adeo Travel · Independent Rail Tour

Explore England by Rail

15-day self-guided BritRail tour through England's heritage cities and Lake District

Explore England by Rail, a rail journey with adeo Travel

adeo Travel runs this 15-day self-guided rail tour of England, using a BritRail Consecutive Pass for standard-class travel between London, Plymouth, Bath, Oxford, Chester, the Lake District and York before returning to London. The trip opens in London with visits to Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, then heads by train to Plymouth and along the Cornish coastline, one of the tour's most scenic rail rides, past fishing villages such as St Ives and Penzance. From Bath, a small-group day tour reaches Stonehenge and Cotswold villages including Castle Combe and Lacock, and later stops in Oxford, Chester, Windermere and York add university colleges, a Lake District excursion with a boat trip, and York Minster. Because travelers plan their own days between the included small-group tours, this suits independent-minded visitors who want England's history and countryside covered by rail without a tour guide managing every stop.

What to know before you look closer

  • All eight hotels on the route, including The Kensington in London and The Grand in York, are listed as "(or similar)", so the operator may substitute the named property.
  • BritRail Passes do not cover the London Underground or the Glasgow Subway, and transfers from stations to hotels are not included.
  • Two of the fifteen days, the Stonehenge and Cotswolds excursion from Bath and the Lake District day from Windermere, use a local driver or guide rather than the train.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: London

    Arrival in England and London Highlights

    Arriving into London Heathrow or Gatwick Airports, validate your BritRail Passes and make your way in to the city on the airport express rail links. Explore world renowned sights including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. In the east of the city you'll find the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Plymouth

    Rail to Cornwall and Plymouth

    Today board the train for an epic rail ride to the South West of England, over the Salisbury Plain and through the rolling hills of Dorset to the coastal lines of Devon. Stroll the historic port of Plymouth and visit Plymouth Sound and the Mayflower steps from where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail to America.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Plymouth

    Explore Cornwall by Rail

    Today embark on one of England's most scenic rail journeys as you head South West over Bodmin Moor then along the rugged Cornish coastline, visiting charming fishing villages such as St Ives or Penzance, or the resort town of Falmouth.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Bath

    Rail to the Regency City of Bath

    Returning north your train journey will take you through the rolling hills of Somerset on route to the elegant Regency city of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the Elizabethan Abbey, the Jane Austen Centre, Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent and the Roman Baths and Pump Room.

  5. Day 5overnight: Bath

    Stonehenge and Cotswold Villages Excursion

    Join a local driver on a small-group day tour through the villages and countryside of Wiltshire, visiting Castle Combe, Avebury village, Silbury Hill, Stonehenge and Lacock Village.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Oxford

    Medieval Oxford

    Board the train to journey to the historic university city of Oxford. Explore the lawns, quads and spires of Oxford University and famous colleges such as Magdalene and Christchurch or the Bodleian Library.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Oxford

    Cotswolds Excursion

    Today is dedicated to exploring the quintessential English landscapes and villages of the Cotswolds via a short rail ride from Oxford to Moreton-on-Marsh, visiting villages such as Upper Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Chester

    Historic Chester and Liverpool

    Today head north to Chester to discover the medieval City walls and gate towers, the excavated Roman Amphitheatre and the Tudor Facade The Rows. Time-permitting take a short rail ride to Liverpool, home to heritage sites dedicated to the Beatles.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Bowness-on-Windermere

    Rail to Lake Windermere

    This morning board the train south through the Scottish Lowlands, over the border to England and into the rustic landscapes of Cumbria, arriving in the market town of Windermere on the shores of Lake Windermere.

  10. Day 10overnight: Bowness-on-Windermere

    Lake District Excursion

    Today is dedicated to exploring the rugged landscapes of the Lake District with a local guide, stopping at towns such as Grasmere or Keswick and taking in Borrowdale Valley, Thirlmere and Castlerigg Stone Circle, with an included boat trip.

  11. Day 11railovernight: York

    Rail to York and York Minster

    Hop on the train and head east through the Yorkshire Dales to York, wandering the cobbles of the famous Shambles and the medieval city walls before exploring the Gothic masterpiece at York Minster.

  12. Day 12railovernight: York

    Explore York and Harrogate

    Discover York's Viking history at the Jorvik Center, visit Fairfax House or see the Flying Scotsman at the National Railway Museum. A short train ride away, visit the Victorian spa town of Harrogate. Alternatively enjoy an optional small group day-tour to the Yorkshire Dales or Moors.

  13. Day 13railovernight: London

    Rail to London and Explore London in more Depth

    Hop on the high-speed mainline back to London. Explore museums and galleries including the Tate Modern, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum and the Imperial War Museum, or stroll through Hyde Park and Covent Garden.

  14. Day 14railovernight: London

    Dover and Canterbury by Rail

    With London as your base, use your rail pass to visit beautiful and historic cities in the South East of England, such as Canterbury and its cathedral, and Dover Castle and its war time tunnels. Alternative destinations include Portsmouth or Brighton.

  15. Day 15rail

    Return Home

    Today bid farewell to the UK as you board the Heathrow or Gatwick Express rail links to take you back to your departure airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3One of England's most scenic rail journeys of the tour crosses Bodmin Moor and follows the rugged Cornish coastline to fishing villages such as St Ives or Penzance.
  • Day 5A small-group day tour from Bath visits Stonehenge, Avebury village, Silbury Hill and Castle Combe.
  • Day 10A local guide leads a Lake District excursion through Borrowdale Valley and Castlerigg Stone Circle, with an included boat trip.
  • Day 12York's National Railway Museum displays the Flying Scotsman.

Included

  • 14 nights accommodation (suggested accommodations listed below)
  • Full cooked regional breakfast each morning
  • BritRail Consecutive Passes (15 day) – 15 consecutive days of travel on the British National Rail Network from day of validation, fully flexible and unlimited for the period of validity, covering all outlined rail journeys including transit on the Heathrow or Gatwick Express rail links
  • Hand-picked small-group day-tour: Stonehenge and Cotswolds Villages Tour from Bath (excludes admission to Stonehenge – pay locally)
  • Hand-picked small-group day-tour: Famous Cotswolds or Cotswold Highlights tour from Moreton-in-Marsh
  • Hand-picked small-group day-tour: Ten Lakes Spectacular Tour from Windermere, Lake District
  • Admission to Roman Baths in Bath
  • London hop-on-hop-off bus tour to explore the city
  • Adeo travel documents pack and suggested rail schedule information for each point-to-point journey including journey durations, departure stations and travel departure times
  • Toll-free calls (from USA and Canada) to your Britain vacation specialist whilst planning your trip
  • Expert assistance during the planning of your trip and local out-of-hours number for use during travel

Not included

  • Travel on the London Underground and the Glasgow Subway rail networks (BritRail Passes not valid)
  • Taxis / transfers from train stations to your hotels
  • Trip Insurance
  • Flights
  • Meals and/or sightseeing other than that outlined above

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The package includes a 15-day BritRail Consecutive Pass covering standard-class travel on all outlined rail journeys, including the Heathrow or Gatwick Express links.
Is it guided or independent?
It is a self-guided independent tour; local guides or drivers only accompany the included small-group day excursions to Stonehenge and the Cotswolds, the Cotswolds from Moreton-in-Marsh, and the Lake District.
What hotels are used?
The itinerary lists suggested hotels such as The Kensington in London, the Duke of Cornwall in Plymouth, The Bird Hotel in Bath, The Randolph in Oxford, the Queen Hotel in Chester, Lindeth Howe in Bowness-on-Windermere and The Grand in York, all marked "or similar".
How much walking is involved?
The days in Bath, Oxford, Chester and York are built around city walking and sightseeing, and the small-group excursions to the Cotswolds and Lake District include additional walking with a local guide.
What is not included?
Trip insurance, flights, meals other than breakfast, taxis from stations to hotels, and travel on the London Underground or Glasgow Subway, which the BritRail Pass does not cover.
What is the price?
The tour starts at 2,545 GBP (3,399 USD), about 227 USD per day.

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