Britain’s green cities
You can easily minimise your footprint while enjoying sustainable travel around Britain. Here we provide heaps of ideas to help inspire your sustainable itinerary. From swapping planes for trains to eating more ethically or treetop camping, it’s easy to get your next holiday working for you and the planet.
Eight ways to explore Britain more sustainably
Get on your bike
You don’t need to get blister or guzzle petrol to see a city in style. Get on a saddle and get fit by exploring a city by bike.
Discover London for yourself with a Santander bike, or take a guided tour like Red Bike Tours. Buzz along the Brighton beach-front with BTN BikeShare or breeze around Bristol with Bristol Cycle Shack. Cycle around Cardiff with Nextbike or meander Manchester with Manchester Bike Hire and its Bee Network.
Take a stroll
There’s no better way to get intimate with a place than exploring it by foot. To get a real feel for a place, why not walk its streets? 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.
Go for a hike
Lace up your boots and head out into the Great British countryside on one of its famous walking trails. Check out the South West Coast Path, Pennine Way, Hadrian’s Wall or West Highland Way for some known favourites. Alternatively, try a section of the England Coast Path – a 2,800-mile (4,500km) route - the longest signposted trail in the world.
Eat vegan
Eating vegan is one of the most sustainable ways to dine. From high-end cuisine like London’s The Gate, Manchester’s The Allotment and Brighton’s Terre a Terre to fast food like V-Rev vegan diner in Manchester or UK-wide vegan pizzeria chain Purezza, you’ll find a feast of animal-free eateries all over Britain.
Catch a train
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 and the spectacular West Highland Line from Glasgow to Mallaig over the Glenfinnan Viaduct for just a small taste.
Book green accommodation
A luxury stay need not cost the earth. Whether its Britain’s first zero-carbon accommodation, The Emerald boutique resort in Cornwall, or the heady canopy palace, Treetops Treehouse in Devon, Britain offers a plethora of green hotels and holiday homes.
Get back to nature
In addition to exploring 15 National Parks and many more Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, why not visit a back-to-nature resort? Elmley National Nature Reserve in Kent, allows you to volunteer on a range of programmes. Or to stay close to nature in a different take to the tree tops for your overnight stay in a canopy at Wales’ Fforest Farm and take to the canopies for a night’s stay.
Responsible tourism picks in the heart of Britain - the Midlands
Pedal power
Birmingham also offers an array of canals and with it, an extensive canal side cycle route network. The West Midlands Cycle Hire costs just £1 to unlock a bike, then 5p per minute after that. Look out for docking stations around the region.
Step out on tour
Learn while you walk through Positively Birmingham. Offering walking tours on anything from history to canals. Lovers of the hit Netflix series should take its Peaky Blinders tour. 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.
Pick up a paddle
With loads of canals to discover, why not see Birmingham from a duck’s view and check out visitor hub Roundhouse, which offers kayak tours of the its canals taking in the city’s heritage and landmarks as well as some quieter spots along its blue highway.
Shop vintage
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 Selfridge’s has vintage designer items.
Explore the great outdoors
Birmingham’s 2,400-acre Sutton Park is one of the largest urban parks in Europe. The Peak District National Park, Sherwood Forest and several Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty including Cannock Chase, the Cotswolds, Shropshire Hills and Malvern Hills are all nearby.
Five outdoor experiences in Britain’s cities
An overnight journey into a beautiful exotic floral landscape.
Night Riviera Sleep Train
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.