An American family's ambitious seven-day UK trip itinerary went viral after users questioned their plans to visit Scotland, Cornwall and London in one week.
Ambitious Itinerary Draws Criticism
An American tourist planning a week-long visit to the UK was ridiculed after posting their ambitious itinerary on Reddit, which crammed in trips to the Lake District, Scotland, and Cornwall within an extraordinarily tight timeframe. Posting on the UKtravel sub-Reddit, the user introduced themselves as "4 Midwestern Americans, 50 something mom and dad, adult children 23M and 18F", who would be touching down in Newcastle and picking up a hire car to kick off their adventure.
The itinerary began with a Saturday arrival, and sensibly, time to drive to their accommodation, "shop for incidentals" and recover after their lengthy transatlantic flight.
Plans Quickly Become Chaotic
However, the plans quickly became rather chaotic, with the family intending to drive to the Lake District on Sunday to "get familiar driving on the opposite side of the road", before heading north to Scotland on Monday. The poster hoped to visit both Glasgow and Edinburgh, querying whether travelling by train might be a more practical option.
Yet more ambitious were their plans for Tuesday and Wednesday: "Husband and I are driving to Polperro Cornwall for hotel stay overnight. Train to Bodmin Parkway/Taxi to Polperro instead?" Polperro sits over 500 miles from Edinburgh, representing roughly a nine-hour drive. This was then followed by plans to explore London on Thursday via a hop-on hop-off bus tour.
Fortunately, the poster had kept Friday clear for some much-needed rest, though admitted they might "try to see Stonehenge or a castle if ambitious".
Reddit Users React with Sarcasm and Bluntness
Members of the subreddit were quick to poke fun, with one remarking sarcastically: "I can't see how this itinerary can be improved. Perhaps a half day in Shetland on Wednesday afternoon?" Another suggested: "Quick trip to Paris from London could definitely be squeezed in", while another joked: "Can you call a visit to the Lake District really complete if you haven't even seen the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower? Friday afternoon is still wide open!"
Others were far more blunt. One said: "Absolutely ridiculous. I'm sorry but come on, Cornwall for one night? Then to London then back to Stonehenge (hint, look where Stonehenge is on a map...)". Another pointed out: "The only thing you're going to see with that itinerary is the inside of your hire car."
Understanding Responses and Poster's Gratitude
Some responses were rather more understanding, noting that Americans are accustomed to covering greater distances behind the wheel than Britons, and that the original poster may not have appreciated the added challenges of driving during winter in cold and dark conditions.
Despite the ribbing from fellow users, the poster returned to express gratitude for the responses and admitted that the feedback had prompted a rethink on certain aspects of their plans, posting: "We're going to stay flexible and try to maintain a sense of humor and sense of wonder. I'm looking forward to the adventure, hoping for the best but accepting of the reality it won't go to plan and we'll have to adjust."
