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Exquisite England

Discover natural beauty and rich heritage on your doorstep

Holiday ideas for England

Isle of Man

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The Isle of Man

(596 reviews)

2026MayJunJulAugSepOct

6 days from

£729 pp £629 pp

Norwich & Norfolk

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Norwich & Norfolk

(395 reviews)

2026MayJunJulAugSepOct

5 days from

£549 pp £499 pp

Classic

Vintage Railways of the Isle of Man

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Vintage Railways of the Isle of Man

(759 reviews)

2026MayJunJulAugSepOct

6 days from

£799 pp £699 pp

The Peak District

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The Peak District

(180 reviews)

2026MayJunJulAugSepOct

5 days from

£449 pp £399 pp

Lake Windemere

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Lakes & Dales by Rail

2026MayJunJulAugSepOct

5 days from

£679 pp £579 pp

Classic

Tresco Abbey Gardens

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The Sensational Isles of Scilly

(204 reviews)

2026MayJunJulAugSep

9 days from

£2,399 pp £2,299 pp

Corfe Castle

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The Jurassic Coast & New Forest

(63 reviews)

2026MayJunJulSepOct

5 days from

£629 pp £529 pp

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Cotswolds & The Severn Valley

(136 reviews)

2026MayJunJulAugSepOct

5 days from

£549 pp £449 pp

England

England 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.

20,256 reviews on

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England Holiday Experiences

Breathtaking Yorkshire

Home to charming towns, historic sites and dramatic landscapes, Yorkshire is full of character. Explore the spa town of Harrogate, marvel at the ruins of Whitby's iconic abbey, or enjoy a journey on the scenic North York Moors Railway.

The Dramatic Peak District

Uncover some of rural England's most scenic landscapes in Derbyshire and the Peak District. Explore Bakewell's historic buildings, visit the magnificent Chatsworth House and experience golden age of rail on a Peak Rail journey through the beautiful Derwent Valley.

Charming Channel Islands

Discover the amazing Channel Islands, a group of isles brimming with natural beauty and fascinating heritage. Visit Guernsey, Jersey and Sark to explore the dramatic coastlines, historic sites and unspoilt landscapes that make these islands feel a world away.

The Picturesque Isle of Man

Uncover historic towns and picture-perfect ports on the Isle of Man Steam Railway or soak up panoramic views of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland after ascending 2,037 feet to the summit of Snaefell on the British Isles' only electric mountain railway.

Our customers love our England tours

The Isle of Man

19/Apr

michael barbour

“Excellent from start to finish! Great tour manager, coach driver, organised trips, hotel, hotel staff and food. A good group of people on our tour which helped it go even better. Don't usually do organised trips but looking forward to the next one!

Collected by Trustpilot

The Jurassic Coast & New Forest

24 Oct 2025

Pauline Sandeman

“The tour was well organised and the tour guide, Lorraine, was helpful and gave interesting information.

Collected by Trustpilot

The Sensational Isles of Scilly

23 Oct 2025

Michael Anthony

“Lovely trip to the Isles of Scilly. Excellent tour manager who coped brilliantly after a return flight delay.

Collected by Trustpilot

Cotswolds & The Severn Valley

14 Oct 2025

Stuart Davis

“Nice holiday,the railway trips were the highlight,felt disappointed with seven valley where they weren’t running any steam engines at all just diesels! Hotel was nice except for swimming pool and sauna refurbishment works as we swim every day to be told they were out of action three days before.Our guide...

Collected by Trustpilot

South Devon, Dartmouth & the English Riviera

03 Oct 2025

Miss Carolyn Jones

“Lovely trip and hotel on seafront. Added two days to see Greenways, Agatha Christie’s house and the art deco house owned by D’Oyly Carte Family. Train rides and visit to Dart and Dartmouth very enjoyable.

Collected by Trustpilot

Ancient Stones & Treasures of Wiltshire

27 Sep 2025

Sharon

“I've given this holiday a 5?rating as we very much enjoyed it, but it wasn't without the occasional problem. As a new holiday for this year, it clearly needs a little tweaking. Despite the bad weather, with a lot of rain, I think we were lucky to dodge...

Collected by Trustpilot

Explore Yorkshire

08 Nov 2025

Christine M

“I enjoyed this holiday. The hotel in Harrogate was rather 'corporate' ( right next to the Conference Centre), but it was clean and comfortable and the food was lovely- Yorkshire specialities , and generous portions . It was also central to Harrogate, and walking distance from the station. Our Guide,...

Collected by Trustpilot

The Peak District

18 Oct 2025

Hij

“Overall it was an enjoyable holiday with mostly interesting visits, but the guide spent too much time telling us her personal experiences and not giving enough information about what we were seeing. The coach driver gave us more! The hotel was good average but the fact that no rooms, other...

Collected by Trustpilot

Travelling in England with Great Rail Journeys

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.

Traveller's Guide to England

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.

English Culture and Cuisine

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's Climate

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.

England's Heritage Trains

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.

Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway

Embsay & Bolton

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

North Yorkshire Moors

North Norfolk Railway

North Norfolk

Bodmin & Wenford Steam Railway

Bodmin & Wenford

Bure Valley Railway

Bure Valley

Paignton Steam Railway

Paignton Steam

Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway

Gloucestershire & Warwickshire

Wensleydale Railway

Wensleydale

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