Roman roads, medieval abbeys, and the modern pulse of music and sport—England has a way of stacking history and culture within a short train ride. This 22-day itinerary threads together London’s icons, the Cotswolds’ storybook lanes, and Manchester’s creative energy. You’ll move at a thoughtful pace, using trains to travel efficiently and sustainably.

Expect royal pageantry, world-class museums, cozy pubs with Sunday roasts, and verdant walks. In the Cotswolds, pause for cream teas beside millponds and follow ridgeway paths to hilltop follies. Up north, dive into Manchester’s music lineage, inventive kitchens, and football cathedrals.

Practical notes: contactless cards work on most UK transport (daily caps make city travel great value). Book timed entries for popular sights and major restaurants. Weekend engineering works or rail strikes can occur—check schedules and consider earlier departures on travel days.

London

London’s layers reveal themselves block by block—Roman Londinium, Tudor intrigue, Georgian elegance, and a skyline sharpened by contemporary architecture. Neighborhoods each hum with their own rhythm: Covent Garden’s street performers, Shoreditch’s murals, and Greenwich’s maritime lore.

Start with the big-hitters—the Tower, Westminster, Buckingham Palace—then branch into markets and museums. Evenings are for theater, wine bars, and riverside walks as bridges light up the Thames.

Days 1–4: Royal and Historic London

• Essentials: Circle the Tower of London and ponder the Crown Jewels; step into Westminster Abbey, then view Big Ben across the river; stroll St James’s Park to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard.
• Viator picks:
  • Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket

  

  
  • Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket & Changing of the Guard Tour

  

• Where to eat (classic London): Lunch near the Tower at Townsend (seasonal British plates) or a riverside pie at Mother Mash. For dinner, savor nose‑to‑tail cooking at St. JOHN Smithfield (order the bone marrow toast) or superb steaks at Hawksmoor Seven Dials.
• Cafés & breakfast: Start at Monmouth Coffee (Covent Garden) for filter brews; try the famed Dishoom bacon naan roll for breakfast; grab flat whites at Kaffeine (Fitzrovia).

Days 5–7: Markets, Museums, and the Thames

• South Bank to City: Walk the Queen’s Walk past the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, and Tate Modern to St Paul’s. Cross Millennium Bridge at dusk for show-stopping views.
• Borough Market grazing: Snack on raclette at Kappacasein, Scotch eggs at Scotchtails, and paella from La Paella. Finish with Neal’s Yard cheeses.
• Greenwich by boat: Cruise downriver to the Royal Observatory and cutty Sark; wander Greenwich Market’s indie stalls.
  • Optional: Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise

  

• Dinner & drinks: Handmade pasta at Padella (go early to queue), Thai grill at Kiln (counter seats, smoky wok flavors), or classic game dishes at Rules (oldest restaurant in London). Cocktails at Swift Soho or Bar Termini.

Days 8–9: Neighborhoods and Nightlife

• Shoreditch & Spitalfields: Street art lanes, Boxpark pop-ups, and bagels on Brick Lane. Browse Old Spitalfields Market’s design stalls and indie fashion.
• West End evening: Take in a musical or play; pre-theater plates at The Palomar (Jerusalem-style small plates) or Bancone (silk handkerchief pasta).
• Coffee & brunch: WatchHouse (Borough) for single-origin pours; Sunday in Brooklyn (Notting Hill) for fluffy pancakes.

Days 10–11: Great Day Trips from London

• Stonehenge + Bath + Windsor: See Neolithic engineering, Georgian crescents, and the world’s largest occupied castle in one sweep.
  • Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London

  

• Harry Potter Studio Tour (Watford): Explore authentic sets, see the Great Hall, and sip butterbeer with transport included.
  • Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transport from London

  

Where to stay (London): For convenience near Big Ben and the Eye, consider Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London or Novotel London Tower Bridge for Tower access. Budget-savvy options: Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras or YHA London Central. Browse more stays on VRBO London or Hotels.com London.

Getting to London: If arriving from Europe, compare fares on Omio flights or trains via Omio (Eurostar to St Pancras is typically 2h15 from Paris). From outside Europe, check Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line to central London runs ~35–40 minutes; contactless payment caps daily fares (about £8–9 for Zones 1–2).

Cotswolds (Base: Moreton‑in‑Marsh)

The Cotswolds are England’s bucolic postcard—dry‑stone walls, sheep-dotted hills, and villages built from warm, honeyed limestone. Moreton‑in‑Marsh is a rail‑friendly base with easy bus links and short drives to Stow‑on‑the‑Wold, Bourton‑on‑the‑Water, and Broadway.

Between thatched cottages and manor houses, you’ll find serious kitchens, farm shops, and walking trails that crest to views over five counties. Pace is the point here—linger in tea rooms, peek into antique shops, and end days by the fire with a pint.

Days 12–13: Settle In and Northern Cotswolds Villages

• Travel (morning): London Paddington to Moreton‑in‑Marsh on GWR, ~1h30 direct. Book on Omio (UK trains); advance singles often £25–£45. Sit on the right for ridge views after Oxford.
• Explore locally: Amble the High Street and weekly market; then head to Stow‑on‑the‑Wold for antique dens and the yew-framed door of St Edward’s Church; sunset on Broadway Tower for sweeping hills.
• Food & drink: Bakery on the Water (Bourton) for scones by the River Windrush; The Kingham Plough for elevated pub classics; The Wild Rabbit (Kingham) for farm-to-fork menus. Pints by the fire at The Angel (Burford).

Days 14–15: Bourton‑on‑the‑Water, The Slaughters, and Daylesford

• Walks: Follow the Windrush from Bourton‑on‑the‑Water to Lower and Upper Slaughter (6–7 km round trip). Expect low footbridges, old mills, and photo‑ops at every turn.
• Farm & spa stop: Daylesford Organic for an excellent farm shop, garden café, and spa treatments—great for a half-day of decompressing.
• Dining: The Old Butcher’s (Stow) for seafood and seasonal British; The Lygon Bar & Grill (Broadway) beneath 17th‑century beams; Sunday roast at The Wheatsheaf Inn (Northleach).

Day 16: Shakespeare and University Spires

• Stratford‑upon‑Avon: Visit Shakespeare sites and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre; riverside walk by swans on the Avon. Continue to Oxford for college quads, the Bodleian, and pub history at the Eagle and Child.
• Tea time: Huffkins (Stow) for a proper cream tea—jam first or clotted cream first is your only dilemma.

Where to stay (Cotswolds): Right in Moreton, choose character stays like The Manor House Hotel, The White Hart Royal Hotel, or The Bell Inn. Prefer riverside Bourton? Consider The Dial House Hotel, The Old Manse Hotel, or Chester House Hotel. Browse more on VRBO Moreton‑in‑Marsh or Hotels.com Moreton‑in‑Marsh.

Cotswolds to Manchester (morning of Day 17): Moreton‑in‑Marsh to Manchester Piccadilly typically 2h50–3h15 with a change at Oxford or Birmingham. Check Omio; advance fares often £30–£70. Grab snacks from Daylesford or a local bakery for the ride.

Manchester

Manchester forged the Industrial Revolution and later rewrote the soundtrack of Britain—from The Smiths and Oasis to today’s vibrant venues. The city mixes red‑brick mills and canals with slick galleries, inventive kitchens, and football culture that borders on religion.

Base yourself near Deansgate or the Northern Quarter for easy walks to museums, bars, and train links for day trips to Liverpool, the Peak District, and York.

Days 17–19: Canals, Culture, and Northern Quarter Nights

• Museums & heritage: The Science and Industry Museum explores steam power and textiles; the beautifully restored John Rylands Library feels like a neo‑Gothic time capsule. Wander Castlefield’s Roman ruins and canals.
• Northern Quarter: Hunt street art, vinyl at Piccadilly Records, and indie boutiques. Evenings at Schofield’s Bar (classics done right) or Yes (multi‑floor music venue and rooftop).
• Eats: Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza for blistered pies; Bundobust for Indian street food and house beers; The Refuge for global small plates in a grand hall; brunch at Pollen Bakery (Ancoats) or Moose Coffee for hearty stacks.

Days 20–21: Day Trips North

• Liverpool (music and maritime): Trains run ~50 min from Manchester Victoria or Oxford Road. Explore the waterfront, The Beatles Story, and the Georgian Quarter; graze at Baltic Market in the old Cains Brewery.
• Peak District (great outdoors): Train to Edale (~45–55 min) for a walk up to Kinder Scout or head to Hathersage for gritstone edges; history lovers can visit Chatsworth House (seasonal opening from spring).

Day 22: York or Football, Then Farewell

• Option A—York: ~1h20–1h30 by train. Walk the medieval walls, see the stained-glass wonder of York Minster, and wander The Shambles’ crooked lanes.
• Option B—Football: Tour Old Trafford or the Etihad Stadium and then toast the trip with sky‑high views at 20 Stories (Spinningfields).

Where to stay (Manchester): Riverside comfort at The Lowry Hotel; stylish central base at Yotel Manchester Deansgate; longer-stay convenience with kitchens at Staybridge Suites Manchester - Oxford Road. See more on VRBO Manchester or Hotels.com Manchester.

Departing Manchester: For Europe-bound flights, check Omio flights. For long‑haul, compare Trip.com and Kiwi.com. If returning to London for your flight, direct trains to Euston are ~2h10; book via Omio.

London add‑on (if you have extra energy): Consider a twilight river dinner to cap your urban days:
• London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River

Local tips: Reserve popular restaurants (Fri–Sat prime times fill up); Sundays in villages can be quiet—plan hikes and pub lunches. Tipping is ~10–12.5% when service isn’t included. For scenic seats, sit on the upper deck of Thames boats and on the left from Manchester to York for Pennine views.

Summary: Three weeks in England gives you London’s headline acts, the Cotswolds’ pastoral calm, and Manchester’s creative spark—stitched together by efficient rail lines. You’ll leave with camera rolls of river sunsets, golden villages, and warehouse‑turned‑wine bars, plus a renewed taste for tea and a proper Sunday roast.