The ultimate itinerary for a tour of England!

One week: If you only have a week then we would recommend sticking to London, Oxford and the Cotswolds. These are close together in the south and are perfect for a week away.

Two weeks: If you have two weeks then we would extend this to include the coastline to the south. Choose between the pristine east coast or the south-west coast with its white cliffs and more Mediterranean look.

Longer than three weeks: If you have more than three weeks, we recommend adding both Wales and the south-west of England or driving on to Scotland. For Scotland, we have also created an itinerary (FINALLY ONLINE) that is perfect to combine with this tour of England. Want to combine these countries? Then set aside at least 5-6 weeks to discover everything at your leisure.

The best way to travel through and to the UK, in our opinion, is by motorhome or car. This gives you complete freedom to decide where to go and how long to stay. Moreover, you can get everywhere this way, even to unique spots that make you feel like you've landed in the middle of nowhere.

Campsites: The vast nature ensures that there are an awful lot of beautifully located campsites. A camping holiday is therefore ideal, especially as hotels are often on the expensive side. In the summer holidays, we paid around €30-€35 per night for a camping pitch and €80-€100 per night for a mid-range hotel.

Tip: A campervan is ideal for a road trip, but unlike Scotland, wild camping is not allowed in England.

Travelling around the UK by train is also a fantastic alternative if you prefer not to travel by car or motorhome. You'll find stations even in the smallest villages and deep in nature reserves. Several buses go from each station, making most places easily accessible. Although it is less flexible than a car, the train offers the chance to enjoy the scenery while you relax looking out of the window. Check out the options at NSInternational.

Tip: It's on our bucket list to one day cross the entire UK by train. If you want to do this too, we recommend a Interrail pass take.

Travel time: +/- 7 hours
Price: From €100 for a one-way trip with a car and driver (daytime, no cabin) 
Handy: Especially useful if you want to arrive or end up in eastern England straight from the Netherlands 

Travel time: +/- 11 hours
Price: From €150 for a one-way trip with a car and driver. A cabin is mandatory and is available from €50 per person.
Handy: Save travel time by travelling at night. An excellent option if you want to start in the north or travel on to Scotland.

Travel time: +/- 16 hours
Price: From €150 for a one-way trip with a car and driver. A cabin is mandatory
Handy: Ideal if you want to arrive in the northern part of England or combine your trip with Scotland. However, this route is popular and can therefore be more expensive in high season.

Travel time: +/- 2 hours
Price: From €50 for a single trip with a car and driver.
Handy: These ferries operate several times a day, making them ideal for flexible or last-minute plans. Dunkirk is often quieter and cheaper than Calais, while being closer to home.

Travel time: +/- 35 minutes
Price: From €80 for a single trip with a car and driver.
Handy: Perfect in bad weather or if you want to cross quickly. Ferries (as mentioned above) are usually cheaper!

• Seven Dials Market (in the city centre)
• Leadenhall Market (beautiful architecture)
• Borough Market (authentic)
• Boxpark (hip and popular with locals)
• Chinatown (culinary hotspot!)

• Tavernaki Portobello (Greek, Notting Hill)
• Din Tai Fung (well-known Taiwanese restaurant)
• Dishoom (fantastic Indian cuisine)

• Sky Garden (rooftop bar)
• Primrose Hill (picnic with a view!)
• Fun activity: A boat trip down the Thames to Greenwich (can just use your public transport card)

Aldeburgh is known for its many art galleries and a festival, the entire month of June, for classical music and art. You wouldn't easily expect that for such a small place. Stroll along the coast, visit local shops and enjoy fresh fish at wooden beach huts. So you can have a deliciously burgundian lunch on the beach! 

Southwold is very popular with English families because of its relaxed atmosphere. Some people come here all their lives to enjoy the beautiful coast. This would not be for us, there is not much to see or do here, but we understand why this place attracts so many people. Visit the pier for a beautiful sunset and admire the colourful beach huts.

One campsite we can recommend here is Pigs in blankets. The pitches are spacious and the sanitary facilities are top notch. Best of all, they have a private path to the beach, past their pigs and the beautiful nature reserve.

The Broads is a very special nature reserve. For the Dutch among us, it may seem quite familiar, as its waterways and marshes are similar to those of the Netherlands. As with us, you can take delightful boat trips here to enjoy nature to the full. A round trip of two hours costs around €13 per person. You will find these tours in the villages Wroxham and Horning. Of course, you can also rent your own boat. 

On Getyourguide you will find a complete Norfolk travel guide (€15) containing additional stops, cool sights and more information about the area.

Blakeney was definitely one of the highlights of our tour of England. Indeed, this small village is surrounded by a very special landscape. The mix of dunes, salt marshes and tidal pools make it a paradise for birds and people like us! You can take beautiful walks there, especially during sunset when the whole landscape turns golden. 

Extra special is a visit to Blakeney Point. There is no other place in England where so many common and grey seals congregate. To visit Blakeney Point, we can arrange a tour with Temple Seal Trips recommend. The boat's skipper will give you all kinds of interesting information about the area and the seals. It is also a great way to admire the nature reserve, the beautiful sailboats and the photogenic old lifeboat house. A trip with Temple Seal Trips costs €30 p.p and is an absolute must-do!

Fun fact: common seals, despite what the name seems to imply, are much rarer than grey seals.  

Hunstanton is an ideal stopover along the coastal route with vast dunes. Park at Old Hunstanton Beach and walk to the unique chalk cliffs. These cliffs stand out for their two-coloured pattern: bright white and orange-red, separated by a tight horizontal line.

The orange-red part was created 100 million years ago by volcanic activity and iron deposits. In contrast, the white layer is 30 million years younger and consists of calcareous algae remains. This special contrast is not only very cool to see, but also very photogenic. Complete your walk by visiting the more than 100-year-old shipwreck located on the beach.

Robin Hood's Bay is an atmospheric fishing village with narrow streets, distinctive houses and a mysterious name. Indeed, why exactly it has this name no one knows. According to legend, Robin Hood defeated pirates here and donated the loot to the population. Evidence is lacking, but the story makes it extra interesting! 

Tip: Have lunch at the cosy Brambles Bistro or get fish & chips at Fish Box. Afterwards, take a walk to the beach and follow the Cleveland Way path for stunning views over the bay. Fancy a longer trek? Walk along the cliffs to Whitby in 2.5 hours.

Whitby is the largest and busiest of the three places, which can take some getting used to. Still, you will find charming nooks and crannies here, such as the shops at Church Street and the viewpoint at the famous 199 Steps. Do not forget St Mary's Church and the impressive Whitby Abbey visit. Fancy a drink? Whitby Brewery's terrace is a must.

Keep in mind that you will also come across some less chic and idyllic shops, restaurants and gambling halls here. As a result, we think this place has just a little less charm than the other two places.  

Tip: For a longer coastal walk, walk from Whitby to Staithes (4.5 hours). Along the way, you'll pass Runswick Bay, perfect for a break at Tides Coffee Bar.

Staithes is the smallest village of the three. We did find it very quiet here, but that could also be because we were there at the very end of the day. However, it is also the birthplace of explorer James Cook, and the mysterious coastal village lets you understand where his love of the sea and exploration began. At low tide, the water flows out of the entire village, leaving boats on the dry riverbed.

Tip: Enjoy a traditional ‘cream tea’ at Dotty's Vintage Tearoom or sample fresh fish at the cosy harbourside pub Cod & Lobster.

Near Lake Derwentwater, you will find the well-known town of Keswick. This is a good base to explore the area as you will find many accommodations and restaurants here. Next to the lake, a well-known place to visit is the Castlerigg Stone Circle, a prehistoric ‘henge’ on a hill with a mystical atmosphere. Because the henge was built in about 3200 BC, it is one of the oldest in England and even Europe! 

Another must-see is Friars Crag, a picturesque viewpoint of Lake Derwentwater. Get a coffee for during the walk at The Moon & Sixpence Coffeehouse. 

Tip: Stayed overnight at idyllic Dalebottom Farm, a campsite surrounded by colourful mountain peaks. This is truly the most beautiful campsite we have been to.

The drive from Derwentwater to Buttermere takes you over winding mountain roads and past impressive scenery. Along the way you will pass Moss Force, a small waterfall among some impressive mountain peaks. Once at Buttermere, the landscape is a colourful palette of grass, heather and rocks.

Buttermere is a slightly lesser-known ‘lake’, although you will certainly find plenty of other people here enjoying a day lazing by the lake or just enjoying water activities. Also, this really is a super cool place for hiking and should therefore not be missed on your tour of England. Nearby, you'll find a waterfall that rivals the one in Asia. The Scale Force Waterfall, hidden near Crummock Water. Within an hour you can walk to it; scramble to the top for the best views. A real hidden gem then! 

Tip: For an overnight stay, you can visit the quiet Syke Farm Campsite. This is right next to Derwentwater and you will find some yurts and spots for tents (cars are not allowed on the site). 

Windermere is one England's largest and most famous lake and we recommend visiting it last. In fact, this lake is at the very bottom of the park so you can go straight through to the South of England from there (so reverse this with Derwentwater if you follow the route in reverse).

Although it can be very busy in the summer months, we found it more than worth visiting. Indeed, the lake cruises offer a fun and approachable way to both get out on the water and explore the surrounding area. We recommend the ‘red cruise’, which allows you to see most of the lake and ends up at the small but picturesque village of Ambleside. A return ticket from Bowness to Ambleside costs €21 per person. The boat sails several times a day, and tickets can be bought both online and locally.

One of the most famous spots in the park is the Stanage Edge. This is an extraordinary steep rocky ridge that seems to rise out of nowhere. It is the perfect spot for rock climbers, but it is also impressive as a viewpoint.

Fun fact: a scene for the film Pride and Prejudice was shot here. You will also find another important iconic spot here: Robin Hood's Cave. This opening in the rock face is the perfect place to look out over the entire valley and is therefore mentioned in folk tales as Robin Hood's important hiding place.   

Otherwise, the area is just lovely to drive through. The scenery is as you would expect it to be in England, yet the ruggedness almost gives it a Scottish quality. One of the most beautiful parts was the Winnats Pass and the nearby Mam Tor vantage point. This is a really fantastic part to drive through by car. And so you can also hike very well here. 

The park is so big that it is quite difficult to find the most beautiful viewpoints completely spontaneously. We are therefore happy to share some other favourite viewpoints to choose from: Higger Tor, Thor's Cave, Great Ridge, Bamford Edge, Monsal Head, The Roaches, Alport Castles and Child Scout. As you can understand, you can easily spend several days in this park to discover all the beautiful places!

By the way, the park is not just made up of peaks and valleys. You will also find some other cool sights. For instance, you can visit the impressive country house Chatsworth House visits. An admission costs €40 per person.

Tip: Visiting several castles and estates can be very expensive. Especially if you want to visit several during your tour of England. However, this does not apply to museums, which are usually free (visit this website for a museum overview by region). 

In addition, the area is known for its many caves. Around the town of Castleton, you have several that you can visit, namely Poole's Cavern, Peak Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern and Blue John Cavern. A (guided or audio) tour will cost you around €18 to €25 and last about 45-60 minutes. In some of these caves, you can also attend special events such as a concert!

Finally, we recommend visiting the Castleton itself. You will find a number of cosy and typical tea rooms and restaurants such as Ye Olde Nags Head and The George. The latter also has a super view of the Peveril Castle from the terrace. You can visit this castle ruin for around €10, but you can also just walk around it. Do this especially from the nearby Cave Dale, which forms a special path through a small but impressive valley next to the castle.

Tip: There are several super nice, classic accommodation options in Peak District. We had a lovely overnight stay and breakfast at the Maynard. This is a beautiful boutique hotel where you will feel completely immersed in the atmosphere of an English country house.