Top Ten Unusual Things to do on the Great West Way

Want to fill your Great West Way holiday with unusual activities, unique things to do, and eccentric places to visit? While the Great West Way leads you between some incredible iconic sights like Stonehenge, the Roman Baths, Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle, it is also packed with hidden gems and unexpected treasures. So if you like the sound of mixing things up a bit, you certainly won’t be disappointed! To start you off, here are ten unusual things to do during a holiday on the Great West Way.

During the ongoing covid pandemic, please check local tier levels and restrictions before you travel, and abide by government guidance.

Go for a Rooftop Swim

Taking a dip in an open-air rooftop pool fed by naturally warm, mineral-rich waters sounds pretty luxurious, doesn't it? Add in spectacular views over the golden city of Bath, and it gets even better! To enjoy this sumptuous and unusual swimming and spa experience, head to Thermae Bath Spa in Bath as part of your Great West Way journey.

Climb the Rigging

Brunel’s SS Great Britain was the world’s first great ocean liner. Today, it has been restored to its Victorian hey-day and is one of the most popular attractions in Bristol, at the Western end of the Great West Way route. Stepping aboard is like travelling back in time. If you're brave enough, you can go aloft by climbing the huge mainmast, scaling the rigging and reaching a viewing platform 16m above the ground - offering a beautiful and unusual view of Bristol's floating harbour.

Watch a Show in an old Watermill

Situated in rural West Berkshire, the Watermill Theatre produces award-winning work and is considered to be one of the UK's best producing theatres. This beautiful old building was once a working watermill and has since been converted into a welcoming, intimate theatre space which seats just over two hundred people. There’s a busy programme of shows to enjoy every year, from family-friendly productions to hard-hitting new writing. What makes it so unusual? Well, there aren't many other places where you could watch theatre this good in such a charming, characterful, rural location.

Go for a Windsor Duck Tour

There are many fantastic sightseeing tours you can enjoy as you travel along the Great West Way. And Windsor Duck Tours is one of the most unexpected. This amphibious sightseeing tour will whisk you around Royal Windsor - presided over by the grand Windsor Castle - by both road and river. The exciting moment your vehicle splashes into the river makes this unusual tour great fun for all ages.

Explore on a Paddleboard

For another out-of-the-ordinary tour option, let Wild Swim Bike Run take you on a Stand Up Paddleboard tour of Bath. Their SUP tour takes you on a journey along the Kennet & Avon canal, through 19th Century canal tunnels and under Bath's iconic white cast iron footbridges. Enjoy a completely new perspective of the city as you paddle around beautiful Bath’s waterways.

See our Industrial Heritage at Work

From Clifton Suspension Bridge at one end to Paddington Station at the other, there are some spectacular reminders of England's industrial past to discover along the Great West Way. Some of these historic gems are still in working order - and can even be seen in action! For an unusual introduction to the area's heritage, explore some of these living pieces of history. Whitchurch Silk Mill in Hampshire, for example, is a 200-year-old silk mill which still uses historic equipment and processes to produce beautiful silks. Crofton Beam Engines on the Kennet and Avon Canal was built around the same time as Whitchurch Silk Mill, to pump water to the highest point of the canal. The Beam Engines are in working order and are put in action for visitors to watch during regular weekends every summer.

Go Surfing (but Not in the Sea)

The Wave is the first destination of its kind here in England; a manmade inland-surfing lake with consistent and reliable waves. Whether you're a complete beginner or an absolute pro, try your hand at inland surfing at The Wave near Bristol as part of your Great West Way adventure.

Fly a Spitfire

Maidenhead Heritage Centre is a hidden gem of a museum, tucked away towards the East end of the Great West Way route. Here you can find out all about the history of Maidenhead, as well as having a go at flying in their unique Spitfire simulator. The Spitfire simulator lets you experience for yourself what it was like to be a young pilot in the 1940s.

Visit an Eccentric Castle

From ancient castles to grand palaces and stunning stately homes, there are many fantastic historic buildings to explore and admire as you travel along the Great West Way route. But Strawberry Hill House - a ‘little gothic castle’ in South West London - has got to be one of the most unusual. This architectural masterpiece was created in the 18th century as an eccentric home overlooking the Thames, and a visit here is like stepping into a fairytale.

Jump on a Bicycle Made for Two

Here’s another unusual tour option to round things off. Bristol Tandem Hire offer self-guided tours at the Western end of the Great West Way route. Hire a high-spec, easy to ride tandem bike and explore Bristol, Bath and the surrounds. Team up with a buddy or loved one, pool your strengths and enjoy the unique experience of riding a tandem as you explore a new city. You can even choose to buy a hamper of artisan food to take along with you for a picnic. Yum!

We hope we’ve inspired you with some of the more unusual and quirky things to do along the Great West Way route. But there are plenty more unique experiences and hidden gems to try – take a look at all the things to see and do along the Great West Way to help you plan the perfect English holiday.