The Route
Two weeks lets you cover all three home nations — England, Scotland and Wales. The route below is a giant clockwise loop starting and ending in London.
- Nights 1-3: London
- Night 4: Oxford
- Nights 5-6: Cotswolds
- Night 7: Bath
- Nights 8-9: Lake District (via York)
- Nights 10-11: Edinburgh
- Nights 12-13: Snowdonia (Wales)
- Night 14: Back to London for flight
Day-by-Day Plan
Days 1-3: London
See our London in 3 Days itinerary. Cover Westminster, Tower, Borough Market, Shoreditch, Camden, a West End show.
Day 4: Oxford
Train from London Paddington (1 hr, £25). Christ Church College, Bodleian Library, punting, Turf Tavern pub dinner.
Days 5-6: Cotswolds
Hire car at Oxford (£40-60/day). Base yourself in Chipping Campden or Bourton-on-the-Water. Visit Bibury, Castle Combe, Broadway Tower, Stow-on-the-Wold.
Day 7: Bath
Drive 1 hour to Bath. Roman Baths, Royal Crescent, Thermae Spa. Keep the hire car.
Days 8-9: Lake District (via York)
Drive 4-5 hrs north via York for a lunch stop (walk the walls, see the Minster). Continue to Lake District. Base in Windermere or Keswick. Hike, boat on the lake, visit Beatrix Potter sites.
Days 10-11: Edinburgh
Drive or train (3 hrs) to Edinburgh. Drop car if driving. Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat, Leith for dinner. See our Edinburgh guide.
Days 12-13: Snowdonia
Long drive (5-6 hrs) or train+car combo to Snowdonia, North Wales. Climb Mount Snowdon (hardest walking route) or take the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Portmeirion village is a highlight.
Day 14: Back to London
Drive or train south (4-5 hrs) to London for your flight. Return the hire car at Heathrow (often cheapest drop-off location).
Getting Around
Recommended combo: train London→Oxford, hire car Oxford→Bath→Lake District→Edinburgh, train Edinburgh→Snowdonia, car Snowdonia→London.
- Hire car: 9-10 days total (£400-600)
- Trains: advance tickets 4-8 weeks ahead save up to 70%
- Use Trainline app or National Rail direct (no booking fees on National Rail)
- Avoid driving in central London — congestion charge + ULEZ + nowhere to park
Budget & Costs
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (14 nights) | £700-1,100 | £1,400-2,600 | £4,000-8,000 |
| Food & drinks | £400-600 | £800-1,200 | £1,500-3,000 |
| Transport + car | £400-600 | £600-900 | £1,000-1,600 |
| Attractions | £200-300 | £400-600 | £800-1,500 |
| TOTAL (1 person) | £1,700-2,600 | £3,200-5,300 | £7,300-14,100 |
Alternatives
- England only (skip Scotland/Wales): Add more time in Yorkshire, Devon/Cornwall, Cambridge
- Scotland focus: Drop Wales, add Isle of Skye and NC500 Highlands road trip
- Add Ireland: Fly Dublin for 2-3 days (£30-80, 1 hr)
- Foodie version: Add Bristol, Padstow (Rick Stein country), Michelin pubs
- Literary tour: Oxford (Tolkien), Stratford (Shakespeare), Lake District (Wordsworth), Haworth (Brontë)