London skyline

Highlights of England

View Photos

View Map

On this page:

Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

11 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £2150 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

City of London

Endless attractions are on offer in England’s wonderful capital city. Visit iconic sites such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey and drink in this epicentre of British culture.

Oxford

Grand and historic, the unique academic ambience of Oxford, boasts the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

Visitors can explore famous colleges such as Magdalen College, Christchurch College and New College Hall, along with the magnificent Bodleian Library.

Historic York

Charming York is one of the most picturesque cities in England. Experience York’s ancient history including Roman ruins, medieval city walls and the remains of a Viking city under its very streets.

Lake District

The Lake District is England’s mountain country and a paradise for walkers. Climb Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, or explore one of the several lakes on a cruise – the most famous being Lake Windermere.

Bath

As the name suggests, Bath is home to a wealth of ancient Roman baths as well as Britain’s only natural bathing, thermal, hot springs.

The vibrant city also boasts a wide range of great places to eat and drink, as well as an impressive collection of museums.

Cotswolds

Explore England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty stretching over 6 counties. The Cotswolds is home to delightfully picturesque villages with quaint stone cottages and medieval churches, surrounded by peaceful rolling landscapes.

A Magnificent Self-Drive Tour of the Highlights of England

On this memorable self-drive tour you will travel through some of the most beautiful scenery and cityscapes which England has to offer.

This is a fantastic introduction to the country’s most iconic cities including London, Oxford and York, as well as the stunning countryside through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the Cotswolds.

Begin your holiday in the iconic city of London, a buzzing, energetic mecca of different cultures, attractions, sights and sounds and the perfect location from which to begin a tour of England. You could visit historic landmarks such as the Tower of London or St Paul’s Cathedral, watch the guards change at Buckingham Palace or take a cruise along the winding River Thames.

Onwards to another renowned city, Oxford offers a wealth of sightseeing options. Hop on and hop off a City Sightseeing Bus Tour and explore the Bodleian Library, the Radcliffe Camera or the various university colleges. From South to North, you will then travel through the heart of England to the picturesque and historic city of York, with a mixture of Roman, Viking and English influences. You can walk the most intact city walls in England, with sections dating back to the Roman period, gaze at the marvel of York Minster cathedral and explore the Jorvik Viking Centre.

Travelling through the Yorkshire Dales you will arrive in the Lake District National Park, England’s mountain country and home to Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. Hear about the literary greats who were inspired by the Lakes. With fells to explore, several lakes to cross and slate mines to descend, this is an explorer’s paradise.

The final stop of your tour takes you back South to the city of Bath, known for its Roman-built baths and stunning Georgian architecture. Bath sits on the edge of the Cotswolds, home to cookie-cutter villages and beautiful landscapes – this is quintessential England at its very best.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Day 1: Arrive in London

Relax and enjoy your first evening in England’s wonderful capital city. You will be spoilt for choice for dinner tonight. London has an incredible restaurant scene with choices from every cuisine in the world and more than 50 Michelin starred restaurants.
Overnight – London

Day 2: London Sightseeing

Today you could choose to take a sightseeing tour in order to get acquainted with this vast city and all the attractions it has to offer. Learn about the history of London with a visit to the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey or explore one of the many museums and art galleries.
Overnight – London

Day 3: London Sightseeing

For a more extensive view of this renowned capital, take a cruise along the River Thames, a circuit on the London Eye or a trip up the dizzying heights of the Shard, to enjoy stunning views of London’s well-known skyline. Perhaps, finish with tickets to a show in London’s iconic West End.
Overnight – London

Day 4: London to Oxford

Leaving the capital behind you will head for Oxford. Named ‘the city of dreaming spires’ by poet Matthew Arnold, Oxford has a unique atmosphere which has inspired many academics. There are plenty of sights to enjoy, including Magdalen College or Christchurch College, or just soak up the relaxing atmosphere on the banks of the River Thames.
Overnight – Oxford

Day 5: Oxford Sightseeing

Spend the day exploring Oxford. You may wish to visit the numerous Harry Potter locations throughout the city, lose yourself in the magnificent Bodleian Library, or discover the historic covered market.
Overnight – Oxford

Day 6: Oxford to York

You will head north today as you travel to the ancient city of York. On the way, you could make a slight detour to the delightful town of Stratford-Upon-Avon – the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

Celebrate your arrival in York by enjoying one of the many delicious restaurants in the city or visiting its characterful pubs.
Overnight – York

Day 7: York Sightseeing

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in York and visit the magnificent York Minster cathedral, walk the surrounding medieval city walls, stroll through the famous winding streets, or step back in time at the Jorvik Viking Centre.
Overnight – York

Day 8: York to Lake District

Travel through one national park to visit another today as you drive from the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the Lake District.

This is some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK. The Lake District is “Mountain Country” and offers fantastic opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature.
Overnight – Lake District

Day 9: Lake District Sightseeing

Explore all that the Lake District has to offer. Climb England’s highest mountain or take a cruise on Lake Windermere, walk amongst stunning fell mountain scenery or learn about the many famous literary figures who were inspired by the Lakes.
Overnight – Lake District

Day 10: Lake District to Bath

You will head towards the final stop on your itinerary, the beautiful city of Bath. On the way, you could detour via the picture-perfect Cotswolds.
Overnight – Bath

Day 11: Bath Sightseeing

Lounge your last day away in one of the many baths in the city, or head back into the southern Cotswolds – more quaint villages, patchwork fields and sightseeing opportunities await. Alternatively, join a walking tour of Bath and be awed by the city’s incredible Neoclassical architecture.
Overnight – Bath

Day 12: Bath to London and depart

After breakfast, it’s approximately 2 hours drive back to London, where your unforgettable tour of the Highlights of England will come to an end.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 11 nights including traditional English breakfast
Comprehensive information pack
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of England with our recommended driving route
9 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
London Pass which includes a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and free entry to the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and over 80 other attractions
Tickets for the Oxford City Sightseeing Tour
York Pass which includes a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and free entry to York Minster, Jorvik Viking Centre and many more attractions
Tickets for the Bath City Sightseeing Tour
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

How do our Self-Drive Holidays Work?

Since 2004, we've led the way in planning remarkable road trips in the UK. Like a perfectly tailored suit, each itinerary is crafted around you. Learn more about us and our self-drive holidays in our new guide. Read more

Touring the Highlights of England by Car

Our Highlights of England itinerary combines England's iconic cities and its stunning countryside. Our Travel Specialist, Jack, recently embarked on an English road trip. Read on to discover his top recommendations. Read more

The 16 Most Picturesque Villages in England

To celebrate the launch of our wonderful new self-drive holidays in England, we're shining the spotlight on England's picture-postcard villages ... Read more