England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales together form the United Kingdom. The destination has long remained one of Europe’s most picturesque countries. A 90-minute train ride from London takes you to Salisbury, an old-style medieval town considered to be the country’s most beautiful, and an even shorter train ride takes you to the picturesque Scottish city of Glasgow.
To plan your trip to the UK, consult the list down below to know more about the Top 10 Travel Destinations in the UK and the times you can visit them at.
Best Travel Destinations To Visit in The United Kingdom
- London City
- Big Ben
- The London Eye
- Hyde Park
- Stonehenge
- The Magna Carta
- Windsor Castle
- Scottish Highlands
- Giant’s Causeway
- Dunluce Castle
1. London: The Queen’s City
Sure, you could go to the UK without visiting London, but at that point, you might as well not. People interested in the Royal Family will want to head to the revered Buckingham Palace after booking their hotel room, where you can get to see the Palace’s State Rooms. While you’re in the city, make sure also to check out Parliament Building, an important keynote of England’s government, and Westminster Abbey, where a vast majority of England’s past royalty held their weddings!
Timings: NA
Location: London, United Kingdom
2. Big Ben: A Symbol of England’s Grandiosity
Besides the Queen herself, Big Ben is the most noticeable thing about England’s capital city. Standing near Westminster Abbey (which is world-renowned in its own right), this clock tower is just about a stunning hundred meters tall and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM
Location: Westminster, London SW1A, United Kingdom
3. The London Eye: Offering The Best View of London’s Skyline
A giant Ferris wheel that has been one of London’s longest attractions, the London Eye stands beside the River Thames. The London Eye is the most romantic attraction for couples in London, as the ride to the top in one of the Ferris wheel’s 32 capsules is slow, and meaningful, and offers a gorgeous view of the glowing London skyline.
Whether you’re a young couple visiting the UK or a family that’s already settled down, ride up on the London Eye together with your significant other, and enjoys a silent, meaningful ride in the company of the person you love!
Timings: 10 AM to 8:30 PM
Locations: Lambeth, London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom
4. Hyde Park: The Home of Music Concerts in The UK
Hyde Park isn’t just a singularly large nature park in the middle of urban London: often said to be one of the five must-see places in the entire United Kingdom, this royal park is the most prominent to be found in London. You can easily reach Hyde Park by taking the London Tube to one of its entrances or even a short bus ride from any central hotel or bus stop.
Hyde Park is a lovely nature park and played host to legendary bands like Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, and Queen.
Timings: 5 AM to 12 AM
Location: London, United Kingdom
5. Stonehenge: A Historical Preserve Dating Back to Millenia
If you’re a history buff, it doesn’t get any better than Stonehenge. Roughly speaking, Stonehenge looks like a collection of monumentally large stones arranged around a circle. It’s only when you read about it (and you better believe it’s almost impossible to visit England without reading about Stonehenge) that you’ll find out Stonehenge dates back to 3000 BC. And that’s not it: the actual site itself is surrounded by a collection of neolithic tombs, catacombs, and burial grounds!
Timings: 9 AM to 8 PM
Location: Amesbury, Salisbury, SP4 7DE, United Kingdom
6. The Magna Carta: England’s Most Famous Religious Site
Built about 800 years ago, the Salisbury Cathedral has been England’s most famous religious site for longer than anybody can remember. The Salisbury Cathedral’s stained glass windows are of particular note, dating back to the 19th Century, as is the cathedral’s original copy of the Magna Carta. This document stands as the foundation of the British Constitution.
Timings: 9:30 AM to 4 PM
Location: 6 The Close, Salisbury
7. Windsor Castle: Residence of the Queen
Windsor Castle is found in the town of Windsor, and while the town itself deserves mention for its idyllic, rustic beauty, that isn’t the reason thousands of tourists flock to Windsor. Windsor Castle is the most famous castle in all of the United Kingdom, as it houses the Queen herself, along with her husband, Philip. Over the years, it’s also hosted famous personalities like former President Barack Obama.
Construction of Windsor Castle was started by William the Conqueror back in 1078. Today, you can reach the town of Windsor through a short train ride to the west of London, and check out both the Castle housing the Queen and the magnificent gardens attached to it.
Timings: 10 AM to 7 PM
Location: Castle Hill, Windsor, SL4 1PD
8. Scottish Highlands: Lair of the Loch Ness Monster
Loch Ness means ‘Lake Ness’ in Gaelic, but over time, this beautiful lake has more or less taken on Loch Ness as its name. Loch Ness is bottomless, a freshwater lake that spreads over 30 kilometers and a little more in total. If you’re visiting in the colds of December (or even the summers of May, to be honest), you’ll find there are very few sites that compare to the inherent beauty of Loch Ness lake and the highlands around it.
Timings: Open All Day
Location: Scotland
9. Giant’s Causeway: A Rare Display of Natural Geometric Beauty
The Giant’s Causeway is undoubtedly one of the most famous natural wonders in the entire United Kingdom. Made almost entirely of basalt columns, the Giant’s Causeway is found on the shore of Northern Ireland and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What’s striking about this place is that the majority of the basalt columns are all hexagonal, though some have four to seven sides as well.
Even if you discount that it’s the cheapest place on this list to visit, the Giant’s Causeway is a natural beauty that you should check out.
Timings: 9 AM to 7 PM
Location: 44 Causeway Road, Bushmills BT57 8SU, United Kingdom
10. Dunluce Castle: Nestled Among the Cliffs
It’s not hard to see why Dunluce Castle was built where it is. Dunluce Castle is one of the most famous castles in Northern Ireland and is built on a sheer cliff. Once inside, the rugged walls are a testament to how old the castle is (it’s supposed to have been made during the 1600s), and yet also seem to say that they’re impenetrable. If you feel like sleeping in a medieval castle built to resist any invasion, you can spend an entire winter weekend in the rooms of Dunluce Castle!
Timings: 10 AM to 4:30 PM
Location: 87 Dunluce Road, Bushmills BT57 8UY, United Kingdom
Conclusion
The best thing about the United Kingdom is that it concentrates some of the world’s most beautiful and grand sites in very tight quarters indeed. Whether we’re talking about historical preservation sites like Stonehenge, great castles like Buckingham Castle, or even the abodes of famous English playwrights, it’s hard to deny the almost singular attraction of the United Kingdom. Be sure to book tickets everywhere you go in advance, as there are often thousands of tourists in the country, even in the off-season!
