Country guide · United Kingdom
Best places to visit in United Kingdom
8 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrew Colin, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
For a first trip to United Kingdom, start with Edinburgh: A castle on a volcano, medieval closes, free museums and August festivals. For beaches, look at Edinburgh and Liverpool. Belfast is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 8
- Best months overall
- May–June and September
- Start with
- Edinburgh
- Least expensive here
- Belfast
8 places to visit in United Kingdom
Best: May–June and September · 3 days
Edinburgh
A castle on a volcano, medieval closes, free museums and August festivals
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Best: May–June and September · 5 days
London
Free national museums, royal landmarks, West End theatre and riverside walks
Best: May–June and September · 2 days
Bath
Roman hot springs, honey-stone Georgian crescents and rooftop thermal pools
Best: May–June and August–September · 3 days
Belfast
Titanic history, Victorian pubs and the gateway to the Causeway Coast
Best: May–September · 3 days
Glasgow
Free museums, Victorian architecture and Scotland's liveliest music scene
Best: May–July and September · 3 days
Liverpool
The Beatles, a grand Mersey waterfront, two cathedrals and free museums
Best: May–September · 3 days
Manchester
Mill-age red brick, free museums, football and a big live-music scene
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Best: May–June and September · 3 days
York
A Gothic minster, medieval walls, Viking history and the Shambles
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Mile | May–June and September | 3 days | $180–$320 |
| London | Big Ben and Parliament and British Museum | May–June and September | 5 days | $260–$420 |
| Bath | Roman Baths and Georgian architecture | May–June and September | 2 days | $180–$320 |
| Belfast | Titanic and Political murals | May–June and August–September | 3 days | $150–$260 |
| Glasgow | Free museums and Charles Rennie Mackintosh | May–September | 3 days | $160–$280 |
| Liverpool | The Beatles and Royal Albert Dock | May–July and September | 3 days | $150–$260 |
| Manchester | Football and Industrial heritage | May–September | 3 days | $160–$280 |
| York | York Minster and City walls | May–June and September | 3 days | $160–$280 |
When to visit United Kingdom
Across these destinations the most reliable months are May–June and September. Timing still varies by place: Edinburgh is best in May–June and September; London is best in May–June and September; Bath is best in May–June and September.
Signature dishes across United Kingdom
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | Haggis, neeps and tatties | Cullen skink and Full Scottish breakfast |
| London | Full English breakfast | Fish and chips and Sunday roast |
| Bath | Sally Lunn bun | Bath bun and Bath Oliver biscuits |
| Belfast | Ulster fry | Soda bread and potato bread and Champ |
| Glasgow | Full Scottish breakfast | Square sausage roll and Haggis, neeps and tatties |
| Liverpool | Scouse | Blind scouse and Wet Nelly |
| Manchester | Curry on the Curry Mile | Dim sum in Chinatown and Lancashire hotpot |
| York | Yorkshire pudding | Fat Rascal and Wensleydale cheese with fruit cake |
Events through the year in United Kingdom
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Edinburgh: Burns Night suppers — haggis, whisky and poetry (25 January); London: London New Year's Day Parade through the West End (1 January) |
| February | Edinburgh: Six Nations rugby at Murrayfield (February–March); London: London Fashion Week (usually mid-February) |
| March | London: St Patrick's Day parade and festival (weekend nearest 17 March); Bath: Bath Half Marathon (usually March) |
| April | Edinburgh: Edinburgh Science Festival (usually April); London: London Marathon (usually late April) |
| May | Edinburgh: Edinburgh Marathon Festival (usually late May); London: RHS Chelsea Flower Show (usually late May) |
| June | Edinburgh: Royal Highland Show — Scotland's agricultural show at Ingliston (usually June); London: Trooping the Colour, the King's birthday parade (usually a Saturday in June) |
| July | Edinburgh: Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (usually July); London: BBC Proms classical concerts at the Royal Albert Hall (mid-July to mid-September) |
| August | Edinburgh: Edinburgh Festival Fringe (usually most of August); London: Notting Hill Carnival (August bank holiday weekend, late August) |
| September | Edinburgh: Doors Open Days — free access to normally closed buildings (usually September); London: Open House Festival — architecture open days across the city (usually September) |
| October | Edinburgh: Scottish International Storytelling Festival (usually October); London: BFI London Film Festival (usually October) |
| November | Edinburgh: Edinburgh's Christmas markets open (usually mid-to-late November); London: Bonfire Night fireworks displays (around 5 November) |
| December | Edinburgh: Edinburgh's Christmas markets and fair (usually until early January); London: Christmas markets and ice rinks in Hyde Park, on the South Bank and elsewhere (December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | London | 534 km |
| Edinburgh | Bath | 511 km |
| Edinburgh | Belfast | 230 km |
| Edinburgh | Glasgow | 67 km |
| Edinburgh | Liverpool | 283 km |
| London | Bath | 155 km |
| London | Belfast | 518 km |
| London | Glasgow | 555 km |
| London | Liverpool | 287 km |
| Bath | Belfast | 430 km |
| Bath | Glasgow | 514 km |
| Bath | Liverpool | 229 km |
| Belfast | Glasgow | 177 km |
| Belfast | Liverpool | 233 km |
| Glasgow | Liverpool | 285 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to United Kingdom?
Edinburgh: Edinburgh is built across volcanic hills between the Firth of Forth and the Pentland Hills, and its two UNESCO-listed halves sit side by side: the medieval Old Town strung along the Royal Mile from the Castle to…
+When is the best time to visit United Kingdom?
Generally May–June and September, though it varies by region.