Historic villages, rolling green meadows and charismatic cities; the best attractions in England are diverse. If you’re planning a trip to see more of the country, you might be wondering exactly how to put together a full itinerary for a week in England.
In this article, guest blogger Claire will show you the highlights – the best places to visit if you have seven days in England!
Let’s hand over to Claire…
I’m an England local, and I’ve spent my life travelling up and down the country. So I know all of the best places to visit in England, and exactly what to do while you’re here!
One of my top tips is – don’t spend too long in London. It’s a great city, but there’s so much more to see in England!
If you only have one week in the country, you can see a lot of London in a jam-packed day, and then move on to some other British destinations.
Here’s all you need to know about visiting England!
7 days in England itinerary
What’s in this England travel guide?
When to visit England
The beauty of this England itinerary is that it works whatever the season!
England is at its best during the summer, but the weather is never really reliable here; even in the warmest months of July and August, you’ll still find rainy days and mild weather.
That being said, in the summer we have long days and generally warmer weather – it can be as low as 15°C or as high as 35°C (it even got up to 40°C in London last summer!).
So usually it’s not too hot to explore, although we do have the odd day when you’ll just want to laze in the sun and do nothing.
Tip: if it’s forecasted to be this hot while you’re here, schedule some time to bask on the best beaches in Cornwall – although expect there to be crowds!
Another perk of visiting in the summer months is that you have much longer days, with the sun not setting until 9pm in June.
In Spring, you’ll find lots of beautiful flowers and witness the days getting gradually longer, and in Autumn, there are incredible colours as the leaves turn orange, yellow and red.
There are quite a few places to visit in England in winter; while the weather is colder and the days are shorter, England’s attractions are adapted to cooler, wetter weather anyway!
Christmas is a particularly jolly time of year to visit the country and in January and February, rates for hotels are cheaper.
Tours and activities: Get Your Guide
Accommodation: booking.com
Car hire: TravelSupermarket.
See all of my recommended travel resources.
How to get around England
This England itinerary is technically completely manageable by public transport, but I would recommend hiring a car via TravelSupermarket if possible.
Having your own vehicle will make it easy to hop from location to location, and you can do stop-offs at smaller destinations that catch your eye (Cornwall is renowned for having so many amazing attractions that are just a little too far outside of public transport routes!).
Plus, taking the trains around England can actually add up to be very expensive.
Generally, driving in England is safe (although remember we drive on the left here!); just be mindful about driving around 5:00pm each day, as rush hour traffic can be substantial.
If you’re on a super tight budget, it’s worth looking into travelling via MegaBus. The journey times are typically long, but it’s probably the cheapest way to get around England if you don’t drive.
Day One: London
Being the capital of England, London is typically the place you’ll land if you fly into England to kick off your tour of the country.
I only recommend spending one day in London on this itinerary; it’s a fantastic city, and you could spend weeks exploring every corner – but if you only have one week in England, you need to remember that there’s so much more to see!
On your day in London, I’d recommend ticking off the following attractions:
2. Guard Change at Buckingham Palace
3. Lunch in Camden, Spitalfields or Leadenhall Market
4. Tower Bridge
7. Dinner at Mildred’s (vegetarian food), Caphe House (an incredible Vietnamese restaurant) or The Sun Camberwell (a traditional British pub)
1. Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour from London – book here
2.: Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise – book here
3. Full-Day Windsor, Stonehenge, and Oxford Tour (a good option for a day trip from London, if you’ve already ‘done’ the city – book here
All of the above tours and activities can be booked with the option to cancel 24 hours in advance and receive a full refund.
Alternatively, book a one-day DIY tour of London using the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus.
Day Two: Bath and Bristol
For the next day, head to Bath and Bristol! Two vibrant cities in the South West, Bath and Bristol have culture, street art and delicious food on offer.
Start your day in the city of Bath, where you can take in the Roman Baths (this 90-minute walking tour will allow you to see the highlights and includes your entry ticket to the Baths), Bath Abbey and Georgian architecture like the Crescent and Circus.
Then, either drive or hop on a quick (ten-minute) train to Bristol, where you can climb on board the SS Great Britain, cross the Clifton Suspension Bridge to take in views of Avon Gorge and check out the street art of places like Stokes Croft and Southville.
For dinner in Bristol, head to Chilli Daddies for authentic Szechuan hotpot, Cargo Cantina for delicious Mexican cuisine or FISH restaurant for – you guessed it – seafood!
Day Three: Dartmoor and Cornwall
Once you’ve enjoyed some of the South West’s best cities, it’s time to engage in its nature! Devon and Cornwall are known for having some of the wildest, most dramatic landscapes in England.
Your first stop should be Dartmoor. This is England’s largest national park, and it’s famous for its jagged tors with epic views from the top, ancient sites like Grimspound, temperate rainforest and beautiful waterfalls, such as Becky Falls.
It’s the perfect place for a hike and to break up a long drive down to Cornwall. My favourite places on Dartmoor are Wistman’s Wood and Lydford Gorge.
Then, head down to Cornwall! This is the southwestern part of England; a peninsula that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Cornwall has a distinct culture and heritage, and even its own language, thanks to the fact that it was very isolated for centuries.
There are so many incredible things to do in Cornwall, but I’d recommend sticking to the eastern part of the region for this trip (it can take a while to drive all the way down to the west!).
Depending on your tastes, you might want to walk through a rainforest at the Eden Project, learn about ancient history at Tintagel Castle (allegedly where King Arthur was born!), go surfing in Bude or admire the quaint fishing village of Polperro.
I wouldn’t recommend driving any further than Newquay; in fact, the Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa is the perfect place to stay in! Alternatively, check out this list of the best areas to stay in Cornwall.
Day Four: Cornwall
Spend the next day on your itinerary focused on exploring Cornwall!
If you’ve stayed in Newquay, you could spend some time exploring the town’s best beaches.
Enjoy the gorgeous Towan Beach, famous for its rocky outcrop that sits next to the cliffs, or take a walk on the South West Coast Path to see the bright blue waters of Watergate Bay, a hotspot for surfing.
Alternatively, if you want a surfing beach closer to town, Fistral Beach has extensive sands and huge waves!
It’s a four-hour drive from Newquay to the Cotswolds, so you could visit some more spots in East Cornwall on the drive.
If you haven’t already seen them, head to Bodmin Jail, check out the moor for its hiking or head to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, fascinating gardens that were quite literally “lost” after World War One and then rediscovered in 1990.
Drive up to Bibury, where I recommend staying at The Swan Hotel.
Day Five: Cotswolds
Begin your day in the Cotswolds in Bibury. Explore the 14th-century Arlington Row, the impressive Arlington Mill and take in picturesque vistas of the River Coln.
Then, visit Bourton-on-the-Water, a picturesque village known as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” because of its series of small bridges over the River Windrush.
Next on your Cotswold road trip is Stow-on-the-Wold, a charming market town with a historic square and St. Edward’s Church, which is renowned for its fairytale-like look.
Then, head to Upper and Lower Slaughter, where you can see more adorable houses and visit the Old Mill Museum.
The Slaughters Inn is the perfect place for dinner, with hearty meals made from local ingredients.
Day Six: Manchester and Liverpool
You’ve spent a while in nature on this England itinerary, so now it’s time to see some of England’s best cities!
It’s well worth spending a day seeing the urban highlights of Manchester and Liverpool, two of the most exciting cities in the north of England.
Start your day in Manchester by visiting the trendy urban quarter. This part of the city is lined with independent shops, street art murals and boutique cafes.
Depending on your interests, you could visit one of the Manchester stadiums (either Old Trafford or Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City play!), head to the North Imperial War Museum or see the People’s History Museum.
For lunch in Manchester, there’s nowhere better than the Curry Mile, particularly Mughli which dates back to 1940.
Then, head to Liverpool – famous for being home of the Beatles! The Beatles Story and Beatles Museum both tell the tale of the iconic pop band.
Finish your day with a cruise on the River Mersey, where you can take in the skyline of Liverpool.
There are plenty of excellent places to eat in Liverpool – to catch a view of the city, Panoramic 34 is a rooftop restaurant serving delicious dishes and plenty of drinks!
Day Seven: Lake District
One day isn’t enough to explore all of the best places to go in Lake District, but as long as you head here early, you can certainly pack in as much as possible!
Read next: Tips for visiting the Lake District
Once you arrive in the national park, visit Lake Windermere, which is the largest natural lake in England. You can do the four-mile West Shore Walk to take in its most beautiful scenery.
It’s also worth hiking up Orrest Head, which is 240 metres high and takes around an hour and 20 minutes to walk up and down.
Afterwards, drive to Ambleside, a picturesque town located at the northern tip of Lake Windermere. Stroll through the streets lined with quaint shops and cafes, and enjoy a cup of tea with a view of the hills.
Next, head to Rydal Water, a serene lake that’s home to Rydal Cave, a manmade cavern that’s perfect for exploring.
In the afternoon, visit Wordsworth Grasmere, the former home of the famous English poet William Wordsworth, now home to a museum, gardens and a tea room.
The Albert gastropub is worth visiting for dinner, and depending on when you need to leave the country, you could stay in the Lake District for a night. I recommend Linthwaite House Hotel in Bowness-on-Windemere.
What to pack for your England trip
Along with the items that you’ll pack for any temperate-weather trip, here’s a list of specific things to remember for your trip:
Adapter: England uses a different type of plug to the U.S, the E.U, Australia and most other countries – so pack a multi-country adapter!
Comfortable walking shoes: Hikes feature throughout this itinerary, so be sure to pack comfortable (and waterproof!) walking shoes.
Rain gear: You might have heard that England has a tendency to be a little rainy – so pack a waterproof jacket or umbrella!
Layers: It’s best to wear layers that you can add or remove, as our weather can be very unpredictable!
Read next: What to pack for a UK road trip
Tips for visiting England
As a local, here are my top tips for visiting England!
Keep an eye on the weather
The weather can be vastly different; it can drop ten (or more) degrees in just 24 hours! So it’s best to keep an eye on the weather forecast before your trip there.
Depending on the season, you might want to pack shorts, t-shirts and rain jackets and longer trousers!
Also, make sure you’re never too far away from an umbrella – rain can come at any time!
Check the opening times
Some attractions, especially in rural areas, have limited opening times, particularly in the winter months. So be sure to know exactly when the places that you want to visit open and close!
Avoid driving during rush hour
As England is quite a densely populated country, traffic can be a problem! I’d recommend avoiding driving during rush hour; personally, I make my longer trips quite late at night to avoid getting caught in motorway traffic.
Shop at the supermarkets (and eat meal deals)
If you want to save some money while you’re in England, go supermarket shopping! You can purchase items to make a sandwich here, or if you are staying somewhere with cooking facilities it’s easy to whip up a hot meal. Or, for lunch, you can purchase a meal deal, which includes sandwiches, a snack and a drink for around £3.50. Us Brits live on them!
Are you ready to spend a week in England?
With gorgeous countryside, historical cities that pulsate with culture and one historic village after another, there’s so much to enjoy on this England itinerary. I hope that it’s encouraged you to get out of London and see some more of this beautiful, charismatic land on your next trip here!
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