Conducting a tour of England by car brings immeasurable pleasure granting access to the sites of your choice and giving unique experiences that would be hard to find as part of a tour group. However, rather than using the motorway network that shoots you from A to B in no time at all, it is more advisable to see the real England by taking a tour of the minor roads and country lanes; not only will the vacation be more relaxing, but infinitely more rewarding.



Vacationing on a relaxed tour of England does not mean laying out a detailed itinerary that must be strictly adhered to. By taking this scenic journey avoiding the motorways and major cities you can negate the need for chain hotels and restaurants that blight the country; instead, by touring the small towns and villages you get a chance to see the real England, the England of inns and pubs, friendly locals and great times. As you tour the beautiful countryside you will find your blood pressure dropping and all in all you will become far more relaxed, being able to enjoy your vacation to its full.

Your first task when conducting this type of tour is to completely neglect the wide and expansive motorway network; try to forget it is even in existence. By doing this you will be able to plan a journey that is as far removed from the usual tourist routes as possible. Driving through the counties with no semblance of time, occasionally stopping for a quintessential ploughman's lunch or even a pint of real ale is wholly enjoyable. By being determined it is in fact easy to avoid the motorways on a tour of England without having to sacrifice where you go and what you see, it may take a bit longer but it is not about time is it?

Be prepared to take your time and travel slowly while on your tour, you may find yourself stuck behind a tractor or feel you have to stop at a certain village or town because of its beauty. It is important to take time completely out of the equation, enjoy a long lunch or a beer in the sunshine. This kind of ad hoc travelling may seem stressful for those who like order, but it is amazing how much relaxation can be gained by taking the rigour out of life. This can even apply to your accommodation; most towns in England have a bed and breakfast or an inn so just find somewhere you like and book up for the night.

Where to start your tour does not even have to be a problem, most international flights fly into one of the London terminals so use this as a base to explore. Take an A road from Heathrow to the West Country, Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset or head out from Stansted into East Anglia and eventually the Midlands. Ultimately the choice is yours; if you have places you would like to see head that way but do not make it the main purpose of your trip.

Remember that life is about the journey not the destination, by taking this approach the richness of your experience will be that much greater and you will be able to gain a true taste of what England is all about. So if you are looking for relaxation, instead of heading to the spa, why not unwind on a driving tour of England, avoiding the motorways of course.