7 & 10-Day England Itinerary 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 capture 10 cities in 10 days.

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’ve also included options to help you decide what else you can see by extending your stay to 10 days.

We suggest you read our best places to visit in England guide to get a feel for what you might like to see. You can then amend this itinerary for any destinations you want to include.

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

Use the below map to help you get your bearings. The 7-day itinerary is in red, optional day trips are in purple, and the 10-day itinerary extensions are marked in brown.

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, you will need to book accommodation for:  

• 4 nights in London
• 1 night in Bath
• 3 nights in Oxford

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. Check thetrainline.com for services.

7-day England Itinerary Details

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.

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.

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

• See the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London then have lunch at Borough Market.
• Explore the East End joining a street art tour in Brick Lane.
• Have brunch in Notting Hill and potter round 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:

• Visit Windsor Castle, the longest-occupied castle in the world (half day)
• Punt on the river and see King’s College Chapel on a day trip to Cambridge (full day)
• Head south to Seven Sisters and hike the best white cliffs in England (full day)
• Take the kids (big & small) to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in north London (half day)

DAY 4 – 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. The trip takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. 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 & 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.

Here are a few options to manage the day logistically:

Hire a taxi from Bath (the trip takes 35 minutes) and negotiate with the taxi driver to wait while you have a look around Castle Combe. When you are finished, ask the taxi driver to take you to Chippenham Station (10 minutes) and get the train to Oxford from there. This way you can keep your luggage in the taxi while you look around Castle Combe.

Alternatively, if you want to stay a little longer in Castle Combe and have lunch at the Manor House (which we highly recommend) you could get a taxi, and leave your luggage with the hotel. Even if you wanted to have lunch in the pub, I’m sure they would store your luggage as well. 

Once you have finished lunch, you could order another taxi onto Chippenham to get the train to Oxford.

Buses to Castle Combe – We recommend getting a taxi from Bath to Castle Combe because the bus is not very regular, and it takes over an hour.

Where to Stay – If you’re following this itinerary, tonight is the first of 3 you’ll be spending in Oxford. 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.

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.

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 making sure to see the historic Duke Humfrey’s Library.
• 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, checkout 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; wonky pubs tucked into quaint villages.

Oxford is an excellent base for exploring the Cotswolds which is what we suggest you do on day 7 of this itinerary. There are a few options to choose from:

1. Get the bus to Blenheim Palace, 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.
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.
3. Hire a car for the day and 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 should give you some ideas.

DEPARTING ENGLAND

This ends our 7-day England itinerary.

Coaches run from Oxford to London Heathrow Airport taking around 1 hour. You can book this journey via the National Express website.

The bus from Oxford to Gatwick Airport could take anywhere from 2 hours and 15 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes depending on traffic. Book this journey via the National Express.

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

10-day Itinerary Extensions

If you have more time to spend in England, we have two options for you to turn this into a 10-day itinerary. Both explore quite a different part of the country.

DAY 8 – YORK

York is the main city in Yorkshire and one of England’s best-preserved medieval cities.  

The best way to get from Oxford to York is to take the train back to London Paddington, then get the tube over to London St Pancras.

Trains depart from London St Pancras to York regularly with around 60 services per day. It takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach York, and we would recommend booking tickets in advance on thetrainline.com to get the best price.

York’s well-preserved city walls surround pedestrianised cobbled lanes that inspired Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. They are filled with half-timbered houses, historic inns, fudge shops and cafes.

Standing above it all is the remarkable York Minster. Recently renovated, it retains most of its medieval stained glass, and it’s now in brand spanking new condition.

Here are a few suggestions in York:

• Admire the incredible stained-glass windows in York Minster.
• Amble the Shambles, a series of tightly packed medieval lanes.
• Head into the Jorvik Centre to learn about Viking influence on the city of York.
• Walk the city walls and appreciate the medieval city from above.

Where to stay – The four-star Grand Hotel is well-rated and in a great location between the station and the old town. This makes it easy to drop your luggage off when you arrive and pick it up on your way back to the station when you leave.

DAY  9 – YORKSHIRE DALES

York sits on the edge of some remarkable natural scenery. The best is the Yorkshire Dales, an agricultural area with traditional farm buildings and dry-stone walls undulating across the 7 valleys that make up the area. The dales is the land of All Creatures Great and Small and Wensleydale cheese.

Getting around by public transport is hard but this well-rated tour starts in York city centre and heads over hill, dale and moor to hamlets villages, medieval abbeys and rugged landscapes.

We have a detailed guide to visiting the Yorkshire Dales, but here are some of the highlights that are covered on the above tour.

• Visit the village of Grassington, the filming location for Darrowby in All Creature Great & Small
• Stroll the grounds of Bolton Abbey, Priory and Monastery.
• Explore 750 years of history in Masham and then head up to its wild moor

DAY 10 – YORK

Spend the last morning hanging out in York before getting the train back to London to catch your flight out.

DAY 8 – 10 LAKE DISTRICT

From Oxford, get the train back to London Paddington, then the tube over to Euston Station to get the train to Penrith, the train station in the north Lake District region.

The train trip takes just over 3 hours but check times carefully when you book on thetrainline.com as many services include a change which adds more time.

Unlike many rural places in England, seeing the Lake District by public transport is not too difficult. Base yourself in either Keswick (for rugged adventures) or Ambleside (for an all-round experience). There are many sights on your doorstep from both of these centres and they have good bus connections.

Rather than explain it here, read our guide on how to visit the Lake District by public transport. This detailed guide will help you decide where to stay with tips on what to do and how to get around.

At the end of your visit head back to London to catch your flight or train home.

MORE GUIDES FOR YOUR ENGLAND TRIP

• Put your England trip together with our 7 to 10-day itinerary.
• 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.