The Tower of London on the Thames
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Itineraries by trip length

Choose how long you have. Each length has a few route options across our regions, with the travel between them, who each one suits and the best season.

Long weekend

Four days, Friday to Monday or any four in a row. One base, or two close ones, so little of the time goes on trains.

The walls and towers of Edinburgh Castle under a blue sky
Long weekend: The walls and towers of Edinburgh Castle under a blue skyPhoto: Peulle, CC BY 4.0

  • 4 days · Easy pace

    Edinburgh in four days

    One city, four days: the castle, St Giles’ Cathedral and the Palace of Holyroodhouse along the Royal Mile, then the national galleries and Princes Street Gardens.

    Edinburgh

  • 4 days · Steady pace

    London and Bath

    Two days in London for the big museums and the river, then Bath for the Roman Baths, the abbey and the Georgian crescents.

    London → Bath

  • 4 days · Easy pace

    Bristol and Bath

    Two neighbouring cities a short train apart: the SS Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, then Bath’s Roman Baths and abbey.

    Bristol → Bath

3 days

Three days is enough for one city or two close ones. These routes keep moves to a minimum.

  • 3 days · Steady pace

    London in three days

    Westminster, the Tower and the river, then the museums of South Kensington: three days in one city with no moves.

    London

  • 3 days · Steady pace

    Edinburgh and Glasgow

    Two Scottish cities: Edinburgh’s castle and Royal Mile, then Glasgow’s Kelvingrove and Riverside Museum.

    Edinburgh → Glasgow

  • 3 days · Steady pace

    York and Manchester

    York’s Minster, the Shambles and the city gates, then Manchester’s libraries, cathedral and canal basin.

    York → Manchester

5 days

Five days fits two bases comfortably, or three if you like to move. Each route reserves time for the longer journeys.

  • 5 days · Steady pace

    London and Bath

    Three days in London, then two in Bath, with the Roman Baths, the abbey and the Georgian crescents.

    London → Bath

  • 5 days · Steady pace

    Edinburgh and York

    Edinburgh’s castle and Old Town, then York’s Minster and medieval streets by train.

    Edinburgh → York

  • 5 days · Steady pace

    Liverpool and Manchester

    Liverpool’s Albert Dock, museums and Beatles sites, then Manchester’s libraries, cathedral and music venues.

    Liverpool → Manchester

One week

A week suits three bases. Pick the cities that fit your interests; the legs between them are listed with National Rail times where we hold them.

  • 7 days · Steady pace

    London, Bath and Oxford

    The capital, a Georgian spa city and a university city: museums and river in London, the Roman Baths in Bath, the colleges and libraries of Oxford.

    London → Bath → Oxford

  • 7 days · Steady pace

    London, York and Edinburgh

    Three cities by train: London, York’s Minster and city gates, then Edinburgh’s castle and Royal Mile.

    London → York → Edinburgh

  • 7 days · Steady pace

    Liverpool, Manchester and York

    Three northern cities by rail: Liverpool’s waterfront, Manchester’s libraries and music venues, then York’s Minster.

    Liverpool → Manchester → York

  • 7 days · Steady pace

    Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Highlands

    Two Scottish cities, then the area around Inverness with Culloden, Clava Cairns and Urquhart Castle. Easier with a car.

    Edinburgh → Glasgow → The Scottish Highlands

Ten days

Ten days lets you cross the country by rail or build around one theme. Longer legs reserve part of a day.

  • 10 days · Steady pace

    London, Bath, Oxford and Cambridge

    The capital, then Bath’s Roman Baths, Oxford’s colleges and Cambridge’s riverside colleges.

    London → Bath → Oxford → Cambridge

  • 10 days · Relaxed pace

    London to Edinburgh by rail

    London, York and Edinburgh by train, with more days in each.

    London → York → Edinburgh

  • 10 days · Steady pace

    London, Bath and Cardiff

    London, Bath’s Georgian streets, then Cardiff’s castle, St Fagans and the bay. The time we hold is to Cardiff, not the rest of Wales.

    London → Bath → Wales

Two weeks

Two weeks covers England, Scotland and Wales at a pace that leaves room for rain. Legs without a published time reserve half a day.

Pulteney Bridge and the weir on the River Avon in Bath
Two weeks: Pulteney Bridge and the weir on the River Avon in BathPhoto: Andy Li, CC0

  • 14 days · Steady pace

    Bath to Edinburgh by rail

    Bath, Oxford, London, York and Edinburgh: the main stops of a first long trip by train.

    Bath → Oxford → London → York → Edinburgh

  • 14 days · Steady pace

    Glasgow to the Lake District

    Glasgow and Edinburgh, then York, Manchester and Liverpool, ending in the Windermere area. The Lake District leg has no published time in our data and is easier with a car.

    Glasgow → Edinburgh → York → Manchester → Liverpool → The Lake District

  • 14 days · Steady pace

    London, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Cornwall

    London, then west through Bath, Bristol and Cardiff to Penzance and St Ives. Cornwall has no published rail time in our data and is easier with a car.

    London → Bath → Bristol → Wales → Cornwall

Want something built around your own dates and interests? Try the trip builder. Journey times are National Rail fastest times where we hold them; otherwise check National Rail. Independent and unofficial.