Self-drive Holidays in the UK

Even with the UK’s excellent main transportation links, exploring rural, remote areas and discovering the hidden beauties of this charming, historic land can be time-consuming. Indeed, rail and bus links in country districts have been severely downgraded over the past 30 years or so.

Even if remote villages and scenic regions still have bus networks, these may run on a twice daily or worse timetable and many rural villages were disconnected from the rail network late last century. Although bus travel is still economical, particularly on long journeys between regions, rail travel is now expensive, with complicated pricing structures in place.

Although the UK’s historic cities are favourite visitor destinations, the real UK is a fascinating mix of ancient and modern, with cities and glorious countryside all holding a pot-pourri of peoples representing the many races who’ve formed the country over two millennia.

For overseas visitors, car hire is the most practical and economical form of transportation, especially for groups and families. Although fuel is expensive due to high government taxes, a family of four can save a lot of holiday cash with car rental UK and have the freedom to explore at will without being trapped by timetables.

Whether you’re choosing a region and exploring it in depth or starting in your arrival city and fanning outwards as the mood takes you, there’s a variety of scenery from the far southwest to the distant north and across to Northern Ireland. From lush farmlands, vast moors, Scottish and Welsh mountain ranges to wide, sandy bays and rocky coastlines, the Lake District wildernesses, charming Cornish fishing villages and the rolling, verdant hills of Ireland, the UK offers many unique attractions.

From the motorways linking the regions and their major cities to the tiny, winding lanes of Devon and Cornwall, the moorland roads of the north and the open Highland roads of Scotland, you’ll find driving easy here, even though it’s on the left!

Apart from rush hours in city centres and approach roads, there’s little to deter the experienced driver in built-up areas. Speed limits are clearly marked and fuel stations are frequent, especially on the motorways and major roads. Drivers in the UK are generally a polite breed with the necessary skills, although patience does wear thin in traffic snarl-ups at peak times.

Visiting drivers should note parking in city centres is expensive and often difficult to find, with many provincial towns providing park-and ride services to their pedestrianised centres. If driving in large cities, multi-storey car parks are a preferred option to on-street parking, which is often restricted to residents.

The UK’s ancient cities and their archaeology and museums are a combined treasure house of the heritage of the country, from Roman times to the present day. From the 6th century Canterbury Cathedral in the lush southern county of Kent to the ultra-modern Coventry Cathedral, built after the WWII destruction of its predecessor, churches from all periods dot the country, as do England’s famous stately homes, the vast mansions of the landed gentry and peer of the realm. Medieval castles loom over the countryside from their hilltops, with the most famous, Windsor Castle, still a favourite home for Queen Elizabeth and her family.

The UK is a country of legends, with both North Devon’s Tintagel Castle and Glastonbury linked with the Arthurian and Holy Grail stories and the Scottish and Welsh castles tell of the clan wars with England and the Welsh love of independence from Roman times to the present day.

London is the heart of the country’s history. Londinium in Roman times and the centre of England since 1066, with the 11th century Tower of London holding the priceless Crown Jewels and Royal regalia, the capital offers a wonderful array of visitor draws. Wherever you travel with car rental UK, you’ll find your own treasured memories.

John blogs at Holidays in the UK and works with car rental UK company Alamo