Episode 196 – UK Trip Report: How Editing the Podcast Shaped Ryan’s Two-Month Adventure
In episode 196 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy is joined by a very special guest: UKTP’s own podcast editor, Ryan Fairweather, who has been editing the show since episode 102. Ryan is from New Zealand, and at the end of 2025 he spent two months in the UK with his partner Tilly, combining family visits with a very deliberately planned sightseeing adventure. The twist? Virtually every idea on his list came from editing nearly 100 episodes of this podcast.
We talk through Ryan’s highlights from York and London, his favourite food finds, the tours he loved and the ones he missed, and the practical lessons he picked up along the way. It’s a fun, honest, wide-ranging conversation with someone who came to the UK genuinely prepared, and who had an absolutely brilliant time as a result.
In York, Ryan visits the Old York Tea House (and yes, he had coffee), gets blown away by the Jorvik Viking Centre, finds Paddington on a bench near York Minster, and laughs his way around the city’s most memorably named street. In London, the V&A, Westminster Abbey, and Churchill War Rooms all deliver, and an evening at Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration in Covent Garden turns out to be one of the trip’s unexpected highlights.
We also get into food: Sunday roasts, cream teas, the great scone debate, Pick and Cheese, Irn-Bru, supermarket meal deals and the confusing joy of frozen mashed potato. Plus Ryan shares his top practical tip for international visitors: the Wise card.
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Episode 196 – Summary
What you’ll learn in this episode
- How Ryan built his entire UK itinerary from a running notes document he kept while editing the podcast, and why that approach worked so well
- Why the Old York Tea House is worth seeking out over the more famous Betty’s, and what makes it so special
- What to expect at the Jorvik Viking Centre in York, including the surprisingly pleasant recreated smells
- Why the York Ghost Bus Tour is a brilliant, funny evening out for adults and what makes it different from other ghost tours
- How Mystery Guides work as self-guided walking treasure hunts around historic UK towns, and why they are great value for groups and families
- Ryan’s honest take on the V&A Museum in London, including the Cast Courts, the beautiful cafe, and why three hours barely scratched the surface
- Tips for visiting Westminster Abbey without a guided tour, including how to make the most of the audio guide and the free talks from the abbey’s own staff
- Why the Churchill War Rooms left Ryan completely blown away, and what makes the experience feel unlike any other museum in London
- What Pick and Cheese is actually like, how the conveyor belt and cheese pairings work, and why even non-cheese-lovers enjoy it
- Everything you need to know about Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration in Covent Garden, including the cocktail bar, the unique train carriage-themed murder mystery experience, and why you need to book in advance
- Ryan’s cream tea adventures across the UK, the great Devon versus Cornwall scone debate, and where he found the best scone of the whole trip
- The best supermarket meal deal options across M&S, Tesco and others, and why they are a brilliant budget-friendly lunch strategy in the UK
- Ryan’s essential tip for international visitors: why the Wise card makes managing money abroad so much easier, including splitting costs with travel companions
- Why staying close to a main Tube line in London is one of the most important accommodation decisions you can make
Useful Links and Resources
York
- Our guide to visiting York
- Old York Tea House (Instagram)
- Jorvik Viking Centre
- York Ghost Bus Tour
- Mystery Guides
London
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Guide to visiting Westminster Abbey
- Guide to visiting WW11 sites including the Churchill War Rooms in London
- Pick and Cheese
- Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration, Covent Garden
- Walks and Devour Tours
- London website – London Travel Planning
The Cotswolds and Beyond
- Our Cotswolds travel guide
- Our Stratford-upon-Avon travel guide
- Mystery Guide for Stratford-upon-Avon
Practical Tips
- Wise card for managing travel money abroad
- Our guide to getting around London
More Episodes You Might Enjoy
- Episode #151 – Essential UK Train Travel Tips and Q&A for First-Time Travellers
- Episode #24 – Getting around London: An introduction to the various public transport options
- Episode #189 – How to Plan a London Itinerary: Expert Tips, Must-See Landmarks & Common Mistakes to Avoid
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