Planning a Road Trip? Here are the 5 Best UK Destinations

Longing for a staycation but reluctant to commit to one place? A road trip might be the answer to your prayers. Instead of getting bogged down in the research to find the best, vehicle insurance provider GoShorty have done the work for you. Here are the top five UK destinations, ranked by their road trip potential.

The 5 Best UK Destinations for a Road Trip

A road trip sounds idyllic: traveling across the nation amid rolling hills, just you and your family and friends in the close quarters of your car, full control over the on-board entertainment, and an array of beautiful British hotels at your fingertips. 

That is until the reality comes into view: traffic jams, car accidents, breakdowns – not to mention the satnav going haywire and sending you down the wrong roads.

If you are planning to embark on a road trip, doing your research is of paramount importance – like planning the route, checking for electric car charging points, booking hotels or campsites, and listing the attractions you intend to visit.

Ranking destinations according to practical factors – like congestion, traffic accidents, and pre-existing road trip routes – as well as the number of local attractions and campsites, short term vehicle insurance provider GoShorty have ranked UK regions based on their road trip potential. Here’s the top five, so you can plan your next voyage across the country.

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5. South East

Boasting 392 campsites – as well as idyllic towns and cities such as Brighton, Portsmouth and Canterbury – the South East is the ideal road trip location for campers and glampers alike.

Image: Brighton

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4. East of England

A region of the UK that doesn’t contain any of the most congested cities, the East of England is the ideal road trip destination for drivers hoping to avoid traffic jams. Visit for a mixture of quaint towns (Ely, Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth) and historical cities (Cambridge, Norwich, Bedford).

Image: Bedford

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3. Wales

As one of the safest UK regions for road accidents, Wales’ dramatic landscape – from mountains to valleys – will make for spectacular views through your car window. With over 500 campsites and a range of luxurious hotels to boot, Wales is an ideal road tripper destination.

Image: Pennard Castle, Gower Peninsular

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2. Scotland

With 14 established road trip routes, you’ll be spoiled for choice on a Scottish road trip. Try the Snow Roads route to explore the Cairngorms, or try the South West Coastal 300 for 300 miles of quiet roads through the rolling countryside of Dumfries & Galloway and south Ayrshire. Stop off after a day of travel in one of over 300 campsites, or countless luxurious hotels.

Image: Kilchurn, Awe Loch

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1. South West

The road trip capital of the UK is officially the South West. With five of the UK’s most visited paid attractions and a whopping 900 campsites, you’ll be spoiled for choice on where to rest your head after a day on the road. Though the roads are a little busier than the likes of Wales and Scotland, they’re popular for a reason: across eight road trips routes, dramatic views of the rolling countryside of Somerset and Wiltshire into coastal Devon, Dorset and Cornwall will complement your adventure perfectly. 

Image: Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire

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