Plans for tea and adventure

[tardis_stowaway]

O wise friends list!  I need to draw upon your vast knowledge.  This summer, I'm going to be going to the UK for two months.  SWEET, huh?  I'll be spending a sizable chunk of that time doing WWOOF and helpx, programs where you volunteer your part-time work on organic and small farms in exchange for room, board, and learning new skills.  When not on farms, I'll be attending a friend's wedding and traveling around sightseeing.  Due to farmers being slow to get back to me, assorted other delaying factors outside my control, and my procrastination (mostly the last), my itinerary is still really undecided.  I know some of you have traveled or lived across the pond, so I would like your advice on where to go and what to do.

Here's where I'm definitely going:
1.  Aberystwyth, Wales.  This is where my friend is getting married in mid-July.
2.  London.  This is where my plane will land, and I plan on spending at least a couple of days there.  Not too long, however, as London is really expensive.  A stay in London will definitely involve seeing a play at the Globe.
3.  Cardiff.  I can't be in Wales and NOT detour to Cardiff so I can stand in the Plass and try to figure out exactly where the invisible lift is.  The fangirl in me must have her squee!
4.  The somewhat random town of Telford, England (it's in Shropshire), where another friend of mine lives.

Here are some factors to consider:
1.  I am doing this traveling on the cheap.  REALLY cheap, when possible without sacrificing safety.  I'm young and I picked my job for the love, not the paycheck, and part of the reason I'm doing this traveling is that I don't have a summer job.  I'll be staying on farms through WWOOF, with friends, and in hostels.  Yes, hostels, where you share a room of bunks with strangers.  I've done it before and I don't mind.  I prefer to spend my money on activities rather than nice accommodations or fancy meals, though I will splurge on decent restaurants every now and then. 
2.  As you know if you're on this f-list, I am a Doctor Who fangirl.  If you know of anything DW-related that will make me squee, let me know!
3.  I love nature, beautiful scenery, hiking, birdwatching, etc.  However, I have the opportunity to see lots of natural beauty at home in California, so I'm also interested in Britain's historical and cultural stuff.  Castles, ruins, places with relevance to literature and authors, and such are all great.  
4.  I'm vegetarian.  I would love to hear your recs for places to eat that have veg food.

Here's a list of places I'm considering stopping.  Not all of these will be on the final list, so I'm interested in whether any of you can tell me which of these places are totally worth it and which are skippable.  Feel free to add places I should go instead!  In no particular order:
-Oxford
-the Lake District
-Snowdonia
-Stonehenge
- Tintern Abbey
-Scottish highlands
-Liverpool (my friend who's getting married used to live there and keeps raving about it, except when she mocks it)
-York
--possible ferry trip to Ireland for several days, maybe a week.  I'm particularly interested in your feedback on whether this would be worth it, as it would involve the hassle of changing currency and more.  Ferries go from Wales to Dublin or Cork:  which is better?

On previous trips to the UK, one week about three years ago and another back in high school, I've visited Edinburgh (I LOVED IT!), London (where I've seen the Tower, the National Gallery, the British Museum, Kew Gardens, and the outsides of various sites like Parliament), and Sussex (where I traveled with my  high school band.  It was neat, although now rather vague in my memory).  


So, f-list, what do you say?  I've read my guidebook pretty thoroughly, but I want your advice on hidden secrets of awesomeness, what's actually lame, tips for saving time or money, etc.  Anyone want to offer me a free night in a luxurious country estate house?  That's OK too!

Comments

[minervamoon.livejournal.com]

If you're in London a Wednesday or Sunday night, THE COMEDY STORE PLAYERS. From all my varied Englanding travals, that's really the best advice I can give you.

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

*googles*

Oh, that sounds neat! Thanks.