3 Weeks In The UK Itinerary

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TLDR: In this guide I’m going to give you a clear guide on how you could do your own 3 week UK itinerary, as a roadtrip or by train, based on my own experience as a tourist and more importantly, someone who calls this country his home. So if you’re looking for a UK travel itinerary 20 days in length, then this ones for you.

Jump to: The itinerary | When to go | Safety | Budget | England | Scotland | Wales | N. Ireland

Classic view across the Thames on my trip to the UK
It’s not always cloudy, but I had to get a classic Thames shot
TABLE OF CONTENTS show

My UK Travel Story

I travel the world a lot in my day job in travel marketing, but also because I’m someone who has rather cinematic visions of far flung places and gets very restless. One thing that anyone who calls a place home tends not to do, is explore their own country enough. So, with a bit more on my work plate in the last 2 years, I decided to explore the UK and its 4 nations a bit more thoroughly.

In truth, I’d be meaning to do it for some time, as lockdown a few years ago forced us all to ‘staycation’ a bit more. During that time I had no choice but to start investigating trainline maps and stare at atlases of the UK a lot more. It’s a pretty diverse country with deep pockets of history, stunning scenary and also a ton of charm. From riding vintage steam trains to the countryside, ice creams at traditional seaside towns, hiking the moors or pub crawls around London’s next best boozy mile; I think I can share some wisdom.

So, that’s the backstory and why I think this 20 day itinerary of the UK can work as a perfect plan for any traveller.

Harry Potter Vibes anyone? Vintage steam-train trips to the countryside in Somerset

The UK is such a great destination to spend your 3-week vacation. It comprises four beautiful countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Visiting the UK will make the most out of your annual holiday.

You will get to chill at the beach (if visiting in summer), hike a mountain or two, explore ancient cities and ruins, visit a traditional pub (Boozer), and, well, finally, have the best fish and chips you will ever have.

3 week trip to the UK with British pubs
A British pub in Windsor decked out with bunting for the King’s Coronation

In this article, I will show you how to spend 3 weeks in the UK. I will first list things you should prepare before you book anything, and then I will proceed to show you must-see places and must-do activities during your holiday, plus tips on places to stay in each country.

RELATED POST: 3 weeks in Europe on a budget and 3 different East Europe itineraries for 3 weeks

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO THE UK

4 images - london downtown, edinburgh castle, belfast castle, glasgow downtown - 3 Weeks In The UK Itinerary

A little history…

The United Kingdom, also known as Great Britain, can be confusing to people who are not local. The name Britain came even before the now-known United Kingdom.

Before Great Britain existed, England and Scotland were two nations separated by war and joined by Royal blood lines; while Wales was connected to England officially since the Tudors (Welsh) overthrew the reigning Royal Family at the Battle of Bosworth in the 1500s.

When Scotland and Wales joined England In 1707 after what was known as the Act of Union, the three nations united into one nation referred to as Great Britain today.

So where does Ireland fit into this? Ireland had been part ruled from England since the 12th century, but not officially. When Ireland was divided into two, Northern Ireland formally joined Great Britain, and the term United Kingdom of Great Britain became official.

Today, the terms the United Kingdom and Great Britain are used interchangeably. Here are some quick tips for travelling to the UK; before you book anything, take a look and plan your trip properly.

Travel Safety Icon

Travel Safety in the UK

As a website that is based in the UK as much as it is in the US, we have a pretty good understanding of safety in the UK. While the media can paint a picture of lawlessness and street crime in London, this is still a fairly rare occurence. If you’re walking across Tower Bridge or stopping to observe Houses of Parliament, you’re more likely to be run over by a herd of pedestrians than be robbed. Outside of the big cities, crime levels are as you would expect in any major developed economy. Writing as the editor who works in London and lives on the outskirts in Essex, personal safety would never really cross my mind. Not unless I’m walking around on my own at night in economically poorer neighbourhoods, flashing valuables.

The UK has seen a number of changing demographics around big cities, where other cultures have impacted on the more traditional British traits you might be familiar with, but take a trip to Somerset, Devon, Scottish Highlands, or Snowdonia in Wales, and still expect strangers to greet you as you pass on a country lane.

In short, don’t believe everything the media says. The UK is pretty damn safe.

If you want a government source for up to date travel information in a belt and braces way, you can check out the US Dept of State website. US Dept of State on UK travel

When is the best time to go to the UK

Normally, when we talk about the best time to visit a place for a holiday, the summer season in the Global North is the preferred time to go on a holiday.

But for the UK, the best time to visit is during spring. It’s the time when it’s drier and warmer. Summer in the UK is filled with rain, while winter is freezing and still raining. If you get allergies from the pollen that spring brings, remember to bring your medications.

Are 3 weeks enough for the UK

The UK is not a massive country when it comes to land size; however, there is just so much to see. I really want you to focus on creating a travel itinerary, even though it is just a basic one. In this way, you can see how much you are willing to spend in one place and what type of attractions you prefer to see.

Renting a car will only save you time if you plan to use it anywhere but London. In that city, it’s better to use public transport. But in countries such as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having your own vehicle can help you see more places.

Local tip: Trains are clean and quick but can be expensive. Coaches are cheap and hiring a car if you can stomach the petrol (gas) cost, will often work out a lot cheaper.

Average cost of 20 days in the UK

The cost depends on many things, such as your preferred type of accommodation, dining, and transportation. But to give you a quick idea, $2,300 is a good mid-range budget. You’ll dine out in a private room in a mid-range hotel.

But if you have a tight budget, you can bring that down a little bit to $1,500, where you’d be staying in youth hostels and probably half cooking at the hostel and half eating out.

If you want to make this a luxury trip, $4,500 will be an amazing budget for sleeping in 5-star hotels and eating out at fancier restaurants.

Accommodation will cost the most when travelling in the UK, especially in London, where a room can easily cost as much as $90 per night for a basic mid-range hotel. If you can minimise your stay in London to 2-3 days, it will make a big difference in your budget.

How to get around the UK

The UK have one of the best transportation systems in place. There are domestic flights, buses, and the most popular – train. Sure, they can be annoying for being late sometimes, but it’s still reliable.

If you have an international driver’s license that is valid here, you can also rent a car, which will give you so much more freedom with your schedule.

If you need to get out of the UK, there are a lot of affordable flights going to other parts of Europe. At the same time, Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world. Flights here go all over the place, to Latin America, North America, Asia, Africa, and even all the way to Australia.

On the other hand, taking the bus and the train will be more affordable, but you have to plan accordingly to ensure you won’t be wasting too much time in bus terminals or train stations.

CHECK-OUT: Scandinavia for 3 weeks itinerary

Visa

The UK always had a different visa policy than the EU, which is a member of the Schengen States. So, Brexit didn’t really affect travellers visiting the UK.

If you are from an EU country, you can enjoy a 180-day visa-free, the same goes for North Americans, countries from Oceania, some countries in Latin America, Namibia and Botswana, East Asia, Malaysia and Singapore. On the other hand, Ireland has freedom of movement with no time limit.

Other travel tips

For basic tips like where to look for accommodation, booking a car rental, and even where to find awesome tours, I always use these services:

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 THE MUST-SEE PLACES IN THE UK

Click the top-right logo to enlarge the map. Credit: map data: Google

3 WEEKS IN THE UK ITINERARY

In this travel itinerary, I will be covering all 4 countries in the UK, which are composed of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. I must say, though, this itinerary is a bit packed.

If you want to slow it down or spend more time in other countries, you can cut down some days from England and leave some for your next visit.

If you want to travel slower, you can reduce the number of countries you want to see. Here are a few samples: 7 days in England, 6 days in Scotland, and 6 days in Northern Ireland. You can also try 7 days in England, 6 days in Scotland, and 6 days in Wales. Then explore the country you missed on your next holiday in the UK.

Day-to-day overview

  • Day 1: Arrive in London – pick up your car rental if you decide on that
  • Day 2-4: Explore London – get a hop-on, hop-off bus tour or The London Pass valid to 90+ attractions
  • Day 5-8: Either day trips outside of London, or choose a smaller city around English such as Bath, Birmingham, or Manchester
  • Day 9: Travel from England to Wales by train, driving, or bus
  • Day 10-12: Explore Wales
  • Day 13: Travel from Wales to Scotland by train, driving, or bus
  • Day 14-16: Discover Scotland – dont’t forget the day trip to Loch Ness, Glencoe, Scottish Highlands
  • Day 17: Get to Northern Ireland from Scotland by bus and ferry, car and car ferry, or plane
  • Day 18-19: Travel around Northern Ireland
  • Day 20: Catch a flight back home, you might have to travel back to London or to Dublin, Ireland

England for 9 days

England is not a very big country, but there’s too much to see; maybe 10 days won’t even cut it. While reliable train connections exist between all the big areas of England, it can still take some time to travel around. Renting a car will give you a bit more flexibility.

England is known for its historical spots, very diverse culture, and people, and it is home to many food hubs and pubs. Not to mention, most Harry Potter film locations are around England (some are in Scotland).

London alone has so much to offer, from history, architecture, adventure, and local pubs. If you are staying right in the city centre, you can see many iconic landmarks just by walking around. You won’t run out of things to do near Tower Bridge and of course Buckingham Palace.

If you only want to see England in the UK, we have an itinerary for 3 weeks in England as well.

london clock tower, st paul's - 3 Weeks In The UK Itinerary

Best places to see in England:

Let’s start with London, it’s easier to get around by either using hop on-hop off bus or using public transport. There’s also a bus tour with cruise.

South and Southwest of London:

  • The Royal Pavillion
  • Leeds Castle
  • Bodiam Castle
  • Hever Castle & Gardens
  • Hampton Court Palace
  • Thorpe Park Resort
  • Salisbury Cathedral
  • Stonehenge – get your ticket here if you’re planning to get there on your own

North and northwest of London (Leeds/Liverpool/Manchester):

This list is just a few of many. Check out our pinned map; from there, you can see which attractions are close to each other. You can uncheck the layers per city to see a better look.

You can plan your trip to start in London, then go south, southwest, then the north part – Machester/Liverpool/Leeds area. This England city break guide will also make sure that you get to see what England, especially London has to offer.

Accommodations in England:

Wales for 3 days

Wales is the place for people who love the outdoors but perhaps not planning to travel all the way to Scotland. The great National Park of Snowdonia is popular with foreign tourists and locals.

Even though Wales is significantly smaller than England, there are still many places in Wales that you must see during your visit, such as the following:

cardiff castle, snowdonia - 3 Weeks In The UK Itinerary

Best places to see in Wales:

Accommodations in Wales:

Scotland for 5 days

If you have 3 weeks in the UK, you must include Scotland on your itinerary. When one thinks of Scotland, we quickly go to the inaudible England accent and the very traditional kilt (a Scottish skirt-like). But this country is more than that.

Not only is it filled with beautiful destinations for hiking, camping, and historical spots, but Scotland is also rich in culture and offers such wide and interesting varieties of whisky.

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, there are more filming locations and activities you can do here. Do you know that golf came from Scotland?

edinburgh castle, loch ness - 3 Weeks In The UK Itinerary

Best places to explore in Scotland:

Accommodations in Edinburgh:

Read our guide: Where to stay in Edinburgh

Northern Ireland for 3 days

I’m not going to lie; I didn’t have a lot of expectations from my visit to Northern Ireland, but that’s on me for not being aware enough about Northern Ireland. But I was super surprised. I can now say that 3 weeks in the UK are not complete without visiting Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland (especially the city of Derry) may be known for having a long and dark war history that happened not long ago. Some people might even think that the tension is still as strong as it was about 30 years ago.

There are places you should visit to learn more about the war in the 1990s. There are also so many beautiful spots to see. Many are related to the famous Titanic.

Not to mention how adorable and honestly hard-to-understand accents people have. And if you love whiskey or are simply curious, make sure to try traditional Irish whiskey.

If the Potterheads had their day in Scotland and England, Game of Thrones fans would also enjoy a great time in Northern Ireland.

ALSO READ: 3 weeks in Ireland and Northern Ireland itinerary

guildhall, giant causeway - 3 Weeks In The UK Itinerary

Best places to explore in Northern Ireland:

Accommodations in Northern Ireland:

SUMMARY OF 3 WEEKS IN THE UK

The UK has so much to offer every kind of visitor. History lovers, hikers and, nature enthusiasts, even people who want to explore the UK through different dishes – there’s always something for everyone. You can cover all four countries and do so many things during this time.

I hope that you found these 3 weeks in the UK itineraries helpful and that you will have a fun holiday in this region.

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A 3-week UK itinerary includes exploring London's iconic landmarks, experiencing Edinburgh's historic charm, and visiting the Lake District. Discover the cultural heritage of York, the scenic beauty of the Cotswolds, and the vibrant city of Manchester. via @threeweektraveller
David Mason
The Author
David Mason

David works in travel and marketing and has written content or supported brands such as Hostelworld and Mad Monkey Hostels. When I’m not getting lost in the Balkans, I’m home with my best buddy and future travel partner – my son George.

Favourite place been: Sri Lanka
Where next: Ibiza…again

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