The mighty Etihad, also known as the City of Manchester Stadium, is the home of Manchester City Football Club. Built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the award-winning venue is among the UK’s largest with seating for more than 55,000. In addition to football games, the stadium hosts live concerts, other sports matches, and stadium tours.
Amassed during the 18th and 19th centuries and then donated to the nation, the Wallace Collection features opulent works of art and crafts displayed amid the splendor of an aristocratic townhouse. The main collection includes pieces by Rubens, Rembrandt, and Velásquez, as well as Franz Hals’ famous Laughing Cavalier: Paid exhibitions often showcase modern art.
Craggy peaks rise up around the clean, clear water of this large stream-fed lake, creating a postcard-worthy panorama. Scenic walking trails run along part of the shoreline and into the surrounding fells, leading to overlooks and beauty spots including Scale Force, the highest waterfall in Cumbria’s Lake District.
Poole Harbour serves as the gateway to Brownsea Island and the Jurassic Coast, home to Studland Bay and Old Harry Rocks. The natural harbor—one of Europe’s largest—is a hot spot for water sports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, and stand-up paddleboarding, while Poole Quay is home to a promenade lined with shops, cafés, and restaurants.
One of architect Christopher Wren’s best-known buildings, St. Stephen Walbrook is a church located in the City of London. Rebuilt according to Wren’s designs following the Great Fire of 1666, the church is distinct for its grand, coffered dome. It’s located just next to Mansion House—the Lord Mayor’s residence.
Located in an upscale neighborhood in west London, Holland Park is a favorite spot for weekend strolls. As well as woods, tennis courts, and various gardens—including the Japanese-style Kyoto Garden—the park is also home to what’s left of the once-sprawling 17th-century Holland House and the Design Museum to its south.
On the grounds of the original building, the Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital: an 18th-century children’s home established by philanthropist Thomas Coram. In addition to telling the story of children in care, the museum showcases works by the artist Willam Hogarth and composer George Frideric Handel, who both supported the original hospital, and pieces by contemporary artists including Tracey Emin.
The only estate of its kind in the UK, Eltham Palace is an architectural curio. A former royal residence —and the childhood home of Henry VIII—the palace was given an unconventional glow-up at the hands of millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld in the 1930s. Now an English Heritage property, visitors to the palace can marvel at the modern art deco mansion built around the original medieval and Tudor structures.
Stretching across the curving dome of London’s O2 Arena, the Up at The O2 rooftop walkway offers stunning views and open-air thrills. Visitors are equipped with climbing suits and safety harnesses before ascending the suspended walkway with a guide. At the top, your thrill-seeking efforts are rewarded with a 360-degree observation platform that offers views of the River Thames, Greenwich’s greenery, and Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers.
Nature takes center stage on the Isle of Wight. The entire island is preserved as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, framed by sandy shorelines and white sea cliffs, and dotted with wildlife reserves and hiking and cycling trails. But don’t expect shore-to-shore wilderness: England’s largest island is still home to about 140,000 people, and thousands more cross the channel each summer to attend its annual music festival.
Fans of the Yorkshire author and vet of All Creatures Great and Small fame won’t want to miss the World of James Herriot. Now an award-winning, interactive museum, Herriot’s former veterinary office—a fully restored 1940s home—displays a huge collection of Herriot memorabilia.
On the coast of the English Channel, the world’s oldest aquarium showcases the aquatic diversity beyond British shores. More than 5,500 creatures call SEA LIFE® Brighton home—including marine species and rain forest critters—while educational talks, tours, and events provide insight into ocean conservation.
The Yorkshire Museum chronicles millions of years of Yorkshire history, from the Jurassic period through to Viking and medieval times. Highlights of the eclectic collection include a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite that came crashing to Earth in 1881, the hair bun of a Roman teenager, and a Viking sword.
The Piccadilly Theatre opened its doors in 1928 and made history that year when it hosted the premiere of the world’s first film with sound. It became a cabaret venue, survived German bombings during World War II, and went on to become one of London’s premier venues to see plays and musicals. Today, it’s the home of Moulin Rouge!
Smoke & Mirrors offers a one-of-a-kind Bristol experience. Enjoy an evening of comedy and magic at this atmospheric pub and 1920s-style performance venue, which hosts a cast of house magicians performing masterful feats and illusions. With seating for only 44 people, the theater offers a cozy, intimate atmosphere.
At 138 meters (452 feet), Radio City Tower is a prominent feature of the Liverpool skyline, and its observation platform provides aerial views of the city and beyond. Built in 1969, the tower began life as St. John’s Beacon—a ventilation shaft topped with a revolving restaurant—and is now a regional communications tower.
The largest and most northerly white horse geoglyph in Britain, the Kilburn White Horse stands in artificially chalky contrast to the lush greenery of the surrounding Sutton Bank hills. Admire it from a distance or hike alongside the vast equine figure, which was originally designed and completed in the mid-19th century.
A traditional fruit and veg market turned hipster retail emporium, Broadway Market is one of Hackney’s liveliest weekend markets, with a bustling midweek food, drink, and shopping scene, too. There’s something to suit most tastes here; from smoked salmon to brownies, ethical fashion to handmade jewelry, the 18th-century Cat and Mutton pub to global street eats.
Opened in 1930, the Prince Edward Theatre has hosted everything from cabaret to radio broadcasts and blockbuster musicals. During World War II, it became a morale-boosting hub for Allied troops before sustaining Blitz damage. Restored to its original purpose, the grand West End venue now stages large-scale productions in an elegant setting, offering visitors a classic London theater experience just steps from Soho and Leicester Square.
One of Manchester’s premier museums, the Manchester Art Gallery was founded in the early 19th century and boasts a collection of more than 25,000 objects. It’s particularly renowned for its Victorian-era artworks (including multiple Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces) and places a strong focus on the decorative arts.
Built in the second century, Hardknott Roman Fort sits at the summit of a steep mountain pass. Remnants of old walls, a parade ground, and a commander’s villa still stand, though they are somewhat upstaged by panoramic views of Eskdale Valley and the surrounding mountains.
Stretching for 70 miles (110 kilometers), the River Dee (Afon Dyfrdwy) flows from the mountains of Snowdonia in Wales to the sea along the Wirral Peninsula, passing Bala Lake, Llangollen, Chester, and the Dee Estuary along the way. The scenic river offers opportunities for outdoor recreation, wildlife spotting, and industrial transport.
This narrow and steep mountain pass winds its way through the dramatic peaks of the Lake District National Park, climbing to an elevation of 1,280 feet (390 meters before descending back down into a valley. It’s a hair-raising drive with hairpin bends, but the views of the rugged and desolate scenery makes it more than worth the effort.
With a depth of 243 feet (74 meters, Wastwater is England’s deepest lake. Not only that, but it sits in the shadow of England’s highest peak, the 3,209-foot (978-meter Scafell Pike, which rises up to the northeast. The scenery here is among the most wild and dramatic in the Lake District, with scree slopes towering over inky waters.
This property in Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon was built in 1596 by the grandfather of Harvard University's original benefactor, John Harvard. Currently closed for conservation, the building’s ornate facade still can be enjoyed from the outside, and keen-eyed history buffs may spot a few hidden features that reveal its origins.
Perched atop the Walkie Talkie skyscraper, Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden. Towering 508 feet (155 meters) above England’s capital, Sky Garden’s vantage point lets you enjoy panoramic views of London’s landmarks while wandering around tiered landscaped gardens. Extend your experience at its elevated bars (Sky Pod, City Garden) and restaurants (Darwin Brasserie, Fenchurch Restaurant), serving up classic and contemporary British cuisine. The ground floor houses an Italian restaurant (Larch), café, and gift shop.
The London Canal Museum explores the history of the city’s man-made waterways, documenting the vessels, trade, and workers of London’s canals. Exhibits tend toward the immersive, though they also explore the museum building’s past: It was originally used as an ice warehouse by Carlo Gatti, which is a bigger deal than it might sound—he’s the Swiss entrepreneur credited with introducing ice cream to the British masses.
The heart of Brixton’s multicultural food scene, Brixton Village comprises three covered market arcades: Granville Arcade, Market Row, and Reliance Arcade. Influenced by the waves of West Indian immigrants after World War II, the markets reflect Brixton’s strong Afro-Caribbean history and culture. You can shop at traditional trader stalls selling fruit and vegetables or go gourmet at one of the many dining options.
Castle Howard is one of Britain’s grandest stately homes. Built over the course of 100 years and still home to the Howard family, the castle was famously used as a filming location for Brideshead Revisited. Its 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of elegant grounds are located in the Howardian Hills—an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Opened in 2018, the Magical Beatles Museum tells the story of the Fab Four through a 1,200-strong collection of memorabilia, which belongs to the brother of first Beatles drummer, Pete Best. Highlights includes John Lennon’s Sgt. Pepper medals, theI Am the Walrus cello, and Starr’s Ludwig snare drum.
