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26
45 min
The Shard
The Shard is a glass-clad skyscraper on the south bank of the River Thames, in London’s London Bridge Quarter.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
Country guide
Places to visit in United Kingdom — page 2
The United Kingdom is 244,376 km² holding 69,281,437 people, and it is four countries rather than one: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with Londo...
Photograph · Colin · CC BY-SA 4.0
27,736
Places
4Cities
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
The United Kingdom is 244,376 km² holding 69,281,437 people, and it is four countries rather than one: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast as their capitals. Three of the four run parliaments of their own over devolved matters, and the law splits three ways — England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. A visitor meets that in small practical things rather than at a border. London alone holds about 9.1 million of the total, which is why so many trips never leave it, and why the ones that do feel like arriving somewhere else.
Checked 2026-08-25
Cities
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
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London
Photograph · Ilya Grigorik · CC BY-SA 3.0
London 18,189 places -
Edinburgh
Photograph · 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Edinburgh 3,671 places -
Glasgow
Photograph · 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Glasgow 2,872 places -
Manchester
Photograph · Daniel Nisbet from Manchester, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
Manchester 3,004 places
Practical information
- Language spoken
- English; Welsh is official in Wales
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +44
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type G · 230 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Safe from the mains
- Public water suppliers regulate mains drinking water; use cold mains taps
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
430 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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27 2 hoursNational Gallery
The National Gallery is London's national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition. Its collection of more than 2,600 works brings together late medieval religious pictures, Renaissance portraits, Dutch scenes of everyday life and French Impressionist painting.
- Must see
- Art and culture venue
- London
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28 45 minRoyal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is a major performing arts venue in London's Covent Garden district. It serves as the home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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29 2 hoursHolyrood Palace
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the King's official residence in Scotland and a public visit that combines royal rooms, the remains of Holyrood Abbey and palace gardens.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Edinburgh
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30 20 minPiccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction in the City of Westminster, not a building and not a site with a gate, and everything a visitor comes to see stands in or around the traffic.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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31 3 hr 30 minHampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a Tudor and Baroque royal palace on the Thames 12 miles (19 kilometres) southwest and upstream of central London, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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32 45 minRoyal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall is the circular concert hall on Kensington Gore in South Kensington, London. Queen Victoria opened it in 1871 and named it for Prince Albert.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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33 2 hoursTate Modern
Tate Modern occupies the former Bankside Power Station, converted into an art gallery by Herzog & de Meuron.
- Must see
- Art and culture venue
- London
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34 45 minBanqueting House
The Banqueting House is a historic building in Whitehall, London. It is the only surviving complete component of the Palace of Whitehall, which was largely destroyed by fire in 1698.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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35 45 minSt James's Park
St. James's Park
St James's Park is a Royal Park in central London, located in the City of Westminster. It is the oldest of the capital's eight Royal Parks, with origins dating back to the Tudor period.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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36 45 minWellington Arch
Wellington Arch is a triumphal arch at Hyde Park Corner in central London.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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37 45 minKenwood House
Kenwood House is a historic neoclassical villa situated on the northern edge of Hampstead Heath in London. The property is managed by English Heritage and is renowned for its exceptional art collection, including works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Gainsborough.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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38 1 hourNational Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery is an art museum in London dedicated to portraiture. It holds a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people.
- Must see
- Art and culture venue
- London
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39 45 minAbbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a world-famous recording studio in London, England. Established in 1931, it is most celebrated as the location where The Beatles recorded the majority of their albums, including the iconic "Abbey Road" album named after the street.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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40 45 minSt Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church located in the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square in central London. The building occupies a prominent position facing the National Gallery.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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41 45 minKensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens is one of the Royal Parks of London, situated immediately to the west of Hyde Park. The gardens were originally the private grounds of Kensington Palace, and were opened to the public in the nineteenth century.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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42 2 hr 30 minKelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is Glasgow's civic art gallery and museum, not the neighbouring Kelvingrove Park or the whole Glasgow Museums collection.
- Must see
- Museum
- Glasgow
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43 45 minMarble Arch
Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble triumphal arch at the north-east corner of Hyde Park, beside the meeting point of Oxford Street, Park Lane and Edgware Road.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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44 1 hr 30 minApsley House
Apsley House is a Georgian townhouse at Hyde Park Corner, also known as Number One, London. It became the London home of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, whose military career included victory over Napoleon at Waterloo.
- Must see
- Museum
- London
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45 45 minHMS Belfast
HMS Belfast is a Town-class light cruiser preserved as a museum ship on the River Thames. Launched in 1938, she served during the Second World War and the Korean War before decommissioning in 1963.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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46 1 hr 30 minFreud Museum London
Freud Museum London preserves the Hampstead home of Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis, and his daughter Anna Freud, a major figure in child psychoanalysis.
- Must see
- Museum
- London
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47 45 minSomerset House
Somerset House is a large Neoclassical building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames. The structure serves as a major arts and cultural centre, housing various creative organisations, galleries, and public spaces.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- London
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48 1 hourRegent's Park
The Regent's Park
The Regent's Park is a major public park in North West London. It was designed in 1811 by John Nash as part of a planned royal park, and named after the Prince Regent, later George IV.
- Must see
- Nature site
- London
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49 1 hr 30 minRoyal Academy of Arts
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it operates as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects.
- Must see
- Museum
- London
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50 1 hr 30 minSir John Soane's Museum
Sir John Soane's Museum is the former London home, studio and collection of the neo-classical architect John Soane. At 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Soane reshaped an ordinary Georgian house into an intensely personal setting for architecture, art and antiquities.
- Must see
- Museum
- London
Common questions
How long should a first trip to United Kingdom be?
Ten to fourteen days can cover four or five days in London, two in Manchester, and two or three each in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Highlands, Lake District, or Welsh national parks need dedicated nights and should not be squeezed into London day trips.
What entry documents are needed for United Kingdom?
UK document rules depend on nationality and trip purpose, and many visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding. Check the linked UK government visa service for both visa and ETA status shortly before travel.
What is the best way to travel around United Kingdom?
Intercity rail is the practical spine between London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, with advance fares usually distinct from flexible tickets. Each city runs its own local fare system, so London's contactless cap is not a nationwide travel pass.
When is a practical time to visit United Kingdom?
May to June and September are useful planning windows for this route, but conditions vary between southern England and Scotland. Festival dates in Edinburgh and rural transport in national parks can matter more than the national seasonal label.
What money and payment basics apply in United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom uses pound sterling (GBP). Contactless payment is widespread in major cities, but keep another payment method for rural services or terminals that do not share London's payment arrangements.
What practical safety details should I save for United Kingdom?
Use 999 or 112 for emergencies in the United Kingdom. Type G sockets supply 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe; save rail disruption information as well when the itinerary depends on several city-to-city journeys.