The UK can be a haven for all kinds of travellers — whether you’re looking for a nature retreat or a dynamic urban escapade. The most common destinations include Loch Ness, Lake District, and the university towns of Cambridge and Oxford, to name a few. But beyond these places, the UK is packed with even more history and landscapes than you can ever imagine.
So if you want to broaden your horizons, get ready to pack your bags and add these places to your UK bucket list:
Visit the iconic London Eye
Standing at 443ft tall, the London Eye is the highest Ferris wheel in Europe. It welcomes more than 3.5 million visitors every year, which also makes it the most paid tourist attraction in the UK. It includes 32 capsules, representing each of the city’s 32 boroughs. Interestingly, however, the capsules are numbered until 33, as they skipped number 13 for superstition. Each ‘borough’ can fit 25 people relatively comfortably. For the Eye to do a full rotation it takes 30 minutes, and you can see out across 25 miles when you’re at the top.
Marvel at the historic Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a stone circle in Wiltshire, England that’s believed to have been built in the Bronze Age. A feature on History.com explains that, while many scholars agree that it served as a burial ground, why it was constructed remains a mystery. In fact, the blue stones that make up the inner ring were said to come all the way from Wales, some 200 miles away. Stonehenge is the most well known prehistoric monument in Europe, attracting over 1 million visitors every year. In 1986, it was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The stunning lakes at Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia National Park is a large mountainous region found in northwest Wales. While it is commonly known for being home to Wale’s highest mountain (Mount Snowdon), a feature on Snowdonia National Park by Gala Bingo documents that it also boasts 100 beautiful lakes that make it worth the visit. Plus, it has over 1,500 miles of public footpaths and bridleways that can take you on different paths through the mountains, woodlands, and stone-built villages. These paths offer varying hiking and trekking difficulties as well. For instance, the Devil’s Kitchen to Y Garn route crosses boulder fields and rocky pathways.
Take a walk through the Jedburgh Abbey
Jedburgh Abbey houses the ruins of an Augustinian abbey in Scotland. It was one of the four major abbeys of the Scottish Borders built by King David I in the 1100s to show their English neighbours that they could match England’s grand buildings. Jedburgh Abbey stands out in particular because of its impressive and diverse profile among all the other Border abbeys. The architecture is a mix of Romanesque and early Gothic architecture, and they even have a herb garden as well.
Discover the Trossachs National Park
Trossachs National Park is Scotland’s first national park, established only in 2002. Visiting the park can sometimes feel like an experience out of a fairy tale with its mysterious lochs, misty hills, and lush forests. The Benmore Botanic Gardens are renowned for their amazing towering Redwood trees and rhododendrons. Meanwhile, Milton Narrows is a quiet spot on the edge of Loch Ard with a bridge that goes over the River Forth. Lastly, Inversnaid Falls cascades into Loch Lomond and even inspired Victorian poet Gerald Manley Hopkins to write a poem called ‘Inversnaid’.
