The best UK tour holidays for 2024

There’s nowhere quite like Norfolk for getting your nature fix. For starters, you get the beautiful waterways that make up the famous Broads, where historic windmills stand proudly among acres of unbridled countryside, and boats glide serenely up and down navigable networks of rivers, hopping between pretty little towns and riverside restaurants.

Then, by the coast, fresh-air days spent on expansive, weather-flicked beaches result in rosy cheeks and sandy toes, while ancient woodland and marshlands are the perfect place to capture views of fascinating wildlife. Its cultural credentials aren’t negligible, either, with museums, castles, a cathedral, and plenty of stately homes and halls to visit – like Sandringham, where the Royal Family stay, and Holkham with its glorious gardens and parkland.

We recommend… exploring scenery and Sandringham

Boats aren’t the only way to enjoy the Norfolk countryside. Enjoy the county’s heritage railways with this five-day escorted tour. It features three different rail journeys, a paddle steamer cruise, visits to pretty villages like Horning, and a tour of Sandringham with a talk by historian Lucy Worsley.

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Historic architecture abounds in Lincolnshire, the second-largest county in England. From castles and forts, to manors, medieval farmhouses and the impressive Lincoln Cathedral, you won’t be short of heritage places to visit. Elsewhere, the seaside, woods and nature reserves call for you to dust off your bike or boots for a great outdoorsy break. There’s plenty of parkland and formal gardens to visit, too, as well as farms and wildlife parks for the kids.

We recommend… a garden-filled getaway

Combine history and horticulture with this four-day break which will take you around some of the loveliest gardens in England. You’ll get to experience Lincolnshire with a trip to Easton Walled Gardens, as well as the formal grounds of RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate, and the orchards of Haddon Hall in Derbyshire. Other highlights include a talk by gardener and writer Arthur Parkinson, and residence in a country manor hotel near Chesterfield.

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Nothing quite compares to the wild beauty of Northumberland, where big adventures beckon and heart-tuggingly beautiful landscapes mingle with mighty castles, quaint fishing towns and, of course, those gloriously pristine skies. Owing to the low level of light pollution, Northumberland’s skies are some of the darkest in Britain, earning it Dark Sky Reserve status. People travel from far and wide to experience astrological activities here, from hotels that offer star-gazing experiences, to visitors packing a deckchair, gloves and flask, and having a good look at the Milky Way, sans equipment. You might even catch a frisson of the aurora.

We recommend… starry sojourns with an astronomer

In the company of an expert astronomer on this three-day astronomy tour, you’ll visit two observatories and attend talks, workshops, and demonstrations. Other highlights include trips to Hadrian's Wall and a local brewery.

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Does anything much beat the experience of a flower-filled foray through a classic English garden on a warm summer’s day? Often referred to as the Garden of England itself, Kent is a botanical beauty, and home to some of the country’s loveliest – and most famous – gardens, from the rare plants of Great Comp Garden and the global collection at Lullingstone Castle, to the classic, romantic grounds of Scotney Castle. It owes its moniker not just to these renowned horticultural hotspots, but also to the county’s lush landscapes, vineyards, hop fields and fruit-filled orchards, which grow like a dream because of the temperate climate.

We recommend… a flowery foray to the Garden of England

You can discover these wonderful gardens and more with this exclusive four-day tour around Kent and Sussex. Along the way, garden designer, writer and broadcaster Sarah Raven will join you for a special talk, and you’ll enjoy private tours and out-of-hours access to some of the grounds.

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From the subtropical flora and fauna of Tresco to the white sands of St Martin’s, the five inhabited islands of this postcard-worthy archipelago each have their own distinct features, and they’re all spectacular.

Life hits differently here; days are spent kicking about on powdery soft sands, taking in the rugged, raw beauty of the coastlines by boat, tucking into the day’s catch in the pub, and spotting marine wildlife, like dolphins, whales, puffins and even seals. Despite being just 28 miles or so off the coast of Cornwall, these fabulous islands feel worlds apart from the rest of England, making for an idyllic UK break without the fuss of international travel.

We recommend… island-hopping off the south coast

Escorted group holidays give you a good introduction to the inhabited Isles of Scilly. This six-day tour offers the chance to explore all five of the islands. Highlights include a stay on St Mary’s, a visit to the world-famous gardens on Tresco, a wildlife cruise around St Agnes, a trip to St Martin's and its vineyard, and lunch on Bryer.

There’s also a five-day tour if you have a slightly smaller time frame and budget, with Bryer being the only island not included.

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Wanders around little port towns, picnics on beautiful white-sand beaches, smoked kippers for breakfast, whisky tastings in the afternoons – holidays to the Outer Hebrides are the stuff of dreams. There’s so much to see and do, it can be hard to know where to start. And each island has its own character, from the rugged landscapes of the Isle of Harris to the Borve Standing Stones on Barra. Luckily, it’s easy enough to hop around on ferries, providing a new perspective on how to see the Scottish archipelago, and maybe even spot some unusual marine wildlife along the way.

We recommend… enjoying scenic drives and Scottish castles

This six-day island-hopping tour around the Outer Hebrides is a great way to see the islands, with an itinerary that features a scenic drive along the Isle of Barra, a distillery tour on the Isle of Harris, sightseeing on Lewis, and a castle tour on Stornoway.

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Once you’ve experienced the wild, weathered beauty of the Scottish Highlands, you never forget it. Gazing out at the dramatic mountains of the north west, Jurassic-like formations of the glens, the stoic beauty of the lochs, and the Tolkienesque charm of The Trossachs feels like staring at a real-life postcard, and the only way to better the scenery is to make sure you’re traversing it the right way. Let it be said, that rail is one of the best ways to explore the Scottish Highlands – in fact the Jacobite steam train is said to take you on one of the world’s most spectacular train journeys, following the Road to the Isles.

We recommend… experiencing one of the best rail routes in the world

On our four-day tour of the Scottish Highlands, you can experience this Jacobite steam train journey for yourself, along with a cruise on Loch Katrine, and a paddle steamer voyage on the River Clyde. Scottish broadcaster and journalist Kirsty Wark will also be doing a special talk and Q&A one evening.

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Looking for inspiration for your next holiday? Grab a cuppa and browse our brochure packed with unique escapes.

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