UNITED KINGDOM TRAVEL GUIDE
It’s taken me a while to truely appreciate the beauty of my homeland but I can now see why so many people choose the United Kingdom as a holiday destination each year.
We may not have the best weather but that’s what make our countryside so lush and green. The UK is packed full of so much history! It’s only when I’ve visited other countries that I’ve truely realised just how much history is all around in the UK. From The Jurassic Coast, to the castles all over the country to Stonehenge. There’s amazing things to experience all over.
The UK is 4 different countries - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and each have their own unique heritage and I’d encourage you to visit each one if you can.
When I hear about people wanting to visit the UK most people only talk about London. My sister has lived in London for 15 years and we’ve spent many a long weekend there over the years and I love it and London is a fantastic capital city with so much to do, but trust me, you haven’t really seen the UK if the only place you’ve been to is London.
There’s so many must do experiences outside of London that you really must do. Of course, still visit London but then hire a car, go on a UK road trip or use the great public transport system that connects the country.
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UNITED KINGDOM GENERAL INFORMATION
The United Kingdom includes the isle of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland.
The official language is English.
No location in the UK is further than 125km/77 miles from the sea.
The UK lies on the prime meridian which marks the Greenwich Meridian Timezone GMT.
The United Kingdom is slightly bigger than Ghana
The UK has 13 British overseas territories, among them are Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, Gibraltar on the Iberian Peninsula and Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.
HOW TO GET TO THE UK
BY ROAD
BY RAIL
BY AIR
BY BOAT
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE UNITED KINGDOM
As a Brit let me tell you we are obssessed with the weather - we talk about it a lot! But that’s due to the fact we can get 4 seasons in one day. We could wake up to snow, by lunch time it’s melted and we’re in shorts and t-shirts and by the evening it’s pouring down! With that in mind, know that whenever you visit the UK you’re never really guaranteed any particular weather and so you may have to be adaptable with your plans.
If you want warmer temperatures the best time to visit the United Kingdom is in the summer months of July and August although that is when all the children are off school and it will be busy. Spring (late March to early June) and Autumn (September to November) are great times to visit as it's usually warm and reasonably dry. You'll see beautiful spring flowers or the leaves changing hue in autumn, and avoid the much busier summer period. Christmas time is great around the country and there are many wonderful light displays and New Years Eve celebrations that happen.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN UNITED KINGDOM
LONDON
You can’t visit the UK and not explore the capital. You should spent at least a few days here visiting the historic landmarks that are all around the city from Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower of London, go shopping at the luxourious Harrods, the famous Hamleys toy shop, or visit Covent Garden, the South Bank or Hyde Park.
LIVERPOOL
I’m slightly biased with this one as Liverpool is my home town but I’d recommend you head north and visit the birthplace of the Beatles and two world famous football teams. Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture in 2008 and it’s easy to see why. There is a buzzing music scene, tons of (free entry) museums and galleries.
CORNWALL
Cornwall is breathtakingly beautiful. Often when I’m there I have to pinch myself that this is England. From it’s golden sandy beaches, rugged cliffs and traditional fishing villages to it’s historic towns and windswept moors, it’s a must visit from any UK trip.
LAKE DISTRICT
Living only 1 hours drive from the Lake District most of my life I’ve spent a lot of time there and have many wonderful memories from SUPING on Lake Coniston, school trips to Ambleside, big family gatherings by Lake Windermere, visiting Beatrice Potters house, eating Kendle Mint Cake… the list could go on and on. It’s a must see in the UK for me.
BATH
Bath is the UK’s only UNESCO World Hertitage Site city and after a visit there it’s easy to see why. You should visit the ancient Roman Baths for a look in to history of Roman life in Bath and for some relaxation visit the modern Thermae Bath Spa, which houses the only natural thermal hot springs in Britain you can bathe in.
BRIGHTON
Brighton is only a short train ride south from London and is a wonderful seaside town on the south coast. Brighton is a welcoming and diverse city with art, live music and entertainment everywhere, a plethora of independent shops, boutique hotels and award-winning restaurants. You must take a walk along the pier with some fish and chips and grab an ice cream afterwards.
EDINBURGH
There’s so much more to Scotland than Edinburgh and if you have the time I’d really recommend a road trip from the more northern areas of Scotland - it’s stunningly beautiful and has moved me to tears at times seeing the incredible beauty of nature. Edinburgh is a vibrant city with so much history that is worth a visit whilst you’re in the UK.
GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
Northern Ireland often gets completely forgotten about on a trip to the UK, probably because it’s separated from the rest of the UK by the Irish Sea which make it more of a challenge to visit. Take a roadtrip along the Giant’s Causeway Coast and you’ll be greeted by the epic sight of 40,000 or so hexagonal stepping stones which date back to a volcanic age almost 60 million years ago.
COTSWOLDS
Some of the most charming countryside in the UK, the beautiful Cotswolds is undoubtedly one of the most photographed corners of England. There are so many quaint villages such as Bourton-on-Water and is home to the most beautiful street in England - Arlington Row in Bibury.
OXFORD
My sister went to Oxford Uni and we spent many weekends there. It’s a beautiful, historic city that has feels of Harry Potter. You can explore the 38 colleges which are set around a quadrangle and several inner courtyards along with chapels, dining halls, libraries, and student residences, some of which offer unique tourist accommodation.
ACCOMMODATION IN UNITED KINGDOM
There is a huge variety of accommodation available in United Kingdom from reasonably prices hostels where you can be sharing a 24 bed dormitory room to the fanciest of luxury hotels costing thousands of pounds a night.
If you are staying the United Kingdom is the high season (May to September and around Christmas and New Year) it’s advisable to book your accommodation well in advance. The best deals and hotels are always snapped up first so if you can try to book 3-6 months in advance.
Booking.com is my go to when booking accommodation anywhere in the UK. They feature hostels, chic hotels, B&Bs, full apartments and some even some quirky accommodation like canal boats and helicopters!
To help you book your accommodation anywhere in the UK you can use the map below. To use the map type in the where you want to visit in the UK, the dates of your visit and how many people are travelling and you can see exactly what’s available for your dates of travel and your group size. Have a go!
TOURS & SKIP THE LINE TICKETS
Many tourist attractions and destinations in the UK are extremely popular especially during the high season (May - September and Christmas and New Year) so it’s essential to prebook your skip the line tickets in advance particularly if you want to really make the most of your time in the UK and not spend too much of your time in queues.
For my trips anytime I prebook a tour or attraction I use GetYourGuide. It’s a fantastic one stop shop for the major tourist attractions and the more unique one of a kind tours.
UNITED KINGDOM ARTICLES
ENGLAND
WALES
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