Should i visit england or ireland

Astor Hyde Park Hostel — great budget option in this area offering a mix of dorm and private rooms. The hostel has a brilliant common area, large kitchen and cheap breakfast available with proceeds going to charity. Also well connected with nearby Tube stations. Prime Backpackers Angel — this hostel is located in Angel, just a short walk along the canal to lively and bustling Shoreditch.

They have a range of great dorm and private rooms available and come quite highly rated. The Hoxton — boutique hotel with funky and stylish rooms, located only a few minutes from Old Street Tube Station. Downstairs is a popular bar and restaurant that gets busy on weekends, however, rooms are completely soundproof. Click here to browse other London hotels. After spending one week in London and exploring England, it is time to head north to Scotland.

You can reach Scotland either by taking the train — which is incredibly scenic, though expensive — or flying, which is often cheaper. If driving, there are a number of great stops between London and Edinburgh to check out! Begin your adventures in Scotland by spending two days in Edinburgh , the Scottish capital. Take the time to walk the Royal Mile, tour Edinburgh Castle, swill some single-malt whiskey in a convivial pub, or maybe let your inner Harry Potter nerd run wild at Greyfriars Kirkyard!

Inverness has the feeling of a small town and the main tourist appeal is its proximity to Loch Ness, however, it is very much worth exploring in its own right. Spend one day in Inverness itself and another on a day trip from Inverness to Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor castle, or the famous Loch Ness. Though many people treat Skye as a simple day trip or stopover spot, it is quite large and really deserves to be explored fully.

That is why we recommend spending 2 full days here in order to see some of the main attractions while also getting a bit off the beaten path. There are some really fantastic hikes to do on Skye as well, so make sure you have proper boots! After you have spent a wonderful two day exploring the beautiful Isle of Skye, head back to Edinburgh of one night before catching a flight to the Emerald Isle.

Apart from the traditional accommodation options listed below, you can find a number of private rentals in Scotland such as this contemporary cottage on the Isle of Skye or this charming riverside cottage in Inverness. Castle Rock Hostel — This small, centrally located hostel continues to be one of the highest-rated places to stay in Edinburgh.

They have a number of rooms on offer, from dorm beds to privates, a friendly staff, and are a great option for both budget and solo travellers. Cityroomz Edinburgh — Located in the heart of the city, this small hotel had a number of rooms on offer and comes very highly rated. Black Isle Hostel — a great hostel offering dorms and private rooms that is a fantastic option if travelling solo and if you want to meet other travellers.

Torridon Guest House — a quaint bed and breakfast that is a great place to stay in Inverness. Skyewalker Hostel — This family-run establishment is one of the top-rated hostels in all of Scotland.

Excellently located, they have a number of different room options, a friendly staff, and they sometimes organise social events in the evening. They have a few clean and comfortable rooms available, a beautiful rural location, and very friendly owners. Click here to browse other Scotland hotels. Ireland is a country that fills many people with visions of rolling green hills, pastoral beauty, and incredibly friendly people — and upon visiting you will find that it certainly delivers!

While most people spend one week in Ireland going a pretty standard route from Dublin south to Cork and then following the coast up to Galway, we suggest that you venture on a path less taken when you get to this portion of the London-Scotland-Ireland itinerary. It is easiest to begin your Ireland trip in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland.

Two days in Dublin should be more than sufficient to see the main sites such as Trinity College, Temple Bar, and the Guinness Storehouse. Though Connemara is your eventual destination, there are a number of interesting stops you can make in the drive along the way. Spending two days in Connemara will give you time to experience all of the fantastic things to do in this beautiful peninsula. The final stop of this England-Scotland-Ireland itinerary sees you in the wonderful Irish city of Galway.

These amazing cliffs are a popular spot for a reason: they are absolutely stunning. Apart from the traditional accommodation listed below, you can find a number of private rental properties in Ireland including this stunning city-centre flat in Dublin or this lovely restored barn in Connemara. Jacobs Inn — This centrally located hostel is a great place for solo and budget travellers. As one of the best-rated hostels in Dublin, they have a range of dorm rooms and privates available and they also organise social events.

Situated within easy walking distance of some main attractions, they have a number of plush rooms available and a restaurant and bar on site. They offer a tasty and filling breakfast and the rooms were clean and comfortable. This is absolutely one of the best places to stay in Connemara.

They have both dorm and private rooms on offer and also include breakfast in their nightly rate. They also have a fantastic breakfast in the morning, included in the room rate.

If you have more time to devote to your London-Scotland-Ireland itinerary, it can be worth adding a week onto all three countries, or forgo visiting one country altogether. If you want to see more of England, consider spending a week in the beautiful southwestern region of Cornwall there are a number of great stops from London to Cornwall to explore! The latter makes more sense for and England-Scotland itinerary.

If you have more time and want to spend it in Scotland, consider adding on the Orkney Islands or driving all of part of the North Coast route…this will allow you to see some of the most beautiful areas of the country where few tourists ever venture.

If you want to spend more time in Ireland or want only an Ireland-Scotland itinerary, you can head south from Dublin and spend time in Cork and the Ring of Kerry before tacking on Galway City and Connemara or alternatively head north from Dublin to Belfast and explore Northern Ireland!

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Planning the perfect London-Scotland-Ireland itinerary can be difficult as there is so much to see in each country. With these suggestions, however, you are sure to have the trip of a lifetime! Are you trying to plan an England-Scotland-Ireland itinerary?

Have you been? Let us know in the comments! Dear Maggie, Happy New Year! Your information is great but I was wondering if you have info on just navigating travel to these beautiful cities via train or other types of transportation between your suggested cities What is your opinion of taking a ferry to one of our selected city? I will be traveling with my year-old daughter and will not be renting a car.

I would be too freaked out and make our trip unbearable. We have been to London but never to Scotland or Ireland. We are traveling from Los Angeles and look for to making this a reality. Our travel will be in June of Great Article and look forward to reading more of your articles. Happy New Year, Rosemarie! I hope this helps you plan your trip!

He will have to work each day and I would love to see the UK, my daughter is planning on flying for one week of our stay and just wondering how we could see Ireland-Scotland-London in a 7 day period or is that too much to see in such a short time? There's a lot more to Ireland than Guinness and pubs, although for some, this may be the best part.

Ireland has a rich history which dates back to prehistoric times. Its many museums, magnificent houses and historical sites make it a top destination for ardent historians.

With its scene-stealing natural beauty and multitude of things to see and do, Ireland is a dream tourist destination. Looking for cliffs, beaches, national parks, forests and shades of green? Ireland has it all. Green is the islands emblematic color. From vast mountains to pebbly beaches, rural bog lands to inland waterways, tourists can sample a feast of natural attractions.

Located in the Burren region in County Clare, the Cliffs of Moher are said to be the biggest natural tourist attraction in Ireland drawing over million people each year. The view from the metre high cliffs is breathtaking and many that visited it will agree that this is a must-visit in Ireland. A visit to Ireland's buzzing capital city goes without saying.

Dublin is a super friendly city with a youthful, creative vibe. It has free museums to explore, architecture to gawp at and a more than lively pub scene. If you go during St Patrick's Day, an Irish festival celebrated and known around the whole world, your stay will be unforgettable. The biggest festival is held, of course, in Dublin, and the celebration lasts for several days.

Warwick Castle near Stratford-Upon-Avon is one I'm sure the children would like, and the adults also. In the summer, they have jousting and falconry shows, in addition to a very historic castle. Depending upon the ages of the kids, you may want to include some Harry Potter stuff. Or Legoland, near Windsor. Happy travels to you. And happy planning. Doing the reading and research learning more about each country, town or city on your itinerary can be the most fun part of planning your trip!

You can put together a really great itinerary for England using only trains for a portion of your trip, then renting a car for just a few days to explore the countryside, such as in the Cotswolds. Then turn in the car, take the train into London. You can take the train from London up the east coast, stopping at York along the way, continuing on to Edinburgh. After several days exploring the city of Edinburgh, rent a car to explore the countryside of Scotland.

England has a very good train system that has covered every place that I've wanted to go for the past 20 trips. I prefer not to drive because I just love taking the trains. The trains have very comfortable seats more comfortable than airline seats and food service on board. You can use the time you are on a train to look out the window at the countryside, read a guidebook, or eat a sandwich.

It's very relaxing, especially compared with the stress of driving a car getting lost, worrying about damaging the car, etc. I think your kids will like the train journeys. It's a fun way to travel in England. Especially when you spot a castle out the window of the train! If I were you, I would drop the Ireland portion, as there is plenty to see in England, Scotland and not forgetting Wales.

Ireland is the geographically remote location. Car or train - how old are your children? If they aren't self sufficient at rail stations carrying their own bags etc , then a car would be easier. You don't want a car in London. If you are heading from London to York then Scotland, take the train and hire a car once in Scotland.

You need a car for rural areas to get the most out of them. Start in London and end in Edinburgh or Glasgow or vice versa. When are you travelling? August in Edinburgh is festival time, so avoid this, as much of the accommodation will be booked up by now and what is left will be expensive. Everybody has their own "must sees" and this depends on your interests. My must sees include the Northumberland coast - fantastic, long, wild beaches and great castles plus Holy Island, Beamish Open Air Museum near Durham, Eskdale in the Lake District certainly not the overly busy Keswick , Duxford Imperial War Museum near Cambridge for old aircraft, many of the National Trust houses and gardens short term overseas membership is worthwhile , York, Whitby and Harrogate plus the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales Rutland - a mini Cotswolds, with chocolate box villages but without the crowds.

I look forward to blogging about this experience in detail soon! We arrived in Killarney in the late afternoon, after driving across Ireland.

The drive across Ireland was magical and was even more beautiful than I had imagined. Ireland was just as green as I had envisioned. Photos and videos cannot do it justice. We stopped for lunch in a tiny town where we were the only tourists in the only open pub the owner even kicked a few regulars out of their seats for us- which was a little awkward but amusing at the same time.

We enjoyed our first true Irish lunch I had bangers and mash before continuing on our beautiful road trip. Without stops, the drive took 3 hours and 15 minutes. We passed countless rolling, green hills and few gorgeous castles along the way. When we arrived in Killarney, it was late in the afternoon and we checked into our lodging- the Killarney Railway Hostel.

This was the only hostel we stayed in during our entire trip the rest of the time we used Airbnb and a couple of hotels. Airbnb pickings were slim during our stay, so we opted for a private room in this hostel, which had great reviews.

Parking was tight — they had only a handful of spots and they were tiny. One spot was open and it took my husband awhile to squeeze our rental car in, but we made it! Note: When we returned to the hostel later that night, after we explored Dingle Peninsula, there were not any spots available. We had to park in a public parking lot in downtown Killarney, which was nearby, and walk back to the hostel. We opted for the private double bed option, which slept two and had a private bathroom.

The hostel had a very rustic feel, and our private bedroom made it feel like a hotel. The room had two beds- one double and one twin, so my husband and I slept together in the double. Overall, we were really happy with our stay. The shared kitchen was nice and spacious, with plenty of refrigerator space.

We made breakfast there on our first morning, but we were not able to access it on our second and last morning there. The kitchen was locked up at night, and we had to leave before it opened to catch our am train to Dublin.

The staff were all friendly and helpful, and we paid 5 Euro to have them wash and dry a load of laundry for us while we were out exploring. We were thankful for that service! By the time we checked into our hostel, it was late afternoon.

A lot of the major Killarney attractions were closing soon for the day, but we were ready to explore! We headed out for a couple hours in our rental car for the Dingle Peninsula. The drive around Dingle Peninsula is about 30 miles, and you must drive it in clockwise direction. It was so fun. Because it was later in the day, almost all of the tourists were gone. We loved having the tiny little roads to ourselves! It started raining, which made our experience that much more fun.

We stopped several times to take in the beauty of Ireland and enjoyed the scenery with awe. We fell in love with the view! We began the next day by driving to the Gap of Dunloe, which turned out to be the most stunning destination that I have ever traveled to. I really mean it. It was absolutely gorgeous, and it left us breathless. We never wanted to leave, and we wound up spending several hours here longer than we expected and planned for , because we could not pull ourselves away.

The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow mountain pass in Killarney. There are several lakes, countless rolling green hills, adorable sheep, and authentic cottages in the area. Although it is considered a popular tourist attraction, I have found that many people skip this when visiting Killarney.

Please, do yourself a favor, and do not skip it! If you only visit one destination in Killarney, pick this! You can rent a jaunting car a horse-drawn cart with a guide- called a ponyman , but we chose to walk the gap. We took our time and explored as much as we could. We relaxed by the streams, enjoyed walking alongside the friendly sheep, and took in as much beauty as possible. We got lucky with perfect, sunny weather. We loved their cheesecake! It was difficult to leave the Gap of Dunloe, but there were a few other sites in Killarney that we wanted to see, so we managed to pull ourselves away.

You can enjoy more of our photos from the Gap of Dunloe in this post. After lunch we drove to Ross Castle, which was beautiful! It was built in the s, and it is open the public now for guided tours. We are really glad we decided to go inside — we learned so much about Killarney history and life for all the social classes. The grounds are stunning and it was well worth our time to explore the outside of the castle.

We saw several people out on the lake on hired boats, and we decided that we need to make time for that next time we go to Killarney! Torc Waterfall is a beautiful waterfall at the bottom of Torc Mountain. The waterfall did not disappoint! It was pretty crowded compared to the Gap of Dunloe, but we still had a great experience.

People often see red deer here. We originally planned to visit the Muckross House as well, but we decided to skip it after arriving at the Gap of Dunloe. We wanted to see it all, but we knew we would enjoy ourselves much more if we took everything slowly and truly enjoyed our experiences, rather than rushing from one place to the next. We were excited to visit Dublin the next day but we were so sad to leave Killarney! We caught a am train from Killarney to Dublin.

The trip took about 3 hours with stops we arrived at am. There were several political events taking place in Dublin that day it was a Saturday , so the city was particularly busy. After arriving, we had to take a bus to the nearest DART station, where we waited for about 25 minutes we were expecting the DART system to be more like the Underground in London, but the trains are not as frequent.

We rented an Airbnb in Killiney, a nearby suburb. It was just 10 miles from the city, but it took much longer to get there than we had imagined. Our Airbnb hosts were lovely and picked us up from the Glenageary DART station, which was a few minutes from their house.

Our flat was wonderful! It was a one bedroom apartment, attached to a main house. Even though we had a nice stay there, we will stay closer to the city next time. Dublin itself was packed and public transportation was slow with all the events of the day, so we made the decision to explore the suburb of Killiney instead.

This was not in our initial plans, but it was a decision that were both content with. We set out on foot and enjoyed lunch at the Killiney Shopping Centre. We took our time with food and drinks and stopped by the market for some groceries so that we could cook later on.

We walked to Killiney Hill Park, which turned out to be beautiful! We really had no idea how much Killiney had to offer, and we were glad we decided to explore it. Then we climbed Killiney Hill, which is one of two hills that form a boundary of Dublin Bay.

The view from the top of the hill is amazing! We had a great view of Dublin to the northeast , and on a clear day, you can see the Irish Sea and Wales to the southeast. We took our time, explored, and enjoyed the view well into the evening. We woke up the next morning early, ready for a full day in Dublin. We decided to go to Kilmainham Gaol first, because it was at the top of both of our must-see lists. Kilmainham Gaol was a jail, now run by the Office of Public Works. It was used for many years by the British to jail Irish revolutionaries throughout history.

We were there for several hours, so it was a big time commitment, but it was the highlight of our time in Dublin. My husband and I both loved every minute of it.

You have to take a guided tour if you want to really see it, and it did not disappoint. We learned a lot about Irish history and explored jail cells and common areas. It really was fascinating! Then we headed to Dublin Castle! We decided to walk so that we could see more of the city. We still laugh about this, because we totally got lost. We were expecting the castle to be a bit more obvious- like the palaces in London.

When we finally realized that were right next to it, we went in and enjoyed its beauty! The inside was beautiful, but it was really the courtyard that we loved the most. The Cathedral and its ground were stunning.