United Kingdom

The best road trips in United Kingdom: routes, days and tips

Pick the North Coast 500 for a 5–7 day Highland loop, Cornwall's coast for 3–4 days of beaches, or the Cotswolds and Yorkshire for short 2–3 day drives from London. Drive May–June or September for lighter traffic; July–August and bank holidays are the busiest and priciest. Without a car, base in Edinburgh, York or Bath and take day tours.

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Updated Sep 20265 min read

GuideUnited Kingdom

Key facts

Best months to drive: May–June and September: long daylight, fewer queues
Busiest: Late July–August and UK bank holiday weekends
Longest pick: North Coast 500, about 830 km / 516 mi, 5–7 days
Shortest pick: Cotswolds loop, 2–3 days from London
Car hire: From about £30–60 per day in 2026 estimate, more in summer
Fuel: Petrol and diesel priced per litre; fill before Highland stretches
Driving side: Left; manual gearboxes are common, automatic costs more
Tolls: Some bridges and the M6 Toll charge; most motorways are free

Our top picks

Ranked for a first or second trip. Days are the minimum that does the route justice without rushing. Costs are 2026 estimates for fuel, parking and one night's accommodation, not including the car.

North Coast 500 → /road-trips/north-coast-500
Isle of Skye → /islands/isle-of-skye
West Highland Way → /trails/west-highland-way
Cornwall → /cornwall
Cumbria → /cumbria
North Yorkshire → /north-yorkshire
Pembrokeshire → /pembrokeshire
County Antrim → /county-antrim
Gwynedd → /gwynedd

Our top picks
Route	Days	Why	Best time	Cost
North Coast 500 (Inverness loop)	5–7	Single-track coast road, beaches, castles and empty glens	May–Jun, Sep	£500–900
Cornwall coast (St Ives to Padstow)	3–4	Fishing villages, surf beaches and the South West Coast Path	May–Jun, Sep	£300–600
Scottish Highlands and Skye	4–5	Lochs, mountains and the bridge to Skye	May–Jun, Sep	£400–800
Lake District loop (Windermere, Keswick)	2–3	Fells, lakes and short walks between villages	May–Sep	£250–500
Yorkshire Dales and Moors	2–3	Dry-stone walls, abbey ruins and market towns	Apr–Oct	£200–400
Cotswolds loop (Bath to Oxford)	2–3	Honey-stone villages, easy driving from London	Apr–Oct	£200–400
Pembrokeshire coast (Tenby to St Davids)	3	Cliff path, beaches and small cathedral city	May–Sep	£250–500
Causeway Coast (Belfast to Derry)	2	Giant's Causeway, glens and rope bridge	May–Sep	£200–400
Snowdonia and north Wales	2–3	Mountain passes, castles and steam railways	May–Sep	£250–500

How we chose

We picked routes that work as a self-contained drive of two to seven days, with fuel, food and beds available along the way, and that can be joined from a city by train or a short hire-car pickup. We favoured roads with a clear reason to stop every hour or two, and left out long motorway slogs with nothing between junctions.

Each pick has to be drivable by a first-time visitor on the left, in a car they have just hired. We noted the ones where single-track roads, ferries or seasonal closures change the plan. Prices are bands, not quotes: they move with the season and how early you book.

Two to seven days, start and finish reachable by train
Something worth stopping for at least every two hours
Beds and fuel within a day's drive
Works for a first-time left-side driver

When to go

May, June and September are the sweet spot: long daylight, drier odds and fewer cars than the school holidays. Late July and August bring the best weather and the worst queues, especially in Cornwall, the Lake District and on the North Coast 500, where single-track roads and small car parks fill early. Book accommodation months ahead for those weeks.

Winter driving is possible on main roads but daylight is short, Highland passes can close and many coastal cafés and campsites shut. Bank holiday weekends are busy everywhere. Check ferry timetables for Skye and the islands, and check for road closures after storms.

When to go
Season	Traffic	Daylight	Note
Apr–Jun	Moderate	Long	Best all-round window
Jul–Aug	Heavy	Longest	Book beds early; car parks fill by mid-morning
Sep–Oct	Moderate	Shorter	Good weather, quieter roads
Nov–Mar	Light	Short	Some sites and cafés closed; check passes

Getting there

Hire a car at the start city rather than driving from London. For the North Coast 500, pick up in Inverness; for Skye, Inverness or Glasgow; for Cornwall, Exeter, Bristol or Newquay; for the Cotswolds, Oxford or Bath; for the Causeway Coast, Belfast. Airports and city centres have the widest choice of automatic cars.

If you would rather not drive, base in Edinburgh, York or Bath and take day tours, or use trains between cities and hire a car only for the Highland, Lake District or Cornwall legs. Advance rail tickets are much cheaper when booked as soon as dates are fixed. Fuel is sold by the litre; fill up before long Highland stretches, where stations are sparse.

North Coast 500: hire in Inverness
Skye: hire in Inverness or Glasgow
Cornwall: hire in Exeter, Bristol or Newquay
Cotswolds: hire in Oxford or Bath
Causeway Coast: hire in Belfast

Map

Approximate start points for each route. Use them to plan a loop, not as exact addresses.

Map
Route	Start point	Coordinates
North Coast 500	Inverness	57.4778, -4.2247 (approximate)
Cornwall coast	St Ives	50.2110, -5.4800 (approximate)
Highlands and Skye	Fort William	56.8198, -5.1052 (approximate)
Lake District	Windermere	54.3780, -2.9060 (approximate)
Yorkshire Dales	Skipton	53.9610, -2.0170 (approximate)
Cotswolds	Bath	51.3810, -2.3590 (approximate)
Pembrokeshire	Tenby	51.6720, -4.7030 (approximate)
Causeway Coast	Belfast	54.5973, -5.9301 (approximate)
Snowdonia	Betws-y-Coed	53.0930, -3.8060 (approximate)

Questions people ask

What are the best road trips in the United Kingdom?

The North Coast 500 for a 5–7 day Highland loop, Cornwall's coast for 3–4 days, the Scottish Highlands and Skye for 4–5 days, and the Cotswolds, Yorkshire Dales or Lake District for short 2–3 day drives.

When is the best time to go in the United Kingdom?

May, June and September: long daylight, better odds of dry weather and fewer cars than late July and August, when Cornwall, the Lake District and the North Coast 500 are busiest. Winter has short days and some closures.

How many days do I need in the United Kingdom?

For a road trip, allow 2–3 days for the Cotswolds, Yorkshire or the Lake District, 3–4 for Cornwall or Pembrokeshire, and 5–7 for the North Coast 500. Add travel days if you are coming from London.

Do I need a car in the United Kingdom?

No. Trains link London, York, Edinburgh, Bath and Cardiff well. Hire a car only for the Highlands, Skye, the Lake District or Cornwall, or take day tours from Edinburgh, York or Bath.

Is driving in the United Kingdom hard for visitors?

You drive on the left, most hire cars are manual and many rural roads are single-track with passing places. Automatics cost more; book early and take the first hour slowly.

Deep dive

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