Searching the web for the best places to visit in The UK for first-timers? In this post, you can find expert advice + a curated list of the Most Famous Places that you shouldn’t miss during your visit.
As a Londoner born and bred, I have a huge amount of love for the UK’s capital. It’s my favourite city, but many other fantastic places around the country get overlooked in favour of London.Â
If you are planning a visit to the UK check out these famous places and consider adding them to your itinerary. After all, London has a lot to offer but you’ll miss out on so many iconic locations if you don’t leave the city.Â
If you won’t be hiring a car during your trip don’t be put off by these suggestions. The UK’s public transport network covers a lot of ground, so it is possible to get virtually anywhere in the UK via train or bus. You can even visit some of these places on a day trip from London.
Best places to visit the UK | The Most Famous Places In The UK
England
Stonehenge
Outside of London’s many landmarks, Stonehenge is perhaps the most iconic site in the UK. Even after more than 4,000 years, it remains a mysterious site as there is no definitive answer about Stonehenge’s purpose. Debate also exists about how the stone slabs were transported to the site.
As well as Stonehenge itself, there is also an exhibition displaying many objects from the Bronze Age and describing the various theories about the nature of Stonehenge. You can buy tickets on the day but you’ll avoid some of the queues and get a discount if you book online in advance.
You can also get some fairly good views of the stone circle from the road that runs past the site. There is a stretch of the A303 where the traffic significantly slows down as people take the opportunity to see Stonehenge from a distance.
You’ll see much more by visiting the site and if you are the driver you need to be careful not to get distracted, but if you don’t have time to stop you can at least still see it.
If you don’t drive then this is a good one to visit on an organised tour. Many day tours depart from London, and there are also options from Bath, Bristol and Salisbury.
Tip: This guided day tour would be a great option, allowing you to visit top attractions outside of London including Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and the historic town of Bath.
Lake District
The Lake District is a lovely part of the country to visit. When I’m in the area I spend a lot of time driving around to see as much as possible. Lake Windermere is England’s largest lake, and you can also visit Beatrix Potter’s home nearby.
I’ve previously stayed at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal which was lovely and also a convenient location for exploring. Stonecross Manor Hotel is also a great choice.
It’s an area of England best explored by car rather than public transport as you would be reliant on local buses when you get there and have less flexibility exploring the area. It is one of the top places to visit in the UK for nature lovers.
The roads in the area can be narrow and steep, so if you aren’t used to driving a manual car make sure the one you hire is an automatic.
My car is a small manual and I once found myself struggling up a hill in the Lake District in first gear, an experience to avoid if you aren’t confident using a clutch.
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Peak District
Like the Lake District, the Peak District is a well-known part of the UK and a wonderful place to visit if you want to get away from the cities. It’s not a mountainous area, but full of rolling hills and valleys that are ideal for exploring by car and on foot.
One of my favourite places to visit in this area is Chatsworth House. It’s a Grade I listed house with extensive gardens, owned by the Duke of Devonshire (but nowhere near Devon).
The building has been used in several film and TV productions, most famously as Pemberley in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice.
If you do visit Chatsworth I recommend arriving early to make the most of your time there – it’s not the cheapest place to visit. If you want to visit this type of building with a cheaper ticket, then I recommend Hardwick Hall which isn’t too far away, lovely, and tickets are much cheaper.
The Lake District and Peak District are both National Parks, but unlike National Parks in the USA, you don’t have to pay or be a member to enter.
UK National Parks are just areas protected by law for preservation but will contain towns and villages where people are just going about their daily lives.
Stratford-upon-Avon
The home of Shakespeare – the UK’s most famous literary figure. There are several venues dedicated to Shakespeare, including a museum at the site of his birthplace, and a few theatres which often host Shakespeare plays by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
If you are interested in theatre I would highly recommend attending a play while you are in the area. I once saw an RSC performance of the Taming Of The Shrew and it was one of the best performances I have ever been to.
You can also walk along the River Avon and visit the nearby butterfly farm. Tudor World in the town centre is a living museum with buildings and characters demonstrating what life was like in 16th-century Britain.
If you aren’t interested in literature or theatre this might not be the best pick for you, as most of the activities in the town are in some way Shakespeare-themed.
York
York is a city in the north of England, with significant Roman and Viking history. The city is relatively small so it’s easy to get around on foot, but there is still plenty to do.
York Minster is a stunning cathedral that you can go into, particularly known for its stained glass windows. The Jorvik Viking Centre is a fun activity to do with kids, exploring the sights, sounds and smells of Viking-era York.
In Roman times York was a significant city protected by walls, and although the original Roman walls are no longer there, you can still walk the walls that were built in the 13th century.
Shambles is a historic street in the city centre with several buildings dating back to the 15th century. It is one of the streets in the UK that is said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, so some of the shops are now dedicated to Harry Potter paraphernalia.
There are lots of independent shops in York so it’s a great place to do some shopping.
Parking in the city centre can be difficult with many narrow streets, but like many other UK cities, York has a park-and-ride scheme.
You’ll find large car parks outside of the city with regular buses from the car park into the city centre. Just make sure you check the times for the last bus of the day.
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Brighton
Brighton is one of the UK’s most famous seaside towns. Brighton Palace Pier is a fun place to go with kids as it is full of arcade games to entertain them. The Royal Pavillion is also worth visiting, with its unusual combination of Indian and Islamic design.
The beach is made of pebbles rather than sand, so you won’t be walking around barefoot but it is a good place to walk around, getting views of both the sea and the architecture of seafront buildings.
The Lanes is an area of narrow streets known for shopping and dining. It’s especially a good place to buy jewellery and accessories from independent shops. The restaurant scene in Brighton is known for having a lot of vegan restaurants, as well as great seafood.
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Scotland
Scottish Highlands
The Scottish Highlands are unlike any other part of the UK. There’s something magical about this area. On sunny days you get spectacular views over mountains and lakes. In wet weather, it is equally beautiful with mist making the scenery somewhat mysterious.
Although it is fairly easy to get to major Scottish cities and towns by train, you’ll need access to a car to enjoy the best of the area. Glencoe, Loch Ness, Loch Lomond and Skye are all wonderful to visit.
If you have time you can even head to the most northern end of Scotland to explore part of the famous NC500 route. I love Scotland for a road trip, and although it is quite a distance from London I highly recommend visitors to the UK spend a few days in Scotland if they can.
This is another part of the UK that I would recommend renting an automatic car. You may occasionally have to stop at awkward uphill stretches of road and then struggle to get the car going again if you aren’t used to manuals.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, and a lovely place to visit for a few days. Scotland is famous for its whisky, and Edinburgh is the perfect place to try out some local products.
Edinburgh Castle should definitely be on your itinerary. There is a lot to see about the history of the city, although the museum leans towards focusing on military history so may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
The city is full of other beautiful buildings, including the Palace of Holyrood which is the seat of the Scottish government.
I highly recommend the Scotch Whisky Experience near the castle. You can do tours at this venue, but the experience I would suggest is heading down to the Amber Whisky bar.
The bar holds more than 400 different whiskies, and the staff are excellent at making recommendations for anyone from novice to connoisseur. It
This can be a fairly cheap way of trying whisky for the first time, as a dram of whisky can be around £5 rather than having to buy an expensive bottle of something you might hate. They also do whisky flights so you can try a themed selection.
If you are looking to do something more active, head over towards Arthur’s Seat, a nearby mountain offering excellent views over the city.
Edinburgh has a selection of excellent restaurants but it is advisable to book in advance. If you are choosing to visit during the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival or Hogmanay, you’ll need to book everything much further in advance and expect to pay premium prices.
Wales
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, a frequently overlooked part of the British Isles. Wales has more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world, and Cardiff Castle is an excellent one to explore.
The castle was built on the site of a Roman fort, and the 12th century Keep still stands. Much of the residential part of the castle was redeveloped in Victorian times and is much more opulent than other castles you might see in the UK.
The Museum of Cardiff is also popular, showcasing the history of Wales from prehistoric creatures through to the modern era.
The castle also has an excellent collection of art from Wales and further afield in Europe. It’s free to visit the museum and it’s easy to access in the city centre.
Northern Ireland
Giant’s Causeway
Giant’s Causeway is one of the most famous attractions in Northern Ireland. This unusual geological formation is thanks to volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. It is also the subject of Irish mythology, with a legend of a fight between two giants, one Irish and one Scottish.
Make sure you dress warmly – it’s next to the ocean and can get very windy, as well as rainy just like the rest of the UK!
If you don’t have access to a car while you are in Northern Ireland, the best way to get to Giant’s Causeway is using a tour from Belfast.
Note: I recommend this tour from Belfast.
Belfast
Speaking of Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital has a fascinating and difficult history. As Northern Ireland is on the Irish island a lot of visitors to the UK skip it, but it is still a great city to visit if you have time.
Don’t be put off by its history – Belfast is a very safe city. Just be aware that although the conflict known as the Troubles officially ended in 1998, it’s a relatively recent part of history so it’s a topic to treat with sensitivity when visiting Northern Ireland.
Belfast is also known for being the place where the Titanic was built. There is now a museum at the site where the doomed ship was built, with exhibits from construction through to the sinking. It’s one of Belfast’s most popular attractions so may be worth booking in advance.
If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, there are a couple of tour options to take you to see some of the filming locations, most of which include a visit to the Giant’s Causeway.
Conclusion
As you can see, the UK is full of famous, fascinating and beautiful places to visit. There are many more places I could list – cities such as Bath, Manchester, Oxford and Cambridge, and rural areas like the Brecon Beacons or Snowdonia. It might be a relatively small island, but it’s also full of character and beauty.
If you are visiting the UK, you may well be arriving in London, but make sure you don’t just stay there.
London is an incredible city, but the UK is much more than just its capital city. So expand your itinerary and try out some of these famous places in the UK, which in my opinion are some of the places in the UK to visit.
Author’s Bio: Fiona is a London native who loves to help visitors explore her home city. She has also completed adventures in other parts of the world as a solo traveller, including a 48-state USA road trip and a year living in New Zealand.
