travel categories and share the places, journeys and moments we genuinely love after decades of travelling around the country. The conversation turns into a practical lesson on how to choose priorities for a first UK trip without getting overwhelmed. Favourite cities outside London, with York and Edinburgh highlights Best day trips from London, including Ba...

Edinburgh looks compact until you start climbing its hills, chasing viewpoints and discovering how much the Old Town packs into its closes and lanes. Fresh from five days in the city, Tracy and Doug cut through the noise with a clear, listener-friendly menu of their 12 favourite things to do in Edinburgh, drawn from decades of visits between them. Pick what fits your time, your budget and your ene...

London has its own unwritten rules and once you know them, the city makes so much more sense. In this episode Tracy and Doug share 12 things that confuse visitors most, so you can move around with confidence and make the most of every day. They cover: Tube map versus real distance and when walking beats taking the Underground London zones, daily caps, Oyster card versus contactless Tube etiquette:...

In this episode we bring together five local experts to share what UK summer travel really looks like from June through August, with practical advice on crowds, long daylight hours and booking ahead. We hop from Devon to the far north of Scotland, down to London, across the Cotswolds and up to the Lake District to help you plan days that feel memorable rather than hectic. Timing summer travel arou...