Tour UK December/January

[FlyingKiwi2020]

Hello! We are looking at moving to the U.K next year with our 3 dc. Would doing a 5 week tour around England and Scotland during December/January be a good idea or a terrible idea? Reason for going at that time is 1. DH can get time of work then, and 2. we have been over during July/August and loved it, but everyone has said it's a VERY different experience in winter, so don't move over based on one summer holiday.

Doea anyone have any thoughts on this? Or recommendations on must see spots. We are nature and history lovers, not too keen on anything massivly touristy. We are in NZ, but DH is English and wanting to return home.

It sounds sensible.
I'd focus on visiting areas you're interested in living in.

It could be great, it could be horrendous. The problem is that the weather is so variable that no one knows how it will affect your travel plans. In cities you should be fine but travel can be disrupted due to snow, ice, winds etc and driving in heavy rain in low light is a pretty unpleasant way to see a country! You also need to check opening hours of attractions such as castles and stately homes, and anything in rural areas as a lot close over the winter months or have limited opening hours e.g. weekend only.

I feel it would be good but prepare for wet weather, some places are spectacular in the rain.
As Emma mentioned just check what's open and road conditions, we make a point of going out no matter how bad the weather is

Do the trains still run if it's snowing? It doesn't snow in our part of NZ, so I've no idea what snow conditions are like and how to drive in them. We were thinking of travelling by train to most places, then using buses, to avoid driving in bad weather.

Trains are not known for there reliability, North West UK is appalling

Only really Snow stops cars but its rare

It doesn't snow much and it's not even a certainty in the Highlands.
Scotland can be bloody miserable in winter. It's been pouring with freezing rain & high winds here for weeks (feels like months) making everywhere dreich (gloomy) and miserable. BUT there's no unsuitable weather....only unsuitable clothing!
Depends really where you were thinking of going.

I think it is a good idea so that you are being logical about moving over here rather than just seeing the uk in hot sunny weather

Which areas are you thinking about living in?

I would concentrate on visiting those areas for extended time so that you can see how those places are in winter rather than doing a tour of England and Scotland that you won't be living in

So for example if you are thinking about living in Cornwall or Kent or Northumberland or Cheshire or Aberdeen etc. They might have completely different experiences of winter that would be worth spending time there (3 of your 5 weeks) to see how trains or roads are in winter etc

You could also look around a couple of houses in your budget so that you get an idea of the housing you can get for £500 or £1000 or £2000 per month (whatever your budget is) rent or mortgage

When you are living here you can visit castles or stately homes or nature reserves or national parks for holidays or weekends or days out, however I think spending some days visiting your favourite options during this holiday would be great idea too

If you are able to access the BBC WEATHER app you can put into it the towns that are your favourite options to move to

Then you can see what the weather is like for next 2 weeks in those towns/cities - it might give you a clearer idea of the type of weather you might get next winter

Definitely try Scotland in winter. Friends tell me it gets very dark, as well as cold.
I live in an area with lots of stately homes and they tend to shut October to May (or sometimes Easter).
I am stunned you want to come back.

December could be nice. Everyone is building up to Christmas and is full of good cheer. I hope you get to stay with some of DH's family for the actual day.

January is a bit the-morning-after-the-night-before. People are skint after Christmas so there aren't so many Things To Do laid on. It doesn't help that the weather is miserable, too.

Public transport is not cheap. If you are 5 people then hiring a car may be more economical.

We loved Scotland last time, so are thinking of moving there. Anywhere around/between glasgow/Stirling/Edinburgh. A spirit of Scotland rail card works out considerably cheaper than car hire £650 as opposed to £1300, for two week. Not too bothered about stately homes etc, tbh the kids are HUGE Harry Potter fans and are massivly keen to explore Edinburgh, apparently there's HP attractions there? Things like don't close down in January, do they?

I'm also getting mixed advice from family, regarding how cold it will be, and what clothing to bring. Cousin makes it sound as if we will need to be covered head to toe in multiple layers, insulated jackets and wellies, but Bil reckons we should be fine in jeans, warm jumper and a raincoat. What do people normally wear in Scotland in winter?

I think it depends on how much you feel the cold.

Well we hate the heat, and don't really know what proper cold feels like. I've never been in snow, but sometimes in the middle of winter, on a really cold day it might get down to 8 degrees. I'm not bothered by that temperature, but I'm guessing Scotland must be a lot colder than that by what people are saying. I think I'll just be glad to be away from 30+ degree heat and enjoying it not being to hot to sleep at night!

Edinburgh can be very cold at times in January. I would wear long sleeved T-shirt, warm jumper and coat. Sometimes a hat and gloves. It varies. It’s been around 8 most of the time this winter , or milder , but that’s unusual.
If you want to travel further north it could get colder and be snowy, esp in the East. It’s more wet and windy in the West, and that can be pretty horrible. It’s also dark by 4 pm so can feel very dull.
You can do the hog warts express trip from fort William . The scenery up the west coast of Scotland is stunning. Aviemore and the Cairngorms is lovely in winter and there’s likely to be snow

The Jacobite (The Hogwarts Express) only runs from April- September.
The Edinburgh attractions for Potter are some shops & the Cafe she wrote the first one in. I love Edinburgh as a city, it’s brilliant.
Jeans, socks, T-shirt, hoodie (or fleece) and a tick waterproof jacket is fine. Add hat, scarf, gloves as required. Sometimes thermals if you want. It’s a wet, damp cold most of the time. Bitter, biting cold rather than FREEZING.
It’s a brilliant country and so much more than the central belt.

Im thinking of a week in the central belt, then getting the train up to aviemore for a day or two, heading on towards Inverness. Once there, would the weather be too grim to continue north to Thurso? Do the ferrys run in winter? My knowledge is very limited and people we know are either in the "its awful, are you mental?!" Camp, or in the "its the most stunning trip you'll ever take" camp. I'm more inclined to think it will be a mixure of both, depending on planning.

After going that far north, I was thinking of coming back down the country via loch ness, to fort william, then glen cloe before finishing up in gladgow. Is that doable?

Absolutely doable but I would be wary of relying on any ferry in the winter I’m afraid. They get cancelled all the time.
How old are your children? Would they be miserable getting trailed around in the rain & cold?
I agree it absolutely is stunning, and with the rain & misty low cloud can be very atmospheric.

Children are 8, 11 and 13, and have zero qualms about getting out and in to it, no matter the weather. They even swam in the lochs daily last time we were there, despite not having wetsuits. As long as they have good clothes, they're pretty hardy. They're really hoping to see snow, but do realise this might not be possible. I heard theres a all year round ski slope in midlothian somewhere, I'll see if thats open in winter.

If they are HP fans they should go to HP studio tour in Watford, Hertfordshire

20 on train from Euston to Watford junction then a special double decker bus straight to studios

Go for early morning time slot then you can spend all day there if you like. So stay somewhere close by or in London the night before

Even if they went during your last visit it has been expanded to huge with Gringotts bank just added

It is closed for a week (this week actually) for cleaning the snow off Hogwarts and other maintenance/cleaning etc etc so check the dates

Order tickets well in advance cos otherwise your dates will be sold out or limited time slots

You could do it during your visits to the middle areas of uk by going a bit south

Xscape at Soar Braehead (shopping centre on outskirts of Glasgow) have a great couple of real snow indoor slopes. It really is brilliant. Highly recommend and open all year.

I think 100% do it! Just wrap up well you’ll be grand!
How exciting!