The United Kingdom is small in size, but grand in stature when it comes to history. In addition to historic monuments aplenty, great and grand cultural treasures, and green and pleasant lands, the UK has some truly dramatic scenery, and is littered with charming villages. So don't let the weather put you off. Yes, it can be a bit rainy. And windy. And occasionally snowy. But that is all the more reason to make sure you're staying at one of the best places to stay in the United Kingdom. You'll be reassured that when the heavens open you can nip back inside somewhere comfortable/ cosy/ luxurious/ eclectic/ grand/ quirky.
Some of our ‘best of’ United Kingdom Collections
Being an island, the UK has a lot of beach, and is rich in places to stay with dramatic sea views. Cornwall, Devon, Wales and the West coast of Scotland are popular destinations for beach holidays. Whether you are looking for a family bucket and spade holiday, the thrills and spills of water sports, solitary walks or the drama and romance of big waves and bigger skies, there is a hotel to suit you.
The UK is flush with beautiful countryside in every corner of the land. From Perthshire to the Lake District to Yorkshire, the Cotswolds, Hampshire, Cornwall and even offshore, on islands such as the Isle of Wight, the Scilly Isles and the Scottish Hebrides.
Then there are the cities. London or Edinburgh will never disappoint and are rammed with great places to stay for every budget. But don’t overlook other British cities. There’s the buzz of thoroughly regenerated Manchester, the Beatles’ Liverpool, the elegance of Georgian spa town, Bath, Newcastle for its nightlife, and the famed spires of Oxford for its heritage and reputation. Or pretty market towns like Cheltenham and Chipping Campden, historic ones like Stratford upon Avon, or lively ones like Brighton.
What not to Miss
- Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, the V&A, the Natural History Museum, the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, the Tate, the Tate Modern - all the Tates, Kensington Palace, the Royal Albert Hall, Hadrian’s Wall, Blenheim Palace, Caernarfon Castle, the Giant’s Causeway, St Michael’s Mount, the Eden project, Durham Castle, Leeds Castle, Shakespeare’s Globe, Skara Brae, Dover Castle, the Imperial War Museum, Battle Abbey, the Royal Academy, Kew Gardens… All the National Trust properties… There are a lot of well known headliners to mention.
- Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland’s great landmarks, an iconic spot, atop an iconic street. As well as the Royal Mile, close by you’ll also find Arthur’s Seat and the the startling new and wildly over-budget Scottish Parliament building.
- But it’s not the castle, but Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum which is Scotland's most visited free attraction, housing a splendid collection of over 8,000 objects in 22 themed galleries.
- The Lake District for a cruise on Lake Windermere, a visit to Wordsworth's home in Grasmere and Beatrix Potter's house at Hill Top and a hike around Scafell Pike.
- Georgian beauty, Bath, is a well known highlight, what with its Roman Baths - built around Britain’s only known hot spring - its romantic Royal Crescent and gorgeous Pulteney Bridge, and, of course Jane Austen’s legacy.
- Oxford is also unmissable to many: what vaguely academic type hasn't imagined themselves strolling the hallowed - and cobbled - lanes of Oxford, between the 'dreaming spires' and Gothic architecture the colour of biscuits? Oxford's oldest colleges are around 700 years old - a spectacular age for a university building to remain so unchanged, the Radcliffe Camera and Bodleian Library are even more impressive in person, and, if the weather allows for it, you should certainly take a punt on the Isis.
- In the interest of parity, Cambridge must be mentioned next: also splendid for its architecture - there are Gothic spires and grand facades everywhere - and the feeling of being in a time warp. You should see Kings College Chapel from the inside - it’s beautiful when seen from the Backs, but do go in, it’s very fancy for an English building and has had an incredible history; you should also stroll the Backs: and see Trinity from the front; and the Fitzwilliam Museum from the inside.
- Liverpool is known for The Beatles, its dockyards and for hard graft, but it’s also got fantastic architecture, an outpost of the Tate Museum, a fantastic Maritime Museum and a glorious cathedral. Plus, it’s still known for its live music venues.
- Manchester has The Lowry Museum and the Imperial War Museum North, plus great boutique shopping.
- Stratford upon Avon's link with a certain bard are what make it a must-see destination for many hop-on-hop-off tours of the UK. But in addition to the world class offerings of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the beautifully kept museums in his homes, the survival of Tudor buildings dating from his lifetime, Stratford upon Avon is also a lively little market town and a good base for exploring the Cotswolds.
- And don’t miss a cream tea in the Cotswolds - probably after a farmer’s market or two and a trip around a couple of National Trust properties.
- Cheltenham is England’s most complete Regency town, and is another great base for the Cotswolds. Plus it has a world famous racecourse.
- Chipping Campden is also known for being an especially lovely Cotswolds Base, with a wonderful 17th century Market Hall.
- If you want to visit the seaside, Brighton is known for being cool, and buzzy, colourful and packed with independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Don’t miss The Lanes, the Royal Pavilion or the pier.
- Hastings is known for 1066, and the battle, but it also has two funicular railways, a ruined castle built by William the Conqueror, a fantastic old fishing industry and an almost-new Jerwood Gallery of contemporary art.
- St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall has a Tate, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, and is frequently voted the UK’s best seaside town.
- Salcombe is a smart, seaside town opening out onto a sheltered estuary, and is much loved by sailors and ice cream fanatics.
- Dartmouth is close to the Eden Project, Agatha Christie’s house, Greenway, and it has its own Naval College and steam train. It’s also got a castle. And there are some really lovely beaches nearby.
- For many people the New Forest is unmissable, with its shipbuilding heritage, expanses of green and wild ponies, and the nearby Isle of Wight is certainly packed with charm and interest too.
- Then there’s the peaceful and atmospheric Norfolk Broads