British city skyline with cathedral spires
15 DAYS

Whistle-Stop
Britain on the Tracks
(By Rail)

London – Oxford – York – Edinburgh – Windermere – Chester – Liverpool – Cardiff – Bath – London

Day 1. London to Oxford – Train

Arrive in London. Train to Oxford. Afternoon: Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Christ Church, Ashmolean Museum, punting. Overnight in Oxford.

Day 2. Oxford – Blenheim Palace & Colleges

Blenheim Palace. Walking tour of Oxford colleges: Trinity, Balliol, Magdalen, Merton. Evening: The Eagle and Child (Tolkien and CS Lewis's pub). Overnight in Oxford.

Day 3. Oxford to York – Train

Train to York via London. York Minster. The Shambles. National Railway Museum. Overnight in York.

Day 4. York to Edinburgh – Train

Train to Edinburgh. Edinburgh Castle and Crown Jewels. Royal Mile. Overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 5. Edinburgh – Holyrood, Arthur's Seat & New Town

Holyrood Palace. Arthur's Seat. Georgian New Town. Scottish Whisky Experience. Overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 6. Edinburgh to Windermere – Train via Carlisle

Train south to Windermere via Carlisle. Afternoon: Lake Windermere cruise. Overnight in Windermere.

Day 7. Windermere – Wordsworth & Beatrix Potter

Dove Cottage (Wordsworth). Hill Top (Beatrix Potter). Coniston Water. Rydal Mount. Overnight in Windermere.

Day 8. Windermere to Chester – Train

Train to Chester. Chester's extraordinary Roman walls – the most complete in Britain. Chester Cathedral. The Rows medieval shopping galleries. Overnight in Chester.

Day 9. Chester to Cardiff – Train via Liverpool

Train to Cardiff via Liverpool. Brief stop in Liverpool: Beatles heritage and Albert Dock. Arrive Cardiff. Cardiff Castle. Overnight in Cardiff.

Day 10. Cardiff – Caerphilly, Castell Coch & St Fagans

Caerphilly Castle. Castell Coch. St Fagans National Museum of Welsh Life. Cardiff Bay. Overnight in Cardiff.

Day 11. Cardiff to Bath – Train

Train to Bath. Roman Baths. Thermae Bath Spa. Overnight in Bath.

Day 12. Bath – Royal Crescent, Stonehenge & Lacock

Royal Crescent and Circus. Stonehenge. Lacock Abbey. Overnight in Bath.

Day 13. Bath to London – Train

Train to London Paddington. South Bank: Tate Modern, Globe Theatre. Tower of London. Overnight in London.

Day 14. London – Westminster & Museums

Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace. British Museum. Victoria and Albert Museum. Evening: West End show. Overnight in London.

Day 15. London – Departure

Transfer to departure airport or St Pancras for onward travel.

Must see

ATTRACTIONS

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh
Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh
Lake Windermere
Lake Windermere
Hill Top House, Ambleside, Lake District
Hill Top House, Ambleside, Lake District
The Rows, Chester
The Rows, Chester
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle
The Houses of Parliament, London
The Houses of Parliament, London
The Tower of London
The Tower of London

ACCOMMODATIONS

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London

★★★★★
  • The Savoy London
  • The Ritz London
  • Claridge's London
★★★★
  • Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London
  • Leonardo Royal London City
  • Hyatt Regency London The Churchill
★★★
  • Hub by Premier Inn London King's Cross
  • Travelodge London Central City Road
  • ibis London Blackfriars

Edinburgh

★★★★★
  • The Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh
  • Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh The Caledonian
  • Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh
★★★★
  • Radisson Blu Hotel Edinburgh
  • Marriott Edinburgh
  • Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh
★★★
  • ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile
  • Travelodge Edinburgh Central
  • Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre

Cardiff

★★★★★
  • St David's Hotel Cardiff Bay
  • Park Plaza Cardiff
  • Voco St David's Cardiff
★★★★
  • Marriott Hotel Cardiff
  • Clayton Hotel Cardiff
  • Hilton Cardiff
★★★
  • Premier Inn Cardiff City Centre
  • ibis Cardiff City
  • Holiday Inn Cardiff City

Bath

★★★★★
  • The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa Bath
  • Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa Bath
  • Gainsborough Bath Spa
★★★★
  • Bailbrook House Hotel Bath
  • Abbey Hotel Bath
  • Francis Hotel Bath
★★★
  • Premier Inn Bath City Centre
  • ibis Bath
  • Holiday Inn Express Bath
Contemporary hotel room
Must try

FOOD

Cullen Skink

Cullen Skink

A thick Scottish soup, typically made of smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions; an authentic Cullen skink will use finnan haddie, but it may be prepared with any other undyed smoked haddock; ocean perch or salmon are also often used in the soup.

Welsh Cakes

Welsh Cakes

Also known as bakestones, griddle cakes or pics, this traditional sweet bread from Wales is a small, round, spiced cake that is cooked on a griddle or bakestone rather than baked in an oven, giving it a distinctive, different texture from a biscuit, scone, and pancake.

Fish and Chips

Fish and Chips

A classic hot meal of crispy, golden battered white fish and thick-cut fried potatoes; originating in 19th-century England, it remains a beloved staple of British culture, traditionally served with salt, malt vinegar and side dishes like mushy peas.

RESTAURANT

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Halal Certified

London

  1. Dishoom – Celebrated Bombay-style café, halal-certified, branches across London, legendary bacon naan
  2. Tayyabs – Legendary Pakistani halal restaurant in Whitechapel, famous lamb chops, always busy
  3. Roti Chai – Indian street food, halal-certified, near Oxford Street, excellent lunch thali
  4. Bayswater Grill – Lebanese and Arabic halal grill, Bayswater, popular with Gulf visitors
  5. Ferdosi – Persian cuisine, halal-certified, Kensington, renowned for lamb koobideh and saffron rice

Edinburgh

  1. Mosque Kitchen Edinburgh – Beloved halal canteen next to Edinburgh Central Mosque, legendary value
  2. Kismot – Award-winning Sri Lankan-Indian halal restaurant, Newington, unique regional curries
  3. Khushboo Indian Restaurant – Indian halal restaurant in Haymarket, popular with Muslim visitors
  4. Istanbul Edinburgh – Turkish halal restaurant near the Old Town, grills and meze
  5. Al-Baraka Edinburgh – Middle Eastern halal food near the university, generous portions

Cardiff

  1. Mint & Mustard Cardiff – Award-winning Indian halal restaurant, South Asian fine dining
  2. Al-Bab Cardiff – Middle Eastern halal cuisine near Cardiff Bay, mezze and slow-cooked meats
  3. Istanbul Cardiff – Turkish halal grill in the city centre, large portions and good value
  4. Spice Quarter Cardiff – Indian halal food in Cardiff Bay, balti and tandoor specialties
  5. Mediterra Cardiff – Halal Mediterranean restaurant near the Principality Stadium, mixed grill

Bath

  1. Al-Baraka Bath – Middle Eastern halal restaurant near Bath city centre
  2. Istanbul Bath – Turkish halal grill near Bath Spa station, good value lunch menu
  3. Rajpoot Tandoori Bath – Indian halal restaurant, Bath's longest-established curry house
  4. Medina Bath – North African halal cuisine near the Roman Baths, tagine and couscous
  5. Halal Kitchen Bath – International halal food near Pulteney Bridge, family-friendly
Halal restaurant interior

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