The ulitmate UK Roadtrip Map
Although travel plans to far flung corners of the world continue to be on hold, and the UK remains on lockdown so we are not permitted to travel around yet, it is indeed possible to plan a road trip that will take you to global locations when restrictions lift. However, this trip is like no other as while the locations are global, there will not be the need for any long-haul flights or passport.
Unbeknown to many, the UK is home to towns and villages scattered around the country which all share their name with more famous namesakes – so whether you want to see the bright lights of Hollywood, walk down the streets of Philadelphia, or must go to Moscow, you can, albeit without the famous scenes and landmarks…!
To provide inspiration for a Great British summer holiday like no other, Avis UK has created the ultimate ‘UK Global Road Trip’ which takes in all the famously named hotspots the UK has to offer. Ticking off five continents and 10 countries, if visiting all locations, you’ll cover around 1,900 miles on the road!
Key highlights include:
USA: With the English settlers creating many of the initial colonies of the United States of America, it’s no surprise that both the UK and the USA share many place names. Boston in Lincolnshire is the largest and most well-known of these, along with its neighbouring village of New York too. However, there is also Hollywood in Worcestershire, Philadelphia in Sunderland, Denver in Norfolk, Washington in West Sussex and a Texan double whammy of Houston and Dallas in Scotland.
Europe: While languages vary around the continent, they have in fact inspired a handful of similarly named places with our European neighbours. Dunkirk is found in both Kent and Gloucestershire, while Petty France is also in Gloucestershire and appears to have once been the home to French refugees, possibly after the Napoleonic war. Staffordshire boasts hints of the renaissance era with the village of Florence, along with the Germanic influenced suburb of Dresden, while the hamlet of Moscow in East Ayrshire originated as a misspelling of ‘Moss Hall’ but was cemented as Moscow in 1812 when Napoleon retreated from the original Russian city. Interestingly, the Scottish hamlet also shares the same latitude (55° North) as the Russian city.
Rest of the World: While Warwickshire may not boast a beach or be famous for its sunshine, it is home to the tropically named hamlet of Bermuda, which was once a thriving pit village. So too was Toronto in Durham, named by the Canadian coal baron who established it. Those in search of warmer sounding places will enjoy checking out Columbia in Tyne & Wear, Palestine in Hampshire and Sydney in Crewe (but we can’t guarantee the weather…).
Nina Bell, Managing Director, UK & Scandinavia, Avis Budget Group commented: “With foreign travel likely to be limited again this year, these unusual circumstances provide a real opportunity to spend some time getting creative with a planning a different type of road trip, and see what beautiful scenery the UK has to offer. While many are feeling frustrated with travel restrictions and the continued uncertainty, we hope we can help inspire people to start thinking outside of the box when planning their staycation this year and have a fun trip to look forward to when restrictions permit.
“Renting a car gives people the freedom to safely and comfortably go to places that are unreachable by other modes of transport. At Avis UK, we have also removed all cancellation and amendment fees on bookings up to 24 hours before the day the rental was due to begin, so our customers can book with confidence knowing if they need to cancel their trip due to restrictions they can do so easily and quickly, and receive a full refund back to their payment card. We hope this takes the uncertainty and risk out of booking and reassures our customers they have the option to cancel or change plans at no extra cost if needed.”
For those looking to get safely back on the road as lockdown eases, Avis UK has launched its Avis Safety Pledge, and partnered with RB the makers of Dettol in the UK, which sets out the relentless commitment to keep every one of its customers and employees safe.
Customers can also book with confidence this summer as Avis UK will waive all cancellation fees for current and future bookings up to 24 hours before the day rentals are due to begin. For further details on the Avis flexible cancellation policy please visit: https://www.avis.co.uk/avis-coronavirus-advice
Those looking to book a day trip can also use the Avis App which offers a low contact, seamless booking process, and gives customers control of their rental experience from start to finish, all at the touch of a button.
To find the perfect car for your next adventure, visit https://www.avis.co.uk/car-hire.
