When I clicked "Create new blog post" and was greeted by the familiar blank draft page, I knew this was going to be a big one. It's always a lot of work typing up a road trip itinerary, making sure to include all the good spots and the best photos to accompany them. But taking on a post about the best road trip in England feels like a mammoth task - and this is due to the fact that England is my home country and I therefore want to do it justice in the best way possible. It seemed a huge feat - how can I advise anyone how to spend two weeks in my country, when I've lived here my whole life and still have places to discover ๐ So I will be attempting this by recommending my favourite parts of England, in the best driving order, to make it as easy as possible for you to see all the best bits this country has to offer.
Note: Doing all of this in two weeks is ambitious - but I know lots of people won't be able to take time off work for longer in one go, hence why I've squished this all into two weeks. Obviously if you have longer, that would be ideal! Either way, you'll still get to see so many places in this time - just maybe a bit more rushed.
Buckle up, here we go...
A bit about England:
Sooo, where is England? Hopefully you know - but if you don't, England is in the island of Great Britain, located in Europe, just a bit north of France. It's completely surrounded by water, hence the island part, and England itself makes up about 62% of the larger Great Britain. Just to clarify a couple of terms: politically, Great Britain refers to the countries of England, Scotland and Wales (but excludes Northern Ireland). And the term United Kingdom (or the UK) refers to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. So whilst I'd love to write up a blog post about road tripping the entire UK, this would mean four countries and would take at least a month for you to travel through them all, so this blog post is exclusively about road tripping England!
A bit about the route:
I've outlined this in what I believe is the most efficient way to see England. As there will be quite a bit of driving between places (except if you're from the US, where apparently a 4-hour drive is standard), and this isn't exactly a circular route, I've tried to lay this out so that you aren't driving over 4 hours in between any places. For example, you could go directly from London to Cornwall but as this is over 5 hours, I've suggested you visit London, followed by the Cotswolds and Bath (which is kind of en route) and then head to Cornwall - thus breaking up the journey. Likewise, for the way back from Cornwall, I don't want to send you straight to the Peak District as this is about 6 hours, so I've placed the night spent in Stratford-Upon-Avon in between. You can of course shuffle things around as you see fit - but this is my recommended route and ultimate guide to a two-week road trip in England, that hopefully won't leave you behind the wheel for too long! And you may have more than two weeks to explore - which is fantastic! - so anywhere it makes sense to detour to another city or place, I've added this in green italics in case you find yourself with more time on your hands. Happy planning!
Where to start?
London, obvs.
This itinerary begins in London as: a) it's the easiest city to fly into/has the best connecting flight options for you worldwide. And b) no trip to this beautiful little isle is complete without a visit to the capital! Heathrow Airport (LHR), based in London, is the largest airport in the UK. You can fly into Heathrow from 84 countries around the world, so this airport is probably your best bet. You can book your flights and see the best deals here.
When to visit:
The weather in England is predictable for being unpredictable! โ๏ธ Whilst MayโSeptember are probably the best months to visit weather-wise, sunny days aren't guaranteed so you need to be prepared for rain. Also bear in mind that JulyโAugust will bring more tourists. So if you're after a quieter visit, stick with AprilโMay for those gorgeous spring colours, or SeptemberโOctober.
Getting around:
The public transport in London is excellent, making it really easy to get around the capital, with no need for a car in London. Once you're out of London though, you'll need a car to get around and begin your epic 2-week road trip around England. Check out rentalcars.comย - they are my go-to comparison car hire website. You'll want to pick up your rental car in London on Day 3, before you head to the Cotswolds. If you decide to fly home from Leeds or Manchester, make sure you choose the option to return the car in a different location when booking (more details towards the end of this blog post).
Flights, hotels and car rental:
I use booking.com to book my hotel stays. Their prices are competitive and they do a 'Genius' program where the more hotels you book, the bigger savings you get. You can also book your flights and rental car here - and this is really handy as everything will be in one place!
Days 1-2: London calling!
As mentioned above, you'll be flying into London, the capital and most famous city in England. You'll want to tick off all the London landmarks - such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge (not to be confused with London Bridge), the London Eye and more! I'd recommend doing all of this on Day 1 by following my one-day walking tour of London, which takes in all the best places on foot. If you don't have time (or energy) to do the entire walk, just pick the things you're most interested in. And definitely go for a walk along the Thames in central London - you'll see many landmarks along the way.
And for Day 2, I'd suggest visiting either the British Museum or the Natural History Museum - both are incredible and housed in beautiful buildings. They are also free to enter. If you're able to book in advance, I'd highly recommend the magnificent free viewing platforms - either Horizon 22 or the Sky Garden. And if the weather is nice, be sure to check out some of the most beautiful parks in London: my favourites are Regent's Park, Hyde Park, Richmond Park (and the deer!) and Hampstead Heath.
๐ง If you're a Harry Potter fan and are keen to visit the Warner Bros Studio Tour, note that this needs to be booked a good few months in advance, especially in the lead up to summer. The tour will also end up taking up a lot of your day, so keep this in mind if you only have two days in London.
๐ And if you're stuck on where else to go in London, especially on a budget, check out this helpful blog post on the best free things to do in London.
Getting around London
It is super easy to get around London via public transport. You'll need to purchase an Oyster card, which can be used across all Tube and bus journeys in London. An Oyster card is ยฃ7, and you'll also need to top it up with money to cover your journeys. You can buy one and top it up in many newsagents across London, as well as at all Tube and most London Overground stations.
โณ If you have an extra day or two, you can stop off in Oxford on your way to the Cotswolds.
Days 3-4: The Cotswolds and Bath
The Cotswolds, a region in England with picture perfect honey-coloured houses, is the epitome of British quaintness - and therefore an excellent location to visit on your two-week road trip in England! It's in central South West England and is about 2.5 hours drive from London. So once you've picked up your rental car, head here to take in everything this picturesque place has to offer.
There are several villages that make up the Cotswolds and I'd recommend following this order driving from London:
Burford
Stow-on-the-Wold
Blockley
Broadway
Upper Slaughter
Lower Slaughter
Bourton-on-the-Water
Bibury
Castle Combe.
You may not have time to visit them all but the above ones are my favourite! Check out my Cotswold blog post for a more detailed breakdown of the best bits to see in the Cotswolds (link to follow). You can also walk a section of the Cotswold Way to enjoy panoramic views.
Once you've had a wander around Castle Combe, drive 30 minutes to the beautiful city of Bath, known for being a Roman spa town, for its many Georgian crescents, and for Jane Austen. It's a good idea to stay overnight in Bath and explore the city the next day. Be sure to visit the Great Bath, Pulteney Bridge and the Royal Crescent. The Bath skyline walk is also lovely; it's a circular walk and takes roughly 4 hours (you may need to give this a miss if you're sticking to this schedule and are only in Bath for one day).
Days 5-7: Cornwall
This is quite a journey but one worth taking! If you've read my other UK blog posts, you'll know that Cornwall is my absolute favourite place in the country (maybe favourite place ever, still deciding). Have a read of my blog post on the best places to visit in Cornwall - this should be all the convincing you'll need. So once you've had your cream tea in Bath, it's back in the car to drive to the southwest coast of England (about 3.5 hours). I recommend heading to Newquay - the surf capital of the UK; there are some lovely hotels here, and with nearby Fistral Beach, you can't go wrong (especially at sunset). Also check out the fishing village of St. Ives, mystical Tintagel Castle, Kynance Cove, and Land's End - the most southwesterly point of the UK. There's also St Michael's Mount, a castle and island which sits just off the coast of Marazion, which you can walk across in low-tide; at high-tide you'll need to take the boat back - it's a fun experience!
And if you have the legs for it, go on a coastal walk! The views are magnificent and the colour of the water is something else, especially when viewing it from the clifftops. There are multiple walks you can choose but my favourite is the route from Porthcurno to Land's End. This also takes you past the wonderful outdoor Minack Theatre, which is a great place to see in its own right.
Three days should be enough to see the charm and beauty of Cornwall. Things aren't really more than an hour away from each other in Cornwall, so you should be able to see lots in this time. And don't forget to try a traditional Cornish pasty (just beware of seagulls who will snatch it out of your hands with no shame). And now it's time to head back to central England and on the way to the north! Next stop: Stratford-upon-Avon.
โณ If you have more time, now would be a great point to drive to Oxford, and from there to Cambridge, and then on to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Day 8: Stratford-upon-Avon
I've placed this here to break up the journey from Cornwall; it would be just over five hours to drive straight to the Peak District from Cornwall - and Stratford-upon-Avon is a good stopping point along the way (the drive is about 3.5 hours from Cornwall). If you're into Shakespeare, this is the place to be! And even if you're not, it is such a quaint little town and well worth the visit. It feels like there's history on every street corner; a lot of the buildings have been preserved and many of the houses are in the half-timbered style (some dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries).
Top things to do here are a visit to Shakespeare's Birthplace on Henley Street. You get to go inside the house and the small garden. The interior of this tudor house is beautifully preserved, with exposed wooden beams. I recommend booking in advance, as you could end up queueing for tickets. There's an option to book the ticket for Shakespeare's Birthplace & Schoolroom. And you can also purchase 3 tickets in 1 - called Shakespeare's Story Ticket, which allows you entrance into Shakespeare's Birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Shakespeare's New Place (just be sure to check in advance because some of these aren't open in the winter months). Tickets can be booked here. Enjoy!
Stay overnight in Stratford-upon-Avon on Day 8, then explore the city a bit the next morning (Day 9). And head to the Peak District in the afternoon (approx 2 hour drive).
Days 9-10: Peak District
Once you've had a nosey around Stratford-upon-Avon, it's time to get back in the car and head to the Peak District - a wonderful area of sprawling peaks and moorland in central-northern England. I've visited many times, in sunshine and rain, and can attest that whatever the weather, it is one of England's loveliest outdoor spaces with views for days. The Peak District is the UK's oldest national park with some top hikes and a fair few reservoirs to visit. Some of the best things to do here are a hike up Mam Tor; you can do a longer circular hike starting and ending in Castleton, or if you prefer, just a short steep walk up from the Mam Tor car park. Make sure to visit the quaint village of Castleton, as well as a drive through Winnats Pass (which feels like a scene from Lord of the Rings). Two days is plenty to see what the Peak District has to offer - and even just driving around and looking at the views is a balm for the soul.
โณ If you're tight on time, I'd give the Peak District a miss (sorry!) and head straight to the Lake District instead. The Lakes are truly one of the most beautiful places in England and not to be missed.
Days 11-13: Lake District
In my opinion, no ultimate road trip through England is complete until you've visited the famed Lake District. Known for its magnificent landscapes, fells and lakes, it is visited by approximately 18 million people per year (!) who come to soak in the nature and the quiet around them. There is a certain tranquility about the Lake District and besides from the lakes, it is also synonymous with the poetry of William Wordsworth and the works of Beatrix Potter. You will find Wordsworth's house in Grasmere, and Beatrix Potter's in Ambleside - both make for great rainy day activities!
Some of the prettiest lakes to visit include: Buttermere, Windermere, Bassenthwaite and Rydal Water. Lake Windermere is the largest lake in England and is also the most famous lake in the Lake District. In the town of Windermere, you can climb Orrest Head for some amazing views over Lake Windermere. The start of the trail is right by Windermere Station, and the route is wheelchair accessible (it's obviously a bit steep as it's a hill, so would need to be with an electric wheelchair). It will take about 30 minutes to walk each way and is well worth it on a clear day!
If you're visiting by car, there are plenty of scenic drives to take in not just the lakes but the other beautiful views around you. My favourite is Kirkstone Pass - which is the highest drivable pass in the Lake District. The views are gorgeous and on a clear day, you'll be able to see Lake Windermere in the distance. And if you like a bit of a challenge, head to Hardknott Pass to drive what is considered one of the most difficult roads in the UK; it is a single track road full of hairpin bends and the views are really incredible (warning: only take it on if you're very comfortable behind the wheel, and probably better to avoid in winter).
Wow, the Lake District really has it all ๐ If all of that isn't enough, head to the lovely villages of Grasmere, Hawkshead and Ambleside. Grasmere is hailed as Wordsworth's favourite place in the Lake District - he described it as "the loveliest spot that man hath found". For good views, take the path to Loughrigg Terrace - it's a circular route that takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete, and the views over Grasmere Lake are excellent. You can also visit Wordsworth's home, Dove Cottage, located in Grasmere. And don't forget to stop off at Grasmere Gingerbread to try what is considered the best gingerbread in the world!
Finally, England's highest mountain - Scafell Pike - can be found in the Lakes, and is well worth a climb if you have good weather. It's definitely a challenging hike with steep inclines and some scrambly bits at the end, so only take it on if you're a confident hiker. And that completes your tour of the Lake District! With only one day left in this ultimate guide to a two-week road trip in England, it's time to head to the Yorkshire Dales...
Day 14: Yorkshire Dales
This day will likely be spent driving to the airport (either Leeds, Manchester or London) but instead of driving directly from the Lake District, I'd recommend you drive through the Yorkshire Dales ๐๏ธ And if you have a couple of days to explore, even better!
Yorkshire, England's largest county, is one of the greenest and most lush places I've been to in the UK. It is widely known as 'God's Own Country' - and when you see it, you'll know why. The Yorkshire Dales National Park, in Yorkshire, is miles and miles of endless moors and hills. I've seen it in both sunshine and rain - and it is equally beautiful in all weathers. In fact, the cloudy weather just adds to the atmosphere! You can check out my guide to the Yorkshire Dales for a more in-depth list of things to do here. Among the best things to see are Malham Cove, Ribblehead Viaduct, and even just a drive through the countryside - in particular, the road from Kettlewell to Coverdale. There are lovely villages as well; check out Hawes, Thwaite and Grassington to soak in the Dales way of life. And before you go, stop off for a Yorkshire pudding!
โณ If you have an extra day, I'd recommend driving from the Yorkshire Dales to the city of York. You'll find cobbled streets, Roman relics and a delightful area of streets and alleys called the Shambles. From here, head to Leeds or Manchester Airport to get a connecting flight to Heathrow, or wherever else you're heading.
Home time
And that concludes the ultimate guide to a two-week road trip in England!
Hopefully you'll have managed to see all the places you most wanted to check out - and anything you didn't fit in, you'll have to save for next time ๐
โ๏ธ From Yorkshire, it's now time to head home. You can drive to Leeds or Manchester airport to get a connecting flight to London (or fly directly home if that's an option). Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is just under 2 hours from the Yorkshire Dales, and Manchester Airport (MAN) is about 2.5 hours from Yorkshire Dales. Just make sure when booking your rental car, that you select to return your car in Leeds or Manchester. Alternatively, if you want to drive back to London Heathrow, this would be just over 5 hours.
Hope you have a glorious time! I've loved putting this blog post together. Please reach out and comment below if you have any questions.
Happy travels!
Shani x
This is so helpful! We'll probably take this a bit slower and won't have time to get to all of the places. Which would you recommend we should definitely see/which places could we skip? Thanks so much.