City
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
A dramatic hilltop capital where a medieval Old Town meets Georgian streets beneath a volcanic crag.
Western Europe
United Kingdom
Four nations in one small island group: royal London, Scottish Highlands, Welsh mountains, Northern Irish coast, and a castle or cathedral round almost every corner.
Plan a trip in United Kingdom Map the regions you have visited
Before you plan: Entry rules and visa requirements for visitors, including the electronic travel authorisation scheme, change; check official UK government guidance before you travel.
For storytellers
Why United Kingdom matters
The United Kingdom packs an astonishing range into a short train ride. In one trip you can stand beside the Tower of London, walk the cobbled lanes of Edinburgh, hike under Snowdon, and watch the sea crash against the Giant's Causeway. England brings the history, the ancient universities and the storybook villages. Scotland adds wild glens, lochs and islands. Wales offers castles and mountains with its own language on every sign, and Northern Ireland has dramatic coastline and a fast-changing capital. Add pubs, tea, and landscapes that look painted, and you have a country that rewards slow travel as much as city breaks.
Talking points
- Four nations, four personalities: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each feel distinct.
- Trains link most major cities, so a multi-stop trip works without a car.
- Castles, cathedrals and ancient stone circles sit within reach of most towns.
- Wales signs are bilingual in Welsh and English, a nice detail to point out on camera.
- The weather changes quickly, so layers and a waterproof are part of every packing list.
Free to read aloud or adapt in your video. Check facts that matter to you against an official source before you publish.
- Capital
- London
- Languages
- English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- Best time to go
- May to September for the longest days and best hiking; April and October are quieter, and the Highlands midges are worst in summer.
Where to base yourself
Cities and towns in United Kingdom
City
London
United Kingdom
A huge, endlessly layered capital of royal palaces, world-class free museums, markets and neighbourhoods.
City
Bath
United Kingdom
A honey-stone Georgian city built around Roman hot springs, a Gothic abbey and elegant crescents.
City
Belfast
United Kingdom
Northern Ireland's capital, known for Titanic heritage, vibrant pubs, murals and a friendly, fast-changing cen...
City
Cambridge
United Kingdom
A collegiate river city famous for King's College Chapel, punting on the Cam and centuries of science.
City
Glasgow
United Kingdom
Scotland's biggest city, known for Victorian architecture, free museums, street art and a lively music scene.
City
Oxford
United Kingdom
England's famous university city of honey-coloured colleges, libraries, quads and riverside meadows.
City
York
United Kingdom
A walled medieval city with a huge Gothic minster, crooked lanes and strong Viking and Roman roots.
City
Cardiff
United Kingdom
Wales's compact capital, with a castle in the middle of the city, a revitalised bay and a rugby cathedral.
City
Liverpool
United Kingdom
A maritime city of docks, football, music and grand waterfront architecture.
City
Inverness
United Kingdom
The Highland capital, a river city that is the main gateway to Loch Ness, Culloden and the north.
Town
Keswick
United Kingdom
A Lake District market town beside Derwentwater, surrounded by fells and an easy base for walking.
Show all 20 cities and towns
Town
St Ives
United Kingdom
A Cornish harbour town of white-sand beaches, narrow lanes and a long art tradition.
Town
Stirling
United Kingdom
A historic town dominated by its castle and the nearby Wallace Monument, at the gateway to the Highlands.
Village
Betws-y-Coed
United Kingdom
A wooded Snowdonia village that serves as a base for waterfalls, walks and mountain adventure.
Village
Bibury
United Kingdom
A picture-perfect Cotswold village of honey-coloured stone cottages beside the River Coln.
Town
Fort William
United Kingdom
A Highland outdoor hub at the foot of Ben Nevis, close to Glencoe and the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Town
Portree
United Kingdom
The main town of the Isle of Skye, a colourful harbour base for the island's mountains and coast.
Town
St Andrews
United Kingdom
A seaside university town known as the home of golf, with a ruined cathedral and wide sandy beaches.
Village
Bushmills
United Kingdom
A small Antrim village best known for its whiskey distillery and as the base for the Giant's Causeway.
Top places
What to see in United Kingdom
- Top places
- Historic site 20
- Castle 17
- Museum 15
- Church, mosque or temple 12
- Neighbourhood 12
- Other 8
- Mountain 8
- Bridge 7
- Viewpoint 7
- Ruins 6
- Market 5
- Palace 5
- National park 5
- Garden 4
- Art gallery 4
- Lake 4
- Monument 2
- Entertainment 2
- Beach 2
- Scenic route 2
- Waterfall 2
- Island 1
- Stadium 1
- Theme park 1
- River or canal 1
- Spa and wellness 1
- Festival or event 1
- Square 1
- Shopping 1
- Park 1
Museum
British Museum
London, United Kingdom
A vast museum of world cultures and ancient treasures, with free entry to the main collection.
Castle · UNESCO
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
A fortress on an extinct volcano above the city, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels.
Other · UNESCO
Giant's Causeway
Bushmills, United Kingdom
Thousands of interlocking basalt columns on the Antrim coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Monument · UNESCO
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
London, United Kingdom
The Gothic riverside Palace of Westminster and its famous clock tower.
Historic site · UNESCO
Stonehenge
United Kingdom
The world-famous prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain.
Castle · UNESCO
Tower of London
London, United Kingdom
A riverside medieval fortress that has served as palace, prison and home of the Crown Jewels.
Mountain
Arthur's Seat
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
An ancient volcano in Holyrood Park with a short climb and a full city panorama.
Palace
Buckingham Palace
London, United Kingdom
The King's London residence, famous for its balcony, gates and the Changing of the Guard.
Scenic route
Glencoe
Fort William, United Kingdom
A dramatic glen of steep mountains and brooding history.
Church, mosque or temple
King's College Chapel
Cambridge, United Kingdom
A Gothic chapel with a spectacular fan-vaulted ceiling and a famous choir.
National park · UNESCO
Lake District National Park
United Kingdom
England's most visited national park, with lakes, fells and literary history, a UNESCO site.
Historic site
Radcliffe Camera
Oxford, United Kingdom
A circular domed reading room at the heart of Oxford.
Historic site · UNESCO
Roman Baths
Bath, United Kingdom
Well-preserved Roman bathing complex fed by Britain's only hot spring.
Mountain
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
United Kingdom
The highest mountain in Wales, reached by walking routes or a mountain railway.
National park
Snowdonia National Park
Betws-y-Coed, United Kingdom
A national park of peaks, lakes, forest and slate valleys in north Wales.
Church, mosque or temple
St Paul's Cathedral
London, United Kingdom
Christopher Wren's baroque masterpiece with a huge dome and a famous Whispering Gallery.
Neighbourhood · UNESCO
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The historic street running from the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with closes, shops and pubs.
Museum
Titanic Belfast
Belfast, United Kingdom
A striking museum on the shipyard site where the Titanic was built.
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