Plan your road trip on The Great West Way
In late 2018, The Great West Way was launched; a new tourist route between London and Bristol that should ensure tourism spreads. A relief from busy London and, at the same time, a chance for travellers to experience more of England. Because with The Great West Way, it is easier than ever to discover the beautiful and diverse West. Choose whether to start your journey in London or Bristol. I chose the latter, where you can book a flight to Bristol cheaply with Easyjet from Schiphol Airport and back from London. Once there, you can rent a car, or bring your own from the Netherlands by taking the ferry. A road trip along The Great West Way by car gives you the most freedom to explore the region, but the route is also great to travel by public transport. In that case, buy the special Great West Way Discoverer Pass that allows you to use trains and buses all along the route.
I covered the route in four days and by no means got to see everything. I share the best places I visited as well as my personal recommendations. On The Great West Way website you will find a much more complete overview of all the sights along the way. So you can easily map out your own route based on your interests. You will also find all practical information about a road trip on The Great West Way with various means of transport.
My starting point: artistic Bristol
A city that was completely off my radar. And now I have no idea why. Bristol was perhaps the biggest surprise on my road trip across The Great West Way. A city that, in my opinion, is real city trip material and where you can definitely spend a few days. I stayed just one day in this artistic and quirky city and was immediately convinced. Not to be missed is the many street art you come across in the city. Bristol is the city where Banksy is from; the famous but anonymous street art artist you will learn all about on a street art tour Bristol with Where the Wall. Of course, you can also go in search of his artworks yourself; I can tell you it will take you to special places!
Bristol is a young and vibrant city full of cosy streets. The best area is right in the city centre, where you stroll down the Christmas Steps to alleys full of pubs and cafés until you reach the covered St Nicolas Market on Corn Street. From Monday to Saturday, you can shop here at the many stalls and enjoy good food and drinks. Every day of the week you will find an additional market here, such as a street food or flea market. Visit the Visit Bristol website for more info!
Last but not least: walk to the Bristol City Docks! What was once a derelict and abandoned dock area has now been transformed into a creative hub reminiscent of our Amsterdam NDSM. You'll find quirky boutiques or cafés in old shipping containers, and the ferry makes it easy to move between the port and the city centre. Take note: you will also find a Banksy with a Dutch touch in this area....
History and nature in Bath
From Bristol, both by car and train, you can be in the completely different world of Bath in no time. The city centre is a photogenic collection of Roman architecture, while the city is surrounded by nothing but nature. A golden combo! Be sure to visit the famous Roman Baths, climb the tower of Bath Abbey for an insane view and stroll across the extraordinary Pulteney Bridge that houses small shops. My advice is to set aside a whole day for this extraordinarily beautiful city and then head out into nature the next day. For instance, I opted for a bicycle tour in Bath where guide Darroch showed you the best of the city and its surroundings. You cycle through parks, along canals and if you have more time than I had, you also trek into the surrounding hills. A beautiful green area!
Instead of a road trip along The Great West Way, you can also choose to cover the route by bike by bikepacking along the National Cycle Route 4. The route is well-marked, you can do it entirely at your own pace and also alternate with the train!
The Cotswolds with idyllic villages like Castle Combe
At this point of your road trip along The Great West Way, things really get fun for lovers of rural England as well as Harry Potter fans. To really explore the Cotswolds, a car (or bike!) is a must. With that, travel at your leisure through this green hilly area that houses some of England's prettiest villages as well as beautiful countryside. Along fields full of wild flowers, I drove to the world-famous Castle Combe. Don't expect a castle here, just a tiny village that looks like a movie set. It's obviously not, and the locals will curse the busloads of tourists many days of the year but on the day I'm there, the village is quiet, I take endless photos and admire the cosy cottages.
Don't make your visit to this English icon a quick photo stop and order a beer in the local pub or really make it a special visit and book a place at The Old Rectory Tearoom. Mike and Anna welcome you to their cosy home for an upmarket British afternoon tea. The Cotswolds is home to other pretty villages, such as Painswick and Dursley, and the area is of course perfect for a nice walk on one of the many marked trails.
♡ More tips for city break destinations in the rest of the country? We selected the best cities in northern England!
Harry Potter scenes in Lacock
Another village that belongs on your itinerary in the Cotswolds is Lacock. Not only because of the picturesque streets in the village itself, but also because of the nearby abbey and the story behind it. This is where the world's very first photograph was taken, which you can find out all about at the Fox Talbot Museum. On the grounds, you'll also find Lacock Abbey; the abbey where the family lived, dating back to the 13th century. You can admire the beautiful abbey inside and for Harry Potter fans it will be a feast of recognition. In fact, several rooms have been used as film sets. Afterwards, take a stroll through the village itself; do any of the houses look familiar?
Once you've immersed yourself in the magic of Lacock, you might feel inspired to discover more enchanting destinations. A quick visit to tophotels.com can help you find the perfect stay in nearby London, where the Harry Potter film series continued to spellbind audiences with its iconic locations.
Spend the night along The Great West Way
From luxury hotels in town to farmhouses, campsites and guesthouses, staying overnight on your road trip along The Great West Way comes in all shapes and price ranges. Of course, the best thing is to keep it as English as possible, with small-scale hotels run by local families and accommodation with a story to tell. After visiting Lacock, I travelled to Malmesbury, where you will find England's oldest hotel. The Old Bell Hotel is truly a place with history and with an unmistakable English charm. It is also beautifully located next to an abbey and beautiful gardens.
Iconic Stonehenge
From a 13th-century abbey and England's oldest hotel, we go even further back in time. What exactly it is no one really knows, but for sure Stonehenge is a very special place. Located in the county of Wiltshire, the prehistoric monument is ideal to combine with a road trip along The Great West Way. There is a lot of history behind this mysterious place, which you will learn more about in the exhibition at the Visitor Centre. Fair is fair: you have to put down £19 to visit Stonehenge and your ticket is best bought online in advance as there is a time slot on it due to the large numbers of tourists. A free alternative is not to go through the Visitor Centre but to walk along the path that runs directly behind the protected part of the monument. You can then not walk all the way around it, but in fact see exactly the same thing. On a nice day, it is also a beautiful place for a walk, where you can also see the burial mounds in the area.
Avebury is Stonehenge without busloads of tourists or entrance fees.
Alternative Avebury
Although Stonehenge is the most famous, there are more similar prehistoric monuments in the area. Highly recommended is Avebury; a place that tour buses tend to skip and where a visit is completely free. Moreover, the monument at Avebury is larger than Stonehenge and there is a lovely village amidst the stone circle. A lovely footpath takes you around these sights in an hour.
TIP: At several places along The Great West Way, you have the option to board a traditional narrow boat. You can travel that way through the canals to your next stop, but if you're by car, you can also opt for a canal cruise that takes you back to the same spot. You can find more information on this too on The Great West Way website.
Royal Windsor as the end of your road trip on The Great West Way
A road trip on The Great West Way is a varied journey along England's heritage. And of course, some royal allure should not be missing from it. A popular stopover on the route is Windsor Castle, the place where Queen Elizabeth regularly stays and where Harry and Meghan said yes. It is also the largest inhabited castle in the world, and big it is indeed at 5 hectares! During a visit, you can not only walk through various rooms, but also visit St George's Chapel and cemetery. Windsor Castle is a place where you can easily spend a few hours, but don't skip the town itself either!