The United Kingdom is a fascinating country to visit, with a lot of diversity and variation to be found in places like England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Over in Northern Ireland, visitors can admire ancient Norman castles and stunning mountain landscapes. In Wales, rolling hills and charming coastal villages shine the brightest. Up in Scotland, mighty lochs and extraordinary historic sites are some of the top things to see. Meanwhile, England is home to a rich spectrum of cities, ranging from the enormous metropolis of London to scenic locations like Bath and Oxford. CDC information for travelers. Hours/availability may have changed.
1.Overview
Many visitors to the United Kingdom choose to spend most of their time solely in London, and it’s easy to see why. One of the biggest and most popular cities in the world, London has a lot to offer. It has a long list of must-see monuments and locations like Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, as well as being home to the many shows of the West End, multiple expansive parks and green spaces, and some of the best restaurants and shopping areas in the whole of the UK. However, if you’re planning a trip to London, it’s worth adding some day trips into your travel plan in order to see a little more of what the UK has to offer.
Many day trips from London go to nearby locations like Bath, Windsor, or Oxford, but it’s perfectly possible to go much further. In fact, you can even do day trips from London to Scotland, visiting either Glasgow or Edinburgh for the day. Many people don’t even consider this to be an option, as they just assume that Scotland is too far from London to be possible for a day trip visit, but if you take a flight or high-speed train, you can actually make this dream day trip a possibility. Here’s how to do it.
Getting to Scotland from London
If you choose to go to Scotland for a day trip from London, you’ve only got two choices available: you can take a train or a flight. Scotland is about 400 miles away from London, so it’s much to far to drive for the purposes of a day trip. Another important factor to consider is that if you really want to make the most of your day, you’ll need to set off early and plan to arrive back in London quite late at night as well. Otherwise, you simply won’t have enough time to actually explore the city.
2.Getting to Scotland from London by Train
The train is generally considered to be the best option for day trips to Scotland from London. The United Kingdom has a strong network of railroads and some very fast and reliable trains, so it's easy to get all over the country in this way. The train you take to Scotland will depend which city you're visiting:
- Train to Glasgow - If you'd like to visit Glasgow for a day trip from London, you'll be traveling out of London's Euston station on a Virgin Trains service. The journey will take around four hours and 30 minutes, so it's a long trip, but you'll be able to travel in comfort on board a Virgin train, complete with Wi-Fi access and on-board dining. The trains start running from around 5:30am, so you can be in Glasgow before 11am and have some time to explore the city and see the sights before heading home.
- Train to Edinburgh - If you choose to travel to Edinburgh for your Scotland day trip from London, you'll be traveling out of King's Cross station. Again, the journey will take over four hours on the London North Eastern Railway service, so you'll need to set off early in the morning in order to give yourself around 5-6 hours in Edinburgh before catching the train back home.
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3.Getting to Scotland from London by Plane
It's also possible to catch direct flights from various London airports, including Stansted, Heathrow, and Luton, direct to Scottish cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh. The flights only take a little over an hour, so this is one of the fastest ways to get to Scotland and can be used for a day trip. The only issue with taking flights to Scotland for your day trip is that you’ll need to add on the time needed to get to and from the airports, as well as the time required to check-in.
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4.Tips for Your Scotland Day Trip from London
- Plan and Prepare - If you’re going on a Scotland day trip from London, you need to be prepared for the fact that you won’t get much longer than about six hours in either Edinburgh or Glasgow to actually explore, see the sights, and experience what these cities have to offer. This won’t be anywhere near enough time to see everything or really get a full experience, but you can still get a lot done in a single day. The key is to plan everything out in advance, do your research online, find the top two or three things you really want to do and prioritize those activities.
- Sightseeing Buses - Sightseeing, hop-on and hop-off tourist buses run around both Glasgow and Edinburgh, and these could be a good option for your day trip. These buses are affordable, convenient, and run all around the city. They allow you to see a lot of sights in a short amount of time, so are very popular with people visiting on day trips. If you really want to see as much as possible in just one day and don’t mind paying the extra money for the bus ride, these tours are a good option.
- Things to Do in Edinburgh - The main things to do in Edinburgh include visiting Edinburgh Castle, admiring the views from Arthur's Seat, and visiting the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Fortunately, all of these big landmarks are quite near the train station. Edinburgh's Old Town district is right by the station too, so you can see a lot of the historic and beautiful side of the city with relative ease when traveling on the train for a day trip. There are some excellent pubs all around the Old Town area and some charming little shops if you’d like to buy a souvenir or two to take back home.
- Things to Do in Glasgow - If you choose Glasgow as your day trip destination, some of the top sights include Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which is a short journey away from the main train station, Glasgow Cathedral, which is quite close to the station, and the Riverside Museum, which isn't too far away either. If you're looking for things to do near the station, you can visit the Gallery of Modern Art, take some photos at the People's Palace, or head over to the fascinating Glasgow Necropolis. George Square is also a great place to walk around.
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Day Trip From London To Scotland
- Overview, Photo: samott/stock.adobe.com
- Getting to Scotland from London by Train, Photo: Richie Chan/stock.adobe.com
- Getting to Scotland from London by Plane, Photo: Leonardo/stock.adobe.com
- Tips for Your Scotland Day Trip from London, Photo: Roman Babakin/stock.adobe.com
- Cover Photo: susanne2688/stock.adobe.com
More Ideas in the U.K.: Langley Castle Hotel
England is a beautiful country with centuries of history behind it, and so much of that history and heritage can still be seen today in the form of the nation's many castles, palaces, ruins, and other historical buildings, built hundreds of years ago but still standing in the modern era. These incredible landmarks serve as beacons to the past, symbols of real, tangible history, and amazing locations to visit and admire.
Visiting the castles of England, as well as those in the other countries that make up the United Kingdom, is a popular activity for many visitors and tourists, as well as native Brits, but what if you could actually spend the night, feeling all that history all around you and sleeping between the same stone walls and on the same grounds as nobility and knights from past ages? Well, at Langley Castle Hotel, you can.
Langley Castle Hotel - 14th Century British Castle Hotel
Langley Castle Hotel is a very special hotel in the picturesque county of Northumberland in North East England. Offering guests the unique setting of a 14th century castle for their stay, this incredible castle hotel lets people live out their dreams of spending a night or more in a truly historic building that has played home to many Lords and Ladies of the past. Here’s a brief rundown of all you need to know about this beautiful British castle hotel:
- The Castle - Langley Castle Hotel is an award winning 14th century fortified castle in the South Tyne area of Northumberland. Perfect for all kinds of stays from romantic getaways to family vacations, the castle offers a small number of rooms both inside the castle itself and around the grounds. It has been ranked as a four-star hotel by the AA and won a Gold Award from VisitEngland. The hotel has also been ranked as the 'Best Hotel for Romance' and won 'Best Small Hotel of the Year' on five different occasions. Set across 10 acres of incredible grounds, the castle offers a truly unique accommodation experience for all.
- The History - Langley Castle was built back in 1350, so there are over six centuries of history at this locaton. Many different Lords and Ladies lived there over the years, and Langley Castle is actually one of the most pristine fortified medieval castles still standing in England, as well as one of the only castles to be used as a hotel. The castle fell under the control of various people over the last six-seven centuries, eventually coming into the hands of a historian named Cadwallader Bates in 1882. Bates aimed to restore the castle to its former glory. He and his wife worked tirelessly to achieve this aim, and the fruits of their labor can be seen today.
- The Area - Northumberland is a particularly beautiful part of the United Kingdom. Located in the North East of England and renowned for its historical sites and vast, sweeping plains, it looks just like a location right out of a fantasy show like Game of Thrones. There are some hugely impressive historical sites in the area, including the iconic Hadrian’s Wall, and visitors to this area can enjoy many different outdoor activities like bike riding, hiking, fishing, golf, and visits to big cities like Northumberland and Newcastle.
- Events - Many different special events are held at Langley Castle Hotel each year in order to give guests even more magical memories and unique experiences. One example is the 'Starry Knights at Langley', which allows visitors to visit Kielder Observatory and spend an evening gazing up at the stars before enjoying a night's stay over at the castle, with meals, snacks, and more included. There are also the 'Gastronomy Nights', in which guests can enjoy incredible meals combined with star-gazing sessions.
The Rooms at Langley Castle Hotel
Guests will find a total of 9 rooms inside the castle itself and another 18 rooms in the 'Castle View' area, which is located in the grounds and offers beautiful views of the castle.
- Each of the rooms within the castle walls is named and has a unique layout and design, with the likes of the Derwentwater Room and the Greenwich Room having their own unique charms. The Castle View rooms are separated into Suites, Superior Rooms, Standard Rooms, and Lodge Rooms, each with their own features and prices.
- All of the rooms feature amenities like free internet access, Sky TV, luxury baths, tea and coffee making facilities, and air conditioning as standard, with most also having many additional comforts and luxuries.
Dining at Langley Castle Hotel
Guests wishing to dine at The Langley Hotel will have a couple of different options to choose from.
- The Restaurant - The main restaurant at Langley Castle opens up at 6.30pm for evening meals. Making use of locally sourced, seasonal, fresh ingredients every time, the restaurant offers delicious, modern meals in a medieval setting.
- The Glass Pavilion - The Glass Pavilion is a 30-seat conservatory extension to the main restaurant which is perfect for private meals and social gatherings.
- The Drawing Room - The Drawing Room is where you can enjoy afternoon tea and refreshments throughout the day. Beautifully decorated with high ceilings, historical art work, colorful carpet, and antique furniture, this room is a great place to relax and unwind.
Tours of Langley Castle Hotel
Each and every day, just after breakfast, experienced and friendly guides offer tours all around the castle. This is a great activity for guests to enjoy, with the tours taking you all around key locations in the castle like the chapel, the garderobes, and the battlements. You can ask questions along the way and learn some of the amazing stories the castle has to tell.
Special Events and Weddings at Langley Castle Hotel
Langley Castle Hotel is available for weddings and other special events, and can truly provide a magical backdrop for any occasion. It’s especially well-suited for weddings, with the amazing beauty and history of the castle and its ground proving perfect for wedding photoshoots and receptions.
- The hotel was a finalist in 'The English Wedding Awards 2018' and has been awarded a Luxury Lifestyle Readers' Travel Award as the 'Best Hotel for Romance'. Its story book setting and unparalleled allure make it a wonderful location for your big day.
- Many people dream of having a true ‘fairy tale’ wedding someday, just like the princes and princesses in stories. At Langley Castle Hotel, this dream really can become reality. There’s nothing quite like getting married at a real-life castle, and this is one of the few places on Earth where you can make it happen.
- Game of Thrones fans and other fantasy story fans will also adore the grandeur of the castle and the unique history of this location for their wedding. Langley Castle Hotel even organizes genuine Game of Thrones style weddings, with special decoration, dragon wedding cakes, wedding rings delivered by hawks, and more.
- Lots of different options are available to design and enhance your wedding, from garden ceremonies to religious moments in the castle's chapel, as well as photoshoots on the battlements, firework displays in the evenings, horse drawn coaches, medieval-style jesters and performers, and so much more.
Langley Castle Hotel, Langley, Hexham NE47 5LU, United Kingdom
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