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Age-old architecture and royal history are just the beginning with a trip to the United Kingdom. From hearty pub food, world-class fine dining, ancient stone ruins and Roman baths to basalt causeways and enchanting national parks, the UK’s diverse landscapes are home to some true bucket-list sights. Whether you take in the country on tour or opt for a coastal vacation, you’re sure to find your little corner of travel joy on these storied shores.
If you’re visiting the UK, chances are your trip will start or end in the inescapable capital, London. One of the world’s most sensational cities, London boasts an enviable foodie scene, thriving arts culture and truly overwhelming amount of history embedded in the very stones of the streets you’ll walk. But beyond the culture hub of London, England’s plethora of exciting destinations shouldn’t be overlooked. Liverpool is packed with port-town heritage and history-making music, and Bath is home to elegant Roman baths and an awe-inspiring abbey. Beachy Brighton is as famous for its nightlife as it is for the kitschy trappings of its pier, while rugged Cornwall offers delicious pasties, clotted cream and some of the country’s most impressive coastal scenery as the backdrop to the cliffside Minack Theatre.
The rugged northern lands of Scotland have an undeniable, wild appeal. From the verdant Scottish highlands, with their glassy lochs and photogenic cows, to the seaside towns of Scotland’s windswept islands – including dramatic Orkney and the ‘whisky island’ of Islay – there is a wide and wondrous country to discover beyond the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. That said, there’s never a wasted moment in the historic streets of Glasgow, with exciting sports and a friendly camaraderie to be embraced. In Edinburgh, picturesque castles and eerie underground cities will keep you busy from sunup to sundown, with breaks to sample the region’s numerous exciting delicacies.
It may be a hop across the way, but Northern Ireland is a worthy addition to any UK holiday itinerary thanks to its impressive natural features and historic capital. In Belfast, you can unpack the story of the ill-fated Titanic, then carve out time for well-earned pub fare at one of the city’s countless lively establishments. Up north, the Giant’s Causeway combines mythology and volcanic majesty in an undulating shoreline of hexagonal basalt columns. Back on the mainland in Wales, the tearooms of idyllic Cardiff serve up a superb high tea to fulfil your dreams of scones with jam and cream. Farther north, the showstopping hills of Eryri National Park – otherwise known as Snowdonia – are home to cathedral-sized caves where you can bounce on trampolines suspended over the cavern.
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