Choosing a top 5 in a country as varied as England is virtually impossible. We’ve missed out a lot of big hitters (sorry Stonehenge), but offered alternatives for each location. We’ve also not included London, as it’s a given and most travellers begin or end their trip there.
Here’s our top 5 favourite places in the UK:
The Lake District:
The Lake District is the UK’s largest National park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s home to England’s highest mountain and deepest lake and is outstandingly beautiful.
There’s 12 main lakes, 197 tarns (small lakes), 3,105 kilometres of rights of way, 4 serious mountains, countless fells, picture postcard villages and 16 stone circles. You can: hike, swim, sail, paddle board, kayak, cave, climb, fish and mountaineer. Our favourite areas are Wastwater and Borrowdale.
Tip: avoid the more crowded central areas of Windermere and Grasmere in the Summer.
Alternative – Yorkshire Dales
Oxford:
Oxford with its collection of stunning, honey coloured colleges is home to some of the UK’s finest architecture and is an easy trip from London. Just wandering through the cobbled backstreets feels like you’re in a film set (and yes, Harry Potter was filmed here). Oxford has 45 colleges which make up the university, the vast majority are medieval and have their own quads, chapels and gardens. Make sure you visit at least one or two.
Don’t miss: a tour of the phenomenal Bodleian Library; and seeing the Radcliffe Camera and Hertford Bridge which are all in the centre. There’s an impressive selection of historical pubs, our favourites are: the Turf Tavern a 12 century haven, overlooking the city walls and hidden down an alley way off Holywell St; The Eagle and Child, founded in 1650, a literary favourite – Tolkien and CS Lewis used to hang out here; and The Trout Inn – set on a weir a 40 minute walk from the centre along the river through Port Meadow. You should also: try punting on the river, explore the food stands and cafes of the Covered Market, visit The Ashmoleum Museum and don’t miss our favourite museum in the UK – the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Alternative – Cambridge
Avebury:
Much more atmospheric, less crowded and bigger than Stonehenge, Avebury is the largest stone circle in the world. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The outer circle and henge (a 3/4 mile bank and ditch) enclose a picture perfect village with smaller neolithic monuments scattered around it. In Avebury, unlike Stonehenge, you can access all the stones and touch them.
Avebury is also a good base for local historic walks to other nearby neolithic sites such as West Kennet Long Barrow, Silbury Hill and The Sanctuary Stone Circle.
Alternative – Stonehenge just 20 miles away.
York:
The ancient, walled city of York has few rivals in the world when it comes to history and beauty. It’s packed with Roman and Viking heritage; is home to the immense York Minster (one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world); and the city’s cobbled, half timbered medieval streets are quite simply magical.
Don’t miss: the 14th century Shambles, Clifford’s Tower, walking The Walls; and a coffee and cake break at Betty’s iconic tearooms. York also has some amazing museums including: The Jorvik Viking Centre and the massive National Railway Museum.
Alternative – Bath
Cornwall:
With 300 miles of breathtaking, wild coast, Cornwall is well worth the journey. Situated in the south west tip of the UK, Cornwall is proudly Celtic and home to must visit beaches, moors, castles and ancient fishing villages.
Our favourite beaches include: Constantine Bay for surf; Kynance Cove for rock stacks and Porthcurno for crystal clear water and cliffs. Top towns include Padstow – for foodies; St Ives for the Tate; and Mevagissey dating back to 1313. Other must see sights include: the phenomenal Eden Project; the Lost Gardens of Heligan; St Michael’s Mount and Tintagel Castle.
Alternative – Devon