What is the Great West Way?

Cities, Towns and Villages along the Great West Way

At one end you have London, the ideal entry point to the Great West Way with its world-renowned royal sights and rich cultural heritage. Then at the other, Bath and Bristol - close neighbours geographically, but with distinct personalities. While Bath is loved for its classical Georgian architecture and romantic literary connections, Bristol is a riot of alternative art, music and dining experiences, famous for nurturing pioneering spirits Brunel and Banksy.

Along the rest of the route lie relaxing riverside towns like Reading, characterful villages like Malmesbury in Wiltshire, and plenty of lush, green landscapes including the stunning Cotswolds National Landscape. These places are all intrinsically linked, and well worth visiting in their own right, but the Great West Way offers more than getting from A to B.

Enjoy Slow Travel between London and Bristol

It’s for slow travellers just as interested in the journey, and the colourful characters encountered along the way. And the big adventures that lead to unexpected diversions. The long-awaited pilgrimage to Stonehenge, perhaps, that leads to the secret stones of Avebury and 4,000 years of history you never knew existed. It’s about saying yes to new experiences and delighting in smaller, simple, special things - as well as the superlatives. 

Exploring what the Great West Way has to Offer

The Great West Way was made for self-guided travel, whether solo or with friends and family. The sort that enlivens your senses and makes you see the world afresh. Thanks to the A4 Great West Road, the Great Western Railway, the River Thames, the Kennet and Avon Canal, and multiple foot and cycle paths, you can choose how you get around. 

You can mix and match your modes, too, depending on the length and breadth of your trip. Whatever crazy combination of boat, bike, car or train enables you to explore the attractions that most excite you, from the famous to the far-out.

Get ready to go in search of the real England. There is plenty of information to help you plan your way. Find out more on our See & Do pages for some exciting things to do, get a local's guide to the Great West Way on our Discover Our Way pages and help plan your next journey with our suggested itineraries. And don't forget to book a place to stay along the Way; there are grand hotels, cosy cottages, traditional inns and gorgeous glamping sites to choose from. You can even spend the night on a boat! After all, you never quite know what awaits the curious around the next corner.