Although physically compact, the United Kingdom is packed with interesting attractions for the tourist. Its major cities are a sightseer's paradise. Its countryside is full or quaint villages, attractions of historical significance, and idyllic country landscapes that invite you to explore and savor their beauty. Visiting can be a historical education, if that is what you want. If not, the United Kingdom is enjoyable for its interesting mix of people, cultures and landscapes.

There are an enormous number of worthy attractions to be seen in this amazing country. Read our recommendations on the best places to visit in the United Kingdom.

Read our sections on United Kingdom Travel Information and United Kingdom Facts to complete your basic preparation for vacationing in the United Kingdom.

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England

• London   

  (See our London City Guide)

  • London is one of the world's great cities. It offers the tourist access to palaces, monuments, prisons, and cathedrals that were at the core of western civilization for centuries.  World Class museums abound: they include some of the best museums to be found anywhere and cover science, natural history, art, fine arts, books, medieval weapons, and more.  From St. Paul's Cathedral to Westminster Abbey, London is blessed with churches and cathedrals that will spark your imagination and demand your attention.  The shopping is fantastic whether at Harrods, the shops on Regent Street, or the boutiques at Beauchamp Place.  In the last decade, London has developed a fantastic set of new restaurants and offers an ensemble of foods from international destinations.  See our London City Guide for a detailed review of London and its attractions.

• Oxford  

  • The splendor, stately architecture and scenic grounds of Oxford University are unique reminders of the history of this famous institution.  Take an afternoon to savor the historic atmosphere by walking  the beautiful buildings that comprise this noted campus. Be sure to visit the Christ Church Cathedral for its superb stained glass.  (The official website of Christ Church Cathedral is at http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/).

     

  • The city of Oxford is the eastern gateway to the Cotswolds, an area that displays rural England at its best. Known for its rounded, gentle hills and slow flowing streams, the Cotswolds' offer beautiful scenery, quaint villages, good food and fun shopping.  The word rustic may be the best way to describe this pleasant area.   Classic cities such as Bath and Cheltenham are the major centers in the area, but for us the real beauty lies in the sleepy villages such as Woodstock and Winchcombe.  See the official website of the Cotswolds for more information.

  
  

• Bath 

  • Internationally known for its historic hot springs, Bath has been attracting visitors for centuries.  The town is a delightful stop and it is a great place to spend  an afternoon.  Be sure to tour the city's famous Roman Baths (in Bath Abbey) and allocate time to tour the Great bath, as well as the East and West baths.   If you are there in the afternoon, consider having tea at the Pump Room in the Roman Baths (offered from 2:30 to closing).  Visit the official web site of the Roman Baths for more information. 

  • We recommend that you take a few minutes to tour the Royal Crescent's notable architecture, which is considered by many to be some of the finest examples of 18th century urban building.  If you are interested in the Royal Crescent, stop and see the museum at No. 1 Royal Crescent.

• York (Click for our Guide to York )

  • York offers the tourist an interesting walled, old town and a spectacular, historic cathedral.  The York Minster (the Cathedral) is monumental and not to be missed. If you have the time, take a walk along the walls surrounding the town's historic core.

  
  

• The Lake District

  • The Lake District, in England's Northwest, is one of the most beautiful areas of the United Kingdom. A bucolic combination of hills, mountains and lakes makes for near perfect trekking, horse riding, kayaking and other outdoor experiences. For us, a country walk in the Lake District is one of the highlights of a visit to the United Kingdom. There are numerous lakes, path and attractions to navigate in the Lake district and you should connect with a local guide if you plan to wander afar. For more information on the delightful vistas awaiting you, see the official site for Cumbria tourism.  

    • Lake Windermere is stunning, although the town is touristy and crowded.  The town of Windermere and its lake often are the only stops made by many visitors to the Lake Country. Those who do so miss the best that this area has to offer. 

    • The countryside is a fine area for hiking and outdoor activity, but you need to be prepared for serious, overland walking. 

  •  By the way, the Lake County has been celebrated by numerous authors and Beatrix Potter made the area her home, as she lived in the village of New Sawrey.  For more information on visiting her farm "Hill Top", see this information from the National Trust.  For information on the Beatrix Potter Gallery (a gallery showing her original watercolors), see this site.

  
  

• Cambridge

  • England's other famous university town; Cambridge has a dramatic architecture and a wonderful sense of history.

  
  

• Canterbury

  • Canterbury Cathedral, sitting brilliantly on its plain, is considered by many to be the most glorious cathedral in the United Kingdom, although several others compete for the title (York, Durham, Winchester, and St. Paul's). Canterbury has had a strong role in England's religious  history. If interested, see the Church of St Martin, the oldest church in England; the ruins of the Abbey of St Augustine; and Christ Church Cathedral where Saint Thomas Becket was martyred in 1170. 

• Durham

  • Visit this town for its cathedral.  Durham Cathedral (sections dating from the 11th century) is an awe- inspiring sight from the inside.  After entering through its tiny door, you will be dwarfed by its height of its nave and intimidated by the sense of history that permeates this cathedral. Durham Cathedral is considered the most original and intact of the Anglo-Norman churches. In addition, the church contains the tombs of Bede the Venerable and St. Cuthbert. Nearby Durham Castle is worth a quick look.

   

• Hadrian's Wall (click for our guide to Hadrian's Wall)

  • Hadrian's Wall was the Romans' attempt to gird the country across its middle to keep the barbarians in the north.  Numerous archaeological projects, aimed at restoring the Wall and its fortifications can be found along its extent. Housesteads Roman Fort in Northumberland is considered the best-preserved fortification along the Wall.

   

• Stonehenge

  • Built five thousand years ago, the mysterious stone circle on the Salisbury Plain neat Amesbury, Wiltshire in southern England, attract many visitors. Visits inside of the center circle of the site are not allowed during normal hours, but can be arranged at other times. For details on visiting, see the official English Heritage website.

• Stratford-upon-Avon

  • Oh the Bard - he's the only reason that you might want to visit Stratford, which has taken commercialized Shakespeare to the limits.  Of course,  Stratford Upon Avon is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the English countryside.

  • There are a number of places to see (including 5 houses connected with Shakespeare), so budget your time carefully. Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Shakespeare's birthplace are the most interesting of the houses, but all are worth a look if you want to know more about the Bard. 

  • Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway are buried at the local parish church, named Shakespeare's Church by some, but best known as  Holy Trinity Church. 

  • Visit the Stratford-upon-Avon official website for details on opening hours and information on other attractions that might be of interest.

  
  

• Winchester 

  • One of England's oldest towns, Winchester is a historic gem with a unique cathedral. In addition, be sure to see the Great Hall, which is the remnant of Winchester Castle built in the 13th century.  Unfortunately, the "Round Table" on display, did not exist at the time of the legendary King Arthur - but that does not stop tourists from flocking to see it.

  
  

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Scotland  (Click here to read our  Scotland Guide )

• Unlike England, Scotland is countryside occasionally interrupted by villages, and infrequently interrupted by cities.  Scotland is a unique culture, located in a beautiful but, oftentimes, lonely setting.  If you travel the back roads of Scotland, you may come to understand the personality of the "Scots". 




• Our Scotland Guide  is a multi-page, stand alone section that covers Edinburgh (including attractions in the city and the Lothian region),  the Borders, the Highlands (including Glencoe, Skye, Loch Ness and other areas), the Grampians, Glasgow and the Trossachs.

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Wales

• Wales offers a distinct landscape and culture.  Although passing into Wales is "seamless", it differs from England and the Welsh revel in the difference. "Ambiwlans" is ambulance, "gammon" is ham, and you might hear about witches on the local news (we did)!  Wales lags England in economic development and evidence of the disparity is obvious in most towns and villages.  Wales offers the tourist beautiful countryside, outstanding castles, the stunning Snowdonia National Park and a unique culture that is one of the leading reasons to visit this area.
  
     

• Snowdonia National Park     

  • Over 800 square miles in area, Snowdonia National Park in northwest Wales, encompasses wilderness, agricultural areas and villages.  It offers a unique mix of recreation, conservation and community that meld with beautiful scenery and stunning vistas.  See the  website of the Snowdonia National Park Authority for more information.

    • Betws-y-Coed is the main village in the Snowdonia area and is a good source for accommodations and information on the area.

    • While in Snowdonia, you might be interested in taking a ride on the Snowdon Mountain Railway that ascends Snowdon (the highest mountain in England and  Wales).  The journey on the rack and pinion railway involves a 2.5 hour round trip up the mountain and the views are gorgeous in good weather.  The railway operates from Llanberis.  Visit their website for more information on the . Snowdon Mountain Railway . The Railway is open only from mid-March to the beginning of November.

     

• Castle Country

  • Wales offers the traveler a variety of castles of exceptional quality. The Castles were built to ensure the Welsh remained loyal subjects of the British Crown.  The castles add both mystery and magnificence to the countryside and you should not pass up the opportunity to explore these monuments to the past.

   

  • Be prepared: some castles will not live up to your expectations regarding size and grandeur. Living in castles was tough duty, though not as difficult as living outside of one. 
    

  • Gwynedd, located in north Wales, offers several well preserved castles that were erected by King Edward in the 13th century to colonize the Welsh and to defend his recent victory over the Welsh forces. In all, about a dozen castes were constructed  in Wales by Edward or by others at his request.  The greatest of the new castles, however, were constructed by Edward's  architectural genius  James of St. George.

    • Each of the castles occupies a site that possessed significant defensive characteristics that were enhanced during the construction process. The plan for the new castles was to build them with a concentric design that incorporated massive gatehouses, where the sites allowed.

    • Wandering any of the castles recommended below will take an hour or two (depending on the size of the castle and its state of preservation). The castles and their namesake towns are well worth a visit. The finest castles, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites are:

   

  Beaumaris Castle 

  • Beaumaris Castle, the last of the string of castles built by Edward, stands guard over the eastern end of Menai strait, a body of water that separates Angelsey from mainland Wales. Many regard Beaumaris as the most beautiful of Edward's castles in Wales.  Its moat has been partially restored and its walls remain in good shape, although the castle was never finished due to a lack of funds and changing strategies.  Beaumaris Castle has a concentric design and was constructed to allow direct supply by ship.

   

  Caernarfon Castle 

  • Caernarfon Castle is regarded as the most impressive of the castles built by Edward.  In addition to its defensive purpose, many scholars have commented that it was also built to impress the local populace with the king's determination to establish the English dominance over Wales.  Caernarfon is the largest and most highly ornamented of the castles in Wales.  It was built with an unusual number of  towers and its curtain walls include rows of different colored stones.  In 1969, Caernarfon served as the location for the investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales.

   

  Harlech Castle 

  • Harlech Castle (close to the town of Harlech)  is sited in an attractive location on the shore of Cardigan Bay. A harbor was dug to supply the castle by sea, enhancing its strong defensive characteristics.  Harlech Castle was endowed with a powerful gatehouse that included a number of defensive additions.  You will enter the castle through the gatehouse, so take a close look at the danger that waited for the enemy  who tried to enter this castle.

  
  

  • Heading north from Harlech towards Snowdonia, you will near Portmerion, an idyllic, small village built to show the compatibility of development and natural beauty. Visit to see the village, its garden and for some fun shopping.  If the name sounds familiar, it may be because Potmerion Pottery (in Stoke-on-Trent, England) was founded by a daughter of the man who funded Portmerion's development. Of course, the latest Portmerion Pottery is available in the Ship Shop in the village.  Good values can be found at the Portmerion Pottery Seconds Warehouse, that sells factory seconds at great prices. See the Portmerion web site for more information.

   

  Conwy Castle 

  • Castle Conwy was sited to overlook the River Conwy and control its traffic for both supply and defensive purposes.  The construction effort at Conwy also included a town that is considered one of the premier examples of medieval fortified town.

  • You will find the Conwy River Valley quite beautiful.  If you are interested in gardens, the Bodnant Garden, part of the National Trust, is a world famous garden noted for its botanical collection.  It is approximately 6 miles south of Conwy off the A470 (on the east side of the Conwy River Valley).  See the National Trust web site for more information on Bodnant Garden.

• Castle Ruthin (Ruthun)  

  • Located in Ruthin, the Castle (now a hotel) offers elaborately staged, fun-filled "Mediaeval Banquets", serving mead, good food, songs, and jests provided by fully costumed lords and ladies.  The event is worth the price, the entertainment professional grade, but the only silverware provided is a dagger - so make sure you trust your fellow lords and ladies! The castle, by the way,  was built for Edward I by a lord who located it on his own land.  Although attractive, Ruthin is not in same league as the four castles referenced  above.

   

• Cardiff   

  • Cardiff is the capital of Wales and busy, working city.  The Castell Caerdydd (Cardiff Castle) is the major attraction; The site has been occupied by a fortress of one sort or another for 1900 years and endured endless tinkering by the Romans, Normans, and the Welsh. The modern "castle" ( there is also a  Norman keep) was built in the 19th century and has a beautiful, intricately designed interior.

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Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland's attractiveness as a tourist destination has been marred by civil unrest between Protestants and Catholics.  It is unlikely that you will encounter active problems but you will see evidence of the disagreement throughout the country.

   

• The political situation in Northern Ireland has dramatically improved since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.The Irish Republican Army (IRA) announced on July 28, 2005, that it would end its armed campaign, and agreed to set up a power-sharing government on May 8, 2007. It may be that the tide has finally turned on this issue and that tourism will return.
  •  Within Northern Ireland, flash-points for sectarian confrontations still exist, but they are generally removed from areas where tourists congregate.
  • Political demonstrations, however, are well-policed and generally orderly. The potential remains for sporadic incidents of street violence in isolated areas in Northern Ireland during the summer marching season (April to August), with tensions heightened during the month of July, especially around the July 12th public holiday. As a result,  travelers in Northern Ireland could experience delays and disruption

  
  

  • If you are interested in touring Northern Ireland, and, perhaps, the Republic of Ireland, our guide to Ireland's North can be found here in our Guide to the "Emerald Isle".

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• We suggest you take the train or a tour to Windsor or Hampton Court for a delightful day out of town
• If you like maps or astronomy, consider a taking a boat down the Thames to Greenwich to stand on the Prime Meridian and tour the former Royal Observatory where John Flamsteed tried to unravel the mysteries of longitude and time.
• If you have an extra day, head for Canterbury and a visit to its famous Cathedral.

• London

• Woodstock

• York

• The Lake Country (It can be crowded in summer but it is a magical place, especially if you wander the countryside).

• Ruthin Castle, Wales (for a medieval banquet; touristy but great fun)

• Ballater, Royal Deeside, Scotland (a quite village situated along the River Dee, surrounded by beautiful countryside and great hiking.

• Inverness and the Eastern Highlands

         Map of the Best Places to Visit in the United Kingdom (UK)

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