The Open Road Travel

A road trip from London to Scotland takes you between the two largest, most populous countries in the United Kingdom.

A 320 mile road trip from London to Scotland takes you almost the entire height of England, giving you a glimpse of its entire landscape. Extending it into a road trip from London to Edinburgh then lets you take in the Scottish capital and countryside as well.

If you are thinking about planning your own road trip from London to Scotland, or more specifically Edinburgh, then I highly recommend reading on.

A road trip from London to Scotland covers 330 miles and takes a little over 6 hours to complete, and a road trip from London to Edinburgh covers 400 miles and takes at least 8 hours to complete. While the journey is relatively long, it is, however, quite straightforward.

You begin by picking up the M1 where it begins, in Brent Cross, and following it for 78 miles, until you use Junction 19 to join the M6 at its origin, just outside Catthorpe. You will then follow the M6 for its entire 232 mile duration, which will take you to the Scottish border.

Once you pass into Scotland, the road will become the A74(M), and you’ll stay on it for 50 miles, before using Junction 13 to join the A702 going north, outside Cold Chapel. This will then take you the remaining 40 miles into Edinburgh.

The best time for a road trip from London to Scotland is from late August to the end of September.

While June through September are traditionally the warmest months at our destination, the period from mid-June to late August is also among the wettest stretches of the entire year.

Planning your road trip from London to Edinburgh between late August and the end of September allows you to enjoy the perfect combination of warm, dry weather.

This means you can spend all of your time enjoying the fabulous landscape and attractions in Scotland, as opposed to constantly worrying about being cold or wet.

At around 8 hours, there will be plenty of people who decide to complete a road trip from London to Scotland in a single sitting.

However, for those who want to take their time and make the most of the attractions along the way, you will want to break the journey up and make at least one stop.

While there are a number of great options along the way, the following two destinations are what we feel are the absolute best places to stop on a road trip from London to Scotland, due to the sheer quality and quantity of attractions that each has to offer.

With a population of just under half a million, the city of Liverpool is the 10th largest district in the United Kingdom, while its metropolitan area ranks 5th.

Originally founded in 1207, the city spent much of its history as one of the most important port areas in the country. The departure point for many of the ships heading to the United States in the 19th century, it also holds strong bonds with Ireland, due to its incredibly close proximity.

Through the years, countless legendary ships have been registered here, including the Titanic, Queen Mary, Olympic, and Lusitania. The Liverpool Docks even held UNESCO World Heritage Site status until 2021, when expansions and developments made them ineligible.

Home to one of the most famous bands in history, The Beatles, and one of the world’s most successful football teams, Liverpool FC, the city is brimming with attractions for tourists to enjoy.

With the huge renovation effort that has recently been completed in Liverpool’s city centre, a stunning range of bars, shops, restaurants, and hotels now perfectly blend with the beautiful architecture of the surrounding buildings to make Liverpool a must see location on your journey.

The Pullman Liverpool is a stylish, modern, 4-star hotel, located on Liverpool’s historic King’s Dock.

Beyond the incredible views of the water, guests in each of the 216 beautifully decorated rooms will enjoy facilities like air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a flat screen TV, mini fridge, and tea and coffee making facilities, as well as comfortable furniture and luxury bedding and linens.

Those who choose to upgrade to an executive room will be greeted with even more high tech amenities, including a Bose docking station, iPad, and Nespresso coffee maker, as well as a large desk and bathtub.

The on-site restaurant serves the finest British cuisine and boasts a theatre-style kitchen, where you can watch the chefs prepare your meals.

Then you can relax in the beautiful bar and enjoy a drink from its extensive menu, which includes some of the best wines from around the world.

Other amenities at the property include a gym and private parking, as well as a 24 hour front desk and facilities for disabled guests.

Originally founded in the 1st century AD, Manchester is the 5th most populous city in the United Kingdom and has the second most populous metropolitan area, behind only London.

A major city during the industrial revolution, Manchester is well known for its extensive collection of historic locations, as well as stunning architecture and socially prominent destinations.

There are even points of important scientific significance, such as the location where the world’s first stored computer program was developed. Manchester is also famous for its musical exports, such as the Rolling Stones.

It is even home to one of the most historically successful football clubs in the world, as well as one of the most successful in the modern era, Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively.

The Roomzzz Manchester Corn Exchange is a beautiful, 4-star aparthotel, located in a Grade II listed building in the heart of Manchester.

Each of the spacious units boasts a seating area and sofa, and a fully equipped kitchenette, which includes a dishwasher, fridge, kettle, microwave, and toaster.

All guests will also receive access to free sitewide Wi-Fi, as well as a complimentary “grab and go” breakfast, which includes fresh fruit and pastries, hot drinks, and juice. Meanwhile, a great range of dining and drinking options are located downstairs in the Corn Exchange itself.

A 24-hour shop and front desk will cater to all of your needs around the clock, while the aparthotel’s central location means many of Manchester’s top attractions are within just a few minutes’ walk.

To make your journey as enjoyable as possible, you are going to want plenty of things to do and see along the way, to keep things interesting.

While there are endless possibilities available, the following are the true top attractions on a road trip from London to Scotland and will fill your journey with some of the best natural and historical attractions you will find anywhere in Great Britain or the United Kingdom.

The city of St Albans is a historic location that sits atop the ruins of the Roman city of Verulamium.

Located on the Old Roman Road, it is an incredibly popular destination with tourists and history buffs, due to the fabulous collection of Roman ruins and artefacts that have been discovered here.

Among the most prominent remains still visible, visitors can see large sections of the original city walls, a forum, hypocaust, amphitheatre, and houses with fabulous mural floors, which rival any similar sites you will find anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Beyond the Roman influence, an abundance of Medieval architecture and the stunning St Albans Cathedral make the city a fabulous place to stop and experience how cultures and styles have changed in the United Kingdom through the centuries.

The Peak District National Park became the first national park in the United Kingdom when it was established in 1951. Stretched over 555 square miles (1,440 square kilometres), it covers parts of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire.

With evidence showing that the region has been inhabited since the Neolithic era, tourists come in their droves to take in the abundance of historical and geological attractions throughout the park, with more than 13 million visitors arriving each year.

The landscape is covered with peaks, hills, gorges, valleys, plateaus, and escarpments, most of which are filled with caves, canals, reservoirs, and rivers to explore.

With a number of unique species of plants, as well of a wide range of animals that includes amphibians, birds, fish, insects, invertebrates, lizards, and mammals, Peak District National Park is a perfect destination for nature lovers of all kinds.

Established in 1954, Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the United Kingdom. Covering 841 square miles (2,178 square kilometres), it is located primarily in North Yorkshire, as well as parts of Cumbria and Lancashire.

The park has more man made attractions than most British national parks, including bridges, castles, mills, viaducts, and villages.

Perhaps its most popular is the Dales Countryside Museum, which is set in the historic Hawes Railway Station and tells the history of the region over the past 1,000 years.

Despite that, hiking and rambling are still incredibly popular recreational activities in the park. With the landscape boasting caves, coves, fells, gills, lakes, peaks, ravines, rivers, and waterfalls, it is a truly wonderful destination for adventurers to explore.

Lake District National Park is the most visited national park in the United Kingdom, with 16.4 million visitors and 24 million visitor days per year.

It is also the largest national park in either England or Wales, and second largest in the United Kingdom, behind Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park, at 912 square miles (2,362 square kilometres).

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 for its cultural landscape, Lake District National Park primarily consists of beautiful lakes, surrounded by large sections of farmland and protected wildlife habitats.

With public footpaths running throughout the entire park, it is one of the best places in the United Kingdom to take a stroll and really appreciate the country’s natural landscape and wildlife.

The North Pennines is an area of moorlands covering nearly 770 square miles (2,000 square kilometres), making it the second largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the United Kingdom.

It has been designated an AONB since 1988 and is also listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

The landscape is dominated by moors, dales, and upland rivers, while it also accounts for 40% of the United Kingdom’s upland hay meadows, 30% of England’s upland heathland, and 27% of its blanket mire.

The North Pennines are home to a wide range of birds, including the vast majority of England’s black grouse population, as well as otters, red squirrels, and a huge range of rare and unusual wild alpine plants.

Meanwhile, there are also a number of historic, stone built villages dotted throughout it. It is an incredibly popular destination for walkers and nature lovers alike.

The Pentland Hills Regional Park is a 35 square mile (90 square kilometre) natural park, which covers the northern section of the Pentland Hills range.

It is home to some of the tallest, most historic peaks in the area, and provides breathtaking, panoramic views of the surrounding region.

Originally designated a regional park in 1986, the landscape of Pentland Hills Regional Park is dominated by upland pasture grasslands and foothills, which are interspersed with forestry plantations, rivers, and reservoirs.

It’s an incredibly popular destination for outdoor recreation activities, including golfing, hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, and rambling.

You even have locations like the Midlothian Snowsports Centre, with its artificial ski slopes, and the Ministry Of Defence rifle range, which make Pentland Hills Regional Park a fabulous destination for anyone who enjoys staying active.

That concludes our guide to planning the perfect road trip from London to Scotland (Edinburgh).

This should hopefully have given you all the information you require to plan your perfect route and travel itinerary, to ensure every second of your journey is filled with fun and excitement.

That means all that’s left is to work out the best things to do in Edinburgh while you’re there and start getting everything booked. That way, you can look forward to enjoying both the journey and the destination for yourself, as soon as possible.