We recently took a trip through Scotland and England, stopping in some of the places we’ve always wanted to see. It was fast-paced but filled with things we love—castles, small towns, local food, and a little bit of Harry Potter. This is how it went, with all the good parts, some of the rough ones, and everything in between.
Landing in Edinburgh and Fringe Festival
We landed in Edinburgh around lunchtime and took the tram from the airport to the city. It was easy and cost £7.50 round trip per person. We stayed at Joivy Vita Student Hotel on Iona Street. It’s more like student housing than a hotel, but it was clean and worked well for what we needed.
After checking in, we went for a walk around the Old Town. The Fringe Festival was happening, so the streets were packed. Everywhere we looked there were people performing—musicians, comedians, random things we didn’t really expect. We didn’t have any tickets, but just walking around was enough to get a feel for it.
One evening we caught a show at the Pleasance Dome, and later that night we saw this African circus performance that was full of energy. It rained a little here and there, but it didn’t really matter. The whole area near the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle is fun to explore.
We also visited the castle itself. Tickets were £21.50 if you buy online. It’s right in the middle of the city and the views are great. We also did a hop-on hop-off bus tour for $24 to cover more ground.
Renting a Car and Heading South
After a couple of days, we picked up our rental car at Sixt near Castle Terrace. We got a Renault Astral Hybrid and paid about $259 for three days, including insurance.
Our first stop was Bamburgh Castle. It’s right on the coast and looks amazing from the outside—like the kind of place you’d see in a movie. And actually, if you’ve seen The Last Kingdom on Netflix, this is the real Bebbanburg, the home Uhtred always talks about. The site dates back to the sixth century and was once the seat of Anglo-Saxon kings. The current version is mostly Norman and later, but still impressive. Tickets were £18.75.
Next we visited Alnwick Castle, which was used in the first Harry Potter movie for the flying lessons scene. It’s also one of the oldest still-inhabited castles in the country. You can walk around the grounds, take a tour, or just soak in the atmosphere. We definitely leaned into the nerdy side here. Ticket were £21.55.
We had lunch at Dirty Bottles Pub in Alnwick, then continued to Durham and checked into a Travelodge. It was a basic hotel, nothing fancy. You only get 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi before they charge you three pounds a day, which was a bit annoying. We stayed in, ate some snacks, and watched Robin Hood with Kevin Costner.
Durham and a Surprise Farm Visit
The next morning, we parked at Prince Bishops garage and walked over to Durham Cathedral. It’s huge and really beautiful inside. They filmed some Harry Potter scenes here too. Entry is free, but they ask for a donation.
After that we had lunch at Market Tavern in the main square, and then hit the road again. On the way to York, we saw a sign for a place called The Big Sheep and Little Cow Farm and decided to check it out. It turned out to be a small petting farm, and they gave us a little tour. We got to feed goats, pet a llama, and even hold a small python. It was a fun, unexpected stop.
We got to York in the evening and checked into YHA York Hostel. Later we walked along the river into town. The walk was nice and quiet. We found The Shambles, which is a narrow old street that apparently inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter movies. We didn’t plan to find it—it just happened.
Dinner that night was fish and chips from a local pub. Nothing fancy, but it hit the spot.
Manchester and Football
We left York and drove to Manchester, passing through a lot of pretty countryside. Lots of hills, sheep, and little towns. We checked into INNSiDE by Meliá and had a little time to rest before our stadium tour.
That afternoon, we visited Old Trafford for the Manchester United stadium tour. It cost £26 per person. Whether you’re a big fan or not, the tour is cool. The place has a lot of history and you get to see behind the scenes.
That night, we wandered into Manchester’s Pride Festival. We didn’t know it was happening, but the streets were closed off and there were people dancing, music everywhere, and everyone just enjoying themselves. It ended up being one of the most fun nights of the trip.
Liverpool and the Match
We took a Northern train from Manchester to Liverpool. Tickets were about £7.40 each. That morning I wasn’t feeling great—pretty sure something I ate earlier didn’t sit right. Still, I didn’t want to miss the football game.
We took a shared van taxi to Anfield for four pounds total. The stadium was packed. We saw Liverpool play Brentford, and even though I felt off, being there with the crowd was amazing. There’s something about live football in England that just feels different.
After the game, we walked home and took it easy the rest of the day.
Oxford and Biking Along the River
We woke up early and took the train from Liverpool to Oxford, changing trains in Wolverhampton. Everything ran on time and the ride wasn’t bad at all.
In Oxford, we checked into Westgate Hotel around lunchtime. It was a small and simple place, but comfortable. That afternoon we visited Christ Church College. Tickets were £20 per person. We saw the dining hall, the cathedral, and a few areas used in the Harry Potter movies.
After that, we went back to the hotel and crashed for a nap—we were so tired. Later we went out for food and a short walk.
The next morning, we had breakfast at the hotel and rented bikes from Walton Street Cycles for £24 total. We rode along the Thames River and Oxford Canal. It was quiet, calm, and honestly one of the best parts of the whole trip.
Wrapping Up in London
That afternoon we took the train to Richmond in London, with a transfer in Reading.
We spent some time walking around Chinatown and had lunch at Zima, a Russian restaurant. It was a bit pricey at £83 for two, but the food was great. We tried to rent bikes but had trouble with the app, so we walked to Hyde Park instead. After hanging out there, we took the bus to Victoria Station and then the Piccadilly line to Richmond.
The next day, we planned to go to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew but decided against it since it was £22 and we weren’t sure we’d stay long. We went to Richmond Green park instead and relaxed. We also tried the Too Good To Go app for the first time and picked up a surprise pastry bag from a bakery nearby—it was actually a great deal.
We ended the day with Thai food and drinks near where we were staying. It was simple and easy.
The whole trip went by fast. We moved almost every day, which made it feel like a bit of a blur at times. If we were to do it again, we’d probably stay longer in fewer places. Edinburgh especially was a highlight and felt like a city we could’ve stayed in for a week or more.
Still, we saw a lot, ate well, and had a mix of touristy spots and quiet moments.
