The UK is not all about London

Visitors to the United Kingdom always aim to see the sights in the country’s capital city, but have they given thought to exploring other parts of the country? From Land’s End in the South to John O’Groats in the north, the UK is full of great places to visit and sights to see, especially away from London.

When planning your trip, why not drop the boring hotels in favour of staying in an apartment? You can’t go wrong with a great company like HouseTrip; just take a look at how many properties they have to choose from in the UK!

Image obtained from Flickr.com under Creative Commons (c) Ambersky235

North East England is one such place that’s full of amazing sights and activities. As well as great places to stay, you can visit the spectacular Northumbrian coast, go for a night out in central Newcastle and see the towering Angel of the North, a steel sculpture just to the right of the A1 near Gateshead. Its impressive wingspan is one of the greatest landmarks in the whole of the UK.

Stunning views and some of England’s finest scenery provide a backdrop to the wide choice of attractions and things to do in the Lake District.  Take a trip to Cumbria and indulge yourself in quality food and drink from cosy Lake District pubs and innsto more formal restaurants.

For the more adventurous there are plenty of outdoor activities on offer from walking andcycling to rock climbing and abseiling.  If you prefer an amble around the shops and art galleries there is plenty to keep you entertained, with art exhibitions on throughout the year.

With so many things to do, all year round, you’ll never be stuck for ideas or inspiration to make your stay in Cumbria a memorable one.

A little further south, the cities of Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool have plenty of things to see and do. Leeds is a must for shopaholics who also want to sample cuisine from home and abroad, while Manchester is perfect for anyone who wants to learn about local, regional and national history. Meanwhile, Liverpool has its fair share of landmarks including the famous Liver Building.

Image obtained from Flickr.com under Creative Commons (c) What’s the rush

The UK is home to a number of fantastic national parks and mountain ranges that are perfect for walking or climbing. The Peak District, the Lake District and Cotswolds are some of the best national parks in the UK, each having a unique beauty and something different to offer for visitors.

And the UK is more than just England too – the Scottish Highlands are hugely popular with thrill-seeking tourists wanting to go snowboarding during the winter or climbing when the weather’s a little more friendly and Snowdonia in North Wales is a paradise for mountain lovers.

Scotland is also famous for its historic castles, beautiful lochs and traditional Highland games. You can visit the locations used in world-famous movies and enjoy some retail therapy in its many stylish shops.

In the summer make the most of the sun and blue skies in Wales, with its blue flag beaches and rich wildlife. At any time of the year you can experience walking the Wales Coastal Path or take an adventure holiday, explore one of the many historic sites or indulge in luxurious spa.

From the city walls of Derry to the stunning scenery of the Causeway Coast and Belfast’s glorious Victorian architecture, Northern Ireland has always had plenty to attract visitors. Unfortunately the Troubles kept tourists away but the peace of the last decade has encouraged their return. Northern Ireland has recovered, Belfast is a trendy place with a superb nightlife and excellent restaurants. And whatever you do, don’t miss the Giant’s Causeway.

Image obtained from Flickr.com under Creative Commons (c) Sean MacEntee

Andy Higgs
Andy Higgs

I know what it's like to go from being a crazy backpacker without a care in the world, via being a vaguely sensible parent to being an adventurer once more. In other words, evolving into a Grown-up Traveller.

Like everyone else, I love to travel, have visited a lot of countries and all that but my big thing is Africa.

I also own and run The Grown-up Travel Company as a travel designer creating personalised African itineraries for experienced adventurers

Articles: 1199

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.