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Our advice pages and safety campaigns will help to keep you safe when travelling on our roads.

Little changes, change everything

Make little changes to your driving to transform your journey

Driving around large vehicles and HGVs

HGVs are often considerably longer, heavier and more powerful than standard vehicles and care needs to be taken when driving close to one

Driving on motorways

How to drive safely and legally on England’s motorways

Vehicle checks

Most breakdowns are avoidable, and simple vehicle checks can help you have a safer journey

Travelling in severe weather

Find out how to make your journeys as smooth and safe as possible, and what we’re doing to help you

Variable speed limits

We set variable speed limits to look after your safety and to improve traffic flow on motorways and major A roads

Average speed enforcement cameras

How we use cameras to detect vehicles exceeding the speed limit when an 'Average speed check' is in place

Tackling dangerous driving behaviour

How we help our police partners spot and prosecute driving offences

Commercial vehicle operators

Resources for commercial vehicle operators including abnormal load routing (ESDAL)

Understanding Red X signal

Have you noticed the Red X signal when driving on motorways? It’s there for your safety and it’s illegal to ignore it.

Our safety campaigns 

Know the zones

Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) have zones of limited visibility. Other drivers often underestimate the size and position of these zones of limited visibility. Please be aware of the zones so you can stay safe.

What to do if you break down

Knowing what to do in an emergency or breakdown will help keep you and others safe and make you feel more confident when you travel on England's motorways.

Stay safe, stay back

Driving isn't a game. Are you leaving at least a 2 second gap between you and the vehicle in front?

Short for emergency call system – eCall is a safety feature in most newer vehicles which connects to emergency services when activated.

Check your tyres

Setting out safely for your holiday or day trip - find out how to check your vehicle.

Our experienced bikers are on standby to chat about the enjoyment, the thrill and riding safely too.

Useful links

• Report a problem on our network
• Resources for commercial vehicle operators
• CLEAR - Strategic road responders agreement
• CLEAR - Keeping traffic moving
• Advice for recovery operators on our motorway network

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• International travel, immigration and repatriation during COVID-19

UK’s new simplified travel system takes off from today

International travel will be simpler with lower testing costs for people who qualify as fully vaccinated.

• new simplified travel system with a single red list and the rest of the world comes into force from 4 October at 4am
• fully vaccinated travellers from over 50 countries and territories have simpler, cheaper rules, with just a single post arrival test needed
• changes come as UK government welcomes fully vaccinated residents of over 50 countries and territories who can travel like fully vaccinated UK travellers

From 4am today (Monday 4 October 2021), the UK’s new travel system comes into force with countries and territories categorised as either red or the rest of the world.

The new simplified travel system also means that eligible fully vaccinated passengers and eligible under-18s returning from over 50 countries and territories not on the red list , can do so without needing to complete a pre-departure test ( PDT ), a day 8 test or enter a 10-day self-isolation period, making it easier for those travelling – whether that’s to see friends and family, or on business trips.

As announced last month, the new rules also mean that from later in October eligible fully vaccinated passengers with an approved vaccine and recognised certificate from a country not on the red list will be able to replace their day 2 test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of tests on arrival into England. The government aims to have this in place for when people return from half-term breaks.

Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost, which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

We are accelerating towards a future where travel continues to reopen safely and remains open for good, and today’s rule changes are good news for families, businesses and the travel sector. Our priority remains to protect public health but, with more than 8 in 10 people now fully vaccinated, we are able to take these steps to lower the cost of testing and help the sector to continue in its recovery.

Also from today, under-18s from the over 50 countries whose vaccination status the UK recognises will not need to present a negative PDT before travelling to England. This applies regardless of their vaccination status.

All under-11s, regardless of where they are travelling from, are already exempt from pre-departure testing for arrival in the UK. If children aged 11 and over are not travelling from one of the 50-plus countries and territories where vaccines are recognised, they will be required to follow the same rules as for unvaccinated passengers.

From today, we are expanding our vaccinated policy to a further 18 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Canada. The recognised vaccines are Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford AstraZeneca (including Covidshield), Moderna and Janssen (J&J).

This builds on the UK government’s successful pilot phase with Europe and the US, and brings the total number of countries in scope of the policy to over 50, with more countries and territories being added in the coming weeks.

Those eligible must have a document from a national or state-level public health authority that includes certain information including name, date of birth and vaccination details, as set out in guidance on GOV.UK .

The government has maintained it would take a phased approach to recognising vaccines administered by other countries and territories, building on the success of the pilot with the US and Europe.

Fully vaccinated residents in other countries not yet part of the inbound policy, as well as those partially vaccinated, will still have to take a pre-departure test, PCR tests for day 2 and day 8 after arrival, and self-isolate for 10 days, with the option to test to release after 5 days.

The UK government is continuing to work with international partners as we seek to more regularly expand the policy to further countries and territories.

All arrivals will still need to fill in a passenger locator form ahead of travel. Travellers should continue to check GOV.UK travel guidance including Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice before, during and after travel to keep up to date with entry requirements and ensure compliance with the latest COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 regulations for the country being visited. Passengers should also carefully check booking conditions prior to booking.

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The Complete Guide To Planning Your Great British Road Trip

There’s genuinely no better way to explore the UK than on a road trip across the UK.

A road trip is by far the best way to get an authentic taste of British life as you get to see (and do) so much more than you would if you explore the country any other way. Taking a train, flight or coach will take you to pretty much pre-defined stops where everyone wants to visit but on a road trip, you get so much more control, which in turn means you have the best experience possible in the UK.

This being said though, planning a road trip does take a tad more effort than just hopping on a train. The effort of course becomes minimised the more informed you are and so, to help you with planning your own road trip, we figured we’d pull together a guide to help you see more of our home country along with tips and tricks to help you along your way and in particular, show you how we did the exact same thing too! (More on that last one further down!)

Let’s get started shall we?

How To Get Around?

A road trip pretty much implies every thing the name says, travelling by road i.e. by car. The UK has one of the best transport options available in the world so you would be forgiven for skipping the stereotypical road trip model and creating a hybridized version instead.

There are some journeys that might just be faster and more convenient if you combine the car option with a train, bus or flight. Case in point, travelling within London – there’s just no point driving around London. Instead, park your car and use the tube instead.

You’ll find that this can apply for other transport options as well so its worth looking at other options if you find a specific car journey starts to seem like a bit too much effort.

Where To Stay?

This is a key one as accommodation costs will be one of the more significant costs on your road trip budgets. We’re always on the lookout for ways to save money and one way we found recently was to book directly with an old favourite IHG  (the family of hotels that includes the Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza…etc).

To be honest, it wasn’t until we were introduced to the IHG # WhyOverpay campaign that we realised that the cheapest way to get your hotels for IHG is to book directly through the IHG Rewards Club rather than on price comparison websites (except for Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts). I’d just always assumed price comparison sites had pretty much the same, if not cheaper, offer for the IHG hotels but it turns out, that’s not the case at all when you’re booking IHG hotels.

You can make saving of up to 10%, which (depending on how much time you plan on spending on the road), can add up to hundreds or even thousands of pounds – money that can be spent on so many other road trip expenses (fish and chips for one!).

When To Get Accommodation Sorted For?

It is worth noting though that before you start your trip, you should book accommodation for the start and end of your road trip as well as the midway point. You book the start and end because you know what these are in advance and you book the midway point(s) in advance because this helps keep you on track.

The accommodation for the rest of the time can be booked a day or two in advance and this way; you have flexibility when it comes to planning your route as you might find that you want to spend more or less time in certain places as you go along your road trip.

Where To Start And Where To End?

First off, you’ll save yourself quite a considerable amount of money if you book the same start and end destinations. You’ll save money on return tickets (as it tends to be cheaper when booked from the same destination) and on car pick-up and drop-off fees which can double your costs if the pick-up and drop-off locations are different.

We started off in London and finished off in London but for instance, when picking up a car to move my things from Uni in Cambridge (pick up) to our home in Wales (drop off), it costs like £300 extra just for the different locations – a cost that would effective have been £0 otherwise. (The same happened in the US, picking up a car in Florida and dropping it off in California added an easy $500 to our rental cost).

As a rule of thumb though, the further away you drop off the car, the more expensive it becomes.

What Stops Should I Make?

This one’s the trickier one and one that’s entirely driven by self-interest. There genuinely are no right or wrong answers here.

Our road trip was all about seeing old historic parts of the UK so our focus was trying to cram in as many cities, towns and villages with beautiful historic sights as possible in a 4 day period. There were so many potential stops we could have made on our route (you won’t be able to see them all) so our advice would don’t try to see everything – you’ll just drive yourself nuts if you attempt to.

Instead of trying to cram it all in, I decided to focus on key areas I’d wanted to see (we’ve got a few places in this link here to get you started on potential UK road trip stops). The places we couldn’t visit are just another excuse for another road trip in the future.

The best strategy to have is to have two layers of planning:

1.) The 1st ‘layer’ is to define a general route along with the major stops where you plan on spending the night before you start your road trip. This way, you have a goal as to where you should head to every day. We decided to do London -> Bath -> Oxford -> Cambridge ->London over 4 days.

2.) The 2 nd ‘layer’ is to decide on stops you want to make in between the ones above, a day or two before. This flexibility is important as you don’t want to pigeon-hole yourself and create a plan that you can’t keep up with. The plan is there to help you and you don’t want to find yourself a slave to your plan.

What To Take With You?

In truth, asides your clothes, medication and electronic devices – there’s not really much you ‘need’ to take with you. Everything else is just a ‘want’ really… The UK has so many options when it comes to the stuff you can buy on the road so my best advice is to pack as light as possible and get the non-essential stuff as you go along (e.g. toiletries). Even things like drinks and food are easy to find as you drive across the country so you don’t have to stress too much about other road trip essentials like this.

What Other Costs Should You Look Out For?

1.) Extra car rental costs – Sat Nav, Full Insurance, Car Breakdown cover…etc

2.) Toll costs. There aren’t that many in the UK (there are a handful) so it’s not a major concern but still worth paying attention to.

3.) A local sim card (unless you already live in the U.K.), there can cost as little as £5 so its worth getting one to stay connected while on the road.

4.) Entry into local attractions. A lot of monuments are free to visit in the U.K. but some charge a fee so its worth looking into this in advance (also you might be able to get a discount so there’s that too).

What did we do on our own road trip?

Okay, so I’m going to have to cover this in a lot more detail over the next few weeks but seeing as we had just 4 days we had to limit ourselves to Southern England. In truth, there are so many places in Southern England I’d wanted to visit for quite some time so when IHG Rewards Club gave us the opportunity to try out their promise that it would always be cheaper to book with them directly rather than on price comparison websites ( #WhyOverpay after all?), this was the perfect opportunity for us to finally go on that road trip we’ve been talking about wanting to go on for years.

Travelling abroad really does make you appreciate the amazing gems back at home so this one was one that I’d wanted to do for quite some time! Here’s how our time went –

We set off from London in the pouring rain and seeing as we live in the UK, it strangely didn’t bother me as a forecast for the next few days. The weather here is so unpredictable anyway that us Brits just get on with it. Luckily though, by the time we hit the road to Bath, the sun came out and pretty much stayed for the entire road trip!

Stonehenge was one of those places we realised fairly last minute that we would be going past on the trip up and figured it made sense to pop in to see it properly. In the past, you would walk right up to it but these days, the entrance point has been moved further away so you can’t really see it without paying the fee.

Stonehenge was only a 15 minute drive away from Salisbury and although this wasn’t on our road trip, a quick Google and Wiki search (along with recommendations on Snapchat and Instagram) showed Salisbury was most definitely worth a visit and boy am I glad we did! Salisbury is a medieval old town, home to the Magna Carta and absolutely charming!

To be honest, in the past, I’d taken Bath for granted. I’ve spent a few nights here and partied with friends here but never really visited it for its sights.

One gifts travelling definitely gives you ( which I mentioned in this post here ) is how it makes you appreciate the things at home a lot more – Bath is a prime example of this as this ancient city has so many amazing sights to see, the Roman Baths, Royal Crescent and Bath Abbey to mention but a few.

Accom: We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Bath which turned out to be 9% cheaper via IHG Rewards Club (i.e. £11 cheaper).

Lacock is one of the sleepiest and prettiest English villages out there. It’s your quintessential Cotswolds village and is so small, quaint and filled with little delights at every turn.

Castle Combe

Castle Combe has been a big one for me and seeing as this is close to Lacock (and Bath) we knew this had to be added to our list of stops! It’s another amazing Cotswolds village and has been the scene of many a TV series (including Downton Abbey).

Bibury is home to what is thought to be the most photographed street in England – Arlington Row, where you’ll find many stunning rambling Cotswolds cottages.

Banbury was one of those places that ‘ just happened to be on the way ’ to Oxford. There was no real plan to visit, we saw a sign that said Banbury and decided to pop in. This is one of those moments where it definitely pays to wing it.

Despite how easy it is to get here, we’ve never really visited Oxford properly. I’d been a couple of times when trying to decide between Oxford and Cambridge for University but this was the first time we’d actually visited to see the city properly.

Oxford, by the way, is absolutely stunning and chock-a-block with lots of amazing historic sights to see and without a doubt, a great place to visit when you visit London.

Accom: We stayed at the Holiday Inn Oxford which turned out to be 4.5% cheaper via IHG Rewards Club (i.e. £8 cheaper).

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace looks like it’s straight out a classic British movie. This stately home is the birthplace of Winston Churchill. You can still visit the room he was born in – which comes complete ringlets of his hair from when he was a child (not entirely sure why that’s on display there). Blenheim Palace is without a doubt one of the grandest old homes you can visit in England and definitely worth popping into when you’re in Oxford!

Going to Cambridge was like a homecoming of sorts. Since my graduation, Lloyd and I hadn’t been back but more importantly, this is the birthplace of Hand Luggage Only! We visited my old college, where we started writing the blog just over two years ago and popped into some of the other colleges and sights in the city!

Time studying here means you kinda take sightseeing here for granted so it was quite fantastic to visit the grand city and see it in a different light.

Oh and if anyone asks, Cambridge is much prettier than Oxford (though I am biaised).

Accom: We stayed at the Holiday Inn Cambridge which turned out to be 4.5% cheaper via IHG Rewards Club (i.e. £10 cheaper).

Our return to London was exactly the same as our way out – rainy! Like seriously, as soon as we arrived back, the skies opened and poured out heavily. It seemed quite apt, especially considering the amazing weather we’d had for the last few days.

All was not over though, to celebrate the end of the road trip, we met up with friends for dinner and drinks in Central London and partied till late at night before rolling up at the final hotel, merry and thoroughly happy with the road trip across Southern England!

Accom: We stayed at the Holiday Inn Regent’s Park, which turned out to be 7.7% cheaper via IHG Rewards Club (i.e. £14 cheaper).

Our road trip on this occasion was only across Southern England but the same rules apply wherever you decide to go on a road trip in the UK. This road trip has been a HUGE goal of ours for a while and a huge thanks to the IHG rewards club (available at www.ihg.com ) for collaborating with us on this, for helping us seeing so much more of our home country and for showing us a great way to save money while travelling across the UK. Over 4 nights, we saved £42 on hotels.

On our road trip across the US we spend about 5 times as much time (20 nights) compared to what we did on our British road trip (4 days). When you do the math, you soon realize how if, for example, we made the same trip across the U.K. for a similar duration to the US and stayed in exactly the same IHG Hotels,you would save yourself over £210 just by booking it via IHG Rewards Club directly! #Win 🙂

Check Out The Very Best Of Great Britain!

Check out our YouTube channel for travel videos!

Dance Ninja. Cambridge Grad. Cookie Monster.

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UK Road Trip Itinerary Planner | The 7 Best Routes

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: January 29, 2024

If you love to take to the wheel and you’ll be visiting the UK at some point in the future, then you need to find the perfect UK road trip itinerary! This UK road trip planner aims to help you pin down the ideal 1 week, 10 day or 2 week UK road trip itinerary to follow during your visit. 

Featured in this guide are 7 of the best road trip routes in the UK. Whether you want a 10 days in England itinerary, would rather spend a week in Wales or have 10 days to discover Scotland, this post showcases the very best that the UK has to offer. 

Don’t plan a road trip in the UK without reading this first! From the Scottish Highlands to the sunny south coast of England and wild, unspoiled Wales, here are seven of the best UK road trip itineraries. But first, a few pointers on how to use this guide.

Cherry-picking

Pace yourself, the great british weather, driving in the uk, 1. the cotswolds and the south of england, 2. wonderful wales, 3. the english countryside, 4. the south to north circular, 5. capital to capital (london to edinburgh), 6. devon and cornwall, 7. bonnie scotland, which uk road trip itinerary will you follow, how to use this uk road trip itinerary planner.

You could follow these itineraries over whatever period of time you have at your disposal, but we’d say you need at least a week.

A fortnight means you can spend more time in each place, while ten days means having to rush around a little less than when you have only 7 nights to spare. 

The key thing to remember here is that it’s your UK road trip, not ours! So you can of course cherry pick where you want to go and leave out anywhere that doesn’t really interest you. 

If you think about it, doing that means you could fit in two of these itineraries, back-to-back, over a fortnight. Rather than just one. Having said that…

A holiday is all about having fun. Or at least it should be. For that reason, we urge you not to try to pack too much in. Pace yourself and you might just enjoy yourself a whole lot more. 

When you’re not sure about where you really want to go, ask yourself this. Would you be really disappointed if you missed out on visiting this place? Or are you not really all that bothered? If you’re not feeling the love and aren’t too fussed about it, then is it really worth spending the time and money on going there? 

Wherever you go, be prepared for the weather to take over. British people often seem to talk about little else. Whether you’re in northern Scotland, west Wales or central England, the maritime climate of the British Isles means that the weather can be very changeable. 

Dress in layers, take along a packable rain jacket and an umbrella, pick the right footwear and you’ll be prepared for anything. 

Before you draw up that UK road trip map, you’ll need to think about driving around the country. Booking car hire before you go is always advisable, especially if you want a particular kind of vehicle. Such as an automatic – cars with manual transmission are still the norm in the UK. 

In the UK they drive on the left. Cars are thus right hand drive. Meaning that the steering wheel is on the right hand side of the car. If you’re from North America, Europe or any other area that drives on the left, then this may feel very different from what you’re used to!

Roads in the UK are generally well-maintained. Signs measure distances in miles rather than kilometres. In the interests of safety, it’s a good idea to look at the Highway Code before you set off, as this will familiarise you with the rules of the road in the UK.

We recommend preparing to drive in the UK with Tripiamo which is the most comprehensive guide for Americans driving abroad.

Their guides include instructional videos and interactive 360-degree driving tours and will teach you everything you need to know about driving abroad, from reading road signs to avoiding fines. Drive safely and confidently in the UK with the help of Tripiamo.

7 best UK road trip itineraries

This suggested road trip itinerary for the UK commences in Oxford. If you make all the stops, you’ll visit the Cotswolds, Bath, Salisbury, Stonehenge , Portsmouth, Winchester, Brighton, Dover and Canterbury. 

• Heathrow/Oxford -> The Cotswolds -> Bath -> Salisbury & Stonehenge -> optional Portsmouth and/or Winchester -> Brighton -> Dover -> Canterbury 

Depending on whether you want to embark on your road trip right away or spend some time in London first, you can collect a hire car for this Cotswolds and southern England road trip either at Heathrow Airport or in Oxford.

Don’t bother trying to drive in central London – it’s congested, expensive and almost completely devoid of any parking whatsoever!

Here’s where to stop when you want to explore the Cotswolds and the south of England. As well as five of the best things to do in each of these locations.

If you choose to begin in Oxford , this historic and academic city has lots to offer. It’s packed with very old buildings, including the many colleges making up the prestigious University of Oxford. Some of these were featured in the Harry Potter movies . 

Oxford also offers the Ashmolean Museum, which focuses on art and archaeology. You can also take a river cruise on the Thames, which is a lovely way to see the city. The Oxford Botanic Gardens and Arboretum are also well worth a look. 

• Oxford University and city walking tour
• Ashmolean Museum of art and archaeology
• Sightseeing river cruise on a small electric boat
• Harry Potter tour of Oxford filming locations
• Oxford Botanic Gardens & Arboretum

If you’re spending time in southern England, then you must visit the Cotswolds . This designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is all greenery and honey-toned local stone, and dotted with appealing towns and villages. 

Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water are the two most popular spots, but there are so many villages you can visit. Check out the 10 best Cotswolds villages in this post, or use the suggestions below.

Find things to do and places to stay in the Cotswolds in our complete guides.

• Stow-on-the-Wold Market town with traditional pubs and antique shops
• Bourton-on-the-Water On the River Windrush with honey-toned stone buildings
• Lacock Home to Harry Potter filming locations and beautiful, ancient buildings 
• Bibury Timeless village where you can find photogenic and historic Arlington Row
• Painswick The Queen of the Cotswolds with Rococo gardens and a grand churchyard

Bath is a spa city in the west of England. It’s world famous for its original Roman Baths, handsome Georgian architecture and the Bath bun. Other top places to visit in Bath include Pulteney Bridge and the luxurious Thermae Bath Spa. 

Discover a Bath itinerary , where to stay and what to do in our Bath guides.

• City walking tour with Roman Baths entry
• Pulteney Bridge
• Thermae Bath Spa
• The Royal Crescent 
• Bath Bun at Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House and Museum

Salisbury & Stonehenge

So many visitors to the UK want to see Stonehenge. The mysterious stone circle can be found close to Salisbury , making it easy to visit both. 

Salisbury is a small city with a magnificent cathedral, a good museum and a bi-weekly market. You can also enjoy views of the city from Old Sarum, two miles away. 

• Stonehenge World Heritage Site
• Salisbury Cathedral and the Magna Carta
• Salisbury Charter Market | Tuesdays and Saturdays
• The Salisbury Museum | Stonehenge and local archaeology
• Old Sarum | Deserted hilltop ruins with panoramic city views

Portsmouth – optional

An optional trip to Portsmouth will particularly appeal to anyone interested in maritime history. The city is home to the historic dockyard, the Mary Rose and HMS Victory. Other sights to see include the Spinnaker Tower, and you can shop at the Gunwharf Quays outlet centre too. 

• Spinnaker Tower
• Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
• The Mary Rose
• HMS Victory
• Gunwharf Quays | Outlet shopping

Winchester – optional

Like Salisbury, Winchester is a small cathedral city. There’s an interesting military museum here. Other places to visit include the Winchester Science Centre, the Great Hall and Winchester College.

• Winchester Cathedral
• The Royal Green Jackets Museum
• Winchester College
• The Great Hall
• Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium

Brighton makes a great day trip from London – or you can stay over as part of a road trip around the UK. With a grand pier and a pebble beach, Brighton is Britain’s most popular city by the sea. 

Things to do here include shopping at The Lanes, seeing the Royal Pavilion and going on the i360. The Seal Life Centre is also popular with families. 

• British Airways i360
• The Lanes | Cafes, shops, pubs, boutiques and restaurants
• Brighton Palace Pier
• The Royal Pavilion
• Sea Life Brighton

Dover 

Dover is best known for the iconic white cliffs, but there are other attractions here too. These include St Margarets Bay beach, Dover Castle, the Fan Bay Deep Shelter and the Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery.

• White Cliffs of Dover
• Dover Castle
• St Margarets Bay beach
• Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery
• Fan Bay Deep Shelter

Canterbury is the capital of Kent, the county known as the Garden of England. The cathedral here is a draw, and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England. 

You can also explore Westgate Gardens here, and visit Howletts Wild Animal Park or The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge with the kids.

• Canterbury Cathedral
• Westgate Gardens
• Official guided walking tour
• Howletts Wild Animal Park
• The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge 

Our wonderful Welsh itinerary begins in Oxford, in England, before heading via the Cotswolds to Bath. You can find out what to do in those locations under the Cotswolds and South of England itinerary above. Or read on to discover all that Wales has to offer. 

• Heathrow or Oxford -> The Cotswolds -> Bath -> Cardiff (optional) -> Brecon Beacons -> Barmouth -> Porthmadog -> Snowdonia -> Caernarfon -> Anglesey -> Llandudno -> Chester -> Liverpool (optional) -> Peak District -> Stratford -> Oxford/Heathrow

Cardiff is the cool capital of Wales. Top things to see here include Cardiff Castle, Bute Park, the Principality Stadium and home of Welsh rugby, and the National Museum. You can also take a Doctor Who walking tour of the city!

• Cardiff Castle
• Principality Stadium
• National Museum
• Doctor Who walking tour

Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)

Bannau Brycheiniog, formally known as the Brecon Beacons, is the ideal place for outdoor sorts to stretch their legs. As well as hiking, you can cycle, try watersports, stargaze or do some rock climbing here.

• Mountain biking
• Watersports
• Rock climbing

The seaside town of Barmouth in northwest Wales is a pretty place to explore. Here you can spend time at Barmouth Beach, walk over Barmouth Bridge, see the harbour, discover Old Barmouth or hike the Taith Ardudwy Way. 

• Barmouth Beach
• Barmouth Harbour
• Taith Ardudwy Way hiking trail
• Old Barmouth
• Barmouth Bridge

Porthmadog is also a coastal town in Gwynedd. Things to do in this Welsh destination include visiting Black Rock Sands, two miles from town. You can also see the harbour village of Borth-y-Gest, Criccieth Castle, take a ride on the famous Blaenau Ffestiniog railway and spend time in the I talianate village of Portmeirion.  

• Blaenau Ffestiniog railway
• Black Rock Sands beach
• Borth-y-Gest village
• Criccieth Castle
• Portmeirion village

Snowdonia ( Eryri )

This mountainous part of northwest Wales is home to Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon), Wales’s highest mountain.

The area is popular among hikers, and also known for the historic Snowdon Mountain Railway. Apart from exploring Eryri (Snowdonia National Park), taking a train ride and conquering the peak, you can also visit the National Slate Museum or go to Harlech beach and castle.   

• Scale Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon)
• National Slate Museum
• Snowdon Mountain Railway
• Harlech Castle and beach
• Eryri (Snowdonia National Park)

Caernarfon is known for its majestic castle, but there are other absorbing places to visit in this royal Gwynedd town. These include Gypsy Wood Park, the Beacon Climbing Centre and the picturesque village of Beddgelert. You can also find the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum at the castle. 

• Caernarfon Castle
• Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum
• Gypsy Wood Park
• Beacon Climbing Centre
• Beddgelert village

Anglesey is an island off the northwest coast of Wales. It offers the mediaeval capital of Beaumaris, historic sites and beautiful beaches.

You can also see the Menai Suspension Bridge built by Thomas Telford, trek the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path, head to Llanddwyn Island and beach, or explore Plas Newydd House and Gardens.

• Mediaeval Beaumaris
• Menai Suspension Bridge
• Llanddwyn Island
• Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path
• Plas Newydd House and Gardens

Llandudno is a popular Welsh resort town . It has everything you’d expect from a British seaside spot, including a pier, gaming arcades, beaches and more. Here you can also add the Great Orme Tramway, North Shore Beach, Great Orme Mines and Rhiwledyn nature reserve to your to-do list. 

• North Shore Beach
• Great Orme Tramway
• Llandudno Pier
• Great Orme Mines
• Rhiwledyn nature reserve

Chester is a historic city with many Roman remains. It’s actually in England, but just a short hop over the border. Things to do here include shopping at The Rows, seeing the Roman walls and amphitheatre, visiting Chester Racecourse – which is the oldest in the UK – and ancient Chester Cathedral. 

• Roman walls
• Chester Cathedral
• The Rows shopping
• Chester Racecourse
• Roman amphitheatre

Liverpool – optional

There is so much to see and do in Liverpool . The most famous band in the world bar none came from the English city in northwestern England, and you can trace the tale of their success by visiting The Beatles Story or taking a Magical Mystery tour by bus. 

Two cathedrals, a major football stadium with a museum and the River Mersey are also musts. You can also find more things to do and places to stay in our Liverpool articles. 

• River Mersey sightseeing cruise
• Beatles Magical Mystery bus tour
• Liverpool Football Club stadium and museum
• Anglican and Catholic cathedrals
• The Beatles Story

Peak District

The Peak District National Park is another of those outdoor spaces that offer so much scope for active people. Here you can hike or bike, or follow the Pennine Bridleway on horseback. 

Visit the lovely spa town of Buxton, too, and don’t miss out on trying a Bakewell pudding in the town of the same name. This sweet treat is more widely known as a Bakewell tart, but locally is always called Bakewell pudding!

Discover where to stay in the Peak District here

• Horse riding
• Hiking the trails
• Try Bakewell pudding in Bakewell

Stratford-upon-Avon

The birthplace of William Shakespeare – the most famous playwright who ever lived – is a pretty town on the banks of the Avon river. Packed with historic and literary attractions, things to do here include seeing a play performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). 

You can also visit Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford , plus Anne Hathaway’s thatched, half-timbered cottage, or go to Stratford Butterfly Farm and the MAD (Mechanical Art & Design) Museum.

• Shakespeare’s birthplace
• Stratford Butterfly Farm
• Anne Hathaway’s cottage
• Royal Shakespeare Theatre 

England is known as “this green and pleasant land”, so seeing the countryside can be a real highlight of touring the UK. While our itinerary includes a few cities, they are small and picturesque picks that complement the countryside. 

Places to include are the Peak District, Yorkshire, the Lake District and the Cotswolds. See the above itineraries, too, for a more in-depth look at locations already featured in this guide.

• Heathrow -> Cambridge -> Peak District -> York and Yorkshire -> Lake District -> Liverpool -> Chester -> Cotswolds (and Bath) -> Salisbury/Stonehenge -> Heathrow 

Academia and punting along the River Cam are what spring to mind when anyone thinks of Cambridge . You can tour the colleges here, including King’s, and also absorb all the history on a guided walking tour. The Fitzwilliam Museum of Art and Gin Laboratory are also popular.  

• University of Cambridge tour
• The Fitzwilliam Museum
• Punting on the Cam
• Cambridge Gin Laboratory
• Historic walking tour

York and Yorkshire

The city of York and the large northern county of Yorkshire have so much to offer visitors from the UK and overseas. Head to the city for history and urban beauty, or go to the Yorkshire dales and moors to see swathes of unspoiled countryside. 

If you do visit York, don’t miss the Minster, or wandering among the shops and cafes of The Shambles. The Chocolate Story is also great for fans of the sweet stuff (and who isn’t?)

You can also find out what to do in Yorkshire and where to stay in York in our guides.

• York Minster
• Yorkshire Moors
• The Shambles | Cafes, restaurants and shops
• Yorkshire Dales
• York’s Chocolate Story

Lake District

The Lake District in Cumbria is an outdoor lover’s paradise. The area is known for its dramatic bodies of water, and it is dotted with historic market towns. The Lakes also has literary associations, a thriving foodie scene and lots of camping shops. 

Things to do include sampling sticky toffee pudding (it was invented here), discovering the history of Peter Rabbit author Beatrix Potter, walking to Aira Force waterfall and visiting Lake Windermere. 

Discover where to stay in the Lakes and the best towns and villages in our Cumbria articles

• Lake Windermere
• The World of Beatrix Potter
• Aira Force waterfall.
• Try sticky toffee pudding
• Beatrix Potter tour with lake cruise

There is so much to see and do in Liverpool . The most famous band in the world bar none came from the city in northwestern England, and you can trace the tale of their success by visiting The Beatles Story or taking a Magical Mystery tour by bus. 

• Heathrow/Oxford -> Cambridge -> Lincoln -> York and Yorkshire -> Whitby -> Durham -> Northumberland Coast then via Hadrian’s Wall to Lake District -> Yorkshire Dales -> Peak District -> Cotswolds -> optional Bath/Salisbury/Stonehenge -> Heathrow 

Lincoln is a little off the beaten track when it comes to British cities, but it’s a place with so much to offer. The cathedral and castle here are incredible, as are the galleries and museums.

We recommend The Museum of Lincolnshire Life and The Usher Gallery art museum, and a stroll up Steep Hill, which will lead you to the castle via shops, cafes and pubs. 

• Lincoln Cathedral
• Lincoln Castle
• The Usher Gallery
• The Museum of Lincolnshire Life

Fish and chips, colourful beach huts, Whitby Abbey, a fascinating insight into science during Victorian times and the Captain Cook Memorial Museum all await in Whitby. 

Much of the scampi consumed in the UK is caught in the waters here, so sampling fish or seafood and chips is de rigueur. Look out for goths, too, Whitby being a favoured hangout among lovers of black attire and white makeup. 

You can also find more places to go in Whitby here .

• Whitby Abbey
• Fish and chips
• Beach huts at West Cliff beach
• The Museum of Victorian Science
• The Captain Cook Memorial Museum

Durham can be somewhat overlooked, but it’s a delightful and compact university city in the north of England. The castle and cathedral are both outstanding.

Other attractions to visit include Hall Hill Farm, the Oriental Museum at Durham University, and a wander along the banks of the River Wear. 

• Hall Hill Farm
• Durham Cathedral
• Oriental Museum
• Durham Castle
• Walk along the banks of the River Wear

Northumberland

Northumberland is England’s hidden coastal gem. It also has more castles than any other county. Think windswept, near-deserted beaches, cliff-top castles and rolling countryside, and you get the idea.

There are some breathtaking buildings to visit, such as Cragside in Rothbury and the castles. The Alnwick Garden is also well worth your time. 

Also discover the best places to stay and top coastal cottages in Northumberland

• Bamburgh Castle
• Alnwick Castle
• Alnwick Garden
• Northumberland coast

Hadrian’s Wall

The Hadrian’s Wall site of Vindolanda features Roman remains, and is one of the key spots to visit when travelling between Northumberland and Cumbria. The Roman fort at Birdoswald is also worth stopping for. You can also follow various trails in the area, or drop into the Roman Army Museum. 

• The Chesters Trail
• Roman Army Museum
• The Corbridge Trail
• Birdoswald Roman fort

• London -> pick up car at Heathrow -> Cotswolds and Stratford -> Peak District  -> York and Yorkshire -> Durham -> Northumberland -> Edinburgh 

Also, discover the best places to stay and top coastal cottages in Northumberland

Scotland’s capital city is steeped in history, has swathes of glorious Georgian architecture, and scenic parks and squares. There’s also world-class dining and shopping, and the mediaeval Royal Mile. Also not to be missed are Edinburgh Castle and the New Town. You could also take a Harry Potter walking tour or a city tour by hop-on, hop-off bus.

Also find the best ghost tours of Edinburgh , top Edinburgh tips , and great Edinburgh accommodation options

• Edinburgh Castle
• Hop-on, hop-off bus tour
• Royal Mile | The Old Town
• Magical Harry Potter walking tour
• New Town | Elegant Georgian architecture

If you want to explore the sun-drenched (well sometimes) southwest of England, check out our southwest corner road trip itinerary here . 

For 10, 14 and 18-day Scotland road trip itineraries, click here . 

Whether you want to drive around the UK for a week, ten days, a fortnight or longer, we hope this guide has inspired you to visit this glorious land.

With so much to see and do yet relatively short distances between places, you really can pack a lot into a short time when visiting the UK.

Road trip podcast episodes

17 Tips To Plan The Ultimate UK Road Trip

The United Kingdom is a road tripping paradise – windy roads, scenic vistas, rolling hills, majestic mountains, meandering rivers, quaint towns, castles and history galore. 

Every great travel adventure starts with an equally great plan. So, I’ve put together my best British driving and planning tips to help kick off your own epic UK road trip. 

Let’s jump in!

1) Start from the end

When hiring a car, it’s much cheaper returning the car to the starting point, rather than paying for an exorbitant one-way fee. Pick out a few key non-negotiable locations you want to see along the way (you’ll find ideas at the end of this article) and plan the high-level route first, then fill in the detail from there. Avoid the temptation to cram in too much detail (yes, I’m often guilty of that!).

2) Choose your car rental wisely

If you’re starting in the south (and don’t live in the UK already), chances are you’ll be flying (or train-ing) into London . Check out the cheapest London car hire options, or save time and go with SIXT car hire . If you’re starting in the north, then look through Edinburgh car hire options. Once you’ve settled on a rental provider, ensure you’re adequately covered. It is mandatory to have at least 3 rd party insurance, which most rental car providers will include. However, check the fine print of your credit card or travel insurance terms to find out if “full cover” (also known as collision damage waiver - CDW) is automatically included. No point paying for the same thing twice!

Typically, you can use your driver’s license from your home country, but check the official list .

3) Don’t pay for a GPS

Pffft! Rental GPSs are sooooo 1999! Download offline maps using Google Maps. Or even better, travel with a Wi-Fi hotspot . Many roads in the UK were designed before automobiles, so there’s no shortage of 1-way streets and unexpected sharp turns. If you find yourself taking the wrong turn accidently you’ll be glad you’ve got Google Maps to re-route.

Tip: Bring your own car power adapter & USB cable so your smartphone never goes flat.

4) Make your drive cheaper by selling space

If your trying to stretch your road trip budget as far as it can go, make a little extra cash by driving other passengers using BlaBlaCar - a smart, safe carpooling platform. Once you’ve registered, let the platform know of your route and add as many “stopovers” as possible (cities that you’ll be driving through) for a better chance of picking up a paying passenger along the way. That’s guaranteed to make your road trip conversations more interesting!

5) Be flexible & book accommodation on the way

There’s oodles of small hotels and cute B&Bs in the United Kingdom. I recommend checking the latest accommodation prices on Kayak.com.au . It saves you time by comparing prices with several big agents, including Booking.com and Expedia. If you keep your hotel bookings flexible, and only book a day or two in advance (or even on the day), then you can go with the flow and see where the road takes you. Preparation is simple – just download the free Kayak mobile app before departing.

Travel tip: if you're flying into London but don't need to take all your luggage with you, I recommend this  London luggage storage  service. Less luggage means you can fit into a smaller (and cheaper) rental car for your road trip.

6) Stick to the speed limits

This is one thing you can’t be flexible about. Don’t just follow everyone else because the Brits have a reputation for speeding. Speed limits are indicated with black numerals on circular white signs with a red border. The “National Speed Limit” is indicated by a plain white circular sign with a black diagonal stripe (no numbers) which is 60 miles/h (~97km/h) on single-carriageway roads and 70 miles/h (~112km/h) on dual-carriageways and motorways. Built up areas are usually 30 miles/h(~48km/h) and school areas typically drop down to 20 miles/hr. It’s no fun adding the cost of a speeding fine to your road trip. Trust me!

7) Beware of local driving laws

If you’re from the United States or Canada, some of the local road laws may seem a bit foreign. There’s no “right on red”. And of course, they drive on the left side of the road (not a problem for us Aussies!). If you’re going through a roundabout (also called a “traffic circle”) don’t change lanes mid-way through and give way to traffic on the right (already on the roundabout). 

8) Roads are narrow!

On UK roads it's often necessary to stray into the opposing lane to get around obstacles such as parked cars, vans unloading, or roadworks. Drive with caution and use courtesy. In rural and more remote areas, including Scotland, it’s common to find “single track roads” – just 1 lane that allows traffic in 2 directions. Fortunately, there are “passing places” (that’s their real name!) that you can pull off on the side of the road to let opposing traffic pass or an impatient overtaking driver from behind. If you get stuck, stay calm and patient. Just use a bit of common sense, and if in doubt, vehicles travelling uphill have right of way.

9) Park in the right places

While parking areas on streets are usually clearly marked with white lines, there’s marked areas that you should also avoid. A single yellow continuous line along a kerb means there are parking restrictions at certain times of the day. A double yellow continuous line means no parking any time. These are typically strictly enforced. No lines at all doesn’t necessarily mean that parking is acceptable either, so pay attention to what other local drivers are doing.

10) Avoid toll roads

There aren’t too many toll roads and bridges in the UK, but every penny saved is a penny earned. So, use your favourite maps app to try to avoid unnecessary paid roads.

11) Avoid driving around central London

This is especially true within the inner-city area called the “ Congestion Charging Zone ”. If you zip through here, even for a few minutes, you will get slugged with a hefty extra fee that is charged automatically to your car rental provider (and passed onto you). Cameras are used to track the number plate of every vehicle that enters and leaves. On top of that finding parking in central London ain’t easy (or cheap!). I found out about this the hard way, when the rental car provider notified me when I returned my vehicle. It would have been handy to know about it before !

12) Metric & imperial living side-by-side in harmony

File this under “strange but true”. The road speed limits and distances on signage in the UK are indicated in miles (imperial) but fuel purchasing is measured in litres (metric). No point fighting it, just go with the flow. 

13) Take a ferry

Yes, you can drive your car onto some ferries. This is the best way to extend your UK road trip into Ireland. Check that your car rental agreement allows travel outside the UK – some, like Enterprise, may charge extra for the privilege.

14) Consider mixing a train with your car

The train network in the UK is world class, and especially for long distances. In some cases it can be more convenient than driving, especially if left-side driving freaks you out a little. So, consider mixing train travel with a car on your UK road trip. You could use a car to zip around a small region/city, then return the car and catch a train elsewhere in the UK. This is a good idea if you’re not planning on returning to the starting point of your road trip. 

15) Save money on historic sites

A lot of historical sites in the UK are free or have a relatively small entry fee. However, on a road trip you’re likely to be stopping at quite a few of these places. If you purchase a special ticket in advance from specific organisations, you can access multiple sites for a deeply discounted rate. Check out prices from National Trust (specifically, their Touring Pass ), and the Scottish Heritage Pass .

16) Road trip weather

Keep an eye on the daily weather forecast. As you can imagine, it can change very quickly in the UK. The ideal time for a road trip in the UK is late June to early September . There’s a good chance you’ll hit rain at some point, so don’t stress, and just pack your poncho. 

17) A little location inspiration

If you don’t know where to start your UK road trip planning, here’s a few locations (with map links) to get the creative juices flowing: 

Stonehenge – iconic prehistoric monument in the southwest of England. 

Bath – known for its natural hot springs that were popular back in Ancient Roman times. 

Salisbury – old medieval town home to the magna carta. 

Oxford – home to the world-famous university and plenty of historic sites.

Stratford-upon-Avon – birthplace of William Shakespeare.

Liverpool – industrial city that was the birthplace of The Beatles. 

Edinburgh – Scotland’s capital and home to Scotland’s crown jewels. 

Glasgow – Scotland’s cultural hub (tip: Save up to 40% on Glasgow car hire ). 

Cardiff – Wales’ capital with a beautiful redeveloped waterfront. 

If you want a smaller road trip, check out my Wales road trip . 

I hope this has helped to inspire you for a road trip around the UK. 

Happy travels!

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Reader Comments...

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Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis A

Consider hepatitis A vaccination for most travelers. It is recommended for travelers who will be doing higher risk activities, such as visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where a traveler might get infected through food or water. It is recommended for travelers who plan on eating street food.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to the United Kingdom. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to the United Kingdom.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Dogs infected with rabies are not commonly found in the United Kingdom.

If rabies exposures occur while in the United Kingdom, rabies vaccines are typically available throughout most of the country.

Rabies pre-exposure vaccination considerations include whether travelers 1) will be performing occupational or recreational activities that increase risk for exposure to potentially rabid animals and 2) might have difficulty getting prompt access to safe post-exposure prophylaxis.

Please consult with a healthcare provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before travel.

For more information, see country rabies status assessments .

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Tick-borne Encephalitis

Avoid bug bites

Learn more about tick-borne encephalitis at your destination .

Tick-borne Encephalitis - CDC Yellow Book

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil
• Avoid floodwater

Clinical Guidance

Airborne & droplet.

• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in the United Kingdom, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the  Department of State Country Information Pages  for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Although the United Kingdom is an industrialized country, bug bites here can still spread diseases. Just as you would in the United States, try to avoid bug bites while spending time outside or in wooded areas.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Consider using permethrin-treated clothing and gear if spending a lot of time outside. Do not use permethrin directly on skin.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in the United Kingdom include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip:

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in the heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if you are driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately.  Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance for things your regular insurance will not cover.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medicines you take.
• Bring copies of your prescriptions for medicine and for eye glasses and contact lenses.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call the United Kingdom’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Make sure there are seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in the United Kingdom, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Traffic flows on the left side of the road in the United Kingdom.

• Always pay close attention to the flow of traffic, especially when crossing the street.
• LOOK RIGHT for approaching traffic.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for United Kingdom for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.

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Election latest: Police to probe potential 'misconduct in public office' in betting scandal - after fiery final TV debate

The Metropolitan Police is taking the lead in a "small number of cases" relating to the scandal around bets on the date of the general election. Last night, Sunak and Starmer traded blows in their final TV debate of the election, as campaigning intensifies with just seven days to go.

Thursday 27 June 2024 07:07, UK

• General Election 2024

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• Met Police to probe potential 'misconduct in public office' in gambling scandal
• Starmer says Sunak 'bullied' into action over scandal in fiery final debate
• Live reporting by Ben Bloch

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid | Reform | SNP
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage:  Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts:  Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more:  Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo | How to watch election on Sky News

​​​​​​​The final TV clash of the election campaign was an ill-tempered shouting match, at least from Rishi Sunak. Sir Keir was more measured. More prime ministerial, perhaps?

As he had to as the underdog, Mr Sunak went on the attack from the start until the very end and unveiled a new campaign slogan: "Don't surrender…"

He said it no fewer than 15 times during the 75-minute debate. That's once every five minutes.

But just like the England-Slovenia Euros match 24 hours earlier, the result was a draw, 50%-50% exactly, according to pollsters YouGov.

And, some would say, that just like the England game, it was a 0-0 draw really.

Read Jon's full analysis here:

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of being "bullied into action" over the election gambling scandal after a question over politicians' "lack of integrity and honesty" in the final TV debate.

As the debate in Nottingham came to an end, the Metropolitan Police released a statement saying it was taking on a "small number of cases" to assess whether some of those involved have committed misconduct in public office (see previous post).

The first audience member to grill the two leaders at the BBC debate said allegations of betting on the election have left many "dismayed".

Sir Keir compared the scandal to 'partygate', saying: "You have to lead from the front on issues like this.

"When one of my team was alleged to have been involved and investigated by the Gambling Commission, they were suspended within minutes, because I knew it made it really important to be swift.

"The prime minister delayed and delayed and delayed until eventually he was bullied into taking action."

Mr Sunak responded: "It was important to me that given the seriousness and the sensitivity of the matters at hand that they were dealt with properly, and that's what I've done."

He added that he is "furious" and "frustrated" over the allegations.

Wednesday's debate was the last before voters go to the ballot box on 4 July. A Sky News snap poll suggests the public viewed their performance equally.

Read more from the debate here:

The Met Police has announced it will take the lead on investigating "a small number of cases" related to the Westminster betting scandal.

A spokesman said the force would "assess whether the alleged offending goes beyond Gambling Act offences to include others, such as misconduct in public office".

The Met is not taking over the entire investigation into bets on the timing of the election, they said.

"The Gambling Commission will continue to lead the investigation into cases where the alleged offending is limited to breaches of the Gambling Act only," said the spokesperson.

They added that more details would be provided today.

Good morning!

Welcome back to the Politics Hub on this Thursday, 27 June.

There is exactly one week to go until polls open across the country for voters to select the next government - hasn't time flown?!

There's still plenty that could happen between now and next Thursday, however, and the gambling scandal is very much still dominating headlines.

Here's what's happening today:

• The Met Police has said it is taking the lead in investigating "a small number of cases" in the gambling scandal ;
• As a reminder, the key issue under investigation is whether Conservative candidates and officials placed bets on the date of the general election using insider knowledge of when it would be;
• The force said that while it is not taking over the wider investigation into breaches of the Gambling Act, it will lead on the probe into other potential offences, "such as misconduct in public office";
• The scandal was a key issue in last night's leaders' debate, with  Rishi Sunak  reiterating that he is "furious" and "frustrated" over the allegations - but  Sir Keir Starmer  accused him of having been "bullied"into suspending two candidates;
• The debate itself was not the knockout blow the embattled Tory leader needed to fight back in the polls, with YouGov's snap poll concluding it was a 50-50 draw, with Sir Keir Starmer emerging victorious on key issues;
• Mr Sunak will be out campaigning in the East Midlands and Yorkshire today as he tries to convince voters to back his vision in the final days of the campaign;
• Sir Keir will be also be out speaking to voters and the media as he tries to carry that 'ming vase' poll lead over the line without dropping it;
• The battle for seats in Scotland is hotting up, with the SNP, Scottish Tories, Scottish Greens , and Scottish Labour  all on the campaign trail;
• The Lib Dems  will also be out promoting their call today for an emergency health and care budget within four weeks of the election to increase NHS funding;
• It comes on the first day of the latest junior doctor strike in their long-running pay dispute - and we expect Green Party  co-leader Carla Denyer to show her support on the picket line;
• And Nigel Farage  is due to give a speech later before doing some constituency campaigning.

We'll be discussing all of that and more with:

• Kevin Hollinrake , business minister, at 7.15am ;
• Bridget Phillipson , shadow education secretary, at 8.05am .

Follow along for the very latest in the general election campaign.

Thanks for joining us for an extremely busy night here in the Politics Hub, including for the final debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer before the general election next Thursday.

You can scroll through the page to catch up with the highlights.

And we'll be back from 6am with all the very latest.

Until then - read all the latest from Sky News below:

By  Tim Baker , political reporter, in Nottingham

One of the more amusing moments of the debate tonight was Robert, who told Rishi Sunak he was a "mediocre" prime minister and said Sir Keir's strings were being pulled by senior members of the Labour Party.

He is brought into the spin room by BBC production staff for journalists to talk to.

He tells us that he is a life-long Conservative voter - but at the moment is undecided.

Robert says he has recorded the debate and will be watching it again when he gets home.

However, he reckons he is leaning towards the Conservatives - believe Sir Keir has an "undeclared agenda".

Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has said the UK "deserves so much better" than the leaders' debate held tonight.

Reacting to the clash between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, she said: "Tonight the audience spoke for the nation when they asked: is this really the best we've got?

"Our country deserves so much better than what we watched this evening.

"Liberal Democrats are listening to you and fighting hard for the issues that matter to people. 

"From the NHS to tackling the cost of living, we want a fair deal for our country.”

A Conservative win would mean "five more years of chaos" and Rishi Sunak has shown tonight "just how out of touch he is", Labour's campaign coordinator has said.

Reacting to the leader's debate, Pat McFadden said Sir Keir Starmer "exposed the Tory manifesto as unfunded".

"Keir Starmer and Labour will return politics to public service, putting country before party in stark contrast to partygate and dodgy COVID contracts," he said.

"On 4 July, we have a chance to turn the page and start to rebuild with Labour."

Tonight was an "important moment" for Rishi Sunak as he put his opponent "on the spot", says our deputy political editor Sam Coates .

Coates says he thinks the prime minister would have been "very happy" with his performance - and adds that some of his aides were even "punching the air" after the debate.

It was a performance Mr Sunak "desperately needed earlier in the campaign", he adds.

He says Mr Sunak had a "clear strategy... to demand answers from Keir Starmer on tax and whether it will go up, on welfare and how you get people off benefits, on 'smashing the gangs' and whether the Rwanda policy is needed..."

Coates says Sir Keir provided a "range" of answers as the prime minister sparred with him.

"Sometimes he had specifics, sometimes he did not," he says.

"That strategy, although executed in a way I think that the Conservative Party tonight is very happy with, has nevertheless been judged not decisively in Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak's favour," says Coates, referring to the YouGov poll showing there was no winner in the final debate of the election (see 21.38 post).

The final TV clash of the election campaign was an ill-tempered shouting match, at least from Rishi Sunak. 

Sir Keir was more measured. More prime ministerial, perhaps?

He said it no fewer than 15 times during the 75-minute debate. That’s once every five minutes.

But just like the England-Slovenia Euros match 24 hours earlier, the result was a draw: 50%-50% exactly, according to pollsters YouGov.

At the outset, the PM served notice that he wanted to talk about tax, while Sir Keir wanted to talk about politicians gambling. 

As Mr Sunak read out prepared lines, it was a smart ad lib from Sir Keir that won the first round of applause.

"If you listened to people in the audience a bit more you might not be so out of touch," he said, in a familiar Labour attack line.

But the PM was strong and came out on top in exchanges on illegal migrants crossing the Channel.

One of the best moments came when a member of the audience, Robert, asked a devastating question: "Are you two really the best we’ve got to the next prime minister of our great country?"

By the end, the debate closed out as it began - with Mr Sunak shouting over the Labour leader. It wasn't a good look.

And as the debate ended, there was no handshake between the pair, which is unusual for these TV clashes. 

At least party leaders pretend to be civilised towards each other usually.

There's clearly no love lost between these two - and it showed.

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