From the modern London Eye to the historic Tower of London, the top 10 tourist attractions in London are a must-see on any London sightseeing trip. Even better, many London landmarks are free to visit, while others are available with discounted entry or special offers when using a London Pass. Use the London attractions map to find them all. There are also plenty of kid-friendly places to visit in London. Get up close and personal with underwater creatures at Sealife London Aquarium or explore the Science Museum, London’s interactive hub of science and technology. Both are perfect for fun family days out in London. You could also soak up some culture at London museums, visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace, or take the perfect picture with Big Ben, just some of the many iconic places to go in London.

Have a magical day out with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Harry Potter films at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London The Making of Harry Potter. See first-hand the sets, costumes and props used in all the Harry Potter films, and step inside some of the films’ locations including the Great Hall, Dumbledore’s office and Hagrid’s hut. It’s the ultimate Harry Potter experience!

Take a tour with one of the Yeoman Warders around the Tower of London, one of the world’s most famous buildings. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace, prison and place of execution, arsenal, jewel house and zoo! Gaze up at the White Tower, tiptoe through a medieval king’s bedchamber and marvel at the Crown Jewels.

At Madame Tussauds, you’ll come face-to-face with some of the world’s most famous faces. From Shakespeare to Lady Gaga you’ll meet influential figures from showbiz, sport, politics and even royalty. Strike a pose with Usain Bolt, get close to One Direction or receive a once-in-a-lifetime audience with the Queen.

Manchester

Manchester has so much to offer – including a staggering amount of attractions for visitors to choose between. There’s so much to see that it can be overwhelming for first time visitors to decide what to prioritise. Architecture or art? Shops or sports? We’ve whittled down all of the city’s attractions into a concise list of the 20 must-see buildings, bars, shops and galleries. This is your essential guide to Manchester: print it off and carry it with you.
Another impressive example of Neo-Gothic architecture, if you only have time to admire one building in the city, make it Manchester’s Town Hall. The ornate ceilings, mural paintings, iconic bee mosaics and instantly recognisable clock tower make this one of the best examples of architecture from this time period in the whole of the UK.

Whether you’re a fan of Manchester United or you just want to visit one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world, it’s always worth hopping on a tram to visit Old Trafford. Take a tour of the stadium, pop into the gift shop to buy a memento of your visit or simply admire the structure from the outside.

One of Manchester’s oldest buildings, the cathedral is a must-see for anyone with an interest in architecture. Wander around at your own pace, book onto a tour to find out more about the history or keep your eyes peeled for news of one of the occasional gigs hosted inside the cathedral.

Edinburgh

Who hasn’t dreamt of visiting Scotland and its famous and beautiful landscapes? Edinburgh should in your bucket list if you decide to travel around the northernmost country of the UK! Edinburgh Castle is the main attraction and the masterpiece of the city. You will surely be amazed by its architecture and view point either at its bottom or at the top of it. Don’t forget to learn more about the history of the castle and the city itself inside its museums.
You cannot leave Edinburgh without walking down the Royal Mile. The main street and most touristy place of the city is located in the old town and it’s full of hidden gems and secrets. Discover them during the day by wandering along shops…or at night with one of the organized tours.At the end of the Royal Mile you will find one of the most impressive monuments of Edinburgh, St Gilles Cathedral, the physical and spiritual heart of Scotland’s capital.

Located close to the railway station, you will find Edinburgh Dungeon. This little museum will give you the chills for sure. You will know what it was like to live in Scotland back in the 18th century: murders, legends, torture chambers, ghostly presences and the disastrous effect of the plague. Be warned!

At the very end of the Royal Mile, you will find Holyrood park with beautiful sites like Holyrood palace, Arthur’s seat, Salisbury Crags, Samson’s Ribs and St Margaret’s Loch. The Holyrood palace was founded by David the First in 1128 and still used by the Queen Elizabeth the Second today. Visit what can be called the “Buckimgham Palace of Scotland”. If you’re already in Holyrood park, take the opportunity to go up Arthur’s seat, a hill with excellent views of the city. This location is very appreciated by hikers but don’t worry, it’s quite easy to climb!

Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne is one of the most renowned cities in the country for many reasons, most notably its culture, architecture and welcoming atmosphere. Here are 10 reasons why everyone should visit the famous north-east city. Aside from its most obvious landmark, the Tyne Bridge, Newcastle is packed with interesting landmarks and buildings to discover. For example, Newcastle’s 12th century castle offers splendid views over the city, while Anthony Gormley’s iconic Angel of the North statue is located in Gateshead, just outside the city centre.
Newcastle is home to an abundance of galleries and museums, with some like the Great North Museum: Hancock showcasing the history and heritage of the city. One of the top picks is the Baltic Centre, a truly innovative exhibition centre housed within a famous industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne.

More than 50,000 dedicated fans head to St. James Park – the home of Newcastle United – every weekend. With the team returning to the Premier League this season, football fans visiting the city may want to check out a game.

Cambridge

There’s something for everyone when it comes to entertainment in Cambridge. A choice of galleries showcases an impressive range of art, from the contemporary to the classic, a buzzing theatre and performance scene presents drama, dance and family shows and you can enjoy all kinds of live music from internationally acclaimed orchestras and ensembles to touring pop stars, pub gigs, the world-famous Folk Festival, ever-popular Beer Festival, family-friendly Big Weekend and magical Secret Garden Party festivals.

You can go punting on the River Cam, enjoy a picnic in the park, join a walking tour of the city or explore further afield from the seat of a bicycle following the excellent network of cycle paths in and around the city.

Spend the day enjoying one of Cambridge and Beyond’s fantastic Experience Days – perfect for group days out, stag and hen parties, gift ideas or treating yourself to an experience you’ll never forget.

King’s College Chapel is celebrated for its choral services including the famous A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, broadcast live by the BBC to the nation and across the globe on Christmas Eve. If you have a chance to hear the sublime Choir of King’s College, you will be enchanted. Choral Evensong is sung here most days during term time, as it is in many other college chapels – all free and open to everyone.

As well as the free-to-enter University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, which houses world-class collections of art and antiquities spanning centuries and civilisations, and Kettle’s Yard, one of the country’s finest galleries and a major centre for 20th century and contemporary art, visitors will find a wide range of artworks, sculpture trail walks and galleries to appreciate.

If you visit London, you should consider making the trip to the Salisbury plain to one of the ancient wonders of the world. A visit to this archaeological site takes you back in time to 2,600 BC and transports you into a world of magic. One of the most exciting things about Stonehenge is the mystery surrounding it. In fact, the right word is “mysteries” because there is not one but several secrets surrounding this structure.

While there are stories about giants bringing these huge stones from a distant land, there are also myths about the stones having healing powers. Recent research has shown that Stonehenge might actually be an ancient burial site. All these stories surrounding it make it a very interesting place to visit.

You should also visit Stonehenge to see its unique design. It was originally built in three stages. The first stage consisted of an earthwork structure built in the form of a circular ditch with a bank. In the second stage, timber arrangements were made with postholes fixed in the ground. These postholes were surrounded by the bank. Thirdly, the stones were fixed in place. The three stages of construction took around five hundred years, between 3,000 BC and 2,500 BC. Another theory states that it was built in six stages and the construction went on until 1,500 BC.

Visiting Stonehenge is almost an ethereal experience, perhaps because of the mysteries surrounding it. Yet, you cannot deny that the visit is extraordinary. For one, it was built during the transition between the Neolithic age and the Bronze Age.

Secondly, the eerie symmetry of the structure is mind-boggling. After centuries of confusion, it has been found that the pattern is indisputably aligned to the solstices. The sun’s rays during the solstices are the axes of symmetry. This high level of precision at a time when advanced scientific instruments were not available is something that defies logic.

Liverpool is the UK’s fifth-largest city. It is situated in the North West of England and is best known for being the birthplace of the world-famous band ‘The Beatles’.

Although there is a lot more to the city of Liverpool, from arts and culture to museums, football clubs, and popular bars that visitors can enjoy. The residents of Liverpool, referred to as Liverpudlians or Scousers, are famous for their unique and distinctive accent that is sure to stand out from a crowd. The amazing and unique city of Liverpool has many varied experiences to offer its visitors, so to give you a few ideas, here are eight reasons why you should visit Liverpool.

The city is probably most famous for its deep roots in music and has been home to some of the most popular artists that the world has ever known. Despite being a small city, the musical success it has achieved is impressive. Of course, there is The Beatles, four down to earth lads from Liverpool that went on to be regarded by many as one of the most influential bands of all time.

Housing one of Europe’s largest civic art collections, the city has a fantastic mix of world-class museums, galleries and award-winning visitor attractions including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Riverside Museum, with these and many others, FREE to visit. There are also hidden gems to be discovered like the Tenement House, where you can experience what life was like in early 20th century Glasgow, and the oldest surviving music hall in the world – the Britannia Panopticon. There are family-friendly attractions such as Glasgow Science Centre and a cutting-edge arts scene too, evidenced through expertly curated programmes at venues such as Tramway, the Centre for Contemporary Arts and the Gallery of Modern Art.

If you ask a local what to see and do in the city, many will tell you to take a walk and “look up” to really appreciate Glasgow’s rich and varied architectural heritage. From the medieval Glasgow Cathedral to the Neo-Gothic University of Glasgow – rumoured to be the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Hogwarts – to the Art Nouveau wonders of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Glasgow’s wealthy past has left a legacy of the finest Victorian architecture in the UK but you only have to take a short stroll along the ever-changing riverside to see innovative, cutting-edge designs.

Be sure to check out the lanes and arcades in the West neighbourhood for cool vintage, second-hand and independent boutiques, the South for a series of quirky, small stores full of locally created and crafted goods, and the East for some great weekend markets and independent traders. Buchanan Street is the city’s main pedestrianised shopping street where there is no shortage of mega malls, well-known brand names and speciality shopping while Ingram Street in the Merchant City is where to find exclusive fashion brands.

Bath

Bath is affectionately known as one of the most beautiful cities in England, and with many incredible examples of Georgian architecture, mixed with a host of world-class museums, Roman history, natural thermal spas and boutique shops, it’s no wonder that visitors have been visiting Bath for well over 2,000 years. Here are seven reasons why you should come to Bath this year.

2017 marks 250 years since the foundation stone was laid on the Royal Crescent, on 19th May 1767. Today, the Royal Crescent is so much more than just a curved row of 30 terraced houses. This world-renowned icon is one of the most impressive representations of architectural innovation and imagination of Georgian Britain.

Take a dip in Bath’s restorative thermal waters that are rich in health-giving minerals. Soak up the rooftop views from the open air pool at Thermae Bath Spa, or book into a luxurious spa day at the Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel. You can discover more about Bath’s history in relation to the famous waters at the Roman Baths, one of the most impressive Roman remains in the world!

If you’re undecided between a city break or staying somewhere in countryside, Bath offers the best of both worlds. As a small and walkable city, you get the buzz of a modern and exciting city with leafy walks around the corner. The Bath Skyline Walk is a breath of fresh air. This six mile circular walk takes you through hills and forests and offers up spectacular views of the cityscape. As a garden city, there are also plenty of open green spaces to stretch your legs and relax in right in the city centre. Royal Victoria Park’s Botanical Gardens are a calm and beautiful oasis to escape from the hustle and bustle.

Inverness

Inverness is one of the best places to learn about Scottish history, particularly the history the Jacobite rebellions. Culloden, the site of one of the bloody last battles of the Jacobite Uprising, sits on a windswept moor on the outskirts of the city and is one of the most poignant and moving places in Scotland. Culloden Visitor Centre, which stands beside the battlefield, features interactive displays that reveal the background to the conflict. Using 360-degree immersion theatre, the multi award-winning attraction takes visitors back to one of the bloodiest periods in Scottish history. It features artefacts from both sides of the battle, including weapons, clothing, miniatures and coins.

Just 37 kilometres south west of Inverness, hauntingly beautiful Loch Ness is an easy day trip from the city. Famous throughout the world as home to the Loch Ness monster, an unknown cryptid that may or may not live in its murky depths. First spotted in 1933, ‘Nessie’ has inspired countless expeditions – scientific and otherwise – to prove her existence. Even without the myth of the monster, Loch Ness demands attention. It is the largest body of water in the Great Glen and holds more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Scotland combined. Its mood changes with the weather. Head to the atmospheric ruins of Urquhart Castle for the best view. Or take one of the boat cruises offered for your best chance of spotting Nessie, or at least a floating log that looks very much like her.

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