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From Charing Cross, the centre of England’s historic capital city, to the city of 'La Dolce Vita', via the vineyards of France, cosmopolitan Geneva, the foodie havens of northern Italy and the cradle of the Renaissance; there are few two-day drives that give you as many opportunities for an interesting detour than London to Rome.

ESSENTIAL INFO

The route

We start at Charing Cross, the centre of London. From here we head through London’s central Congestion Charge area (make sure you pay the toll or expect a hefty fine) to the river and east on Victoria Embankment (A3211), before bearing right on Tower Hill (A100) onto the A1203 through London’s Docklands, following signs for Blackwall Tunnel.

Go through the tunnel and join the A2 for 19.5 miles (31.3km). Join the M2 for 5.5 miles (8.8km) and take exit #3 for Maidstone/Chatham/Channel Tunnel. Follow signs for the M20 and join it at its first exit, towards Ashford/Channel Tunnel/Dover for 29.9 miles (48.1km).

Leave the M20 at Junction 11A and take the Eurotunnel Shuttle to Coquelles. From the terminal turn right and head towards the A26 (Arras/Reims/Paris); merging onto the A26 5.7 miles (9.2km) later (don’t forget your Euros, this is one of many toll roads throughout the route). This merges into the A4 from which you fork right into the A26 toward E17/Lyon and on to the A5 and A31.

The end of the A31 takes you to the outskirts of Burgundy’s capital, Dijon. Famous for its international gastronomic fair, the city has a novel way for tourists (over the age of 12) to get around: by rented Segway, electric scooters which glide silently through the boulevards and past the only museum in the world dedicated to steak and mustard.

From here on it’s the A39 and A40 for 192 miles (309km). You’ll pass Bresse – chicken lovers should stop here as television chef Heston Blumenthal reckons Poulet de Bresse is the best you can get, even if served on a rotisserie at a service station.

Another 62 miles (99.8km) from Bresse is the turning for Geneva (Genève). Just 6 miles (9.7km) from the A40, an excursion to the picturesque Swiss city will only add 12 miles (19.3km) to your journey.

From the A40 continue onto the N205 to Exit 31 (Mont Blanc Tunnel) and through the Italian border. Continue on the A5/E25 for 65.7 miles (105.7km) before joining the A4 towards Milan for 48.1 miles (77.4km).

Italy’s second city, Milan, is also its financial capital: a world-renowned centre of fashion and product design, home to the La Scala opera and elegant glass-canopied shopping arcades selling the wares of local designers Armani, Gucci, Prada and Versace.

If you’re motoring ahead, detour around Milan by taking the A50 towards Genoa (Genova) before merging onto the A1. This 171-mile (275.2km) stretch offers plentiful opportunities for detours: Parma (famed for its architecture and, of course, ham), Modena (home of Ferrari) and Bologna (home of the famous Bolognese pasta sauce).

From here join the A11 to reach Florence (Firenze).

Attracting millions of tourists a year, Florence is famous for its Uffizzi Gallery, its magnificent domed cathedral and the medieval Ponte Vecchio, a bridge with shops built along its length selling jewellery and leather goods.

From the centre of Florence you need to join the SP127, which heads back on to the A1 towards Rome (Roma). Follow the A1 for 143 miles (230.1km) before joining the A1DIR (towards Roma Nord-Rieti) for 14.9 miles (24 km). This takes you clockwise around Rome’s orbital motorway. Continue to Exit 14 to take the A24 towards Rome’s city centre.

Rome needs little introduction: Italy’s capital was the hub of one of history’s great empires. Monuments to its imperial legacy still survive: the imposing ruin of the Colosseum that housed gladiatorial combat and the extant Pantheon. It has landmarks at every corner from the Trevi Fountain (as seen in 'La Dolce Vita' - you may only return if you throw a coin in the fountain for luck) to the Spanish Steps and the city-within-a-city of the Vatican.

Rome is famously built on seven hills. Don’t miss the view from the second highest of these, Gianicolo – it’s spectacular.

Italy is a country that prizes its food and its capital makes no exception to the rule: the city is famous for its porchetta (baby suckling pig) and veal – though there are a number of vegetarian restaurants for people who don’t share the Romans’ passion for meat.


GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TRIP

Worth getting out the car for

• Think France, think wine. And no wine is more highly prized than the sparkling region of the Champagne region. While you’re there take a tour of G. H. Martel’s historic cellars and taste samples of three of their wines.
• It might look like a greasy spoon, but you can get fabulous Poulet de Bresse at L’Arche Cafeteria on the A39 at L’aire du Poulet de Bresse (+33 385763097)
• Turin is famous for its open markets and was the setting for the great heist in the original, classic 'The Italian Job'. It’s a short detour from our route.
• The Jet d’eau in Geneva is the world’s tallest fountain, spurting water 140 metres (460 ft) into the air. This ever-changing monument is a keen favourite of photographers.
• Chamonix is another short detour from the E25, 50 miles (80km) from Geneva. Have an authentic fondure, or let the Aiguille du Midi cablecar (once the tallest in the world) whisk you from Chamonix up to the imposing Mont Blanc.
• Galleria Ferrari is the official museum of Ferrari, based in Maranello, Modena, home to the sports car maker and the Formula 1 team.
• Antica Trattoria della Gigina in Bologna is reputedly the home of the most authentic Bolognese sauce (+39 51322300).

• 7-12 July, Hampton Court Flower Show, London – One of Britain’s most prestigious horticultural shows, Hampton Court Flower Show takes place in the shadow of the historic Hampton Court Palace, the grand riverside residence of King Henry VIII.
• 31 October-11 November, International Gastronomic Fair, Dijon – Think France and you think food. If there’s any country famed for its gastronomy it’s France. But even the proud gastronauts of France will let the rest of the world show its culinary wares: once a year, in Dijon.
• June-August, Opera Festival, Boboli Gardens, Florence – Florence’s Boboli Gardens are a beautiful place in which to escape from the constant whine of mopeds buzzing through the city centre. And in the summer it echoes to the sound of Italy’s most important cultural export – Opera.
• June-September, Estate Romana  – Celebrating its 32nd year, Estate Romana is a rolling arts festival taking place in venues throughout Italy’s capital. Events include classical and popular music concerts, photography and art exhibitions and a festival of theatre.

• Rome Tourism
• Mont Blanc Tunnel weather cam 
• Eurotunnel