Self-drive Tours in the UK

Yes! Thanks to an extensive road network, you’ll find that driving is one of the most convenient ways to explore the UK. Hire a car and you’ll be able to travel around the UK at your own pace, stopping whenever you like along the way.

Depending on where you’re going in the UK, you can expect different types of roads. Most major cities within the UK are connected by motorways or dual carriageways, which are often the quickest way to get from A to B. That said, you’ll usually enjoy a more picturesque journey by getting off these major routes.

When you book with Nordic Visitor, you can leave the route planning to us. Our local experts know the best roads to take around the country for both scenery and ease. You’ll even get a personalised road map that’s hand-marked with the recommended driving route for your trip.

For helpful information on driving in the UK, read our blog filled with travel tips from a local expert. For more inspiration, check out these best road trips in Europe.

You drive on the left-hand side of the road in the UK. This means your rental car will be right-hand drive and you’ll change gears with your left hand.

While many locals drive manual (stick shift) cars, you’ll find that rental companies offer automatic vehicles as well. In fact, if it’s your first time driving on the left-hand side – or if you feel more comfortable driving an automatic – we recommend this.

At its widest point, the UK is around 300 miles (500 kilometres) across. And it’s around 600 miles (1,000 kilometres) long. But you won’t necessarily be driving to all corners of the country, so it depends where exactly you plan on visiting.

While you can drive along motorways to arrive at your next destination more quickly, we suggest that you follow a more meandering route away from these major highways. This way, you’ll get to enjoy scenic views as you journey through the beautiful British countryside. Of course, this means the duration of your trip depends on what you’d like to see and do in the UK.

For a driving tour of England and Scotland, with the chance to see Wales as well, you’ll need at least 7 days. This will give you time to take in some of the top highlights in a short space of time. We do suggest that you stay longer than this, if you can, to have more free days to explore.

With 10 days, you could spend more time at key stops along the way. And with even longer, such as 2-3 weeks, you could delve more deeply into the local culture, enjoy travelling at a leisurely pace, and venture to more destinations and attractions.

Nordic Visitor’s UK travel experts have used their local knowledge to curate a range of itineraries, with various stops and durations. So you can pick the tour package that suits your interests and preferred pace. You can also add extra nights to extend your road trip.

Despite its relatively small size, you’ll find the UK is brimming with variety. So if you want to explore the best highlights, don’t limit yourself to just one region or country.

With so many distinct landscapes, towns and cities to discover, you’ll want to tour around to make the most of your time here. And you don’t need to travel far to do so!

With a rich cultural heritage going back further than Neolithic times, you can visit historic sites through the ages. For instance, you could admire the view from York’s medieval city walls and stroll past elegant Georgian townhouses in Bath and Edinburgh. You’ll also uncover places where the Romans and Vikings left their mark.

You can also add some top literary sites to your UK tour to see where famous authors got their inspiration from. 

The UK’s natural scenery is just as diverse. Venture to Scotland’s west coast and you’ll glimpse sparkling lakes and rugged mountains. Meanwhile, head to the English midlands for gorgeous countryside dotted with pretty market towns. 

Then, be sure to venture north to visit the stunning Lake District, historic Northumberland and post-card perfect Yorkshire. For more inspiration, read these top things to see and do in Northern England.

Here’s a round-up of the top places for you to check out on your UK trip:

Must-see cities:
• London
• Oxford
• Bath
• York
• Edinburgh

Charming small towns:
• Ambleside
• Bakewell
• Portree
• Llandudno
• Prestatyn

Beautiful national parks:
• Lake District
• Peak District
• Yorkshire Dales
• Trossachs
• Snowdonia (Eryri)

Other top spots you won’t want to miss:
• Stonehenge
• Hadrian's Wall
• Loch Ness
• Isle of Skye
• Portmeirion village

If you’re thinking about combining your British escape with an Irish self-drive tour, get inspired by these top spots and the best road trips in Ireland.

You can have an unforgettable British getaway at any time of year. But visit between April and October, and you’ll benefit from longer daylight hours and warmer weather compared to the winter. Plus, while some attractions are open year-round, you’ll find that others will close during the winter months.

So for the best sightseeing experience, we recommend travelling in spring, summer or autumn. Just pick the season that most appeals to you.

Spring – April to May – is often the driest time of year in the UK. But, don’t let this be the main reason you choose to visit in spring, as the weather can be changeable all year. Instead, come for the quieter attractions and blooming flowers.

Summer – June, July and August – is the most popular season for exploring the UK by car. This is because the days are long and temperatures tend to be warm. It’s also the school holidays during this time, so it’s peak time for family trips in the UK.

In British towns and cities, summer brings a vibrant atmosphere and outdoor festivals showcasing food, music and art. Meanwhile, the countryside and coastline come alive with visitors and locals, soaking up nature in the better weather.

Autumn – late September to October – is similar to spring, in that there tends to be fewer visitors around. And as the temperature drops, you’ll see forests turning from green to vibrant shades of yellow and orange.

To find out more about the seasons, read this blog on the best time to visit the UK.

When it comes to planning your dream trip to the UK, you’ll want to consider a few things. For instance, where you’ll visit, what you’ll do along the way, and the route you’ll take around England, Scotland and Wales. You’ll also need to plan your accommodation and rental car.

Instead of doing all the work yourself, why not leave the planning to us? You’ll have a dedicated travel consultant, based here in the UK, to organise your itinerary and make the arrangements for you.

Their insider knowledge means that whatever trip you choose, you’ll get to experience the best the UK has to offer in the time you’ve got. Plus, no matter the itinerary you select, you’ll enjoy a mix of stunning landscapes and captivating towns and cities.

Your personal travel consultant will book your accommodation, car rental, and any excursions before you arrive. With your UK itinerary taken care of, all you need to do is look forward to your trip.

Go for a driving tour of Great Britain with Nordic Visitor and you’ll get car hire with our tried-and-tested partner as standard. What’s more, your car rental package comes with the following:

• • Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
• • Unlimited mileage
• • Authorisation for 2 drivers

If you have questions about hiring a car, you can also speak to one of our UK-based travel consultants.

If your national driving licence is valid, in date and recognised in the UK, you don’t need to get an international driving licence (IDP). This will let you drive any small vehicle listed on your licence, including our rental cars.

For England, Scotland and Wales, you can use your driving licence for up to 12 months from the day you enter the country.

Bear in mind that the rules are different in Northern Ireland. Find out more on the government website.

Yes, there are some age requirements for car rental on these UK self-drive tours. And please bear in mind that no matter what age you are, you’ll need a driving licence that’s valid in the UK.

You can hire a vehicle from any of Nordic Visitor’s rental car categories if you’re aged between 25 and 79.

If you are 23 or 24 years old and have held your driving licence for at least 1 year, you can rent a car with a young driver surcharge of £25 per day. You’ll be able to choose from Nordic Visitor car rental categories A, B, C and F.

The minimum age to rent a car in the UK is 21. And you’ll find there are specific rental companies who can organise vehicle hire and insurance for you if you’re 21 or 22. In this case, we’d be happy to arrange the rest of your tour and advise you on where to book your rental car.

If you are aged 80 or over, you can pick a car from any of our rental categories. A doctor’s note is no longer required by our local car hire partner. But you’ll need to let them know of any medical conditions and confirm that you’re acting on your doctor’s guidance.

Yes, you can adjust your package online. Choose from a wide range of optional activities, upgrade your accommodation, and add extra nights in places along your route.

For instance, we recommend spending more time in Oxford at the start of your trip. There’s so much to discover – you could try out a punting boat trip on the River Cherwell and check out the fascinating Bodleian Library. Plus, there’s the pub that’s well-known for being one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s and C.S. Lewis’s favourite places to meet.

London – the iconic cosmopolitan capital – is bursting with things to do and sights to see. Add extra nights here at the end of your trip to soak up as much of it as you can. Use your extra time here to visit world-renowned museums and galleries, grand royal palaces and famous British shops.

What’s more, if you want to immerse yourself in nature, you could extend your stay in places such as Fort William or the Lake District.

Get inspired by these top things to see and do in the Lake District.

Absolutely! Begin your UK self-drive tour whenever you like between April and October. Each tour has an online calendar where you can see up-to-date availability for that trip. Simply choose the date that works best for you.

We recommend holding off on booking flights until you have received a tour confirmation email from your dedicated travel consultant. That said, it’s worth checking to see what flights are available before choosing your trip dates.

Once your tour is confirmed, you can go ahead with making travel arrangements for your UK getaway.

You’ll find that the weather in the UK can be changeable, and varies between different locations. It can be much warmer in the south of England than in the Scottish Highlands, for example. So it’s worth packing for a mix of conditions.

No matter what you’ve got planned for your trip, comfortable shoes are a must. And a combination of warm and light layers will be handy for exploring sights in the city and countryside.

We suggest bringing these key items:

• Comfortable hiking shoes or boots
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Warm, insulated jacket
• Fleece or woollen jumper
• Light base layers
• Lightweight trousers or shorts
• Cosy hat, scarf and gloves
• Sunglasses, sun hat and sun cream
• Rucksack
• Reusable water bottle
• UK plug adapter

For evenings out, you might want to bring some smart outfits too.