Best UK attractions to visit now

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The Lake District

One of the more recent additions to the Unesco World Heritage ranks, the entire English Lake District was deemed an official area of note in 2017, though its beauty has been revered for far longer. The magical landscape has inspired artists and writers for centuries – Beatrix Potter bought a farm here after cherished childhood family holidays, and Wordsworth kept a cottage in Grasmere.

Where to stay: Book one of the spectacular spa suites at Gilpin; stake out your own private boathouse at the Lingholme Estate on Derwentwater; or retreat to Holbeck Ghyll, a hunting lodge with one of the best views in the Lakes, out over Windermere.

Maritime Greenwich, London

One of four Unesco World Heritage Sites in London – the others being the Tower of London, the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, and Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens – Maritime Greenwich is a must-see for many reasons, but especially the twin domes of the Old Royal Naval College, and its Painted Hall, a Baroque masterpiece by Sir James Thornhill. You’ll also be able to enjoy wide-ranging views of London up on the hill and see where every time zone starts on the meridian line at the Royal Observatory.

Where to stay: If that’s got you in the mood for some more history, head over the river to Batty Langley’s in Shoreditch; or for something shiny and modern (and more great skyline views), walk beneath the Thames to the Novotel in Canary Wharf.

Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland and Cumbria

Another Roman relic, Hadrian’s Wall was built to defend the Empire’s furthest reaches in 122AD. It spanned around eighty miles of the province of Britannia’s northernmost frontier, from the North Sea to the Irish Sea, with castles, barracks, ramparts and forts along the way. A preserved fort to visit today is Housesteads, where visitors can see the foundations of a hospital, barracks and the remains of flushable loos. It’s also possible to see the ruins of the bridge that crossed the River Irthing.

Where to stay: Fit for a Roman emperor, Langley Castle in Northumberland has nine rooms within the turreted building itself.

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Stonehenge, Wiltshire

Europe’s most famous prehistoric monument may be visible from the A303, but it’s definitely worth getting out of the car for. The World Heritage Site has a history that spans back several thousand years, with the iconic stone circle formed in the Neolithic period, around 2500BC. We can’t think of a better place to celebrate the end of social distancing and the summer solstice on 21 June.

Where to stay: Check in to the Grosvenor Arms in the village of Shaftesbury, of Hovis-advert fame, and you’ll have the added bonus of ticking off one of the quaintest cobbled streets in England, also known as Gold Hill.

Shell Grotto, Margate

Margate has been attracting art lovers – along with seaside thrillseekers flocking to Dreamland’s retro rollercoasters – ever since the Turner Contemporary opened a decade ago. But it’s the Shell Grotto – all mosaic-lined, 2,000 square feet, 4.6 million shells and underground tunnels of it – that really sparks the imagination, especially since no one really knows who built it or why (some think it’s a sect’s secret meeting place, others an ancient pagan temple or a Regency folly). It was discovered in 1835 and visitors have been descending the chalk steps to see it for themselves ever since.

Where to stay: Try to nab one of only two suites at the Reading Rooms, set in a listed Georgian building.

Loch Ness, Scotland

Let’s face it – all of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands should be on any self-respecting bucket list, but top prize goes to Loch Ness, for its imagination-piquing monster factor. The deep freshwater lake near Inverness may have plenty of room for a prehistoric creature to lurk – in fact, the loch contains more water than every lake in England and Wales combined – but there’s spectacular scenery, isolated forts and remote lighthouses worthy of your attention, too.

Where to stay: Keeping watch for Nessie comes easily to guests of the Loch Ness Lodge, where every room overlooks the water.

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Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Lose yourself in the legends of one of the most famous coastlines in the world, where a giant named Finn MacCool is said to have torn off hunks of the Antrim shoreline and thrown them into the sea while in a rage at another giant across the water in Scotland, kept a pet camel and lost a (size 93.5) boot that’s still visible today. The vision of 40,000 perfectly hexagonal basalt columns is understandably difficult to explain, hence the fantastical explanations – but it’s actually the result of volcanic activity tens of millions of years ago (needless to say, we prefer the giant version).

Where to stay: A coaching inn since the 1600s, the Bushmills Inn is in the same village as the namesake whiskey distillery, another essential stop on the Causeway Coast for fans of the water of life.

The Roman Baths, Bath

The natural hot springs in Bath have been soothing people ever since the Romans founded a settlement here in the 1st century AD. It was all three King Georges that made it the graceful spa city it is today, with the addition of its now-famous golden architecture. The Roman remains include the Temple of Sulis Minerva and the baths complex, based around the hot springs in the centre of the Empire town of Aquae Sulis. Head up to the top of the Thermae Bath Spa to take the waters in style – the pool has an incredible view of the city and the abbey.

Where to stay: The Royal Crescent Hotel is set in the iconic curving terrace, built in 1775. The Gainsborough takes spa days seriously, with its own spa village and thermal pools.

The Wales Coast Path

A UK entry in Lonely Planet’s recent global Ultimate Travel List, the Wales Coast Path is a worthy bucket-list contender for its mighty sea-edge splendour. All of the country’s cliff-edge trails have been handily linked up since 2012, forming one 870-mile route – the first footpath in the world to span the entirety of a country’s coast. Take your pick from the beaches in Gower, Pembrokeshire’s cliffs and coves, and the ancient sites of Anglesey.

Where to stay: If your journey passes through Aberaeron, the quayside Harbourmaster Hotel is a perfect pitstop; or if you’ve made it as far south as the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, head slightly inland to the Grove of Narberth.

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Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

The birthplace of Winston Churchill, the seat of the Duke of Marlborough and a fine example of the fleeting style of English Baroque – the Vanbrugh-designed Blenheim Palace has a well-earned place in Britain’s list of most-visited attractions. It’s all on such a scale that words like ‘great’ are needed as prefixes to most areas: there’s the Great Courtyard, the Grand Bridge, the Great Hall, the Long Library, etc. You’d need a serious budget to hire it as a wedding venue, but at least day trips are possible.

Where to stay: The Feathers in Woodstock is handily placed to explore Blenheim Palace, then Oxford, the Cotswolds and finally Bicester Village.

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