Road trips in England

Explore cities and gorgeous scenery with an England road trip !

England is an endless array of green fields, rolling hills, rocky seashore, quaint villages, and sprawling modern cities. The countryside is gorgeous and quite varied, from craggy peaks, beautiful lakes, and ancient ruins. Depending on where you hail from, road trips in England might take some getting used to, as they obviously drive on the left side of the road, but it makes for a fantastic way to experience the beauty of this country. England tours with any sort of vehicle – car, motorbike, or motorhome – are unbeatable for leisurely exploring the backroads between country villages or carving the turns of the Lake District. A trip to England offers something to satisfy every interest. The natural beauty of Lake District, North York Moors, Peak District, and South Downs National Parks will leave you in awe; history buffs can visit Stonehenge or Hadrian’s Wall to stand in the same place as humans centuries before them, or you can even live the cosmopolitan life and take in the architecture in London, Liverpool, or Manchester.

Getting into England is no problem at all, almost regardless of where you’re traveling from. Heathrow airport is one of the largest in the entire world and handles countless international and intercontinental flights on a daily basis. Trains and ferries from mainland Europe also run regularly and provide a convenient means of travel, should you not want to fly. Most European and North American visitors will not need a visa, only a valid passport or identification. Those traveling from Asia and other parts of the world should consult with the UK government to determine whether a visa is needed.

England has a bad reputation for being cold, wet, and dreary, but that is not always the case! Temperatures actually tend to stay quite mild, and there isn’t as much rain as people think. Springtime often brings the most unpredictable weather, and fall and winter are almost always the rainiest. Summer has the occasional hot spell, but otherwise, May through September usually offers the best weather for a trip to England. So, make sure you pack accordingly (and bring that rain jacket just in case), but don’t worry about it too much.

Many of the “classics” of English cuisine are well known and always worth trying – fish and chips, Cornish pasty, and of course, the Full English Breakfast – but don’t be afraid to branch out. A “ploughman’s lunch” of cheese, bread, and maybe some fruit or cured meats makes for a great snack. Delicious curry is also everywhere, as it came back to England during and after the British rule of India. There are plenty of other things to try, including regional specialties and variations on some typical dishes. So, be sure to ask around during England tours for what to eat and where to eat it!

While London and the other major cities (like any major city) certainly have their seedy areas, if you avoid these, you don’t have much to worry about as a visitor. Again, be extra safe while driving since being on the opposite side of the road takes some getting used to! Surprisingly, the same goes for the language. Even as a native English speaker, understanding the accents of some English English can be difficult. Use common sense, travel in groups when you can, and you should be just fine.

What Planet Ride offers for road trip adventures in England

Planet Ride is working hard to grow our options for road trips in England. We work with only the best local guides to ensure you have a top-notch travel experience. These guides are experts on the country you visit and the vehicles you drive. They can assist with figuring out the local customs, any mechanical problems you might have, or even just the best things to see and best places to eat.

Currently, we feature an excellent extended holiday with a motorhome tour that spans 23 days and 3,200 kilometers! This trip occurs regularly in June and lets you travel with your own vehicle. You’ll have a guide along the way to make sure everything goes smoothly. This particular trip to England includes visits to the cities of Brighton, Exeter, Bath, Cardiff, York, London, and a few others. There’s even a chance to explore William Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford Upon Avon. Plenty of time is also spent in the countryside, with stops in Snowdonia National Park and Pembrokeshire National Park. You can marvel at the architecture, from Big Ben and the Canterbury Cathedral to the ancient puzzle of Stonehenge.