You can easily minimise your footprint while enjoying sustainable travel around Britain. We’ll provide heaps of ideas to help inspire your sustainable itinerary. From swapping planes for trains, to ethical eating and treetop camping, there are plenty of ways to create a British adventure that works for you and the planet.
You don’t need to guzzle petrol to see a city in style. Hop on the saddle and get active while you explore our cities by bike.
Discover London for yourself with a Santander bike, or take a guided tour like Red Bike Tours. Buzz along the Brighton beachfront with BTN BikeShare, cycle around Cardiff with Pedal Power or meander Manchester with Manchester Bike Hire and its Bee Network. Whichever British city you visit, you’ll find plenty of ways to explore by bike.
There’s no better way to get a real feel for a place than by exploring it on foot. Whether you wander from Westminster to Green Park in London via famous landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, or take in big views across Edinburgh with a hike to Arthur’s Seat, make your next tour a slow, but satisfying one.
Eating vegan is one of the most sustainable ways to dine. From high-end cuisine like London’s The Gate, to Manchester’s Instagrammable The Allotment, Brighton institution Terre a Terre, or UK-wide vegan pizzeria chain Purezza, you’ll find a feast of animal-free eateries all over Britain.
Britain’s cities are brimming with green space, from parks and gardens to urban waterways and city flower shows. Venturing out of the city landscape, Britain’s wild side is truly unleashed. In addition to exploring 15 National Parks and many more National Landscapes, why not visit a back-to-nature resort? Elmley National Nature Reserve in Kent allows you to volunteer on a range of programmes. Or for a different nature experience, take to the treetops for your overnight stay in a canopy at Wales’ Fforest Farm.
Britain’s extensive rail network covers the nation and is a wonderfully relaxing way to watch the landscape unfurl. With more than 2,500 stations, you can kick back and enjoy some scenic journeys around the country. Check out the Settle - Carlisle Railway that crosses the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, or the spectacular West Highland Line from Glasgow to Mallaig over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Britain offers a plethora of green hotels and holiday homes for your eco-friendly adventure, both in and out of the city. Check out Britain’s first zero-carbon accommodation, The Emerald boutique resort in Cornwall. Or surround yourself with skyscrapers of a different kind at the fairytale canopy palace, Treetops Treehouse in Devon.
Beyond the city, lace up your boots and head out into the Great British countryside on one of our famous walking trails or National Parks. The South West Coast Path, Pennine Way, Hadrian’s Wall or West Highland Way are well-known favourites. Alternatively, try a section of the King Charles III England Coast Path – a 2,800-mile (4,500km) route that’s the longest signposted trail in the world.
Birmingham is home to an array of canals and an extensive canal-side cycle route network. The West Midlands Cycle Hire costs just £1 to unlock a bike, then 8p per minute after that. Look out for docking stations around the region.
Learn while you walk through Positively Birmingham, offering walking tours on anything from history to canals. Lovers of the hit series should take its Peaky Blinders tour. The Locationist also offers film-themed tours of the city, taking you behind the scenes of Birmingham’s screen stars.
If you fancy going solo, you can take your time using Walk Run Cycle Birmingham app. For those looking to up the pace, try Run of a Kind’s jogging tours of Birmingham.
In the world of fashion everything old is new again. Hunt out some unique pieces in vintage fashion shops like Urban Village Vintage in Henley-in-Arden, or antique treasure troves like Moseley Vintage Hub. Even iconic Birmingham department store Selfridges has vintage designer items.
Sutton Coldfield’s 2,400-acre Sutton Park is one of the largest urban parks in Europe. The Peak District National Park, Sherwood Forest and several National Landscapes including Cannock Chase, the Cotswolds, Shropshire Hills and Malvern Hills are all nearby.
Take the Night Riviera Sleeper train from London Paddington to Penzance in Cornwall and wake up to sandy beaches, glittering bays and bustling fishing villages. The train stops in St Austell, home to the Eden Project; an attraction focused on protecting the world’s biodiversity.
