The Great West Way has always been there, but only recently have constituents along the English corridor that stretches west from London to Bristol and includes such iconic destinations as Windsor, Stonehenge, and Bath, proclaimed its greatness.

Described in tourism-speak as “the world’s first multi-modal touring route,” the GWW is designed to encourage visitors to slow down and travel using different forms of transportation, whether it’s hiking, biking, over water, or on a bus or train.

The touring route covers 800 km of navigable route and encompasses large areas of outstanding natural beauty and renowned heritage sites, as well as iconic destinations and under-the-radar places.

“The route has so much to offer visitors of varying interests,” says Florence Wallace, head of travel trade for the GWW. “Whether you enjoy historic locations, food and drink, picturesque landscapes and gardens, or are eager to see the filming locations of blockbuster hits, the Great West Way encapsulates the very best of England.”

Of course, a little thing called the pandemic has seriously thwarted the aspirations of most international visitors this summer to get out and discover the route.

In response, a new drone video has been unveiled, offering frustrated or simply curious travellers a bird’s-eye view of many destinations on the route.

The two-and-a-half-minute film takes viewers on a journey that includes different modes of travel, popular tourist attractions and events, augmented by key facts about places of interest.

From boarding a Great Western Railway (GWR) train at London Paddington Station, to journeying along the Canal & River Trust’s Kennet and Avon Canal, visitors can virtually walk the Wiltshire landscapes, drive across the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and travel by plane from Bristol Airport.

Featured sites include Windsor Castle, National Trust properties and landscapes, Malmesbury Abbey & the Cotswolds, Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, Bath, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens, Bowood House & Gardens, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, and Brunel’s SS Great Britain.

“One of our objectives when we commissioned this video was to bring the Great West Way to life for those that are unaware of what is located on the route,” says GWW head of marketing Fiona Errington. “I believe this video does just that. It showcases what’s at the very heart of the route, the many forms of transportation that allow visitors to slow down and enjoy their surroundings, and the breath-taking destinations and attractions, that create a quintessentially English trip.”

Check the video.