United Kingdom Travel Guide

A political amalgamation of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the UK has a surprising blend of cultures to offer. It’s no longer the world of top hats and walking sticks; instead you’ll find a land steeped in glorious history, and home to a vivacious music scene and charming countryside.

London is the place to go for both music and a lot of those infamous sites. Walk around the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, take a city-viewing ride on the London Eye or wonder around the expansive (and often free) national museums. In evening, head to Camden for a cultured b… read morelend of music or Leicester Square for red carpet cinema openings and vast (but pricey) clubs.

Other must see English sites include the mysteries of Stonehenge and spectacular nearby Salisbury cathedral, the rugged cliffs of Cornwall – which has a laid back, holiday vibe and hides it’s own unique history – and the posh and picturesque university cultures of ancient Oxford and Cambridge. Liverpool is another place to take in the music, and explore a city once owned by the Beatles, while Hadrian’s Wall, the lengthy Roman border with Scotland that – should you have a few days to spare – you can walk the entire length of is also a worthy spot.

Up in Scotland, the beauty of Edinburgh and renowned grit of Glasgow are both big draws. Head to the highlands to find rustic castles, ancient estates and boggy hikes, or hunt for the Loch Ness monster with your camera at the ready. Edinburgh’s fabulous Fringe Festival is a great event to try and coincide with. Welsh capital Cardiff, meanwhile, is a rejuvenated city where rugby is the big passion; head west and you’ll come to an impressive selection of Welsh mountains to test you fitness on.

Northern Ireland is a flight (or boat ride) away, but worth the hassle for the splendor of Belfast – where political murals still adorn the walls and British and Irish flags compete for sky space – and the striking Giant’s Causeway and nearby rope bridge. It might not be the glorious empire it once was, but the UK still wows its abundant, multinational visitors.