31 January 2018
Edinburgh has many attractions, but if you would like to explore further afield with family, here are some tips and tricks that will help you along the way.
I consider myself lucky to be able to continue my postgraduate study in Edinburgh, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. After an intense period of study and exams, my family and I decided to rejuvenate ourselves with a holiday—and fortunately in the UK there are lots of fascinating and iconic places to enjoy. So, we hired a car and set off to explore some of the family-friendly attractions on offer.
Edinburgh is indeed one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There are lots of unique and iconic buildings to admire, and many interesting places to visit, such as the Calton Hill, Edinburgh Castle, Arthur Seat and the Royal Botanical Gardens. If you would like to explore further afield however, here are some tips and tricks that will help you along the way.
Things to prepare when travelling by car
During the 2017 winter break, my family and I took a trip to several different cities and theme parks in the UK. I have three young children and so we decided to use a car instead of flying or travelling by train or bus. Hiring a car was definitely a good option:
- It was cheaper, especially when we had planned to visit multiple destinations. It also meant we could look at a wider range of accommodation options rather than having to stay near bus stations etc.
- Travelling was faster, as we were not restricted to bus or train timetables and waiting at stations.
- We had more flexibility to go where we wanted rather than being limited to bus or train routes.
- We were able to carry more luggage in our car trunk than we could have had we been travelling by bus.
There are a few things that you should be aware of when driving a car in the UK:
Hiring a Rental Car
Sites like can help you to decide which rental company you should use. If you are hiring a rental car, make sure you read the rental agreement carefully. If you don't follow the UK driving rules correctly, the traffic authority can track and fine offenders via the rental company, and if you are fined while using a rental car, the rental car company will charge an additional administration fee on top of the fine.
The Speed Limit
The UK has a national speed limit for different vehicles and categories of roads. In general, unless explicitly stated by the traffic signs, the limits are 30 mph in urban areas, 60 mph on main single-carriageway roads and 70 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. More details about speed limits can be found on the .
Payment for Toll Roads and Emission Zones
There are a few toll roads and crossings throughout the UK and Ireland, such as the Dartford Crossing, the Ireland M50 toll, and the Merseyflow toll. There is also a Congestion Zone Charge for driving a vehicle within the charging zone in London City Centre between 07:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, which you can pay online. Failure to pay within the time allocated, for example by midnight the day after passing the Dartford Crossing, will generate a fine (plus an administration fee from the rental company if you are driving a rental car). So it is worth planning your journey in advance and checking whether you need to pay any tolls and how they can be paid; some can be paid online while others accept credit or debit cards.
Difficulties Finding a Car Park
In London, finding a free car park or even a cheap car park can be difficult so it's a good idea to look into parking before you travel using sites like or . Alternatively, you can park your car somewhere a bit outside the city center, where there are likely to be more parking spaces available. You can then travel into the centre using public transport.
Places to Visit
The UK has many theme parks, magnificent football stadiums and fabulous cities with lots of beautiful iconic buildings and museums to visit. Here are the places that I enjoyed during my trip:
Theme Parks
The UK has many fantastic theme parks that I am sure your kids will enjoy, including Drayton Manor (which also has a Thomas Land), Paulton Park (home of Peppa Pig), Legoland, Thorpe Park and Alton Towers. We travelling during the winter break and found that tickets are usually cheaper at this time of year, but some extreme rides will be out of order due to safety issues. If you have small kids or toddlers, these parks are a must!
Football Stadium
The UK has one of the most famous soccer leagues in the world, the English Premier League. Visiting the stadiums of the EPL’s teams was a fun and precious experience for us.
City Icons
Cities in the UK have lots of unique icons. This time, I visited some of the attractions around the Thames River in London, including Big Ben and the London Eye.
I think this holiday was one of the best we have had so far!
Deddy, MSc Finance