Places to visit in the UK - Tourist Places and things to do in the UK

Places to visit in the UK Kew Gardens — Places to visit in the UK
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Explore the UK

Do you live in the UK and are looking for some ideas for days out close to home? Or are you visiting the UK from abroad and looking for some UK Days out to build your trip? Take a look at this selection of ideas for places to visit in the UK and get some inspiration.

London is fabulous but there is more

Big Ben at the Lego Shop in Leicester Square London

When you talk about the UK a lot of people think just of London. Now, I live quite close to London and used to work there and it’s a great city. I particularly love the museums and you can go to many of them completely free of charge. One of my favourites is the British Museum and no matter how many times I go there, I always find something new to see. There are special exhibitions you need to pay for but they also do a lot of free entry special exhibits too.

Another favourite of mine is the Tate Modern Art Gallery. Again, they do offer regular pay-to-enter exhibitions but you can still get to see some amazing art for free here.

Best places to visit outside London

National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire

However, the UK has a lot more to offer than just London. So, I’m also going to focus on the best places to visit outside of London. It’s going to be a mix of well-known tourist sites such as Stonehenge which I’m sure you’ll all have heard of, and some places that might be quite new to you. Hopefully, it will inspire you to get out and about in the UK and see more.

Although the United Kingdom is a small country in comparison to many others in Europe, it’s got a lot to offer. Our country is steeped in history and you’ll find many historic buildings and cities to visit. Perhaps you prefer the countryside or a visit to the coast. The UK has some amazing coastal resorts and stunning natural scenery. Whether you’re looking for a road trip or are going to travel by train there’s something great to do.

Stonehenge

The neolithic stone circle is located near Salisbury in the UK. It’s an easy day trip from London or why not stay in one of the towns nearby and see some more of this beautiful area of the country. For photos and information on visiting Stonehenge click on the image below and read my blog post.

National Memorial Arboretum

The National Memorial Arboretum is an amazing place and it’s not as well known as it should be. You’ll find it in Staffordshire, England which is another beautiful part of the UK. One of the things I love about the arboretum is that it’s planted with local trees and shrubs so the landscape grows and matures each time you visit. Withing this lovely parkland you’ll find many memorials. Take a look at my blog post by clicking on the image below and see what a great place it is.

Cambridge

For a great day out in the UK, you can’t beat the historic city of Cambridge. It’s located in the East of England and is easily accessible by road or rail. I did my Master’s degree at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge so I’m pretty familiar with the city. Quite often, I return to Cambridge to walk along the river or browse the shopping centre.

Recently, I travelled over to Cambridge to visit a Vegan Market at the Guildhall. It was a great day out and you can read all about my experience by clicking here. I love a good market and particularly the more specific themed ones which attract really interesting stallholders. I’m sure you’ll agree that the Cambridge market makes a good day trip.

Bedford

Autumn is a wonderful time to go out walking in the United Kingdom. It always reminds me that you don’t necessarily need to travel a long way to find somewhere for a nice day out. We took this walk along the River Ouse in Bedford which is just a short drive from where we live. It’s lovely to take some time to see nearby places as a tourist rather than just rushing through on your way to shopping or work or school.

Take a look at my blog article on walking along the River Ouse in Bedford and I think you’ll agree with me that Bedford is actually quite lovely in places. It also has a lot of history which is something I always look out for when I’m visiting a new place. I find it really fascinating to learn a little about a town or city and gain some insight into its place in history.

Westonbirt Arboretum

Many beautiful pathways are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers

The National Arboretum at Westonbirt in Gloucester is a real treat for nature lovers. Explore acres of woodland, discover rare and endangered trees. It’s a wonderful place to walk at any time of year but Autumn is particularly special. See Autumn in all its glory as many of the trees change to their seasonal reds and golds.

Westonbirt showcases species from all over the world but it’s also a special place for British trees. Find out how they propagate and protect these valuable species. You can even see a 2,000-year-old tree.

Particularly important. The arboretum is a great day out for all the family. Much of the site is accessible via gravelled pathways which allow easy access for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Read all about Westonbirt Arboretum and get all the practical details such as opening hours, location etc, here.