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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.

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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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9 top road trips to see the best of England

Jul 17, 2023 • 8 min read

Jump in the car and hit the road with one of these great road trips through England © Photos by R A Kearton / Getty Images

Hiring a car and driving through gorgeous English landscapes, visiting quaint villages and epic castles is a highlight of a trip to England  no matter the season.

Roads are well maintained, although you may be caught out by the occasional pothole. Off the main roads you can meander down narrow lanes of hedgerows and stop to watch the sun set or a bird of prey gliding in the sky above.

Here are nine of the best road-trip routes across the country, from a loop around Cornwall in the southwest, all the way north to a coastal jaunt right to the border with Scotland. The distances provided are not direct between the start and end points. Instead we assume plenty of diversions from the main route so you can explore more of each region.

1. Following Hadrian's Wall

Best road trip for rugged landscapes and Roman history Newcastle – Carlise; 127km (79 miles), allow three to four days

Traversing the island's narrow neck, you'll encounter the extraordinary feat of engineering of Hadrian's Wall first-hand. Every Roman mile (0.95 miles) had a gateway guarded by a small fort (milecastle), with two observation turrets between them, and many of these remain. A series of southern forts, which may predate the wall, were developed as bases, and 16 lie astride it.

Preserved remains and intriguing museums punctuate the route, along with easily accessible remnants of the 1900-year-old wall. Start in the Newcastle suburb of Wallsend at Segedunum , marking the last strong post of the wall. Follow the route west, stopping to explore on the way. Be sure to include the superbly preserved Roman cavalry fort at Chesters Roman Fort and Museum , and enjoy the views over the wall and the moors of Northumberland National Park at Housesteads Roman Fort and Museum .

Local tip:  The interactive Housesteads Roman Fort & Museum showcases objects once belonging to Roman soldiers and includes a mini-cinema that takes visitors on a journey to the past.

2. The historic south

Best road trip for English history and culture London – Oxford; 720km (450 miles), allow seven to 10 days

England's rich heritage runs like a glittering seam through this remarkable multiday road trip across the south. Romantic  Leeds Castle  alone is worthy of a full day, before stopping at the historic city of Canterbury  with its World Heritage–listed Gothic cathedral. The quaint medieval settlement of Rye  is a delight, with cobbled alleyways and stories of smugglers.

Brighton , a lively coastal city with superb nightlife, is next on the route, followed by Portsmouth, where you can learn all about the city's nautical heritage at the historic docks . Cathedral lovers will be further overjoyed by stops in Winchester  and Salisbury to marvel at their majestic medieval spires, before traveling onwards to the fascinating archaeological sites at  Stonehenge and Avebury . Drive on to soak up the Georgian cityscape in Bath , Churchill's palace and Oxford 's spires. 

3. Cornwall's coast

Best road trip for scenery Bude – Fowey; 333km (207 miles), allow 10 days

Buckle up, roll down the windows and have the camera ready – there can be few corners of Britain where scenery packs such an eyes-wide, heart-in-the-mouth, jaw-on-the-floor punch as Cornwall . This unforgettable adventure travels top-to-bottom, coast-to-coast, starting from the breezy seaside town of Bude and following the coastline all the way down, round and back up again to Fowey.

Along the way you'll encounter sparkling beaches , surf bays and seaside ports galore, as well as curiosities such as a clifftop castle steeped in Arthurian legend, a theater built into the granite rocks, the wonderful St Michael's Mount , and a trio of space-age biomes at the Eden Project . It's wild and wonderful out west, as you're about to find out.

4. The Jurassic coast

Best road trip for a memorable family holiday  Poole – Lyme Regis; 145km (90 miles), allow seven days

One of the west’s best drives, this route rolls up chalk ridges, through thatched villages and along sea-fringed roads. History is everywhere, from fairy-tale castles to an art-packed quarry .

Prepare for the pick of Dorset ’s sights and sea-view sunsets as you keep heading west. Fall in love with the romantic hilltop ruins of Corfe Castle  and take a dip in Lulworth Cove before hiking over to the stunning Durdle Door arch. Little ones are likely to love a visit to the Monkey World sanctuary in Wareham or the 29km (18-mile) stretch of pebbles at Chesil Beach, and they may well be fascinated by the fossils that can be found in Lyme Regis.

5. The Cotswolds

Best road trip for quintessential England Bath – Stratford-upon-Avon; 240km (149 miles), seven to eight days

From the less-traveled, superbly pretty villages of the southwestern Cotswolds to the impossibly beautiful gold-colored streets of the classic northern Cotswolds, this trip threads through the core of one of England's most desirable regions.

Glimpse Georgian grandeur in Bath, marvel at Painswick's sleepy beauty, and unearth Roman history in Cirencester. You'll want to stop in picturesque Bibury to admire the gorgeous cluster of riverside cottages , before strolling Chipping Campden's honey-hued lanes and wrapping up in dramatic Tudor style at Stratford-upon-Avon , home of the illustrious Bard, William Shakespeare.

Detour:  Roughly 1.6km (1 mile) apart and 5.6km (3.5 miles) southwest of Stow-on-the-Wold, the picture-postcard villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter have managed to maintain their unhurried medieval charm. Their names have nothing to do with abattoirs; they come from the Old English sloughtre , meaning slough or muddy place.

6. The Lake District

Best road trip for the great outdoors Windermere – Ullswater; 260km (162 miles); allow five days

William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Beatrix Potter are just a few of the literary luminaries who have fallen in love with the Lake District . It's been a national park since 1951 and is studded by England's highest hills (fells), including the highest of all, Scafell Pike. This drive takes in lakes, forest, hills and valleys, with country houses, hill walks and cozy pubs thrown in for good measure.

Highlights include visiting Wordsworth's former homes in Grasmere, walking through the classic Lakeland valleys of Borrowdale and Buttermere, admiring the wild landscapes and England's highest mountain in Wasdale and driving Hardknott Pass, the district's steepest road pass. At a 30% gradient in some places, with precious few passing places on the narrow, single-file road, it's absolutely not for the faint-hearted or nervous drivers. 

Planning tip:  Motorways and main A-roads deliver you quickly from one end of the country to another. Lesser A-roads, B-roads and minor roads are much more scenic – ideal for car or motorcycle touring. If you or your children get travel sick, you've been warned: these roads are twisty. 

7. The Midlands

Best road trip for battlefields, castles and stately homes  Nottingham – Lincoln; 344km (214 miles); allow five days

This grand tour begins with famed Nottingham Castle and ends with similarly famed Lincoln Castle , stopping at the mighty fortress of Warwick Castle en route. In between you'll see Bosworth Battlefield , where Richard III became the last English king to die in battle, and learn the extraordinary story of the 2012 discovery of his long-lost remains in a city car park.

You'll also stop at wonderful stately homes, such as lavish Burghley House , the Tudor mansion at Sulgrave Manor  and Althorp House , the final resting place of Princess Diana. In each, take time to wander the opulent corridors, the magnificently landscaped gardens and the wider estates, some with free-roaming deer.

8. The North York Moors and Yorkshire coast

Best road trip for windswept moorlands York – Robin Hood's Bay; 140km (87 miles), allow four to five days

This varied tour takes in ancient architecture, wild moorland scenery, picture-postcard villages (complete with steam trains!) and a classic seaside resort…with macabre literary connections. The Blakey Ridge road out of Hutton-le-Hole just keeps climbing and climbing, leaving behind the medieval city of York and the aristocratic splendor of Castle Howard to enter a world of windswept heather moorland, wandering sheep, lonely stone crosses and ancient footpaths.

Stop in Malton, a Yorkshire food haven, and then the bustling fishing harbor of Whitby , with its Gothic abbey and links to Bram Stoker's Dracula . End your road trip in Robin Hood's Bay, one of the prettiest spots on the Yorkshire coast.

Detour: Get transported back to 9th-century "Jorvik" (the Viking name for York) at the multimedia Jorvik Viking Centre, where history is brought to life with a smells-and-all reconstruction of the Viking settlement unearthed here during excavations in the late 1970s.

9. Historic Northumbria 

Best road trip for untamed coastline  Newcastle – Berwick-upon-Tweed; 182km (113 miles), allow three to four days

This drive along northeast England's stirring coastline from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Berwick-upon-Tweed on the Scottish border runs through the historic medieval kingdom of Northumbria, passing long, desolate beaches, wind-battered castles and magical islands. 

Newcastle is renowned for its culture and nightlife. Stop by the iconic Angel of the North sculpture a few miles south of the city before taking the road north to nearby Tynemouth, where you'll find one of the best surf spots in England at a Blue Flag beach, overlooked by the ruins of a Benedictine priory .

Once you hit the open road the pace drops down several gears – wild and remote, this area is sparsely populated. Along the way you'll encounter incredible birdlife in Amble, where you can visit a puffin colony, and fresh-as-it-gets seafood hauled in at traditional fishing ports. Alnwick is a lovely historic town with an  impressive castle that starred as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies, and  Bamburgh  has the region's most dramatic clifftop castle.

Further north, the road takes you by Holy Island, or Lindisfarne , a tiny otherworldly spot linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway at low tide. 

This article was first published Mar 18, 2021 and updated Jul 17, 2023.

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Great Escapes for Discerning Drivers

Driving holidays for classic, vintage, and sports cars across the uk, europe, and beyond..., independent tours.

• Travel at your own time
• Arranged itineraries make it easy
• Tailor accommodation and activities as you like

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• Connect with like-minded friends
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Upcoming tours

All the places we're going this year.

In 2024, we’re turning our focus to the timeless allure of the UK and Europe, a continent rich in history, culture, and breath-taking landscapes. Our decision to concentrate on Europe stems from its unparalleled blend of scenic drives, iconic destinations, and diverse cultural tapestry, offering an unforgettable experience for classic car enthusiasts.

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What's included, why join a classic travelling tour.

From the moment you arrive, be assured that every aspect of your journey has been expertly organised. Your only task? To turn the key and enjoy the drives through breath-taking landscapes.

Meals & Drinks

A good breakfast is always included to help you start the day. We also include a three-course dinner on most evenings . Where we stay two nights in a hotel then dinner will be included on the first evening, leaving you free to dine at your leisure on the second evening, although we do offer recommendations in the tour book. When the hotel is rural and there is nowhere else nearby to dine, we shall include dinners.

Half a bottle of wine per person is included with each dinner. Please let us know when booking if you don’t drink wine so we can make alternative arrangements.

Each car is given one of our famed, very comprehensive Tour Books with easy-to-follow, narrative-style directions. We also include route maps, hotel details, and lots of information on everything to do, see and visit each day. The tour book also has lots of useful and interesting information about the country or region you’re visiting. All cars on our escorted tours will be given a good, clear and detailed road atlas showing the areas you’re travelling through. Tour packs also include a rally plate, pen & highlighter, and window sticker. Each tour pack will come in a clear plastic zip folder to keep it dry and secure – ideal for open cars in particular. On some longer tours we also give branded clothing or bags.

Accommodation

For your comfort and enjoyment we carefully hand-pick quality, luxury, 4-5-star-style boutique hotels with style, charm, atmosphere and personality. Hotels are usually in the local style and always have suitable parking for your classic, vintage or sports car, which is occasionally undercover or in a garage. Any parking charges are always included within the tour price. All taxes, resort fees and applicable gratuities are also included.

Tour Director

Each of our Group Tours, and some Club Tours, are escorted by friendly, knowledgeable and experienced Tour Directors to ensure everything goes to plan, and your trip is hassle-free and great fun.

Where applicable/necessary the ferry crossing or LeShuttle to from the UK to continental Europe will be included with the tour. The exception to this is where ferries cannot be pre-booked (eg across fjords in Norway, chain ferries across small waterways etc).

We often include visits on our tours – museums, car collections (private and public), historic buildings/stately homes, sailing trips, vineyard tours, concerts, private lunches, private city guided tours etc. The visits vary with each tour and are detailed in the itinerary.

Tour Mechanic

Our experienced and capable mechanic accompanies most of our international tours. He will carry a comprehensive set of tools and equipment and he is usually able to keep cars on the road and completing the tour. However, we also ask that everyone has full insurance and breakdown cover in case of repatriation or failures to proceed.

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Since 2003 Classic Travelling has  specialised in driving tours and motoring holidays for classic, vintage, and sports cars of all ages in the UK, Europe, USA and South Africa.

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

A One Week UK Itinerary

Last updated: June 1, 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:

Table of Contents:

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 a professional driver-guide. This website lists all the certified blue badge guides offering tours across the UK. We have taken tours with these guides and always had a good time.

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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England scotland ireland – highlights of uk, taste of south england and wales, wild atlantic way | ireland, nc500 self drive tour, classic scotland self drive, scotland nc500 route tour in jaguar v8 f-type cabriolet, pre-set sat-nav guided, taste of scotland, scotland culinary, celtic connections self-drive.

“The value was definitely there. The hotels/food was nicer than we expected for the price.” Sarah Wendorf, traveled in November 2023

• Discover Connemara's lakes and rugged landscapes
• Explore Dublin's historic sites like Trinity College
• Taste Irish whiskies at Old Jameson Distillery

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year
• Discover Edinburgh on a hop-on hop-off bus
• Explore London with a full-day guided tour
• Visit the iconic Eilean Donan Castle

“The itinerary includes stops in London, Bournemouth/Southampton, Exeter/Torquay, and Cornwall. I could spend as much or as little time as I wanted in each place.” Dan Sherwood, traveled in June 2023

• Discover Windsor Castle, a royal residence
• Stroll through Exeter's historic Cathedral
• Visit Cardiff Castle and scenic Cardiff Bay

“Very well organised, all accommodation booked for you. Excellent communication would use again.” Martin Ballard, traveled in October 2023

• Relax in traditional seaweed baths in Sligo
• Admire Slieve League cliffs and local crafts
• Explore Dublin's historic sites and parks

• Enjoy sea views and wildlife at Dunnet Head
• Tour ancient distilleries and taste whisky
• Drive the dramatic Bealach na Bà road

“Accommodation was pretty good. Breakfasts were nourishing.” Todd Archibald, traveled in July 2019

• Cruise Loch Lomond and admire the serene shores
• Take a ferry to the scenic Isle of Skye
• Drive to Stirling and explore its historic castle

• Enjoy convinent GPS to navigate your way effortlessly
• Explore the renowned NC500 route with coastal views and castles
• Comfortable, high quality hotels to stay in

• Search for Nessie on a Loch Ness cruise
• Tour a distillery in the Speyside region
• Explore Glasgow's vibrant art and music scene

• Food & Culinary
• Tour Speyside's Whisky distilleries
• Walk Edinburgh's Old and New Towns
• Cruise on Loch Lomond with local Ale tasting

“our hotels were excellent the cruise on the Nile was like a dream loved every minute of our tour” Carol, traveled in October 2019

• Explore Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile
• Taste whisky at Edradour Distillery
• Search for Nessie at Loch Ness

More about UK and Great Britain

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Self-Drive Holidays

Bespoke self-drive holidays & road trips.

Our award-winning self-drive holidays allow you to travel at your own pace. We take care of all your travel arrangements and accommodation leaving you free to explore each destination at your leisure.

The holiday suggestions on our website are examples of the amazing trips we can offer , which are created uniquely for you by our award-winning specialists. Think of the itineraries below as inspiration for your own tailor-made escape. These can be customised to suit your preferences and individual requirements.

Our packages include hand-picked accommodation, a personalised information pack, and 24-hour support from our dedicated team. Knowing that all the arrangements are taken care of allows you to spend your days stress-free exploring ancient castles, sampling culinary delights, or taking in wonderful views.

Hebridean Island Hopping

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From £1465pp

• Luskentyre beach - one of the most spectacular beaches in Scotland
• Travel back in time at the 5,000 year old Callanish Standing Stones
• 16th century Kisimul Castle - the magnificent 'Castle in the Sea'

From £1520pp

• Admire the majestic splendour of mountains that Assynt has to offer
• Experience a thrilling journey over the Bealach na Bà
• Discover Achmelvich Bay, one of Scotland’s most beautiful beaches

From £1535pp

• A unique blend of Scandinavian and Scottish culture.
• Archaeological wonders such as Skara Brae, Jarlshof, the Ring of Brodgar, and the Standing Stones of Stenness
• Abundant nature including dolphins, porpoises, puffins and guillemots

From £1505pp

• Visit the magnificent castles of North Wales including Caernarfon and Conwy Castles
• Blue flag beaches are everywhere across the Llŷn Peninsula and the Isle of Anglesey
• Explore mountains, rivers and woodland in the majestic Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

From £1125pp

• Discover Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile & Arthur's Seat
• Stunning Glencoe - Scotland's most famous and atmospheric glen
• Explore the magical Isle of Skye and the Cuillin Mountains

From £3230pp

• The breathtaking scenery of the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye
• Discover picture-postcard English villages in The Cotswolds
• Explore endless attractions in the vibrant capital cities of London and Edinburgh

From £1440pp

• Discover Tintagel Castle - the reputed birthplace of King Arthur
• Explore quaint fishing villages and breathtaking beaches
• Spend time in the delightful artists’ town of St Ives

From £1750pp

• Visit quaint fishing villages and breathtaking beaches along one of Europe’s loveliest coastlines
• Explore the delightful artists’ town of St Ives in Cornwall
• Dorset’s awe-inspiring Jurassic Coast - a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back 185 million years

From £1275pp

• Follow in Jamie and Claire's footsteps across Scotland
• Explore historic Edinburgh - Scotland's magical capital city
• Discover Doune Castle, aka Castle Leoch in the Outlander TV series

From £2150pp

• Endless attractions in London, England’s energetic capital city
• The city of York, with its fascinating Roman and Viking history
• Explore the stunning Lake District National Park

Bespoke car tours & escorted driving holidays throughout the UK and Europe - 2025

Classic car tours is a scottish travel company with an extensive network which allows us to operate luxury escorted self drive tours in scotland and throughout the uk, as well as in france, belgium and switzerland. our tours take you to the most exciting destinations for all classic, sports, prestige & performance car enthusiasts. when taking a tour to le mans 24 hours, le mans classic, goodwood revival, spa classic or on our scottish highland tour, you can be confident your accommodation will always be in the best located, stylish and most comfortable hotels and chateaux available. we believe we have set a standard in classic car touring to which others will aspire. , 2025 driving tours   at a glance.

Classic Spring Tour

Spa Classic

Le Mans 24 Hours

Grand Tour of Switzerland

Le Mans Classic

Scottish Highland Tour

Skyfall Tour

Reims Champagne Tour

New Year Road Run

Sunday Worship

Drive It Day - Scotland

Absolute Lotus Magazine Spa Classic

Goodwood Circuit Day

Classic Summer Road Run

Goodwood Revival

Cobra Drivers Club

Passion breeds excellence.

Let us take you on a journey

Call us on 0141 956 5626 / 07876 211785 or click the button below to enquire about any of our tours & events., 0141 956 5626 07876 211785 [email protected], classic car tours 27 braefoot avenue milngavie glasgow g62 6js monday to friday 09.00 - 17.30 saturday 10.00 - 13.00 sunday closed.

• London Walks
• Museums and Galleries
• Day Tours From London
• Overnight Tours

Stonehenge Tours

• Military Tours
• Rambling Tours
• Virtual Tours of Britain
• Paris Day Tours
• Day Tours from Paris
• Overnight Tours of France
• Normandy Tours
• Airport Transfers
• Rome Day Tours
• Day Tours from Rome
• Overnight Tours of Italy
• Special Interest Tours

Stonehenge at Dusk or Dawn

"We arrived at at dawn and were allowed to go into the circle. It was a very moving and unforgettable experience".

Private London Tours

See London by car with your own expert driver-guide. "We saw more of London in a day than most people see in a week!".

Stately Homes, Castles & Gardens

Visit some of Britain's most beautiful Stately Homes, Castles & Gardens on a day tour or overnight tour from London

Downton Abbey

See the real sights from the award winning historical TV drama

Private views of the Crown Jewels, The British Museum, Kensington Palace etc ...

Ghost Tours

Spectral Sightings and London's Haunted History

The City of London Walk

The original site of London 2000 years ago, the City is one of the most interesting and unique areas of London.

Ancestry Research

Let our experts research your Family Tree in Britain

The Thames Path Walks

The Thames is a Medieval river, a Victorian river, a Royal river, an Industrial and Commercial river and a river for leisure, pleasure and residential living. Discover the river with your expert guide.

A Walk through the City of London

Victorian market places, medieval churches and Roman remains.

The British Museum

Over 8 million treasures from around the world. See some of the highlights on a private two hour tour or on a flexible full day London tour.

Spitfire Flights

From The Blog: Take to the skies in the legendary Spitfire from a Battle of Britain airfield

Overnight Castles

Visit Hever Castle, Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace and spend the night at luxurious Amberley Castle.

Normandy D-Day Tours

Omaha Beach, St Mere Eglise, Arromanches and many more. By car, train or private plane from London or Paris.

WELCOME TO BRITISH TOURS LTD.

Britain's longest- established private tour operator since 1958.

If you are looking for private London tours, and flexible tours of England, Scotland & Wales with excellent tour guides - you have come to the right place.

Best Sellers

Private london tour.

Flexible tours of London by private car, minibus or public transport with expert guides. British Tours since 1958.

Stonehenge Inner Circle Tour

Inner circle Stonehenge Tour at Dawn or Dusk. Your guide will collect you by private car from your London hotel.

Westminster Abbey

Visit the royal church with over 1000 years of history, setting of coronations and resting place of the Kings and Queens of England with your expert tour guide.

Tower of London

Unlock the fascinating history of the Tower of London, a place of drama and intrigue for nearly 1000 years, with your expert tour guide!

London Tours & Surroundings

London tours.

London for first timers and seasoned visitors. Special interests include Residential London, Legal London, Architecture, Kids London, Maritime Greenwich, VIP London and more

Museums & Galleries

We have expert guides for all London's Museums & Galleries including The British Museum, The National Gallery, Sir John Soane's Museum, The National Portrait Gallery and the V & A. For any others just ask!

Private London Walks

Notting Hill, The City of London, Borough and the South Bank, Political London, Rock and Roll London ... we have an expert guide for all special interests and for all languages

Visit Stonehenge with the Avebury Stone Circle, King Arthur sites, Bath, Windsor, Oxford, Salisbury or Winchester. Or visit Stonehenge on an Inner Circle Tour at Sunrise or Sunset

England Tours & Britain

Tour some of England's most historic Castles - Leeds, Hever & Windsor Castle. Also visit Hampton Court Palace, Churchill's home at Chartwell and stay the night at Luxury Amberley Castle

Gems of the South

For centuries the wealthy and aristocratic have built their great manor houses and castles South of London in Kent & Sussex, beautiful regions of orchards, copses & hop fields, splendid gardens, delightful villages and towns

Overnight Stratford Tour

The highlight of this tour is Stratford-Upon-Avon, a small Tudor market town situated along the tree fringed river Avon immortalised by William Shakespeare

Wales Tours

Visit this enchanted country of remote mountains, sparkling lakes, windswept cliffs - beautiful Snowdonia, the majestic castles of Beaumaris, Harlech & Caernarfon, lovely Bodnant Gardens and more

Paris Tours & Surroundings

London to paris day tours.

Take the high speed Eurostar from London to the Heart of Paris where you will be met by your expert, private guide for your flexible tour of Paris

Private France Tours

Overnight normandy.

Visit Mont-St-Michel, Bayeux and the Normandy D-Day sights on this two day tour

Who is your Guide?

Our guides are personable educated men and women, chosen for their knowledge, special interests, backgrounds and personality. They will collect you by car from any central London location and guide you inside places of historic importance

Follow us on our journey

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Self-drive Tours in the UK

Experience the best of England, Scotland and Wales on these UK self-drive tours. Stay in towns and cities brimming with old-world charm and enjoy soaking up the sights along the way. Plus, you’ll have opportunities for afternoon tea, countryside strolls and pub visits. Your dedicated, local travel consultant will arrange your trip, which includes accommodation, car rental and 24/7 support.

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Classic Britain

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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.

Handpicked hotels

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.  For more inspiration, check out these best road trips in Europe .

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.

You can also add some  top literary sites to your UK tour to see where famous authors got their inspiration from. 

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.  Then, be sure to venture north to visit the stunning Lake District, historic Northumberland and post-card perfect Yorkshire. For more inspiration, read these  top things to see and do in Northern England .

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

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 driving 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.

Get inspired by these top things to see and do in 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?

Road trip articles

Top 8 things to see & do in the uk, 10 cool facts about england, visiting the uk: travel tips from a local expert, best time to visit the uk: your complete guide.

Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.

Driving Tours

Malvern, wales & cotswolds tour, individuals.

This bespoke driving tour takes you on an incredible route along some of the best driving roads in England and Wales, exploring picturesque villages and spectacular scenery along the way.

Starting at the home of Morgan in Malvern, one of our knowledgeable guides will take you on a bespoke tour of the factory before introducing you to your Morgan for the week.

Our dedicated team will take care of everything for you, putting together an itinerary, route plan and booking your accommodation. They will be on hand from initial booking to your return, ensuring every detail of your trip is covered.

What’s included:

• Private factory tour
• Morgan Plus Four or Super 3 for the duration of the tour
• Printed roadbook and itinerary
• Four nights’ accommodation, including breakfast
• Three course dinner on your first night
• On-call support throughout

£4,250 per couple

*Based on Monday – Thursday booking. Weekend dates may be subject to additional charges

We will have a select number of dates available for our group driving tours in 2024. These are perfect if you would like the chance to join a group of like-minded driving enthusiasts, enjoying the opportunity to drive both Plus Four and Super 3. Group driving tours take you on an incredible route along some of the best driving roads in England and Wales, much like our individual tours.

Group tours are joined by a dedicated team in 2 support vehicles, on hand to assist with luggage and logistics along the way.

• Dedicated support team throughout
• Extra luggage allowance

£5,200 per couple

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What’s included in the packages.

Tours include the hire of an all-new Morgan Plus Four or Morgan Super 3; accommodation including breakfast and parking; dinner on night of arrival; a meet and greet, tour walkthrough and car handover at the start of your tour; on-call support; the roadbook and GPS routes for your own mobile device. Other meals and fuel are not included.

What if I have to cancel?

If you have to cancel, the initial booking deposit is nonrefundable.  If your final balance has been paid, an amount may be refundable, this is determined by the date of your cancellation.  Where possible, we can work with you to reschedule the trip, and in this situation try to keep any nonrefundable amounts to the absolute minimum.

How much luggage can I bring?

We recommend no more than two large soft bags and two smaller day bags for both the Plus Four and Super 3.

Do the cars used have automatic or manual gearboxes?

Plus Four is available with either a manual or automatic transmission. The Super 3 is available with a manual gearbox only.

Can I choose a specific colour of car?

We cannot guarantee the colour of your vehicle

Is insurance included? What if the car gets damaged?

The cars are fully insured; however we require a £3,000 excess to be held on a credit card while the vehicle is in your possession. The deposit will be released upon the vehicle’s return, should no damage have occurred. You can choose to pay a £100 damage waiver fee to reduce the excess amount to £1,000.

Do you run tours in any other destinations?

In addition to our Wales and Cotswold tour, we have a European tour taking place in September 2024.

Is there a minimum or maximum age?

Drivers must be aged between 25 and 75. There are no age restrictions for non-driving guests.

our reviews

“A fantastically well organised Morgan adventure. The organisers were superb. The route and the quality of the hotels were outstanding”

“We did the 4 day driving tour of Wales and the Cotswolds. Started with and excellent private tour of the factory and a briefing on “our” Morgan Plus 4. The route and hotel selections were excellent. The Morgan performed extremely well. Our only complaint was the weather – it rained every day. We highly recommend this tour.”

“The Morgan Experience was a surprise for my husband and I can’t say enough about the entire event. From planning the trip with Emily, questions answered by Kat, and the factory tour with Andy this experience was surreal. Emily was responsive and helpful at every turn. I asked for a specific color Morgan for my husband to drive and she came through. She answered so many questions that helped us as visitors from the US. She was available during the entire trip for questions and assistance when needed. Andy was the perfect tour guide for the factory. He clearly loves what he does and it shows. Then the driving experience itself was a dream come true for my husband. The stops for lunch and overnight accommodations were all beyond expectations. They were spectacular and filled with amazing history. This is an adventure that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.”

To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.

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Morgan Motor Company Limited Pickersleigh Rd, Malvern WR14 2LL, United Kingdom

opening times

Monday: 8:30am – 5pm

Tuesday: 8:30am – 5pm

Wednesday: 8:30am – 5pm

Thursday: 8:30am – 5pm

Friday: 8:30am – 4:00pm

Saturday: 8:30am – 4:00pm

Sunday: Closed

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Jeremy Clarkson reveals surprise ‘real reason’ The Grand Tour is ending

• Conor O'Brien
• Published : 9:17, 16 Sep 2024
• Updated : 14:19, 16 Sep 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

JEREMY Clarkson has addressed the surprise 'real reason' behind The Grand Tour coming to an end.

The popular Prime Video motoring show, which starred Jeremy , Richard Hammond and James May , finished its run on September 13

During the trio's final road trip, titled "One for the Road", Jeremy revealed a reason for wanting to wrap up the show: his disinterest in reviewing electric cars because they are "s**t".

Previously, the 64-year-old penned in The Sunday Times : "After 36 years of talking about cars on television , I'm packing it in, because I'm too old and too fat to get into the cars I like and not interested in driving those I don't."

At a screening for the final Grand Tour episode, the star admitted: “It gets you tonight, it is the end. It didn’t at the end of filming.

“We said three years ago we would do one more then end it.

Read more on The Grand Tour

The Grand Tour fans left in tears as Jeremy Clarkson show comes to an end

I watched the last Grand Tour - a perfect send off but Prime has to ditch it now

"We had driven cars higher and faster than anyone else so we did wonder what else we could do with a car.

"We had run out of places to go, we had run out of things to do. And I had got fat.”

Having launched in 2016, The Grand Tour began after its three stars departed BBC hit Top Gear .

A total of five series aired on Prime Video, with the finale being billed as the sole episode of series six. It saw the hosts travel to Zimbabwe in their dream cars.

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In addition to Jeremy, Richard and James, executive producer Andy Wilman also made the jump to The Grand Tour .

Meanwhile, Jeremy previously opened up about his other show, Clarkson's Farm , affected his goodbye to his longtime collaborators.

Also on Prime Video the series follows Jeremy's experiences running Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds.

He said: "Where I would have been emotional was saying goodbye to the crew because most of them started with us.

"There's a photograph taken on Kubu Island of Russ Edwards and Casper Leaver (Camera Operator) and Andy Wilman, who were there on the original crew, and they're still with us.

The Grand Tour episode guide

How many seasons of The Grand Tour are there and where do they take place?

The Grand Tour launched on Prime Video in 2016 and quickly became one of the streamer’s biggest hits as hosts  Jeremy , 63, James , 60, and  Richard , 52, felt it was time they move on from Top Gear hit the road.

They have now brought five epic series of motoring adventures to the small screen, each taking place in different locations and even featuring celebrity guests.

• Series 1 aired from 2016 to 2017 and took the presenters to a number of foreign locales, including Jordan, Morocco and Italy.
• The series is comprised of 13 episodes, with episodes 7 and 8 making up a two-part special set in Namibia, where the trio embarked on an epic beach buggy challenge.
• Jeremy, Richard and James returned for more motoring actor in series 2, and drove their way across Europe as they tested out some of their dream vehicles like the Bugatti Chiron and the McLaren 720S.
• This series, which aired from 2017 to 2018, is made up of 11 episodes. It features regular 'studio segments' filmed in the team's permanent tent in the Cotswolds, and had regular participation from celebrities with two guests going head-to-head on timed laps every episode.
• In 2019, the presenting trio crossed continents - from North America, to South America, to Europe and Asia - putting both new vehicles and classic sports cars through their paces.
• This series was the last to feature the regular studio segments, car reviews and timed laps.
• To mark the end of this era the final episode's last segment includes a montage of scenes featuring the presenters over the course of their career as a trio, not only from this programme, but also from their time hosting Top Gear.
• This series marked a complete change in format for The Grand Tour as it consists entirely for feature-length specials which aired between 2019 and 2021.
• The first two chronicle Jeremy, Richard and James' epic adventures across Asia and Africa, while the third and fourth episodes saw them put foreign cars to the test on their home turf. And fitting American vehicles through Scottish roads is no easy feat.
• Following the same format as series 4, the fifth and final series of The Grand Tour also consists of four feature-length specials.
• The first of these hits screens in 2022 and follows the trio as they travelled through Norway, Sweden and Finland in three Rally-Inspired Sports Saloons.
• The second episode was another Euro adventure while the third took the presenters back to Africa.
• The fourth instalment of the series and final ever episode of The Grand Tour, titled One for the Road, premieres on September 13, 2024. It promises to be an emotional one as the trio set out on one epic final adventure in Zimbabwe and reflect on their 22-year-long working relationship and friendship.

"You can’t say that about any other show. We are a dysfunctional family, and I’d miss that, except for one tiny detail.

"There I was with all these guys that I've known and worked with for twenty-four years and I said, “I’ll see you all on Monday morning” because they all work on Clarkson’s Farm.

"I'm 100% convinced I would have been a lot more emotional without the farm show.

The Grand Tour is available stream on Prime Video.

• Amazon Prime
• The Grand Tour
• Jeremy Clarkson
• Richard Hammond