Great Britain

Best and worst sights, experiences and destinations:

Best: Driving tour of Stonehenge, Avebury, and Glastonbury
Why: It have us the ability and confidence to drive for one day and experience these sights on our own, without a tour bus. We'll always remember the thrill and accomplishment of this day trip.

Worst: Windsor Castle
Why: Not a criticism of the book, but of the site--it was overpriced, I think.

Elizabeth in Minneapolis, MN USA 05/19/2008

Best: Vindolanda and Housesteads
Why: I guess I love the unearthing of new history. To me this was amazing.

Worst: Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Why: Totally wierd - bands playing 76 trombones and Born Free?? People marching around all over the place with no reason or rhyme as to why. Too long, hard to see, no advance description of what they were doing or why.

Steve Onustack in Lynnwood, WA USA 05/06/2008

Best: Conwy Wales
Why: The castle, waterfront, and the small town are easy to explore .It is a great walking experience. I loved the little shops. The castle and walking the city walls was awesome.

Veronica in Adams, TN USA 01/29/2008

Best: Edinburgh's Cadies & Witchery Tours
Why: The Ghost Walk focused on history and humor rather than horror. We brought our children (age 9 & 12) and they loved it, as well. It was fun and interesting to hear about real people of the past as we walked upon the streets of Edinburgh.

Lisa Lysack in Liverpool, NY USA 10/17/2007

Best: The British Library
Why: Seeing the Treasures Room was a highlight of our trip, especially for my husband. There was also a special exhibit on religions which was quite good. We had a very nice lunch in the cafe there as well. We wouldn't have known about it except for this book.

Ann Martinez in Pasadena, CA USA 09/12/2007

Best: Hiking the Crags in Edinburgh
Why: A great respite from the hectic Royal Mile with beautiful views of Scotland.

Worst: The Royal Mile in Edinburgh
Why: A little too kitschy. We were there during the August festival invasion and it can be overwhelming if you stay too long. The Royal Mile is pretty much required when you go to Edinburgh, but you should definitely do it in doses.

Aimee in Oakland, CA USA 08/26/2007

Best: Conwy, Wales
Why: It was everything and more that Rick said it was! The Bryn Guest House was my favorite B&B in all of the U.K. What an unbelieveable little town.

Jo in Nokomis, FL USA 08/25/2007

Worst: Jorvik, York
Why: Very touristy - Rick was right!

Kathie Roon in Marysville, WA USA 08/06/2007

Best: Eden Camp, outside of York
Why: Great experience! One of the best museums we have ever visited. Should be a 3 star--must see--in Rick's Book

Worst: Westminster Abbey
Why: Millions of people, some demanding their money back because of the crowds. Not worth the 10 pounds ($20) entry fee! Look at the outside and avoid when crowds are this bad. I felt like a cow in a cattle drive!

Pam in McPherson, KS USA 07/25/2007

Best: Cycling in County Durham
Why: County Durham has numerous off road cycle paths that traverse lovely rolling hills and picturesque English countryside. As bike hire can be a pain, I would suggest checking out Dale Bike Hire (http://www.dalebikehire.co.uk/), who deliver and pick up free of charge (within a 20 mile radius of their shop), have excellent machines, and cater to individuals as well as groups and families.

David in Laramie, WY USA 07/22/2007

Best: London, York and Edinbrough
Why: You did it again. We just returned from 12 days in Great Britain and just like Italy and Spain, our best source of information was Rick Steve's Great Britain. The information re the cities we visited was very accurate. We had a wonderful (although expensive) vacation Thanks to your help.

Joe Myers in SYLVANIA, OH USA 07/10/2007

Best: Cotswolds
Why: We rented the bikes at the Toy Store and biked around the beautiful countryside and absolutely loved it.

Sharon in Pasadena , CA USA 07/01/2007

Best: Holyrood Park
Why: Fantastic views. Very accessible to Dalkeith Road B&B locations.

SUE MURRIAN in KNOXVILLE, TN USA 06/14/2007

Worst: Globe Theater tour
Why: There was really nothing to the tour except being able to enter the theater for a few minutes. For half the price I could have attended an actual performance in the groundling section.

Peter Apanel in Portland, OR USA 06/13/2007

Best: Entire England Trip
Why: We flew into Manchester and rented a car (my wife and I) she did the navigating and I the driving. Went to Blackpool first and stayed at the Robin Hood B&B. The B&B was great, but Blackpool was not that exciting.

From there we went to Keswick and took the back roads thru beautiful countryside. Stopped at Windermere, a very beautiful town to visit.

Once at Keswick we stayed in the B&B (Appletree) that overlooked the lake and the mountains. Great view. From our stay there we went to Lake Buttermere taking the mountain pass there. Beautiful sights, although the road is very narrow. Took the walk around the lake and drove back the Keswick for the evening.

From Keswick we drove to Edinburgh and stayed at another B&B (Priestly Inn)for two nights. Walked to the Royal Mile and Princes Ave and saw the castle as we walked up Princes Ave. It was quite spectacular. Tour of castle was great. Be sure to take a guided tour to get the history. City of the Dead Tour was very interesting and entertaining. If you're into golf, St Andrew's was a fun place to visit.

From Edinburgh we drove to York, with stops at Jedburgh and Durham, where we saw the cathedral. Once in York took a 2.5 hour tour with a great old gent who told us more than enough about the history of the cathedral. Took the trip up the towers and enjoyed the view from above.

From York we went to North Wales, to the town of Conwy. Also stopped in Chester, a great place if you shop. Favorite stop of the trip. We stayed in another B&B (Brin Inn) overlooking the castle and right next to the wall that goes around the city. We visited the Bodnant Gardens that are about 20 minutes from Conwy. The gardens were a spectacular a must see. Went thru another mountain pass over to the castle (the place Prince Philip was crowned) on the coast. From Conwy we drove up to Liverpool and saw the Beatle Museum. That was interesting.

Our entire stay was from Friday morning thru the following week and leaving on Sunday morning. If one spouse can drive well and one is good at navigating, then I recommend renting a car. Very handy and flexible to go and do what you want. You better know where your car is on the road, though, because the streets are narrow.

We left on April 26 and came back on May 6 from Chicago. Our weather in England was perfect, 10 days of sun and no rain, temps in the mid 60's. We booked only our first night and last night ahead of time, the rest we used the book and rang the door bell to stay at all the other B&B's. Worked out great. We would eat breakfast in the morning at the B&B and that would take us thru the day until our dinner at the local pub that envening. We ate simple meals at the pubs but they were plenty good. Cost with the exchange rate would be about $12 plus about $5 for a beer.

On a scale on 1 to 10 our trip was a ten. We packed light, one carry-on each. Took old clothes which we discarded along the way to make room to take things home.

Use ATMs for cash and avoid exchanging in banks. They tell you there is no fee, however, they use a higher exchange rate.

Steve Noffke in Neenah, WI USA 06/03/2007

Best: All of them
Why: We followed Ricks recommendations for towns to base ourselves in for an area. Keswick was a very good place to stay for the Lake District, being a charming little town and not too crowded in May.Conwy was perfect for the North Wales area with a great castle. We liked Stow-in-the-Wold in the Cotswolds.

jenny in San Francisco, Ca USA 05/30/2007

Best: York
Why: We just returned from a three week trip to England and found York to be a wonderfull suprise. It is just full of old Roman buildings, the largest Abbey in England, and a busy, almost Venice like walking town. It needs three nights and two full days to fully get around. The train to London (2 hr) makes getting there very simple.

Jim Punches in Aptos, CA USA 05/24/2007

Best: BATH: walking tour organized by the Mayor's office.
Why: The guide was knowledgeable and charming and the tour was free.

Worst: Mad Max tour to Stonehenge.
Why: We spent 2-1/2 hours on the bus, thirty minutes at Lacock (which we found a waste of time) and only one hour at Stonehenge. Fifteen pounds ($30) each for the trip was too much as the entrance to Stonehenge itself was extra. The driver-guide was pleasant but unhelpful. The commentary on the bus was a prerecorded tape played over the speaker system. We took day trips to Avebury and Wells/Glastonbury on our own, using local transportation, (suggested in your guidebook). These were much nicer experiences (and less expensive).

Judy Cascales in Chula Vista, CA USA 05/21/2007

Best: Enjoyed all the sites that we visited in Edinburgh, Bath and London.
Why: Loads of wonderful historical tours (self-guided and pre-organized) at Edinburgh Castle and the Roman Baths. Loved Westminster Abbey and the Tower.

Worst: Harrods. Mad Max stop at Lacock.
Why: I understand why it's recommended that people stop in and check it out if they have time. The Egyptian-themed escalators are real eye-poppers. The prices are downright laughable and we got out as soon as we could. Mad Max's 20-minute stopover in Lacock didn't seem to include much except a photo op of "Harry Potter's family home." Seemed kind of a waste of time. We wandered around aimlessly for the rest of the allotted time and then got back on the bus.

Susan Saric in Orland Park, IL USA 05/16/2007

Best: Edinburgh
Why: It's just a great city - full of nooks and cranies to explore and not nearly as overwhelming as London. Arthur's Seat has a nice trail that goes about half-way up and then around to the bottom of the Royal Mile that we particularly enjoyed.

Marian in Seattle, WA USA 04/25/2007

Best: Heart of Scotland Loch Ness tour
Why: A high point of our trip. Bill, a great guide, knew when to load on the information and when to back off and let us rest. He was also a very competent, cautious driver. The 14-person van was clean and comfortable. We wouldn't have known which tour to take without this book.

M.Heffron in Exeter, NH USA 04/11/2007

Best: Sir Walter Scott Monument
Why: The views of Edinburgh are breath taking. It is certainly worth the 287-steps to reach the top. And i can't forget the Edinburgh Castle. That sight will never leave my mind.

Roderick Blake in Galveston, Tx USA 04/08/2007

Best: York Minster
Why: Spent a good portion of the trip in there. The windows are spectacular, our host had encyclopedic knowledge and an obvious Love for them. It's a pity that the renovation will block a number of the windows. From hearing evensong to looking at all the nooks and crannies, carved mice and strange wooden people - it offers so much and was a surprise how fascinated I would be by it.

Worst: York Minster's Tower
Why: I am afraid of heights and thought I could manage it, thinking it would all be enclosed stairs winding up to the top. But halfway up, you have to walk outside across a narrow walkway that did me in. If you're the least bit queasy, being at that height in the open air can make a person quail and turn green.

Jemma in Seattle, WA USA 04/02/2007

Best: Edinburgh Castle
Why: Just an excellent destination.

Worst: Mercat walking tour (ghost tour)
Why: Didn't really go into much detail--kinda short.

Heidi Schwartz in Ocean, NJ USA 03/04/2007

Best: Mad Max Tours
Why: A great day of seeing many sights - our family loved it. There were 14 on the bus that day - and our youngest soon made friends with a girl her age. After a few days of driving a rental car, we were glad to let someone else navigate the left side of the road! Our guide was very helpful, friendly and informative. If you go in the winter - it is COLD at Stonehenge, Avebury, etc., so take warm stuff and drink tea at every opportunity!

Beth in Huntsville, AL USA 03/01/2007

Best: Mad Max Tours, day trip from Bath
Why: The day was magic—and, to be clear, it was a cold, rainy day in January!

I took a full-day tour: Laycock, Castle Combe, Avery Stone Circles, Stonehenge, and lunch at a fabulous old pub with a roaring fire and some really good food. The folks at Mad Max clearly love what they do, every place that they take you, and all the places in between. The tour van was small, our guide (whose name I wish I could remember!) filled our journey with lots of fascinating tidbits and details about things that I would have never noticed—-the “signatures” of roof thatchers (it’s a very expensive art these days), medieval roundhouses for drunks (you’ll learn what “blind drunk” really means”), where the first photograph in England was taken. Also, we went to several charming shops—-and, if you see something you like, get it! You won’t find the same lovely things in touristy Bath. If I am back in England, I would gladly take the very same tour with Mad Max—-in a heartbeat! Also, it is possible that the January time of my trip added to the magic—our tour’s intimacy was added to by the wonderful lack of tourists. Advice: Stonehenge: I was unaware that wind and rain could come in four directions—all at the same time! Rain hat, rain coat/jacket, gloves, scarf, umbrella—you should have them all, and they still may not be able to help you.

Mary Munson in Arlington, VA USA 02/23/2007

Best: London, double decker bus tours
Why: Great for overview of London sights

Worst: London, double decker bus tours
Why: Bad for hop-on hop-off transportation. It's much too slow for this unless you only want to visit only one or two sights in a day. Otherwise you are better off getting a one day tube pass. Plus, kids are free on the tube after 9:30.

Emily in Athens, GA USA 12/01/2006

Best: London Eye
Why: We went on a clear day and the view of the city was great. I highly reommend going on-line and getting tickets ahead of time, saves tons of time and pain.

Joy Gallaway in Dallas, TX USA 11/28/2006

Best: Conwy, North Wales
Why: This Welsh town is not only historically rich and interesting, but beautiful also. We found ourselves returning many times to the small boat harbor with the castle walls looming overhead. One can just sense the events that occurred here down through the centuries.

Bob Johnson in Bellevue, WA USA 11/11/2006

Best: Whitby, Yorkshire
Why: We went to Whitby in NE England on Rick's recommendation and loved it! What a cute little town. We enjoyed the people, the fish and chips, and the shops.

Tammy in Albuquerque, NM USA 11/10/2006

Best: York
Why: Of my first-time destinations (Edinburgh, Hadrian's Wall, York, Greenwich, Windor - I've been to London four times previously) the section on York was VERY helpful. Thoroughly enjoyed the town (very tourist friendly) but especially the Natl Railway Museum, Castle Museum, and the town wall.

Don Zwicker in Renton, WA USA 11/06/2006

Best: Mad Max and Scarper tours from Bath
Why: These reasonably priced tours to Wells/Glastonbury and the Southern Cotswolds, respectively, were conducted in a friendly, informative, non-rushed manner. The drivers on both tours were great guys who enjoy their work and took care to see that we got what we wanted from the tours.

Shana Woodfield in Calistoga, CA USA 11/05/2006

Best: Avebury Stone Circle
Why: natural setting, no fences, sheep everywhere. upclose and personal with these monoliths is a rare treat.

Janice Straw in Walnut Creek , CA USA 11/03/2006

Best: St. Paul's Cathedral (London) or York Minster
Why: The history within the buildings and their awesome testimony to the fact that there's something greater than ourselves (God).

Judy Masrud in Dallas, WI USA 10/29/2006

Best: Edinburgh
Why: The sights were wonderful, the people extremely friendly and helpful. Visiting the museums, we found a free bus available to transport you between the four major art and Scottish museum.

Worst: London
Why: The travel information bureau was not very friendly. The bus drivers were surly, and the traffic so horrendous, we only managed to see Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London in one day. No matter how you travel in the city, the travel congestion is extremely bad. You need more than one day to hit all the biggies, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. If you want to go to the British Museum - plan for an all day trip - it's fascinating.

Lilian Young in Hamilton Square, NJ USA 10/23/2006

Best: North Wales
Why: Simply beautiful landscape. Very Green. This is a friendly and welcoming land, and I will certainly plan to stay longer when I return. There are sights to be seen here, but the most impressive is just the country itself. Be careful driving -- the roads are narrow.

Michael Schnell in New Bremen, OH USA 10/22/2006

Best: Couldn't pick just one
Why: We started in Bath, went through the Cotswolds, to North Wales (Conwy), to Edinburgh, to York, and finished in London. A great itinerary. We particularly enjoyed North Wales and London for different reason. Make sure you allow yourself time to enjoy Wales - 1.5 days was no where near enough. We would happily stayed a week. If your tempted to skip Stonehenge - don't. It was very enjoyable and not nearly as 'overdone' as I expected.

Worst: Cotswolds - not bad, but the least of the trip
Why: The Cotswolds just didn't hold up with other places we went. Nice to drive through and look at, but litte more than cute villages.

Ken in Chandler, AZ USA 10/20/2006

Best: All of them.
Why: Hop on hop off buses were the best way for us to view London, Bath & Glasgow. Thames river cruise, Westminster Abbey, Changing of Guard all great. Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms fascinating. Underground best way to travel in London, but two many stairs down & up for us seniors. Taxis were a blessing.

Worst: Driving into Bath & Glasgow
Why: Street signs on corner buildings hard to see. Had to stop three times in each city to get directions.

Dave & Pat Archard in Daytona Beach, FL USA 10/16/2006

Best: The Emsley Guest House
Why: Out of all of the B & B's we stayed at in England, this was the best. The owners (Keith and Val) are some of the nicest, gracious, and most welcoming people we have ever met. They spent quite a bit of time with us when we arrived, giving lots of recommendations for restaurants and things we should do while in Stratford. We had the York room, which was well taken care of and extremely clean. The breakfast was unbelievably delicious-all other breakfasts we had at other B & B's simply could not compare. They also offer free parking, great for those who are touring the countryside via car. The location is only a few minutes walk away from the city center. For all of this, we only paid 60 pounds for two adults! We wished we would have stayed longer than one night, but will definitely go back again!

Jennifer in Lynnwood, Wa USA 10/11/2006

Best: Midlands and North Wales
Why: Lovely green hills, grazing sheep and stone walls plus Snowdonia and great, historic castles.

History abounds in the Midlands of England and North Wales, home of King Arthur.

David G. Morris in Kelowna, B. Canada 10/11/2006

Best: Keswick
Why: Beautiful town and lake, endless walking to do, and easy access to everything

Dan Weiner in Redding , CA USA 10/06/2006

Worst: Auld Reekie Night tour in Edinburgh
Why: Maybe it was just our guide, but she was practically running up and down the uneven streets - many of our group were lagging and breathless. We also found the subject matter dull and rather stupid - we won't try another ghost tour again !!

Charlene Wynn in La Verne, CA USA 09/28/2006

Best: Museum of London
Why: The Museum of London (www.museumoflondon.org.uk) is focused on the city itself, and the displays and kiosks are very well-designed and informative. I will remember it the most.

Worst: Tower of London
Why: overpriced, mostly just rocks, and very crowded even tho we went in off-season. White tower was interesting, but otherwise, pretty boring. Shops and food kiosks were crammed with people. Also, British Museum was fine, but WHO CARES about Chinese Jades figures and endless corridors of artifacts from OTHER COUNTRIES??? I want to learn about ENGLAND !!

Doug in Naperville, IL USA 09/20/2006

Worst: London Eye Ferris Wheel
Why: The trip around offered little of real interest to see. As reported in your book the cost is high and the lines are long.

Darwyn Herbst in Longmont, CO USA 09/18/2006

Best: Edinbourgh Fringe Festival, and Millitary Tattoo
Why: Pleasantly surpised at the number and quality of options for Fringe performances. We spent 4 nights there and could easily have enjoyed more. Tickets are very easy to get from the Fringe ticket booth as well. We thought getting tickets for the Tattoo would be impossible at the last minute, but found you can buy extras from the coach drivers near some phone booths on the Royal Mile an hour or so before the show.

Worst: Slate mines in Northern Wales.
Why: Expensive, long lines, and quite hokey. Interesting place but the presentation is Disneyland gone bad. We took both tours and found them to overlap almost entirely, just one would be better.

ray in boulder, co USA 09/14/2006

Best: Adrian's Edinburgh City Cycle Tour
Why: I organised a cycle ride through Adrian's Edinburgh City Cycle Tour for a friend’s stag do. The cycle ride was a great success and the entire group thoroughly enjoyed the tour. It was a great way to see Edinburgh and Adrian allows time to see the sights, spending longer on places of interest. The tour goes at a leisurely pace and is suitable for all. Would recommend this to anyone visiting Edinburgh as the tour gives you a good idea of the layout of the city.

Simon Dew in London, UK 08/30/2006

Best: York, Shakespeare's Globe, St. Paul's Cathedral
Why: 1) Town of York: Not only were the pedestrianized and well-preserved center were attractive and well-kept, but most of the rest of the city seemed to reflect a consciousness of and care for the city's rich past. Anyone interested in archaeology should take the audio tour of the cathedral crypt, and any fan of the Antiques Roadshow should visit the York Castle Museum, which had no live guides when I was there, but which was still fascinating, with its themed exhibits such the history of cleaning.

2) Shakespeare's Globe in London was great for anyone interested in theatre or English literature. Our guide was witty and well-informed, and although there were no plays running at the time I visited, we did get to watch part of a tech rehearsal.

3) St. Paul's in London: The group I was with attended Sunday morning services at St. Paul's, and my jaw dropped when I first saw that interior. I'd seen pictures, but they don't do justice to the enormousness and ornateness of the structure.

Worst: Train and transit systems, Internet access
Why: Don't get me wrong--they're far superior to anything we have in the States, but compared to, say, the systems in Japan, where I've done most of my traveling, they're prone to delays, hard to figure out at times, overpriced, and poorly maintained. It seemed as if no one EVER picked up litter or cleaned up grafitti on any railroad property. Also, accustomed to Japan, where free broadband access is becoming common even in budget hotel rooms, and to Minneapolis, where two local coffee shop chains offer free Wi-Fi to customers, I was astonished that hotels were charging up to 50p per minute for Internet access and that free Wi-Fi seemed to be non-existent.

Karen Sandness in Minneapolis, MN USA 08/26/2006

Best: Conwy, North Wales & Glencoe, Scotland
Why: The wall walk was better than York's. The views super of the castle (including a rainbow),green hills, harbor,and the wall enclosed town. The wall was more of an adventure and gave one the sense of being back in time. I loved exploring the streets and quay as well. It is difficult to choose my best place... The majesty and beauty of Glencoe...its history...

Jaunita Eichman in Wirtz, VA USA 08/26/2006

Best: Stonehenge, via guided van tour from Bath
Why: We took the recommended Mad Max tour, and actually our tour guide, who was a very nice guy, was a terrible guide (obviously not the orginal Maddie). And I was reluctant to pay the 15 pounds per person, which seemed steep to a stingy traveler like me. Once you get there, the presentation of the sight is mediocre. Maybe the new visistor center will be better, probably it will just be more accomodating to bored tourists. But Stonehenge itself is awesome. We saw a ton of old buildings in Europe, but Stonehenge is over 5000 years old!!! It doesn't get any better than that. It's just so much fun to contemplate and speculate about. I really felt a bit of the magic and the mystery... which I don't often feel, especially when surrounded by tourists. Definitely worth three triangles!

Summers Henderson in Somverville, MA USA 08/18/2006

Best: The Heart of Scotland Tours - Da Vanci Tour
Why: Our tour guide Tim was super; not only was he knowledgable about the sites we visited, he also gave us a taste of Sottish life by sharing itsstories, poems and music as we toured inthe bus.

Worst: Using the ATMS
Why: We had a lot of problems with the ATMs in both London and Edinburgh. We ended up going to the post office and had no problems getting cash. Also the post office does not charge a fee!

Donna Marie Nutile in Lynnfield, MA USA 08/18/2006

Best: Conwy, Wales & Keswick, England (Hadrian's Wall is cool, too)
Why: See my "favorite tips" post for more details...

Dave Johnson in Sacramento, CA USA 08/14/2006

Best: Yorkwalk - Snickelways Tour www.yorkwalk.co.uk
Why: Chris Kelley was an excellent guide and customized the tour to our interests. Lots of 'Oh, look at this too' moments. A 2 hour tour could easily have been 3, but when we had to meet at Betty's for tea at the 2.5 hour mark, Chris made sure our path wound up right there. We decided to tolerate intermittent rain and were rewarded with a private tour for the two of us, as others avoided the weather.

Joel & Stacy in Emeryville, CA USA 08/13/2006

Best: Medieval Banquet in Ruthin
Why: This was a wonderful little village and delightful presentation of fabulous food, atmosphere and entertainment. We usually don't go in for these types of things but were extremely glad we did in this case.

Kathy McCartney in Prescott, AZ USA 08/08/2006

Best: N.Wales scenery and castles, Lake District
Why: We visited Conwy castle where we had a terrific gentlemen give a tour and Harlech castle which was spectacular overlooking the sea. Our 11 and 14 year olds were thrilled! The scenery justified a long drive through Wales. Take the time to drive through this area--you can cover alot of ground in a day. We also enjoyed the beautiful Buttermere hike in the Lake District with a nice meal afterwards at the Fish hotel.

Worst: Harry Potter train, Edinburgh castle, Avebury
Why: After seeing N. Wales, the Lake District, and the Highlands scenery en route to Ballachulish, the Harry Potter train ride between Fort William and Mallaig was a huge disappointment. The scenery did not compare and the ride took up the entire day (10-4). We planned our Scotland itinerary around this because of our 2 HP fans but really regret it. The train stops over in Mallaig, a town with absolutely nothing available to pass the time other than a few restaurants (ours was good, a tea room). I was surprised that there were no shops with so many captive tourists around!

After seeing Conwy, Harlech, and Dolwyddelan castles, Edinburgh castle was another disappointment. Hordes of people and a pretty lame tour. I wouldn't bother if you have the time to visit other castles.

The reason for listing Avebury stone circle must have been the sheep dung! The ground was covered, and I mean completely covered with it. So much so that we spent the entire time looking down at our feet rather than enjoying the circle and it really took away from the experience. Since we were living out of our rental car for 2 weeks, we weren't interested in bringing that in! I would have liked to have known about this aspect ahead of time, we might have been better prepared (disposable boots?) or avoided it all together. We enjoyed the Castlerigg circle near Keswick though.

Wendie McKernan in Mount Horeb, WI USA 08/03/2006

Best: Knight's Residence, Edinburgh, Scotland
Why: Best Value for the money. Great location, great staff and big, clean rooms. Don't let the price scare you because when you factor in the full kitchen facilities and in room washer/dryer you're ahead of the game.

Frank Ricci in New York, NY USA 07/23/2006

Worst: Jorvik Center in York
Why: Totally hokey and a waste of money and time.

Ellen Hirzy in Washington, DC United States 07/20/2006

Best: The Roman Baths in Bath
Why: I thought it would be about hotsprings and instead was a rich archological marvel with the best audioguide we had the whole trip (and we did at least 10 audioguides) that made it very real. Best part of our two week trip through England and Scotland.

Worst: Audioguide overview in British Museum
Why: Half the time you couldn't find the object described, and when you did it just wasn't worth the hunt. The British Museum itself was fantastic once I got rid of the audioguide (and inspite of the blistering heat)

Kelley Grant-Kelley in Pataskala, OH USA 07/18/2006

Best: The Tower of London
Why: The drama of the history, the beefeaters, the fun tour. It all lived up to my expectations and exceeded them.

Worst: The Costume Museum in Bath
Why: Interesting, yes, but worth the admission price, no. And I usually am a sucker for the word "Museum", so I was surprised I wasn't delighted with it at all. Now if you love seeing the authentic textiles and styles, they have done an excellent job and so enjoy.

Jennifer Neumann in Valley Mills, TX USA 07/17/2006

Best: Vindolanda (Hadrian's Wall)
Why: It was so neat to see them actually digging and finding artifacts! The museum was also quite good. Our Mad Max tour of Stonehenge and Avebury was also good, as was Bath's free walking tour.

Worst: Edinburgh
Why: It didn't help that it rained for much of our visit, but I found Edinburgh very expensive with not much value for money.

Kyla Gurganus in Ypsilanti, MI USA 07/16/2006

Best: The Original London Bus Tour
Why: Great Hop on/Hop off, Fair price (w/discount),

Anathea Gordon in Los Angeles, Ca USA 07/15/2006

Best: Elgin Villa in Bath
Why: First Class service, accomendations. Great family atmossphere. Host/Owner Anna, very well organized, considerate, friendly, and welcomming of all guests.

Just a few walking blocks of all the inter-city attractions, shops, and restaurants.

Great experience staying at the Elgin Villa.

Dave Tully in Pewaukee, WI USA 07/12/2006

Best: Trafalgar Square
Why: This is the place to get a bite to eat, people-watch, and relax by the fountain in the evening after a hard day of touring.

Adrienne in Esslingen, Germany 07/11/2006

Best: The Caernarvon Choir Rehearsal
Why: It was inexpensive (Free) and it was a lovely way to experience a famous local phenomenon and to experience the warmth of the local people. It was also a good way to hear the Welsh language (they rehearsed most of their songs in Welsh)

Jay Campbell in Boiling Springs, SC USA 07/11/2006

Best: For the value - London Walks- a real kick!
Why: Fun to do and an inexpensive way to spend an evening.

Laurie Larson in Wixom, MI USA 06/27/2006

Best: Edinburgh, Scotland
Why: I wish we'd spent three or four days there, rather than two: there is just too much to see and do, and the city is lovely.

Worst: Oban Distillery Tour, Oban, Scotland
Why: We had better distillery tours at Blair Atholl and at Erdradour in Pitlochry, with guides who were far more knowledgeable and less gruff. The young woman who led our distillery tour in Oban actually seemed annoyed when guests asked questions.

Also, the Palace of Holyrood is not worth the admission price. If you're going to other places in the UK, you will see better and more fabulous palaces for your hard-won pounds.

Trish in Chapel Hill, NC USA 06/26/2006

Best: Conwy, Wales
Why: I never would have gone there without Rick's recommendation, and we loved it. Conwy is encircled by the oldest, most complete, intact city wall. And Edward I's castle was beautiful, interesting, and easy to explore. Our guide at the castle was the best of the entire trip, very informative and entertaining.

And definitely take to the train to Llandudno Junction instead of Conwy. It will give you far more transportation options, and it's practically in sight of the Conwy station. Walking, bus or cheap cab into town are all doable.

And try dandelion & burdock flavor soda pop from the local liquor store! It's like a mellower, more complex, Dr. Pepper.

Worst: No worst!
Why: The guides recommedations were invaluable! Our trip would have been much poorer without your guide. You made everything so much easier, helping filter the information I got from Lonely Planet, and pointing me to places like Chipping Campden and Conwy. And I'm so grateful for all the travel skills I got from "Europe Through the Back Door" and the website. Thank you!

Siobhan Keleher in San Diego, CA USA 05/28/2006

Best: North Wales
Why: Beautiful scenery, interesting castles and historical sites, friendly people, quaint towns, diverse shopping. Loved it!

Lisa Pizzuto Whittaker in Woodinville, WA USA 05/17/2006

Worst: Changing of the guard
Why: Boring, takes a lot of time to get a good spot

Catherine Nodar in Atlanta, GA USA 05/16/2006

Best: Climbing to the top of St. Paul's, Shakespear's Globe, the Natural History Museum, the Cotswolds (especially Chipping Campden), Jill Carenza's Riding Center, Cotswold Farm Park, Mary Arden's House, Thames Rivercruise, and Blenheim Palace's Maze
Why: All were great for two active boys!

Worst: The Changing of the Guard, the Evensong at Westminster, Blenheim Palace Tour
Why: Just a bit boring for two active boys!

Peggy Schnorr in Morgan Hill, CA USA 05/15/2006

Best: Ardconnel House B&B - Inverness
Why: Rooms were clean and comfortable, great location with easy walking to historic sites, rail, bus, great library and shops. Owners John and Elizabeth were wonderful. Always ready to provide assistance, information or helpful advice. Can't wait to go back again.

Shari Phiel in Longmont, CO USA 04/30/2006

Best: St. Paul's Cathedral
Why: View from the top was breathtaking. I recommend if you're not exceptional shape, schedule this towards the end of your trip. The steps will be easier for you then.

Worst: Tower of London & Crown Jewels
Why: We visited on Easter day because so many of the other london attractions were closed. Big mistake. There were so many tourists there we could barely breath. And the crown jewels were just a bunch of expensive crowns - and waiting in line while tediously weaving through room after room of roped off paths were frustratingly annoying. I thought there'd be more jewelry to see...nope, just about 15 crowns or so.

Wendy in Denney, FL USA 04/30/2006

Best: Touchstone Tours from Keswick/Lake District
Why: My guide Lucy Harrison was great! I did the combined Hadrian's Wall and stone henges tour. It was nice having a guide that actually has some significant educational and occupational background (both archaeology and history) on the sights we were visiting. Her knowledge was impressive and her manner of presenting how people actually behaved in the past was stimulating and fun. Lucy answered all questions well and even provided good background information on the archeological and historical validity of claims made at other sights (i.e., that Glastonbary's claims of having the bones of both King Arthur and Guenevere seemed to follow the city's financial needs for new local improvements). I should mention that I was the only one on the tour (it was around mid April before all the crowds hit). I was impressed that the tour was still conducted, especially since I was recently disappointed by the cancellation of the North Wales Discovery Tour by BusyBus several days prior because they did not get enough people). Touchstone's commitment and professionalism were evident. Also, I was picked up at exactly the right time from my B&B and dropped off at the Carlise train station to start the next leg of my trip.

Worst: Stratford Upon Avon & Royal Mile
Why: Unless you are a big fan of Shakepeare, I would suggest giving this place a miss. I went there to see Romeo & Juliet at the Royal Shakespearean Theatre and was disappointed (the production was panned in several papers). However, I heard other productions were quite good. Royal Mile: Touristy and not much to see (although the People's Story was good).

Thomas in San Jose, CA USA 04/25/2006

Best: Bath
Why: Both the kids and us loved Bath. They went out on their own at one point for a treat and we all felt safe. The baths, the city walk, the bizzarre comedy walk and rowing on the Avon were all a hit. The costume museum and tea with my daughter were also a highlight.

Worst: The Natural History Museum
Why: Such crowds. Hard to move or see anything. I liked the Victoria and Albert Museum more. No crowds.

Wendy Barnett in Los Gatos, CA USA 04/17/2006

Best: Bath
Why: Bath was beautiful and the perfect size for someone without a car (it helped that the sun shone every day I was there!). As a single traveler, finding things to do at night is sometimes a problem, and the Bizarre Bath tour was a wonderful way to spend an evening and meet others. Finally, Mad Max tours were really well done. Plenty of time off the bus, and the guide (Charles) was informative and easygoing.

Worst: Roman Baths
Why: Even though it was shoulder season (early April), it was very crowded and hot. I can't even imagine what it's like during peak season and higher temps.

Maria Strine in Cincinnati, Oh USA 04/15/2006

Worst: Southern Britain
Why: You forgot that there is a Southern Britain. We wanted to visit County Kent and Dover and the only mention in the book is a brief paragraph on the ferry at Dover. We were very sorry we bought the book when we discovered that you had missed that area entirely.

[Editor's Note: We cover Dover and other highlights of the South Coast in Rick Steves' England. We try to keep each book's suggested itinerary to 22 days or fewer and the South Coast didn't make the cut for a book covering all of Great Britain.]

Dan Nix in Centennial, CO USA 04/06/2006

Best: Stonehenge and the London Eye
Why: Stonehenge is breath taking. If you've always wanted to go to Stonehenge, don't let other discourage you from going. Although there is a fence around it, you can pay a small fee to walk around the inside of the fence. This is a "MUST SEE". The London Eye has great views. You can see a variety of the major sites from the Eye.

LAH in Littleton, CO USA 04/05/2006

Best: Roman Baths
Why: Fantastic tour.

Worst: Castle Museum
Why: Because of the lack of audioguides or living guides, the museum was just a semi-interesting conglomeration and is no longer worthy of Rick's highest rating. We'd give it a 1 rather than a 3.

Amy Alpine in Eau Claire, WI USA 04/05/2006

Worst: The London Dungeons
Why: We wish we would have read Rick's book a little closer before going on the London Dungeon tour. He hated it and so did we. Don't be mislead by the long lines as it was a huge waste of money and time. Coming from LA, I love a great haunted house like the ones that they have at Knott's Berry Farm during Halloween. The London Dungeon, however, isn't much of a step up from a carnival haunted house and costs much, much more. This was our worst choice in terms of money and time our entire trip.

Drake in Seattle, WA USA 03/12/2006

Worst: Ard-na-Said B & B in Edinburgh, Scotland
Why: While the house is beautiful and the rooms quite roomy and nicely decorated, we found the host and hostess downright rude. Whenever we asked a question of any kind we were told to read the information packet in our room as if they did not want to speak with us at all. (There was no information in our room, by the way. We searched!) I got the feeling that we Americans were "beneath them". It wasn't just us. We saw them treat several other Americans there the same way. We were relieved when our stay was over, sorry to say.

Tami King in San Angelo, TX USA 03/02/2006

Best: York
Why: The free walking tour was very informative, entertaining, and made the rest of our time in York worthwhile. The Minster was incredible! We attended two evensong services with 2 different choirs and we were covered in goosebumps. The climb to the top of the tower is not for the faint of heart but we had aches that were gone after the climb so perhaps they should advertise it as a curative and charge more!?! The castle museum was extremely well done and full of chatty guides and interesting exhibits. We were surprised by being in York on the anniversary of the queen's accession to the throne and were treated to a Royal Salute. The very proper British military band played St Louis Blues; it was a kick to hear swing played alongside God Save The Queen! Be sure to plan more than 1 night in York. Our B&B host said that the biggest complaint they get from their guests is that there wasn't enough time to see everything in York. 2 full days wasn't even enough!

Jolene in Centuria, WI USA 02/17/2006