A trip to the UK in May-- oh, my- what fun! Herewith some random thoughts:
Oh, you think they speak English, do you? Are you in for a surprise! Especially in Scotland. You may have to resort to the written word.
It'll probably be chilly, but that's ok- the woolen goods are lovely- a great excuse to buy a special warm sweater.
Seriously: Bone up on your Brit Lit and your history... it will add so much to your enjoyment and understanding. Even kiddy-lit. What fun London was for me, reciting little poems from my childhood favorite, A.A. Milne.
The footpaths around the lakes in the Lake District--(think Wordsworth and his buddies!) are lovely, and the villages, even the touristy ones, are so pretty. Some of the pubs have food that's beyond excellent, and I have fond memories of warming our toes by a fireplace in a half-timbered inn 300 years old, and sipping brandy after a fine supper.
The flowers and gardens will be spectacular then, and nobody does gardens like they do in the UK. The public gardens and the gardens of the big historic houses are eye-popping, but all over England, villages have tours open to the public of private gardens that are just wonderful, some lavish, some tiny jewels, all tended with imagination and devotion. I think the National Trust puts out an annual guide book with the schedule, if that appeals to you. Maybe it's Google-able, for that matter. Speaking of which, almost anything with a National Trust sign by the road will be worth stopping to take a peek at- the NT also rent historic or otherwise notable vacation cottages in spectacular settings, and some are quite reasonably priced. Check it out and see if anything fits your budget and your schedule.
You may luck into a big cricket match-- see if you can find a local fan to explain the game to you. And then you try to explain it to somebody else. VERY funny.
:wink2:
There's a small town in Wales that's famous for its used book stores, Hay-on-Wye, IIRC. We spent a whole misty morning browsing through treasures.
Check out the concert schedules- many of the churches have organ recitals and chamber music performances on a regular basis, and often they're free. If you're feeling flush, and you'll be nearby, do try now to get tickets to a Royal Shakespeare Company play at Stratford upon Avon. The parents of our English exchange student took us to see
King Lear, and it still, many years later, stands out as the single most goose-bumpingly amazing performance I've ever seen.
I didn't see a specific Travelers' Tales Guides book to recommend, but many of them cover a wide range of experiences, which will get you in the mood for off-beat adventure.
I liked the honey-colored villages of the Cotswolds and the funny place names. Also loved the drive along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall. And wandering around Oxford thinking of the marvelous writers who called it home.
I always got stuck with all the driving- ("Here. You're left-handed-- YOU figure it out" was how that discussion went. Worked fine, so long as I spoke to myself out loud for the first few minutes of every morning starting out. "This is a RIGHT turn across oncoming traffic. Look left.
" ) The fearsome round-abouts weren't bad-- we just kept going around in circles until we decided which exit we wanted. The smaller the car you get, the happier you'll be on those beautiful, but VERY narrow back roads.
Watch out for the gypsies begging outside major tourist traps. You do not want a flower, or whatever they try to press upon you. They can be very rude and aggressive. Other than that, the people you'll meet will be uncommonly gracious and hospitable.
Lucky you! You'll have a splendid time.
)
