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Once you enter your start point and destination the route finder will map out the best routes for your journey, giving you an estimation of time and an accurate mileage count. It’s easy to add waypoints, so if you know you need to take a detour en route then you don’t need to workout separate journeys.

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You can get directions for driving, public transport, walking, ride sharing, cycling, flights or motorcycling on Google Maps. If there are multiple routes, the best route to your destination is blue, all other routes are grey. Some directions in Google Maps are in development and may have limited availability. 

Important: Stay alert when you use directions on Google Maps. Always be aware of your surroundings to ensure the safety of yourself and others. When in doubt, follow actual traffic regulations and confirm signage from the road or path that you’re on.

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Tip: To choose another route in any transportation mode, select it on the map. Each route shows the estimated travel time on the map.

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You can get directions for different modes of transportation in Google Maps. Learn about the differences in features and availability between each mode:

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RAC Route Planner

Maps, routes, mileage, traffic updates and reports

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Plan your routes, work out your travel mileage, and get traffic updates and reports on just one site!

That is what RAC Route Planner can do for you. Now, you can easily plan your route, get notifications of traffic issues, and warn you of possible obstruction along the way. Isn’t it great to have a virtual driving companion like that?

RAC Route Planner makes it easier for you. To improve your travel it has a separate section for Traffic News that gives instant updates on traffic issues by location. The separate mileage calculator can help you determine how much the journey would cost. It is particularly helpful in claiming back your business mileage and important information about your CO2 emissions.

RAC Route Planner has these exciting features:

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Route Planner for UK, Europe, and Beyond

RAC ’s route finder service provides maps and driving directions for the UK, Europe, and beyond. Along with it are useful information for your journey, including hotels around the UK and Europe.

It has an advanced feature that provides fully integrated and customizable real-time traffic updates and a fuel calculator. The route planner section provides city driving maps for London and Europe route directions if you have longer trips abroad.

The map feature has leveled up the functionality of the route planner. It can help you find hotels, car dealerships, and garages by location. It also displays weather information (for the UK only). This will help you to plan your trip based on the driving conditions.

Everything you need is right here at RAC Route Planner.

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How to Use the RAC Route Planner

Step 1. On the RAC Route Planner page, you will see the “plan your journey” form.

Step 2. Choose between the car or walking man icon.

Step 3. Enter where you are traveling from and to. You can input the exact address, postcode, or landmark of your destination.

Step 4. Tick on the “Calculate your mileage” box if you want to know how much the fuel cost for your journey will be.

Step 5. Click on the advanced options to refine your route. It features route options (one way or return), alternative routes (show or hide), units, motorways, and toll roads. Here you can choose whether to use or avoid toll roads and motorways for a more customized route plan.

Step 6. Still on the advanced options, tick on the boxes that you need traffic information (UK) like delays, road closures, incidents, etc. Also included are other information like POI (points of interest) like parking and National Trust Places. You can also find services like hotels and weather information options here.

Steps 7. Click on the plan my route button, and the RAC Route Planner can create a route plan for you in minutes.

Step 8. If you have recently used RAC Route Planner and will go back to a destination that is already on the system, simply hover and click over recent journeys and the system will show your previous destinations.

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You can access RAC Route Planner any time. It is available on your desktop and mobile phone browser.

The MyRAC app is available on both Android and iOS. Just tap the app to find an expert when you experience a breakdown, manage your membership, dodge traffic jams using the route planner. It also includes a handy reminder for your car service, MOT test and many more.

You can also plan your journey by giving information on the date, time, and route. It will give you an estimate on how long the journey is, including roadworks and certain events.

The MyRAC app provides the latest driving news and money-saving fuel watch so that you don’t have to pay more than the current price.

Simply download the app and connect to the internet and find all the useful RAC services at your fingertips.

Traveling with Multiple Destinations is Easy with RAC Route Planner

If you have more than one destination and are unfamiliar with the place, we recommend using a route planner. It will help you not only find the safest destination but avoid traffic delays, roadworks, and traffic issues. RAC Route Planner offers an effective routing tool plan for multi-stop trips.

With so many route planners online, why is RAC unique? It prioritizes safety over getting to your destination quickly. It alerts users to problematic weather conditions and accidents that can potentially impact your route. RAC’s mapping service can help you to find hotels, and calculate your fuel cost, which is important for long trips.

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Road safety with rac route planner.

As one of the safety advocates while on the road, use the RAC Route planner wisely. Don’t get distracted by frequently looking at your mobile device while driving and make sure that it is visible and hands-free.

RAC Route Planner discourages adjusting the route while driving. If you need to, you need to park on the side of the road and make the necessary adjustments.

The route finder services offered by RAC are meant to help motorists like you. If you have any questions, visit the contact page on its website.

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UK Travel Planning

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.

UK Road Trip Itinerary Planner map of routes.

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.

Roundabouts

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

Oxford 4

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

Salisbury and Stonehenge 3

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 

Brighton 4

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

Bath Sally Lunns

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

Cardiff 1

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

Llandudno 2

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

Chester 1

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 

The Beatles in Liverpool

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

Mathematical bridge Cambridge.

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

Cambridge 6

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

Lincoln

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

Whitby Abbey 1

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

Chatsworth House

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

Stratford fool

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

Edinburgh in winter

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.

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This, of course, depends on the type of routes you want to create. In fact, there are plenty of free software available for mapping out routes, suitable for different purposes: delivering goods, external sales, shopping, exercising or just travelling.

However, there are not so many options when it comes to free route planners, where it is possible to plan an unlimited number of stops. Most of these apps have great “freemium” options that help you plan your trip, but if you need more extensive features, you may need a paid subscription for the necessary functions.

Based on 10 free route planners with the possibility of unlimited stopovers, we have concluded that Google Maps is by far the best in the test. We have included the following brands and companies in our review:

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– AA Route Planner (Review) – RAC Route Planner (Review) United States – MapQuest Directions (Review)

Other popular route planners are of course the NS journey planner , Fietsersbond route planner and 9292 OV .

The winner and market leader in the field of map technology is none other than Google Maps. It allows you to easily find destinations and plan routes on your phone, tablet or any other device of your choice. Its turn-by-turn navigation is one of the best and most accurate map sources in the industry.

Google Maps is mainly used for personal and recreational purposes, but can also be used to plan different types of routes, including for some small businesses. We cannot ignore the fact that it is simply the easiest tool to get from A to B. The fact is that its influence on the way the world travels was and still is considerable.

How do you plan a route with multiple stops in Google Maps?

What many people do not know is that you can also use Google Maps to plan a journey with more than 10 stops. However, this requires a little skill. By knowing the ins and outs of Google Maps, professionals can use it to plan their daily travel routines in the most efficient way.

Google Maps is now such a big player in the field of free travel planners, route planning software and road maps that many other apps use Google’s technology as the basis for their own mapping software.

With many ground-breaking and innovative features, such as Street View, Google Maps is a real powerhouse and an invaluable resource for millions of people around the world.

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M25 to be closed for the third weekend – here’s where and when

The road will be closed again, article bookmarked.

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Engineering works taking place at the A3 Wisley interchange at Junction 10 of the M25 as concrete beams for a new bridge are installed (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

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A third weekend closure of part of the M25 has been announced.

Drivers have been warned of delays as the works shut the motorway to enable the construction of a new bridge.

National Highways said it will shut the motorway between Junctions 10 and 11 in Surrey from 9pm on Friday July 12 to 6am on Monday July 15.

This will be the third of five weekend closures of the motorway – which encircles London – as part of a £317 million project to improve Junction 10.

Motorway vehicles will be directed along a diversion route on A-roads.

Among the people affected will be many of those travelling to, from and between the UK’s two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.

There were fears of severe congestion on diversion routes ahead of the first two closures in March and May, but many drivers followed advice to avoid the area, meaning long hold-ups were avoided.

A map of the M25 Closure diversion routes

National Highways said in a statement: “We’re grateful to all drivers who avoided previous closures and completed their journeys in other ways. We urge you to do the same again.

“If you do travel, expect delays and please leave a lot of extra time for your journey.”

National Highways senior project manager Jonathan Wade said: “The previous two closures have gone well, with significant progress being made during both.

“We would urge all drivers to follow the official diversion route as this is the best chance of reaching your destination in good time.

“Please ignore your satnavs and follow our diversion route instead.”

National Highways is concerned that satnavs could direct some drivers on to minor roads after leaving the M25, creating gridlock in residential areas.

A third weekend closure of part of the M25 has been announced (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The March closure was the first planned daytime shutdown of the M25 since it opened in 1986.

The project, due to be completed in summer 2025, will increase the number of lanes at Junction 10, which is one of the UK’s busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.

Between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles normally use the M25 between Junctions 9 and 11 in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends.

The final two weekend closures as part of the project will take place later this year.

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Euros 2024 – Articles

road travel directions uk

Appleby Horse Fair prompts traffic warnings and delays across Cumbria

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Travellers and visitors arrivein the town at Appleby Horse Fair 2024, an annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers in the town of Appleby in Westmorland, which takes place over a week. 06/06/24

Drivers could face delays across Cumbria as tens of thousands descend on the Appleby Horse Fair.

Every year the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland hosts the huge horse fair, which is the only fair of its kind in Europe and sees 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers and 30,000 others take part.

Horses are washed in the town’s river and ridden in races or displays, with markets available throughout the week-long event.

This year’s event promises to be as busy as ever despite the sad news that a horse died after being ‘worked to death’ on Wednesday afternoon .

And the roads around Appleby are set to be busy as attendees make their way to the fair.

A National Highways spokesperson said: ‘The annual Appleby Horse Fair is taking place during the weekend along the A66 near Penrith off junction 40 of the M6, and the Cumberland Show is being held along the A69 at Warwick Bridge just off junction 43 of the M6 at Carlisle on Saturday.

Travellers attend the Appleby Horse Fair on June 06, 2024 in Appleby, England. The fair is an annual gathering for Gypsy, Romany and travelling communities. The event has existed under the protection of a charter granted by James II since 1685 and it remains one of the key meeting points for these communities. Around 10,000 travellers are expected to attend the event who traditionally come to buy and sell horses and also offers an opportunity for the traveller community to come together to celebrate their heritage and culture.

‘This will probably be the first really busy weekend of the summer on the county’s roads, and while our regional control centre and on road traffic officers will be working around the clock to keep everyone on the move there is plenty drivers can do to help themselves – like planning journeys before setting out and carrying out some basic vehicle checks.’

The agency has issued advice for people driving to and within Cumbria over the weekend, including:

  • Planning and leaving plenty of time for journeys
  • Checking travel conditions before setting out and, where it is safe to do so, during journeys
  • Ensuring they and their motorbikes or cars are fit for the journey – including taking regular breaks and topping up with fuel
  • Checking live traffic information and following advice – for example from National Highways’ website http://www.trafficengland.com or local and national radio travel bulletins and electronic road signs. Local and national X (formerly Twitter) services are also available at @HighwaysNWEST and @NationalHways.

Two people have also been arrested for public order offences at the horse fair, unrelated to the RSPCA appeal to identify the owner of the horse which died at the event on Wednesday.

The arrests, near the Midland Hotel, happened after police were called to help the RSPCA who had ‘difficulty’ being allowed access to horses by ‘obstructive owners’.

Discussing the horse death, Gypsy representatives Billy Welch and Bill Lloyd said: ‘We condemn in the strongest possible terms whoever has done this.

‘We are sickened and saddened by the cruelty that this person or persons have shown.

‘We have no hesitation is asking anyone who has any knowledge of this awful event to cooperate fully with police and RSPCA in identifying whoever is responsible.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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  29. Appleby Horse Fair prompts traffic warnings across Cumbria

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