20 Best Places to Visit in the UK: From City Breaks to Wild Adventures

1. Lake District, England

Best for: Mountains, lakes, walking and outdoor adventure
Ideal stay: 3–5 days

The Lake District is one of the best places in the UK for spectacular scenery and outdoor adventure. Think rugged mountains, peaceful lakes, scenic drives and some of England's best walking routes.

Keswick is a great base for exploring the northern Lakes, putting you within easy reach of Derwentwater, Borrowdale, Buttermere and the surrounding fells.

For something a little more adventurous, head through Honister Pass, the dramatic mountain road connecting Borrowdale and Buttermere. Here you'll find Honister Slate Mine, England's last working slate mine.

You can explore deep inside the mountain on a guided Mine Tour, tackle the rock face on Via Ferrata, take on Climb the Mine or experience the Lake District from a completely different perspective on Honister's 1.2km zip wire.

If you're looking for more than just beautiful views, the Lake District has plenty of ways to get right into the landscape.

Local tip: Don't limit your Lake District trip to Windermere. Head north towards Keswick, Borrowdale and Buttermere for some of the National Park's most dramatic scenery.

2. London, England

Best for: Famous attractions, museums, food and culture
Ideal stay: 3–5 days

No list of the best places to visit in the UK would be complete without London.

Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are among the city's most famous sights, but there's much more to explore.

Walk along the South Bank, browse Camden Market, explore Greenwich or spend an afternoon discovering the museums and restaurants around the city.

If it's your first trip to the UK, London is an obvious place to start.

3. Edinburgh, Scotland

Best for: History, architecture and city views
Ideal stay: 2–3 days

Edinburgh combines historic streets, impressive architecture and plenty of green space.

Start with Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile before exploring some of the quieter streets around the Old Town. If you fancy stretching your legs, walk up Arthur's Seat for views across the city.

August is particularly lively thanks to Edinburgh's famous festivals, while spring and autumn are good options if you'd prefer fewer crowds.

4. The Cotswolds, England

Best for: Villages, countryside and relaxing breaks
Ideal stay: 2–3 days

Stone cottages, country pubs and pretty villages make the Cotswolds one of England's most popular countryside destinations.

Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury and Castle Combe are among the best-known villages, but part of the fun is finding the quieter places in between.

Rather than trying to see everything in one day, choose a couple of villages, go for a countryside walk and take your time.

5. York, England

Best for: History and weekend city breaks
Ideal stay: 2 days

York is packed with history and compact enough to explore on foot.

Walk through the medieval Shambles, visit York Minster and take a stroll along the old city walls. You can also discover York's Viking past at the JORVIK Viking Centre.

With plenty of restaurants, pubs and independent shops, it's an easy choice for a UK weekend break.

6. Cornwall, England

Best for: Beaches, surfing and coastal walks
Ideal stay: 3–5 days

If beaches and coastal scenery are high on your list, head to Cornwall.

You'll find sandy beaches, fishing villages, dramatic cliffs and miles of the South West Coast Path.

St Ives is one of Cornwall's most popular destinations, while Falmouth, Padstow and the smaller coastal villages are also worth exploring.

Summer is understandably popular, so consider visiting in late spring or early autumn if you'd prefer things a little quieter.

7. Scottish Highlands, Scotland

Best for: Road trips, mountains and wild landscapes
Ideal stay: 4–7 days

The Scottish Highlands offer some of the wildest scenery in the UK.

Mountain passes, deep lochs and huge open landscapes make this an excellent destination for walking, photography and road trips.

Glencoe, the Cairngorms and Loch Ness are popular stops, but don't rush your trip. Some of the best moments in the Highlands come from simply stopping somewhere because the view caught your attention.

8. Bath, England

Best for: Roman history, architecture and relaxing weekends
Ideal stay: 1–2 days

Bath is one of England's most distinctive historic cities.

Visit the Roman Baths, see Bath Abbey and walk towards the Royal Crescent to discover the city's famous Georgian architecture.

The centre is easy to explore on foot, making Bath a good option for a short UK city break.

9. Eryri (Snowdonia), Wales

Best for: Hiking, mountains and adventure
Ideal stay: 2–4 days

Eryri National Park is one of the best places to visit in Wales for outdoor adventure.

Yr Wyddfa, also widely known as Snowdon, is the highest mountain in Wales and attracts walkers from across the UK.

But there's much more to Eryri than one summit. Lakes, waterfalls, forests and mountain villages give you plenty to explore over a few days.

10. Isle of Skye, Scotland

Best for: Dramatic scenery, walking and photography
Ideal stay: 2–3 days

The Isle of Skye is famous for its rugged landscapes and unusual rock formations.

The Old Man of Storr, Quiraing and Fairy Pools are among the island's most popular places to visit.

The island gets busy during summer, so staying for a couple of days rather than rushing around on a day trip gives you much more time to explore.

11. Peak District, England

Best for: Walking and countryside weekends
Ideal stay: 2–3 days

The Peak District is a great choice if you want to escape the city and spend a few days outdoors.

Mam Tor is one of the National Park's best-known walks, while Castleton, Bakewell and the surrounding villages make good places to stop along the way.

You can also visit Chatsworth House if you'd like to combine countryside with history.

12. Cambridge, England

Best for: Architecture, history and short breaks
Ideal stay: 1–2 days

Cambridge is famous for its historic university buildings, beautiful colleges and the River Cam.

Explore the city centre on foot before trying one of its best-known activities – punting along the river.

Cambridge is compact enough for a day trip but worth an overnight stay if you'd prefer to explore at a slower pace.

13. Northumberland, England

Best for: Castles, beaches, history and stargazing
Ideal stay: 2–4 days

Northumberland combines beautiful countryside with one of England's most impressive coastlines.

Visit Bamburgh Castle overlooking the beach, cross to Holy Island when the tides allow, or explore sections of Hadrian's Wall.

It's also one of the UK's best areas for dark skies, so don't necessarily call it a day when the sun goes down.

14. Jurassic Coast, England

Best for: Coastal walks, beaches and scenery
Ideal stay: 2–3 days

The Jurassic Coast stretches across Dorset and East Devon and is famous for its dramatic cliffs and unusual geological formations.

Durdle Door is the obvious highlight, but Lulworth Cove and Lyme Regis are also worth adding to your trip.

Walking a section of the coast is one of the best ways to experience the landscape.

15. Belfast, Northern Ireland

Best for: History, culture and food
Ideal stay: 2–3 days

Belfast is an excellent choice for a UK city break with plenty of history and character.

Visit Titanic Belfast to learn about the famous ship and its connection to the city, then explore the Cathedral Quarter for restaurants, pubs and live music.

Belfast is also a useful base for exploring more of Northern Ireland.

16. Yorkshire Dales, England

Best for: Walking, waterfalls and peaceful countryside
Ideal stay: 2–3 days

The Yorkshire Dales is perfect when you want to slow things down.

Expect green valleys, stone-built villages, waterfalls and miles of countryside walks.

Places such as Malham Cove and Aysgarth Falls are popular highlights, but simply driving or walking through the quieter parts of the Dales is part of the experience.

17. Brighton, England

Best for: Seaside breaks, shopping and nightlife
Ideal stay: 1–2 days

Brighton brings together a classic British seaside trip and a lively city break.

Walk along the beach and Brighton Palace Pier, explore the independent shops around The Lanes and visit the Royal Pavilion.

It's also easy to reach from London, making it a popular option for a day trip or weekend away.

18. Oxford, England

Best for: History, architecture and culture
Ideal stay: 1–2 days

Oxford is best known for its university, but you don't need to be a student to explore its historic colleges and streets.

Visit the Bodleian Library, browse the Covered Market and wander through the city centre.

You can see plenty in a day, although staying overnight gives you more time to explore beyond the busiest areas.

19. Pembrokeshire, Wales

Best for: Beaches, coastal walks and outdoor activities
Ideal stay: 3–4 days

Pembrokeshire is one of the best places in the UK for a coastal adventure.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is filled with beaches, cliffs, hidden coves and excellent walking routes.

If you want something more active, try kayaking or coasteering for a completely different way to explore the Welsh coastline.

20. Liverpool, England

Best for: Music, football and culture
Ideal stay: 2 days

Liverpool is known around the world for The Beatles and football, but there's plenty more to discover.

Explore the Royal Albert Dock and waterfront, visit the city's museums and galleries or find somewhere to enjoy live music.

Its compact centre and lively food and nightlife scene make Liverpool particularly good for a weekend break.

Which part of the UK should you visit?

Still deciding where to go? Here's the easiest way to narrow it down:

• For mountains and outdoor adventure: Lake District, Eryri, Scottish Highlands or Peak District
• For city breaks: London, Edinburgh, York, Bath, Liverpool or Belfast
• For beaches and coastline: Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Brighton or the Jurassic Coast
• For countryside: Cotswolds or Yorkshire Dales
• For history: York, Edinburgh, Bath, Oxford or Northumberland

If you want to combine mountains, lakes, historic towns and outdoor activities, the Lake District is hard to beat.

Planning a trip to the Lake District?

If the Lake District has made your UK bucket list, make time to explore beyond the busiest tourist spots.

Head towards Keswick, Borrowdale and Buttermere to discover some of the northern Lake District's most impressive scenery.

Between Borrowdale and Buttermere, you'll find Honister Slate Mine.

It's still a working slate mine, but today you can experience the mountain in several different ways – from heading underground on a Mine Tour to climbing it on Via Ferrata or flying down it on England's longest zip wire.

Explore things to do at Honister