Britain by Train: Two-Week Grand Tour from London
Fourteen days covering the best of England and Scotland by train — the ultimate UK rail journey. This itinerary takes you from London’s cultural treasures to Bath’s Roman elegance, Cornwall’s Atlantic cliffs, the picture-perfect Cotswolds, York’s medieval streets, the Lake District’s fells, Edinburgh’s castle-on-a-rock, and the wild Scottish Highlands. With 2-3 night stays almost everywhere, you’ll travel at a relaxed pace and see the best of Britain without rushing. Budget: £2,100–3,200 per person.
14-Day Itinerary Overview
Route: London (2) → Bath (2) → St Ives/Cornwall (2) → York (2) → Lake District (2) → Edinburgh (2) → Scottish Highlands (2) → London departure
Best for: Comprehensive UK first-time visit, rail enthusiasts, mix of city, coast, country, and mountains
Budget: £2,100–3,200 per person. Open-jaw flights: London in, Edinburgh out saves the final train leg.
Direction: Clockwise. End in Edinburgh and fly home from there, or return to London by train (4h 30m, direct).
Getting There & Around
Arriving
London Heathrow. BritRail 15-day pass (£239) covers every train. Or open-jaw: London in, Edinburgh out (BritRail still covers London-Edinburgh with one train).
Rail Passes
BritRail 15-day pass: £239 — essential. Explorer bus pass: £27 for 3 days in the Lake District. Cornwall Rover: £25 for 3 days of bus travel. Highland Rover: £45 for 3 days covering Inverness-area buses.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1-2: London — Everything the Capital Offers
Day 1: British Museum (free), Covent Garden, National Gallery (free), South Bank walk to Borough Market (lunch). Evening: West End show or Thames sunset.
Day 2: Tower of London (early, £29.90). Tower Bridge. Cross to Sky Garden (free, pre-book). Afternoon: one of the world-class free museums — V&A, Natural History, or Tate Modern. Evening: dinner in Soho or a historic pub.
Accommodation: London near Paddington (B&B £65-150/night).
Day 3-4: Bath & the Cotswolds
Day 3: Train to Bath (80 min). Roman Baths (£19), Bath Abbey, Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge. Bath Skyline Walk (free, 6 miles).
Day 4: Day trip to the Cotswolds: Castle Combe, Bibury (Arlington Row), Bourton-on-the-Water. Tour (£40-55) or bus. Return to Bath. Evening: pre-booked dinner at a Bath gastropub.
Accommodation: Bath (B&B £65-150/night).
Day 5-6: Cornwall — St Ives & the Coast Path
Day 5: Train from Bath to St Ives via Penzance (4h 30m, scenic after Plymouth). Afternoon: explore St Ives — Tate, Hepworth Museum, beaches.
Day 6: South West Coast Path: St Ives to Zennor (6 miles, 3h). Or the St Michael’s Mount day trip: train to Penzance, bus to Marazion, walk causeway at low tide. Evening: Cornish seafood dinner.
Accommodation: St Ives (B&B £70-160/night).
Day 7-8: York — Medieval England’s Finest
Day 7: Train St Ives to York via Penzance-Bristol-Birmingham (7h) or fly to Manchester and train. Arrive by evening.
Day 8: York Minster (£16, tower £6). City walls (free, 1.5h). The Shambles (free). National Railway Museum (free). JORVIK (£13.50). Bettys Tearoom (£10-15). Ghost Tour.
Accommodation: York (B&B £65-140/night).
Day 9-10: Lake District — Fells & Lakes
Day 9: Train York to Windermere (2h 30m via Oxenholme). Afternoon: Windermere Lake Cruise (Red Cruise, £14, 1.5h). Explore Bowness.
Day 10: 555 bus to Keswick. Catbells hike (3h). Derwentwater launch. Afternoon: Grasmere for Dove Cottage and gingerbread. Return to Windermere for the last night.
Accommodation: Windermere (B&B £65-150/night).
Day 11-12: Edinburgh — Capital & Culture
Day 11: Train Windermere to Edinburgh (2h 45m). Afternoon: Edinburgh Castle (£19.50), Royal Mile hike downhill, Arthur’s Seat for sunset.
Day 12: National Museum of Scotland (free). Royal Mile exploration of closes and wynds. Grassmarket, Greyfriars Bobby. Whisky tasting. Evening: ghost tour or pub crawl.
Accommodation: Edinburgh (B&B £65-150/night). Luggage transfer service to send bags ahead.
Day 13-14: Scottish Highlands & Departure
Day 13: Train from Edinburgh to Inverness (3h 30m via the Highland Main Line — one of Britain’s most scenic railways). Afternoon: Inverness city walk along the River Ness. Evening: pub dinner.
Day 14: Day trip to Loch Ness (bus from Inverness, 30 min, £6). Urquhart Castle ruins (£13.50). Return to Edinburgh by train (3h 30m) for flight home, or fly from Inverness Airport.
Practical Information
Visas
UK visa/waiver required for most nationalities. Not Schengen. Apply well in advance.
SIM
EE recommended (£10-20 prepay). Best coverage in Scotland and Cornwall.
Luggage
Use Luggage Pony (£40-60) to send a suitcase from London to Edinburgh. Travel with a backpack for Days 3-12. Laundries available at every stop.
Money
£. Scottish notes accepted everywhere in Scotland but change them to English notes before returning.
Best Time
May-September. June has longest daylight (10PM sunsets in Scotland). August is Edinburgh Festival — book accommodation 6+ months ahead.
Health
No vaccinations. Tap water safe. Midges in Highlands (May-Sept) — strong repellent essential. Hiking boots needed in Lake District and Highlands.
Budget Summary: 14-Day Britain Grand Tour
Estimated Total: £2,100–3,200 per person
- Accommodation (13 nights): £600–1,300
- BritRail 15-day pass: £239
- Local bus passes (Lakes, Cornwall, Highlands): £25-50
- Entry fees (Tower, Castle, Roman Baths, York Minster, etc): £100-150
- Meals (mix of supermarkets + restaurants): £280–500
- Luggage transfers: £40-60
Money-Saving Tip: The BritRail pass is the single best investment — it saves £400+ over buying individual tickets. Open-jaw flights (London in, Edinburgh out) save a day of travel. Free attractions: British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, York walls, National Museum of Scotland, Arthur’s Seat, all London parks. Supermarket meal deals (£3-4) for lunches save a fortune over restaurant lunches.
Disclaimer: Prices vary significantly by season. BritRail passes must be purchased before arriving in the UK. Edinburgh Festival (August) requires accommodation booked 6+ months ahead. The UK is not part of the Schengen Area — verify visa requirements separately. Mountain weather in the Lake District and Highlands changes rapidly — always carry waterproofs on hikes. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.