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How to plan the ULTIMATE UK road trip

Trying to plan a UK road trip? Not entirely sure where to start? The UK is amazing and full of incredible road trip possibilities- but narrowing those down to fit an itinerary can be a bit daunting.

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How to plan a UK Road trip

The key to planning any road trip is figuring out how much time you have for your trip vs where you want to go vs how long you want to drive for each day.

That’s it.

The more road trips you plan, whether in the UK, Europe or anywhere else, the better you get at knowing how far you want to drive each day and how much time you want for sightseeing, relaxing and enjoying your break.

We’ve been roadtripping almost non-stop for years now and today we’re going to share our secrets for how to plan a UK road trip, step by step.

We’ve travelled extensively in the UK, from Lands End in Cornwall all the way up to John o’Groats (if you’re not from the UK, that’s a really popular road trip itinerary if you have the time!)

We are constantly amazed at just how pretty the UK is and how diverse the scenery, architecture, history, accents and customs are. If you’d like to grab some ideas for places to visit, here are some of our favourite UK road trip itineraries .

Just remember, wherever you go, you’re bound to have a good time. (Just bring a coat. And an umbrella. At all times.)

So, grab a cup of tea and a slice of cake (so English!) and let’s get started on how to plan the PERFECT UK road trip!

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Planning a UK road trip- How much time do you have?

I know the UK is small compared to some countries, but you are unlikely to see much of it in a week. It is possible to drive from the bottom to the top in about 24 hours… but all you’ll see is motorway!

Itinerary ideas for a one-week UK road trip

My advice? If you have a week to drive around the UK, you could do one the following areas:

Split your England Road Trip into 4 quarters. You could do a part of each quarter in roughly a week.
One or two of these best scenic drives in Scotland
Wales – here are some great Wales Road Trip ideas
Northern Ireland (and Ireland)

If you have extra time, then add more places in! Or take your time and really enjoy the places you find.

VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT ROAD PLANNING TIP

Do NOT overface yourself. You are NOT going to want to drive 18 hours every day. Heck, what’s the point?

And you are probably not going to want to drive EVERY. SINGLE. DAY either, especially if you’re the only driver or you’re travelling with young kids. You need to allow time to explore the places you travel to. Also, remember many roads in more rural regions of the UK (like Cornwall and Scotland ) are narrow and speed limits are much slower- which means travel times between places are a lot longer!

Planning a vehicle for your UK road trip

There are plenty of vehicle options for a UK road trip and all of them are available for hire (age and licence dependant of course! Check if you’re allowed to drive in the UK with a non-UK licence here .)

Motorhome/ Campervan

Our personal favourite method of roadtripping is a UK Motorhome (RV) or campervan holiday . We love being able to take our home on our backs and see where we end up- much more freedom than booking hotels or B & B’s in advance. We’ve extensively toured the UK and Europe in our motorhome and it’s a perfect way to take everything you need with you.

If you want to go wild camping, make sure you’re aware of the motorhome and campervan parking laws in the UK .

Hiring a motorhome or campervan? Make sure you ask these important motorhome rental questions first.

However, if a motorhome or campervan really isn’t your style, hire a car and set out on the open road! Don’t forget- it’s cheaper to start/ finish at the same place than pay a one-way fee BUT you may be able to see more if you don’t have to return to your starting point.

You’ll also save on the fuel you might use to return the vehicle, so a one-way hire might be a great option depending on the type of UK road trip you want to do.

For car hire, we use and highly recommend Europcar.

Motorbike/ bicycle

Lastly, how about a road trip by bike? Yep, that could be a pushbike (don’t underestimate the hills in the UK!) but why not treat yourself and road trip on a motorbike! There are some awesome biking roads all over the UK and plenty of biker-friendly accommodation options. You can even hire helmets and leathers.

Route planning for a UK road trip

So, once you’ve decided on your timescale and how you’re going to get around, you can start planning a UK road trip route and then your accommodation.

If you’re making it up as you go and wild camping in the UK or booking campsites/ accommodation on the fly, then this doesn’t matter so much, but if you’re planning a route in order to book accommodation, then remember my advice from above- many roads in the UK are slower and smaller than you might be used to, and distances can take longer to travel- particularly in places like Scotland, Wales and Cornwall.

READ MORE: Drive the national driving routes in Wales- the Wales Way – and see some of the best bits of this beautiful country.

Again, don’t try and cram too much in, or you’ll be arriving late each day utterly exhausted. Remember, at this stage you don’t necessarily need to plan each road you will take, but just which towns you want to visit, how long you want to spend in an area and how far driving distances are between each place.

You can record all this information on our FREE printable road trip planner so you can keep track of it all and adjust your route and itinerary accordingly.

TOP TIP: If you’re going to be booking a lot of accommodation, use Booking.com. They offer great discounts on hotels, BnBs, apartments and more & the more you book, so each night gets cheaper and cheaper.

We rarely plan actual routes, but when we do we use Google. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your route with Google Maps

Things to remember while route planning

If you have a motorhome or large vehicle- get an appropriate motorhome sat-nav . You’ll need it. Make sure it’s in an appropriate holder if you’re looking at it whilst driving.
Bring a car USB charger for phone/ ipad etc. You’ll need it- using maps on your phone takes more battery power than you might be used to.
Make sure you have the best route planning apps to help you get the most out of your trip, whether it’s Park4night, Google Maps or one of the others we recommend.

Plan a UK road trip- Travel Documents to bring

Once your rough routes and accommodations are sorted, you need to make sure you have the appropriate travel documents with you . Here’s a list, along with a printable checklist for you to download.

Note – there is NOT an official border between England, Scotland and Wales- you can drive between them in any vehicle you hire. However, for any country which requires a ferry (Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands) you might need a letter from the hire company saying it’s ok to take the vehicle out of the country. You will need to carry your passport/ proof of ID as well.

Another Note – this does NOT apply to the Isle of Wight on the south coast of England- that’s still part of England. It’s complicated, I know.

READ MORE: Here’s everything you need to know to plan a road trip to the Isle of Wight

Stonehenge. One of the most iconic landmarks in England.

UK Road Trip tips

Speed limits.

Apparently, us Brits have a reputation for speeding. Having driven in both France and Italy, I think that’s a little unfair- but it’s also probably true. So, here’s the deal when you’re roadtripping in the UK:

The speed limit on the motorway (3/4 lanes each side) is 70mph. You WILL see people going faster, but remember there are unmarked police cars all over the place.
IF you see another speed limit on the motorway (for roadworks or traffic) obey that speed limit. There will be cameras everywhere- they are often on the bridges.
Many motorways in the UK now have average speed cameras, which means they monitor you from one point on the motorway to another, and if your average speed is above the limit, they will send you an automatic fine.
National speed limit (white circle with black diagonal line through it) is 70 on dual carriageways (unless otherwise marked) and 60 on single lane roads.
In towns, the speed will often by 30mph, and sometimes 20mph near schools. Do not speed in towns- cameras (and kids!) are everywhere.

Driving Tips for the UK

There is NO turn on red. Red means stop and wait. Always. Wait for green. If you’re turning, there might be a green arrow while the rest is on red.
There’s no requirement to drive with your headlights on during the day.
In the UK, we drive on the left. The slow lane is the lane nearest the curb, the overtaking lane is the one near the centre. DO NOT hog the middle lane- pull into the slow lane as often as you can.
At a roundabout, the left lane is for either turning left or going straight on. Unless it’s marked differently.
If you’re in a tall vehicle (motorhome!) know your height and width and PAY ATTENTION to signs for narrow roads or low bridges. There are MANY of them all over the place.
In rural areas, you’ll find many narrow roads. Sometimes, you just have to go for it (slowly!) In a big vehicle, sound your horn before approaching a tight bend- don’t do this at night! These roads will often have passing places- these are NOT laybys, so don’t stop here for the night.
Double yellow lines mean NO parking (there are some exceptions for disabilities). A single yellow line means parking is restricted at certain times. Don’t block entrances, driveways or bus stops.
Talking of buses, do NOT drive in a bus lane. Most buses now have cameras on the back and they will fine you.

Driving in London

Personally, I hate driving in central London. Too many cars and the road system is crazy complicated. Add to that the taxis who just push through everyone, the lorries which are too big for the roads… yeah, I park up and catch the train in.

If you do drive into London, be aware of the congestion zone. You can pay it on the day- you don’t need to buy in advance, but DO NOT forget. Here’s the link for info and to pay.

You also need to be aware of several toll roads around the UK- they should be well signposted, but some you have to pay for via an app or online- if you forget, you’ll be fined automatically. That’s just one of many things NOT to do on a road trip !

Useful (and weird) things to know before travelling to the UK

We drive in ‘miles’ (imperial), but we buy fuel in litres (metric). No idea why.
Currency is in GBP- not Euros.
The UK is no longer in the EU. Which means we are NOT in the Schengen area and visiting the UK doesn’t count towards your 90 days. If you’re travelling to Europe from the UK , make sure you comply with the correct conditions.
Amex is only accepted in the bigger shops- many places won’t take it.
Carry small coins (anything from 10p to £1) Many car parks require change to pay for a parking ticket. A rough guide is you’ll pay £1/ hour for parking. Expect to pay MUCH more in cities.
The best UK weather is usually May-October- but that’s a constant source of amusement for UK residents. In 2018 it was blissfully warm from April all through the summer. In 2019, I was still wearing my winter coat in May. (In 2020, we didn’t leave the house so who cares!)
It rains in the UK. A lot. Whenever you’re coming, bring a coat.
If you’re into history, you have LOADS of places to visit. Many of them are run by the National Trust- you can buy a touring pass here to save money on the attractions. We also recommend getting an English Heritage membership so you can visit some of the best castles and historic monuments.

Beautiful Loch in Scotland we saw on a UK road trip

Activities for kids

Planning a UK road trip with kids in tow? I’m just going to point you in the direction of these amazing road trip activities for kids (and adults!) and quietly close the door. Feel free to rock back and forwards whilst gently hugging yourself. It will be ok.

Road trip songs

Any good road trip needs some TUNES. Here are 100+ of the best road trip driving songs !

Some of the best UK road trip destinations

Looking for some roadtrip inspiration? Here are a few of our favourite places to visit in the UK:

Cornwall (Avoid Cornwall in July and August- crazy busy.) Here’s an amazing Cornwall itinerary (with map).
Devon – here are some unmissable Devon road trip itineraries
Dorset and Hampshire- here are some great places to visit in Hampshire and Dorset
Wiltshire – (Think Salisbury, Durdle door and Stonehenge )
Southern Wales. Don’t miss the waterfall walk or the show caves
Scotland . Pretty much all of it. Here’s a perfect 7-10 day Scotland itinerary (with map) , including the Isle of Skye

I hope this post has helped you plan a UK road trip and I wish you an incredible trip. Let me know where you end up!

Cornwall Road Trip Itinerary (& MAP)

21 of the BEST Road Trip Planner apps to get before you go

Unmissable UK Road Trips & Scenic drives

Stonehenge CAMPING next to the stones (for free!)

Wales Road Trip – the ONLY Itinerary (with Route Map) you Need!

Scotland Road Trip: The ONLY itinerary you need (29 unmissable places)

omg this post has made me super proud to live in the uK!!! so many amazing places!!! thanks for sharing!

I love that this has literally EVERYTHING to get us prepared for a UK roadtrip!

Happy roadtripping!

9 top road trips to see the best of England

Jul 17, 2023 • 8 min read

Little red car driving near Aysgarth in the Yorkshire Dales on a sunny September day. Bolton castle seen in the far distance.

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

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

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

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

1. Following Hadrian's Wall

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

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

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

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

The sandstone-colored buildings of Oxford, including a round building in the middle of a green, and spires on surrounding buildings

2. The historic south

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

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

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

Paddleboarder in Front of St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall.

3. Cornwall's coast

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

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

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

girl walking along the Jurassic coast with a stick on a beautiful day

4. The Jurassic coast

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

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

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

A pretty row of honey-colored cottages opposite a picturesque stream

5. The Cotswolds

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

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

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

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

6. The Lake District

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

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

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

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

A view of a majestic cathedral building with three tall turrets

7. The Midlands

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

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

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

Purple heather covers the moorland landscape

8. The North York Moors and Yorkshire coast

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

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

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

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

A large castle viewed through an archway

9. Historic Northumbria

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

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

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

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

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

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Oct 7, 2024 • 14 min read

Want to see as much of England as possible on your trip but don’t know where to start? Try these 3 perfect itineraries taking in the essential sights.