Best Road Trips in the UK
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 2 days ago
5 min read
- Creative
- Travel
WhoCanFixMyCar reveals the UK's best road trips, from the Lake District to the NC500.
Whether it’s a day trip to the coast, a long weekend somewhere new or a family getaway during the school holidays, we’ve compiled a list of top UK driving adventures and included some tips on what to prepare before you go.
Contents
Road trip checklist
Here are some things you should do to prepare your car for a road trip.
Check your tyre pressure and tread.
Check engine oil, coolant and screenwash levels, topping up as needed.
Test your battery.
Pack an emergency kit.
Familiarise yourself with what to do if you break down.
Book a vehicle health check for peace of mind.
North Coast of Cornwall
The drive from Padstow to St Ives offers stunning views and scenic stops. It will take at least 56 miles without a break - longer if you decide to hug the coast all the way. To make the most of what the drive offers, split your trip across a weekend at least, staying overnight in the places you want to explore more.
Suggested Stops
Perranporth
Perranporth is a small seaside village boasting a beautiful beach known for its dunes and surfing. Plenty of self-catered cottages and B&Bs are here if you want to spend the night.
Godrevy
The Godrevy National Trust site has high cliffs and a host of coastal wildlife. You won't be able to stay overnight, so make time for a cliff-top walk during the day.
Gwithian Towans Beach
This vast sandy beach has plenty of sand dunes, rock pools and wild grass to walk through. It has a limited amount to offer in terms of cafes and restaurants; a beach picnic might be the answer.
ADVENTURE TIP
Plan your route before you set off and make a note of fuel stations along the way (or charging points, if you drive an electric vehicle). It's also worth writing down the phone number for your breakdown cover provider.
Cornwall Services is at the Victoria interchange junction of the A30, near Bodmin. The postcode is PL26 8UF.
The South Coast of Cornwall
Driving the southern coastline of Cornwall is just as beautiful and scenic as the north. However, due to the many inlets and estuaries that break up the route, it can take you a lot longer. Expect narrow roads and windy paths.
The route from Lizard to Polperro via our recommended stops will take at least 75 miles. With lots to see along the way, spreading the drive out across a weekend is worth it.
Suggested Stops
Roseland Heritage Coast
This National Trust site contains many secluded bays and beautiful meadows and is best explored on foot. So, find a trail, park up, and spend a day in your walking boots.
Mevagissey
Mevagissey - a beautiful harbourside village and fishing port - is a great place to have a fish supper.
Polkerris
Polkerris is a tiny village with a beautiful beach. Perfect for a drink and paddle.
Fowey
A popular summer holiday stop, Fowey has lots to offer, including watersports, plenty of pubs and restaurants, hotels, and self-catered stays. It's also a great place to get some Cornish fudge.
Polperro
This unspoilt fishing village has plenty of history. Polperro is worth an overnight stay at the end of your driving adventure.
ADVENTURE TIP
Your spare tyre should always be in your car. But you won’t be able to use it unless you have a car jack and locking wheel nut key in there, too. Our handy car maintenance guide tells you how to change a spare tyre.
The Lake District
As England's largest National Park, the Lake District is home to charming villages, rolling hills, and (of course) enormous lakes. Exploring the area is excellent for a long weekend.
Our recommended driving adventure will take you to and from Windermere in an 85-mile loop through historic towns worthy of an overnight stay.
Suggested Stops
Windermere
Windermere, the most popular place to visit in the area, is a small town on the edge of England's largest lake. The surrounding scenery is unrivalled, and there are plenty of hotels, B&Bs, pubs and restaurants to pause in.
Grasmere
This village is linked to many historical poets. It’s worth exploring on foot to experience all its charm.
Borrowdale
The Borrowdale area is known for its woodlands, valleys, and quaint hamlets.
Buttermere
This small hamlet is characterised by its lake. Buttermere has plenty of walks, and it won't take long to drive to your next stop.
Keswick
Keswick market town has a wealth of places to eat, drink, shop and explore. With lots of accommodation options, it offers a great overnight stay to break up your trip.
Ullswater
This is the second largest lake in England at seven and a half miles long (but just a mile wide!). A 20-mile hiking trail surrounds it if you like to walk as much as you enjoy driving.
ADVENTURE TIP
Pack a warning triangle. Available at any major retailer or online, a warning triangle offers additional safety if you ever get stuck by the side of the road. It's worth taking one with you on a long journey.
If you need somewhere to stop, Tebay Services is near Penrith on the M6 between J38 and J39. The postcode is CA10 3SB.
If you’re planning any road trip and have doubts about your car, why not book a vehicle health check? It shouldn't take longer than 15 minutes and will set your mind at ease.
The Cotswolds
Village hopping through the Cotswolds will connect you with picturesque rural England (as well as a chance to visit Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop if you are near Chipping Norton). The route between each town takes you onto A-roads and motorways, which is much faster than other trips.
This driving adventure goes from Oxford to Cheltenham. It spans over 82 miles to create a full-day trip. Stop overnight at each end to give yourself the perfect weekend away.
Suggested Stops
Oxford
Steeped in history, Oxford is an iconic English city that is well worth a day of exploring.
Blenheim Palace
This World Heritage Site is home to the Duke of Marlborough and his family. You'll need to book tickets to visit the enormous country house and its surrounding gardens.
Minster Lovell
An enchanting village with thatched-roof houses, rivers and historic ruins. It's said to be the country's most haunted village.
Bibury
Once titled 'the most beautiful village in England', there's not much more we need to say about stopping here.
Bourton-on-the-water
This cute rural village straddles a body of water, giving it its name.
Snowshill
Snowshill is another small village set in the Cotswold Hills. It's home to Snowshill Manor and Gardens, a National Trust site.
Cheltenham
A town famous for its horse racing festival. Cheltenham has spas, museums, hotels, restaurants and bars that you can spend time in to mark the end of your trip.
ADVENTURE TIP
Know who to call in an emergency. That way, you're always prepared, even in the worst-case scenario.
Cherwell Valley Services is on the M40 at J10. Postcode: OX27 7RD.
The Norfolk Coast
If you live within driving distance of Norfolk, you can cover the coastline in a day. It's a 60-mile route taking you from Kings Lynn to Mundesley. Follow the coast to make the most of this journey, and plan your stops where there's plenty to see.
Suggested Stops
Sandringham
A village and civil parish where you can also find the Sandringham Estate.
Cromer
Cromer is a traditional seaside resort with a signature pier. It's perfect for families or a day out with friends.
ADVENTURE TIP
Set up your sat-nav in advance. Fiddling with your navigation system while driving is dangerous, so choose your route and get it set up before you leave.
King's Lynn Services is on the A17 at Pullover Roundabout. The postcode is PE34 3LW.
The North Coast 500
We’ve saved the best till last. The North Coast 500 is a well-known Scottish driving holiday that spans 516 miles. It starts and finishes in Inverness, which is already a long way for many people in the UK. Getting to the start point isn't factored into the total distance, so plan how you'll get there first. We recommend you spend a night or two in Inverness before you tackle it.
The North Coast 500, or NC500 as it's often shortened, will take you between five to seven days. It's an entire holiday in itself, and to spend more time out of the car than in it, you'll want to allow for the whole week.
Suggested NC500 Stops
Inverness
Inverness is a city on the Northeast coast of Scotland. It has an airport if you prefer to pick up a rental car there and then drive.
Applecross
Applecross Peninsula sits between the mountains and boasts some stunning views. It's home to just a few hundred people.
Torridon
This small highland village has a few luxury hotels and is surrounded by breathtaking Scottish nature. It's described as an 'enchanting wilderness of water and rock.'
Ullapool
A beautiful port and village with various accommodation options if you want to stay overnight.
Caithness
Caithness is a county you’ll drive through on the North Coast of Sunderland. At this point, you’ll feel like you really are nearing the edge of the country.
John o'Groats
This stunning Scottish village is known for being right at the tip of the country.
Dingwall
An east-coast town with an historic castle and plenty of pubs.
ADVENTURE TIP
Keep a first aid kit in your glove box. Hopefully, you won't need it, but it'll give you extra peace of mind.
There are many places to stop for fuel along the way, including Skiach Services, the UK's most northerly official service station (postcode: IV16 9XH), and Tore Service Station.
Top five romantic road trips
If you and your significant other enjoy nothing more than hopping in the car for a romantic road trip, these are the top five routes you should try.
1. Cotswolds Romantic Road, England
The most romantic road in the UK is Copse Hill Road in Lower Slaughter in The Cotswolds. It winds through the picturesque countryside, passing through some of the most stunning villages in England and the elegant town of Cheltenham.
2. York to Robin Hoods Bay, England
August is the best time of year for this route because the heather on the North Yorkshire Moors will be out in full bloom, covering the land in a swathe of delicate purple. Every part of the drive from York to Robin Hoods Bay is scenic, from the heather-capped moors to the gorgeous coastline and chocolate box villages.
3. Antrim Coast Road, Northern Ireland
The rugged Antrim Coast Road is a must if you fancy a trip to Northern Ireland. It snakes along the coastline from Belfast to Co. Derry, passing the magical landscape of the Giant's Causeway, plenty of Game of Thrones filming locations, and the thrilling Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
4. The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland
Another must-see in Northern Ireland, the Dark Hedges might not sound romantic at first, but as you see the intertwining limbs of the trees that reach for each other across the tarmac like lovers, you might change your mind. They were planted in the 18th century, and today, the trees are one of Ireland's most photographed natural phenomena.
5. Black Mountain Road, Wales
The A4069 Black Mountain Road winds through the awe-inspiring Brecon Beacons up a swooping mountain pass untarnished by modern life. The sky seems never-ending, and the landscape unfolds uninterrupted for miles.
No matter where you're based, plenty of options are available to you for a road trip, whatever the season and weather (we are in Britain, after all). Before you set off, check your car has been serviced recently, and if you have any doubts about its safety, book a vehicle health check.
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