In the Yorkshire Dales, the award-winning Wensleydale Creamery is the home of Yorkshire’s Wensleydale cheese. At the Creamery Visitor Centre, guests can learn about cheese-making, try and buy different varieties, and enjoy a gift shop, café, and restaurant—all complemented by stellar views of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
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.
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.
Built in 1732, this handsome Georgian building is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of York, with distinguished guests arriving here for various ceremonies, black-tie banquets, and events. The house holds an impressive collection of civic regalia, art, and artifacts, including paintings, furniture, weapons, and silverware.
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.
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.
At six miles (10 kilometers long, the River Ness is a relatively minor waterway, though it connects several major attractions in the Scottish Highlands. Beginning at the north end of Loch Ness—home to the mythical monster Nessie—it runs alongside part of the Caledonian Canal and cuts through Inverness before emptying into Beauly Firth.
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.
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.
The red and yellow sandstone walls of St. Magnus, Britain’s most northerly cathedral, tower over the narrow streets of Kirkwall, Orkney. Commissioned in 1137 by the Norse Earl Rognvald, the Romanesque cathedral took 300 years to construct and has long been the spiritual heart of Orkney and its most-visited attraction.
One of the top draws for whisky lovers on the Scottish island of Islay, Laphroaig offers several distillery experiences—including tasting the distillery’s renowned single malts in its warehouse. Visiting Laphroaig Distillery lets you discover how landscape and culture have influenced its whiskies.
You can’t visit Islay without sampling a few drams of fine whisky, and peaty Ardbeg is one of the finest. Ardbeg Distillery welcomes whisky-loving and whisky-curious visitors with guided tours and tastings. Visitors can learn about the distillation process at the distillery, peek into the stillhouse, or sample whiskies straight from the cask in the warehouse.
Established in 1779, Bowmore Distillery is the oldest distillery on the Isle of Islay and one of its best-known. While many people visit the distillery to sample some of their award-winning oak-aged whisky, you can also stay the night at one of their five on-site cottages.
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.
Built in the 13th century, Caerphilly Castle (Castell Caerffili) is a lasting reminder of medieval times in modern-day Wales. Located on the edge of Brecon Beacons National Park, overlooking the town of Caerphilly, it draws history buffs and curious visitors from the world over who come to step back in time to understand life in the Middle Ages.
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.
Surrounded by peaceful gardens in the Scottish Borders, Jedburgh Abbey is one of Scotland’s most impressive medieval ruins. Dating back to the 12th century, this grand Augustinian abbey is known for its Gothic arches, Romanesque details, and well-preserved stonework. Visitors can wander through the atmospheric remains, explore exhibitions about monastic life, and enjoy the scent of the herbs in the cloister garden.
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.
Tintern Abbey—immortalized in the title of a Wordsworth poem—was the first building of its kind in Wales, originally founded in the 12th century by Cistercian monks, before being rebuilt in a gothic style a century later. Nowadays, it’s a Grade I-listed and impressively-preserved (albeit roofless) medieval attraction on the banks of the River Wye, within easy day trip distance of Cardiff.
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.
Foaming water tumbles over a series of zig-zagging ledges at this waterfall on the Black Water River in the Scottish Highlands. A suspension bridge over the falls provides a wonderful viewpoint from which to watch the water cascading over the rocks. Depending on when you visit you may even see Atlantic salmon leaping up the falls.
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!
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.
Set atop the Ayrshire cliffs, this sprawling neoclassical mansion is one of Scotland’s most famous stately homes—it even appears on the back of the Scottish 5-pound note. Designed by 18th-century architect Robert Adam, Culzean (pronouncedCullane) boasts palatial interiors and grounds that encompass woods, follies, and even beaches.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
