I love traveling by train in Europe. England is no exception to that rule! Though I hear locals complain a lot about the trains, they have nothing to compare against our horrendous lack of real mass transit. I thought I might lay out a trip that makes the most of travel by train. I haven’t done this particular trip before, but if you can, it would be well worth a BritRail pass!
Speaking of BritRail passes, have a look here. Pick the pass that most resembles the trip you’d like to take. You can only purchase these passes prior to your trip overseas. You can purchase online or through a travel agent.
Tip: Make sure the pass is worth the cost! Tally up how much the total trip would cost you if you paid for straight tickets.
Tip: The Rail sites (like this one) will discount tickets at three weeks prior to departure. You may be able to get a vast discount if you can wait for it.
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| Our Sample Itinerary |
London
Of course, almost all trips to the UK begin at Heathrow. I find that staying in London at least one night prior to taking off just to shower, relax, and prepare for the rest of your journey works a treat! If you plan to do more sightseeing in London, then of course, book extra days!
York
From London, I would take the train to York. York is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, in my humble opinion. The York Minster is an architectural delight with the largest collection of medieval stained glass in Europe. The cobblestone streets of York, the Shambles, Betty’s, the Roman Wall, the Castle Museum, and the Viking Museum make it a wonderful place to sightsee.
Knaresborough
From York, I would make the short train jaunt to Knaresborough and would spend a day or two just soaking up the local atmosphere. Knaresborough is home to Knaresborough Castle (a ruin) and probably the most scenic Viaduct in England. The River Nidd is the scene of one of the craziest fundraisers of all time, “The Great Knaresborough Bed Race” which ends in an icy plunge into its waters.
You can also visit the local Market (on Wednesdays), the cave of Mother Shipton (a 16th century witch), and the Petrifying well.
Durham
From Knaresborough, consider taking the rails north to Durham. Durham is yet another city set with a gorgeous viaduct over the River Wear. If you fancy shopping, you are in the right place as there are tons of shops in the center of the city. To get to the Cathedral, Durham has a convenient Cathedral bus.
Durham Cathedral is amazing and contains the remains of the Venerable Bede (one of the most famous chroniclers of English history) as well as relics from St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, and a copy of the Magna Carta!
Edinburgh
From Durham, it’s a short train ride of about two hours to Edinburgh, Scotland. I love this city, but be prepared to walk up and down steeply graded streets! The treasures of this city are so numerous. Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, and for hikers, the treat of a walk up to Arthur’s Seat! Come and stay for a few days exploring this wonderful city.
English Lake District
From Edinburgh, we’ll hop aboard the train once more for a trip to the English Lake District and the town of Windermere. Windermere is extremely crowded, but also very scenic. The Lake District is home to the poet William Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter (of Peter Rabbit fame), and many other famous historical characters. In Windermere, you can take cruises around the lake (Windermere is the largest in the Lake District), shop, walk, and soak up what nature has to offer in England’s northern territory.
Oxford
Passing through the midlands, on to your next destination, Oxford! How can you not fall in love with a town renowned for its educational facilities, its list of academics to include Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, President Clinton, and others… and its links to… Harry Potter! Tour the universities and museums!
Oxford is charming, full of things to do and places to shop. Street musicians play for the crowds and the weekends are full of adventure!
Bath
Leaving Oxford, the train continues southward to the city of Bath. If you love ancient cities with a country air about them, you could do worse than Bath! Of course, one of the main draws to the city is its Roman Baths, but the city itself is so beautiful that it was awarded UNESCO Heritage status! Spend your days shopping, walking, and taking in the air of this unique destination!
Salisbury
Not far from Bath is another amazing city, Salisbury. Today, it’s a bustling hub of business, but it boasts a stunning ancient cathedral that contains another one of four known copies of the Magna Carta. The Cathedral is a 10 minute walk from the train station and sits next to a lovely city center and plenty of shops to keep you busy. Try the Wig and Quill for a nice lunch or the Refectory Restaurant and Bell Tower Tea Rooms in the Cathedral for afternoon tea.
London
Sadly, all trips must end, so we’ll head back to London for a few days of London sightseeing before leaving the country.
I hope you enjoyed our train excursion through Great Britain. There are many more trips to be planned by train, but this example may give you an idea of what’s possible. Add a stay in Wales at the cities of Conwy and Llandudno or toss in a trip to Truro on the “Lizard Peninsula” of Cornwall to soak up the sea air. Perhaps a trip to Portsmouth where you can catch a ferry to the Isle of Wight or a look at the windmills and broads of England’s east country with a trip to Norwich.
Great Britain is your oyster by any means of transportation, but traveling by rail leaves you hands free to enjoy the countryside as you move through the hills, lakes and vistas of this ancient land.