4 week driving tour of uk

Great British Road Trip

• Fully customisable itinerary
• Prices from: £2910 per person
• Best time to go: April - October
• Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Endless attractions are on offer in England’s vibrant capital city. Visit iconic attractions such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, and enjoy world-class eating and drinking opportunities.

Charming Cotswolds

Visit the Cotswolds, home to idyllic villages and beautiful countryside. Each village is picturesque in its own unique way and offers delightful sightseeing opportunities.

Lake District

This legendary national park is England’s mountain country and a paradise for anybody who loves nature and the great outdoors. Climb Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, or explore one of the several lakes on a cruise – the most famous being Lake Windermere.

Glorious Glencoe

Glencoe is Scotland’s most famous and mystical glen and the site of the infamous massacre of Clan Macdonald. Enjoy the great outdoors and spectacular views of the Scottish Highlands.

Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye is world-famous for its stunning and dramatic volcanic scenery, including The Cuillin mountains, the Old Man of Storr, and The Quiraing. You’ll find great places to eat and drink in the island’s colourful capital of Portree.

Medieval Edinburgh

Charming and vibrant, Edinburgh is Scotland’s ancient capital city and a hub for culture and creativity. Attractions include Edinburgh Castle, the historic Royal Mile, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The Unmissable Highlights of Scotland, England & Wales

This fantastic itinerary packs many of the highlights of Great Britain into an unforgettable three-week road trip. Begin your adventure in London – a city which needs no introduction – before travelling to the ancient Roman city of Bath. From here, make your way through idyllic English countryside to the picture-postcard Cotswolds.

Wales and the epic mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park await, before ‘God’s Own Country’ of Yorkshire where you’ll discover the historic city of York. Explore the breathtaking Lake District in north-west England, then cross the border into Scotland where you’ll visit the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, the legendary Isle of Skye, the historic cities of Inverness and Edinburgh, and much more.

Begin your holiday in the cosmopolitan city of London – an energetic mecca of different cultures, attractions, sights and sounds. Sightseeing opportunities are endless here; you could visit the historic Tower of London or St Paul’s Cathedral, watch the guards change at Buckingham Palace, or take in a show at the West End. The dining scene in London is among the best in the world and you are spoiled for choice for exceptional places to eat and drink.

Collect your hire car and travel to Bath, known for its Roman baths and stunning Georgian architecture, then onto the Cotswolds – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This is a captivating area to discover, with picturesque villages and historic castles dotted between a patchwork quilt of rolling green fields.

Make your way to Wales where epic Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park awaits – a place to explore the great outdoors with everything from gentle riverside rambles to majestic mountains. Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe, so there is plenty for history lovers to enjoy here.

You’ll then travel to historic and charming York, one of the most picturesque cities in England. Experience the city’s ancient history including Roman ruins, medieval city walls, as well as the remains of a Viking city under its very streets.

Continue onward to the Lake District National Park. This is England’s mountain country and home to sparkling lakes, charming villages, and Scafell Pike – the highest mountain in the country. Hear about literary greats like William Wordsworth who were inspired by the region’s immense beauty.

Cross the border into Scotland where your first destination is the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. This is truly one of the most beautiful countries on earth and breathtaking landscapes await around every corner. From Loch Lomond, journey through wonderful lochside and mountain scenery into the heart of the Highlands and take the ferry across to the Isle of Skye. This legendary island is world-famous for its wild mountains, stunning seascapes and geological scenery, and fascinating historical sites.

Leaving Skye, you will pass the much-photographed castles of Eilean Donan and Urquhart before arriving in the vibrant Highland capital of Inverness. This is the perfect base to explore Loch Ness and Culloden Battlefield, before travelling south to your final destination of Edinburgh – Scotland’s picturesque capital city. Here you can explore many attractions including the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and Holyrood Palace. In the evening, you are spoilt for choice; Edinburgh is gastronomic heaven, and the perfect place to enjoy a whisky and reflect on the memories of your Great British Road Trip.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer.  Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Day 1: Arrive in London

Arrive in London and enjoy your first evening in England’s legendary capital city. You will find endless opportunities for eating and drinking here – from Michelin-starred restaurants and traditional pubs to bustling, international food markets. There are cuisines from every country in the world. Overnight – London

Day 2: London Sightseeing

Today you will enjoy an included sightseeing tour in order to get acquainted with this vast city and all the attractions it has to offer. Learn about the history of London with a visit to the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey, or explore one of the many museums and art galleries. Overnight – London

Day 3: London Sightseeing

For a more extensive view of this renowned capital, take a cruise along the River Thames, a circuit on the London Eye, or a trip up the dizzying heights of the Shard to enjoy stunning views of London’s well-known skyline. Perhaps end your day with a show in London’s famous West End. Overnight – London

Day 4: London to Bath

After breakfast, collect your hire car and make your way to historic Bath. En route you could visit one of the most famous landmarks in the UK; the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stonehenge . The distinctive standing stone circle also has a world-class exhibition centre and Neolithic houses. Overnight – Bath

Day 5: Bath Sightseeing

Relax in one of the many thermal baths in the city, or join a walking tour and be awed by Bath’s incredible Neoclassical architecture. This vibrant city also boasts a wide range of great places to eat and drink, as well as an impressive collection of museums. Overnight – Bath

Day 6: Bath to The Cotswolds

Make the short journey into the picture-postcard Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This is quintessential England at its best, with rolling patchwork fields, chocolate-box villages, and quaint market towns such as Chipping Norton, Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold to discover. Overnight – North Cotswolds

Day 7: The Cotswolds Sightseeing

The idyllic Cotswolds is yours to explore today. For something grander, the spa town of Cheltenham is closeby, as is Stratford-upon-Avon – most famous as the birthplace of the great playwright William Shakespeare. Overnight – North Cotswolds

Day 8: The Cotswolds to Eryri (Snowdonia)

Travel through the Shropshire Hills into Wales and make your way to the natural wonderland of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. Here you’ll find the highest mountains and the largest lakes in Wales – a perfect place for getting into nature. Overnight – Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

Day 9: Eryri (Snowdonia) Sightseeing

This immense area is filled with opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy mountains, rivers and woodland, or explore the picturesque villages and historic castles. The park’s historic mountain railway climbs to the summit of Wales’s highest mountain, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), offering sensational views across the sea to Ireland. Overnight – Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

Day 10: Eryri (Snowdonia) to York

You will travel back into England today as you make your way to the ancient city of York. Celebrate your arrival in York by enjoying one of the many delicious restaurants in the city or visiting its characterful pubs. Overnight – York

Day 11: York Sightseeing

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in York and visit the magnificent York Minster cathedral – the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. Walk the surrounding medieval city walls, stroll through the famous winding streets, or step back in time at the Jorvik Viking Centre . Overnight – York

Day 12: York to the Lake District

Travel through one national park to visit another today as you drive from the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the Lake District – home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK. Overnight – Lake District

Day 13: Lake District Sightseeing

Explore all that the Lake District has to offer. Climb England’s highest mountain or take a cruise on Lake Windermere, walk amongst stunning fell mountain scenery or learn about the many famous literary figures who were inspired by the Lakes. Overnight – Lake District

Day 14: Lake District to Loch Lomond

Make your way north into Scotland where your destination is Loch Lomond, Scotland’s most romantic loch. Surrounded by enchanting forests, the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond inspired one of Scotland’s most iconic love songs. Overnight – Loch Lomond

Day 15: Loch Lomond to the Isle of Skye

Today you will travel into the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Travel through Glencoe, Scotland’s most famous and atmospheric glen, and pass Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain. Take the magnificent Road to the Isles and then the ferry over the sea to the Isle of Skye. The short sailing across the Sound of Sleat provides great views of Skye and back across to the west coast. Overnight – Isle of Skye

Day 16: Isle of Skye Sightseeing

A full day on Skye to visit romantic Dunvegan Castle, sample some fine island whiskies, enjoy a great day’s walking, or take a fabulous boat trip into the heart of the Cuillin Mountains. Overnight – Isle of Skye

Day 17: Isle of Skye to Inverness

Depart Skye and travel past the most photographed of Scotland’s castles, Eilean Donan. Your route takes you through the Great Glen and by brooding Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, and onto the vibrant ‘Capital of the Highlands’, Inverness. Overnight – Inverness

Day 18: Inverness Sightseeing

A full day to explore Inverness, where you could visit Cawdor with its 14th-century castle, Culloden Battlefield where, in 1746, the last battle took place on British soil, or travel into Speyside and tour the Malt Whisky Trail where the world’s most celebrated distilleries are on your doorstep. Overnight – Inverness

Day 19: Inverness to Edinburgh

Travel from the Highlands to the Lowlands through beautiful Highland Perthshire. En-route you could explore the Cairngorms National Park, Blair Castle, or Scone Palace. Your destination is Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh – one of the most charming cities in Europe. Overnight – Edinburgh

Day 20: Edinburgh Sightseeing

The opportunities for sightseeing in this wonderful city are almost endless. Visit majestic Edinburgh Castle, sample a dram at the Scotch Whisky Experience , or hike up Arthur’s Seat for an incredible panoramic view across the city. Visit Holyrood Palace, the Royal Yacht Britannia, or enjoy a walking history tour along the Royal Mile as Edinburgh’s glorious past is brought to life. Overnight – Edinburgh

Day 21: Depart Edinburgh

After breakfast, your Great British Road Trip will come to an end.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

• Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 20 nights including traditional British breakfast
• Comprehensive information pack
• Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
• Map of the UK with our recommended driving route
• 16 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
• London Pass which includes a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and free entry to the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and over 80 other attractions
• Tickets for the Bath City Sightseeing Tour
• York Pass which includes a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and free entry to York Minster, Jorvik Viking Centre and many more attractions
• Tickets for the Edinburgh City Sightseeing Tour
• All ferry crossings (as per your itinerary)
• 24-hour emergency contact number
• Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

• Travel insurance
• Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Tastefully decorated and furnished, these properties are generally owned and operated by locals who have a genuine passion for their region which they are keen to share with you. Their warm hospitality is sure to be a highlight of your experience.

It also comprises larger 4* Hotels selected for their high standard of accommodation, exceptional service, and great location. These range from traditional luxury to contemporary Hotels.

These are truly magical places and amongst the best accommodation that the UK has to offer. The perfect choice when you would like somewhere really special which can be a treat for the night or for your entire holiday.

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

• Collision Damage Waiver
• Super Damage Excess Waiver
• Third Party Insurance
• Theft Waiver
• Good for 2 people
• Maximum of 4 passengers
• 2 large suitcases
• Manual or automatic transmission
• Good for 2 – 4 people
• Maximum of 5 passengers

Intermediate

• Good for up to 4 people
• 3 large suitcases
• Good for 5 people
• Maximum of 7 passengers
• 3 – 4 large suitcases

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England Road Trip: 50 Unmissable ideas (for every UK itinerary)

Planning an England road trip? Here are some of the best itinerary ideas for all schedules, including London to Cornwall, the Cotswolds and Kent in southern England, National Parks like the Lake District or Peak District, Northern England and all the way up to the Scottish border.

Whatever your cup of tea, there’s a UK road trip idea here for you. We’ve also provided a helpful map so you can visualise your route.

*We work hard to make this the best motorhome travel blog and road trip website possible, full of helpful content for you. The website is supported by our readers, so if you buy through links on this site we may earn a commission- at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own .

If you find this post useful, you can also treat us to a coffee – we promise to enjoy it while creating more useful content like this- we might even indulge in a biscuit (or two!)

JUMP AHEAD TO...

UK Road Trips- How to Plan

Planning a UK road trip to England or elsewhere can be tough. 

There are SO MANY places, ideas, options and reviews- how on earth are you supposed to choose the best way or most scenic drives?

Then, you have to factor in how long you have for your UK road trip (remembering that much of rural UK has smaller, slower roads, so it takes a lot longer to get there than you might expect. 

So, if you’re planning a road trip around England (and the UK) and feeling overwhelmed, here are some of our favourite road trips and itinerary ideas to help you. We’ll discuss the best bits of each area, why and when you should visit, how far it is from London and where you should allow extra time to explore.

England Road Trip Ideas- Where to Start

The first thing to decide is where you want to visit on your road trip. Also, remember that England is only one section of the UK- there are several other countries to explore (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland make up the United Kingdom).

So, if you want to do a full UK road trip, you’ll need more time than if you were just doing an England road trip.

Our biggest tip is not to overface yourself. Whether you only have a long weekend for a quick trip from London or a week to get out on the open road and tour, make sure you leave time to actually get out of your vehicle and explore the places you’re visiting- you’ll find plenty of historic sites, sandy beaches and incredible routes to enjoy. 

Roughly speaking, you can split England in half- the South of England and the North  (the line roughly goes through Birmingham) or even further into quarters if you only have time for a one-week road trip. 

Again, how far you can travel will depend on how much time you have, as well as how you are travelling (rental car, motorhome or public transport), but to do each half ‘properly’ we would recommend at least 2-3 weeks- especially if it’s your first time in England.

Having said that, you can see some of the best sights in less time than that- here’s our one week in England road trip itinerary .

Make planning your next road trip EASY (& fun!)

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Where to stay during your England road trip

If you’re planning a motorhome or campervan trip , you’ll be able to travel and stop along the way, often without booking in advance, using schemes like Brit Stops or wild camping in your motorhome .

If you’re in a car or motorbike, there are PLENTY of hotels and BnBs to use en route. If you’re travelling in summer we recommend booking at least the first stop in advance- if you use Booking.com for all your accommodation you’ll find you can get a great deal and save a lot of money.

England Road Trip Map

I know how hard it can be to visualise places if you don’t know the country well, so here’s a map of England with several of the road trip destinations shown on it.

Out of interest, if you did this route, it’s about 1056 miles (1700km) long. You could technically do it in a week, but you’d barely have time to get out of the car!

Common England Road Trip Questions

How long does it take to drive the whole of england .

Many people wonder “ How long does it take to drive the whole of England ?” That’s a tough question, as there are so many places to go and depends a lot on your starting point.

Most people allow 2-3 weeks to drive through as much of England as they can, but that will involve a LOT of driving. Of course, you can take a look at the road trip itinerary ideas below and see which scenic route or quaint villages most appeal to you- and then plan your trip around that.

One common UK road trip idea is to drive from Land’s End in Cornwall all the way up to John o’Groats in Scotland, which is about 838miles (1350km). Obviously, this is a road trip which involves England AND Scotland, and that brings me to another important point.

Want to rent a vehicle for your road trip?

These might help:

• Discover incredible deals for motorhome/ camper rentals
• Find the best deals for car rental

READ: 10 essential questions to ask before you rent a motorhome

Can we go to England by road?

This is a common question for anyone who doesn’t live in the UK- and the short answer is yes, you can drive to England from mainland Europe.

Whether you’re enjoying a European road trip (here are some ideas for you ), or want to combine a trip to England with another country, you can drive to England from Europe via either the Eurotunnel or taking one of several car ferries (they also take motorhomes/ campervans on most of the ferry routes.)

If you’re planning a road trip from France to England, which route you take will depend on which part of France and England you want to visit- find out more in our Eurotunnel vs Ferry post.

And if you’re going the other way and will be driving in Europe, make sure you are aware of the new rules for driving in Europe after BREXIT .

If you’re like more help planning your trip, this post about how to plan an epic UK road trip will help.

Is England the UK or Great Britain?

Neither. And part of both 🙂

It’s common for people to confuse an England road trip with a UK road trip. England is just one country within the UK, along with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If you want to extend your trip and see more of those countries, you might enjoy our post on the best UK road trips and scenic drive ideas.

The UK is short for ‘The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’.

Great Britain is the LANDMASS of the largest island in the British Isles (the one which makes up England, Wales and Scotland). Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are not included in this.

And, to make things even more odd, the British Isles includes ALL the islands, including the whole of Ireland, which isn’t part of the UK at all.

Thoroughly confused? Ok, let’s just stick to England road trip ideas! 🙂

South England Road Trip Ideas

If you’re visiting London and want to explore part of the country for a few days, southern England is a good place to start. Of course, there are a HUGE number of places to explore in ‘South England’ (which is roughly classed as anywhere below Birmingham), so I’m just going to pick a few highlights to inspire you.

Cornwall- South West England

Cornwall is one of my favourite places to road trip in England. I spent 2 years living there whilst I was in the Navy, and have been back many times since. There are plenty of things to do in Cornwall , but there are some important tips you need to know before you arrive!

Why is Cornwall one of the best England road trips?

If you want cute villages, incredible beaches and more history than you can shake a stick at, Cornwall is perfect. Also, they have some of the best ice cream IN THE WORLD (no kidding) and it’s perfectly acceptable to eat a scone with jam and clotted cream EVERY day and no one will judge you.

IMPORTANT NOTE : There is intense rivalry between Devon and Cornwall over whether jam or cream should go first on a scone. In Cornwall, they do jam and THEN cream, which is apparently the way the Queen preferred her scones .

(Don’t worry, they’re used to tourists and won’t stone you if you get it wrong. But be warned if you want to live there…!) 

In Devon, they do it the other way. I’ve tried both, and I’m a jam first girl (because you can then put more cream on!)

When should you visit Cornwall?

Cornwall is best anytime between Easter and mid-October.

TOP TIP : Avoid July and August if you possibly can. The schools are on holiday and it feels like EVERYONE in England has travelled to the same small Cornish village as you.

Beaches are overcrowded, parking becomes a struggle and there’s a very real chance of shops running out of ice cream. Don’t do that to yourself. You deserve that ice cream.

Also, many businesses and attractions close after mid-October for the winter, so you might find you can’t do everything you want to outside the season.

Having said that, we find Cornwall one of the best places to enjoy Autumn in Europe – the weather is still warm, but everywhere is quieter and easier to get to.

How long should you spend roadtripping Cornwall?

How long is a piece of string!! But, as you can see on our Cornish road trip itinerary , we recommend 7-10 days minimum to see all the best places.

Where are the best places to visit in Cornwall on a road trip?

Did I mention that I used to live here? I have SO many recommendations for places to visit we could be here all week!!! Some of my absolute favourites (and this is like choosing my favourite child… or chocolate bar) include:

• Tintagel Castle (the home of Arthur and the round table)
• Minack Theatre (built onto the side of a cliff)
• St Michael’s Mount
• Boscastle (where one of the best witchcraft museums in the world is!)
• Newquay beach (and bars!)

READ MORE: Discover our complete Cornwall road trip itinerary (45 places you HAVE to see!)

Recommended by Ben at Driftwood Journals

Famed for its endless rolling hills, craggy coastlines and clotted cream delights, Devon is unsurprisingly one of the most popular destinations in the UK – and a dream for rural road-trippers! With wild moors galore, cutesy towns and villages, and bountiful beaches, you don’t have to drive far in Devon to stumble upon scenes of unparalleled beauty.

Highlights and best places to visit in Devon

• Dartmouth- one of the best towns in the county (and home of the Royal Naval Officer training. I spent a year here…running up those bl***y hills!) Hire a boat and explore the river.
• Paignton- the beach with the red sand and is also known as the English Riviera.
• Dartmoor National Park
• Exmoor National Park
• Exmouth with its beautiful painted houses
• Salcombe Harbour – a holiday hotspot for all generations.
• Dulverton- head to the Copper Kettle tearoom; you won’t regret it!

Devon road trip ideas

Pack up your motorhome/ camper (or car with tent) and find a site with views across the Devonshire cow-grazed hillsides of the Lyn Valley, or out over Dartmoor. You can wild camp in Devon, but not on the moors. Find out more about motorhome wild camping in the UK.

For a coastal trip, explore sea towns like Salcombe and Dartmouth (where you can take a boat up to Greenway, Agatha Christie’s summer home) and round to Exmouth, before heading north to Woolacombe, Dawlish and the fishing boat bobbing harbour of Ilfracombe. Enjoy the bustle and culture in the capital of Exeter or discover the notorious prison of Dartmoor.

Alternatively, head to North Devon and enjoy the wilder seas and views of the north coast. This is a great area for surfing and watersports.

If you have more time (and fuel) to burn, take to the A386 between Appledore and Plymouth, traversing through forested valleys to picture-perfect towns like Great Torrington and Tavistock, where you can tour the tearooms and plan the rest of your trip in the park while dangling your toes in the River Tavy.

But the true beauty of road tripping in Devon is that you don’t really need to plan too extensively. You’ll never be far from a cream tea pitstop, and the verdant country roads will offer up some of the most perfect picnic spots you’ll ever see. All you need is is a full tank, and a little patience when stuck behind tractor after tractor!

When is the best time to visit Devon on a road trip?

As with Cornwall, the best time to visit Devon is Spring to Autumn, but avoid the high summer months if you can, especially if you’re on a UK motorhome holiday .

Can you visit Devon on a day trip from London?

You can, but it’s quite a long drive. I’d say you’d need at least 2 or 3 days to really be able to explore anything.

Dorset- One of England’s Best Road Trips

Recommended by Paul | Anywhere We Roam

The Jurassic Coast stretches 95 miles across Dorset in southern England. With an iconic coastline of towering white cliffs, it’s an excellent destination for a classic road trip. Stunning scenery, historical sites and local breweries make the Jurassic Coast one of the best places to experience the beautiful English countryside.

Dorset road trip- best places to visit?

The main highlight of a road trip to Dorset in the area has to be Old Harry Rocks – a collection of white stone monoliths that have been carved out along the coast. It’s one of the most impressive stretches of scenery in the UK with dazzling chalk stacks assembled like a jigsaw puzzle waiting to be completed. If you get time, be sure to enjoy one of the many fabulous Dorset walks- you won’t regret it.

A thirty-minute drive away, Corfe Castle stands as a reminder of England’s 11th-Century past. It was one of the earliest Norman castles built and today it glows in its dilapidated glory overlooking the Dorset hills. It’s a stunning, photogenic inclusion on a UK road trip.

For another natural phenomenon, Durdle Door is possibly one of the most recognisable symbols of the Jurassic Coast. Over time, crashing waves have eroded limestone stacks in the sea leaving a glorious natural arch.

It’s a beautiful stretch of beach, ideal for a long summer stroll. It’s also next to the famous Lulworth Cove, which is a wonderful place to enjoy an ice cream!

Editors note: (I (Kat) actually jumped off the top of Durdle Door on my hen party!)

After soaking up the stunning scenery, head west to Lyme Regis, a quaint town with a vibrant independent retail scene. The historic Cobb Harbour set against moody cliffs is well-preserved and houses some of the best coffee in the area.

When is the best time to visit Dorset on an England road trip?

The best time to visit the Jurassic Coast on a road trip is from May to early July when the surrounding countryside will be verdant green and covered in wildflowers, but there’s not too much traffic!

Hampshire road trip

Hampshire is another county in England we know well, having lived here for 14+ years. There’s plenty to enjoy on a road trip to Hampshire, from beautiful cities to picturesque country houses.

Highlights of a Hampshire road trip

Some of our favourite places to visit in Hampshire include:

• Winchester- be sure to visit the Cathedral where Jane Austen is buried and you can see one of the oldest Bibles in the world. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting in December, don’t miss the famous Winchester Christmas Market , held in the Cathedral grounds each December.
• Highclere Castle (or Downton Abbey, as you might know it!)
• Lymington – for the oldest open sea water baths in the UK – and the New Forest (check out the Wildlife park there and make sure to take some memorable photos).
• Hinton Ampner- 18th century famous manor house known for its gardens.
• Portsmouth (you MUST go to the Mary Rose museum and HMS Victory)
• Isle of Wight (see below)

Isle of Wight road trip

Recommended by Darek | DarekandGosia

The  Isle of Wight , famous for its beautiful views, is an island on the south coast of England, just below Southampton. Technically, it’s part of Hampshire, but feels like a different world.

With a motorhome or car, you can reach the island by ferry from either Southampton or Portsmouth – book in advance during summer. There are also a couple of foot passenger ferries and a hovercraft from Southsea.

Why is it one of England’s best road trips?

The Isle of Wight is like going back in time. It’s worth a road trip here for even a weekend, to escape the hustle and bustle of normal life, ride bikes and take a walk on the cliffs.

Also, there are some wonderful places to stay. If you’re on a road trip, check out these amazing Isle of Wight campsites – some with stunning sea views!

What is there to do?

You can start exploring the island in Shanklin – one of the coastal villages famous for its beautiful beaches. On the promenade along the sea you will find many restaurants and hotels – most of the Island is typically tourist-oriented.

From Shanklin drive to the western part of the island. The most characteristic point is The Needles – three chalk rocks emerging from the sea with a small lighthouse built at the end of one of the columns. You can get to Needles by car and then follow the path on foot to the cliff slope. It’s a fabulous place for a picnic.

Next to Needles is Old Battery, a military fortification dating from the nineteenth century. There you can find World War II memorabilia or visit one of the various exhibitions are also taking place.

While driving around the island make sure you get to Carisbrooke Castle near Newport. Its construction began in the 12th century. It is worth taking a moment to walk around the castle, relax in the Edwardian-style garden.

One of my favourite places on the Island is Osborne House- Queen Victoria’s summer home. You can walk around the gardens and the house and even enjoy an ice cream on her private beach. Osborne House is run by English Heritage.

When is the best time to visit the Isle of Wight?

The Isle of Wight is a must-see for anyone who wants to admire the British climate and above all fantastic views. It is worth going here all year round – it’s actually one of the best places to visit in Europe in October , when there are fewer tourists and you can enjoy the views & roads!

Norfolk Broads

Recommended by Mandi | Big Family, Little Adventures

Sometimes you want nothing more than to escape the hustle and the bustle of everyday life, the noise, the bright lights, the never-ending pace of life. If you want to get away, the Norfolk Broads is pure escapism; big skies, plenty of peace and quiet and an abundance of wildlife.

Best places to visit in Norfolk on a road trip

• The Old Roman Fort at Burgh Castle with an elevated position and commanding views over the marshes – perfect for a walk in both winter morning frost or a hot and hazy mid-summer evening
• If you prefer a bit of activity, Wroxham is a bustling Broads village- home to Roy’s of Wroxham, possibly the largest village shop you have ever seen
• Plenty of riverside pubs and restaurants in Wroxham and all around the Broads- the perfect places to stop for a bite to eat
• St Benet’s Abbey – an 11th century monastery defying time, standing in a stunning green valley.
• If you are an animal lover, you will enjoy a visit to Wroxham Barns to feed the lambs or spot the grey seals on the Norfolk beaches

Norfolk Road Trip- when is the best time to visit?

You can explore Norfolk all year. In summer, if you would like to explore the best Norfolk beaches or Broads up close, why not hire a dayboat; these can be hired at various boatyards throughout the Broads. Waveney River Centre is another stunning place to stop and admire the view, either by boat or car.

The challenge is (as always in England!) the weather. In dry conditions, most paths are excellent, but it can get a bit more challenging in wet weather.

However, over the years, an increasing number of boardwalks have been developed, increasing safe access to the Broads whatever the weather. Also, seeing the windmills and rivers on a crisp winter morning is unforgettable.

Time does not stop in Norfolk, but it really does feel like it slows down.  To be able to watch the sunset across the broads any time of year is a magical experience and the perfect place to enjoy a chilled road trip.

Sussex, Kent and Surrey

Ahhh, the picturesque south-east corner of England, which includes the Garden of England (that’s the other name for Kent). This area is lush, green and has some many historic buildings and castles you’ll find it impossible to avoid them.

It’s also home to plenty of gorgeous sandy beaches, white cliffs (such as Dover and Beachy Head) and some truly wonderful parks to walk in.

Even better, it’s all easily reached from London by car and train, so it’s easy to get away from the city for a few days if you’d like a countryside break or a trip to the beach.

Best Places to visit in Sussex include:

Sussex is actually split into East and West Sussex, but to make things easy on your road trip I’ve made one list for you. They’re not that far apart from each other!

• Brighton : A vibrant seaside city famous for its pebble beach, iconic pier, and the Royal Pavilion with its distinctive architecture. Explore the Lanes for unique shops and enjoy the city’s lively arts and music scene. See below for more ideas
• Arundel : Home to Arundel Castle, a medieval and Victorian castle that overlooks the River Arun. The town itself is picturesque with cobbled streets and antique shops.
• Chichester : A historic cathedral city with Roman origins, Chichester offers a mix of history, culture, and shopping. The Chichester Cathedral and Pallant House Gallery are notable attractions.
• Lewes : Known for its medieval architecture, Lewes Castle, and historic streets. The Lewes Bonfire Night is a famous annual event.
• Eastbourne : A traditional seaside town with a Victorian pier, beautiful seafront, and the iconic Beachy Head cliffs nearby.
• Rye : A charming medieval town with cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and views of the surrounding marshland.
• Battle : Famous for the Battle of Hastings in 1066, this town is home to Battle Abbey and the Battlefield. Explore the historic sites and learn about this pivotal event in English history.
• Petworth House and Park : A stately mansion with an impressive art collection set in a vast deer park. The gardens are also worth exploring.
• Seven Sisters Country Park : A stunning coastal area with dramatic chalk cliffs and rolling hills, perfect for hiking and enjoying breathtaking views.
• Bodiam Castle : A 14th-century moated castle surrounded by water and picturesque landscapes.
• Sheffield Park and Garden : A National Trust property known for its stunning gardens, lakes, and vibrant displays of plants.
• Birling Gap and Beachy Head : More stunning chalk cliffs and coastal views, with the added beauty of the natural arch at Birling Gap.
• Glyndebourne Opera House : Known for its world-class opera productions, the opera house is set in beautiful countryside and offers a unique cultural experience.

Best places to visit in Kent include:

• Canterbury – home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canterbury Cathedral
• Dover : Known for the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, this coastal town is home to Dover Castle, which boasts a complex history and offers panoramic views of the English Channel.
• Rochester : A charming town with a medieval castle and cathedral. It’s also the birthplace of Charles Dickens, and you can visit the Dickens World theme park.
• Whitstable : This coastal town is famous for its oysters and seafood. Enjoy the quaint streets, beach huts, and seafood restaurants along the coast.
• Margate : A seaside town with a revived artistic scene, featuring the Turner Contemporary art gallery and the scenic Margate Sands.
• Leeds Castle : Often referred to as the “loveliest castle in the world,” Leeds Castle is set on an island in a lake and surrounded by beautiful gardens.
• Hever Castle : The childhood home of Anne Boleyn, with historic architecture, gardens, and a maze.
• Chatham Historic Dockyard : A maritime museum where you can explore historic warships, submarines, and learn about Britain’s naval history.
• Biddenden Vineyards : If you’re a wine enthusiast, Kent has several vineyards. Biddenden is one of the oldest and most well-known.
• Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction : An interactive museum where you can step back in time to experience Chaucer’s famous tales.
• St. Augustine’s Abbey : A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this abbey in Canterbury dates back to the 6th century and is a significant historical site.
• Chartwell House : The former home of Winston Churchill, now a museum showcasing his life and legacy.

These are just a few highlights of what Kent has to offer. Whether you’re interested in history, nature, or culture, you’re likely to find something appealing in this diverse and beautiful county.

Best Places to Visit in Surrey

• Box Hill : A National Trust site known for its stunning views and walking trails. It’s a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and offers panoramic vistas of the surrounding countryside.
• Polesden Lacey : A grand Edwardian estate with beautiful gardens, Polesden Lacey is a National Trust property that offers a glimpse into the lives of the wealthy in the early 20th century.
• Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village : Located in Compton, this unique attraction is dedicated to the works of Victorian artist George Frederic Watts and his wife Mary Watts. The village includes a gallery, chapel, and artist studios.
• Hampton Court Palace : While part of the palace is in Greater London, the stunning Hampton Court Palace is right on the border of Surrey. It’s famous for its Tudor history, grand architecture, and beautiful gardens.
• RHS Garden Wisley : A flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley offers a wide variety of plants, landscapes, and garden designs to explore.
• Brooklands Museum : A museum dedicated to motorsport and aviation history, located on the site of the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit.
• Loseley Park : A grand Elizabethan manor house surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland, open to the public during certain times of the year.
• Denbies Wine Estate : England’s largest vineyard, Denbies offers tours, wine tasting, and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
• Newlands Corner : Another viewpoint offering breathtaking views of the Surrey Hills, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities.
• Epsom Downs : Known for Epsom Downs Racecourse and the famous Epsom Derby, this area offers open spaces and walking trails.
• Virginia Water : Part of Windsor Great Park, Virginia Water features a lake, ornamental cascades, and woodland walks.

Surrey’s mix of historic sites, natural beauty, and cultural attractions make it a delightful destination for a variety of interests. Whether you’re into history, outdoor activities, or simply enjoying scenic landscapes, Surrey has something to offer.

Brighton – East Sussex

I’ve given Brighton it’s own section because it’s one of my favourite cities in England and you should try to add it to your England road trip itinerary, especially if you’re heading toward East Sussex.

Brighton is a city renowned for its diverse communities and innovation, the quirky shopping areas, its music and art scene, and its large LGBT population. Read more about Brighton in Autum .

Why is Brighton one of the best England road trips?

Brighton is less than an hour away from London (76 km) and on a direct train line. It offers plenty of fun and exciting activities to enjoy (more than just fish and chips at a pier!)

Brighton has been famous as a cultural centre for over a century. It’s home to the world’s oldest operating aquarium (which opened in 1872- now called ‘’Brighton Sea Life’’), and you can even ride the world’s oldest operating electric railway, the Volks Railway, built in 1883.

Other Brighton Highlights include:

• See the Palace Pier
• Catch the latest release in the Duke of York Picturehouse, Britain’s oldest cinema.
• Have a stroll down the North Lane- home to over 400 independent shops
• Discover the Victorian innovations still in operation in the city.

How long should you spend in Brighton?

You will want to spend at least two days in Brighton to truly take in the city, but you can easily make a week of your itinerary if you want to explore more places in Sussex, Kent and Surrey.  

What is the best month to visit Brighton?

The sunniest (and therefore warmest!) time of the year in Brighton is from May to September. July and August are peak tourist season, with hotel prices skyrocketing, so be aware of that and plan your stay accordingly.

Cambridgeshire & Cambridge

Cambridgeshire is a county in the East of England with plenty to do. The jewel of the county is Cambridge, with a historical, 800-year-old centre you should definitely not skip.

Why should you include Cambridge on your England road trip?

Only 1 hour and 30 minutes away from London via M11, Cambridge offers so much: a rich history of English heritage, a buzzing local community, and a picturesque setting. You’ll even find a gift Henry VIII gave to Anne Boleyn!

Cambridge Highlights

• See the King’s College Chapel 
• Enjoy breakfast at Fitzbillies
• Go punting in the River Cam
• Have a picnic by the river.
• Enjoy walking the historic streets

Cambridge Trip Itinerary idea

Leaving London, head up to Cambridge via the M11.

Start the day with drinks and a meal in one of the many deli and brunch places in Market Square before setting off to explore the city. I highly recommend the famous Fitzbillies- the food is delicious.

From there, you can choose from a variety of activities: visiting King’s Chapel, punting in the River Cam (pass under the Bridge of Sighs), hiking on the Cam Towpath (lots of hidden gems if you know how to look for trails!), or taking in the city views from St. Mary’s Tower.

If you’re staying overnight, end the day by attending the Evensong at the King’s College Chapel (select days only)

When is the best (and worst) time to visit Cambridge ?

Cambridge is beautiful all year round. However, the worst time to visit would be spring – the university students sit their finals between April and June, which means many of the college sites are closed to visitors. 

What are some of the best places to visit in Cambridge?

The King’s College Chapel in the University of Cambridge is the third-oldest university in operation and the most iconic and instantly-recognisable building in the county.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to drink at the Eagle, a historic pub in the heart of Cambridge’s city centre famously linked to Watson and Crick’s discovery of DNA.

If you are feeling adventurous and are ready to brave the British winter, visit Cambridge in December. It’s off-peak season and features one of the best UK Christmas markets you should visit. Read all about the Cambridge Christmas market here.

How long should you spend in Cambridge?

One day in Cambridge is usually enough time to visit the majority of the main sights, especially if you are visiting during the summer. You’ll need tickets for most of the chapels and university buildings, so go first to buy those.

Wiltshire & Cotswolds Road Trip – 3 day trip from London

Recommended by Ann | The road is life

The Cotswolds is the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England and Wales. If you look at a map of England, find Bristol (west coast, just below the indent of southern Wales) and the Cotswolds is the area north-east of Bristol.

There is so much beauty and fascinating history to discover around the Cotswolds region and luckily you don’t have to travel far from London to get there! You can reach Bath or Bristol easily in a day from London, but we recommend at least 3 days to really explore the area by car/ motorhome, plus explore Stonehenge and Salisbury on the way back to London. If you’re travelling with children, don’t worry- there’s plenty of things to do in the Cotswolds with kids.

Highlights & Best Places to Visit in the Cotswolds and Surrounding Area

• Explore the charming stone villages of the Cotswolds
• visit the historic city of Bath
• marvel at the mysterious ancient stones of Stonehenge
• Indulge in some shopping at Daylesford farm
• stop at the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral.

When is the best time for a Cotswolds road trip?

Although the Cotswolds can be visited all year, this road trip is best completed in the spring or summer months to ensure warmer and sunnier sightseeing weather.

The days are also longer- allowing you to see more each day. However, unlike Cornwall and Devon, most places to NOT shut during winter, so feel free to explore whenever suits you!

Wiltshire & Cotswolds road trip itinerary from London

• Departing London, drive out to the Cotswolds. This is where you should spend 3-4 days exploring as many lovely little towns and villages as you wish to.
• A few of the prettiest Cotswolds villages include Bibury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water, Castle Combe and so many more! The beauty of the Cotswolds region is that the villages are all located in close proximity with minimal driving time in between them.
• Once you have seen your share of lovely English villages , carry on to Bath which is only a 30-minute drive from the village of Castle Combe- well worth a visit.
• Spend a full day and night in Bath visiting the Roman baths.
• From there continue to Stonehenge. A visit to this incredible ancient site can easily take half a day. We camped overnight at Stonehenge and saw the most INCREDIBLE sunrise we’ve EVER seen. (Seriously, watch the video. It’s breathtaking)
• From Stonehenge, it’s only a short 20-minute drive to the medieval town of Salisbury which brings you to the final stop of this road trip.
• The highlight of Salisbury is the stunning Salisbury Cathedral which has the tallest spire in all of Britain! Spend one night in Salisbury before making the final 2-hour road trip back to London.
• Another option is to return to London via the historic city of Oxford. Don’t miss a meal in Sticks and Sushi- one of the best restaurants in Oxford and with incredible views over the city.

North England Road Trips- Why You Should Visit

It’s easy when planning an England road trip to get sucked into famous places like Cornwall, Devon or the Cotswolds- and those are all AMAZING places to visit.

However, I strongly encourage you to visit the north of England as well if you have time. You’ll find villages just as pretty, delicious food (chips, pie and gravy is the best thing in the world) and incredible history.

Again, we were lucky to live up here for 4 years- here are some of our absolute favourite places to road trip, although there are of course many more we have yet to discover! I hope they give you some ideas and inspiration for your next trip.

Don’t forget to Grab your ULTIMATE road trip planner here – it has everything you need to help you pack for your road trip.

Peak District National Park

The Peak District is a huge and stunning area in Derbyshire, just to the east of Manchester. It’s a perfect place for a road trip because there are so many things to see!

A car or motorhome makes it easy to travel between the sites and there are plenty of campsites or hotels to use as you explore.

There are a multitude of hikes, walks and tors to climb and the area is famous for its caves, which people still lived in as recently as 1910!

The Peak District was the UK’s first National Park and is also considered the real ale capital of the world! If you’re exploring the Peak District with kids , there are steam trains, tramways, cycle paths and even a cable car taking you up to see some stunning views! There’s also Alton Towers theme park – one of the best in the UK.

Best places to explore in the Peak District

Some of the highlights include:

• Chatsworth House
• Ladybower reservoir
• Alton Towers theme park
• Heights of Abraham cable car

Lake District road trip

Recommended by Fiona/ Passport & Piano

The Lake District National Park is a UNESCO heritage site that makes for the perfect road trip.  Walking around the lakes and fells to see the magnificent scenery is one of the many pleasures of the area.

Quintessential villages are plentiful as are traditional English pubs with real ale and hearty food. Don’t just rush by on your way from England to Scotland; take a few days and enjoy all that the lakes have to offer.

Best places to visit on a Lake District Road Trip

Most people arrive from the south via Windermere, but to explore the areas hidden gems its worth spending at least three days here. The Lake District has some of the worlds best scenic drives and a trip along the Honister Pass and Kirkstone Pass are a must.

In the South Lakes, I’d highly recommend a  visit to Grasmere . Here you can visit several homes of the famous poet William Wordsworth and enjoy Sarah Nelson’s delightful gingerbread.

If you love Beatrix Potter, you can follow in her footsteps at Beatrix Potter World in Bowness- on- Windermere.  Her home near Hawkshead is open to visitors, and Wray Castle is a beautiful spot where she enjoyed her family holidays.

In the North Lakes, the towns of Keswick and Cockermouth have plenty to explore. The Castlerigg stone circle, with its stunning views across the fells, is worth stopping at, and the “Surprise View” across Derwent Water is spectacular.

If you’re not exploring in a motorhome or campervan, accommodation throughout the area is plentiful. There are boat rides and water-based activities to enjoy on most of the lakes and a plethora of outdoor pursuit centres for the more adventurous.

When is the best time for a Lake District road trip?

In the summer months, the National Park can be rather busy particularly on the main A66 road which runs through the centre. Hence if you want to avoid the crowds, consider visiting in the spring or autumn.

While you’re not guaranteed sunshine at any time of the year, the weather is probably at its best between April and September.

England Road Trip- Yorkshire & The Dales

Recommended by Sinead | Map Made Memories

England’s largest county, Yorkshire, is a perfect destination for a road trip. There are so many diverse attractions to see within a relatively short drive of each other.

Highlights and some best places in Yorkshire to visit

• Hardraw Force–England’s highest single-drop waterfall
• White Scar–The longest show cave in England
• Visit the ‘Best Street in Britain’
• Visit the cobbled Shambles, named ‘the Best Street in Britain’.
• Marvel at the Ribblehead Viaduct, the 24 arches that span the Yorkshire Dales, a true masterpiece of Victorian engineering.
• Castles and ruins all over the place
• Stand on Hogsmeade station (or at least the station which played it in Harry Potter!)

Yorkshire Road Trip Itinerary

Start your road trip in the rolling hills and river valleys of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Visit the 11th century Skipton Castle or descend underground to marvel at the formations in White Scar Caves, the longest show cave in England.

Clamber over Brimham Rocks or hike the stunning landscape around Malham Cove. Browse the independent shops in the Victorian spa town of Harrogate.

Places to visit on the Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales are packed with attractive waterfalls. Choose between the plunging falls around Ingleton, popular Aysgarth Falls or, my favourite waterfall, Hardraw Force which is England’s highest single drop waterfall. Before leaving the Dales, visit the impressive monastic ruins and landscaped gardens of Fountains Abbey.

Continue your road trip by exploring the historic city of York . This compact city is easily navigated on foot and is an ideal location for history buffs. You can visit Viking, Roman, Georgian and Victorian sites all in one day!

See the iconic York Minster, walk the city’s medieval city walls and stroll along the cobbled Shambles, which has been voted the ‘ Best Street in Britain’ and was the inspiration behind Diagon Alley from the movie adaptation of the Harry Potter series!

Road trip over the Yorkshire Moors

End your Yorkshire road trip with a drive across the wild Yorkshire Moors. Take a scenic trip on a steam train across the Moors to visit charming Goathland train station which doubled as Hogsmeade station in the Harry Potter movies. Alternatively, your legs with a hike at the Hole of Horcum, a huge ancient natural amphitheatre.

How long should you spend exploring Yorkshire on a road trip?

You could ‘cover’ Yorkshire in a couple of days but to truly appreciate all it has to offer I would recommend at least one full week.

When is the best time to road trip to Yorkshire?

Yorkshire can be explored all year around- and expect rain at any time! But Spring is incredible on the moors- with the wildflowers blooming and the days getting longer, it’s a perfect time to visit. Autumn also offers spectacular views with the leaves turning colour, providing an incredible backdrop.

England Road Trip Idea – North East Coast

Northern England’s east coast is full of charming towns and villages, and is the perfect destination for a road trip.

Best places to visit on a North East coast England road trip

• Saltburn-by-the-Sea (to search for fossils)
• Lemon top ice-cream – Its legacy goes back over 100 years!)
• Staithes- picturesque fishing village
• Whitby Abbey – the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula
• Robin Hood’s Bay (where smuggling was commonplace
• Scarborough Castle

North East England road trip itinerary

Start in Saltburn-by-the-sea. Be sure to search for fossils throughout your visit. I actually found one in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, but you can get lucky in any of the places on this list! Saltburn-by-the-Sea is home to the historic Saltburn Cliff Tramway and affords beautiful views from the bluffs above town.

You can walk along The Cleveland Way, a historic trail that runs through each of the 5 locations mentioned. I’d also recommend trying Lemon Top Ice Cream, or vanilla ice cream with a dollop of lemon sorbet on top.

Staithes is a quaint fishing village laden with narrow pathways and quirky cottages.

The Whitby Abbey towers above the town, giving it an eerie feeling – it’s even credited as the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula!

Robin Hood’s Bay has a long history with smugglers, and its red rooftops and crowded buildings conceal hidden routes. In Scarborough, you can enjoy rides at the Luna Park amusement park or visit the historic Scarborough Castle!

When is the best time to road trip England’s north-east coast?

Although you can visit this area all year round, I’d suggest visiting in the summer or fall. It rains much of the year in this region of England, but there’s a higher likelihood of sunshine from July through October.

How long to spend on this England Road trip?

You can complete this road trip in less than 2 hours, but I’d suggest spending at least a few days exploring the region. Each Yorkshire coastal town has its own charm and activities to offer, so you certainly don’t want to rush!

How far is it from the North east coast to London?

Scarborough to London takes about 5 hours by car. Avoid travelling Friday afternoons or Monday morning- those are the peak road traffic times.

Don’t miss Durham

We spent a lovely couple of days exploring the city of Durham. There are so many wonderful places to explore, but one of the highlights for us was Durham Cathedral. This incredible building was built in the 11th Century and is the largest surviving stone vaulted ceiling of its size.

However, if I’m honest, I was more excited by the fact that several scenes in Harry Potter were filmed here, including in the cloisters and many of the covered walkways.

It was also in Durham Cathedral that Harry, Ron and Hermione encounter ‘Fluffy’- the forbidden corridor was also part of the cathedral.

Other fantastic things to see in or near Durham include:

• Durham Castle
• High Force Waterfall (one of the best waterfalls in Europe )
• Finchale Priory

Northumberland Coast

Recommended by Tracy | Travels in Time

The Northumberland Coastal route stretches for over 35 miles from Alnmouth in the south to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in the north.

The drive takes you through an area of outstanding natural beauty with many beautiful villages and places of interest to visit along the way.

How long to spend on a Northumberland coast road trip

This itinerary covers a day trip but you could spend a few days exploring the area or even walk the Northumberland Coastal Path along the same route if you are feeling up to it!

Northumberland road trip itinerary

The first village to visit is Craster – famous for its kippers and overlooked by Dunstanburgh Castle. If you’re looking for impressive castles in England , Northumberland is the place to go- there are more castles here than any other county in England!

After exploring Craster and the castle, head to Seahouses. A popular seaside town for families with lots of arcades and fish and chip shops this is the place to stop for a bite to eat.

If the weather is good why not hop on a boat over to the Farme Islands? With large colonies of seals and puffins the islands are popular with nature lovers.

Bamburgh Castle dominates the horizon and is worth exploring. It was once the home to the Royal Seat of the Kings of Northumbria and also has a ghost or two!

After Bamburgh head to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Make sure you check the tides before you go- the island is tidal and is only accessible during certain times.

Once on the island take a stroll up to the castle. Don’t miss exploring the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory. This is the place famous as the home of Christianity in England until Viking raids eventually led to the abandonment of the priory.

When is the best time for a Northumberland road trip?

The best time to visit Northumberland and places in North East England is in the summer – the days are long and the sun will hopefully be shining! Be aware that on occasions during the summer a sea fret (mist) can hang over the coast and cool temperatures and decrease visibility. Make sure to check the weather forecast before you travel.

Wow- anyone else want to jump in their motorhome/ camper/ car/ bike and head off to start exploring? What a fantastic list of England road trip destinations!

As you can see, it really doesn’t matter where you go or how long you have to explore England- you’ll have plenty of places to enjoy. And who knows- next time we set off for Norfolk, we might even make it there without swinging by Cornwall first!! 🙂

Planning an England road trip? You might find these posts useful:

• How to plan an epic UK road trip
• How to create a road trip itinerary with Google Maps
• 100 best road trip driving songs
• How to plan a motorhome trip to UK or Europe

See all our UK travel ideas and tips

Kat never planned to buy a motorhome. She also never planned to quit her job as an air traffic controller, go touring around Europe in said motorhome, start one of the UK’s largest motorhome travel websites… or get a cocker spaniel.

Find out how she went from stuck in the rat race to being a digital nomad and inspiring thousands of people to have their own epic adventures here.

If you’d like to connect with Kat, send her an email or follow her adventures on social media.

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Cornwall is such a beautiful part of the UK to visit in a motorhome, although it can be a little tight around those country roads.

So true- some of those roads are tiny, but worth it for the incredible views and places to visit.

Have you been on the welsh coast much

Our very first motorhome trip EVER was to the Welsh coast. We’ve put together some of our favourite Welsh road trips here if you want some ideas: https://wandering-bird.com/wales-road-trip/

Although all road trips are lovely, I particularly enjoy traveling in a campervan through Devon in the UK. I appreciate you sharing this list of road trip suggestions.

Fantastic article for anyone travelling England on a road trip

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A Lady in London

And Traveling the World

Lady’s England Road Trip Itinerary and Map

Today I want to share my England road trip itinerary and map with you. I love a great British road trip, not least because the cities, villages, and countryside in the UK are stunning.

I’ve done many road trips in England over the years. They’ve ranged from short drives in the Cotswolds to 5-week odysseys covering the length of England and Wales.

Through them I’ve seen big British travel destinations and off-the-beaten-path locations alike. Now I want to share the highlights with you.

England Road Trip Itinerary

My England road trip itinerary covers my favorite bits of this part of Britain. From cities to towns, coast to countryside, it has a variety of destinations that make this one of my favorite places to travel.

You can visit them all in one trip, or you can split the itinerary up into shorter ones. Some of them even make for great scenic drives near London if you only have a day.

1. London (3 Days)

Since I live in the UK capital, I’ll start my England road trip itinerary in London. If you haven’t been here before, it’s worth spending at least 3 days in the city to see the highlights.

You can use my 3-day London itinerary to get ideas for what to do. It’s a great guide for visitors.

2. Cambridgeshire (1 Day)

From London, my England road trip itinerary goes north to Cambridgeshire.

Cambridge is one of the prettiest cities in England . Its colleges feature stunning historic architecture and beautiful grounds. It’s worth spending a day here soaking up the atmosphere and going punting on the river.

Just north of Cambridge, under-the-radar Ely often gets overlooked. It’s worth a visit for its stunning cathedral and great markets, though. The side streets and riverfront are pretty, too.

3. Norfolk (2 days)

From Cambridgeshire my England road trip itinerary will take you to Norfolk . Norwich is one of the best cities in England , not least because its historic streets are bursting with colorful houses. Its cathedral is impressive, too.

The coast in North Norfolk is worth a visit as well. Driving to places like Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham Beach is worthwhile, and towns like Burnham Market are great places to stay.

4. Nottingham (1 day)

From Norfolk, my England road trip itinerary will take you to Nottingham .

Famous for its Robin Hood connections, this city in the Midlands is worth a stop for its historic castle, heritage buildings, and shops. It’s even home to one of the oldest pubs in England.

5. Derbyshire and the Peak District (2 days)

From Nottingham, my England road trip itinerary continues with a stop in Derbyshire. This place is great for Peak District stately homes and outdoor activities.

Chatsworth House, Kedleston Hall, and Haddon Hall are all worth touring (and they’re famous filming locations for many movies set in England ). There are lots of great hikes and country walks in the Peak District, too.

6. Yorkshire (2 days)

From the Peak District, it’s not far to Yorkshire. No England road trip itinerary would be complete without a trip to York . It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, and its pretty streets and spectacular minster are worth discovering.

Over on the east coast of Yorkshire, Robin Hood’s Bay is a coastal gem with a storied past, and Whitby is famous for its abbey ruins and Dracula connections. (Don’t worry, I’ll get to West Yorkshire soon).

7. Durham & Newcastle (1 Day)

Leaving Yorkshire, my England road trip itinerary will take you north to Durham and Newcastle . The former is home to a hilltop cathedral, castle, and university. The nearby Angel of the North sculpture is worth seeing when you’re here, too.

The latter is packed with stunning bridges, historic streets, and great nightlife. You can do a side trip to Hadrian’s Wall if you like Roman history as well.

8. Northumberland (2 Days)

Way at the top of England, the next stop on my itinerary is Northumberland . Alnwick Castle is a popular place to visit, and Alnwick itself is adorable (don’t miss the bookshop).

Farther up the coast, Bamburgh Castle takes over a hilltop next to the beach. It’s stunning both inside and out.

Right on the border with Scotland, Berwick-upon-Tweed is a great seaside town, too.

9. Lake District (2 Days)

From Northumberland, my England road trip itinerary will take you west to the Lake District . This part of the UK is famous for its outdoor activities, and it’s a great place to go walking and hiking.

There are also a lot of famous houses here, from Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top to John Rusin’s Brantwood and Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts house .

Towns and villages like Windermere , Keswick, Ambleside, and Grasmere are worth popping into as well. I particularly like the gingerbread shop in Grasmere.

10. Yorkshire Dales National Park (1 Day)

From Cumbria, my England road trip itinerary will take you into the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

This is another great place for country walks , including the famous peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough, and Whernside. Malham Cove is beautiful, too.

11. Chester (1 Day)

From the Yorkshire Dales, my England road trip itinerary continues south with a stop in Chester .

This place is one of the most underrated cities in the UK , and it’s worth a special trip. With stunning streets and layers of history dating back to Roman times, Chester is magical.

12. Birmingham (1 Day)

From Chester, you can drive down to Birmingham . This city is packed with things to see and do, from shopping arcades to art museums and an eye-catching contemporary library.

13. Wye Valley (1 Day)

South of Birmingham, it’s worth spending a day in the Wye Valley . From market towns like Ross-on-Wye to hikes around the cliff at Symonds Yat Rock, there’s a lot to take in here.

15. Cotswolds (2 Days)

No England road trip itinerary of mine would be complete without a stop in the Cotswolds. From beautiful countryside to picturesque Cotswolds villages like Painswick and Upper Slaughter , there’s a lot to love about this part of Britain.

It’s worth spending a couple days driving through this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to soak up the scenery. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the UK .

16. Bath (1 Day)

Next on my England road trip itinerary is Bath . This city is famous for both its Roman baths and its Jane Austen sites . It’s packed with scenic streets and great independent shops , too.

17. Cornwall (2 Days)

From Bath, it’s worth heading west to Cornwall for a few days. My England road trip itinerary will take you to St Ives , which is one of the most beautiful places in England .

Basing yourself there, you can drive to places like Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount, and the Eden Project. There are great coastal walks in Cornwall, too.

18. Devon (2 Days)

From Cornwall, you can drive to Devon , where it’s worth spending a couple days exploring the coast and countryside.

You can stay in Salcombe , a pretty seaside town, and drive to places like Dartmoor National Park. You can also explore some of the walks along the water in the area.

19. Wiltshire and Hampshire (2 Days)

From Devon, my England road trip itinerary will take you to Wiltshire and Hampshire . The former is home to everything from cathedral cities like Salisbury to historic sites like Stonehenge and villages like Lacock.

The latter is home to cities like Winchester and great countryside around places like East Meon. Jane Austen’s House Museum is here, too.

Both Hampshire and Wiltshire are home to the New Forest , one of the best places to get outdoors in England. It’s worth taking a walk here and spotting some of the area’s famous ponies.

20. Brighton (1 Day)

Next on my England road trip itinerary is Brighton . This seaside spot in East Sussex boasts of one of the most famous beaches in Britain.

And that’s to say nothing of the historic pier and Royal Pavilion. They make Brighton one of the best places to visit in the UK .

21. Kent (2 Days)

Last on my England road trip itinerary is Kent . The Garden of England features everything from coast to castles, and it’s a great place to get both a seafood fix and a dose of history.

From Dover Castle to Canterbury Cathedral and the Charles Dickens highlights in Rochester , there’s a lot to discover here.

From Kent, it’s a short drive back to London, where my England road trip itinerary ends. You can spend more time in the UK capital if your head isn’t already spinning from all the amazing places you’ve seen during your journey.

England Road Trip Itinerary Map

If you want to follow my route, the places on my road trip in England are on the interactive map below. You can click on the pins to see more about each one. I hope the map helps you plan a great British adventure of your own.

England Road Trip Itineraries and Beyond

If you’re looking for additional inspiration, I’ve published blog posts about UK road trips , a great British road trip itinerary for England and Wales, a legendary Scotland road trip , a road trip in North Wales , and road trip packing tips .

I’ve even written about road trip movies . Happy driving!

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Self Drive Tours

Our self drive tours of britain.

Here at adeo Travel, we are specialists in putting together customized Britain self drive tours of the UK for our guests; either choose from our range of tried and tested Britain driving tour outlines or ask your Britain expert for their personal recommendations in assisting you to put together an entirely tailor-made itinerary for your car journey across England , Scotland and Wales .

Britain is an ideal destination to explore by car offering sweeping scenic roads, a host of bucket-list, iconic landmarks and a wealth of lesser known destinations to explore. With no internal borders or check-points travelling between England, Scotland and Wales couldn’t be easier and a self-drive option enables you to cover large areas quickly or base yourself in one location for several days and enjoy side-trips to the local area. Roads are safe and road-law is similar to those in North America and Australia.

All adeo Travel driving tours are inclusive of car-rental , hand-picked accommodation and a range of optional extras including sightseeing passes, admissions, transfers, city-tours, meals and local experiences.  Whether you follow one of our suggested itineraries, adapt or combine our tour outlines or let us build your perfect routing across Britain from scratch, you can travel at your own pace and see as much or as little as you choose. And with a broad selection of quality accommodation from guest houses and B&Bs to luxury castles and boutique hotels you can choose the level of comfort that suits you and your budget.

As our Britain driving tours can be completely tailored to you, you can choose where and when you start and end your trip; travel through the Summer months or visit out of season, tour for a few days in each country or stay several weeks as your time budget permits and start at an airport, ferry port or small town as preferred. All the while you’ll enjoy the friendly and knowledgeable advice and support of your local adeo Travel Britain vacation expert before, during and after travel.

  Key features

• Fully customizable itineraries
• Car rental made easy – we include all mandatory taxes and insurances as standard
• All overnight accommodation to suit your preferences and budget
• Fully cooked regional breakfast each morning
• Expert advice from your adeo Travel Britain Expert during the planning of your trip
• A dedicated out-of-hours contact number for use during travel
• Full travel documents pack including suggested sightseeing outline Britain map travel vouchers and our local hints and tips.

  Tour benefits

• Travel independently but with the support of adeo Travel’s local expertise
• Choose how long you spend in each country or region
• Travel when you want - you’re not tied to set departure dates
• Decide on your level of accommodation and we’ll propose the specifics
• Choose the car category best for your budget comfort and group-size
• Hassle-free planning with your own dedicated expert.

Read more about our boutique small group tours of England, Scotland Wales, including our signature Regional and Combination tours of Britain.

Britain Self Drive Tours

England self drive tours, scotland self drive tours, wales self drive tours.

The British Journey tour is a Britain driving tour that takes you on an expedition from the capital of Scotland to the capital of England touching upon Wales and enjoying a wealth of cultural highlights along the way. Explore Scotland’s “Highlands in miniature” and the historic city of Edinburgh before passing south through the inspiring landscapes of the Lake District, Cotswolds and Wye Valley to glorious historic cities including Chester, Cardiff, Stratford upon Avon and Bath. Your trip ends in the thriving metropolis of London.

Classic Britain Driving Tour - a snapshot of the countryside and historic cities of England, Scotland and Wales. Enjoy the rolling hills and thatch villages of the Cotswolds to the towering mountains and fortresses of North Wales. Pass through the lakes and dales of the English Lake District and the rolling hills of the Scottish Lowlands and Yorkshire Dales. Historic cities to explore on route include Regency Bath, Medieval York, and the capital cities of Edinburgh and London.

A driving tour of England and Scotland - indulge in a unique trip taking in two of Britain’s most unique nations.  Your self-drive vacation will take you through the rural landscapes of England and Scotland before returning your vehicle in Edinburgh and returning to London by rail. The trip will take in the beautiful landscapes of the Cotswolds, Yorkshire, Lake District and Scottish Highlands not to mention a host of elegant cities including York, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London.

A week-long tour of England - Icons of England takes you on a journey of discovery of England’s most renowned sites, cities and landscapes.  You’ll experience English icons including Stonehenge, Bath’s Roman Baths, the rolling hills of the Cotswolds countryside, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon Avon, York Minster, the colleges of Cambridge and a wealth of attractions across the English Capital London.

A Scottish Castle Driving Tour - Experience Scottish hospitality at its traditional best on this exclusive tour staying in sumptuous and historic castle and manor-house hotels. This itinerary takes you from historic Stirling and Edinburgh to the remote Mull of Kintyre and the dramatic West Coast to the Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands. Along the way you’ll experience the very best of both Scotland’s landscapes and heritage. Enjoy included admission to dozens of historic attractions by day and the utmost of comfort and character at your accommodation each night.

A Castle Tour of Wales – A nation renowned for its ancient fortresses, discover the heritage and natural beauty of Wales on a trip staying in elegant country house hotels and grandiose castle accommodations. Explore the untouched landscapes of Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire and the awe-inspiring ruins of Wales' glorious World Heritage Castles including Conwy, Harlech and Caernarfon. Your tour ends with two nights in the cosmopolitan capital city of Cardiff.

A driving tour of Scotland's Far North - Journey through the most dramatic and breath-taking scenery Britain has to offer. You may have heard of the Scottish Highlands, but you may not have heard of the North Coast 500 – Scotland’s answer to Route 66! Following the far northern Scottish coast for 500 miles to the farthest tip of Britain, you naturally pass through the most remote areas, unchanged since Vikings stormed the shores. The untouched landscapes bring with them spectacular vistas and a wealth of wildlife such as stags, puffins, seals and porpoise. This comprehensive tour packs together all of the best parts of Scotland (the famous and the unheard of) with some unique experiences to make your journey; the journey.

An England driving tour - England Explorer is a comprehensive tour of this great nation taking you from the heart of England to its far-reaching corners including the beautiful Lake District and the coastlines of Cornwall. You’ll experience classic English countryside including the Cotswolds and Yorkshire Dales and a host of historic cities including York, Chester and Bath not to mention a couple of nights in the vibrant English capital city, London.

A Driving Tour to Skye – Our Skye and the Highlands tour does what it says on the tin offering an itinerary which takes you away from the bustling cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow to the remote wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. Experience the enigmatic scenery of Glencoe Valley, Scotland’s West Coast and the majestic isle of Skye. Then onwards along the Great Glen to the capital of the Highlands itself! Along the way you’ll see sparkling lochs and ancient castles, the perfect Highland escape.

A succinct Scotland Driving Tour – Our Simply Scotland itinerary offers you a great introduction to this enchanting nation. In the course of just a few days you’ll experience the rugged landscapes of Glencoe, and the Scottish Highlands and the magical capital city of Edinburgh.  Highlights along the way include historic Stirling, Loch Lomond, the West coast and Scotland’s most famous body of water - Loch Ness.

One of our best Scotland Driving Tours – Enjoy an enchanting drive through Scotland’s majestic Highlands on this charming and leisurely-paced itinerary. From the rustic shores of Loch Lomond, you’ll journey over the sea to the Isle of Skye and onward through the heather-strewn hills and glens of the Highlands and the heart of Scotland. Not to mention, experiencing the elegant city of Edinburgh. Your evenings throughout will be spent in some of our superior, hand-picked hotels boasting the best in Scottish hospitality, cuisine and accommodation.

A South Wales Driving Tour – Enjoy a journey of contrasts taking you from the barren Moorlands of the Brecon Beacons and the rugged coastlines of Pembrokeshire to the bright lights of the bustling Welsh capital of Cardiff. Along the way you’ll experience Welsh culture, hear the welsh language, see ancient abbeys, immerse yourself in abundant wildlife and of course visit a host of ancient castles ruins.

Enjoy an England and Wales driving tour to experience the contrasts of two distinct British cultures on this in-depth tour of two of Britain's intriguing nations.  Enjoy the contrasting vistas of the patchwork fields of the Cotswolds, the rustic Yorkshire Dales, the mountains of Snowdonia and the coastlines of the Pembrokeshire National Park. Not to mention icons of English and Welsh history at Conwy Castle, York Minster, Shakespeare’s Stratford, Cardiff Castle and Stonehenge.

A Britain Castle Tour - Indulge in the history and heritage of England, Scotland and Wales by day and see its character reflected in your unique and distinguished accommodation each night on this deluxe tour of Britain. With your overnight accommodation in quality castle or manor house hotels, your tour will take you through the elegant cities of York, Bath, Oxford and Edinburgh as well as the natural beauty of the Cotswolds, the Yorkshire Moors, the Scottish Lowlands and the mountains of Snowdonia.

A Scottish Islands Driving Tour - Escape to an enchanting wilderness as you explore the frontiers of the Scottish nation and her remote outer islands.  Experience the raw natural beauty of Glencoe, Scotland’s West Coast and the isles of Skye, Lewis and Harris on our Hebridean Highlights tour. The tranquillity of the Western Isles provides visitors with a peaceful retreat from modern life to a back-drop of dramatic natural landscapes. On your journey you’ll see sparkling lochs, barren moorlands, deserted golden beaches, fascinating historic sites and wildlife in abundance.

A Scottish Isles Driving Tour – Take the road to the isles along Scotland’s stunning West Coast to explore the beautiful inner Hebridean islands of Skye and Mull.  On these secluded Scottish islands, you’ll enjoy spectacular natural beauty - pass dramatic mountain ranges, see sparkling lochs and experience an abundance of wildlife on land and in the coastal waters. Skye and Mull are also peppered with unique archaeological features and intriguing historic sites just waiting to be explored.

A Castle Tour of England - Enjoy the history and grandeur of an ancient land on this tour of England. By day you'll explore castle ruins, opulent manor houses, historic sites, stunning landscapes and England’s cultural jewels such as Oxford, Stratford, Chester, York and Bath whilst by night you'll live like royalty as you experience historic and characterful castle hotels and country manor house accommodation!

A Great Britain driving tour - experience all that is great about Britain on the ultimate tour of England, Scotland and Wales. See it all, from the thriving capital cities of London, Edinburgh and Cardiff to the remote Scottish Highlands, tranquil Lake District and spectacular Snowdonia National Park. Along the way you’ll experience diverse cultures and histories and see world-famous landmarks including Stonehenge, the Roman Baths, Cardiff Castle, the Cotswolds, Hadrian’s Wall, Loch Ness and Edinburgh Castle.

Discover quintessential England as you explore the patchwork countryside of the Cotswolds and some of England’s most captivating historic cities. Delight in the whimsical academia of Oxford, Shakespeare’s Stratford and the grandeur of the Georgian City of Bath not to mention a host of lesser-known gems such as the eccentrically named Cotswold villages of Castle Combe, Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway.

Visit England’s West Country including Devon and Cornwall. This region is an ancient land shrouded in legend and myth from King Arthur and Merlin to the Pirates of Penzance. The sunny West Country gave England our beloved cider, fish and chips and jam and scones. The Road to Cornwall tour takes you from London through the majestic city of Bath over the Devonshire Moors to the fishing towns of the Cornish coast, returning to Salisbury and Stonehenge via the English Riviera.

A Scotland Car Tour – Journey from Edinburgh or Glasgow to the furthest reaches of Northern Scotland. Experience the enigmatic scenery of Glencoe Valley, Scotland’s West Coast and the majestic isle of Skye before travelling deep in to the Highlands and along the world-famous NC500 route. Along the way you’ll enjoy some of Europe’s oldest and most awe-inspiring landscapes from towering mountain passes, cascading waterfalls and craggy coastlines. Then on to the enchanting island of Orkney to explore it’s host of ancient prehistoric sites and weather-beaten landscapes. A breath-taking and unique Scotland driving tour experience.

A Northern England Driving Tour – enjoy a journey of contrasts from bustling cities to the rustic, rural charm of the English countryside. The northern counties of England offer guests a unique and truly traditional experience; having inspired poets, artists, novelists and musician’s alike, uncover the rugged beauty of the the Yorkshire Moors and Dales and the Lakes and Waterways of the English Lake District. Along the way also discover the Peak District, and some of England’s most renowned historic and cultural cities including York, Durham, Chester Liverpool and Manchester.

A driving tour of the Scottish Isles - Hopscotch across Scotland’s Inner Hebridean Islands, each one being a world of their own. Explore vast untouched landscapes, world class whisky distilleries and encounter endless unique wildlife species. With all of your ferries included, this tour allows you to see some of the most remote areas of Scotland, taking you far off the beaten track. Even for frequent Scotland visitors, this route allows you to visit SEVEN isles making you fall in love with the country all over again; the perfect mix of sea sprayed shores, soaring mountains and deep set valleys.

A Driving Tour of Wales - Immerse yourself in breath-taking natural scenery and an ancient Celtic culture as you explore the diminutive nation of Wales. A land of contrasts from the cosmopolitan capital city of Cardiff to the tiny cathedral village of St Davids and from the industrial valleys of the South to the majestic snow-capped peaks Snowdonia in North Wales you’ll see it all on this journey of discovery. Along the way see untouched coastlines, medieval fortresses, meandering rivers, ancient abbeys and a host of traditional towns and villages.

One of our best Scotland Driving Tours – Scotland Explorer offers a comprehensive itinerary taking you on a journey to the corners of this beautiful nation; see Scotland from the bustling cultural and historic cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh to the expansive wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. From the rugged beauty of the West coast and Isle of Skye to the cultural sites of the East Coast and Aberdeenshire. Along the way see sparkling lochs, towering mountain ranges, ancient castle ruins, and whisky distilleries – a truly Scottish experience.

A North Wales driving tour – this remote corner of Britain not only harbours spectacular natural scenery but is also a stronghold of an ancient Celtic culture. Spend a week exploring the dramatic mountains of the Snowdonia National Park and a host of ancient castle ruins which enjoy UNESCO World Heritage status. Along the way discover traditional Welsh villages, sweeping coastal towns and hear the unique Welsh language spoken by the locals.

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The Ultimate UK Road Trip Itinerary – Driving Tour of England, Scotland, and Wales

Last summer the #FabFam had a journey to seek some family and personal history in the U.K.   This could only be accomplished by taking a two-week road trip around the UK.  We began in London , spent the weekend in the countryside in Devon  with some good friends, drove through Wales to seek dragons and castles , spent a few days in Liverpool and Manchester , explored the Scottish Highlands (including searching for the mysterious Loch Ness Monster ), spent one family-friendly day in Edinburgh , and then came back down the eastern coast to loop back towards London.

Today I am sharing the route and itinerary for a U.K. road trip, including recommendations on where to stay during a UK road trip, the top cities to see when traveling to England, Scotland, and Wales, what we found to be the best places to eat during a road trip through the UK, as well as reviews, recommendations, and tips for the best activities for kids during a family road trip and driving tour through England to Wales and Scotland.  You’ll want to pin this post for planning your own UK road trip.

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in London

See more specific reviews and recommendations for London in these posts:

• Fabulous things to do in London with kids
• A romantic long weekend in London
• Arrive in London in the morning (local time)
• Collect rental car ( Kia Optima Sportswagon )
• Garden Court Hotel
• No parking available
• Complimentary continental breakfast included
• Morning: Misc. London sight-seeing: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge

Obligatory things to do in London with kids: Take a photo with a red phonebooth

• Mid-day: Visit the Tower of London

One of the best things to do with kids in London: Visit The Tower of London

• Afternoon: Kid-friendly Afternoon Tea at The Park Room (Grosvenor House, 86-90 Park Lane, London, W1K 7TN)

Park Lane at Grosvenor House has one of the most kid-friendly teas in London

• Evening: London Eye Champagne Experience

We recommend the London Eye Champagne Experience. What a fabulous thing to do with kids in London!

• Dinner: Zizzi (several locations)

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 2: London

• Morning: Breakfast at Farm Girl (59A Portobello Rd, London W11 3DB, UK)
• Shopping around Portobello Road and Notting Hill
• Misc. London sight-seeing: Abbey Road

Our boys are named Sawyer and Grayson, so we had to take this pic at Sawyer & Gray in London!

• King’s Cross Station Harry Potter Platform 9 3/4  (free)

Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station is one of the best things to do in London with kids (or heck, even by yourself! Hufflepuff 4 Lyfe!). This is a must-do when you’re planning your UK road trip

• Afternoon sight-seeing: Buckingham Palace
• Hyde Park (Diana Memorial Playground)
• V&A Museum (free)
• Natural History Museum (free)

The (free) Natural History Museum is one of our top recommendations for things to do in London with kids

The incredible blue whale skeleton at London’s Natural History Museum

• Evening: Visit the world’s largest toy store, Hamley’s

When planning your UK road trip with kids, you must include a visit to Hamleys, the world’s largest toy store

• Dinner: The Diner (several locations)

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 3: Drive to Devon

• Visit Highclere Castle  (aka Downton Abbey!).  Make sure you are aware of their closure dates before planning to visit.
• Lunch: The 15th century Castle & Ball Hotel (High St, Marlborough SN8 1LZ, UK)

Meat pie lunch at Castle & Ball in Marlborough

Fish and chips lunch at Castle & Ball

• Drive to Stonehenge  for a visit

Stonehenge was a must-do for us when planning our UK road trip

Stonehenge is a must-see during a driving tour of England!

• Drive to Devon

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 4: Devon

• A weekend in Devon, England
•  Visit Devon

• Lunch and sight-seeing in the seaside town of Lynmouth

• Afternoon: Cream tea (and the best scones in England with traditional Devonshire clotted cream) at  Watersmeet House

What to do during a UK road trip: Cream tea at Watersmeet House in Devonshire

The best scones of my life at Watersmeet House, along with Devonshire clotted cream and cream tea

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 5: Drive to South Wales

• Depart Devon
• Lunch and sight-seeing in Bath
• Drive to Cardiff, misc. sight-seeing: Cardiff Bay Beach (at Roald Dahl Plass).  Admission: free (activities extra).
• Hampton by Hilton Newport/East 
• Self parking: Complimentary
• Complimentary breakfast included
• Dinner at hotel restaurant

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 6: Wales

• One-Day Road Trip Through Wales – Seeking Ancient Ruins, Dragons, and Castles
• Drive around Wales
• Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths  (High Street, Newport NP18 1AE, United Kingdom).  Admission: free.

Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths in Wales

• Dryslwyn Castle (B4297, Carmarthen SA32 8JQ, UK).  Admission: free.

The ruins of Dryslwyn Castle in Wales. Exploring these ruins was one of our most memorable moments during our UK road trip.

• Drive to the city with the longest name in Europe (and second longest in the world):  Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch on the island of Anglesey.

Fun stop during a driving tour through Wales, UK: The city with the longest name in Europe, Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch

• Drive to Liverpool
• Hampton by Hilton Liverpool City Centre
• Self parking available for a fee

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 7: Liverpool

• What to do in Liverpool and Manchester with children
• Albert Dock
• Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum in Liverpool is a fun thing to do with kids during a UK road trip

• Evening: Beatles history

When planning a UK road trip, you must check out the Beatles history and memorabilia in Liverpool, England

The Cavern Club in Liverpool is where The Beatles first started to become popular

• Dinner: Hard Days Night Hotel  (Central Buildings, North John Street, Liverpool L2 6RR, United Kingdom)

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 8: Manchester

• Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science & Industry is a great sight-seeing option in Manchester during your family’s UK road trip through England

The kids had a great time at the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester

• Old Trafford stadium (mecca for Manchester United fans)

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 9: Drive to Scotland

• Connecting with my family and personal history in the U.K. with Kia
• Family Travel Bucket List: Hunting for the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland
• Discovering the Beauty of Scotland’s Highlands
• Depart for Scotland
• Picnic lunch: Lake District National Park

We had a picnic lunch in the Lake District while driving from northern England to Scotland on our UK road trip

• Mambeg Country Guest House

The kids playing at the Mambeg Country Guest House bed & breakfast in Scotland during our road trip

• Drive by Dunderave Castle (the former castle of Clan MacNaughton)

We had to drive by Dunderave Castle (the former castle of Clan MacNaughton – my husband’s family ancestor’s clan) in Loch Fyne in Scotland on our road trip

• Dinner: Cairndow Stagecoach Inn  (Cairndow PA26 8BN, UK)

Sampling the local ale at Cairndow Stagecoach Inn on Loch Fyne in Scotland

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 10: Drive to the Highlands of Scotland

Full Scotch breakfast at Mambeg Country Guest House

• Depart for Inverness
• Drive by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
• Visit Loch Ness

Hunting for Nessie at Loch Ness

Scotland road trip itinerary: Loch Ness

• Depart for Aviemore

The beautiful Scottish Highlands

• Hilton Coylumbridge – the most family-friendly hotel I have ever stayed!
• Complimentary dinner and breakfast included

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 11: The Highlands of Scotland

• Explore the Highlands, driving the Old Military Road through Cairngorms National Park

Outlander fans can appreciate these standing stones at Cairngorms National Park during our driving tour of Scotland’s Highlands

Scotch thistle photographed in Cairngorms National Park in Scotland’s Highlands

The Scottish Highlands is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen

Scenic views on Old Military Road for a driving tour of Scotland

A magical moment: We saw this complete, perfect rainbow during our road trip through Scotland’s Highlands

• Drive to Edinburgh
• Dinner: The Scran & Scallie  (1 Comely Bank Rd, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH4 1DT, UK)
• Evening: Visit the dungeon or do a ghost tour (if your kids are old enough)
• Norton House Hotel & Spa

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 12: Edinburgh, Scotland

• Travel Tuesday: Family-Friendly Edinburgh
• Morning: Misc. Edinburgh sight-seeing
• Lunch: La Favorita  (331-325 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 8SA, UK)
• Afternoon: Edinburgh Castle

We recommend seeing Edinburgh Castle during a UK road trip through Scotland

Add a visit to Edinburgh Castle to your Scotland road trip itinerary

• Depart for York
• Misc. York sight-seeing

Clifford’s Tower in York

• Dinner: The York Roast Co. (several locations).  I had to have Yorkshire pudding while in York!

Yorkshire Pudding at York Roast Co.

• Hilton York

1 Tower Street, York Y01 9WD, United Kingdom

T:  +44-1904-648 111

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 13: Peak District

• Drive to Peak District
• Stanage Edge (Derbyshire / South Yorkshire) – have your own Elizabeth Bennet moment and take in an unbelievable view

A highlight of our UK road trip: Standing where Elizabeth Bennet stood in Pride & Prejudice at Stanage Edge in the Peak District

The view from Stanage Edge in Derbyshire, England

• Chatsworth House (aka Pemberley for you Pride & Prejudice fans)

Chatsworth House was the filming location for Pemberley in Pride & Prejudice. As a big P&P fan, I had to see this during our UK road trip

If you’re planning a UK road trip with your family, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is a great place to visit with kids

• Drive to Cambridge , visit campus
• Drive to Thetford
• The Crown Hotel (circa 1650)

The Crown Hotel (circa 1650) is a great place to stay in Thetford on your UK road trip

UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 14: Return to London

• Visit Lakenheath, Suffolk, and surrounding area (I was born and lived in this area)
• Drive back to London

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Sophie Taylor says

July 10, 2018 at 4:15 pm

Last month, my friend and I visited Scotland. We're very satisfied with the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable, fun and experienced. We really do get the best of Scotland, Isle of Skye in last 3 days. Hopefully to visit again. Thanks for sharing such a great post. ~ Sophie Taylor

February 15, 2019 at 3:20 am

Your trip is currently is my main reference for my UK road trip.

btw, any reason why you didn’t go to durdle door as well The Minack Theatre.

Ramona Cruz-Peters says

February 15, 2019 at 6:53 am

Thank you! No reason we didn’t visit those two aside from time. We sometimes spent extra time in different spots and then wouldn’t be able to make it to the next place.

Leesa R Edwards says

December 14, 2019 at 1:30 pm

This trip looks amazing, and I want to base my trip on it. Is it terribly rude to ask an estimate of the cost of the trip?

December 16, 2019 at 8:55 am

Hi Leesa! It’s not rude, I am sure it’s helpful info for planning purposes. I don’t have the total cost handy, but the round-trip flights to London were just under $3500 total for 4 people, then you’ll need to factor in hotel costs for the amount of days you’re spending, and same with the number of days for a rental car (plus petrol). For food, we try to find hotels that include complimentary breakfast to save on some of the cost of meals. We also did a picnic one day for lunch which was reasonable. London was the most expensive part of the trip, but note that there are free things to do there (Platform 9 3/4 is free, the museums are free).

Beth Taylor says

September 4, 2022 at 7:17 pm

Thanks for the great info! Where did you park the rental car during your first few nights in London?

September 5, 2022 at 9:56 am

Great question! We street parked where we could or used parking structures if available, but in hindsight I would actually not get the car until leaving London for the rest of the road trip and instead Uber around while in town. We ended up with at least one ticket as it wasn’t easy to drive or park in town. Since this trip we’ve done similar road trips in France and Ireland, and for both of those trips we ended up not using a car in Paris or Dublin respectively, and just picked up the rental cars on our way out of town.

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6 of the best road trips in the UK

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written by Mike MacEacheran

updated 16.11.2023

There is something about a road trip that creates a state of heightened excitement. No matter the destination, a road trip unfolds at the same, ascending rhythm. Back roads are followed (whenever possible), motorway service stations are avoided (at all costs) and the countryside flies by with the same tempo as a rock song (cue Status Quo). If you’ve got wheels – be it a car, bike or camper – here are 6 great road trips in the UK to try.

Prepping for your trip

1. north coast 500, scotland, 2. a yorkshire circuit, england, 3. the atlantic highway, england, 4. coastal circuit, northern ireland, 5. ben nevis to the isle of skye, scotland, 6. the black mountain pass, wales.

Whether it's an Easter break or your summer holiday, none of these routes will disappoint. For everything from car hire to the best routes to take, we can help! No time to plan and book yourself? Try our tailor-made travel service and our local experts will create an itinerary according to your preferences, ready to book, like The Great British Road Trip .

It's important to prepare carefully for a road trip – it's no fun being stuck roadside because you've run out of fuel, or getting a puncture with no spare wheel. If you've not got a banger of your own, that's no problem: there are plenty of rental companies offering competitive deals. Better still, hire an electric car and help protect the pristine landscapes you're driving through. Be sure to check charging points along your route, or – if you're car isn't electric – fill up the tank before you leave.

If you're taking your own car, it's worth a trip to the garage before you leave to check it's in good shape. Make sure you've got all your car documents on hand, as well as a spare tyre in the boot. It also pays to pack a first-aid kit and some non-perishable snacks, just in case. Take out breakdown cover and keep the emergency number handy.

This circular route is a greatest hits of Scottish icons, stretching across 805 km of back roads. Skirting the coast from Inverness and the Black Isle, past the seaboard crags of Caithness, Sutherland and Wester Ross, it offers up gothic ruins, rugged fairways, historic castles, shingle-sand beaches, tiny fishing hamlets and peaty whisky distilleries. Even the name is a doff of the cap to The Proclaimers.

Along the way, the road becomes a symphony, building note after note, bend by bend, from its rallying start through the east coast villages of Dornoch and Wick to Aultbea, Poolewe and Gairloch on the savage west coast. Here, it reaches a crescendo below the impregnable peaks of Loch Maree.

Finally, the road reaches the brilliant Bealach na Bà, which loops up and over the Applecross Peninsula like a piece of gigantic spaghetti. It could scarcely be more isolated or awe-inspiring — there's a reason this was featured in our reader survey of the most beautiful places in Scotland .

Best for: Escaping urban life and enjoying unexpected traffic jams, courtesy of wayward Highland cows and stags.

Duration: 4-7 days.

Need to know: Accommodation options are few and far between, so book in advance. Outside of summer, you’ll have the route to yourself, when even a witches’ brew of winter clouds couldn’t dampen the drama or Highland spirit.

Where to stay: Straddling the banks of the River Ness, Inverness is the hub of the Highlands. You'll find plenty of accommodation options here, but for sprawling grounds, airy rooms and a luxury spa, treat yourself at Kingsmills Hotel before your road trip. Once you're on the road, sea-view Harbour Quay in Wick (private accommodation) and the Shiskine Pod (think: cute wooden chalet with blow-away views) in Gairloch are good bets.

The Scottish Highlands offer magnificent scenery © Mountaintreks/Shutterstock

In Yorkshire, the roads move from moor to dale through centuries of dark medieval history, once a backdrop to the War of the Roses, the bloody struggle between the royal houses of Lancaster and York.

Here the mix of A- and B-roads create a daisy-chain link between some of the most beautiful villages, waterfalls and rolling backdrops in northern England . When heading through fields of summer grasses over the Buttertubs Pass from Wensleydale to Swaledale, the road twists and turns like a thrashing snake.

Set off on the A59 from Harrogate towards the historic market town of Grassington before boomeranging back to Aysgarth Falls, a wide, multi-tiered falls that’s perfect for a hazy summer ramble.

Next, putter along the valley floor to the Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre at Hawes to stock up on Wallace and Gromit ’s favourite cheese, before plunging over into Reeth and looping back to your start point via Jervaulx Abbey. A spooky Cistercian monastery in the moors, the abbey also has an excellent tea room if you need a pitstop.

At the end of a long day’s drive, there’s nothing more satisfying than the promise of a pint of Black Sheep ale from Masham Brewery. The welcome here is warm, the people friendly, the surrounding landscapes wild, and the beer strong. It's undoubtedly one of the best road trips in the UK.

Best for: Ale drinkers and cheese lovers.

Duration: 3 days.

Need to know: The Yorkshire Dales are a magnet for tour buses and parking can cause major headaches.

Where to stay: The starting point of Harrogate – a gorgeous, historic spa town with more tea rooms than you can shake a spoon at – has plenty of places to stay. The DoubleTree by Hilton , occupying a 19th-century beauty, has all the facilities you'd expect, as well as 12 acres of lovely gardens – perfect for stretching the legs. For something a little less imposing, try the friendly Franklin Mount Boutique Guesthouse . Over in Grassington, meanwhile, plump for The Clarendon Country Pub with Rooms – the bedrooms are all super cozy, and you can wind the day up with a hearty meal and pint at the pub downstairs.

The Yorkshire Dales in the evening light © BerndBrueggemann/Shutterstock

A storied ribbon of tarmac and maritime history, this 275 km road has the wild beauty that has become the hallmark of southwest England: it’s all about the big views.

Sandwiched between barley fields and a succession of bays and beach breaks, the A39 from Bridgewater to Bude is a magical concertina that creases and folds along the Devon and Cornwall coasts . Beyond the roadside hedgerows, the windswept dunes become the territory of shaggy-haired surfers, where foaming waves beat the shoreline.

Stop off at Exmoor National Park for hikes across the hilly moors, before driving south from Barnstaple through the salt-tanged seaside towns of Bude (for surfing), Padstow (for seafood) and Newquay (for weekend partying). Then it’s onwards to Land’s End – the place Cornish residents once thought was the end of the world.

Best for: Surfers and wannabe hippies.

Duration: 4-5 days.

Need to know: The name is a bit of a cheat. The route travels inland for much of Cornwall, eventually feeding onto the shoreline at Newquay. The only way to do this trip is in a VW camper van with a board tied to the roof.

Where to stay: At the edge of Exmoor National Park, overlooking pretty Lynmouth Bay, the Rising Sun Hotel will charm your socks off with its thatched roof, crooked stairways and wooden beams. In Padstow, make for St Petroc's B&B , with stylish rooms and a charming garden. And while there's a whole raft of accommodation to choose from in Newquay, if you're after some of your own space, try Porth Cottage Studio , which has its own kitchen facilities – though full breakfasts can be provided, too.

Newquay's golden sands © Lukasz Pajor/Shutterstock

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Plan a journey around the knuckle-shaped fist of the Northern Irish coast and you won't regret it. There’s a hypnotic quality to this 195 km route from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry, one that can see you detour off the road to find smaller villages. It's one of the most varied road trips in the UK in our list.

First, head for the Gobbins Cliff Path, an ambitious walkway chiselled out of basalt rock with hammers and rudimentary tools. North of Belfast, it carves a path through caves, over bridges and gantries, and down steep drops. Following a £7.5 million investment, the path reopened in 2015 for the first time in more than 65 years.

As the journey continues, stories, both ancient and modern, will pull you over. Detour to Antrim to see the Dark Hedges, a tree-lined road used in Game of Thrones , while making sure to stop at Ballintoy harbour (also another GoT location).

Stare in awe at the 40,000 jigsaw pieces of the Giant’s Causeway, then pop into the Old Bushmills Distillery for a refresher of Irish whiskey.

Freedom on a road trip like this is only limited by how far your imagination takes you. After Londonderry, the road keeps going south into Ireland , to Sligo and Galway or Dublin. Simply roll down the window and keep on driving.

Best for: Story-lovers and stargazers

Duration: 3-5 days.

Need to know: Rathlin, Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island, sits around halfway along the route and is home to an RSPB reserve. Its resident guillemots, razorbills and puffins are a must-see for birdwatchers.

Where to stay: You won't be pressed to find a fabulous place to stay along this route. Belfast and Londonderry are buzzing cities full of options, though our picks are Maranatha House in Belfast – famed for the chef's Ulster Breakfast – and the 4-star Beech Hill Hotel near Derry, a country house just outside the city set in glorious scenery. While on the road in Antrim, meanwhile, try Crockatinney Guest House : stock up on supplies and use the BBQ facilities in the garden.

The Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland © Jon Chica/Shutterstock

This 74 km scenic drive route from Fort William to Mallaig has an antique weirdness, like stepping back in time. Every mountain and loch tells a story and the ghosts of the Jacobite and Victorian eras are never far away.

At Fort William flows the Caledonian Canal, first built for trade and commerce; past Loch Eil stands the Glenfinnan Monument, where Bonnie Prince Charlie kicked off his bid for the crown in 1745; then comes the glorious West Highland Line, one of the great railway journeys of the world.

Start in the shadows of the UK’s most alluring peak, Ben Nevis, before tracing your route like a squiggly marker pen across a fold-out map from its namesake whisky distillery onto the A830. Venture westwards and you’ll pass a series of stand-out movie locations – the Glenfinnan Viaduct, famous for its starring role in the Harry Potter films; then Camusdarach Beach at Arisaig, where Bill Forsyth’s classic Local Hero was filmed.

Near the journey’s end, Loch Morar, the deepest freshwater lake in the UK, will fill your windows with stunning views. From here you can stop and enjoy the surroundings, or continue across to the Isle of Skye.

Best for: Historians and Harry Potter fans.

Duration: 2-3 days.

Need to know: Like Loch Ness , Loch Morar has a storybook monster of its own; Nessie’s cryptid cousin, Morag.

Where to stay: Gateway to the Highlands, the main draw of Fort William is its location – including its proximity to Ben Nevis – but it's as good a base as any, and it's not short on places to stay, either. On the Caledonian Canal you'll find the Moorings Hotel , housed in a funky building with some brilliantly garish interiors and stellar views. In Arisaig, Brae Hoose is a holiday home with a smart TV, surround-sound bar and an excellent hygiene rating. In Mallaig, after your long drive, bed down at the West Highland Hotel – be sure to dine at its fantastic Terrace restaurant, with fresher-than-fresh fish, panoramic views and a wood-burning stove. End-of-the-road meals don't get any better than this.

Camusdarach beach, Arisaig © alan92 todd/Shutterstock

The shortest road trip of the bunch, this epic mountain road more than makes up for it with spectacular Brecon Beacons scenery, unrivalled views of the Tywi Valley and the kind of hairpin bends and switchbacks that’d bring a Swiss Alpine engineer out in hives.

It rolls between Llandovery in the north, crossing the dragon’s humps of Pont Aber and Herbert’s Pass past jaw-dropping viewpoints, before sinking low and cascading down to the village of Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen.

Along the way, you’ll be met by rustic farmhouses, ruddy-faced farmers, wayward sheep and perhaps the odd motoring journalist. Thanks to ex-BBC host Jeremy Clarkson, Black Mountain Pass is also known as the Top Gear road and is enduringly popular with test drivers.

If you need to gear down, catch a breath and take a break from driving, our guide to 21 most beautiful beaches in Wales has just the place.

Best for: Driving enthusiasts.

How long: One day, though it’s far better to extend your trip and stay in the Brecon Beacons area for at least 48 hours. The A470 running through the park’s east is also highly recommended.

Need to know: Make sure to tackle the route north to south.

Where to stay: For a Welsh cottage experience, look no further than Merlin Cottages or The Byre . Both are excellent options near Llandovery, with stone walls, original features and plenty of country charm.

The Brecon Beacons National Park © antb/Shutterstock

Well, what are you waiting for? Get your car in gear and take to the open road.

Mike MacEacheran is a travel journalist & guidebook author based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has reported from 108 countries for National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveller, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times, The Wall Street Journal, Mail on Sunday, The Independent, Evening Standard, The Sun, The Globe and Mail, Scotland on Sunday, The National and South China Morning Post. Follow him on Twitter @MikeMacEacheran

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A One Week UK Itinerary

Last updated: April 19, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 69 Comments

Following on from my two week UK itinerary  post, I wanted to put together a slightly shorter itinerary for those of you with less time, but who still wanted to explore more of the UK than the capital city. And so, I present, our suggested itinerary for one week in the UK.

The idea of this 1 week UK itinerary is to take in some of the essential highlights of the UK, but also throw in a few curveballs – spectacular places that you would find hard to visit without your own wheels.

If this is your first time driving in the UK, I can also recommend checking out our guide to driving in the UK for tips.

Without further ado, here’s my guide for an awesome:

One Week UK Road Trip Itinerary

We’re going to kick off this itinerary in the UK’s capital, on the assumption that this is where you’re going to fly to when you arrive. There are flights from all over the world to London’s airports, so the chances are pretty high that this is where you’re going to be arriving.

Note that as with any itinerary, this one should be adjusted to your travel style. The itinerary as laid out is very busy, and has you moving quite quickly so as to take in the highlights. So feel free to adjust it to your specific preferences. It could easily be adjusted to accommodate a longer trip for example.

• Days 1 & 2: London

In general, having a hire car in London is A Bad Idea. What with the congestion charge, antiquated road system, and the fact that the traffic moves slower now on average than it did when horses and carts plied the roads – well, you get the idea.

This isn’t to suggest writing it off though. You have two options – pick up a hire car after your time in London, or stay a little outside the centre in a hotel with parking near a public transport hub. Now, on to London itself.

For your first day of exploration in London, I’d suggest spending your day seeing the essential London sights . London is an eminently walkable city, and you’ll be able to take in the majority of the key highlights, from the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace through to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London .

Then, on your second day, you can either continue to explore London, or you might consider heading out to some of the attractions outside of London.

Popular locations outside the city centre include Windsor Castle , or Hampton Court Palace – both eminently explorable, and easy to reach with a car or by public transport from the city centre.

If you want to save money on the above attractions, and will be visiting a few, then you should definitely consider investing in a London Pass . Available in 1, 3 and 6 day versions, the savings can really be quite impressive if you plan on visiting a few locations. You can read a full break down on if the London Pass is worth buying here , and buy one yourself here .

Finally, London has no shortage of accommodation options, something to suit pretty much every budget. Check out the options for London at booking.com , and here for Plum Guide if you’re looking for an apartment. We also have a guide to where to stay in London .

• Day 3: Stonehenge, Bath and the Cotswolds

From London, I’m going to suggest you head west, and take in one of Britain’s most recognisable old monuments – the incredible Stonehenge . Visiting Stonehenge is a popular day trip from London, and I have a guide to visiting Stonehenge from London here .

Every year new evidence comes to light as to how these got here, and you can’t fail to be impressed at their massiveness, as well as their seeming impervious nature. Since the motorway was shifted a few years ago, and the fence around the stones moved, this has become a far more pleasant attraction to visit.

From Stonehenge, head along to the old town of Bath. A favourite of the Romans, this place has, as you would imagine, some baths to explore, where you can see how the Romans kept themselves clean, plus try some of the waters yourself.

It’s also worth taking the time to check out the Georgian architecture, including the Royal Crescent and the Circus.

You can either overnight in Bath, which might be preferable to driving any more today, or you can head into the Cotswolds. If you do the latter, find yourself a cosy little B&B in the countryside – somewhere you’d likely struggle to get to with public transport – and really take advantage of having your own wheels!

• Days 4 & 5: Warwickshire, The Peak District & Yorkshire

After a pleasant overnight in Bath or the Cotswolds, it’s time to turn North, and head up towards Yorkshire. This will be a bit of a drive, but there are some highlights on the way that I’d recommend stopping at to break up the journey.

First, I’d suggest stopping off at Baddesley Clinton , a moated manor house just outside of Warwick. This is a spectacular property, over 500 years old, which will give you an insight as to how the British aristocracy lived in the middle ages.

Highlights include the glorious moat that surrounds the building, and the priest-holes in the house itself, where the Catholic priests of the time would hide from persecution and execution.

If you’d prefer to explore an interesting town, then I can recommend dropping in to Warwick. There’s enough to do here to fill a day (especially if you decide to visit the Castle!), but I’d suggest at least visiting the Lord Leycester Hospital, and St. Mary’s Church .

The former isn’t, and has never been, a hospital, instead, for over 400 years it has housed military veterans of Britain’s various wars. It’s a fascinating cluster of houses, dating from the 14th century, and is basically everything you could hope for in a medieval construction.

St Mary’s Church is one of the largest churches (I thought it was a cathedral when I first spotted it) in the UK, home to a gorgeous medieval chapel, a magnificent view from the top of its tower, and 1000 years of worshipping history.

Alternatively, you could also choose to visit Stratford-upon-Avon , the birthplace of Shakespeare.

Once you’re done with the above, it’s time to leave Warwickshire behind, and head on up to the Peak District, where I’m going to suggest you spend the night – there are some really fantastic accommodation options on hand, to suit every budget .

After your night in the Peak District, set aside a morning for visiting Chatsworth House . Often voted the UK’s favourite country house – if you’re going to take in a stately home on a spectacular scale, then this is an excellent choice.

Still home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, the property has 126 rooms, with a number of these open for public viewing. Surrounding the property itself are 105 acres of magnificent garden, constructed across six centuries, and reflecting changing times and fashions. You’ll easily be able to lose a morning at Chatsworth!

From Chatsworth, it’s a 2 hour blast up to the next stop on our itinerary – the gorgeous ruined remains of Fountains Abbey , a UNESCO World Heritage Site set in Studley Royal Park.

As well as the well preserved ruins of the giant 12th century Cistercian monastery, you’ll also find the rather impressive 18th century water garden, generally recognised as the most important in the UK.

If you can,  I’d suggest exploring right through until the sun sets, which should afford you some wonderful photography opportunities. There’s lots of ground to cover, and if you find yourself tiring, there’s an excellent tea room.

When you’re done, find yourself somewhere to stay in the nearby area .

• Day 6: Northumberland

You’ll be starting your sixth day of exploration bright and early in Yorkshire, and continuing northwards, this time to the country of Northumberland, home to the city of Newcastle, the island spanning Hadrian’s Wall, and some of England’s finest medieval castles.

It’s the latter that I’m going to suggest you focus on in Northumberland. You’re unlikely to be able to do all of the following in the time available, but I’d definitely suggest that you visit at least two of the following four sights when in Northumberland, starting with:

Alnwick Castle . Home to the Duke of Northumberland, and dating from 1036, this is the sort of castle that you probably think of when you think of medieval fortress castles.

It’s also the sort of castle you might think of if you’re a Harry Potter fan, as a number of the scenes from the earlier Harry Potter movies , including the Quidditch training scenes, were filmed here. If you’re more of a Downton Abbey fan, well, the last two Christmas specials of the show were filmed here.

It would be easy to spend a day here, particularly as the gardens are also very picturesque, so you’re welcome to do just that. But, if you’re keen to see some more of England’s incredible castles, head along to:

Bamburgh Castle . I absolutely love the coastal location of Bamburgh Castle, which is just perfect for photography, atop a rocky outcrop by a golden sand beach. The native Britons of the area thought so too – with a fort housing the original Kings of Britain located here. Of course, that all came to an end when the Vikings popped over in 993 and presumably burnt the place to the ground.

The castle that’s on the site today was built by the Normans, in the 11th century, and is another imposing fortress like construction, designed to withstand brutal assault and siege warfare.

Since you’re in the area for Bamburgh, you might also take the time to take a look at either Dunstanburgh castle , a few miles to the south, or Holy Island, a few miles to the north. The former was a 14th century fortification that fell into ruin by the 16th century – the latter is an island, accessible at low tide, and where you’ll find the still inhabited Lindisfarne Castle , which you can also tour.

If you’re more interested in Roman history than castles,  then I’d suggest you visit Hadrian’s Wall. Built during the time of Emperor Hadrian (122AD if you’re not up to speed on Roman timelines), this wall stretched from one side of England to the other, and marked the northern limit of the Roman empire. The precise reason for building a 73 mile wall is still unclear, I suspect it was largely just because they could.

There are multiple locations where you can visit the wall, with my favourite being Sycamore Gap, near Housesteads Crag, where a lonely tree sits amongst the remains of the highest part of the wall.

From Hadrian’s Wall, head north, to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, either overnighting in the Scottish Borders, or Edinburgh itself.

• Day 7: Edinburgh

This trip finishes off in Edinburgh, one of my favourite cities in the UK, and where you’ll have no shortage of things to do . However, since you have a car, I have two suggestions that you might want to add to the list. First – head to the Pentland Hills. A few miles south of the city, these offer excellent walking, sheep spotting opportunities and iron age hill forts.

I’d also suggest you make the time to head out to an icon of the Edinburgh surrounds – the Firth of Forth bridges, and in particular, the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Firth of Forth Rail Bridge.

This is a mighty red cantilevered bridge construction spanning the Firth of Forth, opened in 1890, and still operational today. At it’s time of construction it was the longest single cantilever bridge in the world, and despite now being the second longest, is still mighty impressive.

Finally, of course, I’d recommend spending some time exploring Edinburgh, which has no shortage of attractions, fine dining, shopping and places to stay . Whether you’re into Harry Potter or festivals , you’re bound to find something to do.

Then – turn your car in, and head home – Edinburgh airport is easy to drive to, has all the main car hire operator’s, and you should be able to fly from here to anywhere you like. Whew! I hope you enjoyed that tour!

1 Week UK Itinerary Map

To help you visualise this driving route of the UK, we’ve put together this map of the route. You can also see this on Google Maps here .

1 Week UK Itinerary Summary

As mentioned at the start of the post, this itinerary is quite busy. If you have limited vacation time, then you can definitely do a lot in a short time and see the highlights, but be aware you will not be able to explore every location in great depth.

If you prefer to travel more slowly, you’ll definitely want to tweak this itinerary for your own travel style, either by adding more time, or changing the route.

How to Get Around the UK

Well, this one should be pretty obvious! I’m going to suggest a rental car of course. This itinerary is really only do-able if you drive yourself.

We recommend you compare car prices using a service like Discover Cars , which compares prices across a range of providers to help you find the best deal.

When To Visit the UK

The UK has what could best be described as “variable” weather. The good news is that you don’t really get extremes of weather. The bad news is that being surrounded by water, it tends to rain a lot, throughout the year.

Obviously, the summer period is likely to be warmer than the winter period, but the climate is generally mild, so whenever you visit, plan for the gamut of weather conditions, from rain to sunshine. Layers are key to your clothing, meaning you can adjust as the weather changes.

My main piece of advice for a trip like this is to avoid popular weekends and school holidays if you can. The UK has a number of public holidays throughout the year, when the roads (and attractions) get very crowded. If you can avoid these times, you’ll have a far more pleasant experience.

Time of year wise, there’s no “bad” time to visit, but I’d advise perhaps May / June might give you the best shot of decent weather, whilst avoiding the summer school holiday period.

Where to Stay in the UK

The UK has loads of accommodation options, from cosy B&B’s through to upscale hotels, as well as all the chains you’d expect.

• We’ve tried a lot of booking sites, and nearly always find ourselves using Booking.com. They have an extensive selection of properties, many with no-fee cancellation policies, and often run discounts and special offers. Click on each city title to see their listings:  London , the Cotswolds , the Peak District , Yorkshire and Edinburgh ,
• If you prefer an apartment or more of a hosted stay, then we recommend Plum Guide . We’ve tried all the others, and Plum Guide consistently has the best quality in all the locations we’ve used them in.
• If you can’t find what you want on Plum Guide, or you want some new options to try out, we have some alternatives we also use. We suggest trying Vrbo to start with. For even more ideas to help you save money and get the best choice, we wrote a whole post on the best alternatives to AirBnB , as well as a guide to our favourite holiday cottage accommodation in the UK , which you should check out!

Between these options, you should find the best prices and places to stay for your trip, as well as a good selection of reviews and feedback to help you make an informed decision.

What about a Tour of the UK?

We’re often asked if a trip like this can be done as part of a tour instead of driving yourself. The answer is – yes it can, and you have a few options for doing so.

First, you could take a group tour of the UK. This will take you to a wide variety of sights, with someone else handling all the logistics, and letting you just relax and chill out.

We have used and can recommend  Rabbie’s Trail Burners for group tours – they’re a small group tour operator with lots of experience and great guides, and they have a wide range of tours of varying lengths covering many parts of the UK. This 8 day tour they offer for example runs from London to Edinburgh and gives you an idea of what can be done in that time period.

You can also arrange a private tour. This will usually be a more expensive option, but will mean you can put something totally customised together. This is a service offered by a number of companies, we would again recommend Rabbie’s Trail Burners who offer a  customised tour service .

Another option we are happy to recommend is professional driver-guide Robina Brown, who is a blue-badge guide offering tours across the UK. See her website  here .

Further reading for your UK trip

And that sums up our guide to the perfect 1 week UK itinerary. Before you go though, we’ve got lots of resources to help you plan your trip to the UK, from posts we’ve written ourselves to third party content we’re happy to recommend. Here it is:

• If you want a longer trip, taking in some more highlights of the UK including Wales and Ireland, check out this two week itinerary of the UK that I put together. We also have a detailed Wales road trip itinerary .
• As this is a self-drive trip, you should definitely check out our guide to driving in the UK for tips.
• For budget planning, see our guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK
• If you’d prefer not to drive, we also have an itinerary for 10 days in the UK by public transport .
• A guide to driving Scotland’s epic North Coast 500 , as well as accommodation options on the North Coast 500
• A Two Day Edinburgh Itinerary & 21 Highlights in Edinburgh
• Edinburgh: Getting off the beaten path
• If you like Royal themed attractions, Jess wrote a full post about the Royal Edinburgh Ticket here , which can help you save money on some of Edinburgh’s top attractions.
• A guide to 10 of the best Stately Homes in England , to give you some ideas as you plan your itinerary
• A Two Day London Itinerary
• A Six Day London Itinerary
• The Best Photography Locations in London
• Tips on Buying and Using the London Pass
• Eight Things to Do in Kensington
• The Highlights of Oxford
• Visiting Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds
• 20 Things To Do in Dublin
• A Guide to Touring the Scottish Borders
• Our guide to things to do in Cambridge
• If you want a physical (or digital!) book to accompany your travels, then Amazon do a good line in UK Travel Guides , and there is naturally a Lonely Planet and a Rough Guide to the UK available.

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There are 69 comments on this post

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28th January 2023 at 3:25 pm

Hi Lawrence,

I’m doing a 5 day trip on my motorbike from Liverpool to London. I’ve tried to pull together a route but I seemed to have picked the wrong stop points as I don’t know a lot about the areas. I would like history, good views and to stay away from busy cities where I can. Could you recommend a route please?

Thank you! Sasha

Laurence Norah says

29th January 2023 at 9:03 am

So I would probably head east from London towards Stonehenge / Avebury, where you can definitely see some history. Salisbury is also a lovely town to explore. From there, I’d head north up into the Cotswolds, which has a lot of stunning villages and quintessential English countryside. Towns like Circencester, Bibury, Burford, Bourton on the Water etc. There are lots of nice B&B style accommodation options in the area to enjoy. If you are interested in Shakespeare, you can head up to Stratford-Upon-Avon which is also a nice town. After that I’d suggest the Peak District National Park which is also very pretty. Chatsworth House is a lovely stately home but there is good walking and lots of nice villages here as well. From there it’s an easy trip across to Liverpool perhaps via Chester if you have spare time.

I hope this makes sense, let me know if you need any more input!

Safe travels, would love to hear how your trip goes 🙂

2nd December 2022 at 4:36 pm

Hello Laurence, I need help please, so we are following your 7 days road trip to Edinburg. 1 Week UK Itinerary Summary Days 1 & 2: London Day 3: Stonehenge, Bath and the Cotswolds from costwold, is it possible to drive through Yorkshire straight to Manchester Days 4 & 5: Warwickshire, The Peak District & Yorkshire (for this 2 days we want to stay in Manchester) from Manchester train to Edinburgh.. Do we need to rent a car in Edinburgh? Day 6: Edinburg Day 7: Edinburgh

What do you think?

Thank you in advance.

4th December 2022 at 10:39 am

Sure thing. So yes, it is possible to drive from the Cotswolds to Manchester, it’s about a 3 hour drive. However you won’t be driving through Yorkshire, which is to the east and north of Manchester. You would also have passed Warwickshire and the Peak District if you drive up to Manchester as they are both south of Manchester.

For Edinburgh you definitely don’t need a car, the city centre is very easy to get around either on foot on by local bus. The only exception would be if you wanted to visit sights out of town of course.

Have a great trip!

5th December 2022 at 4:20 pm

Thank you for your help! Merry Christmas!🎄

10th November 2022 at 4:48 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica, The only blog that I can trust. Thank you for this wonderful article. We are travelling to Uk on august , for 7 days before heading to Ireland. I have a question, my husband’s dad was born in manchester and grandmother born in Bath. so we will definitely visit bath and probably stay in costwold for the night (can you recommend a hotel or b and b) in this itinerary can we add manchester before edinburgh?

Thank you for taking time to read. God bless you both!

11th November 2022 at 11:13 am

My pleasure. So yes, you could definitely tweak this itinerary to include Manchester, it would be around days 4 or 5 and you would want to adjust what you see in that area instead. It’s quite a busy itinerary already, so you would definitely want to swap something out.

In terms of a hotel, there are so many great ones to choose from and it would really depend a lot on how far from Bath you wanted to drive. Bath is right at the southern end of the Cotswolds, and you can drive for a couple of hours from there up to Chipping Norton, and all of that drive would be through the Cotswolds. Villages to consider would be Bibury, Bourton on the Water, Lower Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold, Broadway and Chipping Campden. I think any of those would be a lovely option.

Have a wonderful time!

11th November 2022 at 4:23 pm

Great Thanks. I appreciate it.

16th August 2019 at 9:08 pm

Thank you for your blog. This is a trip for the future — just took my family to Venice and Paris for 10 nights. Anyway, as a note, I would estimate that your itinerary is too full (both of them). It’s very high paced without real time to stop and smell the roses. But, it’s a very, very solid starting point, well considered, and much better than anything I have. Thanks again!

16th August 2019 at 9:12 pm

Our pleasure 🙂 We absolutely agree that this is a pretty full itinerary, and as you say, most of our itineraries are. The idea is to show what is possible (some people really like to pack it in!), but we highly recommend folks pare them back to what is suitable for them, as everyone has a different travel style. So we hope this works as a good basis for you to work from, and that you have a great trip in the future!

16th August 2019 at 10:43 pm

Awesome photography, too!

17th August 2019 at 9:17 am

Chiang Kok Weng says

15th July 2019 at 12:42 pm

Dear Laurence and Jessica, we are from Singapore. We are a family of 4 adults planning to do a one week tour of UK at the end of the year, just after Christmas and into the New Year. We saw your one week itinerary and it looks quite fun and exciting. We are wondering if this itinerary is doable with self-drive as we are not familiar with the crowd, weather and road condition during this period.

Thanks much!

18th July 2019 at 3:32 am

This should be fine even at Christmas and New Year. Snow is uncommon in the UK – usually it is just wet. Of course, it is possible that there will be snow and ice, but the roads are usually well treated so you should not have any problems. Just drive to the conditions of the road and you should be fine. Have a great trip and let me know if you have any more questions!

13th July 2019 at 7:11 am

Hi, just wanted to say thanks for sharing all this! I know it is a ton of work but your posts are amazing!

13th July 2019 at 4:20 pm

Thanks very much Amber, it’s appreciated 😀

Carole Cavers says

3rd July 2019 at 2:25 am

Dear Laurence and Jessica, My husband and I are from New Zealand and are planning a trip to the UK for the first time. We arrive at Heathrow on the 20 August 11.45am and leave from Heathrow 20 September. We have been looking at lots of options and have decided to rent a car to travel around England, Scotland and Wales. We intend to fly to Ireland and pick up another rental car (if you think that would be wise) to see the sights there. My question is, what would you recommend for an itenarary so we get to see some sights in each country, finishing our trip with 5 days in London for sightseeing. Your recommendations would be much appreciated.

3rd July 2019 at 3:07 pm

So my advice would be to essentially follow my two week UK itinerary ( https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/two-weeks-in-ukmy-perfect-itinerary/ ), but to extend it to a month. I would also recommend flying across the Irish Sea rather than worrying about car rentals and ferries. It wouldn’t be heard to extend the itinerary as you could add in time in Wales, the Highlands, and much more time in Ireland. But it should give you a good basis for a trip that you can work on.

I hope this helps a bit!

5th April 2019 at 3:19 pm

Hi Laurence…so many helpful hints on your site for us ignorant non Brits! I’d love your opinion on our September 4 wk visit from Aust. All accommodation booked – 3 nts Prague, 4 nts Paris, 10nts London, train to Bath, pick up hire car to Mevagissey 3 nts, 3 nts Cotswolds, 1nt York, 1 nt Ft William, 2 nts Plockton, Edinburgh 1 nt via Perth. Leave car.. Then we’d like to train from Edinburgh to Windsor as have 2 nts booked there before flying home – . It seems that we have to change trains at Piccadilly or Kings Cross to get the Windsor line..any suggestions please? ( picturing us 3 over 65 ers in peak hr with luggage climbing stairs at a train station ???? ( pretty stretch Edinburgh to York so not keen on flying ) Locals on other forums are horrified at us doing so much driving in that time but many OP here doing similar so don’t feel so bad! Thanks so much for any thoughts you have on all of this!

5th April 2019 at 4:01 pm

Thanks very much. I’m happy to help out of course. It sounds like you have an amazing trip planned out!

Since everything is booked it sounds like the itinerary is fairly well arranged. My only feedback is that 10 days is quite a long time in London, although there is so much to see that you could easily fill more time than that. Our 6 day London itinerary is probably going to give you the most help in terms of planning. You can see that on our other blog here: https://independenttravelcats.com/london-itinerary-6-days-in-london/

For your first question, you are correct about needing to change trains. The majority of trains from Edinburgh arrive at Kings Cross, wheras trains to Windsor go from Paddington or Vauxhall. In either case, you are going to have to take the underground, and trust me, I know what carting luggage around down there is like!

The good news is that Kings Cross tube station is now fully accessible, which means that there are lifts from the platform to street level. I should warn you in advance though that you do have to take multiple lifts, there is not just one lift. There will be a lift map to help you figure this out. This is because the station was built a good long time ago, before such things as lifts to tube platforms were thought of as being handy, so they’ve had to put lift shafts where they can rather than necessarily where is totally logical.

At the other end, Vauxhall also has full lift access. Paddington has escalator access, so if you prefer a lift, the route from Vauxhall will be easier.

In terms of your itinerary, especially given that you are coming from Australia, I suspect you will not find the driving distances that long! After my year of travelling in Australia, my perspective of what makes for a “long drive” certainly changed a great deal! The longest drive you have is going to be between York and Fort William. That would be nearly a 6 hour drive without stops.

I hope this helps, don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any more questions 🙂

Kathy Jones says

6th April 2019 at 1:51 am

Hi again Laurence……do you think the scenery is worth taking the train (first class maybe) from Edinburgh to London please? ( I’ve read posts that it’s lovely especially Edinburgh to York). Otherwise we’d consider flying using Easyjet. Also we wondered about train London to Truro or Bodmin ( sleeper?) to save a bit of driving! Good idea or not? Getting an idea how hire car versus train cost, for this trip is confusing …prices vary a lot. Thanks heaps.

6th April 2019 at 12:26 pm

The view from Edinburgh to York on the train is really nice, I have done that journey many times, and the Northumberland coastline is just stunning. First class is going to be more comfortable, and if you book well in advance the prices are not that expensive either. Flying is another option, but to be honest, the time saving is a bit of a myth – by the time you’ve got to the airport at one end and from the airport at the other, as well as gone through security etc, it won’t really save you any time. Plus the train doesn’t require you to worry about bag weight and size.

Train prices vary a lot depending on the time of day, day of week and how far in advance you book. Going to Cornwall for example on a Friday afternoon will likely be more expensive as it’s popular time to return from London. Car hire might be cheaper, especially as you can split it between you, whereas you need individual train tickets. Note that cars are usually cheaper to hire from city centre locations rather than airports. The overnight train is a good option, but these are usually not budget options. However you do save a night in a hotel, which is another cost. I would definitely recommend having a car in Cornwall for sight seeing though.

Kathy J says

6th April 2019 at 3:06 pm

Thanks again for your time Laurence. Sensible advice there…!! I spend too much time browsing your website ????

6th April 2019 at 3:11 pm

My pleasure Kathy. Delighted to have been of help 😀

Greg n Ramona Willingham says

6th February 2019 at 1:15 am

Laurence & Jessica, I am so thrilled to have found y’all and your amazing website. My husband and I are from Alabama here in the States and are super excited for our upcoming trip. We are working together to plan an experience of as many sites as are reasonably possible, without stressing ourselves out, and doing a fair job at controlling our modest budget. We feel that experiences shouldn’t cost a fortune and responsible spending is doable without sacrificing quality. I have been doing research for almost 2 months and cannot believe it took that long to find all of this fantastic information! Thank you for sharing your experiences, guides and useful information. My husband and I are planning our 20th anniversary trip to the UK; England/Wales/Scotland & Ireland for November 8-24, 2019. We will fly overnight on the 8th and return the 24th. I have researched public transport (coaches/trains), car hires, & even various flights from one main local to another. We are flying into London at approximately 10am November 9th and planned to nap after settling in and then exploring London. We will be flying out of Dublin the morning of the 24th back to London until our later afternoon flight that same day. We have considered doing a sail-rail pass to Dublin from Scotland or England, even though it’s a bit pricey. Many people have told us that it’s an unforgettable experience. We are strongly leaning towards a car hire for the UK portion and then returning the car for a flight to Dublin from Glasgow or the sail/rail pass over. While in Dublin, we plan on doing day trips from there. We feel having a base is more secure and comfortable than lugging around our packs….lol!!! ???? I have discovered that we can do 5 days of single day trips for about $550/each for those 5 days and have found that the price is relatively inexpensive due to the transport, entrance fees, tour guides, and the few meals included. This should also give us the opportunity to allow another to drive as we relax on the last leg of our trip. Those day trips will allow us to venture to all coasts and Belfast: 1-Aran Islands-2-Cork/Cobh-3-Wicklow/Avora Mill Village…(misspell I’m sure ????)-4-Belfast/Giants Causeway-5-Dublin itself. Respectively, that should place UAB in Dublin the night of the 18th or early the 19th. My husband wants to do the ferry but considering the cost and the time needed I am more inclined to fly over for a small fare and enjoy a day of settling in and exploring a bit for dinner and guiness rofl ????. However, I suggested we maybe do a ferry to Isle of Man. I think he would enjoy that area as an avid rock-climber. We would like to add Bath & Cardiff to our road trip out of London then maybe head to the car museum in the Coswolfs then off to Chester-York-Newcastle-then on into Scotland for Edinburgh-Pitlochry (probably spelt that wrong too ????)-Inverness-Maybe Skye-Definetly Glen Co-Glasgow-Then on to Dublin by ferry or flight; as stated prior. Stonehenge isn’t a top priority for us but we dont mind drive by for a photo or 2, then to Bath and on to Cardiff. Would this be doable with our travel time and driving ourselves or would we better served searching out daytrips or multiday trips from London on to Edinburgh, etc? If this is doable, is our planned route workable or should we modify our planned route? Oh, my husband would also like to visit Greta Green but I’m unsure how to make that happen. Could York to Greta Green before going on to Edinburgh be feasible? Thank you in advance for your time and information. Greg & Ramona ????????????

6th February 2019 at 10:49 am

Hi Greg and Ramona!

Wow, sounds like you’ve done a great job of planning 🙂 I would say that your route is certainly do-able. Personally I’d fly from Glasgow to Dublin as you have mentioned, it will take a bit less time. For your trip, I think driving yourself is going to be your best option as it will give you the flexibility you will need, and you won’t have to keep returning to a base which will cost you time. I think your timetable is busy but certainly achievable, and your route looks sensible to me.

York -> Newcastle -> Gretna Green -> Edinburgh is possible. It’s a bit of a detour but not a major one 🙂

Let me know if I can be of any more help!

7th February 2019 at 5:10 pm

Thank you for the quick reply Laurence. It’s great to hear we are on the right track with our plans and that the flight seems the most reasonable way to get to Dublin without a large amount of time wasted. Thank you again and have a blessed day. ????????????

Patt Snow says

20th December 2018 at 3:08 pm

I loved reading your itineraries! So very helpful! I will be traveling in May, 2 weeks with my hub and granddaughter recent high school graduate, she’s an avid reader, taught herself Welsh, wants to be a librarian. Here’s my conundrum: I rented a condo near Snowdonia NP for one week and cannot cancel without relinquishing my payment. What do you recommend for that week and then if I could extend our trip for an additional 8 days what path would you take? We will rent a car in London on our way of the city…I’m allowing 2 nights in London and then onto Snowdonia! Thank you so much for any input!

20th December 2018 at 3:16 pm

Our pleasure. Snowdonia is a stunning part of the UK, and you won’t regret spending a week there. I spent a long time in this area as my grandparents used to live in the national park, and it is magnificent. There is plentiful hiking as well as lovely coastline, beaches, and cute villages and towns to visit. So don’t worry, you will have a wonderful time. It’s also the part of Wales where Welsh is quite commonly spoken, so your daughter will have ample opportunity to practice.

If you did want to extend, my advice would be to visit some of the towns and cities between London and Snowdonia, so as to have a balanced trip – Snowdonia is more countryside, so you might want to experience a bit of culture. So some ideas might be Oxford, Liverpool, Bristol or Bath, to give you a balanced trip!

I hope this helps – have a wonderful trip!

20th December 2018 at 3:47 pm

Laurence, thank you for your prompt reply. We are definitely looking forward to our time in Snowdonia! I’m just not certain how to incorporate driving time. London to 2 nites Oxford, then onto Wales. Would a day trip from Snowdonia to Cardiff be crazy as far as drive time? Then, I’m thinking ferry to Dublin and driving north, reentering Great Britain in Scotland, visiting Highlands 1 day, driving to Edinburgh for two nights,and back to London for two nights???? Is two nights in Ireland enough time? Of course we want to kiss the Blarney stone! I’m all over the place????!

20th December 2018 at 3:55 pm

No worries 😀 So I think you could do just one night on Oxford and still see plenty. Snowdonia to Cardiff would be a long drive – there are no motorways in Wales, so driving times are significantly increased compared to the rest of the country. So I wouldn’t personally do that trip, but it’s up to you of course.

Otherwise your itinerary looks pretty good. Of course, there’s never enough time and always more to see, and you will be driving a fair bit, but if you are happy with that then go for it!

20th December 2018 at 5:11 pm

Laurence! You are awesome! Thank you so much for your input! I love a good Roadtrip and am so very excited to visit these wonderful places I’ve always read about!! Your site has certainly given me a great guideline…I’m not feeling terribly overwhelmed at this moment!???? I think I can plan this! I thank you so very much and I look forward to reading about more of your travels!!!

20th December 2018 at 5:13 pm

Thanks Patt, that’s brought a big smile to my face! Do let me know if we can help any more. If not, we always love to hear how trips go after the fact 😀

Sylvia says

12th October 2018 at 9:13 am

Hello Laurence & Jessica, I am so glad to chance upon your site, So love your story sharing and the photographs. THANK YOU!

I am Sylvia from Singapore, have spent 2-yr in Newcastle in mid 90’s and have been to various parts of England & Scotland. My last trip was 15 yr ago (didn’t realize it’s been so long)! I am planning a 8.5-days trip in Dec with my family (arriving 3rd, departing night of 11th). My teenage daughter has never been to UK and I’d love to show her it’s really more than London. Anyway, this trip is really for her. 🙂

I’d like to get your advice.. here’s the must have.. London, Stonehenge, Bath, Manchester (to catch a match on 5-Dec), Newcastle. My hubby has very fond memories of Wales and be great if we could include a walk/hike in the region. A trip to York/Edinburgh or Ireland would be bonus but not sure if time permits. Is it better to start from London (3-4 Dec)? Would it be less crowded on Mon/Tue to weekend? Another crazy thought is include a day trip to Paris.

Also, would be great if you can recommend some places for best fish & chips, scones and a good pint of guinness.

Much thanks! Sylvia

13th October 2018 at 11:55 pm

Thanks for your comment, it’s always appreciated! Let me try to help!

Your trip does sound do-able, but it depends on how rushed you wanted to be. We’d suggest at least two days in London, and from London it’s easy enough to do a day trip that includes Stonehenge and Bath. However, as you are doing Manchester on the 5th, you might need to do this after that, as you’ll want to get up to Manchester in time for the match on the 5th. A train to Manchester from London is easy enough, just book in advance for the best tickets. Then you can get a train from Manchester to Newcastle, and then back down to London.

If you wanted to visit Wales, I think the best option would be from Manchester. York could be done on the way from Manchester to Newcastle, either as a day stop or an overnight stop.

Personally, with the time you have I’d probably advise against adding Ireland or France, as it’s just going to involve more travel days and less time sight-seeing. For food and drink, to be honest, most pubs serve decent Guinness these days, just make sure you visit a popular one so that the barrels are regularly cleaned. We usually just check google reviews, and find a pub that does good fish and chips. London will generally be more expensive, other cities less so 🙂

Hope this helps!

14th October 2018 at 2:35 pm

Thank you Laurence! We plan to self-drive (outside of London) for greater flexibility. Will use your links to book car and accommodation. I will share with you how our trip goes. Regardless, I know it will be a blast!

Let me know if I can bring anything for you from Singapore. 🙂

17th October 2018 at 7:36 pm

Hey Sylvia! Thanks so much 😀 We’ve not actually visited Singapore, so we don’t know what we would want, but that’s very kind of you to offer 🙂 Do let us know how your trip goes!

Miyako says

20th September 2018 at 7:40 am

Hello, I would greatly appreciate some advice on our first 9D8N trip (last min) in early Nov to London. We will be flying into Gatwick and leaving from there. There are so many sight-seeings in London, however we are thinking if we could squeeze in a self-drive to see the countryside.

What would the weather be like in November? We are hoping to capture some gorgeous pics at the countryside. If the weather is bad, then perhaps we will just do London and one more city.

We would like to visit the following: Windsor Castle Bath Stonehenge Chelsea Stadium Edinburgh

Westminister Abbey St Paul’s Cathedral Imperial War museum Churchill War rooms Tower Bridge Shard skyscrapper Big Ben British museum London Bridge experience Sky Garden Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Moulin Rouge London eye London zoo

Is it too ambitious? Could you help us plan a route that is most efficient? We would also like to catch a musical.

Many thanks in advance!

21st September 2018 at 2:19 pm

Your itinerary definitely looks achievable. I would suggest you need around three- four days in London to get all those things done. You would then want a day for Stonehenge and Bath, and half a day for Windsor. These are possible as day trips from London, or you can visit them independently. So with the amount of time you have, i think you should be fine.

My only feedback is around the Moulin Rouge – do you mean the musical? Because the actual Moulin Rouge is in Paris 🙂 For Edinburgh I would recommend at least two days. If you only visit Edinburgh, it will probably be quicker to fly or take the train.

6th September 2018 at 6:32 pm

Hi Laurence,

Cass here from Malaysia 🙂 I’m doing some research to plan for a 5 days (11th -15th Sept) road trip from London to Edinburgh & back to London, and found that your article is really useful for me & the itinerary pretty fits to my itinerary!

Appreciate if you could advice on my 5 days itinerary if I’m driving with my family (6 of us)? Or would you suggest us to go with other transportation? If you recommend driving, where is good to rent a 7 seaters?

I think I would most likely follow 80% of your itinerary here but would be helpful if you could share some advice here as I have some concerns. I will skip London cz I’ve been there. Prefer to explore more of cities outside London especially Edinburgh 🙂 Not too keen on visiting churches or normal structure, but love experiencing, sightseeing., nice places for pictures haha! Of course if the church is a super historical one then we don’t mind. Just hope to visit as many places out of London as possible within these 5 days (**sorry abit greedy haha!) By the way, a lil confused on point 3 & 4.

Much apologies for the last minute enquiries as my schedule is kinda tight over here.

Looking forward to your reply! 😀

Thanks, Cass.

6th September 2018 at 6:46 pm

Great to hear from you. So to answer your question on car hire, we usually try Enterprise and Priceline. I just checked, and both have the option to specify how many passengers, and they both have options for 6 people 🙂 You can see links under our car hire suggestions here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/travel-resources/#Car-Rental

For the itinerary in this post, a car is definitely going to work better than public transport. For six of you, a car will also be more cost effective, as tickets for six people, especially at this short notice, will definitely work out more expensive.

So for your trip, I would follow the itinerary pretty closely, but skipping London. Perhaps start with Stonehenge and the Cotwolds, then overnight in Oxford on your first night ( https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/6-ways-spend-day-oxford/ ). Second day you could explore Oxford then head north to Warwick. Overnight at Warwick, see the sights, then head further north, perhaps to York for your third night. Then on again, maybe a night in Durham, before your last night in Edinburgh?

Should give you something to work from anyway, without too much driving every day!

Hope this works for you! Have a great trip 🙂

Stella says

4th August 2018 at 5:10 pm

Thank you for providing such a great itinerary! My family and I are planning a trip for about 5 or 6 days total to the UK and the only set plan is to leave from London at the end of the trip. Now, we either want to go to Oxford and stay in that area for a few days, or go to Edinburgh and take a train directly to London. Which would you recommend? Thanks!

4th August 2018 at 5:14 pm

Hey Stella! My pleasure 🙂

Well, it really depends on what you want to see. From Oxford you have access to the Cotswolds and highlights like the Roman city of Bath, and of course, Stonehenge. Edinburgh is a bit bigger than Oxford so there is a bit more to see and do in the city, and then of course there are a lot of great day trips you can do to places like Loch Lomond, the highlands – even Loch Ness. So I guess it depends on if you want more cute villages, or more dramatic medieval city / landscapes!

I love both cities, so it’s hard to pick, but as a city I think Edinburgh has a bit more to offer, just because of the size. Hope this helps – have a great trip!

Cherry Vanderhoek says

22nd July 2018 at 5:49 pm

HI there, I was originally going to do your one week itinerary starting in London and ending in Glasgow but now due to flights I have to start in Gatwick and end in Gatwick. I love everything on your itinerary. I want to see quant villages, Stonehenge, Castles (medieval if possible) and I do love the look of that one house where they were inspired for Lord of the Rings, beautiful. I also wouldn’t mind seeing a nice market and a couple local pubs along the way. By the looks of things, based on your one week itinerary, I could do:

London- Stonehendge/Bath/Cotswolds/- Warwickshire/Peak District/Yorkshire

but than after that I would need to start rounding back down towards Gatwick. What do you suggest and where can I fit in Cambridge and possibly a medieval castle and a market? Or should I spend more time in London at the end?

Keep in mind I have been to London before and have seen alot of the main sites but definitely not all of them. How is the driving there, I will be on my own?

Thank you 🙂

22nd July 2018 at 9:35 pm

Well, Warwick has a castle, as does Oxford, so you might want to add in Oxford on your way out. You could do Cambridge on the way back to London from York, that would be quite easy. York is also home to a pile of medieval streets which should tick that box very nicely. Also, not to forget, London has a super old castle in the form of the Tower of London – although I suspect you might have been there already.

In terms of driving, the UK isn’t too bad once you get used to being on the left side (I have some tips for driving in the UK here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/tips-for-driving-in-the-uk/ ). I’d definitely avoid driving in London though, it’s really slow and inefficient, parking is hard to find, and the congestion charge makes it really expensive! So definitely avoid that if you can.

Otherwise, have a great trip, and let me know if I can help any more!

4th June 2018 at 5:46 pm

I would love to follow your itinerary and would love to add 2-3 more days in it. Will be a family of 5 with 3 preteens. Are there any special considerations. Would like to see Stonehenge from road and would like to drove through Stratford on Avon. Would also like to add York to our trop and see Sycamore gsp. Is it worth going to Edinburgh in August for festival or should we avoid it? Any thoughts on where to stay town-wize in the Cotswolds and where would be the best placd to make a run for York and still ser Chatworth, Baddesly and the ruins? Thanks.

5th June 2018 at 8:56 am

Hey Joe! I guess it depends on the stamina of your kids 🙂 If they are very young then usually we advise cutting back a fair bit, but if they’re closer to teenage then they probably have more energy than everyone else 😉

Edinburgh is great in August if you are into the festival, but it is very very busy (and accommodation is harder to come by and more expensive), so if you’re not that excited about the festival, you might want to visit another location. For the Cotswolds, you can try Burton on the Water, Burford or Stow on the Wold 🙂 – or you could stay in Stratford which would give you a good run up to York.

Rocksy says

19th May 2018 at 3:28 pm

Thank you so much..

Rocksy Vidiaty says

16th May 2018 at 8:17 pm

Hi Laurence, thank you so much for your article. It helps me a lot in planning our UK big family trip next June. There will be 7 adults and 6 kids in this trip. Where would you suggest us to stay? And do we need to be a member of EH or NT in order to cut off the cost of entrance fee? Thank you for your advices..

regards, RFV

17th May 2018 at 6:03 pm

Hey Rocksy – my pleasure. Wow, that sounds like quite the trip 🙂 For the English Heritage and National Trust sites, if you’re a member then you get free admission. If you’re visiting from overseas, you can pick up the passes I link to which are cheaper than annual membership, and last for a shorter duration – normally long enough to cover a trip. My suggestion would be to look up the entry prices for the attractions you are interested in, add them up, and see if the pass would save you the money or not.

For accommodation, for such a large group my suggestion would be to look at larger apartment rentals as that will give you more flexibility as a larger group. Hotels are an option, but you would likely have to book quite a few rooms, so apartments might be a better option. I have a list of accommodation sites that specialise in apartment rentals that might be a good place to start, you can see that here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/alternatives-to-airbnb/

Have an amazing trip, and do let us know how it goes – and do feel free to send us any more questions of course 🙂

18th May 2018 at 10:36 am

Thanks Laurence. We plan to rent 2 big cars and do our self-drive UK trip. We will follow some of your route and modify the rest. So our route will be Heathrow – Stonehenge – Bath – Cotswold (in one day) -Baddesley Clinton-Chatsworth (in one day). From here we have 2 options, either go to York (in one day) – Cambridge – Oxford (in one day) -Windsor -London (in 3 days), or go to Manchester-Liverpool-Snowdonia (in 2 days) -Oxford-Windsor-London (in 3 days). We have 8 days in total. Can you please give some advice? In our group there will be 80 years old lady to 2 years old boy..

Thanks in advance Regards, Rocksy

18th May 2018 at 9:10 pm

Sounds like a great trip! Well, I don’t think you’ll have enough time in 2 days to do Manchester, Liverpool and Snowdonia, so my suggestion would be the first option you suggest, which will give you a bit more time. I’d also add that Cambridge and Oxford are fairly similar, so you might prefer to just pick one of the two 🙂

Crystal says

9th May 2018 at 6:57 pm

HI. I was wondering if you had a detailed map of this 1 week UK itinerary. Thank you

10th May 2018 at 8:52 am

Hi Crystal! That is an excellent point – I have been trying to add maps to my itineraries and seem to have missed this one. I’ll add one in as soon as I can and will respond to your comment again when I have done so – thanks for letting me know 🙂

Dylan Wright says

8th May 2018 at 10:28 am

Thank you for the article. But I would like to ask a question. I want to rent a car, but I’m under 25. What is the UK policy for renting a car to students?

8th May 2018 at 12:33 pm

There’s no UK wide policy on age restrictions for car rentals – it’s varies from company to company. I would advise checking individual car rental services like Enterprise, Hertz, Sixt etc. and seeing what their policy is. Most companies will have a surcharge for drivers younger than 25, but it should still be possible to rent a car. I have more information on my driving in the UK post, which you can eee here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/tips-for-driving-in-the-uk/

Kathleen says

27th April 2018 at 2:01 am

I’m so happy to have found this! My husband and I are planning a one week trip this June coming from the US and this sounds perfect. I am just trying to figure out how to fit everything in along with the driving. Several things don’t open until 10 or 11 am and then close early, which doesn’t leave much time. For example, you mention staying at Fountains Abbey through sunset, but the website says it closes at 18:00. Can you stay on the grounds past closing? I’m also trying to decide if it would be worth stopping for a night between Newcastle and Edinburgh if we have time which gives us more time in Edinburgh. Any suggestions? Thanks

27th April 2018 at 9:12 am

Hi Kathleen!

I’m glad to have been able to help! Opening times can be a bit of a challenge for sure, and they vary by season – so you’ll definitely have to plan around them. It also depends what time of year you visit depending on the sunset – in June the sun won’t set until around 10pm, in December, it’s more like 4pm! With Fountains Abbey, when I spoke to the staff there they said you were fine to stay after official closing hours, there’s just no entry after those times. it’s a huge park, so they’d struggle to get everyone out anyway! For an overnight stop between Edinburgh and Newcastle, there are a few options, perhaps Alnwick would be a good option?

27th April 2018 at 5:48 pm

Thank you so much for answering my questions! I have one more for you. My husband is very leery of trying to drive since we are used to driving on the other side of the road. If we plan on picking up a rental car at heathrow on our way out of London on day 3 and returning it either in Newcastle (to take the train to Edinburgh) or at the Edinburgh airport at our arrival there, how much city driving would there be? The thought of getting confused in a roundabout scare him 🙂 Thanks so. much! Kathleen

27th April 2018 at 5:52 pm

My pleasure Kathleen 😀 The remaining cities are not really that big (London is by far the worst to drive in), but I would say that the UK doesn’t have quite the interstate system of the USA, so there will still be the odd roundabout to deal with. But if you take your time (and make sure to hire an automatic if you’re not used to driving stick!) then you should be ok. I also have a guide to driving in the UK he might find helpful, which I wrote from the perspective of someone coming from the US in mind 🙂 You definitely won’t need a car in Edinburgh. I would also advise bringing a GPS – even google maps with an offline version of the UK downloaded onto it will make your travels a lot easier.

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/tips-for-driving-in-the-uk/

26th April 2018 at 7:17 pm

Dear Laurence and Jessica, this all sounds pretty amazing. I have lived in the UK for over ten years (Southampton and London) and I totally agree with the itinerary you’re suggesting. I was wondering if you can give me any ideas on the following: my fiance and I will be in York in June for work and then have about six days to travel around the country. We want to spend the two last days in London as we need to catch our plane back to Australia. We’ve been debating whether we should explore the Scottish Highlands or go down to Cornwall, both of which are places we haven’t visited before. Or are we missing out on a better itinerary for our timeframe? I admit I very much like your one week in the UK although I have visited most of these places before…Any ideas? Thank you!

26th April 2018 at 7:32 pm

Thanks for your comment. Let me see if I can help 🙂 My personal preference would be to go to the Scottish Highlands. I’m not sure how you are travelling exactly, either by car or public transport, but your best option would be to take a car – either take the train to Inverness and hire one, or drive up from York. For scenery, my suggestion would be to head to the west coast – perhaps Glencoe, the Isle of Skye, and then up the west coast towards Durness. That part of the country is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK. Definitely check out my North Coast 500 itinerary ( https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/7-day-north-coast-500-camping-itinerary/ ) for pointers on that, as well as our Isle of Skye photography guide ( https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/skye-photography-locations-scotland/ ).

One other option, I’m not sure if you’ve been to the Lake District, but if you didn’t want to drive so much then that’s also a good option from York 🙂

Have a great trip – let me know if you have any more questions!

8th May 2018 at 5:30 pm

Dear Laurence,

Many thanks for your prompt response and apologies it took me forever to get back to you! We will be renting a car to do our travelling. Lake District is currently one of our options and we are also considering the Yorkshire moors as a closer option before heading down to London. Any preference between the two (Lake District vs Yorkshire moors)? Thank you!

10th May 2018 at 8:56 am

No need to apologise! My personal preference would be the Lake District – it’s a really beautiful part of the UK. The only thing is it’s likely to be a bit busier than the Yorkshire moors, so if it’s peace and quiet you are after, the Yorkshire Moors are also very beautiful and likely to be a bit less busy! Hope this helps a bit 🙂

H Singh says

15th April 2018 at 9:41 am

Dear Laurence and Jessica, All of this is wonderful and very helpful info. What would you suggest to see and do in UK for a family of four on a net budget of around 1500 GBP. Tickets and Visa to UK I shall take care separately. We plan to visit in July and start the itinerary by travelling into London Please advise. Thanks. HS

15th April 2018 at 2:20 pm

Thanks for your message! You will be pleased to hear that I have just today published a detailed post that covers the cost of travel in the UK. This is based on two people, but you should be able to use the numbers to help inform your budget. You can see that here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/cost-travel-uk/

How long are you in the UK for and what are you interested in?

15th April 2018 at 4:41 pm

Dear Lawrence,

Thanks for your prompt reply. Your article related to the costs is very timely for me, I am looking forward to a short UK holiday in July with family (me, wife, teen son, pre-teen daughter) on a 1500 GBP budget (airfare, visas separate). Seeing the costs in the article, wondering how to make it possible!!! Any advice will be very useful to me!

18th April 2018 at 6:29 am

My advice would be to book as much in advance as you can – especially train tickets or plane tickets are much cheaper if you book them in advance. For accommodation, try some of the alternative lodging options ( https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/alternatives-to-airbnb/ ) – which might help you save money, especially travelling as a family. I hope this helps a bit.

19th April 2018 at 6:57 pm

I’ll look into the link you provided for accommodation, as well as note your advice on advance bookings. Thank you Lawrence.

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UK itinerary 4 weeks: How do I plan a 4 week trip to the UK?

Planning a 4-week trip to the UK can be an exciting task. Here are some steps to help you plan your trip:

• Determine your budget: Before you start planning your trip, it’s important to figure out how much you can afford to spend. This will help you decide on things like accommodation, transportation, and activities.
• Decide on your travel dates: Knowing when you want to travel will help you determine your itinerary and make reservations.
• Decide on your destinations: The UK is a large country with many places to visit. Decide which cities and regions you want to see. Some popular destinations include London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Lake District, York, and Cornwall.
• Book your flights: Once you have your travel dates and destinations, book your flights. Try to book early to get the best deals.
• Book your accommodation: Research and book your accommodation in advance, especially if you plan to visit during peak season. Options include hotels, hostels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals.
• Plan your itinerary: Decide what activities you want to do in each destination, and how much time you want to spend in each place. Use travel guides and online resources to plan your itinerary.
• Purchase travel insurance: Consider purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself from unexpected events like trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage.
• Pack appropriately: Check the weather forecast for the places you’ll be visiting and pack accordingly. Don’t forget essentials like travel adapters, a camera, and comfortable shoes.
• Enjoy your trip: With everything planned and organized, it’s time to enjoy your trip! Remember to take plenty of photos, try the local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the culture of the UK.

UK itinerary 4 weeks

A 4-week itinerary for the UK can vary depending on your interests, but here’s a sample itinerary that covers some of the most popular destinations in the country:

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• Arrive in London and spend 3-4 days exploring the city’s iconic landmarks, such as Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the British Museum.
• Take a day trip to Windsor Castle or Stonehenge.
• Take the train to Edinburgh and spend 3-4 days exploring the Scottish capital, including Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and the National Museum of Scotland.
• Take a day trip to the Scottish Highlands or Loch Ness.
• Take the train to York and spend 2-3 days exploring the historic city, including York Minster, the Shambles, and the National Railway Museum.
• Take a day trip to the Yorkshire Dales or the North York Moors.
• Take the train to Bath and spend 2-3 days exploring the city’s Roman Baths, Georgian architecture, and surrounding countryside.
• Head to Cornwall and spend 2-3 days exploring the region’s stunning coastline and quaint fishing villages, such as St. Ives, Falmouth, and Padstow.
• End your trip with a day or two in Bristol, known for its street art, historic harbor, and Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Of course, there are many other destinations and attractions you could include in your itinerary, so be sure to research and customize it based on your interests and preferences.

Still have some travel questions? Ask in our Travel WhatsApp Group .

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Akesse Sanza is a Ghanaian Travel Blogger, Travel and Tourism Consultant, and Anti-human Trafficking And Safe Migration advocate. Akesse loves everything Travel & Tourism and aims to see every single country in the world.

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About British Self-drive Tours

Take the wheel on these carefully curated road trips and you’ll soon be making lifelong memories as you discover the UK. Explore ancient heritage sites, vibrant cities and stunning national parks on your getaway, with help from a UK-based travel consultant who will arrange it all for you.

When you book a driving tour of the UK with Nordic Visitor, you can expect:

• An authentic travel experience operated by a trusted local company • A dedicated travel consultant to arrange your trip • A detailed personal itinerary and hand-marked route map • Car rental with unlimited mileage and CDW insurance • Handpicked accommodation for a relaxing stay • 24/7 phone support during your travels for peace of mind

To begin your trip with Nordic Visitor, follow these simple steps:

1. Pick your favourite Nordic Visitor package 2. Confirm (or customise) your package 3. Check your confirmation email 4. Book your flights 5. Get ready for your trip

Why Book With Us

Book With Confidence

Secure your trip your way with Nordic Visitor. Book a tour with as little as 10% deposit. With a 20% deposit or more, you will receive our Cancellation Protection free of charge. You can also pay the full price right away to guarantee today’s exchange rate. Terms & conditions apply.

Trusted local travel experts

Since 2002, Nordic Visitor has been crafting unforgettable trips in Northern Europe. As experienced British tour operators, you can be sure that we have carefully chosen every accommodation, route and attraction. Plus, your personal UK-based expert will have plenty of local knowledge to share with you.

Car insurance included

Your self-drive tour includes a rental car with our tried-and-tested partner. You also get Collision Damage Waiver insurance and unlimited mileage as standard. So with Nordic Visitor, you can take the wheel with confidence. Plus, you have the freedom to pick the type of rental car you want.

Great reviews

Our dedicated teams deliver excellent service quality, and this is reflected year after year when TripAdvisor awards us with their Certificate of Excellence. We also take great pride in our customer feedback: 97% of our travelers say they would recommend us to friends and family.

You are in good hands

Embrace your independence on a self-drive tour, where assistance is just a call away. If something unexpected crops up during your trip, contact a travel consultant on our 24/7 helpline. Whether it's an unforeseen event or weather issue, we will update your itinerary while keeping you safe and informed.

Full financial protection

With Nordic Visitor, you have peace of mind knowing your holiday arrangements with us are 100% financially protected. Your payments are safeguarded as we comply with European Union laws on Package Travel regulations. This guarantees you a refund in the unlikely event of insolvency.

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Sleep soundly knowing that we have handpicked every hotel, guesthouse and B&B for its character and high standards of comfort and cleanliness. You’ll also find that each place you stay has easy access to parking and is in a convenient location for sightseeing. And, of course, you’ll get a warm welcome.

Flexible tour options

These self-drive tours are designed by our local travel experts, incorporating the best destinations and routes so you’ll get the most out of your time in the UK. And you can amend your itinerary online by adding optional activities or extra nights, and treat yourself by upgrading from Comfort Plus to Superior accommodation.

Reviews for UK Road Trips

These UK self-drive tours are brand new, but you can read feedback from our customers about their road trips in Scotland.

Laura United States

AMAZING. We stayed in hotels we probably would not have booked on our own and the host were fabulous and told us that... read more

AMAZING. We stayed in hotels we probably would not have booked on our own and the host were fabulous and told us that Annie was a pleasure to work with when booking our stay. All the hotels knew who we were and expected us. When our ferry got cancelled Annie made sure to call the hotel and notify us of a change of plans and gave us a very detailed route and got in contact with our next hotel to notify them that we would be late. We were very impressed!

Linda United States

We had a very successful trip and I attribute a lot of this to the preparations put into place by Nordic. It was nice... read more

We had a very successful trip and I attribute a lot of this to the preparations put into place by Nordic. It was nice to know everything was laid out for us and a map highlighted with our trip and hotels marked was a great thing to have.  Also, the suggestions of things we might like to see was great!! Once again, thanks for a great trip!

Highlights of Your UK Driving Tour

Get ready to discover the best of England, Scotland and Wales on a UK road trip. Embrace the freedom to travel at your own pace and soon you could…

• Visit the top attractions in and around London such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle
• Meander the Georgian streets of Bath , a UNESCO World Heritage Site and old Roman spa town
• Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Lake District , much loved by famous poet William Wordsworth
• Admire the view from York ’s medieval walls and check out the city’s countless pubs and lively markets
• Look for Harry Potter filming locations in historic Edinburgh and the renowned university city of Oxford
• Venture to places like Glenfinnan in the Scottish Highlands for rugged peaks and heather-clad valleys
• Uncover Scottish history and folklore at iconic spots, including Edinburgh Castle and Loch Ness
• Delve into Welsh heritage at Conwy Castle and spend time in the charming seaside town of Llandudno
• Soak up stunning scenery in British national parks, like the Peak District , Trossachs and Snowdonia (Eryri)

Frequently Asked Questions About Self-drive UK Tour Packages

You might like to know more before booking your British self-drive tour with Nordic Visitor. Here we’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about visiting the UK and travelling with us.

What’s more, choose Nordic Visitor and you can Book With Confidence , safe in the knowledge that your payments are protected. If you want to learn more about our processes and payment details, check out these booking terms and FAQs .

1. Can you drive around the UK?

Yes! Thanks to an extensive road network, you’ll find that driving is one of the most convenient ways to explore the UK. Hire a car and you’ll be able to travel around the UK at your own pace, stopping whenever you like along the way.

Depending on where you’re going in the UK, you can expect different types of roads. Most major cities within the UK are connected by motorways or dual carriageways, which are often the quickest way to get from A to B. That said, you’ll usually enjoy a more picturesque journey by getting off these major routes.

When you book with Nordic Visitor, you can leave the route planning to us. Our local experts know the best roads to take around the country for both scenery and ease. You’ll even get a personalised road map that’s hand-marked with the recommended driving route for your trip.

For helpful information on driving in the UK, read our blog filled with travel tips from a local expert.

2. What side of the road do drivers use in the UK?

You drive on the left-hand side of the road in the UK. This means your rental car will be right-hand drive and you’ll change gears with your left hand.

While many locals drive manual (stick shift) cars, you’ll find that rental companies offer automatic vehicles as well. In fact, if it’s your first time driving on the left-hand side – or if you feel more comfortable driving an automatic – we recommend this.

3. How long does it take to drive across the UK?

At its widest point, the UK is around 300 miles (500 kilometres) across. And it’s around 600 miles (1,000 kilometres) long. But you won’t necessarily be driving to all corners of the country, so it depends where exactly you plan on visiting.

While you can drive along motorways to arrive at your next destination more quickly, we suggest that you follow a more meandering route away from these major highways. This way, you’ll get to enjoy scenic views as you journey through the beautiful British countryside. Of course, this means the duration of your trip depends on what you’d like to see and do in the UK.

4. How many days do I need for my road trip?

For a driving tour of England and Scotland, with the chance to see Wales as well, you’ll need at least 7 days. This will give you time to take in some of the top highlights in a short space of time. We do suggest that you stay longer than this, if you can, to have more free days to explore.

With 10 days, you could spend more time at key stops along the way. And with even longer, such as 2-3 weeks, you could delve more deeply into the local culture, enjoy travelling at a leisurely pace, and venture to more destinations and attractions.

Nordic Visitor’s UK travel experts have used their local knowledge to curate a range of itineraries, with various stops and durations. So you can pick the tour package that suits your interests and preferred pace. You can also add extra nights to extend your road trip.

5. Where are the best places to go for a British road trip?

Despite its relatively small size, you’ll find the UK is brimming with variety. So if you want to explore the best highlights, don’t limit yourself to just one region or country.

With so many distinct landscapes, towns and cities to discover, you’ll want to tour around to make the most of your time here. And you don’t need to travel far to do so!

With a rich cultural heritage going back further than Neolithic times, you can visit historic sites through the ages. For instance, you could admire the view from York’s medieval city walls and stroll past elegant Georgian townhouses in Bath and Edinburgh. You’ll also uncover places where the Romans and Vikings left their mark.

The UK’s natural scenery is just as diverse. Venture to Scotland’s west coast and you’ll glimpse sparkling lakes and rugged mountains. Meanwhile, head to the English midlands for gorgeous countryside dotted with pretty market towns.

Here’s a round-up of the top places for you to check out on your UK road trip:

Must-see cities: • London • Oxford • Bath • York • Edinburgh

Charming small towns: • Ambleside • Bakewell • Portree • Llandudno • Prestatyn

Beautiful national parks: • Lake District • Peak District • Yorkshire Dales • Trossachs • Snowdonia (Eryri)

Other top spots you won’t want to miss: • Stonehenge • Hadrian's Wall • Loch Ness • Isle of Skye • Portmeirion village

If you’re thinking about combining your British escape with an Irish self-drive tour , get inspired by these top spots and the best road trips in Ireland .

6. When is the best time to visit?

You can have an unforgettable British getaway at any time of year. But visit between April and October, and you’ll benefit from longer daylight hours and warmer weather compared to the winter. Plus, while some attractions are open year-round, you’ll find that others will close during the winter months.

So for the best sightseeing experience, we recommend travelling in spring, summer or autumn. Just pick the season that most appeals to you.

Spring – April to May – is often the driest time of year in the UK. But, don’t let this be the main reason you choose to visit in spring, as the weather can be changeable all year. Instead, come for the quieter attractions and blooming flowers.

Summer – June, July and August – is the most popular season for exploring the UK by car. This is because the days are long and temperatures tend to be warm. It’s also the school holidays during this time, so it’s peak time for family trips in the UK.

In British towns and cities, summer brings a vibrant atmosphere and outdoor festivals showcasing food, music and art. Meanwhile, the countryside and coastline come alive with visitors and locals, soaking up nature in the better weather.

Autumn – late September to October – is similar to spring, in that there tends to be fewer visitors around. And as the temperature drops, you’ll see forests turning from green to vibrant shades of yellow and orange.

To find out more about the seasons, read this blog on the best time to visit the UK .

7. How do I plan a UK road trip?

When it comes to planning your dream trip to the UK, you’ll want to consider a few things. For instance, where you’ll visit, what you’ll do along the way, and the route you’ll take around England, Scotland and Wales. You’ll also need to plan your accommodation and rental car.

Instead of doing all the work yourself, why not leave the planning to us? You’ll have a dedicated travel consultant, based here in the UK, to organise your itinerary and make the arrangements for you.

Their insider knowledge means that whatever trip you choose, you’ll get to experience the best the UK has to offer in the time you’ve got. Plus, no matter the itinerary you select, you’ll enjoy a mix of stunning landscapes and captivating towns and cities.

Your personal travel consultant will book your accommodation, car rental, and any excursions before you arrive. With your UK itinerary taken care of, all you need to do is look forward to your trip.

8. What is covered with car rental for my self-drive tour?

Go for a driving tour of Great Britain with Nordic Visitor and you’ll get car hire with our tried-and-tested partner as standard. What’s more, your car rental package comes with the following:

• • Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
• • Unlimited mileage
• • Authorisation for 2 drivers
• • GPS navigation system

If you have questions about hiring a car, you can also speak to one of our UK-based travel consultants.

9. Do I need an international driver’s licence in the UK?

If your national driving licence is valid, in date and recognised in the UK, you don’t need to get an international driving licence (IDP). This will let you drive any small vehicle listed on your licence, including our rental cars.

For England, Scotland and Wales, you can use your driving licence for up to 12 months from the day you enter the country.

Bear in mind that the rules are different in Northern Ireland. Find out more on the government website .

10. Are there any age limits regarding car rental in the UK?

Yes, there are some age requirements for car rental on these UK self-drive tours. And please bear in mind that no matter what age you are, you’ll need a driving licence that’s valid in the UK.

You can hire a vehicle from any of Nordic Visitor’s rental car categories if you’re aged between 25 and 79.

If you are 23 or 24 years old and have held your driving licence for at least 1 year, you can rent a car with a young driver surcharge of £25 per day. You’ll be able to choose from Nordic Visitor car rental categories A, B, C and F.

The minimum age to rent a car in the UK is 21. And you’ll find there are specific rental companies who can organise vehicle hire and insurance for you if you’re 21 or 22. In this case, we’d be happy to arrange the rest of your tour and advise you on where to book your rental car.

If you are aged 80 or over, you can pick a car from any of our rental categories. A doctor’s note is no longer required by our local car hire partner. But you’ll need to let them know of any medical conditions and confirm that you’re acting on your doctor’s guidance.

11. Can I make changes to my tour?

Yes, you can adjust your package online. Choose from a wide range of optional activities, upgrade your accommodation, and add extra nights in places along your route.

For instance, we recommend spending more time in Oxford at the start of your trip. There’s so much to discover – you could try out a punting boat trip on the River Cherwell and check out the fascinating Bodleian Library. Plus, there’s the pub that’s well-known for being one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s and C.S. Lewis’s favourite places to meet.

London – the iconic cosmopolitan capital – is bursting with things to do and sights to see. Add extra nights here at the end of your trip to soak up as much of it as you can. Use your extra time here to visit world-renowned museums and galleries, grand royal palaces and famous British shops.

What’s more, if you want to immerse yourself in nature, you could extend your stay in places such as Fort William or the Lake District.

12. Can I choose the arrival date?

Absolutely! Begin your UK self-drive tour whenever you like between April and October. Each tour has an online calendar where you can see up-to-date availability for that trip. Simply choose the date that works best for you.

13. When should I organise my flights?

We recommend holding off on booking flights until you have received a tour confirmation email from your dedicated travel consultant. That said, it’s worth checking to see what flights are available before choosing your trip dates.

Once your tour is confirmed, you can go ahead with making travel arrangements for your UK getaway.

14. What should I pack for my road trip?

You’ll find that the weather in the UK can be changeable, and varies between different locations. It can be much warmer in the south of England than in the Scottish Highlands, for example. So it’s worth packing for a mix of conditions.

No matter what you’ve got planned for your trip, comfortable shoes are a must. And a combination of warm and light layers will be handy for exploring sights in the city and countryside.

We suggest bringing these key items:

• Comfortable hiking shoes or boots
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Warm, insulated jacket
• Fleece or woollen jumper
• Light base layers
• Lightweight trousers or shorts
• Cosy hat, scarf and gloves
• Sunglasses, sun hat and sun cream
• Reusable water bottle
• UK plug adapter

For evenings out, you might want to bring some smart outfits too.

Get in touch with us if you want to know more about these self-drive tours of England, Scotland and Wales. Our Edinburgh-based experts will be happy to answer your questions and help you plan your perfect UK road trip.

Our British phone number is +44 (0)131 344 4630

How about a live chat with one of our local travel experts?

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4 Awesome National Parks UK Self-Drive Tours

For more than half a year we enjoyed British self-drive holidays. UK ‘s top national parks were on our bucket list. We found wild places in all of them, in England, Wales, and Scotland. From experiences of locals, travel bloggers and our own, we put together 4 National Parks UK self-drive tours which tick all the boxes of a splendid UK travel itinerary.

Table of Contents - Inhaltsverzeichnis

Road Trip: UK Self-Drive Tours

How many national parks are there in the UK? Can you name them all? The number is rising which speaks for Britain’s growing interest to preserve its beautiful nature. As by 2018, there are fifteen, with the South Downs one of the lesser famous national parks to visit, recently established in 2010. Too much to discover all of them on a short holiday break, so you’ll have to pick and choose between all the national parks in the UK.

Free National Parks: No admission Fees in any wild places of Britain!

The following suggestions are adaptable self-drive tours for the purpose of inspiring your next holiday. You might like to break up your National Parks UK road trip itinerary. Change and match to find the best road trip routes for yourself. It would be worth to enjoy the places in-depth and spend enough time to see nature and not just the road.

UK National Parks Map

National Park Week UK 2018: 23 – 29 July During the National Park Week 2018, several events take place in 5 UK Parks. Its a wonderful opportunity for the best UK family holidays with guided walks, treasure trails, and seaside safaris. Find your nearest National Park and drop by! Here you will find the best places to camp in UK during your UK self-drive tours.

We recommend the following travel guides:

National Parks England:

North york moors.

Not only that the North York Moors contain the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom, it’s also England’s most wooded National Park. It makes sense to combine the North York Moors National Park with a visit to the Yorkshire Dales National Park on your UK self-drive tours. The heather covers one-third and the forest twenty-two percent of the National Park: England and Wales ‘ largest acreage of such habitat.

Our dog, Vlou, in the heather

As one of the national parks in the north east of Britain with a diverse landscape, it lends itself perfectly to outdoor activities as a walker’s and cyclist’s paradise. More than 2’300km of paths lead through the moors. This National Park in England offers besides its natural beauty along the east coast, cultural gems like a picturesque steam railway or ancient castles and churches in the Yorkshire Moors .

Click on the road trip Map UK above to find the England National Parks map details.

We were house sitting in the Yorkshire area and had a good look around the North York Moors National Park. As it was winter we didn’t see the heather in bloom which must be just amazing. Nevertheless, it is a place to visit at any time and to explore along the coast and inland. Click here for detailed travel advice. 

North York Facts

The Peak District National Park UK

Jenny, TraveLynnFamily

The Peak District National Park England, nestled between the big cities of Manchester, Sheffield, and Derby, is a place I have been visiting since I was a young girl and now take my two young boys whenever I can. There’s nothing better than a long walk through the green rolling hills and over dry stone walls to a cozy old pub serving real ale in front of a roaring fire.

Britain’s first National Park is dotted with heritage farmyards and quaint villages, amongst some of England’s finest countryside, and you are guaranteed to stumble across many farmyard animals (just be wary of those lonesome bulls and avoid wear red!) If you visit during lambing season (early Spring) be sure to visit Blaze Farm to watch lambs being born – it’s incredible to witness.

Reward your physical activity in one of the many cosy local pubs with a pint of Black Sheep and a hearty roast dinner or chip butty. Allow at least a week to absorb the charm of the Peak District and stay in one of the charming Peak District holiday cottages. Our favourite place to stay is Bluebird Cottage near Parwich .

Peak District Cottages

Peak district facts.

Yorkshire Dales National Park

Chris and Heather, A Brit And A Southerner When you think about idyllic British countryside, there are not many places more magical than the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Full of historic, stone-built villages, breathtaking natural landscapes and a myriad of vibrant communities, this UK national park is one that immediately captures the imagination.

Whether you are intrigued by the thought of hiking around Yorkshire National Park fells and stumbling across ancient ruins, such as Bolton Abbey near Skipton, or perhaps you prefer the thought of visiting the iconic city of York, this part of the UK is full of endless possibilities.

If you are looking to just get away from life in the city, perhaps the real reason you will want to visit the Yorkshire Dales is to allow yourselves to get lost in amazing natural landscapes that will surround you. Discover gorgeous lakes, caves and much more and realize that this is the place you will want to return to time and time again. For the waterfall aficionados out there, well the Yorkshire Dales don’t disappoint with falls such as Cotter Force, Ingleton Waterfalls and the dramatic Aysgarth Falls providing some of the best in the UK.

One of our favorite spots is Haworth, infamously known as being the home of the Brontë sisters. Not only will you immediately appreciate why they found this to be such an attractive spot to create many of their masterpieces, you will quickly fall in love with the quirky yet charming architecture, plethora of local cafes and abundance of panoramic scenes fit for any painting.

Yorkshire Dales Facts

The Lake District National Park

Anisa, Two Traveling Texans

Several people had told me that England’s Lake District was lovely, but it still far exceeded my expectations.  In addition to the stunning scenery, I just loved the tranquil atmosphere.  The Lake District is Britain’s largest national park and has been recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Click on the map above to scroll into details of the lake district national park map.

There is plenty to do in the Lake District.  Of course, it’s nice to get out on the water.  Windermere Lake Cruises offer several different boat tours.  We decided to take the cruise from Bowness to Ambleside, do some exploring, then return back to Bowness.  If you prefer you can also rent a self-drive or rowboat to explore the lake on your own.

The water is calm and the scenery is picturesque.  On our boat ride, there was narration so you could learn more about the area.  I thought it was interesting that the children’s author, Beatrix Potter was instrumental in preserving the Lake District.  You can learn more at the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction.

The Lake District belongs to the UK’s most popular national parks. Avoid peak season if possible.

In Ambleside, we explored the town and then did a hike where we passed a few waterfalls and then got amazing views of Windermere.  Everything was so green and I loved that parts of the hike went through fields of sheep. The Lake District is a great area for hiking, there are many options for various distances and ability levels.

Whether you decide to go boating, do some hiking, or just explore the pretty towns, I am sure you will love the Lake District as much as I do.

Places to camp in England or log cabin breaks UK: find the best choice for for your UK self-drive tours here !

Lake District Facts

Northumberland National Park

Tracy, Tracy’s Travels in Time I was born in Northumberland which is in my view one of the most beautiful counties in England to visit. Northumberland National Park situated in the north of England on the border with Scotland offers so many wonderful experiences to the visitor.

Begin your adventure by visiting the Sill which is a brand new landscape discovery centre. This will inspire you to explore further and discover more of the land around. From there visit Hadrian’s Wall a UNESCO World Heritage Site which spans the park from east to west. Stop and walk the ancient Roman wall and visit some of the larger sites such as Chesters Roman fort or the remains of a third-century Roman temple Bocolitia.

Find the dark skies UK!

A number of sites have been identified as perfect Dark Skies Discover Sites such as Cawfields, Stonehaugh, and Harbottle.

While walking the park keep an eye out for wildlife including roe deer, wild goats, and the beautiful native red squirrel.

And finally, a visit to Northumberland National Park would not be complete without a visit to the Sycamore Gap tree. This tree is one of the most photographed in the country and stands in a dip in Hadrian’s Wall in the park. It has (in 2016) won the award for English Tree of the Year from the Woodland Trust.

Northumberland National Park Facts

Self Drive Holidays in Wales and South West England

Brecon beacons national park.

Rhiannon, walestowherever.com One of only three National Parks in Wales, the Brecon Beacons National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog in Welsh) is certainly most renowned for its impressive mountain range of the same name.

Aside from hiking, Brecon Beacons National Park also has an array of other outdoor adventures to participate in, from kayaking to rafting, fishing to underground exploration, and even golf, there’s plenty of activities to enjoy for the whole family! Even an afternoon stroll in the area can be an exciting affair, as you may find yourself meeting the entire cast of Wind in the Willows and Watership Down, as Brecon Beacons is home to a vast array of native British species such as brown hares, water voles and, of course, dormice.

Brecon Beacons Facts

Snowdonia national park.

I hadn’t expected to find a place similar to my home country Switzerland in the UK like Snowdonia National Park. Wales National Park with the highest Peaks of almost 3’000 feet (a bit more than 900m) and bare mountain ranges, is a rugged place where water finds its way over breathtaking waterfalls into green, fertile valleys. Clear streams meander through mixed pine- and hardwood forest. The towns are built from the rocks which were found around the settlements. The coastline dunes and beaches of Snowdonia National Park add to the variety of the landscape.

The mountainous Park is a paradise for climbers and other adrenaline junkies who like whitewater rafting or mountain biking. But also moderate sport enthusiastic people find here wonderful walks and enjoy the scenery while visiting historic sites or traveling with the Narrow Gauge Railways.

This is one of the best places in UK for train journeys!

Snowdonia Facts

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales

David Angel, Travel With Little One The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the only coastal National Park in the UK, 186 miles (299 km) of stunning coastline in the south west of Wales park facing the prevailing Atlantic south-westerly winds.

It’s one of the most diverse coastal areas of the UK, with everything from massive, wide open beaches to hidden secret coves, with some amazing cliffs and offshore islands.

There is wildlife in abundance in Pembrokeshire, especially between May and July when thousands of seabirds nest in cliffs along the coast and on the various islands. Of these, Skomer is a hugely popular destination, with nesting puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes returning year after year – neighbouring Skokholm also has many nesters. Some boats venture further to remote Grassholm, the third largest colony of gannets in the world.

On the mainland, the best place to go birdwatching is Elegug Stacks, or Stack Rocks, near Bosherston where thousands of guillemots congregate every year – the cacophony of them squawking louder than the crashing Atlantic waves below is something you shouldn’t miss if you’re in this area of Britain at the right time of year.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Facts

Exmoor National Park, England

If you visit Exmoor in summer then you’ll be treated to purple moors from all the heather that grows here. But Exmoor isn’t all about moorland and animals.  Its seascape is some of the most dramatic coastline in the UK.  My favourite part of Exmoor National Park, England, has to be the walk down to the sea from the Valley of the Rocks, which is fringed by towering rock stacks.

Start at the clifftop town of Lynton which is a pretty place to spend a day or two, and walk towards the Valley of the Rocks.  From here you can take a coastal path down the cliffs towards Lynmouth, a small village nestled at the base of the cliff, directly underneath Lynton.  You can get great views across the Bristol channel from this path.  After you’ve looked around Lynmouth, take the cliff railway, the highest water-powered funicular in the world, back up to the top of the cliff to the town of Lynton.

Exmoor National Park Facts

Dartmoor National Park

Famous for its granite tors and dark night skies, Dartmoor National Park boasts of steep wooded river valleys and heather-covered moorland, where poneys, cattle, and sheep roam freely between isolated villages.

Dartmoor lends itself to walking enthusiasts for independent or guided walks. Paths lead through the wild place with spectacular views. Cycling routes with over 350km offer to see large parts of the beautiful national park and are mapped on a designated cyclists map of Dartmoor and surrounding area. With a horse, it’s a unique experience to ride through the open moors, trot along woodland trails and bridleways, much different from walking.

Dartmoor Facts

Scotland National Parks Self Drive Holidays

The weather is often moody and wet, but that shouldn’t stop you from planning a trip to Scotland . In the stunning, unruly north of Great Britain, you’ll find wild and most beautiful national parks. Touring Scotland by car or even better by camper van is a great idea and will open an entirely new world to you!

There are uncountable places to camp in Scotland, where you can find yourself sipping your morning coffee with stunning views over the ocean, sometimes without paying a cent! I’d prefer Scotland to any other place for my UK self-drive tours.

Click on the UK road trip map above to see details of your Scotland road trip map!

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Scotland

Eniko,  Travel Hacker Girl

Unfortunately, when we were there we didn’t get very nice views, because of the fog and rain. One more reason to return one day, as on a nice day, you could take some epic pictures. Loch Lomond is also a good place for cycling and water sports. Jetskiing, kayaking, and canoeing are very popular in the area.

If you are less mobile or active you can go on one of the many boat trips that companies offer. If you love adventure you can even wild camp, but you must obtain a permit first. As you can see there is a lot to do in Loch Lomond and you can easily spend a week here without running out of activities .

Amazing places to stay UK:  Click here for remote hotels Scotland, and luxury resorts UK  in the Scottish National Park Loch Lomond & The Trossachs.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Facts

The Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Sherrie, Travel By A Sherrie Affair

In the eastern Highlands of Scotland is the Cairngorms National Park. The park is pretty extensive covering 1,748 square miles. Filled with mountains, plateau’s, streams, rivers, lochs, towns, castles, forts, preserves- makes this area of Scotland an adventurer’s dream vacation!

One of the most popular must’s of going to the National Park is visiting Balmoral Castle, the Queens home.  The grounds are exquisite, colorful perfect gardens and you can even go inside.  But don’t forget to check out the Range Rover collection! One thing we wished we had signed up for was the Range Rover safari – it requires an early booking.

The wildlife you may see on this tour and when exploring the Park are red squirrels, red deer, salmon, black grouse, red grouse, snow bunting and many birds of prey.  From all the singing we heard, I am sure Bird watching can be fun too, bring your binoculars!

There is so much more to do in the Park for the adventurer; camp, ski, fish, hike.  You can ride a funicular that will bring you up to the top of the plateau of the Cairngorm Mountain.  There is an old fashion steam railway system too for rides.  Blair Castle is located only 10 minutes from Balmoral Castle and deserves exploring too.  Especially if you are able to attend The Highland Games held at the end of May. Other areas of the park have Highland games also at different times of the year.

My highlight of spending 5 days at the edge of the park in the Dalmunzie Hotel Castle was the driving and exploring of the area. It is so beautiful to see the tall trees, the running streams and listening to the birds.  Peaceful and serene.  Loved every minute!

Cairngorms National Park Facts

National Parks Near London

New forest national park.

It’s one of my favorite National Parks in Britain which you shouldn’t miss on your UK self-drive tours around Britain. Although quite busy at times because it lies in the densely populated south-east of England, the New Forest National Park authority manages to keep this part of the country wild and beautiful, with a remarkable range of plants and animals, foremost the free-roaming wild New Forest ponies and donkeys.

Driving through the lovely village of Beaulieu, we found donkeys walking in the middle of the road. They enjoy the right of way as do the New Forest ponies in the national park. If you visit Beauville you’ll not only enjoy the quaint little town at the romantic lake with a view of the Palace House, but you’ll also have the opportunity to visit the outstanding British National Motor Museum. By chance, we hit the right day to see a get-together of most impressive oldtimers, cared for by their dedicated owners from all over England!

If you want to stay on one of the New Forest Caravan Sites, in a New Forest caravan, in luxury camping pods, self-catering New Forest accommodation log cabins, New Forest log cabins with hot tub or simply in forest lodges, UK ‘s most wooded park offers suitable accommodation for any gusto. But book early if you’re planning for peak season because you’ll find so many people with the same idea to spent their holiday!

New Forest Facts

The South Downs National Park

Emily, Kids and Compass The South Downs National Park is Englands newest national park.  It covers an area in the far south-east of England and stretches from the cathedral city of Winchester to the famous white cliffs at the seaside town of Eastbourne.

The South Downs themselves are a chalk ridge formed millions of years ago from a tropical sea – difficult to picture now!  The far-reaching views that you can get from the top of the ridge are stunning.  You’re able to walk along the South Downs Way which covers the entire length of the National Park, or just pick and choose a small part of the trail if you don’t want to walk the whole 160km – the choices are endless.

As well as walking and cycling opportunities, you can also visit some of the region’s towns and cities.  City-wise, Winchester is a lovely, traditional cathedral city, whereas Brighton is much more bohemian with a party vibe and a wide pebble beach.

Some of the best towns and villages include the lovely Arundel with its magnificent castle, Petworth’s grand stately home has an extensive collection of artworks and a deer park, and the little villages dotted around Lurgashall are very quaint and very English.  Near the village of Singleton you’ll find the Weald and Downland Living museum which is a collection of restored historic houses and farm buildings from the region. There’s enough to keep you occupied in the South Downs National Park for plenty of visits!

South Downs Facts

The Broads National Park

UK self-drive tours should certainly contain the Broads National Park, too. It is home to a few of the rarest plant species and animals in the UK. The wide countryside is dotted with quaint villages and mills along the widest spread network of shallow lakes in UK ‘s largest protected wetland. The history of the mostly man-made landscape goes back to medieval times in search for peat for fuel. The extended waterways invite nowadays for explorations on the boat, and recreation.

If on land or water, the Broads offer plenty for visitors. Historically interesting villages and the beautiful town of Norwich at the doorstep, with plenty of cultural activities and shopping opportunities to choose from.

Broads Facts

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Home » Itinerary » 2 Weeks UK

2 Weeks UK Tour Itinerary

Tailored itineraries.

• Private Group Tours

Luxury Vehicles

• Free Cancellation
• 15+ Years Experience

If you have 2 weeks to spend on your U.K vacation, then this is the ideal itinerary for you!

We have designed this itinerary to include the major highlights and key locations from England, Scotland, and Ireland all within 14 days spent with your driver guide. We understand, however, that some of our guests have either visited some of these sites before or would like an itinerary that includes different destinations. If this is the case then our tour planning specialists would be happy to craft a custom itinerary tailored to your specifications, find out more by completing our online contact form.

Our 2-week private UK tour includes:

• London Highlights
• Peak District Tour
• Edinburgh Highlights
• Historic Stirling Tours
• Loch Ness & Inverness
• Belfast Highlights
• Causeway Coastal Route
• Dublin City Tours
• Private Guides
• Luxury Transfers
• Expert Insight

Day 1: Welcome to London!

Upon arrival in London, your driving guide will be waiting to collect you from the airport. 

Your first destination will be your London accommodation where you can take a moment to relax and gather yourself before your walking tour of Central London begins!

Westminster Abbey

The most significant Cathedral in the UK, Westminster Abbey has been the coronation site for British Monarchs since 1066, with the most recent, of course, being Queen Elizabeth II on the 2nd of June 1953.

The Abbey contains Royal Tombs and Poet’s Corner which is the final resting place of some of the most British important historical figures including Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Robert Burns, T.S. Eliot, John Keats, and many more besides.

Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

The massive Elizabeth Tower more commonly known as Big Ben is one of the most defining symbols of the UK. Stepping inside the Houses of Parliament with your private guide allows you to explore:

• Westminster Hall 
• The Queen’s robing room
• Chamber of the House of Commons
• Chamber of the House of Lords

10 Downing Street

The residence of the British Prime Minister, there is no public access to the property, but it makes for an interesting stop to view number 10 from the street on your London walking tour.

National Gallery

Britain is a renowned hub in the global art world, a private tour of the Gallery takes you on a journey through the history of European art with works from Masters such as Botticelli, Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Turner, Van Gogh, and more.

Buckingham Palace

Perhaps the most famous Royal Palace in the world, a private tour of the Palace allows you to explore the Royal Collection of artistic treasures alongside highlights of the staterooms including:

• 19 Royal State Rooms where Royal functions are held and state guests are received.
• The Throne Room 
• The Grand Staircase.
• Fine Art including works by Canaletto, Rembrandt and Vermeer.

Accommodation: London

London Day 2

St Paul's Cathedral

After the original building was destroyed in the Great Fire Of London, the current Cathedral was designed in the English Baroque style and completed in 1710.

You have the option to partake in service here, or simply marvel at the monuments to luminaries such as JMW Turner and the poet John Donne. You can visit the tombs of national heroes Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and Sir Christopher Wren who designed the current structure. You can also climb to the top of the 364-foot-high dome.

River Cruise Under Tower Bridge

A relaxing trip along the Thames River offering phenomenal views of famous London landmarks and sailing under the iconic London Bridge.

Tower of London

In the center of London your private guide will take you to experience one of the most historic structures in the UK. Marvel at the Crown Jewels, meet the Queen’s Yeoman Warder Guards (also called Beefeaters), and discover why 78 Ravens are kept in the Tower at all times!

British Museum

The world’s very first public museum of its kind, a guided tour of the British Museum will see you explore cultural treasures and artifacts across the ancient and modern world.

May wish to cap off your London tour with souvenir shopping in our most prestigious department store Harrods, or have a fitted suit made in the most famous tailors street, Savile Row.

Day 3: Cambridge University & Lincoln

On day 3 of your 2-week UK itinerary, we will move away from London and begin exploring different regions of the UK, starting with Cambridge, the site of one of our most prestigious institutions – Cambridge University. In the afternoon your driver guide will show you the highlights of Lincoln including the Medieval Cathedral.

Cambridge University was founded in 1209 – making it the second oldest University in the English-speaking language. Many famous luminaries have passed through Cambridge’s gates since then, including Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Rosalind Franklin, Lord Byron, and many others too innumerable to mention.

Amongst the many colleges and campuses to visit, your tour planner will help you decide which highlights to visit from:

• Magdalene College
• St John’s College
• Trinity Hall & College
• Corpus Clock & Corpus Christi College
• King’s College
• Queen’s College

Arrival in Lincoln

In the afternoon you can visit the two most iconic locations in the Medieval town of Lincoln. 

Famed for its dreamy cobbled streets and rich with stunning Gothic architecture the city has often been captured on screen in productions like Downton Abbey and the Da Vinci Code when heritage backdrops are required.

Your tour of Lincoln will concentrate on the two most iconic structures in the city, Lincoln Castle and Cathedral.

Commissioned in 1608 by William the Conqueror, exploring the castle with your guide will see your guide reveal the fascinating stories, lore, and one thousand years of history attached to the structure including:

Magna Carta

One of the original 1215 copies of the Magna Carta and 1217 Charter of the Forest– which played such a massive role in shaping English society and culture.

The Georgian & Victorian Prison exhibition

Hear the stories of those unfortunate enough to have found themselves at the wrong end of the Law and Justice system of the era.

Heritage Skills Center

Enjoy demonstrations on crafts of the period like stained glass workshops, silversmithing, and stone carving sessions.

Lincoln Cathedral

Then it’s onto Lincoln’s impressive 12th Century Cathedral, thought of as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture to be found anywhere in the world and formerly the tallest building in the world – an accolade it held for a remarkable 238 years!

On your guided tour of Lincoln Cathedral, your will visit:

The Lincoln Imp – A hellish Imp sent to Earth by Satan and turned to stone by an angel!

Alfred Lord Tennyson Memorial – The Great Victorian Poet 

The Libraries – 15th Century Medieval Library & 17th Century Wren Libraries

Accommodation: Lincoln

Day 4: Peak District Tour

Day 4 will mark a change in pace for our 2-week itinerary as you spend a full day with your driver guide exploring the gorgeous landscapes and picturesque English country and village life in the Peak Districts area of outstanding natural beauty.

Chatsworth House

Known as “The Palace of the Peaks”  this marvelous stately home has belonged to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire having been passed down through generations of the Cavendish family.

There are 30 rooms to explore with your guide, including the painted hall, sketch galleries, sculpture gallery, and collection of artworks gathered over the last 5 centuries.

Haddon Hall

Nearby Chatsworth you will find 900-year-old Haddon Hall and Elizabethan gardens – used as Malfoy Manor in the Harry Potter film franchise and known as “The most perfect house to survive from the Middle Ages”.

Ladybower Reservoir

You may recognize the reservoir from the 1955 film, The Dam Busters. When the water levels drop you can see the drowned villages of Derwent and Ashopton.

Bakewell village

Discover the gorgeous stonework architecture in the village and pay a visit to a local cafe to enjoy a delicious Bakewell Tart – the sweet treat that originated here.

Peak Cavern

Walk through the caves the locals have christened, “The Devil’s Arse”!

Ridge walk along mam tor

Meaning Mother Hill this ridge walk amongst the surrounding hills offers the most striking and peaceful views across the valleys. You can take a casual trekking route lasting 30 minutes or a more extensive path up to one and a half hours.

Robin Hood’s Stride

The legend says Robin Hood once lept from one peak to another. Even if you don’t wish to recreate the feat this is a magical beauty spot to visit.

Accommodation: York

Day 5: York

Today you will have a full-day tour of York, a city with Medieval Norman architecture, Roman heritage, and Viking origins!

York Minster

One of the largest examples of Gothic architecture with over 800 years of history. It is also home to the largest collection of stained glass in the UK, with some pieces dating back to the 12th century.

York Castle & Museum

Features interactive exhibitions that really familiarize you with over 400 years of York’s history. Featuring recreations of Jacobean dining rooms and a living exhibit of Kirkgate shopping street.

The Shambles

Providing amazing photography opportunities and insight into what life was like in a medieval village, the delightful buildings that line the street have been restored back to the magnificent medieval glory. It has been said that The Shambles served as the inspiration behind Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter movie franchise.

Jorvik Viking Center

An interactive exhibition that gives you the opportunity to understand what life was like in 9th century York, complete with immersive displays, preserved artifacts and remains, and talk to Viking reenactment professionals.

This will be your final evening in England as part of your 14-day tour. Your driver guide will deliver you to the northern town of Newcastle for the evening.

Accommodation: Newcastle

Day 6: Berwick Upon Tweed - Edinburgh

After spending the previous 5 days in England, today you will travel up the scenic Northumberland coast, stopping at the seaside in Berwick Upon Tweed, the most northerly town in England. After enjoying lunch here looking out onto the North Sea, you will formally cross the border into Scotland and drive to the capital, Edinburgh.

Berwick Upon Tweed has come to define itself as exhibiting a third culture, meaning not quite English or Scottish. This is due to the fact that Berwick has a legacy of switching between the nations throughout the centuries and various wars resulting in the redrawing of borders. Indeed, as you stroll around this seaside town you will notice the ancient walls to deter invasion from one side or the other.

Given Berwick’s location on the coast of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, this is an ideal spot for you to enjoy a British classic: Fish and Chips consisting of freshly caught produce that morning! You can then enjoy a relaxing stroll along the beachfront before you rejoin your driver and enter Scotland.

Afternoon Edinburgh Tour

Welcome to the Capital of Scotland! Did you know that over 75% of the buildings in the city are “listed” meaning that they are protected for being of particular historical and/or architectural interest and significance? Your first evening exploring the most significant of these locations with a walking tour of Edinburgh’s Medieval Old Town before we delve into another of Scotland’s great institutions with a Whisky discovery and tasting experience.

Guided Walking Tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town

Get to know the city’s history as you walk its cobbled streets and narrow lanes. Some of the sites you will discuss with your guide are St Giles Cathedral where you will discover its links to John Knox and learn why it is known as the “Cradle of Presbyterianism”, Greyfriars Kirk & Graveyard, and the monument to Greyfriars Bobby, the Scottish Terrier who spent 14 years guarding his owner’s grave.

Scotch Whisky Experience

In the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, The Scotch Whisky Experience opened in 1987 when the Scottish Whisky industry combined to fund this showcase celebrating the history and development of Scotch whisky.

Your tour features an interactive trip through the production of Scotch, a session exploring the regional variations in scent and flavor between the different Scotch regions, and of course a tasting experience within the walls of the World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky.

Accommodation: Edinburgh

Day 7: Edinburgh Highlights Tour

Today you can take advantage of being able to spend the whole day in Edinburgh by visiting the most famous and iconic sites in the capital. Your guided tours for the day include:

Climb to the top of the Walter Scott Monument

The 200-foot high monument to the author of legendary Scottish literature like Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and Waverley stands rises imperiously into the sky just a stone’s throw from Waverley station, and is decorated with 64 characters representing characters from his books and poems.

Arthur’s Seat

Enjoy a trip to the summit of Arthur’s Seat, the peak of a group of hills formed by an extinct Volcano that provides the finest views across the city.

Edinburgh Castle

The most famous landmark in Edinburgh, discover the fascinating historical tales and stories of scandal and intrigue surrounding the many famous figures intrinsic to the history of the castle such as Mary Queen of Scots, the Child King James the 6th, Oliver Cromwell, and many more.

Exhibits on display here include the oldest Crown Jewels in Britain – the Honors of Scotland, and The Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy where rulers were crowned.

Holyrood Palace

The Queen’s Scottish Palace and official residence in Scotland, crowning the iconic Royal Mile thoroughfare which runs from the Castle to the Palace.

Edinburgh Dungeon

The gruesome twosome Burke and Hare, infamous cannibal Sawney Bean, and The Witch of the Potterrow Port Agnes Finnie to name but a few, Edinburgh is a city with a dark and often bloody past and the Edinburgh Dungeon with its interactive live-action exhibitions is the most fun way to reveal this aspect of the city’s character.

Day 8: Stirling

Your driver guide will collect you from your Edinburgh accommodation in the morning as you make your way to the “Gateway to the Highlands” the historic city of Stirling which was once the Capital of the country. 

On your tour of Stirling, you will discover:

Stirling Castle

Integral to the Wars of Independence, Stirling Castle has a unique history that has seen it lay siege to at least 8 times. On your tour of the Castle, you’ll hear its tales and mysteries first-hand with your private guide, including characters such as Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Stirling Old Town Jail

The characters will be brought to life through re-enactments and interactive storytelling on your tour of the former Victorian-era jail.

Cambuskenneth Abbey

The ruins of an Augustinian monastery constructed in the 1100s containing the tombs of King James III and Queen Margaret.

Wallace Monument

The Monument to the National hero and inspiration behind the Hollywood movie “Braveheart” was built in 1869 on the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge, Wallace’s most famous victory over the English army. Exhibits on display include Wallace’s sword, the Hall of Heroes, and the story behind and result of the Battle of Stirling Bridge. You can climb to the top of the 220-foot structure for an incredible panoramic view across the Stirling landscape.

Bannockburn

An award-winning exhibition on the site of Robert The Bruce’s great victory over the English army.

Accommodation: Pitlochry

Day 9: Cairngorms - Inverness

Today you begin the Scottish Highlands section of our 2-week UK itinerary. Beginning with your guide collecting you from your Pitlochry accommodation in the morning you will start your Highlands tour in classic Scottish style by visiting one of our most famous distilleries.

Blair Atholl Distillery

Understand the process that goes into making the distinctive Blair Athol Single Malt Whisky and enjoy a tasting session.

Cairngorms National Park

Covering the Cairngorms mountain range and hills, there are multiple routes for trekking and you can choose whichever suits your tastes or mobility requirements.

Loch Ness Boat Cruise & Urquhart Castle

Scotland’s most famous loch, filled with more mysteries and legends than any other!

Your driver will take you on a scenic drive around the edge of the loch before heading to Urquhart Castle for a guided tour. This beautiful ruined castle dates back to 1509 and provides incredible views out onto the loch. Your views of the loch, however, are about to get a lot closer up (you might even catch a glimpse of Nessie herself) as your private boat arrives to take you out on the water for an incredible cruise experience

Accommodation: Inverness

Day 10: Fort William - Glencoe - Glasgow

On the morning of day ten, we will begin heading back to central Scotland as you prepare to spend your last night in the country as part of our 14-day itinerary.

Your driver-guide will collect you from your accommodation in Inverness as you head to the town of Fort William to take on and take on the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. Not all of our guests wish to take the strenuous hiking or trekking trails to the top of the mountain, however, this should not deter you from wishing to explore one of Scotland’s most powerful and magnificent peaks. The gondola cable car journey, whilst not reaching the summit of the mountain, takes you to a viewing platform that allows for a breathtaking vista.

Glencoe Mountain Range

Discover the valleys and mountains of Glencoe on this spectacular driving route that will take you past several stunning locations you will recognize from films such as James Bond: Skyfall, Highlander, Prometheus, and more.

Loch Lomond

Next let’s head to the stunning Loch Lomond, located on the bonnie banks:

Formed over 10,000 to 20,000 years ago during the last ice age, Loch Lomond is a breathtaking freshwater lake and the largest in the UK. The loch boasts several islands, with Inchmurrin being the biggest freshwater island in the British Isles. It acts as a natural gateway, dividing the lowlands from the rugged mountainous terrain of the Scottish Highlands, and is a must-visit spot for walkers, wildlife enthusiasts, adventure seekers, and tourists.

Arrive in Glasgow

Preparation for your trip to Belfast the following day, your accommodation for this evening will be in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city.

Day 11: Belfast

Today you enter your third country in just 11 days as you enter Belfast in Ireland. Direct flights are available from Glasgow airport and typically take less than an hour, however, some clients express that they would like to experience the ferry crossing from Stranraer to Belfast which takes just over two hours. Just let our tour planners know what your preference would be and our team can reserve your tickets.

There are a wide variety of experiences and attractions to visit in Belfast, and to ensure that your tour includes exactly the type of sites that will interest you we will provide our recommendations after consulting with you, however, some of the most popular spots are:

Exploring the Titanic quarter

There is now a world-class interactive museum on the site where the fateful ship was built back in 1911.

Gaeltacht Quarter

Enjoy a driver-guided tour through the Gaeltacht Quarter where you will hear the locals speaking in their traditional Gaelic Irish language.

Political Mural Tour

Belfast was a key terrain throughout the infamous troubles, and the history of the town is writ large on famous murals throughout the city. Your driver guide will be able to discuss the significance, meaning, and legacy of each as you travel through the city, culminating in the Peace Wall where you can even write your own message.

Enjoy A Drink In The Crown Bar

This is actually owned by the National Trust and is probably the most famous pub in Belfast. It dates from at least 1826 and features an incredibly ornate interior of tiles, original gas lamp fixtures, and a beautifully carved ceiling.

Accommodation: Belfast

Day 12: The Giants Causeway & Coast

Your driver guide will collect you in the morning to make your way to the Causeway Coastal Route.

Your first stop of the day will be in the picturesque village of Carnlough where we can take a walk by the small harbor before we continue along the coast and then through the Glens of Antrim, hearing the myths about the fairies and leprechauns said to reside there.

We’ll stop for a spot of lunch in the coastal town of Ballycastle, before walking across the awe-inspiring Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

In the afternoon we’ll explore Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage site, the incomparable Giant’s Causeway, and hear the legend about the Giant Finn MacCool and the uniquely shaped stones, before finishing the day off with a visit the Dunluce Castle and heading to your accommodation in Belfast.

Day 13 & 14: Dublin

From Belfast to Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, takes just 2 hours with your driver-guide, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy the rest of day 13 and the entirety of day 14 in the city before you take your flight home from Dublin International Airport.

During your 2 days in Dublin, your driver guide will reveal the historic tales, fascinating characters, and distinctive Irish culture behind the most famous and iconic sites in the city such as:

O’Connell Street & The General Post Office (GPO)

One of the most pivotal sites in Irish history and the Easter Uprising, the GPO is where the Proclamation was read in 1916, for the very first time.

Trinity College

The oldest and perhaps most architecturally beautiful university in Ireland, founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII you will also find the hallowed ‘Book of Kells’ from 384 AD within its walls.

The Doors Of Dublin

You’ll never see two identical doors as you wander through Dublin city, and their unique and colorful charm gives the city an unmistakable character.

Guinness Storehouse

The homeland of Ireland’s national drink. We don’t believe that Guinness tastes the same anywhere else in the world, and you find out if you agree or not by pouring your own pint in the factory where it all started.

Temple Bar District

The heart of nightlife in Dublin, be sure to enjoy a Guinness or perhaps an Irish Whiskey or two either in Temple Bar itself or take in the bands playing traditional Irish music in the surrounding area.

Irish Immigration Museum

Discover the history of the Irish Diaspora and particularly tales of immigrants destined for America.

Kilmainham Gaol

Built in 1796 it served as a prison in former times where many Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned and executed by the British.

Dublin Castle

Commissioned by King John all the way back in 1204, and although the majority of what you can see now was actually constructed in the 18th century, the Record Tower from that era is still intact.

The castle is still in use for formal occasions and functions by the Irish government today and tours of the grounds are available at regular intervals.

Let us know your questions!

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Request a Custom 14 day UK Itinerary

The 2-week itinerary described above is a brilliant route for those who have never visited Britain or Ireland before. We designed it as a thorough introduction to all three nations while allowing our guests a level of comfort by limiting the number of different hotels you will be required to stay in.

It is often the case, however, that our clients have already visited at least one of the nations in the UK before and would like us to revise parts of the itinerary for them. We would be delighted to handcraft a complimentary bespoke UK tour itinerary tailored to your exact requirements. Simply contact our tour planning specialists using the form below.

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7 Day UK and Great Britain Tours & Trips

Filter for departure dates and price to find the right 7 day UK and Great Britain tour with TourRadar. Choose from 243 trips with 7,413 customer reviews, that range from 4 up to 7 days.

243 UK And Great Britain 7 day tour packages with 7,413 reviews

• Coach / Bus

Great Britain

Amazing!! Highly recommend. This tour is the trip of a lifetime.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• In-depth Cultural

Highlights of Scotland

This was my second G Adventures tour and it proved to be as enjoyable as the first one, which was the main reason my wife and I booked it. The small size of the tour group and the variety of people made it all the better. The tour offered a good balance between structured visits of major attractions and free time to explore on our own. I would not hesitate to recommend a G Adventures tour to anyone seeking a guided travel experience in the company of other like-minded travelers.

7-Day Ireland to Island Small Group Tour of Ireland

Excellent guide, Pat O'Mara, great accommodations, lots of sights and information from Pat, comfortable bus. Only thing less than great was the boat ride on Killarney Lake while the others kayaked. Kind of boring. Other than that, the tour was excellent.

• Sightseeing

7-Day Emerald Explorer Small Group Tour

Personal local experiences paired with great advice on places to eat., drink and listen to music made this tour special. Small group, great accommodation and wonderful breakfasts were a feature.Sensational scenery, knowledge of where to go and flexibility on timing made it a smooth operation. Our tour guide was experienced, knowledgeable and entertaining.

Exploring the United Kingdom and Dublin

Bonnie Scotland

It was an unforgettable experiencce! The tour guide was the very best, making the tour even better than it was.

Best of Scotland (Summer, 7 Days)

Our guide Kevin was the best. Attentive to all requests....very informative & helpful. We are repeat Trafalgar customers & love the local ad ons to the trip.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Irish Highlights (Summer, 7 Days)

The entire trip was wonderful, very well organized, and satisfying. Peter Flood was an excellent tour guide. He was as knowledgeable as could be, funny, and helpful; and really seems to love what he does.

7 Day Atlantic Way Experience - Small Group Tour

My friend and I booked the 7 day Atlantic Way tour this fall to mark our milestone birthdays and had a fabulous time during the trip. When our flight to Dublin the day before the start of the tour was cancelled and we were delayed by a day arriving to Dublin, we contacted Sean. He was understanding and reassuring which was so comforting and helped to ease our stress. He helped arrange to have the tour guide, Anthony, and the rest of the group meet us when we arrived late. Anthony was so patient with the delay and the rest of the group was welcoming and understanding when we met up with them. It was really nice to have a small group to travel with. It helped to be able to get to know everyone better than it would have been on a larger tour. Our week was packed full of amazing sights, history and opportunities to experience local culture. Anthony made a point of sharing some suggestions and recommendations of additional activities, restaurants etc when we arrived in each location. He was a wonderful guide for our group. Very knowledgeable and engaging. The accommodations were comfortable, cozy and well situated within walking distance of restaurants and pubs in all the places we visited. I would most certainly recommend this tour to anyone who is looking for a smaller group experience in Ireland that stops at many must see locations.

• €99 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Wild South - Multi-Day - Small Group Tour of Ireland

Excellent tour and company. Tour guides and accommodations were second to none. If you want to know the real Ireland and it’s rich history in a comfortable setting and without the stress of driving you will not be disappointed. This was a trip of a lifetime and we would recommend to anyone.

Great Tour of Ireland ( 7 days )

• Hiking & Trekking

Walk Hadrian's Wall Highlights

Introduction to Ireland

it was a great trip, a little more scheduled than we had anticipated.

City Lights to Highland Heights

Independent Edinburgh & London City Stay

What people love about 7 day uk and great britain tours.

Lee was excellent. He gave us history and details of the sites we explored along with his fun sense of humor. It was obvious his passion to share his stories with us.

Small Bus touring is the way to go!

• One week in England and Scotland (for Seniors) 2024/2025