Devon and Cornwall: 5-Day Tour from London

Stone circles and Cornish cliffs in one trip. This five-day Devon and Cornwall tour from London strings together big-name sights with real time to walk, snack, and look around, all in a 16-seat Mercedes minicoach. I especially like the way the itinerary mixes iconic stops like Stonehenge with places that feel lived-in, like Port Isaac.

My main caution is the stay style: you’ll sleep in small, locally owned guesthouses and B&Bs, often on town edges. That can mean 20–30 minute walks to restaurants and pubs, plus no lifts if your room is up stairs.

Key things I’d circle on the map

• Small-group feel (max 16): easier conversations, and the coach can reach tighter lanes than bigger buses.
• Short walks built in: you’re not just staring out a window; you get legs-on time at key spots.
• Driver-guide energy: the best days tend to be the ones led by friendly, funny people who keep everyone organized.
• Cornwall in full color: from Boscastle and Tintagel to St Michael’s Mount and St Ives art streets.
• Two “book-scene” regions: you travel through landscapes made famous in Rosamunde Pilcher and filming locations tied to Poldark.

Getting started in London: where the tour actually meets

You start at Green Line Coach Terminal, Stance 3, Bulleid Way (SW1W 9SH). It’s behind Victoria Train Station and diagonally across from Victoria Coach Station. One small but important point: this tour doesn’t depart from Victoria Coach Station, even though it’s nearby.

The “small group” setup is part of the value. With a max of 16 people on a 16-seat coach, you tend to get quicker introductions, and it’s easier to ask questions without competing for attention. If you’re traveling solo, that matters.

Tip: arrive a few minutes early and get your bearings fast. The meeting area is simple, but you don’t want to spend energy hunting right before a long travel day.

Day 1: Winchester’s cathedral grandeur, then Stonehenge’s hush, then Exeter

Day 1 moves from London’s pace into Wessex country. You head to Winchester first, a former Anglo-Saxon capital with a big, undeniable cathedral presence and the Norman Great Hall. It’s a strong opener because it sets the stage: this region isn’t just pretty scenery; it’s layered.

Then you go to Stonehenge. Since admission is included, you can focus on getting there on time and soaking in the mood. Even if you’ve seen photos before, Stonehenge has that strange, slow kind of pull—especially when the group is small enough for you to actually look, not just pass through.

After that, you continue to Exeter, where you stay for two nights. Exeter is a smart base because it keeps you within striking distance of Dartmoor and lets you start shifting west without the whole day feeling like a drive-and-forget marathon.

Day 2: Dartmoor walking time, Tavistock’s Drake connection, and Exeter underground passages

Dartmoor is the day’s backbone. You’ll get time in the moor landscape and a stop at Postbridge’s ancient Clapper Bridge. This is the kind of place where a short walk helps you understand what the area feels like—wind, open space, and that slightly wild “you’re in it now” sensation.

Next comes Tavistock, tied to Francis Drake. It’s a market town stop that works well as a breather: you get local texture without losing momentum.

By early afternoon, you’re back in Exeter for the Roman layers. The plan includes Exeter’s Roman city sights plus underground passages, the ancient city walls, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, and a 12th-century Norman cathedral. That’s a lot for one afternoon, but the structure tends to work because you’re not stuck on one single building. You can hop between eras—Roman-to-Norman-to-street life.

If you like history but also like fresh air, this day hits a nice balance.

Day 3: Boscastle’s cream tea and witchcraft, Tintagel’s Arthur cliffs, then Port Isaac’s Doc Martin lanes

Day 3 turns clearly toward Cornwall. You start at Boscastle on the North Cornish coast. A cream tea stop is built in, and it’s a genuinely useful pause—tea and cake keep you human while the day stacks in sights.

Boscastle also offers a quirky detour: the Museum of Witchcraft. If you want the weird side of folklore without making the day feel childish, this is a good fit.

Then you go to Tintagel Castle ruins on the headland. The cliff-top setting is part of the point, and the Arthur legend hangs around the ruins like weather—always in the air, whether you’re fully into the stories or just enjoying the drama of the place.

After lunch, the trip heads to Port Isaac. This is where the tour leans into charm: stone cottages, harbor views, and the kind of village where you can see why it’s a TV favorite, including Doc Martin. The best part is that Port Isaac gives you room to wander at your own pace while still staying on a clear schedule.

That evening, you travel south to Falmouth for the next two nights.

Day 4: St Michael’s Mount, Minack Theatre cliff views, Land’s End, and St Ives art streets

This is a big day for postcard Cornwall, and it’s planned smartly by clustering coastal highlights.

You’ll start with St Michael’s Mount, then move on to the Minack Theatre—a performance space built into the cliffs above the Atlantic. Even if you’re not seeing a show, the setting is worth the trip. It’s one of those places where you understand why people wrote love letters and myths here: the ocean is right there, and the wind has opinions.

After that, you visit the National Trust beach at Porthcurno. It’s a good “reset” stop: sit, walk a little, and let the day breathe between heavier history and filming-location scenery.

Later you go to Land’s End. You’ll also pass through areas tied to Cornish tin mining heritage, with locations now known from Poldark. That’s a fun match for people who like connecting literature and screen to real places, because you’re not just chasing scenery—you’re seeing why those stories got their textures.

Finally, you finish at St Ives. The town is known for artists’ galleries, and you’ll feel that influence immediately once you step into the narrow harbor-side streets. It’s an end-of-day treat because you can browse and snack without feeling like you’re sprinting.

You return to Falmouth for the night.

Day 5: Bodmin Moor’s wild stretch, Glastonbury Abbey ruins, and the Tor views

You say goodbye to Cornwall with a crossing through Bodmin Moor, designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. This is the day’s “wide open” feel—less village walking, more moorland presence. It helps break up the earlier coastal focus.

A stop/break is built in before you continue onward to Glastonbury. Here you can visit the ruins of the 7th-century Abbey, relax over lunch, and decide whether you want to scale Glastonbury Tor for panoramic views across five counties.

A heads-up: Day 5 can feel like a long finish because you’re combining moorland travel with Glastonbury sightseeing before heading back to London. If you’re sensitive to fatigue, plan your Tor climb as an option, not a requirement.

When you think about value, this day matters because it adds a different kind of British landscape—spiritual, mythic, and view-based—before you return to the city.

Price and value: what $1,180 buys you in real terms

At around $1,180 per person for five days, you’re paying for three things that are hard to copy on your own:

1) Time-saving logistics. A single 16-seat minicoach handles the long transfers from London to Winchester/Exeter and then across Cornwall, without you coordinating trains, rentals, or multiple hotel moves.

2) Included admissions that matter. Stonehenge admission and Tintagel Castle admission are included. Those alone remove friction from planning and help you keep your schedule intact on the most time-sensitive stops.

3) A small-group pace with guidance. Breakfast is included, and you travel with a local driver-guide who keeps the story straight and the group organized. A big part of the experience is how the guide frames what you’re seeing while still giving you free time to enjoy it.

Where the cost can feel different is accommodation quality. Small B&Bs mean uneven standards from place to place. One night might feel more comfortable than another, and you may also be staying farther from dinner spots than you’d expect. If you’re the kind of traveler who wants everything to feel like a chain hotel, this may not be money-smart for you.

But if you want convenience and you’re happy trading “same-everywhere hotel feel” for location and character, the price starts looking fair.

The coach, pacing, and how much freedom you actually get

The tour is built around a “guided context, then explore” rhythm. You get background as you travel, and then you’re typically dropped at places with clear expectations about meeting up again. That structure can feel great because you’re not trapped in a museum tour voice all day.

The small coach also changes the vibe. You can talk to people. You can ask questions without shouting. And because it’s not a huge bus, you can sometimes access roads and stops where larger vehicles would struggle.

Pacing is active but not extreme. Expect short walks and viewpoint time, plus at least one real climb choice at Glastonbury Tor. If your ideal vacation is slow and flexible, I’d say this itinerary stays on your side of the line—especially because you’re not doing all-day hiking. Still, pack good shoes. The English weather loves surprises.

Where you sleep: en suite rooms, but B&B reality checks

Accommodation is included for four nights: small, locally owned guesthouses and B&Bs, with en suite rooms. That’s a plus. You won’t have to share bathrooms, and you’ll get a more personal feel than in big commercial hotels.

The catch is distance and stairs. B&Bs are often on the outskirts, so you should expect a 20–30 minute walk to reach pubs and restaurants. Also, lifts aren’t available in these types of properties, so some rooms may be up stairs.

From the pattern of what people have experienced, one night can be notably better than the next. If you’re picky about bed comfort, you might want to pack like you’re staying in a small house, not a big hotel: bring what helps you sleep (eye mask, earplugs if you need them).

One more practical note: if you’re a solo traveler who wants easy mingling, you may not always stay together in the same property every night. That can affect evening plans, even when the day group is small.

A tour that fits certain travelers (and not others)

This Devon and Cornwall tour is a strong match if you want:

• Iconic highlights with manageable effort, including Stonehenge, Dartmoor, Tintagel, St Michael’s Mount, and Land’s End.
• A small group that feels friendly rather than crowded.
• Built-in time for wandering in places like Port Isaac and St Ives.
• A guide who uses humor and local detail to keep you engaged, including names like Jack, John, David, Neil, June, Dan, Kate, Andrew, Dave, and Hellen showing up as examples of how different guides keep the energy up.

It may be less ideal if you:

• Hate walking distances to dinner (remember those outskirts locations).
• Need elevator access or find stairs difficult.
• Have trouble understanding a guide if accents are strong or if you rely on very crisp English.

Should you book this Devon and Cornwall tour?

If you want a one-shot, well-paced introduction to Devon and Cornwall with a small-group coach ride and a mix of history, coast, and myth-country, I think this is a smart booking. The inclusion of key admissions and daily breakfast removes a lot of planning headaches.

But be honest about your comfort level with B&B logistics. If you’re okay with uneven accommodation and walking to dinner, you’ll likely enjoy the character. If you need hotel-style consistency and easy access to restaurants on foot, you may want to build a more self-directed trip instead.

FAQ

What’s the group size on this tour?

It runs as a small group, limited to 16 participants.

Where do I meet the tour in London?

Meet at Stance 3, Greenline Coach Terminal, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SH, behind Victoria Train Station and diagonally across from Victoria Coach Station.

How long is the tour?

It’s a 5-day tour.

What’s included in the price?

Included are 4 nights of accommodation, minicoach transport, breakfasts, a local driver/guide, and admission to Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle.

Are lunch and dinner included?

Lunches, dinners, and refreshments aren’t included.

What transport do we use?

You travel by a top-of-the-range 16-seat Mercedes minicoach.

Is this tour suitable for children?

No children under 5 are carried.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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