What happens when the person who has edited nearly 100 episodes of this podcast finally puts all those travel tips to the test on his own UK trip? In this episode, our editor Ryan Fairweather from New Zealand shares highlights from his two-month visit to the UK with his partner Tilly, and reveals how almost every experience on his list came directly from editing the show.

Ryan covers his favourite moments in York and London: the wonderful Old York Tea House, the immersive Jorvik Viking Centre, the theatrical York Ghost Bus Tour, and a self-guided mystery adventure through Stratford-upon-Avon with a Mystery Guide. In London, the V&A, Westminster Abbey, and Churchill War Rooms all exceeded expectations, while an evening at Mr Fogg's Society of Exploration in Covent Garden turned into one of the trip's unexpected highlights.

We also get into food and drink: Sunday roasts, cream teas, the great scone debate, the cheese conveyor belt at Pick and Cheese, Irn-Bru, supermarket meal deals, and the baffling brilliance of frozen mashed potato. Ryan also shares his top practical tip for any international visitor, and talks honestly about what he would do differently next time.

Whether you're planning your first trip to the UK or your fifteenth, this episode is packed with recommendations, real talk and plenty of laughs.

You can find links to all the places and experiences Ryan mentioned, plus some photos from the trip, in the show notes at uktravelplanning.com/episode-196.

🎟️ Sponsored by Walks Tours & Devour Tours. Explore London with expert guides, from sightseeing to food tours.

👉 Book London sightseeing tours with Walks
👉 Book London food tours with Devour

Support the show

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.

🎤 Leave us a voice message

➡️ Sponsor our show
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Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast at no extra cost. Thank you ❤️

Planning a UK trip when standing still hurts, stairs are a gamble, and transport feels unpredictable can be genuinely daunting. In this episode, Laura Dilts shares how she built a London and Scotland itinerary around a back injury, without shrinking the trip down to safe choices or missing the magic.

We talk through the real decisions that make accessible UK travel work: starting early, turning a wish list into an energy-friendly plan, and researching each attraction for seating, step-free routes, and the sections that simply won't work. Laura explains how she handled iconic sights like the London Eye, the Tower of London, and Edinburgh Castle by pacing herself, skipping stair-heavy sections, and speaking up clearly when she needed to sit.

Transport is a big part of the story too. We dig into London's accessibility options, why buses and taxis are worth budgeting for, and why hop-on hop-off buses are underrated for tired legs. Laura also gives an honest account of the UK's Passenger Assistance Service on trains, what the help actually looks like, how luggage is handled, and why flexible tickets can be a lifesaver.

We also cover airport assistance lessons from Edinburgh and Heathrow, including what went wrong during a terminal transfer and how to avoid it next time.

Whether you're planning accessible travel in the UK, travelling with someone who is, or simply want a calmer and more confident approach, this episode is packed with practical takeaways.

You can find our comprehensive guide to accessible travel in the UK, including a free downloadable checklist, in the show notes at uktravelplanning.com/episode-195.

🎟️ Sponsored by Walks Tours & Devour Tours. Explore London with expert guides, from sightseeing to food tours.

👉 Book London sightseeing tours with Walks
👉 Book London food tours with Devour

Support the show

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.

🎤 Leave us a voice message

➡️ Sponsor our show
➡️ Leave us a tip

Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast at no extra cost. Thank you ❤️

We map a mother–daughter journey through London and Edinburgh, showing how a smart South Kensington base, well-timed museum visits, and scenic rail travel turned a packed plan into a calm, joy-filled trip.

Highlights include the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Borough Market food finds, and a Cotswolds day trip plus first-class train travel to Edinburgh and unforgettable meals along the way.

In this episode we cover:

• choosing South Kensington as a quiet, walkable London base
• using first-class trains instead of flying to Edinburgh
• late-night museum strategy to skip the crowds
• the Ceremony of the Keys as a signature history moment
• Hampton Court and Windsor on a guided coach tour
• a Cotswolds in a Day tour with GoCotswolds for rest and village charm
• art highlights at the V&A, National Gallery, and Tate Britain
• why St Giles’ Cathedral and Holyroodhouse won over Edinburgh Castle
• food wins: Borough Market, Dishoom, Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea, Makar’s Mash Bar
• managing food allergies and navigating UK meal deals
• coping with Tube strikes, taxis, and long walking days
• packing smart, luggage storage, and souvenir strategy
• one key takeaway: pick a base you genuinely enjoy staying in

You can find photos from Amy’s trip, plus links to her hotels, tours, and restaurants at:

👉 https://uktravelplanning.com/episode194

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #142 – Exploring the Tower of London: History, Highlights, and Helpful Tips
• Episode #58 Edinburgh Travel 101: Essential Tips for First-Time Visitors
• Episode #186 – Eating Your Way Through London [What, Where + Food Tours]
• Episode #38 – A tasty Introduction to some of Britain’s most iconic foods

If you would like to support the podcast, as Amy kindly does each week, you can sponsor us via this link from just three US dollars a month. It’s less than a cup of coffee and helps us keep producing the show to help you plan your perfect UK trip.

🎟️ Sponsored by Walks Tours & Devour Tours. Explore London with expert guides, from sightseeing to food tours.

👉 Book London sightseeing tours with Walks
👉 Book London food tours with Devour

Support the show

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.

🎤 Leave us a voice message

➡️ Sponsor our show
➡️ Leave us a tip

Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast at no extra cost. Thank you ❤️

Many visitors see a lot in London but still leave feeling like they do not quite understand it. In this episode, Tracy Collins is joined by Robin Launder, founder of Fantastic Walks, to explore how walking tours and storytelling bring London’s history to life.

Robin shares how his background as a history and English teacher, plus years in education training, shapes the way he guides. You will hear why stories stick, what surprises first timers most about walking tours, and how guides balance humour with the heavier parts of London’s past.

We also chat through some of Robin’s most popular themed walks including Soho Rock and Roll, Westminster Wonders, Hidden London (Trafalgar Square to Covent Garden and back), Churchill, and Jack the Ripper (informed by Robin’s earlier career in the prison service and his criminology background).

Use exclusive code UKTP10 for 10% discount when booking a London walking tour with Robin at Fantastic Walks.

👉 Full show notes and helpful links at uktravelplanning.com/episode-193

🎧 Listen to next:

• Episode #189 – How to Plan a London Itinerary: Expert Tips, Must-See Landmarks & Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Episode #186 – Eating Your Way Through London [What, Where + Food Tours]
• Episode #167 - Must-Do London Experiences, Secret Spots + Foodie Favourites

🎟️ Sponsored by Walks Tours & Devour Tours. Explore London with expert guides, from sightseeing to food tours.

👉 Book London sightseeing tours with Walks
👉 Book London food tours with Devour

Support the show

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.

🎤 Leave us a voice message

➡️ Sponsor our show
➡️ Leave us a tip

Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast at no extra cost. Thank you ❤️

London has some of the best museums in the world — but with so many options, how do you decide which ones are right for you?

In this episode of the UK Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy and Doug guide you through London’s most popular museums to help you choose the ones that match your interests and plan your visit confidently.

From iconic institutions like the British Museum and the V&A to the London Transport Museum and Royal Observatory Greenwich, we cover:

• Who each museum is best suited for
• Which museums are free and which are ticketed
• When you need to book timed-entry slots
• Insider tips to avoid crowds and museum fatigue
• The best museum cafés and afternoon tea options
• Which museum shops are actually worth your time

We also share practical planning advice — grouping museums by area, pairing them with nearby sightseeing, and making the most of your time in South Kensington, Bloomsbury, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Westminster and Greenwich.

Whether you're a first-time visitor, travelling with children, or returning to London for a deeper cultural experience, this episode will help you build a museum plan that works for you.

We also tease a future episode covering some of London’s smaller and lesser-known museums, including the Florence Nightingale Museum, the Foundling Museum, and more hidden gems.

📝 Full show notes and helpful links at uktravelplanning.com/episode-192

🎧 Listen to next:

• Episode #189 Building a London Itinerary: Iconic Experiences & Making the Most of Your Time
• Episode #183 Planning a Trip to London in 2026
• Episode #106 Guide to the London Pass

🎟️ Sponsored by Walks Tours & Devour Tours. Explore London with expert guides, from sightseeing to food tours.

👉 Book London sightseeing tours with Walks
👉 Book London food tours with Devour

Support the show

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.

🎤 Leave us a voice message

➡️ Sponsor our show
➡️ Leave us a tip

Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast at no extra cost. Thank you ❤️

If you’re wondering whether a London black cab tour is worth adding to your itinerary, this episode will help you decide.

Tracy is joined by Ollie from Discover Real London to talk through what actually happens on a black cab tour, how it differs from bus or walking tours, and why many first-time visitors choose to start their trip this way.

You’ll learn how licensed cab drivers complete “The Knowledge”, what special road privileges black cabs have, and how those factors can change your experience of the city. We also cover practical considerations including comfort, accessibility, photo opportunities, airport Touchdown Tours, and when it makes sense to book.

Beyond the main landmarks, we explore themed tours such as Beatles, Ted Lasso and Jack the Ripper, plus countryside day trips to the Cotswolds, Bath, Windsor and Stonehenge.

If you are planning a London trip and want a clear understanding of how black cab tours work, what they include, and who they suit best, this episode provides the detail you need.

In this episode we discuss:

• What makes Discover Real London black cab tours different
• Why “The Knowledge” matters
• Comfort features including panoramic roof, AC and wheelchair access
• VIP access and close landmark drop-offs
• Airport Touchdown Tours and first-day orientation
• Hidden gems and social history
• Themed music and TV tours
• Day trips beyond London
• Booking windows and peak season tips

👉 Full show notes and helpful links at uktravelplanning.com/episode-191

🎧 Listen to next:

• Episode #86: London Like a Local: Unmissable Black Cab Tours with Discover Real London
• Episode #138: Exploring London's Iconic Sights with Discover Real London's Black Cab Tours
• Episode #170: Essential Tips for Visiting London at Christmas and New Year

🎟️ Sponsored by Walks Tours & Devour Tours. Explore London with expert guides, from sightseeing to food tours.

👉 Book London sightseeing tours with Walks
👉 Book London food tours with Devour

Support the show

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.

🎤 Leave us a voice message

➡️ Sponsor our show
➡️ Leave us a tip

Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast at no extra cost. Thank you ❤️

Spring flips a switch across the UK, and we’re here for the first warm light, the wisteria‑framed streets, and the rush of longer evenings. We pull together clear, local advice from London to the Lake District, the Cotswolds, Devon, and the far north of Scotland so you can plan a smarter, calmer trip.

We kick off in London with Becki from Walks and Devour: cherry blossom in parks, Kew’s treetop walkway, canal strolls from Hackney Wick to King’s Cross, and midweek Borough Market eats. We also flag what visitors often miss - clocks moving forward on the last March weekend, Easter’s shifting dates and school holidays, and the impact of big events like the Boat Race, the London Marathon, and the Chelsea Flower Show - so your itinerary stays nimble and enjoyable.

From there, Asia from Mountain Goat guides us through the Lake District’s daffodil heritage at Rydal and Ullswater, bluebell carpets at Rannerdale, accessible walks such as Orrest Head and Tarn Hows, and a strong local food scene that shines in spring. Lisa at Go Cotswolds leans into gardens like Hidcote and Kiftsgate, village footpaths, and the art of slowing down across 800 square miles of honey‑stone towns - now with new departures from Oxford and blended routes to Stratford‑upon‑Avon.

In Devon, Alex from Unique Devon Tours paints hedgerows in bloom, Dartmoor foals, coastal colour, and narrow‑lane know‑how that turns single‑track roads into hidden‑gem gateways. And in Scotland’s far north, Sally-Ann from North Coast Explorers maps coastal routes for seals and April puffins, explains variable spring weather and opening times, and shares the joy of big‑sky space before summer crowds.

You’ll get the best weeks to travel, how bank holidays and rail works shape movement, when tours offer the most value, and the routes that make evening light part of the plan. Ready to make the most of March, April, and May across London, the Lakes, the Cotswolds, Devon, and the North Highlands? Follow the show, share this with a spring‑bound friend, and leave a quick review to help more travellers find us.

👉 Full show notes and helpful links at uktravelplanning.com/episode-190

🎧 Listen to next:

• Episode #48 – Visiting the UK in Summer [Everything you need to know]

🎟️ Sponsored by Walks Tours & Devour Tours. Explore London with expert guides, from sightseeing to food tours.

👉 Book London sightseeing tours with Walks
👉 Book London food tours with Devour

Support the show

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.

🎤 Leave us a voice message

➡️ Sponsor our show
➡️ Leave us a tip

Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast at no extra cost. Thank you ❤️

Planning a London itinerary sounds simple… until you actually try to do it.

With so many iconic landmarks, historic sites, museums, neighbourhoods and experiences to choose from, it is easy to overpack your days, waste time travelling across the city, or miss the moments that truly make London special.

In this week's episode Tracy is joined by Becki from Walks and Devour Tours to share expert advice on building a realistic, well-paced, and memorable London itinerary.

Together they discuss:

• The biggest mistakes visitors make when planning their London trip
• How to prioritise must-see landmarks without exhausting yourself
• Why grouping attractions by area makes a huge difference
• When guided tours transform your experience at places like the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey
• How to balance big-ticket sights with slower, immersive experiences
• What to book in advance and what you can leave flexible
• Simple ways to enjoy London like a local

If you are planning your first visit to London - or returning and wanting to do it better - this episode will help you create an itinerary that feels exciting, manageable, and truly unforgettable.

👉 Full show notes and helpful links at uktravelplanning.com/episode-189

🎧 Listen to next:

• Episode #186 – Eating Your Way Around London
• Episode #183 - Planning a Trip to London in 2026: What You Really Need to Know
• Episode #24 – Getting around London: A introduction to the various public transport options

🎟️ Sponsored by Walks Tours & Devour Tours. Explore London with expert guides, from sightseeing to food tours.

👉 Book London sightseeing tours with Walks
👉 Book London food tours with Devour

Support the show

⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:

• Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
• 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.

🎤 Leave us a voice message

➡️ Sponsor our show
➡️ Leave us a tip

Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links. Using them supports the podcast at no extra cost. Thank you ❤️