Scenic road trips for classic & luxury cars
Easter is made for road trips and days out by car. Longer days, spring colour in the countryside, and plenty of family-friendly stops that turn a simple drive into a journey worth extending.
This guide highlights five of the best scenic Easter road trips in the UK, each chosen for beautiful driving roads, memorable family stops, and boutique places to eat or stay along the way.
From the New Forest and the Cotswolds to the Jurassic Coast, the Peak District and Somerset, these family-friendly spring road trips offer a route for every kind of driver — and every kind of passenger.
A note before you set off: popular Easter destinations fill quickly. Check opening times, book where you can, and download offline maps for areas where signal is patchy — or better still, hand a road atlas to the children and let them navigate.
Our top 5 family-friendly Easter drives
1. The New Forest loop
[Image: Beaulieu, home to the Beaulieu National Motor Museum]
Best for: Dappled forest lanes, roaming wildlife and relaxed coastal scenery – ideal for classic cars or grand tourers that suit an unhurried, atmospheric drive.
The route:
- Distance: ~30 miles
- Driving time: 1-1.5 hours
- Start/finish: Lyndhurst or Brockenhurst
- Drive: Lyndhurst → Beaulieu (National Motor Museum) → Buckler’s Hard → Lymington quay → back via forest lanes to Lyndhurst
- Road notes: Gentle, flowing B-roads – more spring chicken than white-knuckle.
Map link: Suggested driving route map for this journey
Why it’s a great drive
Driving in the New Forest is less about pace and more about atmosphere – winding lanes shaded by ancient trees, glimpses of open heath, and the occasional pony wandering across the road. These are roads that allow a well-balanced classic or grand tourer to settle into a smooth, unhurried rhythm, plus there are plenty of places to stop and stretch little legs along the way.
Don’t-miss stops
- Beaulieu National Motor Museum – a first-rate family day out and a perfect motoring-themed pitstop.
- Buckler’s Hard – a lovely waterside leg-stretch with proper maritime atmosphere (and a calmer feel than the busier coast).
- Lymington – historic port town on the Solent
Dine & unwind
- Lime Wood Hotel (Lyndhurst) – laid-back but luxe hotel and spa with a range of dining experiences expertly overseen by chef Angela Hartnett.
- Chewton Glen – Quintessentially English, privately owned luxury country house hotel & spa in the New Forest.
2. Jurassic Coast grand day out
[Image: Studland Bay. Credit: Ben Crowther Photography]
Best for: Cliff-top drama, seaside nostalgia and sweeping coastal views – perfect for comfortable grand tourers or modern performance cars that enjoy covering ground with ease.
The route:
- Distance: ~78-119 miles (with extension)
- Driving time: 2.5-3.5 hours
- Start: Poole / Sandbanks or Wareham
- Drive: Wareham → Corfe Castle → Swanage → Studland/Old Harry Rocks → (option) West via Lulworth Cove/Durdle Door →
- Road notes: A mix of A-road sweepers and narrower lanes near the hotspots – go early to beat Easter queues.
- Map link: Suggested driving route map for this journey
Why it’s a great drive
This is a route for cars that feel happiest covering ground with ease: strong mid-range, comfortable seats, excellent visibility. The scenery changes constantly – heath, castle ruins, open sea – so it never feels like you’re ‘just getting there’. Studland Bay is a standout start/finish point in particular.
Don’t-miss stops
- Studland Bay & Old Harry Rocks – big coastal payoff for minimal effort.
- Fossil hunting beaches – ‘we’re going on a dinosaur hunt’ vibes
- Jurassic Coast viewpoints – 95 miles of Jurassic coastline including popular Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove
Dine & unwind
- The Pig on the Beach (Studland) – a gem of a hotel in a gem of a location.
- River Cottage (Axminster area) – Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s superb destination is perfect for extending your trip to the wider Devon/Dorset border – take in one of the celebrated food courses while you’re there.
3. The Cotswolds countryside route
[Image: Broadway, Cotswolds]
Best for: Golden villages, immaculate lunches and elegant countryside roads – a natural setting for classic cars and refined luxury vehicles that suit the gentle pace of the Cotswolds.
The route
- Distance: ~65 miles
- Driving time: 2 hours
- Start: Cheltenham
- Drive: Cheltenham → Broadway → Chipping Campden → Stow-on-the-Wold → Bourton-on-the-Water / Slaughters → Daylesford → Ellenborough Park
- Road notes: The joy is in the B-roads between villages; the B4068 (Bourton/Stow area) is a particularly pleasing thread through classic Cotswold scenery.
- Map link: Suggested driving route map for this journey
Why it’s a great drive
For clients storing with Windrush in the Cotswolds, this route needs no journey to reach — you’re already at the heart of it. The roads between these villages suit understated excellence: short hops, beautiful light, and a pace that rewards a classic without demanding big speed. It’s also wonderfully modular – easy to shorten if the kids are flagging, easy to add a detour if the sun’s out.
Don’t-miss stops
- Daylesford Farm – ideal for families: Easter activities, easy parking, great food, and low-stress browsing.
- Prescott Speed Hill Climb (near Cheltenham) – run by the Bugatti Owners’ Club, this is a proper motoring pilgrimage and the setting is glorious. Events start from 28th March.
- Sudley Castle & Gardens – follow in the footsteps of Kings, Queens and 1,000 years of English royalty, with ten award-winning gardens and an adventure playground to let off steam.
Dine & unwind
- Ellenborough Park – for a sumptuous Cheltenham base with countryside calm and discreet glamour.
- Broadway Tower – the perfect pitstop for incredible views over the Cotswolds.
For more Cotswolds road trips and places to dine and unwind, take a look at our recent blog, Five romantic drives in the Cotswolds.
4. The Peak District - a ‘proper’ drive
[Image: Snake Pass, Peak District]
Best for: High moorland scenery, sweeping passes and rewarding driving roads – ideal for driver-focused performance cars and well-sorted classics that relish elevation changes and open views.
The route
- Distance: ~66 miles
- Driving time: 2.5 hours
- Start: Manchester
- Drive: Manchester → Snake Pass (A57) over the Pennines → Ladybower Reservoir → Bakewell → Chatsworth House → Ashbourne
- Road notes: Snake Pass is the headline: an iconic Pennine crossing celebrated as a scenic, direct alternative between Manchester and Sheffield.
- Map link: Suggested driving route map for this journey
Why it’s a great drive
You get real elevation changes, fast-open sections, and sightlines that make the cabin go quiet for a moment – the best compliment any route can earn. For performance cars, it’s wonderfully rhythmic; for classics, it’s a chance to enjoy torque, balance and that feeling of travelling.
Don’t-miss stops
- Chatsworth House – a grand, family-friendly pitstop with excellent grounds.
- Bakewell – enjoy a taste of the real deal – Bakewell pudding, not the tart!
Dine & unwind
- Wildhive Callow Hall (Ashbourne) – a striking Victorian Gothic manor set amid blustery wildness at the tippy-toe of the Peak District National Park – please the kids and stay in a luxury treehouse.
- The Peacock at Rowsley – refined fine dining on the edge of Bakewell.
For more great UK roads to test your driving skills, see our blog, The UK’s most beautiful roads.
5) Somerset’s quiet cool
[Image: Haynes International Motor Museum, Yeovil]
Best for: Creative countryside, exceptional food and spectacular driving – perfect for luxury grand tourers or modern classics exploring Somerset’s rural lanes.
The route
- Distance: ~65 miles
- Driving time: 2 hours
- Start: Frome
- Drive: Frome (market-town wander) → Bruton → Sparkford (Haynes Motor Museum) → loop back via rural lanes
- Optional driving ‘event’: Cheddar Gorge (B3135) if you want drama and a photo-stop road carved between limestone walls.
- Map link: Suggested driving route map for this journey
Why it’s a great drive
Somerset is brilliant for discreet high-end travel: the roads feel rural rather than remote, and the destinations have a creative energy and buzz – you could blame it on the leylines. Add Cheddar Gorge and you’ve got a genuine ‘motoring moment’ – dramatic scenery and a road that demands attention in the best way.
Don’t-miss stops
- Haynes Motor Museum (Sparkford) – an easy win for petrolheads of all ages.
- Bruton – achingly cool market town with a creative bent.
- Wookey Hole Caves – if you’re braving the Cheddar Gorge extension, why not brave this children’s number one attraction.
Dine & unwind
- Osip – a celebrated farm to table restaurant with rooms – Bruton doing what it does best.
- The Newt in Somerset – a place to pause for afternoon tea luxury – the estate itself is the destination.
Quick Easter road trip checklist for families
- Go early, stop often: Easter traffic spikes late morning and mid-afternoon near popular attractions.
- Choose the right route for the car:
- Low-slung cars: be selective with very steep/rough sections (Cheddar Gorge is dramatic; drive it smoothly).
- Classics: avoid repeated short cold starts; plan one longer warm-up stint.
- Pack for changeable weather: a boot-friendly picnic blanket and a warm layer turns a viewpoint into a memory.
- Book popular attractions and parking: book Easter activities at National Trust venues and other destinations to avoid disappointment.
- Download offline maps for patchy signal areas: better still, take a roadmap and encourage the children to navigate with you.
- Car preparation checks: a motoring malfunction does not go down well on a family road trip – check documents, tyres, screenwash, lights, and fuel before you travel.
FAQs: Easter Family Drives
What makes a good family driving route in the UK?
The best family drives combine scenic roads with regular stopping points such as viewpoints, museums, beaches or villages. Short driving sections between interesting stops help keep younger passengers engaged while still allowing adults to enjoy the journey.
Which UK drives are best for a classic car at Easter?
The New Forest and Cotswolds are ideal: gentler pace, beautiful scenery, and plenty of comfortable stopping points.
What’s the best Easter drive for families who need activities?
New Forest (National Motor Museum at Beaulieu) and Somerset (Haynes Motor Museum) are standout choices for their excellent museums. The National Trust also runs Easter activities and trails at several locations which are worth exploring.
Effortless motoring, wherever Easter takes you
With Windrush Car Storage, your car is always prepared and ready to enjoy. Our team maintains every vehicle to the highest standards, and our concierge service can arrange discreet collection and delivery directly to your home or accommodation.
Wherever the road leads this Easter, your car will be waiting – perfectly prepared and ready for the journey ahead. Please just get in touch for details.
