Let me preface this post by saying you will not be able to spend one week in England and see everything. For a small island, it’s jam-packed with so many beautiful, quaint and unique towns. You could go back multiple times and probably still not see everything!
However, I’ve put together an itinerary that I think takes you to some of the best places the island has to offer. The best part of this itinerary is that I’m forcing you to get outside of London! I find this is one of the biggest mistakes people make when they travel to the U.K., they often stick with the bigger cities and don’t give themselves the opportunity to get outside.
If you’re looking for the best time to travel to England the summer is obviously a great time. Known for its rainy days and moody weather, going in July and August definitely increases your chances for having optimal weather. That being said, we are fans of travelling in the off-season. I find May, June, September and October to be the best months for visiting England. It’s not too hot, the crowds aren’t as large and you can often find better deals.
| Getting around |
Given that England drives on the opposite side of the road than most of the world, it can be a bit more difficult renting a car. Having been back now about 8 times, I have yet to drive. I’m just far too intimidated and nervous about getting in an accident that I would rather take public transport.
The good news is, the public transit system in England is actually quite good. Obviously as you get to the countryside it’s a tad less amazing but for the most part, you can get wherever you want to go without a car.
The one thing you’ll need to remember though is pricing. I find transit to be much more expensive than most other cities. Obviously, everything is more expensive than most other cities but if you’re travelling from place to place, this cost can really add up.
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| Where to go |
London
Okay, you have to visit London on a trip to England. As one of the world’s biggest and most popular cities (and of course one of my favourites) there is so much to see and do. We have put together the perfect walking route of London that will get you to all of the major spots within a day or two.
While the Tube can be slightly intimidating, once you get the hang of it you’ll feel like you can do anything. Plus if you are going to spend only a couple of days in London you’ll need to get around quickly. Try to avoid going on the Tube during rush hour if you’ll be there during the week because let me tell you, that’s like hell on Earth. Quite literally I have never felt my personal space so invaded.
|| Hotels in London ||
Don’t miss | Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s,
Millennial Bridge, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Coventry Garden,
London Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, The Shard, Oxford Street.
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Canterbury | 1 hour 30 minutes
The furthest East this itinerary will have you going is the beautiful town of Canterbury. Of course, it’s famous for the Canterbury Tales, being the headquarters of the Church of England and it’s largely still intact architecture. It’s not too far from the city of London, roughly an hour and a half if you plan on taking the trains.
Once you get to the little town you will be able to walk around very easily. The streets are so small that you’d probably find it too difficult to drive inside the city walls anyways. Canterbury is a Cathedral city and was a pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages. What blew my mind was that it was founded in the year 597 A.D., it’s hard to believe anything from that time period still exists!
The one piece of advice I have is to really explore the Canterbury Cathedral. We were fortunate enough to have had someone who worked there notice that we only viewed the inside of the church. She took us outside to the gardens and gave us a mini tour of the back of the Cathedral. That was the best part. The stained glass windows, the gothic architecture and perfectly manicured gardens were like something I’d never seen.
|| Hotels in Canterbury ||
Don’t miss | Canterbury Cathedral, St. Augustine’s Abbey,
Canterbury Roman Museum, Canterbury Castle, Westgate Gardens.
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Cambridge | 1 hour 20 minutes
Home to the famous Cambridge University, the town is more than just a ‘University town’. Many famous thinkers have roamed the streets in this town including Isaac Newton, Alan Turing, Sylvia Plath, David Attenborough, Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Prince Charles, Arianna Huffington, Emma Thompson and even Sachs Baron Cohen! Who wouldn’t want to visit a town with such a star-studded past?
Similar to Oxford (I’ll get to that in a minute) you can go punting along the river Cam. Punting is similar to gondola rides you see in Venice where someone stands on the back of the boat and guides you along the flowing river. Trust me it sounds easier than it actually is.
A couple of hours is enough to explore the small city but keep in mind you’ll definitely want to stop to take photos as often as you can!
|| Hotels in Cambridge ||
Don’t miss | River Cam, Fitzwilliam Museum, Mathematical Bridge,
Bridge of Sighs, Kings College Chapel, King’s parade, Anglesey Abbey
Oxford | 1 hour 30 minutes
Many people often compare Oxford and Cambridge for being one in the same. For me? If you love smaller towns in England than truly you could never see enough of them. However, if you’re looking to spend more time in one place or another, you could likely choose either Oxford and Cambridge and be okay. I adored Oxford because of its affiliation with the Harry Potter movies (nerd I know).
One thing you also may not know about Oxford is that it’s the birthplace of The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe novels. I dare you to wander the campus and try to find the actual spot. Outside one of the cathedral doors, you’ll find a gargoyle and not too far away, a lamppost. Once you find it you’ll be amazed.
Of all the places I’ve visited in the world, Oxford has become one of my favourites. Although apparently, I have expensive taste because it’s one of the most expensive places in England to live!
Curious about the famous people who have wandered the streets of Oxford? You may recognize some of these names: Hugh Grant, Emma Watson, David Cameron, Bill Clinton, T.S. Eliot, Tony Blair, Dr. Seuss, Rupert Murdoch, Oscar Wilde, Robert Frost and Lester B Pearson (for all of my fellow Canadians).
|| Hotels in Oxford ||
Don’t miss | Bodleian Library, Radcliff Camera, Oxford Castle,
Bridge of Sighs, Carfax Oxford, Divinity School, Christ Church Meadow, Carfax Tower.
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The perfect day trip from London: Oxford
Bath | 2 hours
I’ll admit this is one of the places that I haven’t gotten to but I’m absolutely dying to. Everything about Bath looks incredible, from the architecture to the landscaping. It seems like a complete dream. Located in the countryside of the U.K., it’s actually known for the natural hot springs. As well of course for the Georgian architecture.
While it’s a little further out of the way from London, there’s no doubt it’s worth the trip. As the waters are part of the largest draw, you want to make sure to spend as much time as possible. The Tourism website for Bath is pretty helpful if you’re looking for advice on navigating your time around. They even lay out exactly what trains you need to take to get you there!
|| Hotels in Bath ||
Don’t miss | Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, Thermae Bath Spa, Royal Crescent, Circus.
Cotswolds | 2 hours
Funny enough I actually visited the Cotswolds before I visited London! To this day, it remains one of my favourite places in the world. I’m dying to get back to this stunning area of England. The rolling hills, lush greenery, thatched roofs, quaint pubs and old stone homes make it a must-stop spot.
This is the one time I would say having a car could come in handy. There are a number of smaller towns inside the “Cotswolds” that you will want to explore. During our stay, we bunked in Whitney so that we got easy access to the best spots.
One place you absolutely cannot miss is Arlington Row. It’s actually what brought me to the region in the first place. I saw a picture of the row on Pinterest and sent it Ben saying I just HAD to be there.
You’ll also have to check out the pubs when you’re in the countryside. You won’t find a better spot for a proper pub then outside of the big (or at least bigger) cities!
|| Hotels in Witney ||
Don’t miss | Arlington Row, Warwick castle, Bibury Trout farm (I swear it’s cooler than it sounds),
Blenheim Palce, shopping in Cheltenham, The Porch House, Snowshill Manor.
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| England Essentials |
– The Tube / the Underground: The subway system in London. You can travel by paying as you go with tickets at the station or you can get an Oyster card and load it up so you pay per trip if you plan on visiting for more than a couple of days.
– British Pound: can also be referred to as ‘quid’ (dollar for Canadians and Americans). No matter where you live, the British Pound is worth more than your currency so keep that in mind as you venture around.
– They charge tax before: unlike in America and Canada, the Brits have figured it out and don’t charge you tax before at check out. Whatever the price is that you’re seeing that’s the price you’ll pay.
– No tipping: of course that doesn’t mean don’t tip anywhere but it’s not like in North America where you tip someone for saying good morning. While I’m at it, you also need to get up and get your own drinks when you’re at a bar, they won’t come to you.
Hopefully, that covers everything you’ll want and need to know for your one week in England. Like I said, you won’t see everything but you’ll see a lot with this kickass itinerary. You can thank me later 😛
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