Great Britain

Favorite discoveries or tips:

A visit to Carnforth, about 20 miles north Lancaster and just south of the Lake District, just off the M6 motorway, was an unexpected delight for us in June 2008. The still very active railway station was the scene for the filming of much of David Lean's excellent 1945 film, Brief Encounter, and several exhibit areas have been recently restored and expanded. The refreshment cafe which featured in the film is run now by Andrew Coates and his partner (both immensely welcoming) and has the best scones (fruit, cherry or cheese) I've had in my 21 trips to the UK. (The station will be the site of a major convention of steam trains and enthusiasts in July 2008 marking the discontinuance of steam trains in the UK). The train used in the Harry Potter movies is in the station although not currently on view. There is also a superb model train store (called Bay Models) on the station platform with very knowledgable people (e.g. Bill Pinch, www.baymodels.co.uk) there. All of this is a wonderful experience for people who like trains or enjoy nostalgic and powerful romantic movies. For book lovers there is Carnforth Bookshop on the main street (called Market Street) with 14 rooms containing more than 100,000 new and used books (and a top class supermarket, Booths, just behind it). This is an excellent stopping place on your drive to the Lake District or to Scotland.

In Keswick, be sure to visit the Pencil Museum. Rick mentions it off handedly but everyone there was totally delighted by it: the young because they don't use wooden pencils much and have never seen water soluble pencil leads that can be used in painting, and the old because it held childhood memories for them. There is a lot more there you'll enjoy than you would have expected.

In Lancaster, go to the bird and butterfly house in Williamson Park. You can walk through large enclosures of beautiful tropical birds and butterflies that was more enjoyable to me than many art and history museums. Lancaster Castle is also worth a visit: it dates from the 1100s, was the site of on-going witch trials, has historic dungeons and is still an operating prison.

I recommend mention of this area, Lancaster and Carnforth, in future additions.

Theodore Jones in San Francisco, CA USA 06/30/2008

Those with a literary liking may have heard of Ben Jonson's poem "To Penshurst" and want to visit Penshurst Place in Kent. We did and highly recommend it. The day trip included a short train ride to Tonbridge from London and a wonderful 5-mile bike ride along the Medway river and through the Weald. It was my favorite day of a 2-week vacation in England and Scotland.

Elizabeth in Minneapolis, MN USA 05/19/2008

I recently purchased the 2008 Rick Steves' "Great Britain" book. I noticed that it is missing a section on visiting Oxford, England. I am planning on visiting Oxford in July and would like to know the best way to travel there, places to stay, restaurants, and tourist places to visit in the vicinty. What would you suggest?

[Editor's Note: As Rick prefers the similar town of Cambridge for the typical visitor with limited time and money, Oxford only appears in our England guidebook.]

Bill Stack in Portland, OR USA 05/09/2008

EuropCar just merged with Alamo/National as we discovered on April 19th on arrival at Heathrow. So beware of the Europcar tactics - they wanted me to sign on the dotted line of the contract when it specifically stated just over $2,000 US for 5 day rental? You have to be very thorough in your inspection of the contract and make sure they don't charge for all the extras. Also ask for a copy of the final reciept when you return the car. When we returned ours, they just said thanks. Past posts mentioned that they will charge you extra for damage etc after you leave, so get a written reciept before you leave.

Changing of the guard in only every other day this time of the year.

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

Driving in the U.K. was great. I was thrilled to drive across the Welsh border and see the rugged countryside open up.I gained confidence from Rick's tips on rental cars, the roundabouts and roadsigns. I was a bit scared, but I would drive it again. No regrets.

Veronica in Adams, TN USA 01/29/2008

Favorite discovery: Mini-Tours. We found a private tour guide (Craig at Mini-Tours.com), and he was wonderful! Rick should add this to his UK and Ireland books.

Mark Gedlinske in Plymouth, MN USA 10/27/2007

Just returned from 10 days in south Wales and Cotswolds, using Rick's Great Britain 2007. This was our 7th trip to the U.K. We had a lovely time, as usual, using Rick's book. Our B&B's were all very good: Cardiff, Wales: Beaufort Guest House, 65 Cathedral Rd. Llandogo, Wales: Lugano B&B, Trellech Road Moreton-in-Marsh: Treetops B&B, London Road Windsor: Langton House B&B, 46 Alma Road

S. Scruggs in Longmont, CO USA 10/18/2007

Thank you, Rick Steeves, and your wonderful staff!!!

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

Adrian's Edinburgh City Cycle Tour in Edinburgh, Scotland www.edinburghcycletour.com Great way to see the city easily and with a local. Farther than you can walk and also go where no cars can go. Small groups and a pint in the pub at the end1

Chris in Román, CA USA 10/12/2007

Because the recommended B&B in Pitlochry was full, we stayed at Beinn Bhracaigh (14 Higher Oakfield Pitlochry PH16 5HJ Scotland, Phone 01796470355, www.beinnbhracaigh.com.)

The hosts were extremely friendly and helpful. We especially enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and wonderful breakfast (even pancakes and decaff coffee were available). We highly recommend this B&B.

John & Lynn Stenabaugh in Aurora, ON Canada 10/08/2007

The Chestnuts House, Bath http://www.chestnutshouse.co.uk/index.php

I found this on the web through a google search. The owner, Toni, had great suggestions on local sites and tours, the room (we stayed in #5 on the ground level, dbl ensuite 80 pounds/night w/ breakfast, internet access, off street parking, dvd library) was beautiful, and the breakfast was fresh and delicious. We were there for 3 nights - on the last night my partner got sick, Toni helped us find another B&B since he was booked that night and it was a bad idea for her (my partner) to get on a train. We ended up at The Bath House B&B http://www.thebathhouse.org/ which also was very nice (dbl ensuite 85 pounds, 80 if paying cash, internet access, wifi, breakfast served in your room, and they did my laundry for no extra charge!)

Joanne in Fong, CA USA 10/04/2007

My family and I spent an extremely interesting afternoon at Bletchley Park (halfway between Oxford and Cambridge), a museum emphasizing the code-breaking activities there during World War 2. Exhibits extend beyond the code-breaking and add depth and breadth to understanding of life in England during WW2. There is also a Winston Churchill museum on site. I found the working replica of a Colossus computer, until relatively recently secret, fascinating. Bletchley Park Ltd The Mansion Bletchley Park Milton Keynes MK3 6EB +44 (0) 1908 640404 The museum has audio wands for self-guided tours and docent-lead tours that provide access to some otherwise closed areas. My family (wife and daughter, 20) was surprised at how interested they found themselves in life during WW2 and the incredible accomplishments of the people who worked at this location. There is a caffeteria on site with inside and outside seating. September 2007

George Hamma in Sunnyvale, CA USA 09/20/2007

Carreg Cennan Castle in South Wales

Alan Leiserson in Nashville, TN USA 09/13/2007

We stopped at this great Lebanese take out deli that also had seating and it was our best meal in Edinburgh. Mouth watering falafels an deliciously grilled vegetables.

Aimee in Oakland, CA USA 08/26/2007

This summer (May-June 2007) I took a wonderful vacation to Rome, Siena, Venice, Paris, Isle of Arran, and London. While I was on the Isle of Arran my traveling companions and I stayed at The Lagg Hotel near Kilmory (www.lagghotel.com). I have never met nicer people. The hotel is run by Peter and Mary Bowers. And, despite the fact that they have a small staff and they were constantly busy (and Mary is pregnant), they never failed to stop a minute and ensure that their guests were happy and comfortable. We enjoyed our time at the hotel so much that we extended our stay another day (it would have been more, but they were booked full), and the morning we were leaving we mentioned to Peter that we were headed for London and he took the time (during breakfast rush) to type out a few restaurants he felt were worth us trying while there. The Isle is beautiful, quiet, and peaceful (except for the midgies) and the people are so kind. I would certainly reccommend the Isle and especially The Lagg Hotel for anyone interested in a comfortable, and peaceful UK trip.

Elizabeth C. Donne in Chicago, IL USA 08/16/2007

Hanedan Restaurant (A GREAT Turkish restaurant) 41-42 West Preston St Edinburgh EH8 9PY Gusel Bahar 07985 726 585 www.hanedan.co.uk

Sharon in Pasadena , CA USA 07/01/2007

We discovered a small bargain if you don't mind staying on the edge of London. The Old Stables 1 Bridle Lane, St. Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 3EG; Telephone: 020 8892 4507; Mobile: 07966 549515 Fax: 020 8892 4503 near St Margarets Road and railroad station was ideally located for a visit to Kew and Hampton Court and really convenient for a day trip or two into London. It is in a very pleasant area of Twickenham (where Rugby is the rage).

It is not quite a B&B but does come with a light breakfast of yougurt, cereals, tea coffee and orange juice stored in the room's well designed buffet. There are inexpensive breakfst places nearby if you need more.

Everything is incredibly well designed and compact. The establishment is apparently hard to find as it is on an alley that runs parallel to St Margarets. We had a good map and drove right to it but the brother of the owner was astonished that we did not need to be talked in by cell phone. Everything is comfortable, clean and modern (but small). It even had a flat screen TV. You use a code to get in and it is a cash deal but at 75 pounds it was a great bargain.

It really is a suburban location so the train to Victoris took about a half hour or so but the station was a half block away with a friendly agent who helped us find the most affordable passes. There is a cab company just around the corner and you are not too far from Heathrow and the cab was affordable.

There are a number of good restaurants in the area including an excellent pub just across the street. We wished we had a couple more days.

John Novinson in Northbrook, IL USA 06/26/2007

I really don't know if this has been covered. If not, those interested in great houses and gardens might find a membership in the National Trust a worthwhile investment. A family or two person membership can be purchased on-line. We were visiting a number of their properties in a drive around the Cotswolds and Kent and were able to both skip the ticket line and save money after about 5 stops. My wife is a garden designer so we were on something of pilgrimage with visits to Hidcote, Westonbirt, Snowshill, Nymans, Sissinghurst, Chartwell and a couple of other sites that were unplanned but conveniently nearby and free. Scotney Castle was an unexpected pleasure that was on sort of on the way back to our B&B and turned out to be one of the most memorable places we visited.

You really need to drive to make the most of a National Trust membership. I did it but it was not a relaxing way to go.

The Trust membership includes 4 interesting magazines and a detailed catalogue of all their properties.

You can also buy a Royal Palaces membership in London that gets you into 5 properties. It is break even at two and you need only stand in one line. We got to Hampton Court and the Tower of London and it seemed like a good deal if that is your thing.

John Novinson in Northbrook, IL USA 06/26/2007

Using your guide book, we drove ourselves through Britain staying at recommended B & B's and eating at the restaurants noted. Loved it when we pulled in to park at one of the Cotswald's towns to eat, and there on the dashboard of the car next to us, a Rick Steves Book!!! Love them!

Jane in Galbraith, AR USA 06/17/2007

We recommend the Oban Fish Restaurant.

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

I just came back from a month in the U.K., which included three nights in York. My last night in York happened to be a Wednesday, and around 4 p.m. I noticed a man in a mini-skirt leaving a pub with a group of regularly dressed guys. An hour later, in another pub, there was a man in the main bar area dressed like Boy George, talking with an elderly couple, while another man in drag was in the lounge. I finally asked a local what was going on, and she said, "Oh, Wednesday is trannie night." She went on to explain that there's a much bigger trannie night on the last weekend of every month, and that Wednesdays are just a low-key night out for local transvestites.

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

We stayed at a wonderful B & B, Ravenscroft, in Bath. It's a Victorian with a lovely garden and is across from the Kennet-Avon Canal. Cost is 65 pounds/night/double/with bath. Hosts are Colin and Helen Baker--rav.bath@ukonline.co.uk. Tel. no. 01225 469267. Beautiful room with all of those extras--hair dryer, tea and cooffe making facilities, shampoos, wash cloths! Located on Sydney Road, next to the Sydney Gardens.

In Scotland, we stayed at a great farmhouse B & B on A923 between Blairgowrie and Dunkeld. Dunkeld is on the A9, the main road to Inverness, and the B & B is close enough to Dunkeld to drive to for dinner. It is called Bankhead and is run by Ian and Hilda Wightman. The address is Bankhead, Clunie, Blairgowrie, Perthshire. Tel.no. 01250 884281. Fax: 01250 884281. email: Ian@ihwightman.freeserve.co.uk. Mrs. Wightman has one family room, ensuite, and a twin. I can't remember if we paid forty or fifty pounds for the two of us. But I had haggis and black pudding for breakfast! And everything is on the ground floor. They had all of the amenities including a sitting room and an electric blanket with dual controls!

We enjoyed Saathi's Indian Brasserie in Blackpool. We enjoyed the Castle Tavern in Inverness. I had salmon mousse, and my husband had rainbow trout.

I had wonderful penne quatro formaggio at the Farmer's Hotel in Warminster, just south of Bath.

We enjoyed the Marquis of Queensbury Pub, near Elizabeth House in London.

We had a deep-fried Mars bar at the Clam Shell Fish and Chips on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

Leslie Talley in Titusville, FL USA 06/09/2007

I find your books very useful and have recommended them to friends. I especially like when you admit if something is not worth seeing or overpriced. I was surprised however that Manchester was not in the guide ("a place of little or no touristic interest"??) As an American having lived here for 9 months now, I can assure you there is a lot to see. So many FREE museums, great music scene, locals much friendlier than in London, etc.

India in manchester, UK 06/06/2007

Just returned from London and want to let people know that St. Martin in the Field is closed for renovation through September 2007.

Mary Clark in Silverthorne, CO USA 05/17/2007

Enjoyed Zizzi's Restaurant about 1 block from Westland Hotel on Bayswater Road, London. Ate there twice. Reasonable prices. Nice food.

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

Regents' Park was wonderful - I'd highly recommend going there, particularly in April. The flower displays were fantastic and the many paths create nice, quiet places to walk.

Marian in Seattle, WA USA 04/25/2007

Brookfield House in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, tel. 01989/562-188. Best place we stayed,& little known. Large ensuite rooms tastefully decorated, great breakfasts (esp. vegetrn), and only place we stayed where heating was comfortable all night. Friendly, helpful owners, great price.

Ann Grant in Santa Cruz, CA USA 04/13/2007

The York University Refectory - located right off the Architecture and Archaelogy Dept. I discovered it before the free York Tour. It serves the public and though small, it was bright and had cheap, tasty food for tea. I was there before Easter holidays 2006, so it was deserted, save for the friendly server. The prices are great: ex. a "home bake cake" is 0.72 pounds for students and 1.15 pounds for visitors.

Also, I recommend stopping in the hostelerie (St. Crux Parish Hall, listed in book), a redundant church across from York's giant Marks and Spencer. Non-profits offer up tea inside and I had a delicious cuppa (3 cups), slice of lemon cake, cheese scone, egg sandwich and and a slice of tomato and onion quiche (all homemade) for 3 pounds! (I split this with a friend.) So we had tea for 1.50 each in York city centre. We made a generous donation to the York opera, who were our hosts that day in gratitude.

In Bath, the Bridge Coffee Shop over the Pulteney Bridge is tiny, but offers warm pasties and coffee for early spring travelers looking to wander along the river. Also, across from the Bath bus stop is the Open House Coffee Shop. Though it is church-affiliated, it does not try to recruit beyond some leaflets (I read more about fair Trade than religion). It is simple, full of travelers and pensioners, and nice for a lunch or tea.

Jemma in Seattle, WA USA 04/02/2007

Adored the Heart of Scotland Highland Tour to Loch Ness! Our guide, Tim, was a fantastic storyteller (without being canned or corny); he genuinely seemed to enjoy sharing his tales.

Cadenhead's Whisky Shop was a little intimidating but educational; I loved the little Scottish Terrier puppy who belonged to the owner.

All of the food in Edinburgh was excellent. I had been there in the 1980s and the food was awful; it has changed significantly since then.

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

Ocean Breeze Guesthouse, in South Shields, 10 miles from Newcastle train station in NE England. Run by "Georgie" & Susan. Contact info is info@oceanbreezeguesthouse.co.uk and their website is www.oceanbreezeguesthouse.co.uk.

R. V. Zeagler, Jr. in Tucson, AZ USA 12/23/2006

I would like to reccommend the St. Margaret's Hotel in London for inclusion in future issues of you Great Britain and London guide books. It is located within sight of the British Museum (from the window in our top-floor room, we could see the dome), with very convenient tube access at Russel Street, Holborn or Tottenham Court Road.

There is no such thing as a cheap, comfortable safe room in London, but we found the St. Margaret's to be a good compromise. Though we paid more than at Aonach Mor Guest House in Edinburgh, it still beat many of the less-expensive places I have crashed in London.

The street it is on and the surrounding blocks felt pretty safe and pretty clean, for London. The reception desk is manned 24-hours a day and they control who comes in at any given time. I do not know how many rooms are in the hotel, but it was originally three townhouses (at a guess, I'd say 50 rooms). Reception keeps your room key when you leave the hotel. The staff was all very, very friendly and nice. They went out of their way to provide us with information, marking our destinations and routes on map and even lending us a copy of your London guide. They used a combination of maps, but favored a very detailed bicycling map of London to show people around. They provided the best service I have ever had in London.

We booked a double with shared bathroom, but were upgraded on our first night for free to a quiet room with en suite facililties. The next day, the housekeeping staff moved our (packed) bags into the room we'd reserved. Both rooms were quite adequate to our needs; roomy and clean, but a little tired. The beds were comfortable enough, the showers had plenty of hot water and reasonable pressure and were clean.

Breakfast made it clear we weren't in Scotland any more. There was enough food to last one until dinner, with only a light lunch or snack to carry one over, and it made a fine start to our days in London, but I have certainly had better sausage. What was surprising about breakfast was the size of the serving staff. It felt very much like a restaurant with many tables and bustling young ladies in the sort of smocks that are so common in English eateries. They were attentive and friendly. On the third morning we left early (having settled the bill the night before by credit card with no extra fee) and managed to get breakfast half an hour befor ethe kitchen opened. They did not have time to broil tomatoes, but it was fine and I was pleased to get a cooked breakfast at 6.30.

At the risk of sounding like a paid advertisement, I really think your readers will enjoy staying at St. Margaret's. I cannot say enough about the friendliness of the staff. Debrah (sp) made us feel very welcome and made sure all our needs were met.

We paid 67 pounds per night for a large, quiet room.

Try it next time you visit London. While you are there, ask for advice on getting around, what to see, where to eat. I really think you will like it.

They are at 26 Bedford Place, just between Russell Square and Bloomsbury Square Gardens.

Edgar Tomlin in Vancouver, wa USA 11/26/2006

I used Celtic Horizons for a day-long tour of Tintern Abbey and the Cotswolds. He was very helpful and accomodating, and there was no other way we could have seen what we did without him. We told him where we wanted to go and he planned it out for us. We saw some wonderful villages and views. I had thought about renting a car to do the same thing, but the stress of driving would have ruined the day and I wouldn't have saved THAT much money.

Julie in Provo, Ut USA 11/21/2006

Castle View B & B in Conwy, Wales outdid themselves. They picked us up from the Llandudno train station, and took us to Llandudno the next day in their car. Super nice people!

Trudy VanderMolen in Wyoming, MI USA 11/16/2006

We did the month long trip to England, Scotland and Ireland completely by train and the occasional bus, and found it worked very well. The trains run on time, and the train personnel are very helpful.

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

Include a section on Stirling, Scotland. Great sights(Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument), plus tourist friendly. It also offers a convenient via bus side trip to Doune Castle (8 miles) - site of numerous scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

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

If traveling by bus (coach) ask about buying a day-pass. For 4.50 GBP I rode buses around the Warwick/Stratford/Cotswolds area one day in September. A similar deal is available in the Bath area.

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

Bullshead Inn in Craswall, Herefordshire, is a great dark pub with a wonderful Sunday dinner. It's everything you want a pub to be: cozy, dark, heavy beams, low ceilings, great food and drink, friendly.

For those who don't mind driving "on the wrong side of the road" there's a website that has audiotours for sale: www.marchestourstalks.co.uk. They're great when you want to go off on your own and explore at your own pace. (if you're good at following directions.)

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

Since our main visit to England was to St. Ives, Cornwall we found no accomodations or restaurants for this beautiful town in your book, but we did stop at Chagford and stayed at the Three Crowns Hotel, a delightful experience. We also stopped at Salisbury and stayed at the Cricket Field House, where I mentioned your book and the owner said you had been there with a group and knew you and said "hello". I kept your book beside us as we drove from Heathrow to St. Ives and met our family there since my Dad was born and grew up in the town....Since our family met us there from Norway and there were seven of us with two children, we stayed at the Tregenna Castle Hotel. Nice accomodations for family fun but they could use a new chef. Maybe the English are use to overcooked beef and lamb (and we are both English bred). Our next trip will be to Italy so we will look for your book in our bookstores around the Boston area. Thanks sooo much for all the help your book gave us!

Mabel Orrall in Lynnfield, Ma USA 10/24/2006

Beamaris in North Wales on Anglesy is not mentioned in the guidebook, but is a great little town - very similar to a New England fishing town. Lots of quaint shops, good food, and a nice walk along the sea. Plus the typical castle.

The British Heritage pass saved us at least $200. A good value if you get out and about in the country and see just one or two big sites (like Blenheim, Warwick, Roman Baths,...)

Ken in Chandler, AZ USA 10/20/2006

We drove into Glagow from the east on the M 6. Sauchiehall St. has one way car traffic going east from the M 8 into the city centre. Our hotel was west of the M 8 on Sauchiehall and it took time to locate it after finding two way traffic out of the centre.

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

We happened upon a wonderful B&B near Chatsworth House in the Peak District in our recent travels to the UK. The Barrel Inn is a pub dating from the 1600's, located on a high hill on a former Roman road to Manchester. Our host Diane was great, the food in the pub was excellent, the rooms were fine and the view of the countryside below was stunning. A local couple asked us how we found this location as even they had only discovered this little treasure recently. Contact: The Barrel Inn, Bretton, Near Eyam, Derbyshire Phone: 01433 630856, www.barrelinn.co.uk

Pat Christie in Calgary, AB Canada 10/15/2006

My husband and I just returned from 15 days in England, 10 of which were spent in the beautiful countryside. Although the Yorkshire Dales are not in Rick's guidebooks, they are a must for gobsmacking beauty and walking. We stayed at West Close Farmhouse in Melmerby which opened April 2006. Steve and Julie could not have been nicer or more helpful. They offer B&B and self catering cottages. The accommodations are lovely, clean and set in very scenic surroundings. Julie prepares and Steve serves a sumptuous breakfast. There's a nice pub with great food in walking distance and it's close to several great sites and fantastic walking paths. Their telephone is (01144)1969 640 275.

Marianne Patterson in San Diego, CA USA 10/13/2006

If you plan on seeing several of the Shakespeare properties in Stratford-upon-Avon, make sure to buy the multiple house ticket (14 pounds for all 5 houses, or 11 pounds for 3 houses-Shakespeare's Birthplace, Hall's Croft and Nash's House/New Place). This combined ticket saved us a couple of pounds.

Jennifer in Lynnwood, Wa USA 10/11/2006

Please add Number 30, 30 Crescent Gardens, Bath, England BA12N to your recommended B&Bs. We stayed there in Sept. 2006 and found the location terrific, the B&B spotless, and the food wonderful! David and Carolyn Greenwood are great hosts. Carolyn gave us a map and annotated it with locations of restaurants and pubs and even where to stand to take the best pictures. Phone number is 01225 337 393 Email: numberthirty@davidgreenwoodplus.com. Website is:www.numberthirty.com

Gene Frekko in Winston-Salem, NC USA 10/03/2006

In Liverpool, you had no restaurant recommendations. We had a wonderful Portuguese dinner, inexpensive (10-12pounds per entree) at Algarve - 20 Stanley St, appeared to be family run - phone # 0151-236-0206 just around the corner from the Sir Thomas Hotel (which we liked also)and another very good, inexpensive meal at Olive Press, 25-27 Castle St, just about a 7 minute walk from our hotel too.

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

Edingurgh accomodations - There are several perfectly nice guest houses on Royal Terrace. It's a modest walk or a very short bus ride to the central area. We stayed at the Adria Hotel (it's really a B&B/guest house) and were quite satisfied. The rate in Sept was 35 pounds per person (70 pounds total). It's a 3 star operation by the Scottish tourist board and the British AA. It is family-run and is quite friendly and personable.

Ken C in Rochester, NY USA 09/24/2006

Recommended additions would include the Museum of London. Just returned from England and it, along with the Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms, were, in my opinion, the highlights of the city. Also, the Charles Dickens Museum (NE of the British Museum) was worth the walk. Nice quaint place with lots of history.

Doug in Naperville, IL USA 09/20/2006

Suggest that you consider including staying at a B&B near Lake Coniston for two or three nights. Many interesting things to do while there and the town is charming. It is not crowded like Keswick and Windermere.

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

Please check out: Arran House Hotel 77-79 Gower St, London WC1E 6HJ 020 7636 2186 4 people(1 large room)- 90pounds - wonderful staff-full English Breakfast We needed 2 nights but they could only provide 1, so they called another hotel (Stauton Hotel -also very nice) and got us in for the same price (90pounds).

Kim Guttendorf in Tully, NY USA 09/14/2006

This is a suggested additon: This was a wonderful, clean, nice B&B in a beautiful, quaint area. If you want to be near London, but out of the noise for a serene home base with real folks, this is it. Mary Garrigan was very welcoming and helpful in solving a few travel dilemmas. The house and rooms are much nice than they appear in the site photos. web link attached: http://www.stay-in-kew.com/view.html

Sherry Elkins in La Mirada, ca USA 09/10/2006

I had the best meal ever here! I had the venison steak with the cherry currant sauce and the onion balsamic compote topped with herbed mashed potatoes. I couldn't get a table the next night as it was booked up. If you are in the area, reserve early as it has been "found" by gourmands. Tel. 01367/810-222; off the B4020, about 18 miles south of Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds.

greg fl USA 09/05/2006

I do NOT recommend going to Edinburgh during the festival. The crowds are very overwelming and unpleasant. It is more difficult to find reasonably priced accommodations at that time.

Margaret Hodel in Durham, NC USA 08/30/2006

1) I was astounded at the prices asked by laundromats (average of three pounds to wash and one pound for twelve minutes of drying time), and when I ran low on clean underwear near the end of my trip, I went to a "pound shop" (similar to a dollar store in the States) and bought three pairs for one pound. The quality was poor, but at least I didn't have to go to the laundromat again during the trip. The pound shops also carry shampoos and other toiletries in half-size containers.

2) The town of Ludlow was England in microcosm: architecture ranging from half-timbered houses to Georgian townshouses, a weir, a city gate, a historic church, an extensive ruined castle, and best of all, a farmers' market every Thursday, where our group was able to cobble together do-it-yourself lunches from the soups, breads, fruits, and desserts sold there by friendly locals.

3) I realize that I waxed indignant over laundromat prices, but in general, I found it useful to set a daily budget in pounds, based on prices cited in several guidebooks, and pay whatever was necessary for lodging, food, admissions, and extras as long as the daily total was within my budget. It seemed that the price in pounds for any given item or service was usually pretty close to what the price would be in dollars if the pound and dollar were equal. For example, a 6.95 pound lunch was the same type of lunch that you'd get for $6.95 in the States, even though it was really more like $12.00, due to the exchange rate.

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

English Heritage has an Overseas Visitors Pass that is very reasonably priced compaged with some others. (18 pounds for one week, 22 for two weeks) While this doesn't always provide free access to sites not managed by English Heritage, it often provides discounted access to other sites that would be covered by the British Heritage Pass. Maybe it was just the things that we were interested in, but we found it a very good value. See www.english-heritage.org.uk

Bruce Lindgren in Independence, MO USA 08/25/2006

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was a great experience -- the kind of chance to get to know locals that Rick usually loves. We went to the Saturday early show, when the stands were full of old, local Scottish folks. (Maybe it's more touristy at the usual later times.) But when they sang "Auld Lang Syne" everyone in the crowd, including the strangers we got to know next to us, joined hands during the sing-along. That's the kind of moment that's really special -- so I'm surprised Rick doesn't rate this event higher in his guidebook.

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

After spending a week in Ireland, we took the Stena ferry from Belfast to Stranraer and the train to Edinburgh. Changing stations in Glasgow made us wish we would have spent a day there - it looked really beautiful.

In Edinburgh, we got lucky and scored tickets to the Military Tatoo from a group of Americans that had extra - it was spectacular, even if you're not a marching band kind of person (like us). The Royal Mile is worth a look (once) but Rick is right - it is very touristy and crowded. The walk from the Dalkeith Rd. B&B's area over Arthur's Seat to Hollyrood is a really fun way to get into town and get some exercise. Don't limit your Edinburgh visit to the Royal Mile or you will be disappointed! Oh, it's fun tasting whiskey at the shops, especially Cadenhead's.

We picked up a car and headed for the Lakes District (Keswick) via Hadrian's Wall. Wow! Take the time to stop at Housestead's Fort and walk the wall west. We loved Keswick and the Dunsford Guest House was great. DON"T MISS Theater by the Lake (book online before you go). We caught the play The Birthday Party in the studio and it was really, really good. We hiked the Catbells ridge the next day and took the bus back to town from the gorgeous Lodore Falls Hotel instead of the boat taxi (it was raining and the bus is a bargain). Keswick is worth 2 days. The nearby Castlerigg Stone Circle was the best stone circe we saw - really beautiful.

York was great for the half-day we were there and evensong in York Minster really relaxed us - don't miss it,even if you're not the religious type.

Conwy was our favorite place in the UK. A very nice castle, a town surrounded by ancient walls, the Bryn B&B and Snowdonia close by - what's not to like? We hiked up Mt. Snowdon the next day and I would highly recommend it to anyone reasonably fit. You can take the (expensive) railway down to save your knees or do the reverse if you want to skip the hike up. We were in Conwy when news broke of the terrorist threat to US-bound airplanes.

We enjoyed London, nonetheless. I was really stunned by London - it was much nicer than I expected. The weather was cool, there's history and cafe's everywhere - it's terrific. Thanks to Rick's book on the tip for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London - what a treat. Everything about London was great (except getting out through Heathrow!). Trafalgar Square, Covent Gardens, British Museum, National Gallery, Westminster Abbey, Changing of the Guard (go up the street away from Buckingham Palace for the best views as they march down the street), Tower Bridge, St, Paul's Cathedral, 10 Downing Street... (and we were only there for 1 1/2 days! Did I mention we saw the Blue Man Group at The New London theater? London is great.

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

First off, ETBD staff is fabulous. In ordering our railpasses, we had picked the right item, but I couldn't make my fingers order it. Suffering a power outage after realizing our mistake and not being able to contact Rick's customer service in Seattle on a Saturday, THEY called us back in a couple hours to let us know we could save money by buying a different pass (the one we originally intended to). So many businesses would have said 'you bought what you bought'. Thanks for saving us $100!

Warwick Castle-Though they offer a slight discount for booking online, we found several tourist publications that offered 2 for 1 coupons. The living history reenactors termed as 'touristy' by most accounts didn't ever feel over the top and really added to the experience of a medieval site.

York wall walk-Went to walk between Monk and Bootham Bars early, that doesn't work at 7am! The signs indicate they close at dusk, but opening time is still unknown.

York Minster-Watch for performing arts opportunities here. A free dance recital was on 2 Aug 2006 and it looked like various events are scheduled throughout the year.

In order to see the Tattoo, we were in Edinburgh for the first few days of the Fringe Festival. Despite the crowds, it was exciting to see a few performances and we plan to return another year to see more of the festival.

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

We stumbled into South Wales by accident and were blessed to spend the night at Steve and Pam's Bed and breakfast. A merry old time we had that night. That part of the country is quite charming.

James Chesire in Randolph, NJ USA 08/07/2006

We ate our on our own evening meal the 2nd night on your wonderful Best of Scotland trip in Inverness at

The Riverhouse Restaurant 1 Greig Street Inverness IV3 5PT Tel: +44 (0)1463 222033 Fax: +44 (0)1463 222033

This restaurant was recommended by Ken Hanley.

Bart Roberts in Elkhart, IN USA 08/06/2006

Pickering and the North Yorkshire Moors. We stayed there by default because York B&Bs were full on York Races Weekend. Bramwood Guest House was the best place we stayed in England: 19 Hallgarth, Pickering, N.Yorks YO18 7AW - Tel: 01751 474066 - Email: bramwood@fsbdial.co.uk. The owners are John and Marilyn, but I don't have their last names. The photos on the website (www.bramwoodguesthouse.co.uk) don't do the place justice. It's lovely, and the breakfast is great.

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

Our first trip to Great Britain was a success due in great part to your book, thank you! It was quite dog-eared by the time we arrived home.

Tracy Hudson in San Diego, CA USA 07/19/2006

Scorrybreac Guesthouse in Glencoe was a treasure. Excellent food, a lounge filled with every guidebook, map,hiking trail guide and entertainment in the area. Reading books in every room. We spoke with Emma and Graham themselves several hours a day and it was due to them we had such an excellent time in the Glencoe/Fort William area. Phone:(44) 0 1855 811 354, E-mail: info@scorrybreac.co.uk COntact info: Graham and Emma Chandler Scorrybreac Guest House Glencoe Highland PH49 4HT

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

St. Martin's in the Fields' Cafe in the Crypt, right off London's Trafalgar Square. It receives a brief mention in Rick's guide but let me just say what a cozy nook it was for our family of four (my husband and I and our two girls, 7 & 9). I had passed it up on a solo trip years before, but this time we were so hungry and curious we stepped out of the cold, cold November, down into the warm and inviting Crypt. The lunch specials were reasonably priced and the afternoon tea with freshly made scones was delicious. What an event to be sitting above the floor tomb markers while having a spot of tea. An added plus for our girls (and us too, really) was the brass rubbing center (or is it centre?), located in the crypt next to the cafe. The rubbings are cheap in comparison to other souvenirs to be had in London and fun to do.

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

We found staying in Newcastle for our day in Hadrian's Wall country very convenient.

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

Changing of the Guard Tip: If you arrive early (10:30 or so) to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard the best place to watch is right at the gate towards the middle, NOT on the steps of the Victoria Monument as the book recommends. You can't hear the ceremony and are quite far away. You are not allowed to sit at the base of the statues for a good view (police will usher you off). Good to know for picture-taking: The guards enter the gate on the left first, then the gate all the way on the right, and exit through the center. The ceremony we attended lasted an hour and included several pop tunes played by the band (!) as well as a traditional military piece.

Also for Harry Potter fans, don't forget to go to Kings Cross Station and take a picture by platform 9 3/4!

The Tower of London was great, but Rick wasn't kidding that the groups can be HUGE for the free guided Beefeater tours, making it impossible to hear and enjoy. Entertaining, but very slow moving, catch one for just a couple of stops and if you have kids MOVE ON!

Harrods with kids tip: DO be aware that salespeople in the toy department giving demonstrations can really wind the little ones up. Unless you're a doting grandparent, I would skip it!

Adrienne in Esslingen, Germany 07/11/2006

1. Great British Heritage Pass saved us over $300 for two people on a 3-week trip (30 day pass). Plus it gave us added flexibility and encouragement to see some sights we might have otherwise skipped.

2. Buying a cell phone in Great Britain. The Vodaphone store clerk was nice enough to direct us to a nearby Carphone Warehouse store in Bath (chain store that is all over Britain). We purchased a mobile phone, unlocked for future trips to Europe, with a chip for UK and able to call the USA, for a grand total of $67.

Barbara Startz in Seattle, WA USA 07/02/2006

This was our first trip to Europe and we loved your book! It gave us the confidence to set out on our own and we'll use your resources again when we venture out on our next European holiday!

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

We really enjoyed the William Wallace Monument and Stirling, Scotland: lovely city, well worth the visit! We stayed in Munro Guesthouse (14 Princes St., Stirling, www.munroguesthouse.co.uk), which has beds much softer than Rick's usual recommendations, and delicious breakfast (great fresh fruit salad: such a rarity in any other guesthouse).

We also discovered the Moulin Hotel restaurant, on the hill in the little town of Moulin above Pitlochry. We liked it so much we ate there twice: mainly for the home brewed beers and reasonably priced, tasty food. The Salmon 3-Ways was wonderful, and they have a wide variety of game dishes in addition to the traditional pub food(Phone: 472196).

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

Ceilidh-Courtyard Restaurant 14-16 Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 5HL 01316672743 Absolutely fabulous food!!! Michelle, their chef, varied the menu nightly. We went back for all of our dinners (3nights in a row). It was located 1 block from the Dunedin Guest House so it was a simple walk for us. We had 10 in our party (5 kids) and they graciously accomodated us with very little notice.(we ate early). Prices ranged from 7.95 - 14.95 pounds and 4.95 for desserts. You could also make a meal from the starters/soups. All 10 of us highly recommend this restaurant. They gave 1/2 portions for the kids (no kids menu).

deanne benetz USA 06/19/2006

In London, we found a lovely B&B 20 minutes north of London called Bay Tree House (number 1 on Tripadvisor.com). James and Jan Monaghan were absolutely wonderful hosts and the accommodation was clean, friendly and homey, but so close to downtown London. They also have large bathrooms and showers. The breakfast included much more than the standard B&B fare. Bay Tree House was perfect for us because we were traveling with our 3 year old and there is a nice park practically in their backyard. Plus, conveniently, The Bay Tree House is just off the Piccadilly Line, which is direct to Heathrow Airport. Their web site is www.baytreehouse.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

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

B&B in Bath - Number 30, www.number30.com, 30 Crescent Gardens, Bath BA1 2NB, England

Excellent service, great location

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

One of our favorite places to stay in the Cotswolds was a place in Ebrington called Home Farm B&B. It is just two miles from Chipping Campden. The owners, the Stanleys, are very kind and friendly. We even extended our stay from three nights to five and just did day trips from here. The owners can give you a map of a lovely 3.5 - 4 mile walk through the country side too. Their website is http://www.homefarminthecotswolds.co.uk/

Another great place to stay, if you are in the Leicester area, is Stapleford Park. It is an expensive splurge, but a dream and well worth the steep price. www.staplefordpark.com.

A great restaurant is Gee's in Oxford. Our punting chaffeur recommended it. It is at 61 Banbury Rd.-- a bit of a walk from the town center. http://www.gees-restaurant.co.uk/.

A pub we really liked in Broad Campden (1/2 mile from Chipping Campden) is the Baker's Arms. Another group of Americans was there too and had been back for their third night because they liked it so much. Very friendly service.

May is a great time to travel. There were no lines anywhere, even at very popular destinations such as the Tower of London, and lots of baby animals in the countryside. The only drawback was that a lot of things, especially out of London, were closed by five.

The Producers histerical and walking though Convent Garden (my favorite area in London) afterwards was really nice.

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

trafford bank 96 fairfield road inverness iv3 5ll lorraine 01463 2414 14

this location is not in the guidebooks and it's faboulous bread and breakfast. it's one of the nicest cleanest and friendliest that we have ever been to. i would suggest that you enter these people into your tour books.. We have used your tour books quite a bit and find this one that we found on our own tops - i would rate it with a AAAA 5 star ratingl

h jean abels in columbus ohio, oh USA 05/12/2006

Big Bus tours used to offer tickets good for 48 hours. They've recently changed their policy (after I booked mine), and had to visit their main office to resolve it. When I showed them the map I printed out from on line - they honored the 48 hours without much fuss. Also, if you're located in between stops, and you see a Big Bus coming your way - you just have to wave the Big Bus brochure at the driver and most times he'll make an unscheduled stop for you. (you won't find this info on their brochure). Also, the garden cafe outside embankment tube facing the thames is wonderful. Great outside seating and a great fish & chips - enough for 2 adults at least. Great espresso there as well - but limited hours.

Wendy in Denney, FL USA 04/30/2006

Birmingham. Although conspicuously absent from the RS Great Britain 2006 guide, I found this town wonderful. One reason for it's omission may be the lack of good and affordable accommodation near the city center. I ended up staying at a cheap hostel close to the center and it was rather run down. Living arrangements aside, the city was good to visit. The art museums were great! Visiting this city also give one a change to see a good sized English city that is NOT London. Also, Birmingham is renowned for their symphony and their new performance hall. I attended a symphony and loved it. There is also some good night-life in Birmingham. The legendary rock band Black Sabbath came from Birmingham and there are still several places to see good live music.

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

Restaurant in Bath, England. Loved OnefishTwofish. We stayed an extra night and actually day tripped into London so we could have dinner there a second time.

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

This was my first use of RS Guidebooks, and it was recommended by a friend since I was planning to travel the UK by train. (I previously relied on another series of guidebooks for all my trips). Since this trip, I'm a complete convert to RS for independent travel - advice not given in other books I've used is what's really worth your time (or not), where to find internet access and do your laundry, and a consistent focus on budget without skimping on the stuff that's worth the money. In short, everything I'm looking for as an independent traveller. Thanks!

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

Please dd: Fell House B&B in Keswick does not accept children under 14 years of agen

Janis Randazzo in Tustin, ca USA 04/09/2006

Just a note to add to future guidebooks: Badgers Wood B& B in Keswick does not accept children under 12

Janis Randazzo in Tustin,, Ca USA 04/09/2006

Dear Rick, I HAVE found your guidebook invaluable and enjoyed the Brock HOUSE and JAmes House very much. Mrs. Mariam Dodd reccommended the Mendip House in Wells to me. Vannessa and Chaker Mouelhi are very friendly and helpful hosts. Their rooms are clean, beautiful, and a very good value. Vanessa & Chaker go way beyond being good hosts. Vanessa actually did my laundry for me and Chaker washed my car windows. This was before I asked to use their computer to send this e-mail. I was afraid I would forget when I got back to the States. Tel 017499679719. Mendip House, 46 Portway, Wells, Someset.

Connie Hinds in Fresno, CA USA 04/01/2006

We highly recommend the Castle View B&B in Edinburgh, Scotland. The rooms are large and charming as are the en suite bathrooms. We stayed in the Castle Room and had a fantastic room of the Edinburgh Castle from our window, whilst sitting on our bay window seat! It is centrally located in the new area of the city but is within easy walking distance of Old Town and the train station. The breakfast was good and the price reasonable (we paid in cash). We did not get to meet the owners of the B&B as they were on holiday but the people watching the place were great.

While in York we stayed in the Coach House Hotel. Not only did the new owners raise the room rates and refuse to give us any discounts even though we paid in cash and went completely off-season in March, but the people working at the hotel were not very hospitable. They watched TV in the common room and made us feel like we were intruding in their living room when we went down to spend some time there. The person who served us breakfast made us feel as if we were imposing on her time as well. The room was very nice and had a great view but the hallways and staircases were very narrow and made negotiating with suitcases in both hands rather challenging. Not worth it for the money especially with St. Mary's B&B just down the road.

Drake in Seattle, WA USA 03/12/2006

Be careful about using the Travelguard collision insurance as recommended in the book. We picked up a rental at the Gatwick airport from Dollar/Thrifty and they refused to honor the insurance. They would not even call the toll free number. Their claim was that the management would not accept any Travelguard insurance. This was a true waste of $57.00, so we relied on the credit card coverage instead. Be careful! Has anyone else had problems with Travelguard insurance? On the plus side, we highly recommend the Holly Villa B&B in Bath. It is within walking distance of all the sites and the train/bus station. The rooms are nice, the meals are excellent and the hosts are wonderful.

Gary Lukes in Spring Valley, WI USA 03/11/2006

Oxford is awesome!!!! The best bangers and mash, tea, and pub grub is there. See what inspired CS Lewis and Tolkien to write! See where Harry Potter ate! Buy sweeties where Alice in Wonderland did! Apparently there is a new small plane service that will take you from Cambridge to Oxford and back in about 20 minutes for about 100 pounds.

Jolene in Centuria, WI USA 02/17/2006

Was disappointed you didn't have any info on the city of Oxford in your GB 2006 guidebook. We had to do it without you, Steve! Think it merited SOME mention... Stayed in the beautiful Cotswold village of Burford, down the A40 from Oxford, at The Burford House Hotel on the High Street. Charming inn included an elegant breakfast, accommodating staff. A hiker's paradise!

[Editor's Note: Oxford is covered in Rick Steves' England guidebook.]

Cindy Orr in Beavercreek, Oh USA 01/26/2006