Exploring the Best Road Trip Destinations in the UK for a Quick Getaway

15th October 2024

A road trip in the UK can provide an enormously diverse range of experiences. Whatever kind of break you’re looking for, the chances are good that there’s a part of the UK that will offer it.

But exactly which destinations are worth considering, if you’re just looking to fill a long weekend? Let’s take a look at a few of the best, and see if we can find the required inspiration.

Planning for the Unexpected

Part of the appeal of a road trip is that it offers a chance for unexpected things to happen. But sometimes, these unexpected developments can also be unwelcome ones. For this reason, it’s worth investing in some protection in the form of temporary car insurance. This form of insurance is extremely flexible, and provides an easy means of sharing the driving workload among your passengers.

Scenic Coastal Drives

Being an island nation, the UK is packed with stunning coastal drives. At the northernmost tip of the mainland is the North Coast 500, which forms a loop around Scotland. Along this route, you’ll find soaring surf-beaten rock formations, distilleries, and winding highland routes.

If you’re based in the south, then a trip along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset might be preferable. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which provides stunning views of the coastline, along with rolling grassland. You can stop along the way and search for fossils, too!

Countryside Retreats

Part of the joy of a road trip is the chance it offers you to head into unfamiliar territory, and to enjoy a sweeping, scenic route through the countryside. Some of the best roads for driving in the UK are to be found in major national parks, like the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. You can plan a series of stops along the way, and enjoy a peaceful break surrounded by incredible scenery.

City-to-City Escapes

Of course, much of the appeal of the UK can be found in major cities, like London, Bath, Edinburgh and Inverness. You might plot a route between two, or more, of these cities, and expose yourself to a different kind of city break on every stop. If you want to pack a varied mixture of history, culture and nightlife into a short trip, then this might be the best way to do it. Just make sure that you pick cities that are reasonably close together.