7-Day England Itinerary: London, Bath & Oxford Without A Car

This 7-day England Itinerary captures the best of the country. It can be done without a car and at a sensible pace. We have day-by-day suggestions, tips for getting around, and recommendations for where to stay.

What images does England conjure up?

Honey-coloured cottages in green rolling hills. Medieval university towns steeped in tradition and knowledge. White cliffs towering over the sea. Castles, cathedrals, palaces, fish and chips.  

Our England itinerary captures all of the above.

This is our home; we know it well. So, we know there is no point rushing around trying to see too much in a week.

Instead, we have fewer destinations, so you have enough time to actually see them properly.

If you’re lucky enough to have more than 7 days in England, we have another itinerary which includes more than 10 days. Read our 10-day England itinerary.

We also suggest you read our best places to visit in England guide to get a feel for what you might like to see on this itinerary. There are a few days on which you can select from different options.

Let’s get into it.

ARRIVING IN THE UK

BY AIR

Most international flights from the US land at either London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports.

From London Heathrow it’s a 15-minute train journey on the Heathrow Express (more expensive) or 25 minutes on the Elizabeth line (cheaper) to London Paddington train station. Both trains depart from the same train station, and you just need to follow the signs saying, “Trains to Central London.”

From London Gatwick it is 30 minutes on the Gatwick Express to London Victoria Train station.

If you are arriving from mainland Europe, you may also be flying into London Stansted and London Luton airports.

BY TRAIN

The Eurostar arrives at the beautiful London St Pancras Train Station which is in central London.

Direct trains run from Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels, but many more destinations are connected with a change.

Booking Train Tickets – We recommend checking Omio for services and prices, as they are better with international credit cards.

HOW TO GET AROUND?

This itinerary begins and ends in London, assuming you will fly into one of London’s international airports or arrive via train.

There is no need to rent a car for this itinerary. We have put it together so you can get around via public transport.

Unfortunately, trains can be expensive in England, but they are generally much faster than the buses. So, trains are our recommended way to get around.

In the UK, train prices drop by up to half after peak hours.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast (you have to try a Full English at least once) and set off at around 9.30 am to save some money on train tickets.  

MAP – ENGLAND ITINERARY

BOOKING THIS ITINERARY

We’ve put this England itinerary together with multiple nights in most places.

We’ve learnt from years of travel that there’s a sweet spot between moving every night and staying in a base for a bit longer.

Hopefully, you’ll find this itinerary not too rushed, allowing you to see the best of the destinations we’ve picked out, while experiencing as much of England as possible in the time you have.

For planning, here is what you need to book for this itinerary:

DAY 1

Book 3 nights’ accommodation in London

Book Westminster Abbey skip-the-line tickets

Book London Eye fast-track tickets

DAY 2

Book cocktails at Aqua Shard

DAY 3

Book your day trip from London

DAY 4

Book train tickets from London to Bath

Dinner at Circus Restaurant

Book 1 night’s accommodation in Bath

DAY 5

Book 3 nights’ accommodation in Oxford

DAY 6

Book the Bodleian Library Tour

DAY 7

Book a tour to the Cotswolds from Oxford

7-DAY ENGLAND ITINERARY

DAY 1: LONDON

London is where we live so it’s the one city we know better than any other. You could spend a long time in London, but for this itinerary, we suggest 2 to 3 days.

WHAT TO DO?

On Day 1 start with the big political and royal sights, focusing on the areas of Westminster and the South Bank – the most iconic sights in London. Here are some suggestions.

• Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. (The details are in our London guide).
• Explore the tombs of prime ministers, poets, kings and queens in Westminster Abbey.
• Take a tour of Westminster Palace and the Houses of Parliament.
• Ride the London Eye for views over London. (Get fast track tickets to avoid the queues.)
• Stroll the South Bank and dip into the free Tate Modern Art Gallery.

In the evening head into Soho and the West End to catch a show and dinner.

WHERE TO STAY?

For this itinerary, we’d suggest staying in Westminster, Soho or the Southbank. Each of these areas are within walking distance of most attractions we’ve recommended in this itinerary, and they are all well connected by the Tube.

We have more information on our guide to the best neighbourhoods to stay in London along with hotel recommendations.

DAY 2: LONDON

One of the joys of London is the extremely diverse neighbourhoods that dot the city.

Each has its own feel and attracts a different crowd. Pick one or two that you think you might like, then set off and explore.

WHAT TO DO?

We have included some of our guides below with suggestions for how to see some of the distinct neighbourhoods.

• Explore the East End, starting with our street art walk around Shoreditch and Brick Lane.
• Have brunch in Notting Hill and Potter around Portobello Market (We have more ideas for things to do in Notting Hill here.)
• Grab lunch in Fitzrovia and then explore the amazing artefacts at the British Museum (free).
• Shop in Oxford Street and stroll the boutiques of Mayfair.

There’s always plenty to do in the evening, but a good way to start is with a cocktail at Aqua Shard for sunset views over London.

Then you could head over to East London’s Brick Lane for a curry followed by a drink in a cosy pub.

DAY 3: DAY TRIP FROM LONDON

There are plenty of things you could do in London on day 3 of this itinerary, for more ideas head over to our guide: things to do in London.

But if you are looking for something a bit different, take the opportunity to see more of the country on a day trip.

We have a detailed guide dedicated to the best day trips from London, but we would recommend one of the following:

Option 1: Windsor Castle – Windsor is the longest-occupied castle in the world and a very popular day trip from London. It’s around 30 minutes by train from London Paddington.

Option 2: Cambridge – Cambridge is a beautiful English town, seeped in history. It’s only around 50 minutes from central London, making it very easy to see on a day trip.

Option 3: Seven Sisters – These are the iconic white cliffs of England, which you can see via a long walk (read our Seven Sisters hike) or on an organised day trip.

Option 4: Harry Potter Studios – See the sets and original costumes from the movies at the Harry Potter Studios. This organised tour starts from London Victoria.

DAY 4: LONDON TO BATH

Bath is a city to the west of London named after the Roman-built baths, which are the best-preserved Roman baths in the world. It’s a beautiful city with Georgian architecture and it’s a great taste of English culture.

Take the train from London Paddington to Bath Spa Station this morning. The trip takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

WHAT TO DO?

When you arrive, head straight to your hotel to drop your luggage before going off to explore.

We’ve put together a 1-day Bath itinerary which covers in detail what we think you should do today, but here are some of the highlights.

• Start at the Roman Baths.
• Stroll around the independent stores around Church Street.
• Try the famous Bath Bun at Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House.
• Admire Pulteney Bridge, the iconic bridge spanning the River Avon.
• Explore Bath Abbey with its extraordinary fan-vaulted ceiling.
• Finish up relaxing on the lawn in front of the remarkable Royal Crescent. 

In the evening have dinner at Circus Restaurant, a cosy place with a very good seasonal menu. After dinner, we like Opium Bar, a vintage-inspired cocktail bar or Walcot House, a cool bar and restaurant with live jazz.

WHERE TO STAY?

The number one place to stay in Bath is The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. It’s in the centre of the Royal Crescent with a lovely garden, amazing views and a top-notch spa.

However, if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, The Z Hotel is a very good affordable option. Some rooms do not have windows so make sure you check when booking.

DAY 5: BATH TO OXFORD VIA CASTLE COMBE

Today we suggest making a small detour to Castle Combe, possibly one of the prettiest villages in England, on your way to Oxford.

The car-free village has a row of honey-coloured cottages and a 14th-century market square. One particularly attractive stone bridge is a popular photo spot in the village.  

It’s backed by a wooded green giving the whole area a quintessentially English feel.

Castle Combe has regularly appeared in films and it’s easy to see why.

It does not take long to look around; you only need about 30 minutes, but you could grab lunch in the old Manor House or one of the pubs in the village centre. There’s also a lovely stroll along the river.

HOW TO DO IT?

By Taxi – It takes around 35 minutes to drive to Castle Combe from Bath. You could ask the taxi driver to wait while you have a look around, then get them to take you to Chippenham Station (10 minutes) and get the train to Oxford from there.

Stay for lunch – Alternatively, you could get a taxi to Castle Combe and have lunch at the Manor House (which we highly recommend). Leave your luggage with the hotel while you have a look around, then order a taxi to Chippenham Station.

WHERE TO STAY?

Tonight, you’ll need accommodation in Oxford (for 3 nights).

We recommend the Royal Oxford, which is very close to the train station. For something with a bit more luxury, go to the Old Parsonage.

Alternatively, check prices with the form below.

DAY 6: OXFORD

In our opinion, Oxford is an unmissable destination on your England itinerary, and it’s also a great base for exploring the nearby area.

We suggest 2 days and 3 nights in Oxford which allows for one day to explore the city and the second to visit the Cotswolds.

Oxford houses one of the oldest and most famous universities in the world and there is plenty of English history and architecture to explore.

WHAT TO DO?

We have a detailed guide on the best things to do in Oxford but here are some of the highlights:

• Photo the circular Radcliffe Library surrounded by grand colleges and churches.
• Tour the Bodleian, seeing the historic Duke Humfrey’s Library. (This needs to be booked well in advance).
• Visit Christ Church College used in the Harry Potter films.
• Lurk amongst the cloisters of New College.

In the evening, consider going to Evensong in Magdalen College Chapel, check out what’s on at the Sheldonian Theatre, or simply squeeze into a spot in one of Oxford’s traditional pubs and try the local ales.

DAY 7: BLENHEIM & THE COTSWOLDS

Oxford is on the southeastern corner of the Cotswolds – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This is rural England many people expect when they think of the country. Steep-pitched roofs and stone cottages, rolling green hills dotted with sheep, and wonky pubs tucked into quaint villages.

HOW TO DO IT?

Oxford is an excellent base for exploring the Cotswolds, which is what we suggest you do on day 7 of this itinerary. Here’s how to do it.

Option 1: Get the bus to Blenheim Palace. Blenheim is one of the great stately homes of England. Winston Churchill was born here, and its landscaped grounds and grand rooms are exceptional. The bus takes 30 minutes from Oxford.

Option 2: Join a tour and visit some of the villages. This well-rated tour visits a lot of our favourites in one day and ends with a photo stop at Blenheim Palace.

Option 3: Hire a car for the day. Explore at your leisure, stopping in a country pub for lunch. We like the King’s Head in Bledington and the Fox Inn in Oddington.

Our guide to the best places to visit in the Cotswolds will give you some more ideas.

If you decide to hire a car, check car rental prices here.

DEPARTING ENGLAND

This ends our 7-day England itinerary.

It’s easy enough to get from Oxford to the major airports around London.

To Heathrow – Coaches run from Oxford to London Heathrow Airport taking around 1 hour. You can book this journey via Omio.

To Gatwick – You can get the train from Oxford to London Gatwick with a chnage at Reading Station. Check prices and book this journey via Omio.

Alternatively, you can get the train back into London to continue your journey.

MORE GUIDES FOR YOUR ENGLAND TRIP

• Put your trip with our 7-day England itinerary by car.
• Visit York on a day trip from London.
• Plan your stay in the capital with our area & hotel guide to London.
• All our top places to see in England are here.
• Feeling adventurous? Try these outdoor experiences in England & the UK.
• These wild swimming spots in the Lake District are perfect after a long hike.
• Find more great things to do in the Cotswolds here.
• Enjoy one of these country walks in the Cotswolds.
• Our guide to the top places to see in the UK might give you some ideas for your next trip.