We are currently looking in to doing the North Coast 500 road trip and I have learnt the hard way that there’s one or two major things you need to take in to consideration when planning a road trip. We have done a couple of them now and the one thing we ALWAYS check is where are the petrol stations and what is the parking. Sometimes your hotel won’t have their own car park or there is height and size restrictions.
It was touch and go whether we’d fit our 4X4 in to a covered parking space at a hotel in Edinburgh and our rental car was about 2ft too big for the hotel car park in America on our last trip too – oops!
It seems like a small thing to check, but we most definitely make it a priority now!
If you’re planning to get away this year but want to try and save money and hassle by staying at home in the UK, going for a road trip can be a great idea. On a UK road trip, there’s the chance to see plenty of amazing views, with rolling green hills, cute little villages, rivers, lakes, and cityscapes to explore. From the busy capital city of London to the historic countryside towns of the Lake District in Cumbria, the UK is packed with plenty of amazing choices when it comes to things to see and do, and one of the best ways to explore this country is from behind the wheel of your car. We’ve put together some top tips to help you have an enjoyable and memorable UK road trip.
Planning Your Route
With so many different places to see and roads to explore in the UK, planning your route is something that may take some time. There are so many different parts of the UK which make for perfect road trip destinations, whether you’re hoping to see some of the stunning Pennine roads or are planning to explore the Scottish Highlands. Make sure that when planning your route, you take into account things such as tolls, congestion charges, and ferry routes, for those who are planning to take their road trip over to Northern Ireland.
Parking
Before you set off on your road trip around the UK, pre-arranging parking can be one of the best ways to make sure that your trip is as stress-free as possible. Driving round in search of a parking space can often take up more of your trip than you would like, especially if you are exploring some busier, urban areas and cities. Your Parking Space is an excellent service which allows you to pre-book parking spaces around the country.
Accommodation
If you’re planning on taking a long road trip, there are plenty of different accommodation options available in the UK, whether you want to stay in a hostel, camp, rent a caravan, stay in an expensive hotel, or even on someone’s sofa. There are plenty of apps and websites which you can use in order to book hotels along the way, allowing some extra flexibility for your trip and enabling you to simply go to wherever you feel like seeing next.
Staying Safe
Last but not least, driving on UK roads can sometimes be dangerous, so it’s important to stay vigilant and take a range of safety precautions. One of the most important things to do in order to make sure that you have a safe journey is prepare your car beforehand. This includes making sure that all of the lights and electrics are working correctly, oil and other liquids in the engine are topped up, and the tyres are inflated properly and have been checked beforehand for any damage. Along with that, don’t forget to make sure that you’re covered for the trip by your breakdown service!
Taking a road trip around the UK can be an awesome experience, but there’s plenty of preparation needed in order to make sure you have a great time.
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