Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

United Kingdom

A photograph of United Kingdom
Photograph · Colin · CC BY-SA 4.0

The United Kingdom is 244,376 km² holding 69,281,437 people, and it is four countries rather than one: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast as their capitals. Three of the four run parliaments of their own over devolved matters, and the law splits three ways — England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. A visitor meets that in small practical things rather than at a border. London alone holds about 9.1 million of the total, which is why so many trips never leave it, and why the ones that do feel like arriving somewhere else.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
English; Welsh is official in Wales
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+44
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Pound sterling (GBP)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
999 or 112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type G · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Public water suppliers regulate mains drinking water; use cold mains taps

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

100 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 0 Museums 0 Places of worship 6098 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 2152 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 2152

Interests

History 0 Art 2152 Museums 2152 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. The Old Vic
    01 1 hour

    The Old Vic

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  3. The Theatre Royal
    03 1 hour

    The Theatre Royal

    Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  5. Hammersmith Apollo
    05 1 hour

    Hammersmith Apollo

    Eventim Apollo

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  10. Savoy Theatre
    10 1 hour

    Savoy Theatre

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  12. Wigmore Hall
    12 1 hour

    Wigmore Hall

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  19. Roundhouse
    19 1 hour

    Roundhouse

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  25. Modern Two
    25 1 hour

    Modern Two

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Edinburgh
  27. Young Vic
    27 1 hour

    Young Vic

    The Young Vic

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  28. The O2 Arena
    28 1 hour

    The O2 Arena

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  33. Garrick Theatre
    33 1 hour

    Garrick Theatre

    Garrick

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  35. Novello Theatre
    35 1 hour

    Novello Theatre

    Novello

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  38. White Cube
    38 1 hour

    White Cube

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  46. Cadogan Hall
    46 1 hour

    Cadogan Hall

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  49. Hippodrome
    49 1 hour

    Hippodrome

    London Hippodrome

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  54. Traffic Light tree
    54 1 hour

    Traffic Light tree

    Traffic Light Tree

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  58. Vaudeville Theatre
    58 1 hour

    Vaudeville Theatre

    The Vaudeville Theatre

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  59. Waterloo Vase
    59 1 hour

    Waterloo Vase

    The Waterloo Vase

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  72. Cockpit Theatre
    72 1 hour

    Cockpit Theatre

    The Cockpit Theatre

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  75. The Hub
    75 1 hour

    The Hub

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Edinburgh
  77. Elfin Oak
    77 1 hour

    Elfin Oak

    The Elfin Oak

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  79. Michael Faraday Memorial
    79 1 hour

    Michael Faraday Memorial

    Michael Faraday Memorial substation

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  85. Kiln Theatre
    85 1 hour

    Kiln Theatre

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  92. Fine Art Society
    92 1 hour

    Fine Art Society

    The Fine Art Society

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London
  100. Soho Theatre
    100 1 hour

    Soho Theatre

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • London

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to United Kingdom be?

Ten to fourteen days can cover four or five days in London, two in Manchester, and two or three each in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Highlands, Lake District, or Welsh national parks need dedicated nights and should not be squeezed into London day trips.

What entry documents are needed for United Kingdom?

UK document rules depend on nationality and trip purpose, and many visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding. Check the linked UK government visa service for both visa and ETA status shortly before travel.

What is the best way to travel around United Kingdom?

Intercity rail is the practical spine between London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, with advance fares usually distinct from flexible tickets. Each city runs its own local fare system, so London's contactless cap is not a nationwide travel pass.

When is a practical time to visit United Kingdom?

May to June and September are useful planning windows for this route, but conditions vary between southern England and Scotland. Festival dates in Edinburgh and rural transport in national parks can matter more than the national seasonal label.

What money and payment basics apply in United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom uses pound sterling (GBP). Contactless payment is widespread in major cities, but keep another payment method for rural services or terminals that do not share London's payment arrangements.

What practical safety details should I save for United Kingdom?

Use 999 or 112 for emergencies in the United Kingdom. Type G sockets supply 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe; save rail disruption information as well when the itinerary depends on several city-to-city journeys.