England map & highlights
A “green and pleasant land” – England boasts a wonderful variety of landscapes that are ideal for walking and cycling vacations.![]()
If we can persuade you of one thing with this England travel guide, hopefully it will be to escape the confines of cities such as London and Oxford and to explore the country’s magnificent natural landscapes. You might spend a week in a country cottage buried deep in a national park, tackle a section of a famous long-distance walking route, or bring the family on an action-packed small group activity vacation in the beautiful Lake District. Wherever you base yourselves – coast, island, peaks or lakes – you’re generally well-served by public transport or roads, and of course one of England’s greatest charms is that you’re never far from a good country pub.
Our England Vacations
Devon eco lodge accommodation, England
Quirky eco lodges, 1 with Hot Tub, on a Devon nature reserve
From
£205 to £810
per accommodation per week
England tour by train
Explore England's diversity and fascinating history by train
From
£2525 to £2685
13 days
ex flights
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly vacation
Admire England's south-western corner car-free
From
£1790 to £1950
8 days
ex flights
Lake District hike on the Cumbria Way, England
Hiking vacation in England's Lake District
From
£810 to £1116
10 days
ex flights
Devon sea kayaking vacation in England
Price per family with exclusive barn house accommodation
From
£1400
7 days
ex flights
Isle of Wight cycling vacation in England
Short UK cycling break with plenty of sightseeing
From
US $690
5 days
ex flights
Winchester to Canterbury Pilgrims way, England
Walk the Pilgrims Way from Winchester to Canterbury
From
£1569
15 days
ex flights
Devon self catering cottage in England
Cottage with lake view & wood burner on Devon nature reserve
From
£205 to £590
per week (sleeps 4)
York to Fountains Abbey hiking vacation, England
The Prior Richards way self-guided 12th century hike
From
£250
4 days
ex flights
Lands End To John O'Groats biking trip
Britain's classic cycling challenge
From
£1790
16 days
ex flights
Fowey accommodation in Cornwall, sleeps 2, England
Cottages looking down the valley towards Fowey and the sea
From
£125 to £145
per cottage per night
Thames Path walking vacation in England
Self guided walk along the River Thames Oxford to Windsor
From
£660 to £954
7 days
ex flights
Shakespeares Way walking vacation, Cotswolds to London
From Stratford-upon-Avon to The Globe Theatre
From
£595 to £1980
8 days
ex flights
Tour of Britain by train
Explore England and Scotland's cities & landscapes by train.
From
£2995 to £3350
16 days
ex flights
Lake District challenging hiking vacation
-challenging hiking conquering the major peaks & high ridges
From
£749
8 days
ex flights
Dales Way walking vacation in Yorkshire, England
The Dales Way self guided walking vacation
From
£765 to £1071
10 days
ex flights
Shropshire walking vacation
Nature and history combined producing a landscape of beauty
From
£799 to £820
7 days
ex flights
Northumberland self drive tour
Spend a week discovering ancient history & distant galaxies
From
£715 to £735
7 days
ex flights
South West Coast Path hiking vacation, England
Bude to Newquay along the South West Coast Path
From
£720 to £992
9 days
ex flights
North Devon ecolodge, England
Uniquely quirky Devon eco lodge with hot tub & great views
From
£501 to £1100
per week (sleeps 8)
Barnstaple to Bude South West Coast Path walk in England
South West Coast Path in England walking tour
From
£630 to £868
8 days
ex flights
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal hiking vacation, England
Northern England self guided hiking vacation
From
£1246 to £1792
15 days
ex flights
Malvern Hills walking vacation in England
Walk the Malvern Hills 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'
From
£585 to £610
6 days
ex flights
Sea kayaking vacations for couples in Devon
Accommodation set in C15th Devon cider orchard
From
£495 to £795
7 days
ex flights
South West Coastal Path walking vacation, England
The South West Coast Path and Isles of Scilly
From
£459 to £899
8 days
ex flights
Sidmouth and the Devon Coast hiking vacation
Walk along Lyme Bay and the Jurassic Coast
From
£540 to £595
6 days
ex flights
Cycling vacation in England, Hadrian’s Cycle Way
Explore England by bike
From
US $1099
8 days
ex flights
Northumberland walking vacation in England
Ancient castles and charming gardens of Northumberland.
From
£699 to £724
6 days
ex flights
Hadrian's Wall National Trail walking vacation
Continuous walk along the Roman Empire's defensive barrier
From
£915 to £940
8 days
ex flights
1.
Cornwall
2. Devon
3. Isle of Wight
4. Lake District
5. Peak District
6. South Downs National Park
7. Walking vacations
8. White Cliffs of Dover
2. Devon
3. Isle of Wight
4. Lake District
5. Peak District
6. South Downs National Park
7. Walking vacations
8. White Cliffs of Dover
Cornwall
1. Cornwall
England’s southwest corner has long been one of the country’s most sought-after – and therefore crowded – vacation destinations. Tension between locals and vacationmakers and second homeowners is also problematic. We recommend avoiding the Cornish hotspots in favour of a ramble along the famous South West Coast Path, or staying in the stunning Fowey River Valley.
Devon
2. Devon
Idling over Devon’s agricultural landscapes, the wilds of Dartmoor or the coves and beaches of the Jurassic Coast makes for a great break, ensuring cyclists and walkers will be in their absolute element. Eco-friendly accommodations, log fires in country pubs, the debate over jam or cream first on a scone, healthy, happy, muddy kids and dogs – you name it and Devon has got it in bucket loads.
Isle of Wight
3. Isle of Wight
Step on a ferry bound for Cowes, Yarmouth or Ryde, and you’ll be transported to a vacation destination that boasts 100km of beach, 300km of cycle trails and over 800km of well-signed walking paths. Historic properties, such as Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle, provide the cultural interludes with numerous parks, gardens and even vineyards adding to the island's appeal.
Lake District
4. Lake District
Although Windermere can get busy, especially during the summer, there are numerous lesser-visited shores where views and peace are completely unhindered. Tackling parts of walking routes, such as the Cumbria Way, will take you through some of the national park’s rarely seen areas with farmland, rivers and fells adding to the classic scenes you’ll find en route from Ulverston to Carlisle.
Peak District
5. Peak District
Stay in a traditional farmhouse near the market town of Ashbourne, with the option to self-cater or rely on your hosts for delicious homecooked meals. A fantastic option for walkers, families with young children (who will love collecting eggs and feeding the pygmy goats) and those with accessibility requirements. You’re just 20 minutes from Dovedale, one of the loveliest areas of the Peak District.
South Downs National Park
6. South Downs National Park
Close to our heart, because it’s so close to home for us, the South Downs National Park has over 3,000km of rights of way – the 161km South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne being among the most popular walking routes. You might stay in a rural B&B, a self-catering cottage, even a yurt, to explore the park’s many market towns, walking and cycling trails or beautiful coast.
Walking vacations
7. Walking vacations
Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims, poets and saints with a vast number of walking vacations in England, taking you through some of the country’s most magnificent scenery. Well-known routes such as the Pilgrims’ Way, the Thames Path, Shakespeare’s Way, the South West Coast Path and the Cotswolds Way can easily be broken up into leisurely stages on tailor made routes.
White Cliffs of Dover
8. White Cliffs of Dover
One of England’s most iconic landscapes, the White Cliffs of Dover are for many travelers the last sight they have of home, and the first on their return. An eight-day walk takes you from Canterbury to Sandwich along the Saxon Shore Way, past historic castles and Roman ruins, and some of the finest coastal views in the country, all the while staying in a series of welcoming Kent inns.
Our top England Vacation
Devon eco lodge accommodation, England
Quirky eco lodges, 1 with Hot Tub, on a Devon nature reserve
From
£205 to £810
per accommodation per week
Accommodation
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about England or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
More about England
Check out our temperature & rainfall chart and find out the best time to visit England. All four seasons have something special to offer.
As with all good England travel guides ours has an excellent map & highlights section to enable you to make the most of your time.
Discover England by rail. The train network connects the country’s greatest cities and countryside.
Read on to learn how to explore Devon on foot, on two wheels or even on the waves with a sea kayaking vacation.
Our England travel advice features specialist vacation companies and a selection of previous travelers, sharing their knowledge.
Where you travel, and how you get there can be big factors in how responsible your vacation in England is.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Luke Porter] [Fowey: Alison Day]
[Devon: Alison Day]
[Isle of Wight: Leandra Bischofberger]
[Lake District: Tobias Keller]
[Peak District: Simon Forster]
[South Downs National Park: Marcus Cramer]
[Winchester: Herry Lawford]
[White Cliffs of Dover: Callum Wale]
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