The United Kingdom is a popular travel destination among travellers and it offers endless possibilities for tourists seeking attractive places and fun things to do.
The United Kingdom is a monarch that comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These countries have a deep historical culture, and you can experience a mix of the UK’s historic and industrial ages.
Whatever your preferences, the places to go in the UK are numerous, and you can easily travel to medieval times and back.
There are many nice places to visit in the UK, and it’s easy to visit these places because the UK is connected by a good network of trains and buses.
You can also hire a vehicle and drive to these places and enjoy an unforgettable experience.
Below we list just some of the best places to visit in the UK, so prepare your travel itinerary and enjoy the adventure.
Stonehenge – Prehistoric Monument
Located 10 miles north of the historic city of Salisbury on Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge is Europe’s most famous prehistoric monument. It is a popular site, and travellers must purchase tickets to guarantee entry.
Exhibits at Stonehenge’s stunning visitor centre set the stage for visitors that explain how megaliths formed between 3000 and 1500 BC through audiovisual experiences. Over 250 ancient objects share information about life at that time.
After circling the different viewpoints beside these giant stones, visit a replica of an authentic Neolithic house to see tools of daily life during the Neolithic period. Volunteers offer you insights and demonstrate the previous techniques used over 4,500 years ago.
You cannot enter the circle and walk among the stones during normal business hours, but you can book special early-morning or late-night access to the circle through English Heritage, which manages the site. If you are a history buff, this is one of the places to visit in the UK.
London – Capital City of England and the United Kingdom
London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom and is one of the most diverse places in the world because many nationalities have settled in the city.
The city’s diversity attracts many tourists and they get to enjoy the amazing nightlife and multicultural restaurants within the city.
Visit all the classic locations like Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Big Ben and more, and enjoy views of the Thames aboard the London Eye.
Cornwall – Stunning Beaches and Countryside
Cornwall is one of Britain’s premier surfing destinations for its rough seas and sheltered coves.
The area has long been a favourite destination for creatives who find the surroundings and atmosphere to be inspiring.
A stroll through the bleak and stunning moorlands can make you feel like the hero of a great English novel.
The Lake District – Lakes, Forests, and Mountains
The Lake District National Park is known for its ribbon lakes and mountains, but it does not disappoint with its lush valleys and vast forests.
The mountain Helvellyn is home to numerous glacial landforms.
If you’re a fan of the outdoors, the walks and hikes in the Lake District will provide you with enough challenges to walk through as you experience the countryside.
Artists can get a glimpse of what they could create with parchment as the mountains in the Lake District provide amazing views.
Brighton – Modern Culture and Bohemian Atmosphere
Brighton is renowned for being an eclectic city that offers traditional seaside experiences right at its fingertips, including a restored pier, and seaside games, the novel Brighton Rock is a book that uses real places to describe the town.
Visitors can stroll along a quintessentially English beach and enjoy the local cuisine.
Brighton is also a laid-back and tolerant city and home to the Bohemian Area, which hosts an annual gay pride march, flea market and events that involve the whole town.
Birmingham – Second Largest City in the United Kingdom
Located in the Midlands, Birmingham has something for everyone. The city may lack historic buildings, scenic attractions and a notable industrial area.
However, it has a wealth of shopping options with quirky design elements like the Selfridges Building and modern buildings that make up for it.
Birmingham has a thriving arts scene with creatives showing their work at art galleries and visitors get to immerse themselves in culture when visiting museums and attending festivals.
The city has a vibrant nightlife and if you want to try the local cuisine, Birmingham is said to have invented the Balti Curry.
Manchester – The First Industrialised City in the World
The city of Manchester was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, becoming the UK’s leading producer of cotton and textiles. It has since gone on to become one of Britain’s most cosmopolitan cities.
Manchester has a vibrant and diverse nightlife, with both Spinningfields and The Northern Quarter areas of the city offering a wide range of bars and restaurants.
Canal Street is home to Manchester’s Gay Village, which offers a plethora of bars, clubs, restaurants and other nighttime venues.
Manchester is also home to one of the most famous football clubs in the world, Manchester United is a team that attracts millions of fans worldwide making it a perfect destination for football enthusiasts.
Manchester has a large Chinatown area offering some of the best Chinese cuisines in the UK.
If you want to try Indian food, which is becoming more popular than fish and chips in the UK, you’ll love Curry Mile, a half-mile stretch of Indian restaurants on Wilmslow Road running through the centre of Rusholme in the south of Manchester.
Belfast – The Capital and Largest City in Northern Ireland
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland; it has a long and proud history and numerous activities for visitors to have a good time.
Enjoy the history and culture of the city in the Cathedral Quarter, where you can stroll to your heart’s content or soak up the atmosphere as you stroll the cobbled streets.
The city has many historical places like Belfast Castle and the Peace Wall that divides the Falls and Shankill Roads in the western part of the city.
Belfast is also where the Titanic was built at the Harland & Wolff shipyard. There is now a museum and interactive exhibit in the city that honours those that were lost on its ill-fated maiden voyage.
Visit a local pub to sample the Guinness dark beer that has made Ireland famous. If you’re into local cuisine, don’t forget to try the Irish stew.
Anglesey – ‘Môn Mam Cymru’ (Mother of Wales)
Anglesey is the largest island in Wales, located on the northwest coast. It’s full of historic attractions, from pristine beaches to quaint historic towns.
Anglesey was once described as the breadbasket of Wales or Mother of Wales due to its fertile land that filled the breadbaskets of the inhabitants of North Wales in the Middle Ages.
Go to Beaumaris and learn a bit of history and see King Arthur’s Seat and the Beaumaris Castle. If you enjoy outdoor activities, Anglesey has many hills and peaks, such as Holyhead and His Mountains, perfect for short or long hikes.
The Cotswolds – Picture Perfect Villages
This area is known for its quaint villages that dot the area and visitors go to the Cotswolds to experience a taste of traditional English life.
Farmer’s markets and orchards are the norm here and you will get fresh fruits and vegetables when shopping for groceries at the market.
The streets are filled with antique shops, small independent bookstores, small businesses and bakeries, you can taste the best of British produce while exploring this rural gem.
Liverpool – Music and Culture
Named the ‘Cultural Capital of Europe’ in 2008, Liverpool is famous for being home to many of Britain’s greatest institutions, from The Beatles, Liverpool Football Club and Everton Football Club and is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city is also recognised by Guinness World Records as the World Capital City of Pop.
Visitors can see a portion of iconic Liverpool at the Albert Docks which is also home to the Beatles Story Museum.
Often considered one of Britain’s friendliest cities, Liverpool combines traditional features with historic buildings and the city is known for its warmth and hospitality.
There is a thriving contemporary art scene, including great nightlife and cutting-edge clubs where the music scene is mixed.
Canterbury – Where Great Stories are Told
Canterbury is best known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed cathedral and Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous 14th-century The Canterbury Tales.
The assassination of Thomas Becket took place in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 December 1170 and this event changed the course of history.
Canterbury has many historic attractions, including the ruins of its ramparts, a Norman castle and St Augustine’s Abbey.
Although the town is small compared to many other towns in the area, it is rich in museums and theatres.
The Marlowe theatre is an attraction in Canterbury because of its pure magnificence and it hosts music and other creative performances all year round.
Glasgow – A Cultural Hub and Old Firm Rivalry
Glasgow is an industrial city undergoing a resurgence. Glasgow has been named a UNESCO City of Music in recent years, with numerous performances and concerts.
If you’re interested in Victorian and Medieval architecture, check out the city’s incredible buildings, such as the Cathedral, Town Hall and Glasgow Cross.
If you’re into food, try a local dish, including fried foods such as haggis and fish and chips.
Glasgow is also a sporting location because it hosted the 2014 Commonwealth games and was one of the host cities of the Euro 2020.
It is also well known for hosting the Old Firm football derby match between Celtic and Rangers.
Bath – Roman Remains and Imposing Architecture
Bath is one of the places to visit in the UK that will amaze you because of its history and culture.
It is best known for its magnificent 2,000-year-old Roman baths built around the city’s revitalizing hot springs and for its honey-coloured Georgian townhouses, such as those at the Royal Crescent.
About 500 buildings are considered historical or of architectural significance, and the entire city is a World Heritage Site.
Bath is the ideal base for exploring England’s stunning countryside, including the Avon Valley, the Mendip Hills and countless other stunning Somerset landmarks.
Inverness – The Loch Ness Monster
Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands, and many stories are told about the city.
If you are a person who loves fables, Inverness is the place to visit. Stories of the Loch Ness monster were probably the first place to draw travellers to Inverness.
Inverness has a lot to offer tourists, including the 19th-century St. Andrew’s Cathedral and exploring the Ness Islands.
Don’t miss visiting the historic Culloden battlefield and walking through Cairns that are thousands of years old.
Final Thoughts
The UK has many places you can visit and you may not exhaust every area unless you decide to relocate there.
The countryside and the developed cities make the UK a travel destination for tourists and locals.
We barely scratched the surface of places to visit in the UK, but it is an excellent guide to start with and plan where your next trip in the UK will be.
