Travel by Car on the Great West Way

Sometimes it’s fun to travel under your own steam. A road trip adventure along the Great West Way allows you to linger as long as you want in each destination, and even venture off on a complete tangent if the mood takes you, take a look at our suggested itineraries to help you make a start. 

The main road between London and Bristol is the A4 Great West Road, based on an ancient horse track and later, one of King Charles I’s Great Roads, which facilitated the establishment of the British postal service - The Royal Mail. 

Fun fact: The first mail coach was introduced between Bristol and London in 1784. 

The A4 cuts a fairly direct path between the two cities, allowing you to travel the distance in less than 2 hours 30 minutes if you wanted to. Of course, if you’re travelling by car, half the pleasure is being able to pull off and explore whenever you like. You could stop for a quick snack, but you might as well do a spot of sightseeing too - or even stay overnight if you have time. Easy stops along the main route include Windsor, Reading, Newbury, Hungerford, Avebury, Corsham and Bath. 

Wherever you decide to base yourself along the touring route, there’ll also be charming country lanes and winding rural roads to enjoy. Jump in the car and see where you end up! 

You may find the AA’s Route Planner tool useful for planning your road trip. Also, our pages on car hire and travel tips could be of interest - especially if this is your first time driving in the UK.