Things to see in United Kingdom
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The United Kingdom remains one of the world's most popular sightseeing destinations drawing high numbers of repeat visitors inspired by its effortless combination of historical splendour and vibrant modernity.
The locals complain incessantly about the weather, and in truth, it is rather gloomy and damp from October to May. For tourists though the imperfect weather provides the perfect excuse for retreating inside world-class museums and galleries, or enjoying the outstanding theatre. When the sun does shine, the British countryside reveals its irresistible charms with lush greenery, rolling hills and elegant castle ruins in abundance.
Although there is so much to see and do, Britain is very compact which makes it fairly easy to get between the sights. The entire country is laced with railway lines, frequently duplicated by bus routes, although for longer excursions it may be better to fly with one of the discount airlines like BMI, Ryanair and Easyjet.
The Tower of London is perhaps as famous for its traditions as its imposing structure. It is guarded by a special band of Yeoman Warders, known as Beefeaters, and dotted with several large, black birds – the Ravens. Legend has... see full details
With more than 6,000 historical objects from all around the globe, the British Museum houses one of the world’s greatest collections of antiquities, including the Parthenon Frieze or Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone and the Roman Portland Vase dating from the 1st century AD.... see full details
Buckingham Palace and the Queen’s Gallery
No visit to London would be complete without experiencing the pomp and ceremony of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, but now visitors can actually get a peek inside during the annual summer opening of the State Rooms, and see some... see full details
Take a trip through London’s dark and gruesome history, meet Jack the Ripper and see what became of his victims, or see the chaos and destruction caused by the great fire of London. The London Dungeon brings history’s most notorious killers and evildoers back... see full details
The great dome of St Paul’s Cathedral has been a distinctive landmark on the London skyline for centuries. Built in 1673 by Sir Christopher Wren, after the previous St Paul’s was burnt to the ground during the Great Fire of London, it is the greatest of... see full details
One of London's best known, but most overrated sights, Picadilly Circus is at the junction of Picadilly, Regent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue and is surrounded by neon advertising and fast-food restaurants. However with its Tube station, Picadilly Circus is a good starting point for... see full details
Brighton is unquestionably England’s most spectacular seaside resort town. Made popular in the 18th century, when the Prince Regent (later King George IV) chose it as the site for his holiday palace, the bizarre and fantastic onion-shaped Brighton Pavilion, it is still famous for... see full details
No other site in England presents the viewer with such grandeur and mystery, nor sparks the imagination so much as this circle of stones in Wiltshire. Writers, adventurers, historians and conquerors have all tried to answer the question, 'Who built Stonehenge?' resulting in tales... see full details
The imposing castle that stands on the craggy mound of an extinct volcano in the heart of Edinburgh is the city's top attraction, a proud symbol of the Scots nation. The castle rock has been inhabited since 800 BC, but... see full details
Glasgow's top cultural attraction was donated by the shipping magnate Sir William Burrell in 1944. Over his lifetime he amassed more than 8,000 works of art, 3,000 of which are displayed at any one time. The collection includes hundreds of sculptures, drawings and paintings... see full details
Loch Ness is situated in the Great Glen that links Inverness on the East coast to Fort William in the West. The most famous lake is 24 miles (39km) long, half a mile (1km) wide and 700ft (213m) deep and is home to... see full details
The quaint and picturesque country town, Stratford-Upon-Avon (which, as its name suggests, rests on the banks of the River Avon) is the historic birthplace of William Shakespeare. Visitors can explore Shakespeare's birthplace; Mary Arden's House, where his mother lived before marrying his father; his... see full details
The Brecon Beacons National Park is only half an hour's drive north of Cardiff and comprises four mountain ranges and an interesting terrain of old mining valleys, bare escarpments and sprawling sheep farms. Most visitors are walkers heading for Offa's Dyke Path, which passes... see full details
Snowdonia is Britain's second-biggest national park after the Lake District, boasting rugged mountain trails through some of the tallest peaks south of the Scottish Highlands. The tallest peak is Mount Snowdon at 3,560ft (1,068m), which is visited by half a million people each year,... see full details
Belfast Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum
The Belfast Botanic Gardens date back to 1828, but were only opened to the public in 1895. The Gardens boast the Palm House, a cast iron glasshouse built in 1852, rose gardens, green walkways and the Tropical Ravine greenhouse built in 1889. The... see full details
Situated on historic Shiprow with spectacular views of the busy harbour, the Aberdeen Maritime Museum proudly exhibits Aberdeen's strong maritime history, and its close connection to the sea. The city's significance in the North Sea oil industry is explored, as well as the importance... see full details
Alongside Edinburgh Castle visitors can enjoy a 'wee dram' and uncover the secrets of brewing Scotland's famed malt, grain and blended whiskies, known to the locals as 'the water of life'. The whisky tour includes a barrel ride through the history of whisky,... see full details
The Edinburgh Festival Theatre is used primarily for musical events and touring groups and it is one of the main venues for the annual summer Edinburgh International Festival, as well as being the year-round venue for the Scottish Opera and the Scottish Ballet. This... see full details
A 'must see' in Edinburgh is the Royal Mile, a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of Edinburgh's Old Town. Fittingly, the Royal Mile is approximately one Scottish mile long, running between two historic attractions; Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle... see full details