The missus and I have gotten the bug to travel, and some unexpected vacation time is available, so....

We're off to London for the holidays.

Anyone got any brilliant ideas on things to do and see around the British Isles in mid-winter?

We'd like to head up to Scotland for a day or two - perhaps stay at a certain B&B that you might have heard of hereabouts.

Every hotel and refrigerator box within a shout of Edinburgh already seems to be booked up for New Year, so it seems that's not very likely. Too bad, as it seems this may be the last year for the street party. Unless somebody out there's got a couch to crash on? ; )

We'd also like to pop over to Dublin for a couple of nights. I'd really like to get to western Ireland (Galway, Connemara) but I don't know if we'll have enough time/money (especially money, what with the sinking dollar) to make that possible.

Part of our time will be spent with my wife's family, in Reading, but that won't be until after New Year's. I understand that London entirely shuts down for Christmas and Boxing Day - no underground, no buses, nothing open. Sounds a bit grim, but we might just spend those days wandering around, looking at some great architecture without the usual crowds.

We won't be renting a car. Between the prospect of driving on the wrong side of the road and likely doing it on narrow, icy roads (not much snow here in Tucson, it's been ages since I've driven on something slippery) and the crowded conditions in London, I think that's out. That makes the train for us, I guess.

So, if you've got any thoughts on interesting things to do we might not have thought of, please let me know....