Posted on 09/06/2010 5:03:14 PM PDT by Skooz
I'm toying with the idea of traveling to England after Christmas and staying a couple of weeks. I have always dreamed of driving from London to Glasgow and wonder if anyone has any perspective of doing so that time of year.
Dreary and damp. June is nice.
Do the Scotch Trail.
That’s what I assumed. But, as long as the road isn’t too hazardous, I don’t mind cold drizzle and clouds.
I went to London, England on December 28th — but it was 26 years ago! I stayed for 10 days with a College group. We didn’t make it up to Scotland, but took a bus or the Tube around London and the region. A great trip I’ll never forget — wish I’d have made more of it.
I think there are several million who stay there every winter....
/johnny
Never been outside London and environs in winter. Been all over Ireland though, Glendalough in County Wicklow is a haunted, beautiful place, especially in winter.
Have you driven on the left much before? It’s not that bad with an automatic outside the cities, but in the cities it’s surprisingly confusing. Throw in a manual trans and it’s a struggle. Some behaviors are just so ingrained it’s hard to overcome them.
Scotland has a beautiful loneliness no matter the time of year - but try to go sometime also when you can catch some Highland games.
They say the ladies are insane there
with their tattoos and needles
If this winter over there was anything like the last one with all that record snow (caused by global warming) would probably suggest a more hospitable place.
I’ve been there in December. I think it would be a wonderful trip, but definitely different than in the spring.
I have driven from London up to Aberdeen in late November. Guess that counts as winter.
Three winters not a single snowflake.
I would have loved it in the 60s, but now, I would not go anywhere near England ANYTIME of the year.
That country is a victim of the Peter Principle.
Well...it’s off season, so you may be able to get some better deals.
I’m of hardy midwestern stock. You know photos in the snow may be glorious, too.
I went to England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland in May. It was colder in Scotland and lightly snowing in the Highlands. I also went to London in August, and it rained the whole 10 days I was there.
A few years, ago we were in London the week before Christmas and it was wonderful. The street in front of Selfridges’s department store was closed to traffic, on the weekend, making shopping a delight. The weather was comfortable.
THe drive shouldn’t be a big issue as I recall. It will likely e cloudy, maybe a bit of rain or drizzle. If it’s very cold, maybe even snow (we saw some our last day in London) but that would be the only exception to otherwise safe travel....Oh, and be sure to get in on the correct side of the car, and drive on the correct side of the road :-)
I’ve spent christmas there. If you dress warm and in layers you’ll be fine. gets dark early so keep that in mind.
You gonna take the high road?
Lots of British people have been there that time of year.
Used to take the kids to London for Christmas - New Year’s. Never had any “bad” weather, it was always lot like NY in November - a bit wet and cool. One thing though, the daylight hours are very compressed. Oh, there is that wrong side of the road thing too...not easy to drive.
There’s nothing to see between London and Edinburgh. I took the train in hopes of seeing some countryside and was sorely disappointed. Just fly into Glasgow and avoid anything south of Newcastle. You’ll have a much better time if you just stay out of England altogether.
Lived in Suffolk County for 4 years in the miltary in the 90’s
Watch for black ice and frozen fog. Snow shows you things are frozen, these don’t. Can make for a nasty surpise as you’re tooling along.
Beautiful place though
Have you ever driven on the opposite side of the road? It is a challenge and to do it on wet slippery or icy roads over unfamiliar territory.......... I would think real hard before I drove myself.
I have made that drive and it is nice in July but I wasn’t doing the driving.
Rainlots of rain and sleet..
Take your gloshers and a brolly...
Winter in Scotland is dreich. Scot Freepers will know the term.
I love the Lake District! And Northern Wales.
Germany, Austria and norther Italy are more Christmassie then.
The UK is becoming more islamic. It is also becoming more of a hate Jesus place where Christmas is very secular.
Very cold and damp.
I’ve been to London and the Midlands from New Years Eve for a two week trip. One point... it is difficult to pack for this trip...
Was a huge swing in temperatures and climate during the stay. Luckily I had a home base and a place to stash clothing with a clothes dryer.
For example, something I’ll never forget, THe day I went to Stonehenge... started in a Midlands hotel, raining and windy, by the time I reached Stonehenge it was a blamy 65F and clear skies. By the time we got back to London that night it was 37F and raining with heavy gusts. Downright freezing in the concrete jungle during that night’s pub crawl....
Also,,, it costs a good US$1200 to buy a top quality winter rain slicker in London....
“I don’t mind cold drizzle and clouds.”
You will. Another poster said it is dreary. I think that’s too weak a description. It’s more like depressing gloominess that will have you craving strong drink and sharp objects.
Where? You might try to be more specific. Hawaii?
RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge by any chance? i was based there 1990-93.
The Brits and Scots don’t bathe like we do. Inside in cold weather, the aroma can be rather unpleasant from frocks that haven’t been laundered or cleaned in quite some time.
Here's the website:
I spent three weeks in the British Isles during the month of January back in the 70’s once, and I was amazed at how warm it could get from time to time. In fact, I remember being so impressed at how green Ireland was at that time of the year and was told, “That’s because of the Gulf stream.”
They were referring to the Gulf Stream from the Gulf of Mexico, believe it or not. Apparently, it can have a big effect in that neck of the woods at that time of the year.
I remember that the entire time I was in Scotland, I NEVER saw the sun. Not once. On a side note, I’m a pretty well-traveled man, and I have never been ANYWHERE where the people were as warm and kind as they are in Scotland.
Finally, in England, it was rainy and damp the entire time I was there. That, I think, is typical for that time of the year. I might also suggest that you Google “Weather By Month In England (or Scotland)” and read what they have to say about average temps and rainfall amounts.
Then, of course, that WAS in the 70’s when I was there. There was that Global Cooling thing going on back then, if I recall.
Rainy and cold.
Been there ....it was just fine but I headed for Cannes as soon as I could
I have been in the midlands of England in every month of the year. When potential visitors ask me what they should pack for their trip in X month, I always tell them this story:
I went to the Cotswolds in the first week of April for two weeks. It was sunny and warm enough for shorts and short sleeves (mid-upper 70’s) every day. It was beautiful by anyone’s standards.
Three years later I went to the same place, during the first week in April for two weeks. It never got above 40 degrees the whole time we were there, and every day it either rained, sleeted, snowed, hailed, or a combination of. Did I mention the howling wind that cut through you like a knife and dragged whatever precipitation that happened to be falling at the time along with it? It was miserable by anyone’s standards.
Bottom line, if I go at that time of year, I have to basically pack every piece of clothing I own.
The good news is that in December, you can be assured it will not be warm or dry, so you can leave the summer clothes at home.
Britain is about 600 miles north of New England. Although the winters are milder than New England, the days are much shorter. Before you go, check the sunrise and sunset times to see if the shorter days would hinder you too much.
You might find that people drive a little faster on the open highway than we do...
Also, be very aware of where you are and where you are going. 30 years ago, my mother and I were in London, taking the bus, and got off in a neighborhood where all the men dressed in funny hats and robes were looking daggers at us. Not another woman in sight.We got out as fast as possible. There are neighborhoods you want to avoid.
The bed and breakfasts are a great way to meet and spend some time with English people.
Otherwise, you'll be fine.
I'm over there about 10 times per year and have spent time in London and Glasgow. I don't suspect the drive will be all that enjoyable but it is what you make of it.
I envy you the drive. If you have time find the Roman amphitheaters on the way. Driving West through Wales to the Coast and up is one I always wanted to try. Do take a bit of time to figure out the left hand driving. The first time you get on a roundabout headed the wrong way round will be very exciting. They drive fast near London, and relatively fast on narrow two lane roads in The Highlands.
Get used to Indian food. Restaurant hours are strange to us. They close until 6 or 7 PM - except Indian Restaurants.
I envy you the drive. If you have time find the Roman amphitheaters on the way. Driving West through Wales to the Coast and up is one I always wanted to try. Do take a bit of time to figure out the left hand driving. The first time you get on a roundabout headed the wrong way round will be very exciting. They drive fast near London, and relatively fast on narrow two lane roads in The Highlands.
Get used to Indian food. Restaurant hours are strange to us. They close until 6 or 7 PM - except Indian Restaurants.
Mallorca, Cap Antibes. Provence?
No, my place is here.
Uh, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Atlantis Grand Bahama?
My place is in England.
How about Costa Rica, the Yucatan, Tampa, St.Pete?
Would you consider an effin cruise perhaps?
Maybe a little "Carnival craps" getaway...
It will be dark by 3:30-4:00 p.m. in the height of winter and will start getting light at around 8:00 a.m. Winters are usually mild but can be snowy and travel can be pretty hazardous if you hit a snowy/icy spell.
There’s lots of traffic since Great Britain is densely populated and the roads can be very congested especially around the many cities.
That said, it is a beautiful island and you can have spectacular days in the winter. If you get a chance, get out and walk — so much to see. It is almost always comfortable to be outside if you dress appropriately (same can’t be said for much of the US)
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