Britain's Best Three-Week Trip
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Rick's Favorite Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in London, bus to Bath (sleep in Bath)
Day 2: Bath (sleep in Bath)
Day 3: Pick up car, Avebury, Wells, Glastonbury (sleep in Bath)
Day 4: South Wales, St. Fagans, Tintern Abbey (sleep in Chipping Campden)
Day 5: Explore the Cotswolds, Blenheim (sleep in Chipping Campden)
Day 6: Stratford, Warwick, Coventry (sleep in Ironbridge Gorge)
Day 7: Ironbridge Gorge, Ruthin banquet (sleep in Ruthin or Conwy)
Day 8: Highlights of North Wales (sleep in Ruthin or Conwy)
Day 9: Liverpool, Blackpool (sleep in Blackpool)
Day 10: South Lake District (sleep in Keswick area)
Day 11: North Lake District (sleep in Keswick area)
Day 12: Drive up west coast of Scotland (sleep in Oban)
Day 13: Highlands, Loch Ness, Scenic Highlands Drive (sleep in Edinburgh)
Day 14: Edinburgh (sleep in Edinburgh)
Day 15: Edinburgh (sleep in Edinburgh)
Day 16: Hadrian's Wall, Beamish, Durham's Cathedral and evensong (sleep in Durham)
Day 17: North York Moors, York, turn in car (sleep in York)
Day 18: York (sleep in York)
Day 19: Early train to London (sleep in London)
Day 20: London (sleep in London)
Day 21: London (sleep in London)
Day 22: Whew!
Priority of British Sightseeing Stops
3 days: London
5 days, add: Bath, Cotswolds
7 days, add: York
9 days, add: Edinburgh
11 days, add: Stratford, Warwick, Blenheim
14 days, add: North Wales, Wells/Glastonbury/Avebury
17 days, add: Lake District, Hadrian's Wall, Durham
21 days, add: Ironbridge Gorge, Blackpool, Scottish Highlands
24 days, add: Choose two destinations among the following — Glasgow, Cambridge, South Wales
Britain Itinerary Tips
Train Travelers: While the three-week itinerary outlined above is designed to be done by car, it can be done by train and bus or, better yet, with a BritRail & Drive Pass (best car days: the Cotswolds, North Wales, Lake District, Scottish Highlands, Hadrian's Wall). For three weeks without a car, I'd probably cut back on the recommended sights with the most frustrating public transportation: South and North Wales, Ironbridge Gorge, and the Scottish Highlands. (Drivers can save a couple of days and a lot of miles by going directly from the Lake District to Edinburgh and skipping the long ride through the Highlands.) Lacing together the cities by train is very slick. With more time, everything is workable without a car.
Most people fly into London and remain there for a few days. Instead, consider a gentler small-town start in Bath (the ideal jet-lag pillow), and let London be the finale at the end of your trip. You'll be more rested and ready to tackle Britain's greatest city. Heathrow Airport has direct bus connections to Bath and other cities. (Bristol Airport is also near Bath.)
To give yourself a little rootedness, minimize one-night stands. It's worth a long drive after dinner to be settled into a town for two nights. B&Bs are also more likely to give a better price to someone staying more than one night.
As you plan, make note of festivals, colorful market days, and days when sights are closed. Treat Saturday as a weekday, except for transportation connections outside of London (which can be less frequent than on Mon–Fri, and downright meager on Sun). Be aware of upcoming holidays that could affect your trip (check a list of festivals and holidays). Sights normally closed on Monday are often open on Bank Holiday Mondays. Popular destinations attract more crowds on weekends, especially sunny weekends, which are sufficient cause for an impromptu holiday in this soggy corner of Europe.
A few national holidays jam things up, especially Bank Holiday Mondays. Mark these dates in red on your travel calendar: New Year's Day, Good Friday through Easter Monday, the Bank Holidays that occur on the first and last Monday in May, the last Monday in August, Christmas, and December 26 (Boxing Day).
Many businesses, as well as many museums, close on Good Friday, Easter, and New Year's Day. On Christmas, virtually everything closes down, even the Tube in London (taxi rates are high). Museums are also generally closed December 24 and 26.
For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' Great Britain guidebook — or join us on one of our free-spirited Britain tours!