2 Weeks in England: The Ultimate Itinerary by Train

From the iconic Tower of London, to the sandstone Georgian townhouses of Bath’s Royal Crescent and the striking coastal cliffs of Whitby, this itinerary encompasses all that makes England such a tempting holiday destination.

Although England has a reputation of being an expensive holiday destination, I have tried to create an itinerary that is flexible for all but the tightest budgets.

This itinerary can be comfortably completed with a daily budget of £65 as of 2024, with the following assumptions:

• Accommodation in hostels at £25 a night
• Grocery store meals totalling £20 per day
• Train journeys booked during early bird deals totalling £100
• Sights and recreational spending of £10-20 per day.

This itinerary features 5 nights in London, 3 nights in Bath, and 5 nights in York. It includes travel time between cities.

This is just a brief overview of the best sights in each city, for more details read my specific London, Bath, or York itineraries!

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When to Visit England

Winter in England can be very cold and harsh, especially if you come from a warm destination like me (Australia!)

Summer temperatures usually stick around the low 20s (celsius), sometimes pushing the higher 20s/early 30s during heatwaves.

The UK is best visited in the warmer months of late May to late September, BUT prices will be higher during these months.

If you can handle a little cold, go in the shoulder months of February, October or November for the best of both worlds.

How to Get to England

To get to England from outside the UK you will probably have to fly.

Browse for the best flight prices.

How to Get Cheap Train Tickets in the UK

• Make use of railcards (30% discount)
• Pre-book during early-bird sales (usually 3 month in advance)
• Check prices on different platforms.

LONDON

Where to Stay in London

$ Hostel $

Onefam Notting Hill
63 Prince’s Square, London, England.
Honestly, London just doesn’t do hostels well. For the most part, they’re not much more than over-priced dungeons. I love Onefam Notting Hill because it is social and vibrant, with outdoor space to hang out, clean bathrooms and a variety of dorm room options. They run social events every single night. I love that it’s located near Hyde Park (love me a park) and Portobello Markets. It’s 7 minutes walk to Bayswater station, which is part of the Circle tube line. Check availability or see other options.

$$ Hotel $$

Kensington Gardens Hotel
9 Kensington Gardens Square, Westminster Borough, London, W2 4BH, United Kingdom.
This hotel is also located in the Notting Hill area, 5 minutes walk from Bayswater tube station. It has simple but clean furnishings and overlooks the gorgeous Kensington Square Gardens. This hotel is adults-only, perfect for a romantic weekend getaway. Check availability or see other options.

How to Get Around London

London is a HUGE city, spanning 1,500 square kilometres across 32 different boroughs. Luckily London has a great public transport system, including an underground train system, extensive bus services and taxis. Transport for London makes it easy to plan your journeys and figure out which service, station and ticket you need.

Using the taxi service is unnecessary and expensive, I would recommend only taking a taxi if you have a large group to split the cost, it is an emergency, or it is very late at night. 

Read my blog post to learn how to use the London tube like a pro, including how to get to and from the airport for cheap!

The London City Pass gives you up to 50% off sights and activities! If you want to visit several of the major sights in a short period of time, check if this Pass will save you some money.

London Itinerary

I think London is best explored in 4 days, but if you’ve only got a couple of days free, the essentials can be done in 2 days.

Day 1: Arrival

You are likely flying in to Heathrow Airport. From Heathrow, there are two options to get into London:

1. The Heathrow Express is the fastest and most expensive at £32. It takes only 15 minutes to get from the Airport to Paddington Station.
   
2. The regular tube is much cheaper (£5.60) but takes much longer (1 hour to get to/from King’s Cross). The two tube lines that go Heathrow include:

• The Elizabeth Line (purple)
• The Piccadilly Line (dark blue)

Spend the afternoon finding your hotel and settling in.

Day 2: Kensington and Westminster

Morning

• Hyde Park and Kensington Palace.
• The Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (both free).
• Explore the Harrods department store.

Afternoon

• Buckingham Palace.
• Whitehall, 10 Downing Street, and the Churchill War Rooms (£32).
• Westminster Abbey.
• Big Ben.
• St Margarets Church (free).

Evening

• London Eye (£25.50).

Day 3: City and Southbank

Morning

• St Bartholomew the Great Church (free).
• St Paul’s Cathedral (£25).
• Leadenhall Market (free).
• Tower of London (£33.60).

Read: The Tower of London: Is it Worth It?

Afternoon

• Borough Market.
• Southwark Cathedral (free).

Evening

• Show at Shakespeare’s Globe (start at £5).

Day 4: Markets and Museums

Morning

• Stroll Portobello Road Market.
• Window shopping along Oxford Street.

Afternoon

• British Museum (free).
• The National Gallery and The National Portrait Gallery (both free).

Evening

• Explore Chinatown for dinner.

Day 5: Choose Your Own Adventure

Option 1: Harry Potter Studio Tour London.

Read: The Magic of the Harry Potter Studio Tour London: What to Expect

Option 2: Camden Market and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.

Option 3: Day trip to Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite residence, Windsor Castle or day trip to sunny, beachside Brighton.

BATH

How to Get to Bath

From London, the train journey is only about an hour.

If you pre-book your train tickets during early bird sales (usually 3 months in advance) they can be quite affordable (I got mine with Great Western Railway for £14 in June 2023). 

I recommend pre-booking your journey, especially during summer, as seats can fill up and prices can sky-rocket. 

Trainline makes it easy to compare different train services for the same journey.

Where to Stay in Bath

$ Hostel $

Bath Backpackers
13 Pierrepont Street, Bath, England.
This hostel is perfectly located close to both the central sights and the train station. Set inside a Georgian building, it has classic interior features; high ceilings, big staircases, and big sash windows. It offers both gendered and mixed dorms, as well as regular social activities. Check availability or see other options.

$$ Hotel $$

The Windsor Townhouse
69 Great Pulteney Street, Bath, BA2 4DL, United Kingdom.
This gorgeous guesthouse is located on the famous Great Pulteney Street. The rooms are spacious and the furnishings ooze classic English cottage vibes. They offer a free continental breakfast and easy access to all Bath’s best sights. Check availability or see other options.

How to get Around Bath

Bath is a small, compact city that is easily walkable. There is no need for tourists to use public transport.

Bath Itinerary

The home of England’s hot springs, Jane Austen lore, and gorgeous architecture; Bath is such a dreamy travel destination. 

I recommend spending 2 to 3 days exploring Bath and the surrounding Cotswolds.

Day 6: Arrival & Getting Your Bearings

Morning

• Train from London.
• Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House.

Afternoon

• Parade Gardens (£2).
• Bath Guildhall Market.
• Great Pulteney Street & Holbourne Museum (£11 or £5.50 for 18-25 year olds).
• Henrietta Park.

Evening

• Bath Lookout on Alexandra Hill for sunset.
• Bars: The Bell Inn, The Botanist, and Green Park Brasserie.

Day 7: Historical Bath

Morning

• Bath Guides Free Walking Tour (free).
• Bath Abbey (£7.50).
• Roman Baths (£21.50).
• The Pump Room restaurant.

Afternoon

• Jane Austen Centre (£15.75).
• Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein (£12.50).
• The Circus.
• The Royal Crescent.
• The Georgian Garden.
• Botanic Gardens (free).

Evening

• Thermae Bath Spa (£41-£46), shopping, or chill at the bars again!

Day 8: Day Trip to Stonehenge and the Cotswolds

On your third day in Bath, join a group tour to visit Stonehenge (£17.60) and the Cotswolds.

I recommend Tour 1 with Mad Max Tours (£75 NOT including Stonehenge entry) or this tour by Rabbies Small Group Tours (£81.47 including Stonehenge entry).

Both these tours take you through the countryside to Stonehenge, then across to Avebury Stones (a FREE version of Stonehenge) and spend the afternoon exploring the Cotswold villages of Castle Combe and Lacock.

Pre-book your tour well in advance because they will sell out quickly, especially in summer.

YORK

How to Get to York

York is a 4 hour train journey from Bath.

I recommend booking tickets well in advance to get the best deal. Ticket prices range from £20-40 each way.

Where to Stay in York

$ Hostel $

Safestay York Micklegate
88-90 Micklegate, York, YO1 6JX, United Kingdom
Safestay York Micklegate is my hostel of choice in York. There are only two others: Astor York and York YHA. This hostel is the closest to the centre of town and only 300 metres from the train station. It is a Georgian-style building with historical features and a variety of room options. Check availability or see other options.

$$ Hotel $$

Diamonds Inn
39 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB, United Kingdom 
If you are looking for a no-frills basic guesthouse, this is the place to stay. Located just outside the city walls, this guesthouse provides quiet, simple accommodation close to the main sights of York. Check availability or see other options.

$$$ Hotel $$$

Minster Walk Guesthouse
22 Marygate, Bootham, York, YO30 7BH, United Kingdom 
If you are looking for the absolute top-notch accommodation in York, look no further than Minster Walk Guesthouse. This guesthouse is located just next door to St Mary’s Abbey and the Yorkshire Museum Gardens. The gorgeous interiors reflect the building’s historical heritage. Check availability or see other options.

How to Get Around York

York is quite a compact little city, with the old town enclosed in the city walls. The main city area within the walls (where you will be spending most of your time) is less than 1 mile in diameter. I didn’t use any public transport because the city is so walkable, but there is a bus service and taxis available if needed.

York City Pass

The York City pass is a ticket that you pre-purchase and allows you entry to 25 attractions across the city. If you are planning on visiting many sights in one day, then check out this pass and see if it would save you any money! 
Prices (2024): 
1 Day Pass: £59
2 Day Pass: £75
3 Day Pass: £90

York Itinerary

Day 9: Arrival in York

Morning

The train journey from Bath to York takes about 4 hours, and requires a change in London.

Afternoon

• Late lunch at a pub: Kings Arms, Black Swan, The Bluebell.
• Walk the York Walls (free).

Day 10: Exploring York

Morning

• Yorkshire Museum and Museum Gardens (£9.50 or £8.55 for people under 24).
• St Marys Abbey.
• York Art Gallery (£7 adult or £6.30 for under 25’s).

Afternoon

• Join a Free Walking Tour.

Day 11: Shambles and Castle

Morning

• York Minster (£18 Minster Only, £24 Minster and Central Tower).
• Deans Gardens.
• Barley Hall (£9.00).
• The Shambles.

Afternoon

• Cliffords Tower (£9.50 in advance or £11.50 on the day).
• York Castle Museum (£17 or £15.30 for 24).

Evening

Deathly Dark Ghost Tour (£10).

Day 12: Day Trip to Whitby

Whitby is one of the best day trips from York. Whitby is a seaside town where Captain Cook learned to sail, and also coincidentally was where the HMS Endeavour was built, the ship Cook would later sail to Australia.

The town was also the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Whitby has an incredible coastline, with dramatic cliffs and picturesque bay.

In Whitby you can visit the Whitby Abbey, Whitby Museum, the Captain Cook Museum and Monument, not to mention soak up English coastal life and try the national dish, fish and chips, fresh as can be.

How to Get to Whitby

Catch the Coastliner 840 bus from York Rail Station to Whitby Boyes. 

The journey taking about 2 and a half hours and you can buy the £2 ticket on the bus.

Until 31 December 2024, bus tickets cost £2 for any journey to any destination!

Morning

• War Memorial Park and Whitby Endeavour.
• Whalebone Arch and Cook’s Memorial.
• Whitby’s beach.
• Captain Cook Memorial Museum (£9).
• Church Street for lunch.

Afternoon

• St Mary’s Church and Churchyard.
• Whitby Abbey (£12.50).
• Cholmley Mansion.
• Whitby Museum (£8).

Day 13: Day Trip to Harewood House

Harewood House (£18) is a beautiful Georgian mansion nestled in the Yorkshire countryside.

Intricate gilded detailing and luxurious furnishings are entwined with a brutal history that Harewood House is not afraid to confront. The grounds include a terraced garden, lake, playground, courtyard, kitchen garden and many walking trails.

Harewood House makes for a fun and relaxing day trip from York.

How to get to Harewood House

I took a train from York to Harrogate. The journey took about 30 minutes and cost £5. I crossed the road to catch the 36 bus (£2) to Harewood. 

Morning

Explore Harewood House.

Afternoon

Stroll along the Lakeside Walk, South Park Walk and North Park Walk.

Day 14: Departure

The final day of your two week England itinerary will sadly be spent leaving England.

Take the train back to London (4 hours) and head to Heathrow Airport for your return flight.

Keep reading about England …

London Posts

Bath Posts

York Posts

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Check out my Pinterest for more England ideas

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