In April, I took my mom on one of our yearly Mother’s Day trips, this year was the best UK road trips! We’ve done Napa, Quebec, and more but this year decided to take a road trip from London to Edinburgh and see different spots in London that have been on our bucket list. I documented our road trip and today I’m sharing our road trip itinerary with you in case you want to make the trip for yourself!
Best UK Road Trips: From London to Edinburgh in 7 days
Before You Go…
As of 2025, certain individuals and groups must apply for a visa you have to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before you go to the UK. You need to download the app, and put in your passport, email address and credit card. You also need to state your purpose of visit.
This helps immigration enhance border security by verifying the legitimacy and suitability of travelers before they arrive. This is designed for short-term visits under six months and costs $13.
Getting Around
I picked up a car at Heathrow and drove into London. I do not recommend it. Although I got the hang of driving on the wrong side of the car and road, driving in London is so stressful. If I had to do it again I’d get the car after being in London and do the road trip from there. Once you get out of the city it’s easier to drive without the stress of traffic.
I used Discover Cars to get the rental and it contracted through Drivalia. It was honestly a nightmare working with them since they put a $2000 deposit hold on a credit card and you have to have their insurance to rent a car. This ended up doubling the price of the rental and when I had a hit and run take out the cars side mirror, I was stuck between Discover Cars and Drivalia and never got my money back for the damages. I’d take out the middle man and book directly through a rental company at the airport.
Now, with all the technical things out of the way, onto the itinerary!
Day 1: Arrive in London (Best UK Road Trips)
Lucky for us, Nashville has a direct flight from our airport (BNA) to Heathrow on British Airways. The flight is overnight and left at 9:30 p.m. CT and we landed in Heathrow at 11 a.m. We were able to get our rental car and drive the hour and a half from Heathrow to London.
Check In: We stayed at the Doubletree Hotel near the Tower of London. This hotel is currently undergoing rennovations but we were still able to grab coffee and pastries in the lobby as well as cocktails and light bites at Savage Garden.
Since we slept on the flight, we didn’t feel too jet lagged and hit the ground running.
Mid Morning:
- Buckingham Palace & St. James’s Park – Watch the Changing of the Guard and take a walk through the park. (Get tickets beforehand for the palace)
- Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason – Treat yourselves to an elegant afternoon tea in their Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. Make reservations in advance, dress up and do some shopping in the store afterwards.
Afternoon:
- Shopping on Regent Street, Oxford Street & Bond Street – Explore Liberty, Selfridges, or pop into Karen Millen for a try-on.
- Covent Garden – Watch street performers, shop boutiques, and maybe stop for a drink at The Escapologist. One of my absolute favorite spots in London!
Evening:
- Dinner at Sketch (Mayfair) – Go for the pink room for the full girls’ night vibe (and those iconic bathrooms).
- Optional: West End Show – Book something lighthearted like Mamma Mia! or & Juliet. We saw Hamilton and it was magical!
Day 2: Explore London (Best UK Road Trips)
Morning:
- Brunch at The Ivy Tower Bridge – Delicious food with a view of the Thames.
- Tower of London & Tower Bridge Walk – Dive into some history together and enjoy the views. We got tickets in advance and loved taking our time walking the property.
Afternoon:
- Thames River Cruise to Westminster – A relaxing way to see the city.
- Explore Westminster – See Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and take photos near the London Eye.
- Tea break at Peggy Porschen – Picture-perfect cakes and floral pink vibes.
Evening:
- Sunset Drinks at Savage Garden – Breathtaking views to toast your trip.
- Dinner at Dishoom (Covent Garden or Kensington) – End with comfort food in a beautifully styled spot.
Day 3: Checkout and drive from London to Highclere (1 hr. 42 min/65 miles) (Best UK Road Trips)
Late Morning: Explore Highclere Castle
Highclere was on my mom’s bucket list and lucky for us they weren’t filming. I recommend getting tickets in advance to make sure you get in!
- Castle Tour: Visit the grand rooms featured in Downton Abbey.
- Egyptian Exhibition: Learn about the discovery of King Tut’s tomb.
- Gardens & Grounds: Enjoy a scenic walk.
Lunch: Highclere or Nearby
- Tearoom at Highclere: Light lunch or traditional afternoon tea.
- The Carnarvon Arms (5 min drive): A cozy pub for British classics.
Afternoon: Village Exploration & Check-in
- Explore Newbury: Stroll through this historic market town.
- Visit Donnington Castle: 14th-century ruins with great views.
- Check into a Charming Hotel or Inn:
- The Vineyard at Stockcross (Luxury wine hotel & spa)
- The Pheasant Inn (Charming countryside stay)
- The Carnarvon Arms (Cozy and close to Highclere)
- The Jack Russell Inn. We stayed here and it was such a charming in for dog lovers. We stayed in the “Chihuahua” room and LOVED it. See my full room tour here. We also stayed here for dinner and had the best burger of my life. This is such a charming place and would have loved to get married here back in the day.
Evening: Dinner & Relaxation
- Classic Pub Dinner at The Pheasant Inn
- Relax and enjoy a countryside evening.
Day 4: Highclere to Stratford-Upon-Avon (1 hour and 24 minutes) (Best UK Road Trips)
- Depart from Highclere after breakfast.
- Drive through the Cotswolds, stopping in Bibury or Stow-on-the-Wold for a quick stroll and coffee.
Midday: Arrive in Stratford-upon-Avon
- Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace or Anne Hathaway’s Cottage for a cultural touch.
- Walk along the River Avon, enjoying the scenic town.
- Lunch at The Opposition (classic British fare with a view) and also the best burger I have ever had in my life.
- Walk in the town and pop in and out of the shops.
Afternoon:
- Relax at a riverside café or take a boat ride on the River Avon.
Evening:
- Dinner at The Woodsman (locally sourced fine dining).
- Stay at Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon or The Arden Hotel. We stayed at Hotel Indigo and the hotel had a great bar and restaurant for dinner!
Day 5: Stratford-upon-Avon → York (2 hr 45 min) (Best of UK Road Trips)
Morning:
- Depart Stratford and drive to York with an optional stop in Nottingham for a historical break.
Midday: Arrive in York
- Visit York Minster, one of England’s most stunning cathedrals.
- Lunch at Skosh (modern British cuisine) or Bettys Café Tea Rooms for a classic experience.
Afternoon:
- Walk along the City Walls for panoramic views.
- Visit Treasurer’s House (beautiful interiors and gardens).
Evening:
- Dinner at The Star Inn the City (riverside dining).
- Stay at The Grand, York, Hotel Indigo York or Grays Court Hotel.
Day 6: York → Northumberland → Edinburgh (4 hr total) (Best UK Road Trips)
Morning: Drive to Northumberland (2 hr)
- Stop at Alnwick Castle & Gardens (stunning architecture & beautiful formal gardens).
- Or visit Bamburgh Castle, a striking coastal fortress with spectacular views.
Midday: Coastal Lunch
- Potted Lobster in Bamburgh (great seafood) or The Running Fox (cozy countryside café).
Afternoon: Drive to Edinburgh (2 hr)
- Enjoy a scenic drive along the Northumberland Coast.
- A quick stop at Berwick-upon-Tweed for charming riverside views.
Evening: Arrive in Edinburgh
- Check-in at Righ Properties.
Righ Properties is a luxury hotel and serviced apartment in the heart of the New City in Edinburgh. This was the perfect location for anything you want to do in Edinburgh and a short walk away from Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace and more.
We stayed in the Penthouse that had two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, living room, full kitchen, sitting area and balconies with breathtaking views of Edinburgh. They literally thought of everything when it came to the guests comfort and provide anything you need from robes, slippers, cups, mugs, water and milk for the espresso machine. We loved the space to much that we would head back to the hotel early to spend time reading on the patio overlooking Edinburgh Castle, soaking in the large tub in the master bedroom, or watching TV by the fireplace in the living room. We felt like Queens in the castle over looking the city!
They also have a lounge off the lobby where you can grab coffee and pastries or have a meeting if you need to do some work in the area.
Day 7: Explore Edinburgh (Best UK Road Trips)
Morning:
- Visit Edinburgh Castle for city views and Scottish history.
- Walk the Royal Mile, stopping at boutique shops and historical sites.
Midday:
- Lunch at Dishoom or The Scotch Whisky Experience (if you enjoy whisky pairings).
- Visit Holyrood Palace and its gardens.
Afternoon & Evening:
- Relax with tea at The Signet Library or take a leisurely stroll through Dean Village.
- Wrap up your trip with dinner at Timberyard or The Kitchin.
We had an amazing time on our road trip and wished we could have kept driving and seen more of Wales and Scotland. Traveling home from Edinburgh was pretty simple. We flew from Edinburgh into Dublin and lucky for us got to hop on the new nonstop flight from Aer Lingus. The route took us directly to Nashville ad got home around 5 p.m. so we could go home, unpack and try to conquer the jet lag.
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