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If you are visiting London this season and looking to explore the vast English countryside during your trip, there is no greater time to embark along the Great West Way! This historic touring route allows you to travel between London and Bristol with ease, whether you are using the train from Paddington Station, cycling along the River Thames and Kennet and Avon Canal, or joining a chauffeured group tour. The Great West Way is not only home to some of the UK’s top attractions, but there are centuries of history to discover! From small country villages where you can meet the locals, to bustling cities like Bath and Bristol, the Great West Way offers it all. Here are our Top Reasons you need to embark on a journey between London and Bristol this season.
You can’t explore the Great West Way without recognising all that London has to offer. It’s the capital hub when it comes to all things history, art, culture and royalty. Easily located in the city centre are plenty of London’s top sights including The British Museum round the corner from Oxford Street, The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, the official residence and administrative headquarters of the Monarch, and Wellington Arch, the original entrance to the Palace.
Discover the vast diversity of human history, art and cultures at The British Museum in London, from the dawn of human history to the modern day. Home to over 8 million objects, within more than 50 galleries, visitors get the chance to walk through two million years of history! Returning for the first time since it was made nearly 1,000 years ago is the Bayeaux Tapestry. Following a historic agreement with France, this 70-metre-long tapestry will be loaned to the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027. The historic tapestry depicts events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
You can also travel west along the Great West Way, to Reading Museum, where you will find their famous Victorian copy of the Bayeux Tapestry!
From its home in London’s Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery tells the story of European art through some of the world’s greatest paintings including Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’. Founded in 1824, The National Gallery has more than 2,600 paintings from Renaissance Italy to French Impressionists.
During your visit, explore over 700 years of wall-to-wall masterpieces. Discover the history and stories from each collection, whether you wish to enjoy a self-guided experience or follow along a guided tour.
A famous part of London is its positioning along the River Thames. But did you know that you can actually follow it all the way to Reading, the Cotswolds and central parts of the Great West Way route! The River Thames offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, with many cycle and walking paths, boat tours and attractions along the waters edge.
Located a short drive from Kingston upon Thames is Hampton Court Palace, best known for being the home of England’s infamous King Henry VIII! The Palace is surrounded by 60-acres of breath-taking riverside and landscaped gardens, and includes the Tudor State Apartments, Baroque Palace and The Cumberland Art Gallery.
Did you Know? The exterior of Hampton Court Palace can be recognised as being a feature in Netflix’s Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte series’. The Palace stood in for St James’s Palace, the residence of Queen Charlotte in both shows.
No visit to the eastern parts of the Great West Way is quite complete with exploring the Royal town of Windsor. With easy access from London via the Elizabeth Line, Windsor is one of the best places to learn more about England’s royal history.
One of the most iconic parts of the town is Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world! Famously known for being the family home of British Kings and Queens for almost 1,000 years, it offers a varied day out for visitors. Explore the magnificent State Apartments, head inside St George’s Chapel, or take a Conquer the Tower Tour, where you can capture breath-taking views of the castle grounds, Windsor parkland and London skyline from the top of the Round Tower.
Did you Know? Windsor is the only place outside London where you can watch the Changing of the Guard, a process where a new Castle Guard exchanges duty with the Old Guard. Usually accompanied by a band, its an event not to miss when visiting Windsor!
Centrally located between London and Bristol is the county of Wiltshire. Home to some of the most idyllic landscapes, pretty villages and local charm, it’s easy to spend days upon days discovering all this county has to offer. It’s not all about picture-perfect scenery though, with its mysterious white horses, crop circles and prehistoric stone circles, there’s something unknowable about Wiltshire that leaves visitors wanting more.
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Standing impressively as a prehistoric monument and part of Wiltshire’s World Heritage Site, is Stonehenge. Explore the iconic landmark itself, as well as earthworks and burial mounds which surround the stone circle. Stonehenge’s orientation on the rising and setting sun has always been one of its remarkable and most mysterious features.
Visiting this World Heritage Site isn’t complete without stepping inside the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, where you can find museum-quality exhibitions, showcasing items on loan from nearby museums including Salisbury Museum and Wiltshire Museum. The Visitor Centre is also complete with a gift shop, housing a variety of souvenirs, the perfect way to remember your trip by!
Starting at Reading and finishing in Bristol, the Kennet and Avon Canal passes through the northern parts of Wiltshire and offers some of the most idyllic riverside walks and experiences. Owned by the Canal & River Trust, the Kennet and Avon Canal is a great way to enjoy slow travel along the Great West Way.
Home to one of the most famous landmarks along the Canal is Devizes, Wiltshire’s historic market town. Not only is their plenty to explore within its Medieval past, it’s claim to fame within the Industrial Revolution is the magnificent Caen Hill Locks, a triumph of Georgian engineering with 29 locks stretching over 2 miles!
The golden city of Bath has been welcoming visitors for over two centuries and as a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bath is home to some of the most impressive sights including the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and The Roman Baths.
The Roman Baths is located at the heart of the World Heritage City, where the Romans built a magnificent temple and bathing complex on the site of Britain’s only hot spring! Visitors can walk around the steaming Great Bath, see the ruins of the temple of Minerva, and explore the fascinating museum where you can find out who lived and worked there.
Roman Bath Tickets start from £15 and includes a handheld audio guide.
Known as the city of bridges, balloons, boats, bikes, Brunel and Banksy, Bristol is a creative, cultural and vibrant hub with a rich maritime heritage. Whether you are looking for a great day out with the whole family, or a romantic staycation away, Bristol is the perfect place to complete your Great West Way journey from London.
Step on board Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Bristol’s top attraction and one of England’s top ten museums according to TripAdvisor 2024! Located on Bristol’s picturesque harbour, SS Great Britain was rescued from rust and wreckage in 1970 and later restored to its original Victorian state. During your visit, step back in time as you discover the fascinating history behind the iconic steam ship!
The Great West Way follows 120 miles if you are travelling direct from central London to Bristol. But the route has so much more to offer, with over 500 miles of navigable ancient pathways, offering plenty of iconic destinations within easy reach.
Head just off the Great West Way route, to Cheddar Gorge and Caves in Somerset! Boasting awe-inspiring cliffs, extraordinary caves and breath-taking views, Cheddar Gorge allows you experience nature, wildlife, history and adventure in one day!
Don’t Miss: Jacob’s Ladder, a 274-step climb from the bottom of the Gorge to the top, leading to the Lookout Tower which offers stunning views of the Somerset Levels!
Head towards Oxford, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire and you will find Waddesdon Manor. This former Rothschild, French Renaissance chateau is brimming with priceless treasures and offers the perfect day out within easy reach of the Great West Way! Explore the Waddesdon Manor House and Collections, including a contemporary exhibition space, a boutique hotel, wine cellar and acres of landscapes gardens.
© Great West Way 2026.
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