Some people love spending hours in the car on a long journey, and many prefer shorter trips with lots of stops.
However, it’s important to remember that the journey can be just as enjoyable as the destination—especially when you’re open to adventure.
While road trips don’t always go as planned (like when directions send you the wrong way), have you ever considered that getting lost might be the best part of the experience?
Global searches for ‘best place to get lost’ have surged by 44% in the past year, according to Keyworldtool.io, showing that more people are embracing the spontaneity of unplanned travel. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or quality time with your partner, letting go of structured plans not only leads to discovering new places you might have never visited but also invites a more open-minded and optimistic outlook on your journey.
Here at SIXT, we’ve analysed factors such as the number of things to do, sea temperature, and sky visibility to reveal exactly where in the UK is the best place to get lost and enjoy the joy of a detour. We encourage you to stop counting travel time and instead make travel time count!
Key findings
- Edinburgh is the best city in the UK to get lost in by car
- Portloe is the UK destination with the warmest sea temperatures, 15.6C
- The UK town named best to get lost in is Newquay
- Blakeney is the best village to get lost in across the UK
- Lincoln is home to the most bodies of water, with 46 spanning across the region
- Clovelly was named the happiest destination to get lost in the UK, with a score of 8.1
- Manchester is the UK destination with the most petrol stations, totalling 87
These are the best UK cities to get lost in
1. Edinburgh is officially the best UK city to get lost in
If you are fortunate enough to find yourself lost in Edinburgh, then lucky for you, you’ve messed up your directions in the best city in the UK – as the Scottish capital has officially been named the best city to enjoy getting lost in.
Within just a two-mile radius, you’ll stumble upon 65 museums and landmarks, plenty to keep the family entertained while you figure out the maps. For the foodies, you may be glad to know there are also 12 different food and drink events such as local fresh produce markets in the same radius.For those behind the wheel of an EV, Edinburgh’s rate of 101 charging points per 100,000 people will ensure you are back on the road in no time. The same goes for petrol vehicles, as there are over 43 petrol stations, making Edinburgh the perfect stop on a Scotland road trip.
2. York receives the most ‘good staycation’ mentions in the country
York has claimed second place in the ranking for the UK’s best cities to get lost in. For those planning a road trip to the medieval city, here’s why wandering off the beaten path in York might just be the best part of your journey!
York is the happiest city in the top ten destinations, with an average happiness rating of 7.5. It has also seen the most mentions by far for ‘good staycation’ pages, with an impressive 3,585 in the last six months. This overwhelming recognition cements York’s reputation as a top-tier destination for getting lost, and you could be leaving with smiles as big as the locals’.
3. Glasgow offers over 200 things to do in just a two-mile radius
Another Scottish city has earned a spot in the top UK cities to get lost in, and this time, it’s Glasgow. Glasgow is known for its architecture and culture and takes third place in the ranking.
With an impressive 240 things to do packed into a two-mile radius, it is guaranteed that no matter what you stumble upon, you will be entertained in this bustling Scottish city.
With 22 bodies of water, an average daily temperature of 15.6C in the spring/summer months, and five local National Trust locations, Glasgow is the ultimate staycation experience, and you can be sure to enjoy any detour you make in this city.
BEST TOWNS TO GET LOST IN
1. Newquay is the best UK town to get lost
The charming seaside town of Newquay has officially been crowned the best UK town to get lost in, and for good reason. Here, a wrong turn isn’t a mistake but will instead make your trip more memorable.
With an impressive 20.76 (mag/arcsec2) score, Newquay boasts some of the clearest skies in the country—making it a stargazer’s dream. By day, there’s no shortage of adventure either, with 119 attractions in a two-mile radius and a 7.5 average happiness rating. No matter which way you turn, Newquay promises unforgettable experiences and a positive visit.
2. Bude is the perfect town for stargazing on your next road trip
North of Newquay is another picturesque Cornish seaside town, Bude, which has claimed second place in the ranking for the best UK towns to enjoy a detour. Thanks to local amenities and driver-friendly roads, the journey here may be more exciting than the stay itself.
With 342 mentions of ‘good staycation’ in the past six months, this town is proving to be a great choice for a relaxing getaway. If you happen to come across it during a road trip, you’ll find three nearby National Trust locations full of natural beauty. It also has a mag/arcsec2 score of 21.32, higher than nearby Newquay, making it a great spot for stargazing and quiet evenings under the stars.
3. Cheltenham claims a place in the top three UK towns to get lost in
The Gloucestershire town of Cheltenham claimed the last spot in the top three towns in the UK for getting lost. Of course, we know by now that getting lost is actually all part of the fun, but why is getting lost in this town really better than so many other UK towns?
This town boasts 240 local things to do and two local heritage sites and museums, so you won’t run out of things to do easily. The average daily spring/summer temperature is also fairly impressive (for the UK) at 17.3C, so with the sun in the sky and with seventeen convenient petrol stations to fuel the journey, getting lost in the car in Cheltenham sounds like a pretty great way to spend the day.
BEST VILLAGES TO GET LOST IN
1. Blakeney is the best UK village to get lost in this summer
The small Norfolk parish of Blakeney has been named the best UK village to get lost in—and it’s easy to see why. If you’re road-tripping to any of the popular seaside towns on the East Coast this summer, a stop in Blakeney makes for the perfect detour.
An ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts, Blakeney offers plenty to explore. With just 1.82mm of daily precipitation on average during the spring and summer months, you can enjoy long drives under clear skies, and if you’re looking to cool off, the village’s twenty local bodies of water are perfect for a refreshing dip.
2. This UK village has an average sea temperature of over 14.5C
Nestled on the Cornish coast, Port Isaac is the UK’s second-best village to explore this summer. Despite its small size, it packs in fourteen activities and two National Trust sites within a two-mile radius.
You can expect lots of smiley locals when you arrive as the town has reported a 7.5 happiness rating, and with the sea averaging 14.6°C, it’s perfect for a refreshing dip. Whether wandering charming streets or enjoying coastal views, Port Isaac is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
3. Bourton-on-the-Water named in the top three UK villages with over 17 bodies of water
Hidden away in the stunning Cotswolds, you’ll find the small village of Bourton-on-the-Water- which is one of the top villages in the UK to go and get lost in this summer.
With a remarkable 153.3 EV chargers per 100,000 people and three local petrol stations, Bourton is the ultimate pit stop to recharge – for both you and your vehicle. However, don’t be surprised if the stunning scenery convinces you to stay a little longer as this village boasts 17 natural bodies of water and three local museums, so there’s something for every visitor.
BEST DESTINATIONS FOR HISTORIC CHARM
So, if you’re looking for some historic charm during your UK road trip, where exactly should you be aiming to take a detour? We calculated which cities are home to the most museums, heritage sites, listed buildings, conservation sites and landmarks within a two-mile radius to provide you with the ultimate guide to history on wheels.
- Edinburgh- 65
- Brighton- 50
- Glasgow- 48
Edinburgh is rich in historic charm, offering iconic attractions like the Royal Yacht Britannia, the World of Illusions, and the National Galleries. With 65 local points of interest, the city guarantees fun and excitement for everyone, whether you’re travelling as a couple, with family, or on a solo adventure.
UK DESTINATIONS WITH THE WARMEST SEAS
Cold water dips are becoming increasingly popular, but you might not have to face the chill quite as much at these UK destinations. These spots boast the warmest seas in the country, making them perfect for a refreshing (but not too cold) swim- so when you pack up the car, don’t forget your bathers!
- Portloe – 15.6C
- Rye – 15.2C
- Hastings – 15.1C
Portloe is a small village in the Cornwall area that offers outstanding beauty and popular local walks. It also has the warmest sea temperature in the UK—an impressive 15.6C during the spring/summer months—making it the ideal stop for an enjoyable cool-off on your 2025 summer road trip.
THE MOST EV FRIENDLY UK DESTINATIONS
During your travels on UK roads, you’ll usually have no trouble finding a petrol or diesel station to refuel before continuing on your way. However, for those with electric vehicles, locating the nearest EV charging points is a crucial part of the journey.
That’s why we’ve identified the local authorities in the UK with the most EV points per 100,000 people. We’ve then cross referenced this with our Best Destinations to Get Lost index to see which destinations are perfect places for those with EVs to ‘get lost’.
- Painswick (Stroud District Council) – 205
- Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and Ullswater (Westmorland and Furness) – 176
- Inverness (Highland Council) – 167
In our busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to appreciate the journey itself. But exploring the UK is an adventure waiting to happen, no matter where you’re headed or who you’re travelling with.
This summer, why not hit the road in a premium-quality, financially friendly rental car and open the door to endless possibilities? From hidden gems to unforgettable experiences, the best memories often come from the unexpected. Who knows—getting lost might just be the highlight of your summer adventure.
Methodology
We analysed the top 60 most-searched-for road trip destinations in the UK to uncover the best places to ‘get lost’ across the nation. We created a weighted rank based on many index points to find the place in the UK to get lost, using the following metrics:
- Number of museums/heritage sites/listed buildings/conservation sites- Yelp
- Things to do in a 2-mile radius- Yelp
- Food and drinks events nearby- Yelp
- National Trust sites- National Trust
- Air Quality- UK Air
- Average temperature in spring and summer- Met Office
- Average precipitation in spring and summer- Met Office
- Stargazing / light pollutions (Mag/arcsec2)- Djlorenz
- Happiness levels- ONS
- Mentions in ‘good staycation’ round-ups- Ahrefs
- Number of EV chargers per 100,000 people- Gov.UK
- Number of petrol stations- Yell
- Number of bodies of water- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
- Sea temperature- SeaTemperature.org
Sources
*UK Search Data- Glimpse accurate on 14/02/2025
