13 Of The Best UK Road Trips To Take With Your Besties This Summer
School is out, and the uni summer holidays are long. Which doesn’t always equal fun for your bank balance. If you’re feeling the strain of holiday-induced debts, then why not discover more of what the UK has to offer with a road trip to remember.
Believe it or not, the UK is full of beautiful beaches, dramatic coastlines, rugged landscapes full of hidden gems. If you’re the outdoorsy type, then there’s no better place to explore than right where you are. So curate that Spotify playlist with the best road trip songs and grab your besties (and your snacks).
Let’s hit the road.
In this article:
- Best UK road trips
- Top tips for road trips
13 best UK road trips
Actually figuring out where to go on your road trip is the first hurdle, so we’ve created a list of the 13 best road trips in the UK, all across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
1. North Coast 500
Starting strong with the NC500, as the name suggests, covers just over 500 miles of breathtaking Scottish scenery across the north coast. The route starts and ends at Inverness, which means if you’re meeting friends at the starting line, it’s a great place to keep extra cars.
We recommend taking at least 5 days (but 7 is better) to travel across the route. This way you’ll be able to take in all the sights, you can stay in beautiful spots and travel leisurely. Scotland allows wild camping, so if you’re keen on sleeping under the stars, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to do so – just remember to tidy up after yourselves!
If you’re more of a hotel kinda road-tripper, then book well in advance, as it’s an incredibly popular route with some destinations really off the beaten path, so space will be limited and prices can be high.
Length of trip: 516 miles
Recommended time: 5-7 days
2. Causeway Coastal Route
If you haven’t travelled to Northern Ireland, then let this be your reason. Starting in Belfast and ending in Derry/Londonderry, this 154 mile stretch of rugged coastline has so much to see and do. If you wanted to, you could complete the stretch in just one day – but we really recommend taking the time to explore the different areas along the way including:
- Belfast city centre – before you set off, take in the sights: the Titanic museum, Ulster museum, Crumlin Road Gaol and enjoy the nightlife around Cathedral Quarter
- Whitehead Coastal Pass – if you enjoy a hiking trail then this is a great spot to stop off, and if you’re lucky you might even see some dolphins
- Giants Causeway – probably one of the most iconic tourist spots in Northern Ireland, Giants Causeway consists of 40,000 basalt columns that you can wander along and learn more about how they came to be
Length of trip: 154 miles
Recommended time: 1-4 days
3. The Lake District
The Lake District is such a beautiful part of the country, and for hikers and backpackers, it’s an absolute dream. Covering 912 square miles, it’s a big space to cover on a road trip, so if you have just a weekend or slightly longer, then we’ve got a fantastic loop for you.
Starting in Ambleside, you’ll loop over 100 miles to end where you started, taking in all the beauty of the surrounding areas. From Windermere (yes, THOSE Windermere peaks), to Keswick to Scafell Pike, nature lovers and tortured poets alike will love this loop.
(Note: a Swiftie playlist isn’t compulsory but it IS recommended).
Length of trip: 125 miles
Recommended time: 4 days
4. Jurassic Coast
If scoping out some of the best beaches in the country sounds more up your street, then the Jurassic Coast offers lots of opportunities to relax. A leisurely trip, if you drove it in one it’d only take you a few hours, but the beautiful places along the way makes it a perfect weekend road trip break.
From the stunning Lulworth Cove that gives you a chance to trek up to Durdle Door, to the ruins of Corfe Castle, ending with the ammonite beach of Lyme Regis, there’s lots to see along the Jurassic Coast.
Length of trip: 68 miles
Recommended time: 3 days
5. North Cotswolds
If you’re someone who loves to romanticise your life, then you won’t find a more picturesque place than the Cotswolds to pretend you’re living your best Bridgerton life.
The absolute pinnacle of pretty villages, but also an area popular for music and food festivals throughout summer, so foodies and music lovers unite! Start your journey from Chipping Norton, where the Wilderness Festival takes place every August, and travel down to the delightful Burford. If you’re travelling over August bank holiday, the Big Feastival takes place on Blur’s Alex James’ farm.
Enjoy the town of Burford with its sloping high street and array of independent boutique shops and tearooms. For some excellent walking trails and hikes, head up to Bourton-on-the-Water and Lower Slaughter before travelling to Broadway. Take in the gorgeous scenery of the Cotswolds with your besties, then head to Cheltenham to round off the trip in the bustling town and nightlife.
Length of trip: 59 miles
Recommended time: 3 days
6. Norfolk Coast
If you’re craving a bit of sunshine with a touch of history thrown in, then the north Norfolk coast is a great little weekend road trip. With fish and chips and port towns a-plenty, you can find boat trips to find colonies of seals, and take in the historic town of Norwich too.
It’s only an 80 mile stretch, which means you could do it in a day if you were keen, but with the sandy beaches and quintessential English towns to explore, then set aside a weekend to take it all in.
Length of trip: 80 miles
Recommended time: 3 days
7. The North Wales Way
When it comes to road trips, Wales should not be underestimated. With three main roads that offer a beautiful trip around Wales, you’ll see them appear a few times in this list!
You can combine this with the other Wales Way routes or just tackle the North route for a quick weekend break. Starting in Chester, with its beautiful architecture and city walls, you’ll take the old trading route towards Holywell, and once you cross the Menai Bridge, you’ll find some truly amazing views of Snowdonia when you look back. You’ll eventually come to the port town of Holyhead.
Length of trip: 85 miles
Recommended time: 2 days
8. Welsh Coastal Way
Combined with the North Wales route, this would make for a fantastic week-long road trip with your pals. The coastal route takes you down from Abergaron to St Davids, the UK’s smallest city. Along the way you’ll pass incredible sandy beaches and bays, with a reputation for excellent surf, including Porthor and Porth Neigwl (Hell’s Mouth).
For adrenaline junkies, the Coastal Way has everything you need for an amazing road trip with incredible foodie spots along the way. For nature and animal lovers, then a trip offcoast to Ramsey Island is a must, with the largest colony of grey seals in the UK.
Length of trip: 176 miles
Recommended time: 3 days
9. Cambrian Way
The final road trip across Wales is the Cambrian Way, which cuts inland, starting in Llandudno and ending in Cardiff.
This epic journey spans 3 days (but you could definitely take longer!). Perfect for nature lovers and hikers, you’ll drive through to Betws-y-Coed, where you can challenge yourself to a climb up Mount Snowdon. Take in the amazing views from the summit, or if hiking isn’t your thing, then check out Zip World Conwy, an indoor adventure centre. Go Below is also worth a stop for some indoor trampolining… in a cave!
Travelling through the Brecon Beacons, another opportunity for hikers to put their boots on, your journey will finish in Cardiff. With fantastic nightlife and a brilliant centre, it’s a fab place for you and your besties to end your Wales road trip.
Length of trip: 180 miles
Recommended time: 3 days
10. The South Downs
If you’re based in the South East and you just need to pack up and make a spontaneous trip with your friends, then the South Downs road trip is perfect. The actual trip is SO easy, but driving across a national park always means it’s worth stopping off and enjoying some amazing hiking trails.
From stomping around the South Downs, you can make your way down to Brighton. The legendary nightlife scene of Brighton means it’s ideal for a quick trip away to get some fresh air, enjoy the sea breeze and then put your party shoes on.
Length of trip: 25 miles
Recommended time: 2 days
11. The Atlantic Highway
If you dream of surfing your way through summer and lazy beach days, then the Atlantic Highway could be the trip for you. With the epic surfing spots across the north coast of Devon and Cornwall making it ideal for water sports fans, this route stretches across 125 miles, you could easily do it in a day, but why the rush? Get to grips with the incredible surf, or if you’re more of a spectator, just enjoy the beautiful beaches, picturesque villages and delicious foodie spots dotted throughout the journey.
Start your trip in Minehead to make the most of the pretty beaches in Woolacombe and Braunton, then make your way down on the easy A-road.
Your journey will end in party town Newquay, which in summer is bustling, with live music festivals and lots going on.
Length of trip: 125 miles
Recommended time: 3-5 days
12. Kintyre 66
Want to explore Scotland, but can’t quite commit to the NC500? The Kintyre 66 is a new route that spans a 66 mile loop around Kintyre. It’s so scenic that Sir Paul McCartney sung about it years ago. With so much to do for adventure-lovers, from kayaking to hiking to cave exploring, along with sampling Scottish whiskies and seafood along the way, you’ll fall in love with this beautiful region of Scotland.
Length of trip: 66 miles
Recommended time: 3-4 days
13. Lands End to John O’Groats
We’ve saved the biggie till last. This is definitely one to make sure you’re not the only designated driver as we’re talking 837 miles across the whole of England and Scotland. Starting in Lands End, and working your way up country and through to Scotland, you’ll finish at John O’Groats. With amazing cities to stop at through your journey, covering Exeter, Bristol, Birmingham and Glasgow – there’s so much opportunity to enjoy everything the cities have to offer, from the shopping to the nightlife.
For nature lovers, you’ll pass through 4 national parks and countless areas of natural beauty, so stopping off for hikes, wild swimming, and just generally taking in nature will be an absolute breeze.
Not one for the fainthearted, this is a lot of driving, so space it out and set aside at least a week so you can enjoy each area. It could be worth hiring a car for this road trip, as otherwise you’ll have to drive the whole way back!
Length of trip: 837 miles
Recommended time: 7-10 days
Road trip top tips
So now you’ve got all the inspiration for your UK road trip, we’ve got some top tips to help make it all run smoothly.
Plan some accommodation stops
It’s all about the journey. So take your time, don’t rush driving to each place and instead find camping sites, Airbnbs and hostels so you can explore the villages you’re driving through. In summer months, it’s a good idea to do this before you go – being spontaneous is amazing but in some areas of the country you might find accommodation all booked up for summer.
Share the driving
We cannot stress this enough. Driving for long periods of time is REALLY HARD. And while we all want to be a passenger princess, it’s important that you and your friends are sharing out the driving.
Sometimes it can help being a little organised with this – if you know one of your friends is more comfortable driving motorways than country lanes, try and share the driving with this, so it benefits both of you.
Check out your route before you set off
One word: roadworks. It’s enough to send you into a blind rage, and they really don’t fit with your idea of a perfect road trip! You can check for roadworks along your route before you leave, so you can see any potential crashes, closures or delays. This will give you a chance to work around or tweak plans so you don’t miss out.
Service your car
For long routes that aren’t circular, it could be worth hiring a car. This normally means you can drop it off in several different locations, and you can take public transport on your way home. But if you’re taking your own car, make sure you check your oil, washer fluid, tyre pressure (all the boring stuff) before you go. Places like Halfords will do these types of services for a low cost too.
It’s also worth making sure you have a little first aid kit in your car, just in case.
Stock up for your travels with Student Beans’ travel discounts. For more help, advice and inspiration when planning your next adventure, discover our student travel tips.
