There’s no one definitive way to visit the UK - the region contains four separate nations, each filled with natural wonders, historic cities and unique traditions. For first-time visitors, it can be hard to know where to start. Whether you’re looking for a city break, romantic weekend, castle tour, or outdoor adventure, we explore the best places to visit in Britain for every budget and route below. Discover travel tips to make your visit as smooth as possible, including how to get around and how to connect to local British mobile data with a UK eSIM.
Whether you’re off to North Scotland or the Cornwall coast, find the best places to visit in the UK, including local recommendations, right here.
20% off eSIMs for the UK
Between 1-31 December 2024, claim 20% off all BetterRoaming travel eSIMs for the UK with the code XMAS-PRM20. Best of all, this deal can be enjoyed at any time - simply book the plan in December, then use it whenever you travel.
The Best Cities to Visit in the UK
London
England’s capital and largest city by far, London is an essential destination for visitors to the UK.
Often referred to as a ‘collection of villages’, the city consists of countless diverse neighbourhoods, each with its own distinct identity, character and culture. Whatever your plans for your trip, it's unlikely you'll ever run out of things to do in London. While the bulk of London’s most famous attractions, including Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge Hyde Park and the Tower of London, are located within the Westminster and City districts, this is a city that rewards excursions to other areas. Thankfully, London has an excellent public transport system. The London Underground is the oldest underground passenger railway in the world, and usually the quickest way to get around town. Hop on the top deck of an iconic Routemaster bus for a great view of the city – some routes, like the 24 or the 139, provide bird’s-eye views of some of the most-visited sites in the country for the price of a single bus ticket.
Local Tip: The London public transport network even includes a fleet of river boats – climb aboard and travel down the Thames for less than £5 (at the time of writing).
Edinburgh
One of the most-visited cities in the United Kingdom, Edinburgh compresses many sights into a small area. The main thoroughfare, Princes Street, neatly divides the city into two: on the South Side, the twisting lanes, castle and medieval spires of the Old Town; and on the North, the Georgian townhouses and cobbled streets of the Edinburgh New Town.
For many international tourists, the city may be best known for the Edinburgh Fringe, a month-long comedy and performing arts festival where every pub, club and cafe in town hosts a program of independent stand-up comedy, theatre and circus acts every August. If you’re looking to visit Edinburgh during the Fringe, plan ahead. Most hotel rooms are booked out months in advance, and the price of accommodation skyrockets for the duration of August.
There’s more than enough to see do and eat year-round though. Leave the city centre and head to the seaside area of Leith, which was formerly its own city, or the riverside Dean Village.
Local tip: Pies are the unsung heroes of British cuisine. Try one in Scotland and discover the perfect late-night snack. The 24-hour bakery Storries on Leith Walk is an Edinburgh institution, selling a rotating selection of inventively-filled pies, rolls and pastries.
Liverpool
While a household name for fans of football and the Beatles, Liverpool is not a typical stop for international visitors to Great Britain. However, tourist numbers in the city are growing as people begin to recognize Liverpool as one of the best places to visit in England. Liverpool has a long history as a port city and cultural melting pot, while the period of Irish immigration during the 19th and early 20th centuries continues to shape the city’s culture and context within the rest of the UK to this day. Liverpool’s industrial heritage is commemorated at the historic Albert Dock –a free-to-visit working port and waterfront that also houses public museums, galleries and cafes. Highlights include the Merseyside Maritime Museum and a branch of the Tate Contemporary Art Gallery.
For more recent history, visit the Beatles Museum to see how the city gave rise to one of the most influential bands of all time. Liverpool is famous for its nightlife, and the Fab Four’s legacy is kept alive in the countless excellent music venues around town.
Local tip: Birkenhead Park in Liverpool is the UK’s oldest public park. Revolutionary at the time, Birkenhead directly inspired the concept and design of Central Park in New York.
Cardiff
As the capital of Wales, Cardiff is a great way for first-time visitors to Britain to discover a new country and one of the best city breaks in Wales. The Senedd, or Welsh Parliament, and the National Museum Cardiff are great starting points for exploring the history and culture of Wales. Recharge in one of the many cafes and restaurants that line Cardiff's iconic Victorian shopping arcades.
Situated on Wales’s Southern Coast, Cardiff is only a couple hours’ drive from London. This makes it an ideal base camp for exploring the outstanding natural beauty of Powys and Snowdonia in North Wales, or driving along the coast to visit Welsh coastal towns like the picturesque port of Tenby or the castle town of Laugharne.
Local tip: One feature many first-time visitors to Wales will notice immediately is the bilingual street signage. Welsh is a growing language, spoken fluently by around 20% of the population. It's a good idea to learn at least a few basic phrases, especially if you’re planning on spending time in the majority Welsh-speaking regions of the country, like the Northwest.
Glasgow
While Edinburgh may draw the bulk of the tourists to southern Scotland, Glasgow is a larger city and one of the most fascinating in the United Kingdom. Much like Liverpool, Glasgow is a port city that played a vital role in the British Industrial Revolution. This influx of wealth is reflected in the grand Victorian architecture of the Glasgow University Building (an inspiration for Hogwarts Castle) and the Kibble Palace in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. Today, Glasgow is best known as Scotland’s cultural capital. From the outstanding Kelvingrove Gallery to the music shops and gigs of Byres Road and traditional Scottish music venues like Òran Mór, Glasgow is one of the best cities in the UK to discover contemporary art in all its forms.
Local tip: No visit to Scotland is complete without a visit to a chippy, or fish and chip shop. Try the Glasgow chippy specialty - ‘Pizza Crunch Supper’, or battered, deep-fried pizza, served with chips and sauce. A descendant of the Neapolitan Pizza Fritta, Pizza Crunch celebrates Glasgow’s Italian heritage with a distinctly Scottish twist. It’s must-try for visitors, best consumed late at night.
Belfast
The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast is a large port city with a truly unique character. Like many ports, Belfast has a long history of diverse cultural influences and an ever-evolving character that reflects its tumultuous history and youthful population. It’s also home to one of the UK and Ireland’s most imposing tourist attractions: Titanic Belfast; a state-of-the-art visitor centre and immersive museum built on the site of the Belfast shipyard where the doomed vessel was constructed. Titanic Belfast sits on the Maritime Mile, Belfast’s preserved historic waterfront, now lined with galleries, museums and bars built into the former shipyards.
As a pivotal city during the Troubles, many Belfasters lived through decades of political violence and division that continue to shape life in the city today. A Belfast taxi tour is a unique and revealing way to learn about the period first-hand from long-time residents.
Local tip: Belfast is famous for its oysters - you can find them on menus everywhere from gourmet restaurants to local pubs. White's Tavern has been serving them since 1630.
eSIM data plans for the UK
The Best Countryside Trips in the UK
Giant’s Causeway
The term ‘natural wonder’ seems specifically invented for sites like Giant’s Causeway, or Clochán an Aifir. Jutting out of Ireland’s northern coast, this honeycomb of interlocking stone columns creates an alien landscape that demands to be seen in person. The site is free to enter, though there is also a nearby visitor centre that charges a small fee.
Cornwall and Dartmoor
Head to Cornwall, Britain's most southerly county for some of the best beaches and seaside villages in the UK. With its own now-revived language (Cornish) and Celtic heritage, Cornwall retains an independent identity. If you're hungry, this is the best place in the world to try a classic British teatime treat, scones with jam and clotted cream (the correct arrangement of scone toppings divides communities in southern England with almost religious fervor – in Cornwall, the rule is jam first, then cream). It’s also the home of the famous Cornish pasty.
The Scottish Highlands
Covering almost a quarter of the island of Great Britain, the Scottish Highlands and islands are a vast region of outstanding natural beauty, famed for their sweeping glens, dramatic coastlines and unique culture. Many hallmarks of traditional Celtic culture – Scotch whisky, tartan, ceilidh music – have their origins in the Highlands and islands. The North Coast 500, or ‘Scotland’s Route 66’ is a bucket-list trip for many, taking in nearly the entirety of Scotland’s North and West Coast. From Glasgow, visitors can easily catch a train or drive up to the idyllic fishing port of Oban, and continue from there to Hebridean islands like Skye, Islay or Mull.
The Lake District
A National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the rolling hills and dense forests of Northern England’s Lake District are some of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits. This archetypal pastoral English countryside has long been a favoured subject for generations of English poets, painters and novelists, including Beatrix Potter. Popular things to do in the Lake District include visiting Lake Windermere and climbing England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike.
Snowdonia (Eryri)
More mountainous and craggy than the rolling hills of the Lake District or windy plains of Dartmoor, Snowdonia is a haven for hikers, cyclists, campers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The range of natural sites and traditional mountain villages makes this a great option for longer holidays as well as weekend getaways.
The Best Historical Sites in the UK
Stonehenge
Stonehenge has stood in Salisbury Plain, near Bath, for over 4000 years. Though the original reason for its construction is famously unknown, the site’s alignment with the sun has given it great significance in British paganism. Hundreds of pagans still gather at the site during the summer and winter solstices.
Stonehenge is easily reached in a couple of hours from London or Bath. To see the stones up close (touching is not permitted), visitors can buy a ticket that also grants access to the nearby visitor centre and cafe. Those on a budget can also park nearby and view the stones for free from the other side of a low wire fence, or see them from the neighbouring A303 road.
The Roman Baths of Aquae Sulis, Bath
The small English city of Bath is home to one of the best-preserved collections of Roman architecture in the world. The most famous example, and the reason for the city’s name, is the Roman Baths of Aquae Sulis. These preserved public bathhouses have stood in the city centre for nearly 2000 years. While you sadly can’t bathe there anymore, visitors can still wander around the site and experience ancient Roman life up close.
The Roman spas aren’t the only historic attraction in Bath - in fact, the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As tourists flocked to Bath’s hot springs during the 18th century, money poured into the town and led to the building of the opulent Georgian townhouses that line the city centre. Bath Abbey, meanwhile is a stellar example of medieval Gothic architecture. Due to the city’s compact size, a walking tour of Bath is an efficient and illuminating way to explore centuries of British history in a single afternoon.
St Michael's Mount
Rising out of the sea, just off the Cornish coast, the small parish of St Michael’s Mount is one of the most imposing man-made sites in the United Kingdom. The community consists of a collection of religious and residential buildings. The site is equally famous for the quality of the medieval buildings as the dramatic location.
Durham Town Centre
One of England's historic cathedral cities, Durham is a town of just 50,000 with a wealth of medieval, Roman and Victorian buildings. Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral are the two most famous sites in the city. The former is a fortified Norman castle that overlooks the city centre. As property of the University of Durham, visitors need to book a guided tour if they want to enter. Durham Cathedral is a 1000-year-old gothic church built on a hill, and visible for miles around.
The Best Castles to Visit in the UK
Dunnottar Castle
Dunnottar Castle is an imposing ruin that clings to the windswept cliffs above Scotland’s North Sea coast, a must-visit for fans of dramatic viewpoints and medieval history. Spend a day wandering through the ruin and along the clifftop path to enjoy unmatched sea views of Scotland’s east coast. A short bus ride will take you to the scenic fishing village of Stonehaven, while Aberdeen city is only half an hour away by rail.
Alnwick Castle
Not far from Durham, the hilltop fortress of Alnwick Castle is one of the most-visited attractions in northern England. The sprawling keep is open to the public, with rooms dating back to the 12th century. Younger viewers may also recognise it at a filming location in the Harry Potter films. The surrounding Alnwick Gardens were designed by legendary Victorian landscaper Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, and are a visitor attraction in their own right.
Alnwick is also perfectly positioned to explore the nearby monastery of Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island. This small island community, complete with a castle and a 6th-century monastery, can only be reached at low tide.
Eilean Donan Castle
Due to its pleasing proportions and stunning surroundings, Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most-photographed sites in Scotland. This small but mighty castle owes its longevity to its strategic location on an island in Loch Long, reachable only by a narrow bridge. Today, visitors can explore the castle up close and learn more about aristocratic highland life in the visitor centre next door.
Caernarfon Castle
One of the oldest still-standing castles in the United Kingdom, Caernarfon Castle has had a tumultuous history which is evident in its semi-ruined walls and repeatedly rebuilt keep. Having been besieged and partially destroyed several times, Caernarfon Castle is an imposing historic relic with an outstanding visitor centre and frequent calendar of family events.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle was the personal favorite of Elizabeth II, and the Royal Family still occasionally resides here. Fortunately, the castle is also open to the public year-round. Only an hour from London, Windsor Castle is a popular tourist attraction set in acres of manicured parkland and forest. The original buildings have been in continuous use since the 10th Century - walking around the castle and grounds today is a journey through nearly 1000 years of British history.
As a mainstay of the royal family for centuries, the castle has played a role in pivotal moments in British history - most notably during the English Civil War when revolutionary republican forces took it over. Legoland Windsor is also nearby and guaranteed to please children who are tired of historical sites.
Make Travelling in Britain Easy With a Local UK eSIM
A UK eSIM is the easiest way to use mobile data in the United Kingdom without paying roaming charges. Our travel eSIM allows you to get connected to our high-speed international network at a cheap local rate, the minute you arrive in the United Kingdom.
No more queuing up for a local SIM – just one simple mobile plan that can be downloaded in minutes, and ready to get anywhere in the UK.
Europe eSIM Data Plans
Looking to continue your travels beyond Britain? Maybe you’re taking the channel tunnel to explore the best places to visit in France, crossing the sea to Ireland or popping over to Scandinavia. Whatever your journey, it’s easy to stay connected to low-cost mobile internet in Europe with a BetterRoaming eSIM.
If you’re planning on visiting more than one European country, a Europe eSIM is often the simplest and most cost-effective way to access the internet while travelling. Valid in 47 European countries, a BetterRoaming Europe+ eSIM allows for smooth travel across the continent on a single prepaid eSIM data plan, with no need to switch SIM cards or providers every time you cross a border.
eSIM data plans for the UK
How to apply the BetterRoaming December 2024 Promo Code
Applying a promo code is quick and easy. All you need to do is scan the QR code to install your eSIM (it's free), then follow the onscreen instructions to enjoy 20% off all UK data packages.
The code XMAS-PRM20 is valid throughout December 2024 (December 1 – 31) on all plans for the UK, Switzerland and Australia. Here’s how to apply it:
- 1
Scan the QR code
Unlock your phone and scan the QR to install your free eSIM - 2
Activate the eSIM
Follow the onscreen instructions on your device - 3
Click the link in the SMS we send you
This will take you to your personal dashboard - 4
Select 'Vouchers'
Click on the 'Vouchers' option in your personal dashboard - 5
If you've selected a data package for the UK, Switzerland or Australia, enter the code XMAS-PRM20
Then click on 'redeem' - 6
Your discount is now displayed in the Roaming Plans section
Click here for more information and detailed instructions
