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Exquisite England

Discover natural beauty and rich heritage on your doorstep

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Discoveries

North Yorkshire Moors

Explore Yorkshire

5 days from £449 pp

Discover Yorkshire's delightful towns, rural landscapes, and heritage railways
Journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and visit the coastal town of Whitby
Enjoy 4-Star hotel accommodation in the elegant spa town of Harrogate

Classic

Norwich & the Norfolk Broads

Norwich & the Norfolk Broads

5 days from £799 pp

Enjoy Norfolk’s friendly coastal towns, unspoilt nature, nostalgic steam trains
Sail along the beautiful Norfolk Broads aboard a Mississippi paddle boat
Stay in a boutique hotel set in a quiet conservation area close to Norwich

Discoveries

Lakes & Dales by Rail

5 days from £649 pp £549 pp

Discover the panoramas of northern England, journeying on heritage railways
Take a cruise across Lake Windermere to Bowness and picturesque Grasmere
Enjoy 4 nights’ 4-star accommodation in the beautiful village of Wetheral

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.

17,198 reviews on

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Holiday ideas for England

Corfe Castle

The Jurassic Coast & New Forest

(51 reviews)

2025SepOct

2026AprMayJunJulSepOct

5 days from

£649 pp £549 pp

Classic

Yorkshire & Northumberland

Yorkshire & Northumberland

(216 reviews)

2025SepOct

2026AprMayJunJulAug...

7 days from

£1,349 pp £1,249 pp

Pembrokeshire Coast Wales

South Wales by Steam

(144 reviews)

2025Sep

2026MayJunJulAugSep

6 days from

£599 pp

Classic

Fermain Bay Guernsey

The Charms of the Channel Islands

(74 reviews)

2025Sep

2026AprMayJunJulAugSep

7 days from

£1,799 pp

Walworth Castle

Walworth Castle & Durham

(111 reviews)

2025SepOct

2026MayJunSep

6 days from

£749 pp £649 pp

Classic

Dartmoor National Park

North Devon & Somerset

(66 reviews)

2025Sep

2026AprMayJunAugSep

6 days from

£999 pp £899 pp

The Peak District

The Peak District

(164 reviews)

2025SepOct

2026AprMayJunJulAug...

5 days from

£549 pp £449 pp

Norwich & Norfolk

Norwich & Norfolk

(374 reviews)

2025SepOct

2026AprMayJunJulAug...

5 days from

£529 pp

Our customers love our England tours

The Peak District

20/Aug

D Willoughby

“Overall it was a great experience, very well organised with a lot of interesting things to see. Evening meals were a little slow on the first night but it got it's act together after that.

Collected by Trustpilot

Vintage Railways of the Isle of Man

19/Aug

Onion

“Everything about our experience on the Isle Of Mann was well organised, most enjoyable and interesting. Would recommend.

Collected by Trustpilot

Yorkshire & Northumberland

12/Aug

Sylvia

“An excellent trip, with interesting & varied places & a great tour manager!

Collected by Trustpilot

The Charms of the Channel Islands

5/Jul

B Butler

“Fantastic holiday. The islands have a charm all of their own. Very pleased that I returned after my last visit over 30 years ago.

Collected by Trustpilot

Cotswolds & The Severn Valley

29/Jun

N Bell

“good hotel in good part of town. Outings were well arranged.

Collected by Trustpilot

North Devon & Somerset

19/Jun

B Whitehead

“Hotel at Barnstaple top class. Coach experience good though little less mileage would be appreciated. Tour Manager good. Rail journeys well organised and enjoyable. Disappointing that visit to Cider Farm did not include viewing the brewing process. Big benefit if visit to RHS Garden at Torrington could be combined with...

Collected by Trustpilot

The Isle of Man

20/Aug

Lynn Woods

“I was surprised how much there was to see on The Isle of Man. Lots of different modes of transport. A very friendly island. Well worth a visit.

Collected by Trustpilot

The Sensational Isles of Scilly

15/Aug

Peter

“Good trip with excellent tour manager. Good hotel with reasonable food. Islands are very quiet with unspoilt beaches and lots of walks.

Collected by Trustpilot

Norwich & the Norfolk Broads

31/Jul

Mr John Holmes

“The combination of Heritage Rail, Cruise on the Broads, Historic House and Seaside Resort was winning.

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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