A road trip is an incredible way to see a country, especially when taking in some of the best places in Britain to visit.
You see, one of the best things about our country is the vast amount of diverse regions like the Cotswolds, cool cities and incredible national parks that we have. It’s totally diverse and so amazing to explore.
Last year, we decided to see much more of our amazing country and I’ve shared some of the best places in Britain to visit that we’ve explored during our travel.
With that in mind, take a look at our road trip route for visiting some of the best places in Britain to visit on a wider trip around the UK.
Oh yeah, and to use our map below, swipe left or right on it (using the tool in the middle).
1.) Scilly Isles
Easily reached by ferry (or plane), the Scilly Isles are a tropical paradise that everyone should visit, at least once. Jump into the crystal clear waters, explore the tropical gardens and chill out on the white sandy beaches. This archipelago is a paradise.
Granted, this island location of these means that this isn’t strictly ‘road trip’ ready, but this is a great way to start up (or perhaps even finish off) your trip.
Read more: Our 1-week itinerary for the Scilly Isles
2.) St. Michael’s Mount
Nestled within the tiny Mount’s Bay in Cornwall, St. Michael’s Mount is a small church and parish island that sits within the sea.
This stunning place is gorgeous and easily one of the best places in Britain.
Read more: Best castles in Cornwall
3.) Watergate Bay
On the north coast of Cornwall are the stunning beaches of Watergate Bay.
Only a few miles from Newquay, it’s the perfect place to brush up on your surfing skills, head for some of the coastal walks or bed down at the indulgent and beautiful Watergate Bay Hotel. We loved it here; their breakfast waffles are everything!
Read more: Best things to do in Cornwall
4.) Cardiff
Wales is a gorgeous country to explore, with its capital city being a pretty amazing place to start. Head to Cardiff Castle, visit Castle Coch and enjoy St. Fagan’s, a gorgeous (and free) outdoor museum that offers a snapshot into historic Wales.
Don’t forget to visit the Welsh Millennium Centre too and catch some of the world’s most legendary operatic performers. It really is one of the best places in Britain to visit.
Read our complete guide to visiting Wales
5.) Bristol
Bristol is one of the largest cities in the south of England.
Make sure to spend a day or two here and discover the city’s beautiful museums, harbour area and the Banksy artwork that is scattered all over the town.
Honestly, Bristol is just so artsy and a cool city that’s well worth a day or two visit during your road trip.
Read more: Best things to do in Bristol
6.) Stonehenge
One of the most famous sites in England, Stonehenge, is a beautiful place to visit for the ancient history of this area.
Just make sure to book these Stonehenge tickets in advance. Stonehenge gets quite busy during peak times and weekends, so if you’re looking for smaller crowds, make sure you visit later in the day or first thing in the morning.
Make sure you also visit Salisbury too, it’s only 15 minutes away by car and the cathedral is awe-inspiring and easily one of the best places in Britain to visit if you love history.
Read more: Our guide to visiting Stonehenge
7.) Cotswolds
There are so many stunning spots to explore in the area of outstanding natural beauty. The Cotswolds are totally one of my favourites and up there as some of the best places in Britain to visit if you’re on a road trip.
If you can drive, I’d recommend renting a car to visit some of the region’s most stunning towns. If you’re looking for a beautiful hotel in the area, make sure you check out the Wood Norton.
Take a look at some of the prettiest villages you HAVE to visit:
Lacock | Broadway, Stow-on-the-Wold, Burton-on-the-Water | Bibury | Castle Combe
8.) See the Roman history of Bath
The Roman spa town of Bath is a beautiful city to explore.
Head inside the Roman Baths, visit Bath Abbey and the Royal Crescent. It’s totally beautiful and pretty unique, especially with all the buildings being protected. It really is one of the best places in Britain to visit.
All whilst gorging on a delicious Sally Lunn bun. Yum!
See our full guide on what to do when visiting Bath
9.) Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a west coast Welsh city that’s well worth a visit.
Afterwards, take some time to explore the Cambrian coastline, ride the cliff railway in the town and take the steam train to Devil’s Bridge. Trust me, it isn’t as scary as it sounds!
Read more: Best things to do in Aberystwyth
10.) Eryri National Park (Snowdonia National Park)
Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) is home to the tallest mountain in England and Wales. Hike to the top of Mt. Snowdon and enjoy some spectacular views across the country.
A long time ago, Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) was once part of the seabed, before towering up to be the tallest mountain in Wales. This means that if you’re really fortunate, you can spot a few fossils and even shells along your hike. Keep your eyes peeled.
Read more: visiting Wales and Snowdonia
11.) Birmingham
Birmingham is one of Britain’s largest cities, with places like the Bullring, the Museum of Art and the many secret spots that most visitors to the city often miss.
Read more: Best things to do in Birmingham
12.) Oxford
Oxford is only around 1 hour from central London, making this a really easy place to visit for a day trip away. Take a tour around the famous colleges, and enjoy one of the oldest institutions in the world.
Read more: Best things to do in Oxford
13.) Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a country house like no other! Being one of the grandest homes in Britain, it easily earns its place on your road trip. Take a tour of the house and the manicured gardens, too.
See more on visiting Blenheim Palace
14.) Cambridge
If you’re looking for a day trip from London, then jump on the train from London King’s Cross (or Liverpool Street) train station and discover the charming atmosphere of Cambridge.
Honestly, there’s a heap of things to do in Cambridge that I’m sure you’ll love. Alternatively, pop in your car and carry on your road trip to Cambridge if you’re not leaving from London.
It’s one of my favourite cities in the UK and easily one of the best places in Britain to visit.
Read more: Best things to do in Cambridge
15.) London
London is an epic place to visit, and it’s somewhere I’m so proud to call home. This is especially true with all the best areas in London to explore.
There are literally hundreds of different things to see and do in London, and it can be hard to pinpoint a few things. Take a look at some of our posts on what you should do when you visit, below:
Read more: Best things to do in London
16.) Brighton
Perched on the south coast of England, Brighton is one of the best places to experience a proper seaside town in England.
Take a drive to the coast, explore the lanes and chill out on the beach. Brighton is easily one of the best places in Britain to visit if you fancy some time at the beach, too.
Read more: Best things to do in Brighton
17.) White Cliffs of Dover
Dover is famous the world over for its iconic white cliffs that tower over the region. Take a visit to see the white cliffs and explore the natural beauty of this amazing coastline.
Read more: Best natural sites to see in the UK
18.) Manchester
Manchester was once the industrial powerhouse of the north of England; nowadays, it’s a cultural hub and buzzing city that’s amazing to visit.
Make sure to spend some time visiting the Manchester Art Gallery and the quayside too. For a cool place to stay, make sure you check out Hotel Gotham (it’s as incredible as it sounds).
Read more: Best things to do in Manchester
19.) Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Dales is one pretty gorgeous place to explore. Head into the dales themselves and hike across the unspoilt landscapes that surround this beautiful region.
Afterwards, head over to charming little villages like Robin Hood’s Bay and see Whitby Abbey, too.
Read more: Exploring Whitby Abbey
20.) Lake District
The Lake District is, as you can imagine, filled with quite a few lakes that are well worth a visit.
Visit Lake Windermere, take some time to also hike Scafell Pike and enjoy the relaxed charm of the region’s villages. You’ll love it!
Alternatively, head over to Ullswater Lake, that’s much quieter and only a little smaller. We loved it here. You can follow our 4-day Lake District itinerary, here.
It really is one of the best places in Britain to visit.
Read more: Best things to do in the Lake District
21.) Newcastle
Newcastle has quickly come to be a new spot for travellers to see in the north-east of England.
See the Tyne Bridge, enjoy the ‘famous’ nightlife and go visit the Angel of the North. It’s a perfect city to spend a weekend without driving.
Read more: Best things to do in Newcastle
22.) Edinburgh
The capital city of Scotland offers so much to do whilst you head further north on your road trip.
Take to the city and explore Edinburgh Castle, which sits on top of an ancient volcanic mound, walk down the Royal Mile and visit Grassmarket for some of the city’s best bars.
Read more: Best things to do in Edinburgh
23.) Glasgow
Glasgow is like the wild and lively sister of Edinburgh, it has a buzz and atmosphere like no other city, which is filled with so much to see and do.
Take a wander around the city streets and explore some of the world-renowned art that is housed in the city.
24.) St. Andrews
St. Andrews is one of Scotland’s best towns.
Then again, I would say that! After living there for 4 years, I’ve fallen head over heels for this place.
Make sure you visit the famous Gold Course, see some of the town’s iconic beaches and take a gander at the ruined castle and abbey. It’s a gorgeous place. I love it here.
Read more: Best things to do in St Andrews
25.) Ben Nevis (and Fort William)
Fort William is the perfect place to start your journey into the wild beauty of West Scotland.
Take a ramble across the tundra and hike Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain.
Read more: Best hikes in Scotland
26.) Scottish Islands
The islands of Scotland are some of the most isolated and breathtakingly beautiful spots to visit in the UK.
Although you can’t necessarily drive to all of them, there are quite a few which you can reach by ferry. It’s one of the best places in Britain to visit if you want some time on the smaller outlying islands.
Enjoy their stunning charm and chill out within the rugged natural beauty.
Read more: Best Scottish Islands to visit
Check Out The Very Best Of Great Britain!
