In case you haven’t pushed within the UK sooner than, do strive my info to driving within the UK for helpful concepts. We even have a info to how a lot it costs to journey within the UK in case you need funds planning help.
A 2 week UK Trip itinerary
Days 1 & 2: London
The UK’s capital is one amongst my favourite cities on the earth. It’s been hanging spherical for over 2000 years on the banks of the Thames, and there could also be merely an unbelievable wealth of points to see, from historic sights, to fantastic museums, to crazy avenue markets.
It’s a splendidly walk-able capital, and it’s possible you’ll merely absorb the primary central sights in a day or so, leaving you the second day to uncover museums, art work galleries, or go a little bit of further afield and absorb a few of the completely different sights, from crumbling cemeteries to enormous parks. And if all else fails, you will by no means be transient on an unbelievable pub to whereas away a whereas sooner than heading on.
For inspiration in your go to, take a look at our 2 day London itinerary, which covers the primary highlights of the metropolis, and as well as hyperlinks to a lot of various particulars about visiting, along with tips on discovering Harry Potter areas in London by means of to Winston Churchill locations in London – one factor for everyone!
My suggestion for London is to invest in an Oyster card to economize in your transport (don’t hire a vehicle until you allow the capital – and check here for great rates on car hire), and in case you assume you’re going to make use of it, look into buying a London Pass to economize on London’s prime sights.
On the market in 1, 3 and 6 day variations, as well as to a mannequin with an included Oyster card, the monetary financial savings can really be pretty spectacular in case you propose on visiting a variety of areas. You presumably can study a full break down on when the London Pass is worth buying here, and buy one your self here.
Lastly, London is likely to be going to be the costliest metropolis within the UK in your lodging. We recommend reserving properly upfront to get a nice deal.
A few of our actually useful lodging selections in London are:
The Walrus Bar and Hostel, The Z hotel in Shoreditch, Point A Hotel, Lime Tree Hotel and the Resident Victoria Hotel. You presumably can see further London resort listings here on booking.com. We moreover love the curated residences accessible on Plum Guide.
Days 3 & 4: Oxford & the Cotswolds
Actually one of many stipulations of the genuine question was the need to steer clear of feeling an extreme quantity of like a vacationer. Sadly, that’s virtually inconceivable in Oxford, as virtually all people there could also be each a vacationer or a pupil. I lived in and spherical Oxford for fairly a few years, and typically felt like a vacationer most of that time too.
A a part of the motive for that is that this tiny metropolis is completely jam full of unbelievable buildings, largely in the kind of the Oxford Faculties. These are severely wealthy establishments, who clearly had no downside flaunting that wealth in an architectural type once more within the day.
Due to this certain, it’s filled with people wandering spherical, mouths agape, at pretty how pretty the whole issue is. Positive, it’s jam full of vacationers. Nevertheless for good motive!
So strap that digital digital camera on and snap away. Then go for a punt on the river, and enjoy some Pimms or a cream tea. Search out the Harry Potter filming areas. Take a walking tour of the Universities. There’s no shortage of technique to fill your time!
Study further concepts for spending a day in Oxford, proper right here.
From Oxford you are moreover properly positioned to take within the extraordinarily picturesque Cotswolds house – all quaint villages and rolling countryside. The England that everyone imagines England to be like, with nation pubs, village greens and cricket ovals. Fairly stuff. Take a take a look at resort prices for Oxford here.
Days 5 & 6: Peak District and Manchester
From Oxford I’m going to advocate heading “up north”, in route of the Peak District nationwide park. Assume rolling hills, quaint villages, and beautiful walks.
There are moreover some fabulous stately properties to go to, to not level out that on the means from Oxford you will give you the option to stop off at Warwick Castle – one amongst the UK’s most interesting preserved castles. It could possibly prevent money in your tickets by looking for them on-line upfront here.
A a part of the request I used to be posed requested concerning the yarn commerce within the UK – and Manchester is definitely no stranger to the fibre commerce – within the nineteenth century she earned the nickname Cottonopolis. A lot proper right here for the yarn fanatic in you.
In spite of everything, if fibre isn’t your issue there are a lot of completely different causes to go to Manchester, along with superb retail treatment and fairly a lot of architectural highlights. To not level out the music scene! See resort prices for Manchester here.
Day 7: York
Not that faraway from Manchester (England is so quaintly explorable!), the metropolis of York is one different of my favourite UK cities. From the unbelievable Gothic York Minster (a climb to the prime is extraordinarily actually useful) to the winding, tumbled down alleyways of the shambles, to the Viking historic previous – it’s a metropolis that merely cries out for exploration.
It’s moreover an superior place in case you’re into ghost tales. There are a complete number of ghost walks that take within the spooky earlier of York, so if you need a evening of leisure and intrigue, potential accompanied with fairly a few excellent ingesting establishments, a evening ghost stroll is a excellent little little bit of pleasing. I’m not a perfect believer on this type of issue usually, nevertheless I took a tour and fully cherished it!
In case you do plan on seeing a variety of points in York, it might probably prevent money with a York City Pass, which includes a lot of the sights within the metropolis as well as to entry to the York Sightseeing bus or York Metropolis Cruises. You should purchase that upfront here. In case you choose to stay in York for longer, multi-day variations might be discovered here.
For lodging, you will give you the option to try to information the best York hotels here.
Days 8 & 9: Edinburgh by means of Northumberland
From York we’re going to wave farewell to England, and head as a lot as Scotland’s capital metropolis, Edinburgh. On the means though, you’ll be passing by means of a few of England’s least travelled, however stunningly beautiful, landscapes.
I am in any case talking about Northumbria. From miles of deserted seashore, to crumbling castles, to the Roman equal of the good wall of China, Northumbria really has fairly a bit to provide anyone looking out for a barely off the crushed observe England experience. The rolling landscapes are breath-taking and in addition you’ll find yourself alone a lot of the time. Worth taking a little little bit of time to uncover, for my part.
Then in any case, it’s as a lot as Edinburgh, the place you’ll not be in want of fantastic points to take a take a look at. From Edinburgh fort, to Arthurs Seat, from excellent whiskys, to Princes Highway, there really is enough proper right here for fairly a few days of leisure. And in case you go to all through the Fringe pageant… properly… plan on being entertained for a nice many weeks!
See further ideas on spending a whereas in Edinburgh on this detailed two day Edinburgh itinerary that I put collectively, as well as to our info to things to do in Edinburgh, our tips on visiting Edinburgh in winter, and our info to finding Harry Potter in Edinburgh.
Then check and book your Edinburgh hotels here.
Days 10 – 12: Ireland
As a results of the UK is an merely explorable place with respectable roads and relatively transient distances to drive, it is fully doable to incorporate one different nation – Ireland! – in a go to like this in case you’re up for it.
Do do not forget that in the event you’re renting a vehicle, some vehicle rental companies have restrictions on taking automobiles on ferries, or into completely different worldwide areas – so be certain you check sooner than you go as there may be an additional fee to pay.
In spite of everything, you can presumably moreover fly to Ireland (Edinburgh to Belfast or Dublin as an illustration), and use completely completely different leases for varied components of your journey!
If all that seems like an extreme quantity of laborious work, you can presumably lengthen your time in Scotland, or alternatively, you can presumably take within the west coast of the UK, along with Glasgow, the Lake District, and Liverpool, as well as to popping into Wales for the attractive Snowdonia nationwide park, and rejoin this itinerary in South Wales or Bristol. The choice is yours!
Whether or not it’s Ireland you want though, it’s a transient ferry expertise from Scotland (Cairnryan to be actual, which is 2-3 hour drive from Edinburgh) all through to Belfast in Northern Ireland, from the place you will give you the option to spend a variety of days exploring the Emerald Isle.
Now we have now beforehand travelled from Cairnryan with Stena Line, which has been a fast, comfortable and atmosphere pleasant service. You presumably can information your ferry tickets here.
It’s moreover value checking P&O Ferries as properly, as they perform on the equivalent route. So merely check which has the best events and prices in your journey.
This a a part of the world has fairly a bit to provide, and three days is form of a transient time period. We’ll recommend spending a whereas in Belfast and driving north alongside the causeway coastal path to see such highlights because the Massive’s Causeway, ruined castles and spectacular shoreline. Then, head south into Ireland, and see fabulous Dublin.
I’ve explored Dublin and her atmosphere, taken a go to all the way in which down to the Dingle Peninsula, kissed the Blarney Stone at Blarney Citadel, gazed on the Cliffs of Moher, and visited the Dark Hedges of Recreation of Thrones fame – to name nevertheless a variety of of our nice experience on the Irish Isle.
In Dublin there’s the Guinness Manufacturing unit, in any case, as a most popular highlight, however as well as oodles of Gaelic historic previous and custom to get captivated with.
There are moreover after all of the Irish people, well-known for his or her love of a nice time! Personally, I’d head on down the coast from Belfast, by means of Dublin and all the way in which down to the port of Rosslare, the place after three thrilling days in Ireland one different ferry service will whisk you all through to the ultimate of the 4 worldwide areas to make up the UK: Wales!
Day 13: South Wales and Cardiff
In Wales you will arrive each at Fishguard or Pembroke – every superb areas to uncover the Pembrokeshire Coast national park. Proper right here you will notice that beautiful seashores, rugged cliffs, and fabulous options for strolling.
You’re moreover not too far a drive from Cardiff, the Welsh capital. 4 capitals in a fortnight – not harmful going! Proper right here you’ll uncover castles, sporting venues and additional Welsh primarily based custom than you will give you the option to shake a stick at. Plus, arrive on the correct time of 12 months and in addition you’ll uncover the Good British Cheese pageant in full swing. What’s to not be captivated with? Uncover and information your Cardiff hotels here.
Day 14: Bristol & Bathtub
From Cardiff you’ll cross the massive Severn estuary over the impress Severn avenue bridge and be once more within the UK, or Bristol to be actual. Proper right here you’ll uncover all types of fascinating devices of historic curiosity, largely engaged on a nautical theme, as well as to a few of the best avenue art work in Britain.
For over a thousand years Bristol has been an important English port. From early explorers and retailers, to the darkish years of the African slave vessels, to filling Australia with immigrants, it is laborious to understate the place that Bristol has carried out in Britain’s sea faring historic previous. There could also be, in the end, a motive for the expression “ship-shape and Bristol type” having a spot within the English language.
I can extraordinarily recommend taking a trip round the SS Great Britain whilst you’re in Bristol. Constructed in 1843, and designed by the engineering genius who was Isambard Kingdom Brunel – the person who just about single-handedly revolutionised every engineering and public transport within the UK.
The SS Good Britain is notable as being the primary steamer to cross the Atlantic – setting a file tempo for the time of 14 days. A super little little bit of historic previous. Observe that tickets are barely cheaper in case you information them on-line, which you’re able to do online here.
For further ideas in Bristol, strive our info to points to do in Bristol, which ought to offer you a great deal of ideas to fill your time. Uncover the best prices on Bristol hotels and book here.
From Bristol it’s on to the Roman spa metropolis of Bathtub, a world heritage website online. Like Oxford, it’s a powerful place to be one thing other than a vacationer, nevertheless it is so value all of it the equivalent!
Day 15: Once more to London, by means of Stonehenge!
Our ultimate day of our merely over two week whistle stop tour of the UK takes us once more to London. No journey to the UK though would really be full with out taking in possibly our most well-known monument – the circle of rocks typically generally known as Stonehenge.
There could also be merely one factor concerning the place that makes you marvel. A circle of rocks, constructed by a people who had nothing nevertheless their fingers and a few bits of wood to help them out, within the middle of the Wiltshire countryside, a complete lot of miles from an exact quarry, is solely ideas blowing.
Add within the pagan ritualism, the connection between the rocks and the photo voltaic, and the sheer thriller of the place, and you have someplace that is in a position to really capturing the creativeness. Worth your time to go to (see further concepts from a go to to Stonehenge proper right here).
Plus, once you’re there you will give you the option to pop into Salisbury and revel within the cathedral, which boasts the very best cathedral spire of any church within the UK.
After which… once more to London, the place this tour finishes!
2 Weeks within the UK: Road Trip Map
Proper right here’s a map of the route, in your reference.
2 Week UK Itinerary Summary
- Days 1 & 2: London
- Days 3 & 4: Oxford & the Cotswolds
- Days 5 & 6: Peak District and Manchester
- Day 7: York
- Days 8 & 9: Edinburgh by means of Northumberland
- Days 10 – 12: Ireland
- Day 13: South Wales and Cardiff
- Day 14: Bristol & Bathtub
- Day 15: Once more to London, by means of Stonehenge!
Are you in a position to try this 2 Week UK itinerary by public transport?
A most popular question from readers is whether or not or not or not this itinerary could also be completed by public transport. I like that in any case not all people wishes to drive within the UK, and the reply, for probably the most half, is bound.
Really, between the primary cities on the itinerary there are good rail and/or bus hyperlinks, with the observe usually being a little bit of sooner. The precept drawback is the agricultural sections of the route – as an illustration, exploring the Cotswolds, Northumbria or the Peak District. That’s doable using native buses in any case, nevertheless it might presumably undoubtedly sluggish you down a good bit, and so that you’d want to regulate the itinerary a little bit of to swimsuit the schedule.
Another option is in order to add in some days in London or Edinburgh, and performing some explicit day journeys from these cities to take within the out of metropolis sights.
For occasion, there could also be this day trip from London that takes in highlights akin to Bathtub and Stonehenge. Then, for Northumbria and the Scottish Borders, along with beautiful Alnwick Citadel, take into consideration this tour from Edinburgh.
In case you might be in doing this itinerary by public transport, strive my info to taking a ten day UK journey by public transport, which as well as to a route, has tons a lot of ideas for find out how to information completely various kinds of transport in the one and cost-efficient means.
What About Touring the UK With A Tour Agency?
One different normal question is whether or not or not or not this type of journey could also be completed with a tour agency, and if we have any companies we would recommend for this.
So you’ll have a variety of selections for doing this which I’ve outlined beneath.
The first alternative is to take a bunch tour of the UK. There are a collection of companies offering small group excursions – we’d recommend discovering a service which operates excursions of 15 people or a lot much less. We usually use and recommend Rabbie’s Trail Burners, who perform journeys around the UK and Ireland, and have fairly a few tour selections to choose from.
We haven’t found a tour that exactly matches our UK in depth itinerary, nevertheless we nonetheless have a solution for these of you wanting the do the identical journey as a a part of a guided tour.
First, we recommend you spend two or three days in London, following our really useful London itinerary.
Subsequent, we recommend you are taking one factor similar to this small group tour, which takes eight days to take you from London to Edinburgh.
In Edinburgh, you will give you the option to spend a few days following our Edinburgh itinerary, after which you will give you the option to merely fly to each Belfast or Dublin direct from Edinburgh.
Proper right here you will give you the option to each uncover these fairly cities, or take a tour to uncover further of the nation, we’d recommend each this three day tour of Northern Ireland or this four day tour or the southern and western coast.
Alternatively, in case you’d favor to skip Ireland, you can presumably take one factor like this five day tour of the Scottish Highlands and Skye.
Lastly, you will give you the option to each return to London, or have your flights home depart from Dublin or Edinburgh, relying in your tour various.
The alternative alternative is a bespoke tour agency and/or a private tour info, who can be succesful to put a tour collectively for you, along with guiding, transport and lodging.
Of all the alternatives, it’ll usually be the costliest technique to journey, nevertheless it could moreover offer you complete flexibility in phrases of your journey and schedule, plus you’ll have a info with you every step of the means, taking all the difficulty out of your journey.
For this type of tour, we recommend the businesses of Robina Brown, who’s a blue-badge info offering excursions all through the UK. See her website online here.
When to Go to the UK
You presumably can go to the UK at any time of 12 months, although for the best local weather and longer daylight, we’d undoubtedly advocate visiting within the hotter months – from Might to September. Might is likely to be our favourite time of 12 months, the local weather is generally pretty low cost nevertheless the vacationer crowds normally should not too intense.
Christmas, and the interval predominant as a lot as Christmas, might also be a stunning time to go to, when the streets and shops are all brightly lit and adorned for the festive season. For a nice occasion of this, strive our guide to visiting Edinburgh at Christmas.
The place to Hold within the UK:
For lodging, there are a perfect many selections to choose from, ranging from cosy B&B’s by means of to upmarket motels, and all of the issues in between. Discovering the best deal in your lodging is a essential a a part of journey planning – serving to you to get probably the most out of your funds, as well as to uncover the property that is finest for you.
- We’ve tried a number of reserving web sites, and virtually on a regular basis uncover ourselves using Reserving.com. They’ve an in depth variety of properties, many with no-fee cancellation insurance coverage insurance policies, and often run reductions and explicit offers. Click on on on each metropolis title to see their listings: London, Oxford, Manchester, York, Edinburgh, Dublin, Cardiff and Bristol.
- In case you prefer an apartment or further of a hosted maintain, then we recommend Plum Guide. We’ve tried all of the others, and in our experience Plum Info always has the very best top quality selections for the areas they’re accessible.
- In case you’ll be able to’t uncover what you want on Plum Info, in any other case you want some new selections to take a look at, we wrote a complete submit on the best choices to AirBnB, as well as to a info to our favourite trip cottage lodging within the UK, which it is best to strive!
Between these selections, it is best to uncover the best prices and areas to stay in your journey, as well as to a large collection of evaluations and solutions that may help you make an educated decision.
The precise means to Get Around the UK
For this type of journey I moreover clearly recommend that you just look into renting a vehicle. Now we have now used and should recommend Enterprise Car Rental, they usually have good costs, notably for a technique leases.
A hire vehicle provides you far more flexibility than public transport, and prices are usually fairly low cost. However, in case you prefer to to do a go to like this by public transport instead of driving your self, strive our UK itinerary by public transport for ideas.
Another option for travelling within the UK is to hire a motorhome. Whereas this may not be wise for a metropolis centered journey, you may favor it in the event you’re planning on visiting further rural areas.
For campervan rental we advise making an attempt out Motorhome Republic. They supply a campervans from a unfold of companies at completely completely different value elements, so you’ll uncover the right one for you. You presumably can see their UK listings here.
Further learning in your UK Trip
We’ve obtained a lot of sources that may help you propose your journey to the UK, from posts we’ve written ourselves to third social gathering content material materials we’re blissful to recommend. Proper right here it is:
- If you would like a shorter journey, taking in some further off the crushed path areas, do that one week itinerary of the UK that I put collectively. In case you’d favor to not drive your self, we even have a ten day UK itinerary by public transport.
- To rearrange in your journey to the UK, we’ve put collectively an in depth UK packing guidelines which covers every London and the broader UK at any time of 12 months
- This may be a self-drive journey, so it is best to undoubtedly strive our info to driving within the UK for helpful concepts.
- We even have a info to how a lot it costs to journey within the UK which is ready to help you to value out a go to like this.
- Now we have now guides to numerous the cities and sights within the UK with the intention to bookmark, along with:
- A info to driving Scotland’s epic North Coast 500, as well as to accommodation options on the North Coast 500
- Whilst you’re shut to Glasgow, it is best to strive the beautiful Devil’s Pulpit in Finnich Glen
- A two day Edinburgh itinerary & 21 Highlights in Edinburgh
- Edinburgh: Getting off the crushed path
- A Two Day Glasgow and Loch Lomond itinerary
- A info to 10 of the best Stately Homes in England, to give you some ideas as you plan your itinerary
- For London, we have some detailed itineraries that may help you propose your go to. These embody a 1 Day London Itinerary, a Two Day London itinerary and a Six Day London itinerary
- The very best Harry Potter web sites in London
- The Biggest Pictures Areas in London
- Tips on Buying and Using the London Pass
- Eight Points to Do in Kensington
- The Highlights of Oxford
- Our info to points to do in Cambridge
- Visiting Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds
- 20 Points To Do in Dublin, a 2 day Dublin itinerary and a 3 day Dublin itinerary
- A Guide to Touring the Scottish Borders
- Getting on-line when travelling in a abroad nation could also be daunting – strive our info to getting on-line when travelling that may help you identify the best selections in your journey
- In case you’re in getting larger footage whilst you journey, take a look at my online photography course, the place I’ll educate you all of the issues it’s advisable to find out about getting larger footage – irrespective of digital digital camera you’ll have!
- If you would like a bodily (or digital!) information to accompany your travels, then Amazon do a nice line in UK Travel Guides, and there could also be naturally a Lonely Planet and a Rough Guide to the UK accessible.
In case you’re planning on visiting fairly a few historic properties, there are a few selections you’ll have for saving money as a buyer to the UK. Two necessary organisations exist to defend these properties, the Nationwide Perception, and English Heritage.
Every of these organisations provide explicit passes for company to the UK, which characterize good value for money for company.
For the Nationwide Perception you will give you the option to select up a National Trust touring pass. That’s legit for 7 or 14 days, and provides you entry to every Nationwide Perception property within the England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
For English Heritage, you’re going to get an English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass. That’s legit for 9 or 16 days, and provides you entry to every English Heritage property within the UK.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to even buy a full membership to these organisations, which is ready to ultimate a full 12 months. You should purchase an English Heritage Membership here and a National Trust membership here.
So these have been my concepts for taking in a barely longer than two week journey within the UK. I’ve clearly missed out a massive variety of areas, as no two week journey can presumably hope to see all of the issues, nevertheless I’d desire to assume I lined a perfect many highlights of this actually fascinating nation.
