Equipped with state-of-the-art interactive exhibits, an IMAX cinema, a planetarium, and a 416-foot (127-meter) observation deck, the Glasgow Science Centre will keep visitors of all ages engaged and entertained. The museum’s Science Show Theatre hosts live demonstrations so visitors can witness the magic of science firsthand.
Since opening in 1905, the baroque-style Aldwych Theatre has hosted a wide range of productions, from Shakespearean plays to the first London staging of A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by none other than Laurence Olivier and starring Vivien Leigh, star of Gone With The Wind. These days, the 1,200-seat auditorium hosts grand musicals nearly every night of the week.
Get a peek behind the bars of a mid-19th-century jailhouse and courtroom at Inveraray Jail, one of the best-preserved prisons of its kind in the world. Inveraray Jail opens the door to Scotland’s grim and grisly past with costumed actors, interactive exhibitions, and real-life stories from former convicts.
With its waterfront walk, the Cardiff Bay Barrage is a pleasant place for a stroll when visiting the city.
On the banks of the River Tay, Discovery Point is home to the RRS Discovery, a former Antarctic research vessel. Learn the Discovery’s story, from the ship’s construction to its many voyages, including the Discovery Expedition of 1901–04, when Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton first journeyed to the Antarctic.
Handel & Hendrix in London celebrates the life and work of two legendary musicians: 20th-century guitar god Jimi Hendrix and 18th-century baroque composer George Frideric Handel. While the artists may have lived 200 years apart, they occupied side-by-side Mayfair townhouses, which have been converted into a museum featuring period interiors and musical artifacts.
Pioneer of social reform and founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale is a legendary figure in British history. Her story is the focus of the Florence Nightingale Museum, where interactive exhibits chronicle her brave work as a nurse during the Crimean War and detail her role in reforming midwifery and nursing internationally.
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.
Spanning four centuries of British gardening history, the Garden Museum is a celebration of garden design in all its forms. Housed in a former church on the South Bank of the River Thames, the small museum sits amid leafy gardens and affords a peaceful escape from the bustle of central London. Climb the medieval tower for views across to Westminster and the Houses of Parliament.
Home to historic Ashes moments and the Surrey County Cricket Club, the Kia Oval is one of the UK’s most renowned cricket grounds, with a legacy dating back to 1845. It was the first ground in England to hold international Test cricket matches, and has hosted many memorable fixtures since. Today, visitors come for tours, to watch matches, and to see the stadium, which now holds over 27,500 spectators.
London’s Guards Museum tells the story of the five regiments of the Foot Guards: the red-coat-wearing, bearskin-hat-sporting soldiers, who have been tasked with protecting the reigning monarch (currently King Charles III) and their royal palaces since 1660. The museum offers a peek into British military history and royal pomp and ceremony, as well as the operational lives of the Guardsmen.
Six aircraft hangars at the Royal Air Force Museum London hold an impressive collection, from First World War flying machines to a rare, life-sized model of an F-35 joint strike fighter. Exhibits here explore the history of the Royal Air Force across multiple wars. In addition, the museum’s 4D theater, flight simulator, and an opportunity to sit in the cockpit of an iconic Spitfire fighter plane are an immersive glimpse into that heritage.
Known for its neoclassic architecture and fine acoustics, the Victorian Belfast Customs House stands in central Belfast, and hosts regular outdoor musical events. The Italianate-style building boasts a traditionally ornamental facade, which contrasts with the modern city Belfast is today, providing excellent photo opportunities.
Peek behind the keyhole of the home of Miss Agnes Toward, a Glaswegian shorthand typist who lived in this tenement house flat between 1911 and 1965. The frozen-in-time interiors include a coal-fired stove, functioning gaslights, and Miss Agnes’ personal effects including clothes, photographs, letters, and recipes.
Officially branded the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Stadium—or “Twickers”, as it’s sometimes known—takes its name from the southwest London borough in which it’s found. For most people, it’s all about rugby, as the home stadium for the national team and one of the world’s largest rugby union stadiums, with a capacity for some 82,000 spectators. The site also hosts American football NFL games, music concerts, and conferences.
Best known as the Neasden Temple, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London is one of Europe’s first traditional Hindu temples, making it a significant place of worship for the Hindu community, and a must-see architectural wonder for everyone else. The gleaming white masterpiece—made with Bulgarian limestone, and Italian and Indian marble—was constructed in India, then shipped to England to be reassembled like a jigsaw by thousands of volunteers. No structural steel was used; instead, it was constructed by traditional Hindu architectural methods and a labor of love.
Cartoons, caricatures, and comic art fill the space of this charitable museum, just minutes away from the hubbub of Oxford Circus. The colorful site focuses on making its art exhibitions available to a wide audience, with events, educational workshops, and competitions. In particular, the museum is working to welcome children with autism spectrum conditions and sensory-processing differences, by providing various neurodiversity accommodations.
Discover the unexpectedly fascinating world of hand fans at the Fan Museum in Greenwich, London—the first museum of its kind, dedicated entirely to fans. Set in a pair of Grade–II listed townhouses, the museum houses more than 7,000 objects, including fans dating as far back as the 11th century. Alongside the beautifully crafted fans, there’s plenty to see and learn about here, including the social history of these seemingly inconsequential accessories.
Housed in a Grade II-listed Georgian property, the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art showcases the work of early 20th-century Italian artists such as Boccioni, Carlo Carrà, Mario Sironi, and Modigliani. It is the only museum in Britain dedicated entirely to modern Italian artworks. Six galleries, a café, a bookshop, a library, and a garden offer a tranquil getaway from bustling Islington.
Rannoch Moor is a remote outdoor space in the Scottish Highlands that covers around 50 square miles (130 square kilometers). Often referred to as one of Europe’s last remaining unspoiled wildernesses, this uninhabitable land offers diversions, including the West Highland Railway, Outlander filming locations, hiking, and local wildlife, such as red deer and grouse.
Often referred to as the “Home of Cricket”, Lord’s Cricket Ground is a world-renowned sporting arena that hosts regular cricket matches and international test fixtures. Learn more about the game at the on-site MCC Museum, one of the oldest sporting museums globally, or take a tour of the grounds to see its historical Pavilion, the Long Room, and more.
With a history dating back to 1835, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is England’s most popular heritage steam railway. The 18-mile (29-kilometer) route winds through the North York Moors National Park, stopping at historic railway stations and affording magnificent views of the rugged moorlands.
Masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century place The Courtauld Gallery among London’s finest art destinations. Treasures of its permanent collection include impressionist paintings by van Gogh and Manet, while rotating exhibitions showcase art with global reach. Even the setting is magnificent—the gallery is within the neoclassical Somerset House, a former home to Queen Elizabeth I that has sweeping views across the River Thames.
Get a peek at the weird and wonderful aquatic species of Scotland’s lochs at SEA LIFE® Loch Lomond, one of Scotland’s top aquariums. In addition to local underwater highlights, visit seven themed zones featuring sharks, rays, otters, seahorses, a touch pool, an ocean tunnel, and more. The aquarium is a short drive from Glasgow.
Bletchley Park, once home to the World War II Codebreakers, is now an interactive and informative heritage destination. Stop by the Codebreaking Huts before learning about radio communications technology at the National Radio Centre. Then, explore the beautiful grounds and gardens of the 19th-century mansion.
St. Andrews has long been known as the home of golf, so it makes sense that the city is also home to a fabulous golf museum showcasing the sport's evolution. Here, you'll find a massive collection of everything from trophies to golf clubs, plus a massive archive of golf-related films.
Nestled in the historic center of the United Kingdom’s chocolate capital, York’s Chocolate Story is an interactive museum with a tasty twist. Sweet-toothed travelers can uncover the rich history of York’s confectionery industry, take a chocolate-making masterclass, or try traditional treats in the gift shop and café.
Opened in the year 2000, this entertainment complex encompasses an indoor arena, a multi-screen movie theater, a bowling alley, and an interactive science center by the name of W5. Crowd-pullers at the arena include famous pop performers and sporting greats, such as local ice hockey legends the Belfast Giants.
Back in the early 20th century, the RMSTitanic sat in this vast 900-foot (274-meter) dock—then known as Thompson Dry Dock—while workers toiled to put the final touches on the luxurious liner. Next door, an Edwardian-era pump house, which was used to drain water from the dock, now houses original machinery andTitanic-inspired exhibits.
Alton Towers is a theme park in central England that is famous for its hair-raising rides. Opened in the 1980s, the park quickly became one of the most popular days out in the UK. Visit to enjoy a variety of roller coasters and a water park, as well as mini golf and other family-friendly fun.
