From the chalk cliffs of Dorset, along the rugged Cornish coast, to the magic of London.
As a photographer, I'm always chasing the perfect shot, but travelling with a family means every trip is also a balancing act between that one great moment and simply enjoying time together. Southern England turned out to be surprisingly good for both: plenty of rugged coastline to chase with the camera, and just as much for the kids to do along the way. While many travellers default to France or Italy, this corner of England offers just as much: breathtaking coastlines, green hills, historic sites and charming villages — with London as the icing on the cake. In this guide, I'll take you along Dorset, Cornwall and London: Durdle Door, Old Harry Rocks, Stonehenge, Bath, St Michael's Mount, St Ives and the Harry Potter Studio Tour. This trip was booked through Travel Counsellors, who arranged the accommodation, train crossing and transport.
Dorset: the Jurassic Coast
Dorset, around Poole and the Isle of Purbeck, makes a great starting point. Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch carved out by the sea, and the most photographed landscape in Dorset. From the car park at Durdle Door Holiday Park, it's a ten- to fifteen-minute walk down to the beach — pebbles and shingle rather than sand, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. A popular walk runs from Lulworth Cove over the cliffs to Durdle Door (about 30 minutes one way).
Near Studland, you'll find the white chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks. From the South Beach Car Park, it's an easy walk of around 25 minutes, with lovely views over Studland Bay. Round it off with a drink at the Bankes Arms in the village.
Dorset Adventure Park was a hit with the whole family: an inflatable obstacle course on the water, where you scramble from one floating structure to the next, plus a muddy barefoot trail. Wetsuits are available to rent, so getting soaked isn't a problem. From the park, you can spot Corfe Castle in the distance — the ruined castle on the hill, with a picturesque village below full of shops, a tearoom and the Swanage Railway steam train.
Stonehenge and Bath
As a day trip from Dorset, Stonehenge and Bath are an easy add-on. As a photographer, I found it a striking backdrop, but our kids were a lot less impressed: they described it mostly as "a big grass field with nothing else, apart from some stones." One tip that worked out well: we took the so-called 'Dutch route' — a free spot from which you can see Stonehenge perfectly well without buying a ticket. That saved us a good hundred euros. Bath, an hour further on, is known for its Roman Baths and Georgian architecture, including the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge.
Cornwall: coastline, tidal islands and art
St Michael's Mount, near Marazion, is a tidal island with a castle and subtropical gardens. At low tide you walk across an ancient causeway; at high tide you cross by boat — so always check the tides beforehand, and expect uneven paths.
Godrevy Towans Beach, near Hayle, is a wide sandy beach with dunes, looking out over the small rocky island with Godrevy Lighthouse — great for a beach walk or a sunset.
Padstow Sealife Safaris is a speedboat trip in search of dolphins and other marine life. We had fairly strong wind, which made the trip pretty intense — big waves, plenty of speed and getting soaked, guaranteed. Definitely worth doing, though you'll probably spot more wildlife in calmer weather. Either way, we spotted seals and dolphins.
Tintagel Castle, the ruined castle linked to the legend of King Arthur, was one of the few rainy days on our trip — and still well worth the visit.
Penzance is a lively coastal town with a long promenade, a compact town centre full of shops and cafés, and the striking art deco Jubilee Pool by the sea. Easy to combine with a visit to St Michael's Mount.
St Ives, Cornwall's best-known coastal town, is a former fishing village now known for its artistic atmosphere and six beaches. Walk the South West Coast Path towards Zennor, or spot seals on a boat trip.
London: Harry Potter Studio Tour and a bike tour
From London, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Leavesden is a popular day out: you walk through the original film sets, including the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and Platform 9¾. Take the train from London Euston to Watford Junction, followed by a shuttle bus (about 15 minutes). Allow at least three to four hours — there's an enormous amount to see.
A bike tour of London is also worth doing — we do one in almost every big city we visit, since it lets you see a lot of a city in a relatively short time.
Where we stayed
Sandford, Poole (Dorset) — A large holiday park with plenty of static caravans and camping pitches. A good base for exploring, but not somewhere we'd rush back to; we mainly used it as a place to sleep.
Calloose Holiday Park, Hayle (Cornwall) — Quiet, with all the facilities you need, and friendly staff. This is one we'd definitely return to.
DoubleTree by Hilton, Greenwich (London) — A nice hotel with parking for the car, an easy train ride into central London, and convenient access to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. A dinner tip nearby: The Prince of Greenwich Pub, serving genuinely good Italian food in an English pub setting — a warm welcome all round.
Crossing to England by train
- Arriving early pays off: we were a little early for our train crossing, but were able to take an earlier one for free.
- Passport and ETA: make sure everyone has a valid passport and apply for the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) in good time.
- Return trip busier: for us, the return crossing was noticeably busier, with plenty of Brits heading to the mainland — but everything still ran smoothly.
Driving in England
- Speed on narrow roads: outside built-up areas, the national speed limit is 60 mph, even on narrow, winding country roads — takes some getting used to. Drive to the conditions, not to the limit.
- Unexpected traffic: watch for tractors and cyclists on both motorways and country roads; horse-drawn carriages are technically allowed on motorways too, though we didn't come across any ourselves.
- A trick for the passenger seat: have your co-driver call out "short turn left" or "long turn right" before a turn — it helps avoid confusion in the first few days.
Practical tips
- Best time to go: summer for the most daylight, though also the busiest — arrive early for quieter photos.
- Footwear: sturdy walking shoes for pebble beaches and uneven paths.
- Tides: check in advance for St Michael's Mount.
- Tickets: book Stonehenge and the Harry Potter Studio Tour online in advance.
In closing
A road trip through Dorset, Cornwall and London shows just how varied Southern England is: from the Jurassic Coast, via Stonehenge and Bath, to Cornwall, and finally the magic of Harry Potter in London. Booked through Travel Counsellors (Joyce Paleari), who took care of a smooth, well-organised trip.
