3 Weeks in England Itinerary

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There’s more to England than the castles, their posh accent, and the Royal Family. There’s also fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie. But aside from these, you’ll get entranced with the scenery, history, and culture.

London has some of the best museums in the world and it is also included in the top 4 fashion capitals of the world. Aside from that, they have an extremely wide variety of tea.

At least once in your lifetime, you have to attend a music festival in England. Most of the world-famous bands and musicians hail from this place. England is the largest country in the UK in terms of both population and landmass.

When it comes to exploring the natural and wilderness, England also has something to offer. There is the Lake District in Cumbria, which is not far from Scotland’s border. All of this is just the tip of the iceberg as there are many things to see in England. This itinerary will help you plan a vacation for 3 weeks in England.

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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO ENGLAND

4 images - london tower with the uk flag, fish and chips, royal pavilion, and manchester's cathedral - 3 Weeks in England Itinerary

Here are some tips that you need to know before we jump right into the itinerary. These tips can help you plan and write your itinerary for England to ensure that your vacation will have as little hassle as possible.

Perhaps you want to make your vacation a 3 weeks in the UK and Ireland trip instead. If you feel like 20 days in England is too much time, you can upgrade your vacation to 3 weeks in the UK. We also have an itinerary for 3 weeks in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

When is the best time to go to England

England’s peak season is from July to August. The best time to visit depends on what you plan to do. June to August is England’s warmest month, perfect for people who are fond of the beach and watersports.

Their winter season is from November to March, although it rains a lot more in England than it does in snow. England’s. The spring season is from March to May. It’s the time for sudden rain showers so make sure to always bring umbrellas or rain gear if you decide to come and their peak season is from July to August.

Are 3 weeks enough for England

3 weeks in England is plenty of time. You can travel a little slower and explore places that most tourists don’t get to see. Instead of focusing only on London, you can not just take day trips to southern and northern England.

You will probably visit 6-7 cities in England in under 20 days. You can rent a car and travel slower. You can also take the bus and trains since you won’t be in a hurry. It’s not a very big country, but there are lots of things to do.

What to pack

Regardless of when you plan to visit England, it’s vital that you bring an umbrella or a raincoat since it can pour any time of the year. But other than that, pack according to what season you plan to visit.

England has some really great hiking trails. So, If you want to go hiking, you should bring hiking shoes or boots. Check out our what to pack for a 3-week trip and look at the sample packing list. We also have a summer packing list for a 3-week holiday.

Average cost of 20 days in England

On an average budget, a 20-day trip to England could cost roughly $2,500-$3,500 per person. This includes mid-range accommodations, meals at casual restaurants, public transportation, and regular tourist attractions.

For backpackers, expect to spend around $1,200-$1,800. This involves staying in budget accommodations like hostels, eating at inexpensive eateries or self-catering, using public transport, and focusing on free or low-cost activities.

A luxury 20-day trip could cost from $5,000 to $8,000 per person, incorporating upscale accommodations, fine dining, private or first-class transportation, and premium experiences like guided tours or high-end shopping.

Note that costs could vary significantly depending on personal preferences and lifestyle. Plus, it doesn’t include your flights to and from England and travel insurance.

How to get around

Getting around England is fairly easy due to its size and well-built public transportation. It is very recommended that you rent your own car if you plan to stay for 3 weeks in England. It will give you plenty of freedom and control of your time rather than waiting and trying to catch the bus or the train.

Another way to travel in England is by taking the train, especially for long journeys and the cheapest way is by coaches. You can also travel by car or through their coasts and waterways. You can move around by car, railway, bus, or by renting a push bike to move around the cities.

RENT BIKES
RAILEUROPE
RENTALCARS
FLIXBUS

Language and Currency

England’s currency is the pound sterling (GBP). Debit cards, credit cards, and contactless payments are common in Britain. You will be able to find ATMs in almost every corner of the country. If you plan to carry cash about £100 in total would be plenty.

The main language in England is English. In some iconic landmarks, you might see things written in different languages, although rare. It’s such a melting pot of a city though, you will hear lots of languages and culture around England, especially in London.

Visa

Visitors with passports from North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, and some Oceania don’t need a visa to enter and travel to the UK for 180 days.

Other visitors must apply for a tourist or visitor visa in advance at the nearest British/UK Embassy or Consulate.

Other travel tips

Arranging flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements is done online now. Knowing which sites you can book these things without paying too much is very helpful. I use these travel tools whenever booking my accommodations and transportation.

HOTELS
VISA
CAR RENTAL
TOURS
FLIGHTS
BUS (EU/US/CA)
TRAINS EUROPE
TRAIN/BUS (ASIA)
TOUR OPTIONS
TRAVEL INSURANCE
TOURS (ASIA)
HOSTELS
BIKE RENTAL
ESIM
AIRPORT PICKUP

PINNED MAP OF MUST-SEE PLACES IN ENGLAND

Click the enlarge button on the top right corner. Credit: map data: Google

3 WEEKS IN ENGLAND ITINERARY

Exploring England means visiting many historical spots and iconic landmarks and structures, including Big Ben, London Bridge, London Eye, Stonehenge, and the red phone booth, to name a few.

England is passionate when it comes to sports, and the locals take them very seriously. This includes football, cricket, tennis, and rugby. If England is not enough for you, you can always make an itinerary that covers the entire Western Europe for 3 weeks.

Package tours

Although it’s quite easy to travel around England, you might feel like avoiding all the planning and prefer a relaxing trip. In that case, you should look into a package tour that includes most costs plus an expert to do all the arrangement on your behalf.

Here are some package tours for England, but they are all suitable for young travellers only for now:

6 DAYS AROUND ENGLAND (18-35 YRS OLD)
9 DAYS ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND (18-35 YRS OLD)
16 DAYS GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND (18-35 YRS OLD)

Day-to-day overview

  • Day 1: Land in London and arrange a private airport transfer (from Heathrow or Gatwick) or get to your hotel via a bus or train or taxi – pick up your car rental at the airport if you plan to do a road trip – also get an esim that works everywhere in the UK
  • Day 2-5: Explore London – there are so much to see and do, so take your time
  • Day 6: Travel from London to the Northern region (Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds) by bus or train or driving
  • Day 7-8: Explore this area
  • Day 9: Go hiking at Lake District National Park
  • Day 10: Go hiking at Peak District National Park
  • Day 11: Get to Bristol from Manchester by bus, train, or driving
  • Day 12: Day trip to The Roman Baths at Bath
  • Day 13: Day trip to Cardiff (Wales)
  • Day 14: If visiting in June or summer, check if the Glastonbury Music Festival is happening and attend
  • Day 15: Travel from Bristol to Brighton by bus, driving, or by train
  • Day 16: Visit the Royal Pavillion and explore Brighton
  • Day 17: Day trip to nearby areas such as Eastbourne and Worthing and hike South Downs National Park
  • Day 18: Get to Cambridge from Brighton by bus, train, or driving
  • Day 19: Explore Cambridge
  • Day 20: Travel back to London by bus or train or driving, and take a flight back home

London for 5 days

3 weeks in England have to include London, especially if you haven’t been here before. There are so many things to see in London, including the world’s largest library, exquisite architecture, museums, and exhibition spaces.

London is most likely where you will start your trip since the major hub of Heathrow Airport is here. From London, you should be able to reach any city in England or the UK. There will be trains, metros, buses, and planes traveling in all directions. London also has an extensive theatre scene and diverse food and cuisine options.

When you are in London, you must see a theatre show at least once. I also recommend you get a hop-on hop-off bus ticket to make moving around a little easier.

3 images - london tower and red phone booth, buckingham palace, and st paul's cathedral - 3 Weeks in England Itinerary

Things to see in London

Accommodations in London

Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds for 5 days

These four cities can definitely be explored in one go – but choose which city you want to be your home for 5 days. These cities are near one another, so getting from one place to another shouldn’t be a problem.

Manchester is where the first professional football league was formed. You could also enjoy traces and the legacy of the 25 Nobel prize awardees throughout the place. On the other hand, Liverpool is a ferry and cruise port and is famous for its ferry trips, the Liverpool Cathedral, and Royal Albert Dock, among others.

Sheffield is one of the greenest cities in the UK despite being coined as a steel city because it produces steel. They have Sheffield Legends Plaques, the counterpart of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

Leeds is famous for housing the oldest commercial railway in the world, having the world’s most significant animal armor, and having the longest-running West Indian Carnival in Europe.

While exploring Northern England, you can base yourself in Manchester or Liverpool, which has plenty of hotels. Getting from these cities to other parts of this region is very easy.

3 images - manchester cathedral, albert dock, and harrogate - 3 Weeks in England Itinerary

Things to see in these cities

Manchester:

Liverpool:

Sheffield:

  • Peak District – you can do a Scavenger hunt
  • Sheffield Botanical Gardens
  • Graves Park
  • Kelham Island Museum
  • Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
  • Sheffield Town Hall
  • Beauchief Abbey and Ancient Woodlands

Leeds:

Accommodations in Manchester

Bristol for 4 days

After visiting such bustling cities, you will be glad to have arrived in Bristol. It’s where you’ll see more open space and green areas. It’s where you can go for a walk along the boardwalk or hike at the Mendip Hills National Landscape. It’s also near Bath, where you can enjoy the relaxing spa and traditional baths.

Bristol is truly an astounding place filled with different forms of art and creative outlets, which vary in each area. Stokes Croft is filled with vintage stores, indie cafes, and street art. Clifton has a variety of concept stores, and Bedminster is where the Upfest Art Festival is held.

The perfect duration of stay here for those spending three weeks in England would be about three days.

If you are coming from Leeds, you could reach Bristol by boarding a train, riding a bus, using rideshare, driving, or even flying. The most recommended option is to ride the train; the bus is the cheapest. Driving would take more or less three hours to reach your destination.

Things to see in Bristol

Accommodations in Bristol

Brighton for 3 days

Brighton is known for festivals that showcase local and international talents. Some of the world-famous festivals include the Fringe Festival and The Brighton Festival, among dozens of other festivals and live shows.

Brighton is also well-known for its beaches and shoreline paths, where people can easily walk and cycle. Sit by the beach, order fish and chips, and spend some time watching boats and ferries passing through the English Channel.

For those who want to go to Brighton from Bristol, you can take the train, ride the bus, or drive with the most recommended option is boarding the train, and the cheapest option would be riding a bus. Driving is about three hours before reaching your destination (this is the fastest option).

When you get to Brighton, make sure to get a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket. The bus stops at famous attractions in Brighton. This will make your exploration much easier.

Things to see in Brighton

Accommodations in Brighton

3 images - st mary's redcliffe, royal pavilion, and king's college - 3 Weeks in England Itinerary

Cambridge for 2 days

Cambridge is usually known as the world-famous university under its namesake. But aside from that, this city has so much to offer. It has dazzling architecture, museums, retail markets, and tons of lush greeneries.

It’s home to many students and has a really lively scene. So, if you’re looking to party outside London, you’ll definitely find some spots along Sydney Street.

To get to Cambridge from Brighton, you can either take the train, bus or drive on your own. It takes 2 and a half hours to reach Cambridge. There’s also a hop-on-hop-off bus for touring around Cambridge.

Things to see in Cambridge

Accommodations in Cambridge

SUMMARY OF 3 WEEKS IN ENGLAND ITINERARY

If you think we’ve already covered everything England offers, you’re in for a wild ride because this isn’t even the tip of the iceberg. England is a country full of eccentricities, and what’s great about them is that they embrace their quirkiness.

Their strangest sport is chasing cheese down the hill. They also have a ceremony called apple wassail, wherein they bless apple trees to produce good crops, which would then be used in making cider. England has a traditional folk dance called Morris Dancing.

Witnessing all of these up close would make your trip worthwhile. And that’s it, you have now reached the end of this itinerary about staying for 3 weeks in England. We hope that you enjoyed this article.

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A 3-week England trip includes exploring London’s landmarks, Oxford’s historic colleges, and the Lake District’s stunning landscapes. Visit Bath’s Roman architecture, Cornwall’s coastal charm, and the Cotswolds’ villages for a mix of culture, history, and scenery. via @threeweektraveller