United Kingdom holidays

Edinburgh can feel like a beautiful maze of cobblestone streets and 12th-century castles. Spend your days touring whisky distilleries and museums before exploring lochs and highlands.

The UK’s capital lives up to the hype. See Roman ruins, soak up world-class art, shop at stylish boutiques, then sit down with a pint and plot your next visit.

Northern England’s post-industrial metropolis is one of the UK’s most talked-about travel destinations, with indie shopping, bohemian cafes and a thriving arts scene.

England’s surf capital has more than perfect waves. Explore nature and history, feast on fresh seafood and enjoy the nightlife scene on your holiday in Newquay.

This pint-sized island between England and France offers golden sands, green countryside and medieval castles. And don’t miss its world-renowned potatoes.

Home to the iconic Giant’s Causeway and the vibrant port city of Belfast, Northern Ireland is where natural beauty mingles with fascinating heritage and culture.

From chocolate-box villages to medieval castles, England brims with historical charm. But it looks to the future too, with modern metropolises like London and Manchester.

Home to a vast wilderness of rugged mountains and crystal-clear lochs, Scotland is an outdoor playground. Discover its cultural pulse in cool cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Whether you’re scaling legendary peaks, admiring Gothic ruins, hiking in the countryside or exploring quaint seaside towns, Wales promises an unforgettable adventure.

One of the best things to do in the UK is to explore the country on a walking adventure. Tackle sections of the 1,014-kilometer South West Coast Path between Somerset and Dorset. Or take in the Cotswolds’ chocolate-box villages and the city of Bath along the Cotswold Way. For a challenging climb, trek up the Lake District’s Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain.

Discover some of the UK’s earliest history with a visit to Stonehenge in Wiltshire, the country’s most famous and mysterious prehistoric site. Not far from Stonehenge, you’ll find Bath, named for its Roman baths built in the first century AD. For more Roman history, travel to Northumberland and Cumbria to see the remains of Hadrian’s Wall.

Pub culture is more than just going to a bar — it’s an important part of everyday British life. Visiting the UK over the weekend? Head to a pub for a pint and a traditional Sunday roast of meat with gravy and vegetables. If you’re travelling as a family, children are usually allowed in pubs before 9pm with adult supervision.

The UK’s coastline is lined with beautiful beaches, from Cornwall up to the Isles of Scilly. Families love the beaches in Kent, like Margate’s Main Sands and Broadstairs’ Viking Bay. And Wales’ Aberfforest Beach is known for its dolphin and seal sightings. Here to surf? Try Whiterocks in Portrush, Northern Ireland, or Woolacombe in Devon.

There’s a treasure trove of natural wonders to explore in the UK. Marvel at the Durdle Door arch on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, or discover the cliffs and show caves around Somerset’s Cheddar Gorge. Outside of England, the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is one of the UK’s most famous natural sites, as is the Scottish Highlands’ iconic Loch Ness.

The restaurants in the UK sometimes get a bad rap. Yes, you’ll find haggis and black pudding on menus, but British food isn’t all offal. Head to Scarborough and Whitby for freshly battered fish and chips. And eat some of the best curries outside of Asia in Birmingham and Bradford. Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Nothing beats a scone with jam and clotted cream.

Whether you’re after art, history, science or pop culture, there’s no shortage of museums in the UK. London’s V&A and the Tate Modern boast some of the country’s best art. And the British Museum’s vast collection spans over two million years of culture and history. Music lover? Check out the Liverpool Beatles Museum, or take a music-themed walking tour of Manchester.

The best time to visit the UK is in the spring or autumn — temperatures are mild, and there are fewer tourists than in the peak summer months of June to August. Throughout the year, the UK’s weather can be unpredictable, so make sure to pack a ‘brolly’ (umbrella) just in case.

A cheap holiday in the UK is possible with some careful budgeting. London is more expensive than other UK cities, but in general, you’ll spend about 15 British pounds (£) on an inexpensive meal and less than £5 on a local beer. A short taxi ride is around £6, but public transport is usually cheaper.