10 Places to See in the UK Before You Die
Ranked #8 in Travel & Places, #693 overall
Your Guide to the Top 10 Places to See in the UK
The UK may be small, but it's full of a variety of amazing places stretching right from John O'Groats to Lands End, Belfast to St Davids. It has a wealth of history, culture, wildlife and it's own unique eccentricities.
Here are some of the most iconic sights that our small island has to offer. Please add your own suggestions and favourite places to the bottom of the lens.
Introduce Yourself Poll
You go first
Stonehenge
Top Place to see in the UK
The site is managed by English Heritage. The stone circle cannot be accessed during normal opening hours, although they do hold regular Stone Circle Access visits in the early morning and late evening.
Stonehenge Links
Useful Stonehenge Links
- Stonehenge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury. ...
- Stonehenge.co.uk - Your guide to Stonehenge, the World's Favourite ...
- Your guide to Stonehenge, shops, other ancient sites and stone circles in Britain, with practical information to make your visit easier.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is one of London's most recognisable landmarks and also one of the most famous bridges in the world.Spanning the Thames, just next to the Tower of London, it was built in 1894 after 50 architects and designers entered a competition to design a new bridge for London.
Visitors can view London from the high-level walkways and access the Victorian Engine Rooms. You can also access the bridge lift schedule which shows times and dates when the bridge will rise for large vessels.
Tower Bridge Official Information
Tower Bridge Weblink
- Tower Bridge
- Visitor information including opening times, admission prices and history.
London (Eyewitness Travel Guide)
London (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)
Amazon Price: $13.00 (as of 02/16/2012)
I really like the Eyewitness Travel Guides because they are easy to read and include lots of images. The London Travel Guide is ideal for those visiting London for the first time - it includes everything you need to know about all the major sights. However, you might want to try Frommer's if you're looking for detailed historical information.
Release Date: 12/31/1969
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London Movie Tours
Harry Potter, Atonement and Notting Hill
There are lots of tour operators who can arrange special activities in London, but one of my favourites is DoSomethingDifferent.com. This company is a bit different because it not only offers the usual tours and experiences such as the London Duck Tour, and West End Theatre Tickets, but it also arranges movie tours including a Harry Potter London Tour, and Atonement Movie Tour and a Notting Hill Movie Tour. Chatsworth House
One of the best country houses in the UK
As well as housing one of Europe's finest private art collections, the stately home also has a magical 101 acre garden, a farmyard and adventure playground. It's free to visit the surrounding grounds. The 2005 movie version of Pride and Prejudice was filmed at Chatsworth, as was The Duchess. It is believed that Jane Austen based Pemberley on this stunning estate.
Lake Windermere
The biggest lake in England
Although popular with tourists, the west shoreline is almost completely owned by the National Trust, which makes it a haven for wildlife.
This stunning landscape is also known for it's connection with Beatrix Potter and Arthur Ransome.
Miss Potter - the movie
Miss Potter
Amazon Price: $4.35 (as of 02/16/2012)
If you want to get a feel for the Lake District, I can highly recommend the movie, Miss Potter. It tells the semi-biographical story of Beatrix Potter, the famous author-illustrator who settled in this stunning part of the country after being inspired by its natural beauty. The movie is wonderfully shot with an amazing performance by Renee Zellweger (as Beatrix).
Portmeirion
Portmeirion - possibly the most eccentric village in the UK?
Portmeirion is a fanciful Italianate village situated on the North Wales Coast. Designed and constructed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975, the village includes a hotel, holiday cottages, a teashop and restaurant.Now it is perhaps known as the location for 60's cult TV series The Prisoner and the home of Portmeirion Pottery.
Portmeirion Information Centre
Official Portmeirion Site
- Portmeirion - Welcome to the official Portmeirion Village website
- Everything you need to know about Portmeirion, including information about staying in the hotel or holiday cottages in this famous village.
The Giant's Causeway
The area is made up from about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns which were created after a volcanic eruption.
The name comes from the legend of Finn MacCool. The story goes that mythical Irish giant Finn built the causeway to get to Scotland and battle with a rival giant called Benandonner.
Links about the Giant's Causeway
- Giant's Causeway Official Guide
- Official information including history, walks, and maps.
- The Great and Mighty Finn MacCool
- Page dedicated to the legends of Finn MacCool.
Edinburgh
It's full of galleries and museums and hosts the biggest collection of arts festivals in the UK throughout July and August.
Edinburgh is also home to one of the largest New Year's celebrations in the world, the famous Hogmanay.
Tresco Abbey Gardens
Many of the plants would not stand a chance on the Cornish mainland, less than 30 miles away. Yet even in Winter more than 300 plants will be in flower. The garden is home to species from 80 countries, ranging from Brazil to New Zealand and Burma to South Africa.
Luxury Accommodation in Tresco
- Tresco Accommodation
- Choose from luxury hotel, inn and holiday cottage accommodation on Tresco or Bryher in the Isles of Scilly.
- Isles of Scilly Helicopter
- Fly to the Isles of Scilly via helicopter. The journey from Penzance takes only 20 minutes.
York Minster
It is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe and is situated in York in Northern England. The present building was begun in about 1230 and completed in 1472.
Official York Website
- Visit York
- Everything in York from events, attractions, activities and transport information around York
- York Hotels - Tripadvisor
- A link to the highest rated hotels in York. There are lots of reasonable places to stay that also have great reviews.
The Eden Project
Situated in an abandoned clay pit, it is a testament to creative and scientific ingenuity.
Buy Books on Cornwall from Amazon
Click to purchase books on Cornwall
Why Not Consider Travelling Around Britain By Train?
No Maps, No Parking
Top Places to See in the UK 11-20
Move the places around to re-order the top UK Places
The UK is such an amazing island that it's difficult to single out a mere 10. Here is a list of places that nearly made it. Please feel free to re-order or add!
Orkney Islands, Scotland
World Heritage Site with stone circles and Neolith more...10 points
The New Forest
An area of woodland and now a national park, The N more...8 points
Lulworth Cove
A spectacular cove on the south coast of England i more...7 points
Hadrian's Wall
Really lovely spot up near Scotland border- nice l more...6 points
Caernarfon Castle
Very well preserved castle in Wales with an abunda more...4 points
Salisbury Cathedral
The tallest spire in the UK, and a nice market tow more...4 points
Avebury, Wiltshire, England.
Avebury village and it's stone circle is not far f more...4 points
The Norfolk Broads
Lowland waterways in the low lying marshlands. Ver more...3 points
The Cavern Club
The Cavern Club on Mathew Street is where The Beatles more...3 points
St Davids Cathedral, Wales
Such an amazing vantage point of this breathtaking more...2 points
Tresco (Isles of Scilly)
Delectable island hideaway, bookmarked by hidden e more...1 point
World Museum Liverpool
World Museum Liverpool combines historic treasures more...0 points
http://www.squidoo.com/sussex
Sussex has to be the nicest place in the south of Eangland. more...0 points
Sissinghurst Gardens
Designed and made by Vita Sackville-west and Harol more...0 points
Essential UK Kitbag
Mysterious Places in the UK
Check out these lenses for more information
How Well Do You Know Britain?
Try one of these quizzes to find out how knowledgeable you are about the UK.
Please share your favourite places in the UK by adding a note below:
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Top-Songs
Feb 14, 2012 @ 4:26 pm | delete
- The Giant's Causeway is probably my favourite place in the UK.
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MelonyVaughan
Feb 7, 2012 @ 7:21 pm | delete
- Thank you for a wonderful lens! I can't wait to go and visit all of these places!
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ptnjust007
Feb 7, 2012 @ 2:19 am | delete
- great lens
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jonnyyoung13
Jan 31, 2012 @ 11:51 am | delete
- Nice article! I've written an article about the best towns to visit in Britain. Tell me what you think if you've got time.
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Cercis
Jan 26, 2012 @ 8:05 pm | delete
- I say that Kent is quintessentially England, and within the county are Canterbury Cathedral, Knole, Leeds Castle, the Downs, and so much more...
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