Last summer the #FabFam had a journey to seek some family and personal history in the U.K. This could only be accomplished by taking a two-week road trip around the UK. We began in London, spent the weekend in the countryside in Devon with some good friends, drove through Wales to seek dragons and castles, spent a few days in Liverpool and Manchester, explored the Scottish Highlands (including searching for the mysterious Loch Ness Monster), spent one family-friendly day in Edinburgh, and then came back down the eastern coast to loop back towards London.
Today I am sharing the route and itinerary for a U.K. road trip, including recommendations on where to stay during a UK road trip, the top cities to see when traveling to England, Scotland, and Wales, what we found to be the best places to eat during a road trip through the UK, as well as reviews, recommendations, and tips for the best activities for kids during a family road trip and driving tour through England to Wales and Scotland. You’ll want to pin this post for planning your own UK road trip.
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in London
See more specific reviews and recommendations for London in these posts:
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Arrive in London in the morning (local time)
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Collect rental car (Kia Optima Sportswagon)
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Check-into hotel (two nights):
Westminster Borough, London, W2 4BG, UK
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No parking available
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Complimentary continental breakfast included
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Morning: Misc. London sight-seeing: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge
Obligatory things to do in London with kids: Take a photo with a red phonebooth
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Mid-day: Visit the Tower of London
One of the best things to do with kids in London: Visit The Tower of London
- Afternoon: Kid-friendly Afternoon Tea at The Park Room (Grosvenor
House, 86-90 Park Lane, London, W1K 7TN)
Park Lane at Grosvenor House has one of the most kid-friendly teas in London
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Evening: London Eye Champagne Experience
We recommend the London Eye Champagne Experience. What a fabulous thing to do with kids in London!
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Dinner: Zizzi (several locations)
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 2: London
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Morning: Breakfast at Farm Girl (59A Portobello Rd, London W11 3DB, UK)
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Shopping around Portobello Road and Notting Hill
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Misc. London sight-seeing: Abbey Road
We had to take this pic at Sawyer & Gray in London!
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King’s Cross Station Harry Potter Platform 9 3/4 (free)
Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station is one of the best things to do in London with kids (or heck, even by yourself! Hufflepuff 4 Lyfe!). This is a must-do when you’re planning your UK road trip
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Afternoon sight-seeing: Buckingham Palace
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Hyde Park (Diana Memorial
Playground) -
V&A Museum (free)
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Natural History Museum (free)
The (free) Natural History Museum is one of our top recommendations for things to do in London with kids
The incredible blue whale skeleton at London’s Natural History Museum
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Evening: Visit the world’s largest toy store, Hamley’s
When planning your UK road trip with kids, you must include a visit to Hamleys, the world’s largest toy store
- Dinner: The Diner (several locations)
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 3: Drive to Devon
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Visit Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey!). Make sure you are aware of their closure dates before planning to visit.
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Lunch: The 15th century Castle & Ball Hotel (High St, Marlborough SN8 1LZ, UK)
Meat pie lunch at Castle & Ball in Marlborough
Fish and chips lunch at Castle & Ball
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Drive to Stonehenge for a visit
Stonehenge was a must-do for us when planning our UK road trip
Stonehenge is a must-see during a driving tour of England!
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Drive to Devon
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 4: Devon
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Visit Devon
- Lunch and sight-seeing in the seaside town of Lynmouth
- Afternoon: Cream tea (and the best scones in England with traditional Devonshire clotted cream) at Watersmeet House
What to do during a UK road trip: Cream tea at Watersmeet House in Devonshire
The best scones of my life at Watersmeet House, along with Devonshire clotted cream and cream tea
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 5: Drive to South Wales
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Depart Devon
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Lunch and sight-seeing in Bath
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Drive to Cardiff, misc. sight-seeing: Cardiff Bay Beach (at Roald Dahl Plass). Admission: free (activities extra).
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Check-into hotel (one night):
Kingdom
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Self parking: Complimentary
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Complimentary breakfast included
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Dinner at hotel restaurant
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 6: Wales
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Drive around Wales
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Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths (High Street, Newport NP18 1AE, United Kingdom). Admission: free.
Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths in Wales
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Dryslwyn Castle (B4297, Carmarthen SA32 8JQ, UK). Admission: free.
The ruins of Dryslwyn Castle in Wales. Exploring these ruins was one of our most memorable moments during our UK road trip.
- Drive to the city with the longest name in Europe (and second longest in the world): Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch on the island of Anglesey.
Fun stop during a driving tour through Wales, UK: The city with the longest name in Europe, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
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Drive to Liverpool
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Check-into hotel (three nights):
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Self parking available for a fee
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Complimentary breakfast included
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UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 7: Liverpool
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Morning: Misc. Liverpool sight-seeing
The Maritime Museum in Liverpool is a fun thing to do with kids during a UK road trip
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Evening: Beatles history
When planning a UK road trip, you must check out the Beatles history and memorabilia in Liverpool, England
The Cavern Club in Liverpool is where The Beatles first started to become popular
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Dinner: Hard Days Night Hotel (Central Buildings, North John Street, Liverpool L2 6RR, United Kingdom)
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 8: Manchester
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Manchester sight-seeing
The Museum of Science & Industry is a great sight-seeing option in Manchester during your family’s UK road trip through England
The kids had a great time at the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester
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Old Trafford stadium (mecca for Manchester United fans)
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UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 9: Drive to Scotland
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Depart for Scotland
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Picnic lunch: Lake District National Park
We had a picnic lunch in the Lake District while driving from northern England to Scotland on our UK road trip
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Check-into hotel (one night):
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Self parking: Complimentary
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Complimentary breakfast included
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The kids playing at the Mambeg Country Guest House bed & breakfast in Scotland during our road trip
- Afternoon: Loch Fyne
- Drive by Dunderave Castle (the former castle of Clan MacNaughton)
We had to drive by Dunderave Castle (the former castle of Clan MacNaughton – my husband’s family ancestor’s clan) in Loch Fyne in Scotland on our road trip
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Dinner: Cairndow Stagecoach Inn (Cairndow PA26 8BN, UK)
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Sampling the local ale at Cairndow Stagecoach Inn on Loch Fyne in Scotland
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 10: Drive to the Highlands of Scotland
Full Scotch breakfast at Mambeg Country Guest House
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Depart for Inverness
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Drive by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
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Visit Loch Ness
Hunting for Nessie at Loch Ness
Scotland road trip itinerary: Loch Ness
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Depart for Aviemore
The beautiful Scottish Highlands
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Check-into hotel (one night):
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Hilton Coylumbridge– the most family-friendly hotel I have ever stayed!
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Self parking: Complimentary
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Complimentary dinner and breakfast included
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UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 11: The Highlands of Scotland
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Explore the Highlands, driving the Old Military Road through Cairngorms National Park
Outlander fans can appreciate these standing stones at Cairngorms National Park during our driving tour of Scotland’s Highlands
Scotch thistle photographed in Cairngorms National Park in Scotland’s Highlands
The Scottish Highlands is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen
Scenic views on Old Military Road for a driving tour of Scotland
A magical moment: We saw this complete, perfect rainbow during our road trip through Scotland’s Highlands
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Drive to Edinburgh
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Dinner: The Scran & Scallie (1 Comely Bank Rd, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH4 1DT, UK)
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Evening: Visit the dungeon or do a ghost tour (if your kids are old enough)
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Check-into hotel (one night):
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Self parking: Complimentary
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Complimentary breakfast included
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UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 12: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Morning: Misc. Edinburgh sight-seeing
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Lunch: La Favorita (331-325 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 8SA, UK)
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Afternoon: Edinburgh Castle
We recommend seeing Edinburgh Castle during a UK road trip through Scotland
Add a visit to Edinburgh Castle to your Scotland road trip itinerary
- Depart for York
- Misc. York sight-seeing
Clifford’s Tower in York
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Dinner: The York Roast Co. (several locations). I had to have Yorkshire pudding while in York!
Yorkshire Pudding at York Roast Co.
- Check-into hotel (one night):
1 Tower Street, York Y01 9WD, United Kingdom
T: +44-1904-648 111
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- Self parking available for a fee
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 13: Peak District
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Drive to Peak District
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Stanage Edge (Derbyshire / South Yorkshire) – have your own Elizabeth Bennet moment and take in an unbelievable view
A highlight of our UK road trip: Standing where Elizabeth Bennet stood in Pride & Prejudice at Stanage Edge in the Peak District
The view from Stanage Edge in Derbyshire, England
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Chatsworth House (aka Pemberley for you Pride & Prejudice fans)
Chatsworth House was the filming location for Pemberley in Pride & Prejudice. As a big P&P fan, I had to see this during our UK road trip
If you’re planning a UK road trip with your family, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is a great place to visit with kids
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Drive to Cambridge, visit campus
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Drive to Thetford
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Check-into hotel (one night):
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The Crown Hotel(circa 1650)
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Self parking: Complimentary
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Complimentary breakfast included
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The Crown Hotel (circa 1650) is a great place to stay in Thetford on your UK road trip
UK Road Trip Itinerary Day 14: Return to London
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Visit Lakenheath, Suffolk, and surrounding area (I was born and lived in this area)
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Drive back to London
Related Posts:
- Connecting with my family and personal history in the U.K.
- A Romantic Long Weekend in London
- Fabulous Things to Do in London with Kids
- A Weekend in Devon, England
- One-Day Road Trip Through Wales – Seeking Ancient Ruins, Dragons, and Castles
- What to Do in Liverpool and Manchester with Kids
- Discovering the Beauty of Scotland’s Highlands
- Family Travel Bucket List: Hunting for the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland
- Family-Friendly Edinburgh
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Sophie Taylor says
Last month, my friend and I visited Scotland. We're very satisfied with the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable, fun and experienced. We really do get the best of Scotland, Isle of Skye in last 3 days. Hopefully to visit again. Thanks for sharing such a great post. ~ Sophie Taylor
Zu says
Hi,
Your trip is currently is my main reference for my UK road trip.
btw, any reason why you didn’t go to durdle door as well The Minack Theatre.
TQ
Ramona Cruz-Peters says
Thank you! No reason we didn’t visit those two aside from time. We sometimes spent extra time in different spots and then wouldn’t be able to make it to the next place.
Leesa R Edwards says
This trip looks amazing, and I want to base my trip on it. Is it terribly rude to ask an estimate of the cost of the trip?
Ramona Cruz-Peters says
Hi Leesa! It’s not rude, I am sure it’s helpful info for planning purposes. I don’t have the total cost handy, but the round-trip flights to London were just under $3500 total for 4 people, then you’ll need to factor in hotel costs for the amount of days you’re spending, and same with the number of days for a rental car (plus petrol). For food, we try to find hotels that include complimentary breakfast to save on some of the cost of meals. We also did a picnic one day for lunch which was reasonable. London was the most expensive part of the trip, but note that there are free things to do there (Platform 9 3/4 is free, the museums are free).
Beth Taylor says
Thanks for the great info! Where did you park the rental car during your first few nights in London?
Ramona Cruz-Peters says
Great question! We street parked where we could or used parking structures if available, but in hindsight I would actually not get the car until leaving London for the rest of the road trip and instead Uber around while in town. We ended up with at least one ticket as it wasn’t easy to drive or park in town. Since this trip we’ve done similar road trips in France and Ireland, and for both of those trips we ended up not using a car in Paris or Dublin respectively, and just picked up the rental cars on our way out of town.