u/Alive-Spring-5418

The course will be asynchronous and self-paced because an in-seat option isn't available. Has anyone ever heard of this? Would you be willing to share you kid's experience with it?

It looks like the forecast was bumped up from mid-20s to the low 30s for next week (week of 5 July). We were supposed to travel one of those days from London to Inverness via train. Of course, tickets were about £400 for our family, so I'm trying to decide if I just let that go (ugh) and switch to air at this point. I saw last week's LNER no travel advisory news and had been advised here that heat can be challenging for the rails.

Can you help me think through this? I'd love some advice. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I need to pivot sooner than later if I'm going to do so.

Also, what's a good way to get from King's Cross to LHR early enough for a 7:55 flight? I want to be there right about 6:00. Piccadilly doesn't seem to start quite early enough.

CityMapper is saying it might cost about £36 for a taxi from around King's Cross, which honestly isn't as bad as I thought. Seems low!

Thank you.

I'd love some input on our trip. I have all the bookings and feel pretty good about the flow. We haven't reserved much for food - kinda wanted the flexibility, but I'm open to suggestions. We'll plan to eat breakfast at our lodging each day. I spent a semester in London long ago and I'm excited to show my family around. We have two boys, 13 and 11. We're into Tolkien, Lewis, Harry Potter. We love being outside and I'm most looking forward to Skye. Inverness made sense for the Highland games. We do have some museums we'll likely only visit for only a couple hours - that really is optimal for our family.

Saturday, July 4 (staying near King’s Cross in London all six nights)

• Arrive Heathrow noon  -Tube to King’s Cross (lodging is here)
• British Library Treasures Gallery is short walk.
• Granary Square, Regent’s Canal, Word on the Water. Maybe Coal Drops Yard. Taking it easy.

Sunday, July 5

• Tower of London first thing
• Lunch/recharge at St. Katharine Docks area
• Walk across Tower Bridge
• Imperial War Museum for a couple hours (my family insists and I did enjoy it many years ago). Could pivot if we're tired.

Monday, July 6

• Walk around and photos early in the day: Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Bridge because we need to be in the area
• Changing of the Guard tour (I've seen this at the gates before, but think this will be more interesting for my family - I don't feel like navigating it or feeling stressed)
• -Trafalgar Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields Crypt Café for lunch (just to revisit a place I found unique long ago)
  • MAYBE National Gallery short visit for A/C break (we have tickets)
• British Museum timed entry (we don't want to be here long…kids want to see a few specific things and we'll just meander)

Tuesday, July 7

• Train from Paddington to Oxford
• Walk about to see some things - Bridge of Sighs, Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian area, Narnia Door / lamppost area on our way over to punting
• Punting at Magdalen Bridge Boathouse
• Magdalen College and Addison’s Walk (we're into Lewis and the Inklings)
• Walk past Merton College and -- Decide that day if we want more to do: Pitt Rivers, Blackwell’s, Covered Market
• Lamb & Flag for a break before train to London

Wednesday, July 8

• Hampton Court Palace at opening from Waterloo 
• Walk or bus to where I lived when I studied in the area. Show my family around. Train back
• Covent Garden / Seven Dials just for dinner (we have reservations for our two cheese lovers and the other two will find something)
• Matilda at Cambridge Theatre

Thursday, July 9

• Harry Potter Studio Tour at opening
• Free evening

Friday, July 10

• train King’s Cross → Inverness. Rest and play games.

 

Saturday, July 11

• Inverness Highland Games 
• Optional Leakey’s Bookshop, Culloden Battlefield, and Clava Cairns. Depends on how long we stay at the games.

Sunday, July 12

• Drive Inverness → Isle of Skye
• Loch Ness Centre Experience and find a way to touch the water (I know!!)
• Explore the area near our lodging in a slightly less populated area (on purpose!!)

Monday, July 13

• Very early start. Not sure if we should do Old Man of Storr or Quiraing first. Won't do full Quiraing anyway.
• Picnic
• Glen Sligachan exploring (we like streams and mountains…)

Tuesday, July 14

• Misty Isle Boat Tour from Elgol
• Local afternoon walk and exploring in the area. Enjoy Torrin pools, Loch Slapin, and Amy's Place
• Late in the day Fairy Pools visit with picnic [**no longer doing this thanks to helpful advice below]

Wednesday, July 15

• Early drive Skye → Inverness to return rental and catch train to Edinburgh. Giving ourselves extra time.
• Calton Hill evening walk

Thursday, July 16

• Royal Mile area explore
• The Real Mary King’s Close
• Department of Magic Escape Room
• Victoria Street

 

Friday, July 17

• Early to Edinburgh Airport

Thank you.