Great holidays don’t just have to be those that you need to board a plane to get to. Right here in England we are home to some of the most breathtaking scenery and stunning heritage around. However, It can often go overlooked or taken for granted, but with a good bout of English summer weather and a car at the ready, you and your family can enjoy some of the best self driving holidays in the UK during the school holidays this year.
Here at Caversham Vehicle Hire, we’ve written a “Part One”, of an excellent driving holiday in the South of England, gradually working your way up to North Yorkshire, and we’ll be following this up with a “Part Two” next month where we explore areas further afield…
Our plan is based on a 1 week holiday, but depending on how long you want to be away for, you can tweak this to shorten or lengthen it.
Days 1 & 2 – Winchester, Salisbury and Stonehenge
To start your holiday off with a bang, we recommend you make your way down to Wessex. En-route here, you can stop by Winchester where William the Conqueror took his English throne in 1066, and not only this but you can enjoy the quaint lanes surrounded with beautiful Georgian architecture. Following on through to Salisbury, your family can take some time to visit the spectacular 13th century Gothic cathedral – one of Britain’s most breathtaking pieces of architecture.
Another place well worth a visit whilst in the area is one of the most recognisable monuments worldwide: Stonehenge. Visit the land of our Neolithic ancestors and observe one of the wonders of the world!
Day 3 – Bath
Just a short distance from Stonehenge lies the beautiful city of Bath. Enjoy the day wandering through the Georgian terraces and visiting the remains of the Roman Bath House, as well as the Medieval Abbey. Once you’re done with all the sights the city has to offer, consider booking yourself into the Thermae Bath Spa for the ultimate treat!
Day 4 – Oxford
Home to the prestigious Oxford University, Oxford is one of the few towns in the UK which remains unchanged throughout the centuries. You can spend the day admiring the grand colleges, such as Christ Church College, Magdalen College and Merton College, some of which were used in the filming of the Harry Potter films! And when you’re ready for a break you can make your way around some of the traditional pubs that were once old haunts to the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S Lewis.
Days 5,6,7 – North Yorkshire
Working your way further up from Oxford to North Yorkshire, we recommend you call in to the marvellous stately home, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. You can take your time to walk around the beautiful grounds and garden that exhibits many different areas such as the sculptures, waterfalls, flowers and even a maze! After this, it’s up to you to choose where you want to head to and settle for the night, but you can rest assured that wherever you go, you will not be disappointed.
North Yorkshire attracts many visitors year on year due to its history and charm, so whether you head to Ripon for the Fountains Abbey, or go further to the coast and explore the delightful Whitby, you can be guaranteed an excellent family day out. 
If driving around, exploring the country at your own leisure and stopping off wherever takes your fancy appeals to you, then why not take advantage of Caversham Vehicle Hire’s generous 200 mile daily limit? Simply get in touch with us to find out more about our range of vehicles available to hire, including larger MPVs for plenty of room for all the family.
Remember to check back again for next month’s “Part 2” of driving holidays in England!