Carlisle

Britain’s most besieged city has a suitably spectacular castle, just a short walk from the station. But venture a little further and find some beautiful countryside that’s easy to reach.

Leicester

Space rockets and King Richard III, spicy food and sequinned saris… the city of Leicester is a varied and fascinating destination, spanning continents and centuries.

Harwich

Maritime Harwich is full of beach huts and lighthouses and the railway journey there, along the beautiful Stour estuary, is an adventure in itself.

Derby

Discover Derby’s award-winning riverside pubs and brick textile mills, its light-filled cathedral and green parks. A birthplace of the industrial revolution, a centre for craft breweries, and a gateway to the beautiful landscape of the Peak District.

Bedford

Discover codebreakers at Bletchley Park, pilgrimages with John Bunyan, pastries with sweet and savoury ends, and a lovely tea room in a Victorian station house.

Outdoor pools

Find lidos all over the UK that are easy to reach without a car. Combine a trip to the pool with a country walk or sightseeing around a the nearby towns and cities.

Summer adventures

Birds, animals, castles, gardens and boat trips … Here are six summery escapes in reach of London that will make a day trip into an adventure.

Blenheim Palace

Historic house and gardens set in spectacular landscaped parkland on the edge of the Cotswolds.

Car-free offer: 30% off with bus or train ticket, or bike

Exeter Northcott Theatre

Exeter’s flagship professional theatre - presenting a varied programme drama, opera, music, dance, comedy and family theatre.

Car-free offer: Discount Green Matinees - see website for details

RHS Garden Harlow Carr

An inspiring family-friendly garden, with innovative designs, creative planting and practical ideas to take home

Car-free offer: £3.50 off entry when you come by bus or bike

Betteshanger Park

Explore 250 acres of country park and outdoor activities, on foot or by bike

Car-free offer: Save £3 parking charge and enjoy 20% off cycle hire with bus/train ticket

Spring adventures

Head out of London to explore palaces and parkland, spring cities and blooming gardens. Travel by train or bus, on foot or even by boat.

Ely

Plenty of people living in beautiful Ely don’t have cars – it’s easy to get around town on foot and the riverside station is a railway hub.

AD122 Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus

Ride the AD122 scenic bus into Hadrian's Wall Country in Northumberland National Park

Car-free offer: 10% off entry to Roman attractions on the AD122 route with your bus ticket

Nottingham

Nottinghamshire is a great place to explore car-free. Visit the castle on foot, the arboretum by tram, Newark by train or Melton Mowbray by bus.

Churches

Centuries of glorious art and architecture are packed into Britain’s brilliant churches and cathedrals. These examples, all reachable by rail, showcase a variety of treasures.