Guide to the United Kingdom: Planning Your Trip SEE FULL GUIDE prev next Free Things to Do Family-Friendly Attractions Outdoor Adventure Destinations National Parks Must-Try Food in the U.K. Best Time to Visit Weather & Climate Top Cities to Visit Best U.K. Destinations Traveling by Train Driving in the U.K. Power Adapters Tipping Etiquette Top Things to Do Guide to the United Kingdom: Planning Your Trip close Overview Destinations Europe The Top 20 Things to Do in the UK By Ferne Arfin Ferne Arfin Facebook Twitter Ferne Arfin is a freelance travel writer who covers the U.K. and Greece for TripSavvy. She currently lives in London. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 02/18/20 William the Conqueror's White Tower at the Tower of London. Chris Mouyiaris/robertharding/Getty Images Plus The best things to do in the United Kingdom range from clambering over rocky headlands to visiting castles, lunching in cozy country pubs, and seeing a play in Shakespeare’s hometown. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, shopping or food, you’ll find plenty to see and do. Use this list as a reference for planning your trip to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 01 of 20 Visit the Queen at Windsor Castle TripSavvy / Jess Macdonald View Map Address Windsor SL4 1NJ, UK Get directions Phone +44 303 123 7334 Web Visit website Forget about standing in a crowd to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace: There’s a lot more to see at the Queen’s weekend home, Windsor Castle. See magnificent state rooms filled with gilt furniture, objets d’art, and paintings. The Queen’s collection of drawings includes work by Leonardo da Vinci and Holbein. Queen Mary’s dollhouse is worth queuing for. And in a nearby gallery, dolls the size of toddlers have top Parisian couturier wardrobes, given by the French to the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. And it’s only a half-hour by train or coach from London. 02 of 20 See the Top Treasures of the British Museum Waring Abbott / Getty Images View Map Address Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 7323 8299 Web Visit website The British Museum is the largest museum of human history in the world. Its treasures include Egyptian mummies, objects from the Mesopotamian Kingdom of Ur, the Rosetta Stone that unlocked the secrets of Egyptian hieroglyphics, an Easter Island statue given to the museum by Queen Victoria, the marbles that once graced the Parthenon, and the Lewis chessmen featured in Harry Potter, The list is endless, and here’s the good news: It’s free. 03 of 20 Explore One or Two Stately Homes Courtesy of britainonview.com England’s stately homes are among the treasures of the United Kingdom. They offer rare glimpses into how the other half lived from the Elizabethans onward. Most are now run as businesses where you can see art collections amassed by families across hundreds of years, as is the case at Chatsworth in Derbyshire. Some even boast gardens created by legendary figures like Capability Brown, who landscaped Blenheim Palace. For amazing family attractions, head to Longleat Safari Park—the first outside of Africa—and its well preserved Elizabethan house. Check the National Trust website to learn more. 04 of 20 Eavesdrop on Roman Gossip at the Bath House © Ferne Arfin View Map Address 40 Crescent Gardens, Bath BA1 2NB, UK Get directions Phone +44 7711 119847 Web Visit website There’s so much to see in Bath that it’s easy to overlook why this remarkable spa town exists in the first place. In their day, the Roman Baths were a wonder of the ancient world; they were the largest Roman bath complex ever discovered and the only natural hot springs in Britain. Newly designed exhibits let you listen in on Roman gossip while exploring how the baths were used (like how Emperor Hadrian banned mixed nude bathing because of the hijinks that ensued). After, take a dip in the naturally heated waters at the modern, millennium-built spa. Continue to 5 of 20 below. 05 of 20 Cruise a Loch Britain on View Whether you choose a Scottish cruise on Loch Lomond or Loch Katrine, look for Nessie while cruising Loch Ness, or head south for romantic cruising on Windemere in England’s Lake District, you will be in for a scenic treat. The deep, dark waters of Britain’s Ice Age-gouged lakes are surrounded by dramatic mountains and shores teeming with wildlife. Eagles and peregrine falcons soar over the Scottish Lochs. The daffodils that inspired Wordsworth cover the Lake District Hills in springtime. And you might just spot Peter Rabbit in the Lakes—this is Beatrix Potter country, after all. 06 of 20 Drive into the Highlands on Scotland's Most Scenic Route VWB Photos/Getty Images Plus The name of this route, the A82, may not sound particularly romantic or promising. But if you are a fan of scenic drives, this is one you will long remember. Starting from the western shore of Loch Lomond, the drive takes you across Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, past heather covered hills that rise to snowy peaks. The route crosses through Glencoe, one of Scotland’s most dramatic mountain glens, then Fort William. You'll travel along sea lochs and Loch Ness to Inverness. It’s only 133 miles, but take your time to enjoy it. 07 of 20 Lunch in a Country Pub Ferne Arfin Make visiting a destination pub your goal as you stroll through the Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Kent, or Sussex countryside. You don't have to touch alcohol at all to enjoy the relaxed experience of a generous lunch. These days the food can range from pub classics, like sausage and mash or fish and chips, to Sunday roasts with all the trimmings. The ambiance is casual but the food isn’t. 08 of 20 Visit the Dreaming Spires of Oxford or the Backs of Cambridge Jason Hawkes/CorbisNX/Getty Images Plus A Victorian poet called Oxford "the city of dreaming spires" after its ancient medieval buildings. There’s a lot to see in the city that hosts the oldest university in the English-speaking world (founded in 1096), and quite a few of the university buildings are open for guided tours. While you're there, stop by the Ashmolean, the world’s oldest public museum—it’s free and full of treasures. Cambridge is 113 years younger but equally lovely. A walk down the “backs” of the colleges, along the River Cam, is a must. Continue to 9 of 20 below. 09 of 20 Scramble Along the Giant's Causeway Chiara Salvatori/Getty Images View Map Address Bushmills BT57 8SU, UK Get directions Phone +44 28 2073 1855 Web Visit website Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage site is a remarkable natural phenomenon. Composed of 40,000 mysterious octagonal basalt columns—all formed by a volcanic eruption—the "walkway" leads from the cliffs into the sea near the town of Bushmills in County Antrim. Visitors can walk and scramble on the stones for free, but it’s worth paying the admission for the National Trust’s excellent, award-winning Visitor Experience. It includes a guided tour and an audio guide. An exhibition at the visitor center explores the formation of the stones and the legends and folklore that surround them. It’s a bracing day out. 10 of 20 Explore Monuments Older than the Pyramids of Giza Matt Cardy/Getty Images The UK is studded with Stone Age structures and earthworks left by mysterious, ancient people. The secrets and purposes of places like Stonehenge, Silbury Hill and the sophisticated monuments of the Neolithic Heart of Orkney are yet to be revealed, but tantalizing hints are starting to be uncovered. For instance, the Stonehenge Visitor Center, opened in 2013, includes an exhibition of the latest theories and discoveries. Visit English Heritage or Historic Environment Scotland to learn about more ancient sites. 11 of 20 See a Stained Glass Window Bigger Than a Tennis Court Christoper Furlong/Getty Images View Map Address Deangate, York YO1 7HH, UK Get directions Phone +44 1904 557200 Web Visit website The Great East Window of York Minster, the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world, has been undergoing 15 million pounds (nearly 19.5 million US dollars) worth of cleaning, restoration, and protective treatment for more than 12 years. It’s set to be revealed in all its glory in May 2020—good reason to add Northern Europe’s largest Gothic cathedral, in England’s best preserved medieval city, to your travel plans. 12 of 20 Explore Snowdonia Paul Harris/Getty Images View Map Address Penrhyndeudraeth LL48 6LF, UK Get directions Phone +44 1766 770274 Web Visit website Snowdonia National Park in Wales has some of the highest peaks and best views in Britain. It also can claim some of Britain’s best castles. For a great overview of North Wales, try to get to the top of Mount Snowdon, the highest UK mountain south of Scotland. Some paths are more challenging than others, but the easiest way up is via the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Relax and enjoy the views while you ride up in style. Continue to 13 of 20 below. 13 of 20 Be Charmed by the Prettiest Villages in the World Alan Copson / Getty Images The picture book villages you’ve seen on calendars and "Miss Marple" really do exist. Their half-timbered facades, thatched roofs, tiny village greens, tea rooms, and pubs are tucked away all over the UK—especially in England. You have to meander through areas where they cluster as you won't find them on the way to somewhere else. Suffolk, where Kersey and Lavenham are located, is a good hunting ground. Look in Devon, Dorset, Cambridgeshire, Kent and Essex. Stay off the main highways in these places and you'll be rewarded. 14 of 20 Shop in a Traditional Market Nickos/Getty Images Nothing beats the old-fashioned give and take of a traditional market with its piles of fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and baked goods; handmade crafts and artisanal products; and clothing, fabrics, and household goods. Almost every small town has a market square and at least one market day a week. Big cities have dozens of general and specialist markets. The opportunity to handle goods while exchanging banter is irresistible. 15 of 20 Walk with William the Conqueror Ferne Arfin After defeating the Anglo Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, one of the first things William the Conqueror did was build castles. These European fortress/homes were an innovation that changed the face of Britain. There are Norman castles all over England, Wales, and Ireland—but the ones built in William’s lifetime, in England’s southeast, are especially interesting. Castles in Dover, Rochester, Hastings, and Pevensey were part of his legacy. So was the round tower of Windsor Castle. But the most impressive of all is the capital’s own castle, the Tower of London. 16 of 20 Explore Movie Britain Richard Munckton If you are a film fan, Britain is like one big movie set. Just planning an itinerary around Harry Potter locations—followed by visiting the actual studio sets where most of the films were made—can fill a two-week vacation in England and Scotland, easily. Or go on the Downton Abbey Trail to see the places featured in the television series and film. Highclere Castle, which stood in for Downton Abbey itself, is a highlight. And its connection to Lord Carnarvon, who, with Howard Carter, discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb, makes it an attraction in its own right. Continue to 17 of 20 below. 17 of 20 Discover the Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution Ferne Arfin View Map Address Hodge Bower, Ironbridge, Telford TF8 7JP, UK Get directions Phone +44 370 333 1181 Web Visit website Erected in 1779, the Iron Bridge—a graceful span across the Severn in Shropshire—was the first cast iron bridge in the world, and has given its name to a village, a gorge, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This peaceful, bucolic place was one of the earliest centers of industry in the world, the place where the seeds of the Industrial Revolution were sown. Craftsmen, attracted to the area’s coal, iron, and limestone, set up cottage industries in what soon became the world’s first manufacturing center. Today there are 10 museums and a fun, living village for families to explore. 18 of 20 See a Play and Visit the Bard at Home in Stratford-upon-Avon Ferne Arfin If you never thought you’d enjoy a play by Shakespeare, you’ll be a convert after seeing a lively and irreverent performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company in the Bard’s hometown. See the Shakespeare family homes and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, too. The town has been a tourist magnet for hundreds of years (check the guest book in Shakespeare’s birthplace), but the kitsch can easily be avoided because there is so much else to see. 19 of 20 Climb up to a Scottish Castle TripSavvy / Jess Macdonald The Scots were masters at placing their fortresses in dramatic spots. Edinburgh Castle dominates most of the city from its position atop a volcanic plug above Princes Street Gardens. About 40 miles northwest, Stirling Castle looks impregnable. Visit Edinburgh for its fabulous views and a chance to see the “Honours of Scotland," their crown jewels. Then head to Stirling for its connections to Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. 20 of 20 Take in the View from the Shard Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images View Map Address 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG, UK Get directions Phone +44 844 499 7111 Web Visit website The Shard, one of London’s newest skyscrapers, is the tallest building in Europe. The uninterrupted views of London above the Thames—and for miles in all directions—are truly breathtaking. Have your camera ready. Your friends will think you took these aerial views with a drone. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email