# Britain by galleries and rail · Three bases with a stop in the middle

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/europe/open-jaw/britain-by-galleries-and-rail-z0610/>)

Three bases with a stop in the middle

- Region: Europe
- Trip format: Open jaw
- Nights: 9
- Interests: Arts & Theatre, Food & Drink, Nature, Humans

## Route and nights

- London · 3 night(s)
- York · 3 night(s)
- Edinburgh · 3 night(s)

Tradeoff: A middle stop adds a different experience and a hotel change. Keep both move days light.

Compare: Rail

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · London

- 15:30 to 16:15 · Check in and drop your bags · Point A Hotel London Kings Cross - St Pancras
- 16:35 to 17:35 · Take a short orientation walk near the hotel · Granary Square, London. Skip this block if you arrive later.
- 17:50 to 19:15 · Have dinner near the hotel · King’s Cross, London
Overnight: [Point A Hotel London Kings Cross - St Pancras](<https://www.hotels.com/ho410470/point-a-hotel-london-kings-cross-st-pancras-london-united-kingdom/>) · London

### Day 2 · London

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Have breakfast near the first stop · Charing Cross, London. Allow time to reach this neighborhood from the hotel before breakfast.
- 09:25 to 10:00 · Take the Underground toward Trafalgar Square · Charing Cross, London. Use the route planner for your dates. [Official information](<https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/>)
- 10:10 to 12:45 · See a focused selection at the National Gallery · National Gallery, London. Pick a few rooms or painters and check which galleries are open. [Official information](<https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting>)
- 13:00 to 14:00 · Lunch in Chinatown or Soho · Chinatown, London
- 14:15 to 15:40 · Browse the streets and shops around Seven Dials · Seven Dials, London
- 15:55 to 16:45 · Pause in Covent Garden · Covent Garden, London. This is the easiest block to cut if you choose a matinee.
- 17:15 to 18:30 · Early dinner within walking distance of the theater · West End, London
- 19:30 to 22:00 · See a West End performance · West End, London. Suggested evening block. Move dinner and the theater block to your actual curtain time, and arrive early. [Official information](<https://officiallondontheatre.com/>)
Overnight: [Point A Hotel London Kings Cross - St Pancras](<https://www.hotels.com/ho410470/point-a-hotel-london-kings-cross-st-pancras-london-united-kingdom/>) · London

### Day 3 · London

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Have breakfast near the first stop · Southwark Cathedral, London. Allow time to reach this neighborhood from the hotel before breakfast.
- 09:40 to 10:20 · Cross London Bridge and stop by Southwark Cathedral · Southwark Cathedral, London. Check visitor access if you plan to go inside. [Official information](<https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/visiting/>)
- 10:30 to 12:20 · Browse Borough Market and have an early lunch · Borough Market, London. Check the trading schedule. If closed, look for lunch in nearby Bankside. [Official information](<https://boroughmarket.org.uk/visit-us/>)
- 12:30 to 13:15 · Walk past the Globe toward Tate Modern · Shakespeare’s Globe, London. Follow the riverside rather than doubling back through the main roads.
- 13:20 to 15:20 · See the Tate Modern collection · Tate Modern, London. Choose a few galleries and keep ticketed exhibitions optional. [Official information](<https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern>)
- 15:35 to 17:00 · Follow the Thames path to Southbank Centre · Southbank Centre, London. Leave time for a coffee stop if you prefer a shorter walk.
- 17:45 to 19:15 · Supper on the South Bank · South Bank, London
Overnight: [Point A Hotel London Kings Cross - St Pancras](<https://www.hotels.com/ho410470/point-a-hotel-london-kings-cross-st-pancras-london-united-kingdom/>) · London

### Day 4 · York

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Have breakfast before checking out · King’s Cross, London
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Check out and allow time to reach the departure point · Point A Hotel London Kings Cross - St Pancras
- 09:45 to 12:40 · Travel from London to York · London King’s Cross. Confirm the station on your ticket and leave time for the train boarding area. Use the confirmed times for the journey you book.
- 12:50 to 13:50 · Have lunch near your new base · York Railway Station
- 14:30 to 15:25 · Drop bags and check in when the room is ready · Hampton by Hilton York
- 15:40 to 16:30 · Take a short orientation walk if time allows · Micklegate, York
- 17:45 to 19:00 · Have dinner near your new hotel · York Railway Station
Overnight: [Hampton by Hilton York](<https://www.hotels.com/ho419119/hampton-by-hilton-york-york-united-kingdom/>) · York

### Day 5 · York

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast near your hotel · Toft Green, York
- 09:35 to 10:45 · Walk the Shambles before lunch traffic · The Shambles, York
- 10:55 to 12:00 · Browse Shambles Market stalls · Shambles Market, York. Check the trading calendar and allow time to compare lunch options. [Official information](<https://visityork.org/business-directory/shambles-market>)
- 12:15 to 13:25 · Have a pub lunch around the city center · York city center
- 13:45 to 15:25 · Visit York Castle Museum if it fits your interests · York Castle Museum. Check hours and admission. Skip the museum if you want a low-cost afternoon around the market and river. [Official information](<https://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/visit/>)
- 15:40 to 17:00 · Walk back through the center by Fossgate · Fossgate, York
- 18:15 to 19:40 · Dinner around Fossgate · Fossgate, York
Overnight: [Hampton by Hilton York](<https://www.hotels.com/ho419119/hampton-by-hilton-york-york-united-kingdom/>) · York

### Day 6 · York

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast near your hotel · Toft Green, York
- 09:45 to 11:10 · Walk the Museum Gardens and the abbey ruins · York Museum Gardens. Check garden opening and leave the indoor museum as an optional extra. [Official information](<https://www.yorkmuseumgardens.org.uk/>)
- 11:20 to 12:25 · Walk down to Lendal Bridge and follow the River Ouse · Lendal Bridge, York. Use city streets if the riverside path is wet or closed.
- 12:40 to 13:40 · Lunch around the river or in the city center · York city center
- 14:00 to 15:35 · Visit the Yorkshire Museum if open · Yorkshire Museum. Pick a section and check for any seasonal timetable changes. [Official information](<https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/visit/>)
- 15:50 to 16:50 · Take a short loop toward the station side of the river · River Ouse, York
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner around Micklegate · Micklegate, York
Overnight: [Hampton by Hilton York](<https://www.hotels.com/ho419119/hampton-by-hilton-york-york-united-kingdom/>) · York

### Day 7 · Edinburgh

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Have breakfast before checking out · York Railway Station
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Check out and allow time to reach the departure point · Hampton by Hilton York
- 09:45 to 13:05 · Travel from York to Edinburgh · York Railway Station. Use the service and platform shown on your ticket. Leave time for the walk out of Edinburgh Waverley. Use the confirmed times for the journey you book.
- 13:15 to 14:15 · Have lunch near your new base · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 14:30 to 15:25 · Drop bags and check in when the room is ready · ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge
- 15:40 to 16:30 · Take a short orientation walk if time allows · Royal Mile, Edinburgh
- 17:45 to 19:00 · Have dinner near your new hotel · South Bridge, Edinburgh
Overnight: [ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge](<https://www.hotels.com/ho444124/ibis-edinburgh-centre-south-bridge-royal-mile-edinburgh-united-kingdom/>) · Edinburgh

### Day 8 · Edinburgh

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast around South Bridge · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 09:15 to 09:55 · Walk down the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament · Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
- 10:00 to 12:05 · Walk a signed Holyrood Park route · Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. Check route closures and conditions on the park page. If a path near Salisbury Crags is closed, stay on the open lower routes. If conditions are poor, swap in an indoor museum. [Official information](<https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/holyrood-park/>)
- 12:30 to 13:30 · Lunch near the Canongate · Canongate, Edinburgh
- 13:45 to 15:30 · Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse if open · Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. Check the day’s hours and reserve a suitable slot. The National Museum of Scotland is an indoor alternative. [Official information](<https://www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse>)
- 15:45 to 17:05 · Walk back through Canongate and stop for coffee · Canongate, Edinburgh
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner around South Bridge · South Bridge, Edinburgh
Overnight: [ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge](<https://www.hotels.com/ho444124/ibis-edinburgh-centre-south-bridge-royal-mile-edinburgh-united-kingdom/>) · Edinburgh

### Day 9 · Edinburgh

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast around South Bridge · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 09:30 to 09:55 · Walk past Old College toward Nicolson Street · Old College, Edinburgh
- 10:00 to 12:15 · Explore Surgeons’ Hall Museums · Surgeons’ Hall Museums, Edinburgh. Check opening hours. Some collections include human remains, which may affect how much time you want here. [Official information](<https://museum.rcsed.ac.uk/visit/>)
- 12:25 to 13:25 · Lunch near Bristo Square · Bristo Square, Edinburgh
- 13:40 to 15:35 · Visit one section of the National Museum of Scotland · National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. The collections are large. Choose one subject instead of trying to see the whole museum. [Official information](<https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/>)
- 15:50 to 17:00 · Walk across the Meadows or take a cafe break · The Meadows, Edinburgh
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner in the Southside · Southside, Edinburgh
Overnight: [ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge](<https://www.hotels.com/ho444124/ibis-edinburgh-centre-south-bridge-royal-mile-edinburgh-united-kingdom/>) · Edinburgh

### Day 10 · Edinburgh

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Have breakfast near the hotel · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Take an optional last walk · Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Skip the walk if you have an early departure.
- 10:00 to 10:30 · Check out and collect luggage · ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge
- 10:30 to 11:30 · Allow time for onward travel · South Bridge, Edinburgh. Use the confirmed departure and pickup times from your booking.