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: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  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 4162 Museums 295 Places of worship 6121 Nature sites 3899 Viewpoints 181 Food and drink 190 Markets and shopping 608 Entertainment 212 Nightlife 6021 Family attractions 34 Art and culture 2218 Activities 5

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 6120 1 to 2 hours 1

Interests

History 6098 Art 6098 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  2. St Giles' Cathedral
    02 45 min

    St Giles' Cathedral

    St Giles' Cathedral is the parish church that sits in the middle of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, roughly halfway between the Castle at the top and Holyrood at the bottom, with Parliament Square wrapped around its southern and eastern flanks.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Edinburgh
  3. Glasgow Cathedral
    03 1 hour

    Glasgow Cathedral

    Glasgow Cathedral is a medieval church on Castle Street, at the top of the High Street and a short walk north-east of the city centre.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Glasgow
  4. Southwark Cathedral
    04 30 min

    Southwark Cathedral

    Southwark Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral located on the south bank of the River Thames in London. It stands near London Bridge in the historic London Borough of Southwark.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • London
  5. Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin
    05 30 min

    Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin

    Rosslyn Chapel is a 15th-century chapel located in the village of Roslin, approximately seven miles south of Edinburgh city centre. Founded by William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness, the chapel took forty years to construct.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Edinburgh
  7. Manchester Cathedral
    07 45 min

    Manchester Cathedral

    Manchester Cathedral is the city’s medieval parish church elevated through collegiate and cathedral status, and it remains an active Church of England place of worship.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Manchester
  18. St Andrew's Cathedral
    18 30 min

    St Andrew's Cathedral

    St Andrew's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Glasgow, Scotland. It serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Glasgow and the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Glasgow
  32. St Mary's Cathedral
    32 30 min

    St Mary's Cathedral

    St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral is a major Gothic Revival cathedral in Glasgow, Scotland. It serves as the cathedral church of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway within the Scottish Episcopal Church.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Glasgow
  33. Glasgow Necropolis
    33 2 hours

    Glasgow Necropolis

    The Glasgow Necropolis is a Victorian cemetery of 37 acres, roughly 15 hectares, on the hill immediately east of Glasgow Cathedral, and it works as a piece of designed landscape rather than as a churchyard.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Glasgow
  63. Greyfriars Kirk
    63 30 min

    Greyfriars Kirk

    Greyfriars Kirk is a historic parish church located in Edinburgh's Old Town, near the southern edge of the city centre. The church stands within Greyfriars Kirkyard, a substantial graveyard with notable monuments.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Edinburgh
  73. Garnethill Synagogue
    73 30 min

    Garnethill Synagogue

    Garnethill Synagogue is a historic Jewish place of worship located in Glasgow, Scotland. It stands as the oldest surviving synagogue in Scotland, representing significant heritage for the Jewish community in the city.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Glasgow
  95. Queen's Cross Church
    95 30 min

    Queen's Cross Church

    Queen's Cross Church is a former parish church in Glasgow, Scotland, now commonly known as The Mackintosh Church. It was designed by the renowned Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and is considered one of his most significant ecclesiastical works.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Glasgow

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.