To fly direct to the UK on affordable fares from Toronto to Glasgow in Scotland or to London Gatwick, check out canadianaffair.ca. Fly in November or early spring at special prices! Flights booked may be on either air transat or thomas cook. Flights to the UK can also originate at Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver. Also, check out canadaair.ca for flights to London Gatwick. Fares obviously depend on the time of year and when the schools are off for summer.

For this example I have assumed that you have flown to Glasgow International Airport. Pick up a bus at the airport to Paisley Gilmour Street Station. This Railway line will take you from Glasgow to Kilmarnock to Prestwick International Airport to Ayr and all the way to Stranraer, where you could catch a ferry for a day trip to Ireland! When you pay for your ticket to Prestwick International Airport, hand in your bus ticket and the Clerk will deduct some money from the cost of your train ticket. Once you get to Prestwick International Airport, you can pick bargain flights to other destinations on ryanair.com! EasyJet flys from Glasgow International Airport to London Stansted.

If you decide to fly to London or Europe, remember that you have to pay a small additional cost for baggage. Alternatively, if you are allowed two suitcases from canada, then put the full suitcase inside the other suitcase and then utilise the spare suitcase to purchase goodies from the UK, prior to departure. A small carry on is free. Therefore, think about only taking one suitcase to the UK instead of two or arranging to store the suitcase at a hotel until you return.

On arrival at London Stansted, you can take a train or bus to central London or you could take a bus to the town of Chelmsford in Essex, where if you book in advance you can stay in the brand new PremierInn or Travelodge for around $40 or less for up to four people! You can then pick up a train from Chelmsford to Liverpool street, London which only takes 35 minutes to see the major attractions such as the Houses of Parliament, St Pauls, the Tower of London, the London Eye and the Natural History and Science museums! If you stay in Chelmsford,with it's bars, clubs, Cathedral, shops, museums and Hylands House. You can rent a car at Enterprise which is not far from the rail station.

Hylands House

I like to stay in Ayr in Scotland. If booked in advance you can also save by staying at the new Travelodge, however this is situated nearer Prestwick. For car rental at Prestwick International Airport, book in advance at Enterprise who are not based at the airport and on arrival they will pick you up and the cost is a lot cheaper! If you take the rental car, I can recommend things to do in South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway:

Ayr Town for shops, beach and horse race course. Check out the Rupee Rooms Indian Restaurant, which is the best Indian I have ever tasted and for a value carvery, the Carlton Restaurant in Prestwick. Taking the coastal road from Ayr to Maybole check out quaint Alloway village and Robbie Burns Cottage. Staying on the coastal road you will pass the ruins of Dulnure castle. Culzean Castle and gardens are a must see. If you go to Maidens Beach, you can access the gardens from the beach. Turnberry - World famous Golf Course - check out the Hotel!
Girvan - quaint harbour town - Try the Fish and Chips! Take the Road from Girvan to Newton Stewart - A bit windy, but very scenic - plenty of sheep here!Stop before Barrhill and check out Kildonan House, a 60 bed mansion, where you can get Bed and Breakfast. Also check out the Gatehouses at each end, so cute!

Head towards Newton Stewart, turn left for Gentrool, where the river drops. You are now in the Galloway Forest for walks, cycle rides. Drive past the car park and head to Glentrool Lock and the historic monument with it's great views. Back track over the Glentrool road bridge by the visitors centre, then turn left and drive down a small road to the Wood of Cree. Look for otters on the right. Opposite the car park walk up to the top of the waterfall. Carry on down this road and you will come out left of Newton Stewart. Turn right to check out the Town. Take the A75 towards Dumfries.

Mossyard - Watch out for a sign on the right. Drive by farm buildings to get to the beach. Don't miss the path on the right from the car park which takes you to the other beach!

Gathehouse of Fleet - Nice coffee shop for lunch. Check out the Mill by the river.

Gatehouse of Fleet

Castle Douglas - Old town with quaint shops. Threave Castle is also nearby.
Dumfries - Major old town. For info there is also a Travelodge a couple of miles out of town, as getting near a 100 miles from Ayr to Dumfries, but remember there is hardly any traffic on the roads!

Other places to visit.
New Galloway - Quaint Village + loch and castle ruins near here.
Straiton - Cute village.
Portpatrick - Historic town on the coast - was on TV in the series 2000 acres of sky. Enjoy a traditional lunch with a pint of beer at one of the quayside pubs!
Isle of Whithorn - Lighthouse, cool place + St Ninians Caves nearby. Also Bladnoch Distilliary is on the way. Returning to Ayr - take the A77 from Stranraer to Ayr, which is a faster route!