All of 2002 is Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, celebrating her 50 years on the British Throne, and she is visiting every region of the island at some point before December 31. BritRail wants you to follow in her footsteps (or in some cases, perhaps, precede Her Majesty) by getting out and about with a FlexiPass. The price starts at $235, less if you're under 26.
An adult standard class FlexiPass for 4 non-consecutive days of travel in two months costs just $235, as noted above. First class will cost $349, but seniors (60 and over) in first class pay only $299. Youths (16-15) travel in standard class for $185.
BritRail can't get you on the Royal Train, but you can travel anywhere on the vast British rail system by express rail, the local milk train, or the coach cars with built-in motors that chug around the countryside, seemingly at random.
You can even get from the London airports to the city by express rail services on your pass. In the British capital, you can view any number of royal hangouts, from Westminster Abbey (where she was crowned) to her own art collection in the Queen's gallery in Buckingham Palace.
Other venues recommended by BritRail (all of which will be visited by the Queen during 2002, if she hasn't been there already) include Salisbury (and nearby Stonehenge), Bath (the Roman hot springs), Falmouth (on the Cornish Riviera), and Penzance (as in Pirates of...).
Up in Yorkshire, you have to see York itself (especially its marvelous cathedral (the Minster) and the National Railway Museum. In Scotland, check out the castle in Edinburgh and the Queen's residence there, Holyrood House. At nearby Leith, you can board the Royal Yacht Britannia, no longer used by Her Majesty. Visit the many art collections in Glasgow, then track up to Aberdeen, not far from Balmoral Castle, a favorite hideaway for the entire royal family.
Heading south, check out Carlisle (and Hadrian's Wall), the Lake District (Windermere, of course), then Liverpool, for the Beatles Museum, if nothing else. In Wales, travel the Queen's route to Bangor and consider exploring the rest of that country. Return to London through Cardiff, capital of Wales.
You have to purchase your BritRail pass before departure from North America. To order tickets or get a brochure, phone them at 877/677-1066 or visit their Web site, www.britrail.net.