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Introduction to the UK

England

The largest and most populous of the countries making up the United Kingdom. England is home to the capital, London, as well as other large cities like Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Many visitors choose London as the focal point of their visit, as it has the most attractions, accommodation and transport hubs in one area. However, the rest of England (and indeed the United Kingdom) should not be overlooked since there is much more to it than London.

Northern Ireland

Home to cities like Belfast and Londonderry, Northern Ireland is one of the United Kingdom’s fastest growing tourist destinations thanks to its heritage and new attractions. The Titanic Museum, alongside the slipway where the great liner was built, is an incredible monument to the history of the ship and the people that made it, as well as the tragedy of all those lost when it sank in 1912.

Northern Ireland’s other major draw is the Giant’s Causeway, which is an scenic area of interlocking basalt columns exposed on the northern coast, forming spectacular shapes against the wild North Atlantic.

Finally, Northern Ireland in recent years has become an attraction thanks to it being a filming location for the Game of Thrones TV series. Many tours are now offered to visit these locations and relive some famous scenes.

Scotland

Scotland is a land of incredible scenery and history. Its two main cities are Edinburgh and Glasgow in the southern part of the country, each with major international airports and good rail and road links. Edinburgh is well known for attractions like its castle, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile, and Royal Yacht Britannia. Glasgow is also a centre for shopping, art galleries, and as a gateway to the rest of the country.

Further north is the large region known as the Highlands, which incorporates the largest peaks and most scenic valleys. This is the region where you’ll find hundreds of Lochs, or lakes, including the largest – Loch Ness – which is famous as the home of the fabled Loch Ness Monster. Further north are cities like Aberdeen and Inverness, each important commercial centres and gateways to the surrounding countryside.

Mainland Scotland’s most northerly point is John O’Groats, which many visitors flock to in order to pose for a selfie at the famous sign, and take in the scenic clifftop views. But venture beyond into the North Sea and you’ll find two island archipelagos – the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands. Each are wild, remote and full of history. Closer to Norway than London, their peoples have been influenced by Scandinavia throughout their history, and have ancient sites dating back thousands of years.

Off Scotland’s west coast are the Inner and Outer Hebrides, as well as islands like Skye, Arran, Islay and Mull, famed for their remoteness, legends and scenery.

Scotland is also famous for its whisky, produced for centuries and now a major industry. Throughout the five different whisky-producing regions you’ll find distilleries, both young and old, which are still using age-old methods and local water sources. They often have visitor centres.

For an extra hit of scenery, there are two national parks in Scotland – the Cairngorns, where you’ll find the ski resort of Aviemore, and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, home of a large collection of scenic lochs and beautiful villages.

Wales

Proud and industrious Wales is found along England’s western edge and is made up of some of the United Kingdom’s most mountainous and scenic areas. Its crowning glory is the Snowdonia National Park, topped by Snowdon the UK’s second-tallest mountain. You don’t need to be a mountaineer to enjoy its peaks thanks to a scenic train which winds its way to the summit.

Further south is the Brecon Beacons National Park where you’ll find more mountain peaks, miles of cycling and walking paths, and Hay-on-Wye, with its many bookshops and famous literature festival. Then there’s the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park at one of Britain’s most remote points, facing the crashing North Atlantic and looking out towards Ireland. It is home to a 186-mile clifftop path, and hundreds of stunning beaches devoid of any crowds.

Along the southern coast of Wales are its main centres of population, including Swansea, Newport and the capital Cardiff where you’ll find shopping, museums, entertainment and dining. It is easily linked from the rest of the UK via the M4 motorway which heads all the way to London, as well as air and rail links.

History of the UK

For those who love great food, there are many boutique hotels and restaurants with accommodation where you can combine a great meal with a warm and comfortable stay.

Travel around the UK is quick and easy, but it’s always best to base yourself at a central point close to the places you hope to visit, and move on when you head to a different part of the country. Often the largest, most luxurious hotels are found in the centre of the main cities. However, country retreats can be found in all corners of the UK.

If something more private and spacious is your thing, self-catering cottages and AirBnBs are very popular. Holiday cottages and bed & breakfasts particularly common in areas of natural beauty, such as the country’s national parks, Scotland and south west. These can be booked up months in advance in busy periods like Easter and the summer, so it’s best to make bookings once your plans are firmed up to avoid disappointment.

Well known as centres of education, both Cambridge and Oxford are within easy reach of London and are full of history worth exploring. Or further north is the old capital at York – dominated by the world’s largest Gothic cathedral.

For those who love the great outdoors, the United Kingdom has 15 national parks where areas of outstanding natural beauty are protected and open to all. Key among these for any visit include the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales in northern England, wild Dartmoor in the south west, the snow-capped peaks of Snowdonia in Wales, and the Cairngorns in Scotland.

Each of these National Parks exist to preserve the natural environment and traditional ways of life. They are great places to enjoy outdoor pursuits, such as walking, cycling and sailing, as well as enjoying a slower pace of life.

Speaking of Scotland, this country has lots to offer. From the history and culture of Edinburgh and Glasgow, to the immense and alluring Loch Ness, amazing golf courses, whisky distilleries, and the remote and rugged islands of its northern and western shore, there’s so much to see.

Then there’s Northern Ireland – a country drawing increasing numbers of visitors every year to see the fabled Giant’s Causeway and learn about the world’s most famous ocean liner at the Titanic Museum.

Cities like Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow are famed for their architecture, museums, galleries, shopping and entertainment, while Scotland is a vacation in itself with so much to offer, from castles and museums to golf courses and sports.

Families will love theme parks like Alton Towers, LEGOLAND Windsor, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Drayton Manor, as well as the Chester Zoo and Longleat Safari Park.

If you time your visit perfectly, you may also be able to attend one of the famous sporting events held in the UK each year, like the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Grand National horse race near Liverpool, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, or any one of the exciting football matches, with teams like Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United the most popular.

There are currently over 190 Michelin star restaurants in the UK, and they can be found in all parts of the country, from the Isle of Skye to Jersey in the Channel Islands; Northumbria to Northern Ireland. Famous chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Alain Roux, Raymond Blanc, Heston Blumenthal and Michel Roux Jr and many more head up some of the more famous establishments, like Le Gavroche, The Fat Duck, and The Dorchester. The majority are in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, but wherever you head you will find tasty cuisine and amazing menus at venues from traditional pubs to modern city centre eateries.

The domestic rail network in the UK is also quite comprehensive, with major lines emanating from London’s main stations to the country’s regions, as well as main cities, where local lines and metro systems link to smaller stations. Buses are also common in towns and cities, and there is a network of long-range buses between all major cities.

The London Underground is the world’s oldest public metro system and makes it easy for getting around the city on fast, regular trains. Central stations can become crowded during peak times of day and times of year. Other metro systems exist in cities like Glasgow, Newcastle and Liverpool, while cities like Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh have modern road tram systems.

Most bus, metro and tram systems require tickets to be bought on board, or in advance via a ticket machine. Longer distance trains mostly require a ticket to be purchased in advance from stations, websites or apps.

While the road network is comprehensive, with large motorways acting as arterial routes between major cities, some rural areas in the UK are only served by local roads which in places can be narrow and slow to travel along. It should be remembered that in the UK cars drive on the left side of the road.

Taxis are common in all parts of the UK, with the Über app and drivers available in most areas.

There are a number of long-distance train routes. The most famous are the Caledonian Sleeper between London and Inverness, and the Night Riviera between London and Penzance, where you can enjoy a fine meal and sleeper berth for a relaxing journey.

Unlike some European countries, the UK does not close down for business during the summer months. The only time when most businesses and attractions are closed is over Christmas Day, Boxing Day (26^th December), and New Year’s Day. There are also a number of public holidays around Easter and in the summer, but visitor attractions usually remain open for these.

Hotels and other accommodation, particularly in the popular tourist spots, can be fully booked during the summer school holidays (typically late July and all of August), so booking ahead is advised.

While tipping is not mandatory in the UK, it is considered appropriate in restaurants, taxis and with concierge services in better quality hotels. It is not expected in pubs or other forms of transport.

The United Kingdom is a very culturally diverse nation. Its inhabitants comprise peoples from all over the world who have come to settle here and who have mixed with the traditional British culture. In cities and towns it is common to see people and businesses from all ethnic backgrounds, with a very open and welcoming society.

If you’re looking for the most traditional parts of the UK, you’ll usually find these in rural areas, where ways of live have been maintained for centuries.

Britain is traditionally a sport-loving nation, with many people professing allegiance to a local football team, a rugby club, or a cricket team. Other sports like golf, tennis and cycling are also very popular, and many British enjoy getting outdoors for exercise. There are many opportunities for you to do so on your visit, too.

Eating out and nightlife also feature heavily in British culture. The traditional pub is still a mainstay of evening entertainment for many, with most also serving good food. Bars, nightclubs and restaurants are also a big part of life in British towns and cities.

Weather in the UK

Visiting the UK soon? See below for the latest weather forecast for the United Kingdom.

UNITED KINGDOM