With 150 km (~90 miles) of stunning beaches and rugged cliffs, England’s Jurassic Coast deserves its own itinerary on this southern England road trip.
For a taster, use the seaside town of Weymouth as your base to explore some top sights in just three days. Arriving in Weymouth around midday, spend the afternoon sunning yourselves on Chesil Beach, then catch a local Punch & Judy show at Weymouth Harbour. Some of the Jurassic Coast’s most famous sites can be seen in one full day.
Head first to Lulworth Cove, an unusually round, sheltered bay with multiple walking trails leading to scenic viewpoints like the iconic Durdle Door. Explore the coastline on foot, then drive inland to see more of the peninsula, including Corfe Castle, a war-ravaged site dating back to the 11th century.
Day three of your southern England road trip is best spent on a leisurely drive west along the A35, with a planned detour for fossil hunting on the Lyme Regis seafront.
What do King Arthur, the television series Poldark, and singing pirates have in common? Each has left an enduring mark on the south‑western county of Cornwall, your next stop on this England road trip itinerary.
Wild moorland stretches towards towering cliffs and sandy beaches which culminate at Land’s End, mainland Britain’s most south‑westerly point. Visit nearby Penzance, home of those so‑called operatic pirates, and make your way to the tidal island of St. Michael’s Mount.
Along Cornwall’s rugged northern coastline, venture to Fistral Beach for excellent surfing and sunbathing, followed by a bite to eat in Newquay. While in the surf village, make sure to check out the range of water activities available at Newquay Activity Centre , where you can dive into anything from a beginners' surfing course to guided Coasteering or SUP. Check out Poldark filming locations like the charming port village of Charlestown and imagine a dashing rogue sweeping you away on horseback over Bodmin Moor. (Sigh.)
If knights and kings are more your thing, get a dose of Arthurian legend in North Cornwall, where Tintagel Castle is believed to be at the centre of it all, and if you’re after something a bit more magical visit the quirky Museum of Witchcraft & Magic, which is said to have the world’s largest collection of items relating to witchcraft, and certainly one of the more unusual things to do in Cornwall.
Heading west into Devon, the next stop on your southern England road trip is Dartmoor National Park. This vast, craggy moorland is one of the last remaining wildernesses in the country.
Wild ponies roam freely and hundreds of trails twist their way through valleys, villages and even the odd Neolithic tomb. This haunting landscape even served as the setting of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic Sherlock Holmes adventure, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Plan for a day or two of leisurely wandering, exploring the unusual tors (granite rock formations) and enjoying lazy pub lunches in any of Dartmoor’s many charming inns.
Before you head off, leave a few hours to visit Castle Drogo. Completed in 1930, it's the last castle to be built in England and is now owned and managed by the National Trust.
No road trip along the southern coast of England is complete without a stop in Southampton, one of the country’s busiest port cities. It might also ring a bell as the departure port of RMS Titanic; the ill-fated passenger ship sailed from here on 10 April 1912, with four out of five crew members on board hailing from Southampton.
Find out more about the ship and Southampton’s long maritime history at the SeaCity Museum, and visit the moving Titanic Engineer Officers Memorial to pay your respects. If you don’t have your sea legs, Southampton still entertains with live shows at the Mayflower Theatre and Premier League matches at St Mary’s Stadium.
In the city centre you’ll find the Bargate, a Grade I listed medieval gatehouse that once served as the main entrance to Southampton. The surrounding cobbled streets contain many more medieval ruins, such as the old town walls and historic guard towers.
Plan to depart Southampton early in order to enjoy a full day trip to Canterbury. Founded in AD 597, Canterbury Cathedral still serves as the Church of England’s headquarters to this day.
Stick around for a bit to explore this pretty medieval city’s gardens, ghost tours, or art galleries, before travelling onwards through Kent to Dover, your final southern England road trip destination.
This strategically important coastline is perhaps best known for its staggering, chalk-white cliffs. The White Cliffs of Dover create a symbolic defence against would-be invaders from across the Channel. This makes Dover a fitting location for graffiti artist Banksy’s bold statement on Brexit, a mural depicting a star’s removal from the EU flag.
Nowadays, the cliffs are easily explored on foot along a well-worn coastal trail with absolutely stunning views. Save some energy for your final day, best spent taking in the secret wartime tunnels at Dover Castle before starting the short drive back to London.
