Your Best Itinerary to See the Most of England

Traveling overseas is an amazing experience, and we were able to see England during the glorious fall season. The trick to getting the most out of a trip to England is balance. You want to see as much of this amazing country as possible while at the same time not going so fast that you don’t enjoy it. In this article we hope to create Your Best Itinerary to See the Most of England.

Our primary focus for this trip was to tour England and highlight her most visited/historic and best-loved places. We are anxious to return one day soon to see the beauty of Scotland and Ireland at a more leisurely pace.

We relied on Rick Steve’s “Best of England” book for my own trip. Now that we’ve explored England, we’re sharing the best itinerary to help you see the most of England on your own adventure.

You can find a Google Map For Your Best Itinerary to See the Most of England by clicking this link.

Day 1: Arrive in London

Plan to fly into Heathrow airport in London. For one thing, London has a great subway system. And investing in the Oyster Card will make it even easier for you to get around.

While in London, be sure to visit King’s Cross, which may look rather familiar to fans of Harry Potter. To tour the city with ease, purchase tickets to the Big Bus Tours Hop On/Hop Off bus, which gives you quick views of landmarks like Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. It’s a great way to see the sights while adjusting to a bit of jet lag on your first day.

Day 2: Exploring London

Finding a restful hotel like the Saint Pancras Renaissance Hotel will have you recharged for your second day in England. I recommend using the subway system and walking to get around. There are so many sights to see, like the grand Westminster Abbey. Don’t forget to visit Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and the National Gallery.

 

 

Day 3: Final Day Exploring London

London has so much to offer and spending two full days exploring it will give you a wonderful taste. We navigated the subway system and continued our journey of exploration on foot during our couple of days here.

Don’t leave London without visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Millennium Bridge, the British Museum, Natural History Museum, and of course, Buckingham Palace. And be sure to visit at least one British pub, if you can find a seat—they’re quite popular.

 

Day 4: Brighton

Departing London is hard when there is so much to explore, but I promise it is worth it when you realize how much of England there is to take in.

You will need to rent a car to travel to Brighton Beach and get used to driving on the “wrong” side of the road—no easy task, but not impossible by any means. Know that at first glance this city seems a little run down, but don’t fret—there are plenty of delightful surprises to come.

For instance, visit Seven Sisters Cliffs, which is a country park. Don’t be surprised if you recognize it—many movies have been filmed here with the ocean as a beautiful backdrop.

Day 5: Arriving in Cornwall

Before departing Brighton, take a tour of the Royal Pavilion Estate with its splendid gardens and palatial style. After that, it is time for you to take a road trip of about five hours (and countless roundabouts!) to arrive in the Cornwall County region of Southwest England. Plan to stay here for a few days to give yourself ample time to explore this lovely region.

Consider staying at the lovely country manor called Penmorvah Manor Hotel, which was built in 1872. A hotel nestled in peaceful woodlands above Cornwall’s sub-tropical south coast. They offer comfortable and attractive accommodation very close to the popular town of Falmouth in Cornwall only a mile from Maenporth Beach.

Day 6: Exploring Cornwall

On your first full day in Cornwall, visit Church Cove among the gorgeous cliffs and beaches. On your hike down to the beach, stop at the historic St Wynwallow Church Landewednack.

Next, a stop at Lizard Point is in order so you can see the lighthouse and say you have visited the very southernmost point in the United Kingdom. And you must explore Cadgwith to experience a truly authentic fishing village absolutely brimming with history.

Day 7: More of Cornwall

Visiting England would not be complete without seeing a few castles, would it? Cornwall is home to St. Michael’s Mount Cornwall, a real castle with a garden on an island community. This St Michael’s is related to the Mont Saint Michel Abbey in Normandy France that we visited a few years ago.

It may be surprising, but England is also home to some absolutely amazing beaches. Porthcurno is a tiny village along some of these fabulous English beaches with mesmerizing blue water.

When you have had your fill of walking along the beach, turn your sights to the Trebah Garden. Amazingly, it has sub-tropical plants for visitors to savor and marvel at. Stroll among giant rhubarb, hydrangeas, and giant trees like Redwoods and Bamboo. Also of significance is that our American forces left from here on D-Day.

Day 8: Visiting Bath

The best way to explore Bath is by walking and listening to these free walking tours.  Some of our best memories of Bath are because of the time we spent with our insightful tour guide. She was so knowledgeable and filled with many great stories which brought the whole city to ife.

You will learn about the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey, The Circus, Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge, Parade Gardens, and oh so much more.

Day 9: Landmarks of Bath

Not far from Bath is the famous Stonehenge. Honestly, the rocks were underwhelming but the tour and the museum were amazing.

After visiting, return to Bath and take a tour of No. 1 Royal Crescent museum. Walk at your own pace and really take time to experience all the historical décor. Amazing!

Day 10: Cotswold District and Oxford

Cotswold District

You must visit the small city of Castle Combe, which is often called “the prettiest village in England.” It only has about 350 people living there!

Oxford

Oxford has a multitude of attractions, so plan on a busy day exploring as many as you can. Some of the absolute best highlights can be found on Rick Steve’s walking tour. You’ll visit Trinity College, Museum of the History of Science, Oxford Divinity School, Bodleian Library,  RadCliffe Square,

 

Radcliffe Camera,

All Souls College, University Church of St Mary, Covered Market and so many more amazing sites.

Day 11 & 12: Exploring York

Just inside the historic Roman wall of York sits the Fat Badger Hotel—it is very old and very loud because it’s just upstairs from a bar. In York, you will want to take the Free Walking Tour one of the two days you are here.

That will bring you to the historic York Minster, a must see. Take the time to do that informational tours of the Minster. Among many other things, you’ll see The Shambles, which was the inspiration for dark Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series.

Day 13-15: Lake District

Getting from Bath to the Lake District takes a few hours, so don’t overdo it on your first day here. The best idea is to simply enjoy hiking around Holbeck Ghyll for some fresh air and your first glimpse of the Lake District.

Once you’ve rested, get out and explore the Lakes District on your first full day here. Check out Wray Castle, the vacation home of Beatrix Potter’s family.

Keswick is a touristy area but still quite lovely, and when you want a bit of peace, hike around the lakes. The Cat Bells Derwenter Circular is an excellent choice—you’ll have almost eight miles of hiking trail to enjoy, which could take you several hours.

Day 16-17: Marlow & Windsor Castle
Charming Marlow

As your England trip draws to a close, I recommend taking it a little slower on your last two full days here. The Macdonald Compleat Angler is a fabulous hotel option as your base in Marlow for exploring.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is definitely a must-see landmark in England. Queen Elizabeth was laid to rest at Saint George’s Chapel (note: no photos are allowed here). There are private apartments in the castle that are off limits, but you must explore the grounds and soak in the amazing architecture.

Leaving England

Our flight ended up being canceled, giving us an unexpectedly wonderful day of rest at the end of our trip. Fortunately, we had Ted Blank to help get us rebooked and home on a new flight. I highly recommend working with him when you plan your very own trip around England.

We plan all of our trips with Ted Blank.

Ted Blank Contact Information
[email protected]
(651) 964-8245
https://tedblanktravel.com
Travel Inspiration

 

Taking a long enough trip, about 17 days or so, will give you ample time to see as much as you can while taking time to savor every beautiful detail.

If you have any questions, please to not hesitate to Contact Us, and until next time, get out and capture the adventure.

Watch for the article giving you all the tips for Visiting London!

Your Best Itinerary to See the Most of England

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