Devon and Cornwall: 5-Day Tour from London

The best thing about this five-day trip is how much of southwest England it puts within reach without making you drive narrow Cornish roads yourself. You move from Stonehenge and Winchester to Dartmoor, Tintagel, fishing villages and the Atlantic cliffs of Land’s End, with a small group of no more than 16.

I like the 16-seat Mercedes minicoach, which can reach places that are awkward for a full-size bus. I also like the freedom at stops: your guide explains the area, then usually gives you time to explore on your own. The main drawback is the pace. You cover a lot of ground, and accommodation can be scattered, basic and a 20 to 30 minute walk from evening restaurants.

Key points to know before booking

• Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle admissions are included, saving you two significant entry fees.
• Dartmoor, Porthcurno, Land’s End and Bodmin Moor bring the wild scenery, with short walks and outdoor stops.
• Port Isaac, Boscastle and St Ives provide the most appealing village time and coastal character.
• The guide makes a major difference, with praised leaders including Jack, John, David, Dan, June and others.
• Four nights are in small local B&Bs, not one shared hotel, so standards and locations can vary.
• The final return to London is long, especially after Glastonbury, so do not treat day five as a relaxed sightseeing day.

Why this Devon and Cornwall route works

Devon and Cornwall are difficult to cover by public transport in five days. The best coves, moorland viewpoints and small harbors are spread across the southwest, while roads can be narrow and slow. This tour solves that problem with a small vehicle and a fixed route.

You are not simply ticking off one major attraction after another. The route mixes famous places with quieter stops: a Roman city, a moorland bridge, old mining country, fishing villages and a theater cut into a sea cliff. That variety is the tour’s real strength.

The trip costs about $1,180 per person. That is a serious price, but it includes four nights of accommodation, four breakfasts, minicoach transport, a driver-guide and admission to Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle. You still pay for lunches, dinners, drinks and most other entry fees, so budget beyond the headline price.

For me, the value depends on your alternative. If you would need to rent a car, pay for accommodation, navigate unfamiliar roads and arrange visits yourself, the price becomes easier to justify. If you already have a car and five full days, you could likely travel more slowly and choose your own lodging.

Day one: Winchester, Stonehenge and Exeter

The tour leaves from Stance 3 at Greenline Coach Terminal on Bulleid Way, directly behind Victoria Train Station. This is not Victoria Coach Station, a detail worth getting right on a busy London morning.

Your first stop is Winchester, once the capital of Anglo-Saxon England. The city gives you a useful introduction to southern England’s past, with its cathedral and Norman Great Hall. You have time to explore rather than just photograph the outside, though the exact amount of free time depends on the day’s traffic and group timing.

Stonehenge comes next. Admission is included, and this is one place where prearranged entry matters. The stone circle has a powerful setting, even if you arrive expecting a quick visit. You will have time to walk around the site and consider its scale and mystery before the minicoach heads west.

The day ends in Exeter, where you stay for two nights. Exeter began as a Roman fortified settlement and later became an important cathedral city. Staying two nights here is smart: it avoids packing your bags every morning and gives you a proper base for Dartmoor and the city itself.

Day two: Dartmoor, Postbridge and Exeter

Dartmoor is the first big change of scenery. The moor is open, rugged and exposed, with a strong sense of space that is quite different from the tidy villages and cathedral towns earlier in the trip.

At Postbridge, you see the old Clapper Bridge, a simple stone structure with a long connection to the moor’s working past. It is a modest stop, but it captures the character of Dartmoor better than a hurried viewpoint would. Bring shoes you can walk in comfortably, since the tour includes short outings and uneven ground.

Tavistock adds a more settled contrast. This old market town is linked with Francis Drake and offers time to look around, eat or simply enjoy a break from the minicoach. You should not expect hours of independent sightseeing, but the stop helps break up the morning.

You return to Exeter in the early afternoon. This is when you can see the Roman walls, visit the Royal Albert Memorial Museum or enter the 12th-century Norman cathedral. Exeter’s underground passages are another unusual option, though entry is not included unless specified, so check before budgeting for it.

The two nights in Exeter are useful, but your accommodation may not be in the city center. Some B&Bs are on the outskirts, and a 20 to 30 minute walk to pubs or restaurants is possible. One property, the Townhouse, received especially warm praise for its breakfast, room and welcoming owner, while other accommodation has drawn complaints about tired rooms and distance from town.

Day three: Boscastle, Tintagel and Port Isaac

Day three takes you to the North Cornish coast. Boscastle is a fine first stop, with a small harbor, a dramatic headland and time for a cream tea. If you want to walk, the headland gives you a short taste of the coast without requiring a serious hike.

You can also visit the Museum of Witchcraft, an unusual local attraction with a very specific focus. It will not suit everyone, but it gives Boscastle more character than a standard seaside photo stop.

Tintagel is the day’s headline visit. The castle ruins sit on a narrow, dramatic headland linked with the legends of King Arthur. Admission is included, but the site requires walking and includes steep sections. Wear shoes with a good grip, and do not expect a quiet, flat museum visit.

The setting is the main attraction. You come for the cliff views, ruined walls and Arthurian stories as much as for the archaeology. Weather can change quickly on the coast, so waterproof clothing is sensible even in summer.

After lunch, the route continues to Port Isaac, the fishing village used as the setting for the television series Doc Martin. You can enjoy the harbor, narrow lanes and steep streets, though the village’s charm also means limited room for a large crowd. The small minicoach is a real advantage here.

The day ends in Falmouth, your base for the final two nights. This gives you a chance to eat near the harbor, but do not assume the whole group will sleep in one property. Rooms can be spread among several guesthouses, which makes spontaneous group dinners harder.

Day four: St. Michael’s Mount, Porthcurno and Land’s End

The western tip of Cornwall is the most scenery-heavy day. St. Michael’s Mount is the first major stop. The island setting is memorable, but access can depend on the tide, and the schedule may limit what you can see. The tour includes the stop, not every possible entry fee, so check current arrangements if visiting the castle or gardens matters to you.

Porthcurno is one of Cornwall’s most attractive beaches, with cliffs and Atlantic views. This is a good place for a walk and a breath of sea air, though coastal weather can make the beach feel very different from one hour to the next.

The Minack Theatre is a highlight for many people. It is built into the cliffs above the Atlantic, and its setting is more remarkable than any conventional theater interior. It is also one of the stops where the tour schedule matters. You may have to choose between lingering at the theater, walking near the beach or taking in the view from above.

Land’s End brings you to England’s most westerly point. The commercial area around the landmark may feel less wild than the name suggests, but the coastal views are the reason to come. The stop works best when you walk away from the central facilities and give yourself time with the cliffs and sea.

The return route passes old Cornish tin-mining country. Engine houses and industrial remains dot the coast, giving you a glimpse of the work that once shaped this part of Cornwall. The area has also appeared in the Poldark television series, so the guide may connect what you see with the show.

St Ives closes the day. Its narrow harbor-side streets, galleries and art scene make it a pleasant final stop, though the town can feel crowded and commercial compared with Boscastle or Port Isaac. You return to Falmouth for the night.

Day five: Bodmin Moor, Glastonbury and London

The route leaves Cornwall across Bodmin Moor, an open area designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. After several days of cliffs and fishing villages, the moor provides a quieter final look at the southwest.

The day then turns east toward Glastonbury. You can visit the ruins of the seventh-century abbey, have lunch or climb Glastonbury Tor for views across five counties. You will probably need to choose one main activity rather than do everything at a leisurely pace.

Glastonbury is an interesting final stop because it changes the mood of the tour. Cornwall gives you the Atlantic coast and mining country; Glastonbury brings religious history, legend and a distinctive town center. It is worth seeing, but the timing can feel tight after the morning drive from Cornwall.

The return to London is long. This is not a final day for a relaxed lunch followed by a short transfer. Plan for a late arrival and avoid booking a flight, theater ticket or other fixed commitment that evening.

The small minicoach and the role of the guide

The 16-seat Mercedes minicoach is central to the experience. A full-size coach would be less practical in Port Isaac, Boscastle and other small villages. The smaller group also makes it easier to get back on time, ask questions and meet people from different countries.

The guide drives, handles timing and provides commentary while you travel. At many stops, you are free to explore without the guide beside you. That balance suits independent-minded people who want local context but do not want a flag-following group every hour.

Guide quality is one of the strongest parts of this trip. Jack, John, David, Dan, June, Neil, Nic, Kate, Helen and others have been praised for humor, care, route knowledge and practical recommendations. Your exact guide will vary, and English is the only language offered. If you are not comfortable with different English accents, listen carefully to meeting instructions and confirm the pickup time before leaving the minicoach.

The transport receives a 92 percent perfect score, and that makes sense for this route. You spend many hours on the road, so a comfortable vehicle matters. Still, five days in a minicoach means you should be realistic about the amount of sitting involved.

Accommodation, meals and daily comfort

The four nights are in small, locally owned guesthouses and B&Bs. All rooms are en suite, and breakfast is included. The personal feel can be a welcome change from a chain hotel, but standards are not identical from one property to another.

You may be placed in different properties from other people in your group. This has been a repeated source of frustration for solo participants and couples who hoped to meet for dinner each evening. Some properties are central, while others require a 20 to 30 minute walk to restaurants and pubs.

There are no lifts in these types of properties, so tell the operator in advance if stairs are difficult. The tour does not carry children under five, and anyone under 18 must travel with an adult.

Lunches, dinners, drinks and refreshments are not included. That gives you freedom to choose, but it also means you need to plan for food during busy sightseeing days. Your guide can suggest places to eat, as Dan and other guides have done, but the group may not dine together.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this trip if you want to see a broad slice of Devon and Cornwall without renting a car. It suits solo visitors especially well because the small group gives you an easy social setting, even though some people may be separated by language or accommodation.

It also works for anyone who likes short walks, coastal views, historic sites and a little television location spotting. You should be comfortable with early starts, changing weather, uneven paths and long drives.

I would hesitate if your priority is luxury accommodation, slow mornings or long visits at each attraction. The tour is called five days, but it is a packed five days. You see more than you could easily arrange alone, yet you give up some control over how long you stay in each place.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is efficient access to southwest England’s best-known sights, especially Stonehenge, Tintagel, Dartmoor, St Ives and Land’s End. The small vehicle, strong driver-guides and mix of free time and commentary make it much more personal than a standard large-bus circuit.

Think twice if inconsistent B&Bs or long walks to dinner will spoil the trip for you. Ask about current accommodation arrangements before booking, pack waterproof layers and proper walking shoes, and leave your final London evening open.

At $1,180, this is not a bargain tour. It is a practical one. For someone with limited time who wants Cornwall’s coast, Devon’s moorland and a taste of southwest England without driving, the convenience can justify the cost.

FAQ

Where does the tour leave from in London?

It leaves from Stance 3 at Greenline Coach Terminal, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SH. The terminal is directly behind Victoria Train Station and diagonally across from Victoria Coach Station.

Does the tour depart from Victoria Coach Station?

No. You need to go to Greenline Coach Terminal rather than Victoria Coach Station.

How many people are in the group?

The tour uses a 16-seat Mercedes minicoach and is limited to 16 participants.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English, and English is the only listed tour language.

What accommodation is included?

Four nights are included in small, locally owned guesthouses and B&Bs. Rooms are en suite, but properties can vary and may be located outside the town center.

Are breakfasts included?

Yes. Breakfasts are included during the four-night stay.

Are lunches and dinners included?

No. You pay separately for lunches, dinners, refreshments and drinks.

Which admissions are included?

Admission to Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle is included. Other entry fees are not included unless specifically stated.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children under five are not accepted. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 14 days in advance for a full refund.