Best Holiday Destinations for 2025
26/12/2024 · By Ian Holt
To inspire your travels, Great Rail Journeys reveals our Top 10 best holiday destinations and expert tips for 2025, from luxury trains to hidden gems.
Read moreEngland has a rich and proud heritage, dating back thousands of years. London, the capital city, boasts some spectacular sights, including iconic Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and the brooding and imposing Tower of London. Travelling out of the hustle and bustle of London, you see some more of what truly makes England great.
From ancient Stonehenge and Viking York, to the wild, desolate beauty of the Yorkshire Moors and the colourful houses and sandy beaches of the Cornish coast, there is a lot to see and do, much of it accessible from the comfort of England's fantastic railway network.
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The Isle of Man is a unique blend of unspoiled coastal landscapes, sandy beaches, and stunning scenery. The rich Celtic heritage is evident all over the island, and we experience it as we ride vintage railways, explore historic towns, and enjoy the relaxed pace of life. Each day is an adventure of picturesque landscapes and captivating history as...
Escape to the picturesque Isles of Scilly and enter a serene world with a relaxed pace of life. Based on the main island of St Mary's, spend your days discovering local treasures, the sub-tropical gardens of Tresco Abbey, and the islands of St Agnes and St Martin's. With plenty of time to unwind and soak up the peace and beauty, you are free to...
Delve into Celtic legacy as you explore The Isle of Man, travelling on vintage railways, discovering ancient towns, and embracing the relaxed lifestyle. Staying in the picturesque capital of Douglas, each day brings something new - from wild landscapes to fascinating history - as you tour famous sights including The Old House of Keys, historic...
Discover the ancient stones and monuments of Wiltshire, on a tour which takes in the breadth of British history, from prehistoric Stonehenge and Avebury to the many treasures of Salisbury, which span the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods. Based in the cathedral city of Salisbury, surrounded by centuries of history, this holiday includes...
From picture-postcard villages and lush rolling meadows to gentle waterways and historic steam railways, discover quintessential English charm and beauty in abundance on this superb holiday to one of the most scenic parts of the UK. Explore timber-framed Tudor buildings and the stunning cathedral in Worcester, discover the charming Cotswold...
Discover Yorkshire on this picturesque getaway by rail. With timeless towns and cities, Yorkshire is packed with rural landscapes, ancient streets, and diverse architecture, just waiting for you to explore. After checking into your hotel in the elegant town of Harrogate and visiting the coastal town of Whitby, enjoy a journey on the North...
Experience a five-day holiday to the lovely Isle of Wight. With half of the island designated an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', this tour takes in the best of its scenic gems. From the iconic Needles to historic Carisbrooke Castle, embrace the diverse delights of this timeless island. With beautiful beach views from our base in the seaside...
From your base in Wetheral, travel on heritage railways, enjoy the striking countryside of the north and delight in the natural beauty of England's Lake District. Sail across Lake Windermere to inspirational Bowness and the pretty village of Grasmere, once home to William Wordsworth. Enjoy a journey on the Settle to Carlisle Line to Skipton...
Discover the great city of Norwich on a guided tour, and explore the meandering waterways and famous heritage railways of Norfolk. From our base in historic Norwich, we enjoy a guided tour of this culture-rich city before scenic journeys on the Mid and North Norfolk railways, a cruise through the Norfolk Broads on a Mississippi paddle boat, and a...
Discover timeless seaside towns, experience Norfolk's wonderful wildlife, and explore Sandringham - one of the best-loved stately homes of the British Royal Family - on this delightful holiday. From our elegant boutique hotel, restored from a Victorian townhouse in a quiet conservation area in Norwich, we explore the pretty waterways of the...
The Channel Islands are scattered between England's south coast and France, and boast some of the most beautiful beaches in the British Isles. We discover the history and scenery of the main islands, Guernsey and Jersey, with local guides, visit the Jersey War Tunnels, and secluded Castle Cornet. Experience the scenic bays of Jersey, including...
Explore the gems of Dorset and Hampshire by steam train and heritage railway. Based in Bournemouth, experience the incredible Jurassic Coast - England's only natural UNESCO World Heritage site - on a cruise past Old Harry Rocks to Swanage. From here, travel on the Swanage Railway through idyllic scenery to ancient Corfe Castle on the Isle of...
Great Rail Journeys offers customers a range of exciting, enjoyable and memorable rail holidays in England. Whether marvelling at the breath-taking scenery of the Lake District, discovering the beautiful landscapes and charming villages of Yorkshire, or sampling the coastal highlights of the English Riviera in Devon and Cornwall, every itinerary we create is designed to offer the most enjoyable experiences at the best value for money.
All transport, quality accommodation, an itinerary of entertaining excursions and activities and, depending upon the tour, selected meals are included in the cost of our rail tours of England. Our customers also benefit from the services of an experienced, friendly and knowledgeable Tour Manager who will provide assistance, answer questions and ensure that you get the maximum enjoyment from your trip.
We hand-pick our overnight accommodation, ensuring that it is conveniently located and offers the high standards of comfort, service, quality and value that our customers expect. Often these will be family-owned or run establishments which offer customers a more personal service and relaxed environment.
England manages to cram an incredible historical, cultural and natural legacy into a compact geographical space. Diverse and cosmopolitan, England has something to surprise and delight everyone. London, the capital city, is the country's political and economic hub, home to the Queen and Royal Family and offers a wealth of historic and modern attractions, famous landmarks, museums, galleries and world-class shopping and dining opportunities. England's other great cities - including Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Bath, York and Newcastle - are similarly compelling.
Rural England, meanwhile, is renowned for the natural beauty of locations such as the Lake District, Salisbury Plain, Dorset's Jurassic Coast and Derbyshire's Peak District. England's unique and entertaining coastal resorts, many of them established in Victorian times, are equally unmissable in summer.
The English are slightly reserved by nature and their social culture rests upon politeness, good manners and a sense of fair play. Mentioning anything about the weather is a good way to spark a conversation, but the English also have an excellent sense of humour. Despite strong competition from coffee, tea remains the national drink and popular English dishes include fish and chips, roast dinners, meat pies - particularly steak and kidney, and sausages and mashed potato (a.k.a. 'bangers and mash'). A thoroughly multi-racial society means that England has wholeheartedly embraced international cuisine, with Indian, Chinese and Asian food enjoying particular popularity. England is renowned for its beer which is deeply-rooted in the country's culture and history and is available in many different styles and strengths.
England enjoys a temperate climate, which means that summers are generally warm, winters mild and extreme temperatures rare. Rainfall can and does occur at any time of year in England although autumn is typically the wettest season. Generally the south of the country enjoys slightly more warmth and sunshine than the north, but the English are philosophical about the weather and rarely let it spoil their enjoyment of outdoor activities.
In addition to its national rail network, England also boasts a collection of around seventy heritage railways. Located throughout the country, typically in areas of historic interest or outstanding natural beauty, our guided tours on England's heritage railways recreate a golden era of train travel and offer an unforgettable railway experience.