I'm in the UK now - as i'm unemployed i felt it was the best way to be around a county full of people also similarly inclined!
"Professionally Unemployed" as the local's like to call it.
Oh and plus billions to the B&B suggestion - there's a few sites that rate each one and , in general, they're pretty awesome if you hit a place with a great host. I would not touch a dorm with a shitty stick.
Ideally ignoring costs :
From Belfast you can get to Stranraer or Liverpool from Scotland/England - i'd personally suggest a loop :
Belfast to Liverpool - day in Liverpool/trip to Chester - day in Manchester - South to London, 2 days in London - Up to York for the day - Newcastle for a day - Edinburgh for 2 days - Loch Lomond for day - Glasgow for a day - back to Stranraer for Ferry back.
For short burst 3 day trips -
Scotland Edition : Stranraer by Ferry then Glasgow and Edinburgh + Lock Lomond.
England : basically - ferrying it will make it impossible as Liverpool basically puts you in the North. So... you'd be looking at Liverpool/Chester/Manchester/York and the Lake District - all nice and all that, but - lets face it - London is the place to go in England, everywhere else is a footnote (not true, but hey) - The other option is to take an EasyJet budget (or, if you don't value your life or sanity or sanitation - Ryan Air) airline price and go directly into London. From there spend three days. There's so much to see in London - but it gives you the option to day trip out once.
Please note - trainfares are STUPID expensive - and if you want to travel before 10am? Lol... oh so Lol. My train ticket to the nearest City to my home town was 109 quid - which isn't that bad - but if i wanted to travel before 10am it becomes.... 420 quid. TE;DP.
Anyways, if you happen to be in the UK - or if any of you UK Scrotes are around - i'll be
strangling hookers shopping in London from the night of the 19th until the morning of the 21st of THIS MONTH. Though i'm tempted to extend my holiday out a bit :O Dolite mandate and all that !
<Holly> ADDITIONAL </Holly>
I plugged in Easyjet to see how it would be cost wise :
Belfast Intl to London Gatwick
Dep Mon, 18 February 2013 20:55
Arr Mon, 18 February 2013 22:15
London Gatwick to Belfast Intl
Dep Fri, 22 February 2013 08:30
Arr Fri, 22 February 2013 10:00
Subtotal flights and options for all passengers:£60.98
Pretty good prices and worth it given the train from the ferry at Liverpool would cost you around 90 quid anyways.