Escape the Everyday on the Great West Way

Book your Great West Way adventure as we move out of lockdown this summer. Escape the everyday and rediscover the charms of quintessential England as you journey between Bristol and London. Roam through idyllic countryside, quaint villages and elegant towns along the Great West Way.

Remember to Know Before You Go – plan in advance, make sure you understand relevant restrictions and check opening times with individual businesses before you travel. And if you're not sure when things are reopening, take a look at our handy Great West Way reopening roadmap. 

Rediscover Quintessential England

From iconic sites like Hampton Court Palace, Stonehenge, the Roman Baths, Windsor Castle and Clifton Suspension Bridge to postcard villages where thatched cottages sit alongside pristine village greens and historic pubs - the distilled essence of England can be found here on the Great West Way.

Sit down to an alfresco afternoon tea where Jane Austen was once at home. Take a gentle stroll down winding country lanes or through picture-perfect market towns. Spend long summer evenings drinking West Country cider in a pub beer-garden. Take a trip along the canal in a traditional narrowboat. Discover how traditional English gin and contemporary English wines are made. Enjoy carriage rides, street art, pub lunches, Georgian townhouses, rolling hills, historic cottages, ancient standing stones and gorgeous gardens. Now is the time to discover the hidden England on your doorstep.

For a quintessentially English market town with a slightly exotic twist, escape to Corsham as part of your Great West Way journey this summer. Here flamboyant peacocks wander regally through traditional, picture-perfect streets. There are beautiful historic buildings, lovely walks and welcoming independent shops to discover. 

Don't Follow the Herd

Sick of staring at the same four walls every day? That's not a problem on the Great West Way. Get out into the English countryside and breathe in that fresh, fresh air. The whole length of the route boasts wide, open landscapes just calling out to be explored. Rolling green downland. Fields of bright wildflowers. Tranquil lakes. Get away from the crowds and head out into these quintessentially English landscapes for some restorative me-time.

Why not take the road less-travelled and discover an unexpected and surprising short-break destination west of London along the route of England’s Great West Way -Reading. With lots of celebrations planned to mark the 900th anniversary of medieval Reading Abbey in summer 2021, Escape the Everyday with a stop here as part of your Great West Way journey. Expect fun watersports, fascinating museums, luxurious places to stay and intriguing connections to historic figures like Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen and Henry I.

Travel Your Way

Get ready for a summer adventure. Journey along the Great West Way route between Bristol and London at your own pace and in your own way. Jump on and off the train with the Great West Way Discoverer pass. Pull on your walking boots to cover a section of the route by foot. Take to the water on a boat trip along the River Thames or Kennet and Avon canal. Pile your car boot full of picnic rugs and holiday reads, and take to the open road. Or jump on your bike to explore hidden byways and side-streets.

Where to Stay on the Great West Way

Accommodation of all kinds is now allowed to reopen in England, and there are lots of brilliant places to stay on your Great West Way adventure. Why not take the route slowly – giving you time to explore its hidden delights – and stay somewhere new each evening? There are cosy cottages with log fires and country gardens. Luxurious hotels where you can enjoy fine-dining and sumptuous spa treatments. Secluded glamping pods and friendly campsites. Family-friendly B&Bs with home-cooked breakfasts to start your day right. Village pubs with cosy beam-crossed bedrooms. Rural farm stays, city-centre hostels, unique treehouses or even houseboats; the choice is yours.

Things to Do and Places to Visit

The Great West Way leads to famous places you’ve always dreamed of visiting, as well as those secret spots even some locals have yet to discover. Along the Way you can sample activities and attractions to suit every taste. Explore glorious gardens and stately homes you'll recognise from TV. Take a balloon ride over breath-taking English countryside. Take the kids to see tigers, giraffes and monkeys. Sit down to a Michelin-star meal or a slap-up pub lunch. Walk through history at fascinating museums or grand historic houses. Enjoy cocktails in chic city bars. Discover Bristol's street art, Bath's hidden gardens or the secrets of Stonehenge. Visit royal residencies. Go for a tandem bike ride around vibrant city streets.

Discover 2,000 years of stories at a torchlit summer evening at the Roman Baths - one of the finest spas of the ancient world. During the summer months the Roman Baths stays open until 10pm on selected dates, allowing visitors to experience something truly magical as daylight fades and flickering torches are lit. Beneath the torches visitors can walk on the 2,000 year old pavements and experience the Romans in a new light.

This summer, explore an English icon when you visit the home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill at Blenheim Palace - just off the Great West Way route. Stroll through 2,000 acres of parkland, admire some of the finest views in England, and enjoy a picnic in the grounds. Then tour the palace to find out more about Churchill, as well as the lives of the family and staff who have lived at Blenheim over the years. 

Treat Yourself

Sample delicious food and drink as you journey along the Great West Way this year. We're thrilled to be welcoming you back to the pubs, restaurants and cafes along the Way this summer. Linger over an indulgent afternoon tea in a quaint country cafe. Sit down to a gourmet meal in a Michelin-starred restaurant. Sip local beer in sunny beer gardens... Whatever your tastes, there’s a tantalising buffet of foodie experiences to enjoy along the route. 
 

Why not escape the everyday at a picturesque English vineyard as part of your Great West Way trip? Sample award-winning local wines at Alder Ridge vineyard, which can be found nestled into the chalky slopes of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Learn all about the triumphs, trials, and tribulations of winemaking in England and enjoy a guided tasting of some delicious English sparkling wines.

Ready to Escape the Everyday? Book your Great West Way adventure today.