United Kingdom

01Why travel to the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom is a land of fascinating contrasts. Cosmopolitan London, bucolic English countryside, wild Scottish Highlands, mysterious Welsh castles, historic pubs and legendary pop culture — from the Beatles to Harry Potter, from Shakespeare to the Royal Family, the UK has shaped the imagination of the entire world.

With 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (including Stonehenge, the Tower of London, Bath, Edinburgh and Hadrian's Wall), some of Europe's most dramatic landscapes (the Lake District, Cornwall, Skye, Giant's Causeway), an unrivalled cultural scene (West End, free museums, festivals) and a gastronomy in full renaissance, the United Kingdom is a destination that constantly reinvents itself.

02The must-visit regions of the United Kingdom

London, the world capital

London is one of the most exciting cities on the planet. The British Museum (8 million objects, free), Buckingham Palace (Changing of the Guard), the Tower of London (Crown Jewels), Westminster and Big Ben, the West End (theatre), the neighbourhoods of Notting Hill, Camden, Shoreditch and Brick Lane, the Sky Garden and Borough Market — London is a world unto itself that deserves several days.

Scotland: Edinburgh and the Highlands

Edinburgh (UNESCO-listed) captivates with its hilltop castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat, the medieval Old Town and the Festival Fringe (August — the world's largest arts festival). The Highlands are wild Scotland: Glen Coe (the most spectacular valley in Great Britain), Loch Ness, the Isle of Skye (lunar landscapes of the Quiraing and Old Man of Storr), the whisky distilleries of Speyside and the NC500 route (North Coast 500 — dubbed 'the most beautiful road trip in the world').

England beyond London

Bath (UNESCO-listed, Roman baths, Georgian architecture), the Cotswolds (honey-coloured stone villages, picture-postcard countryside), Stonehenge (UNESCO, Neolithic mystery), the Lake District (Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth's lakes and mountains, UNESCO), Cornwall (surf beaches, coastal paths, St Ives), Oxford and Cambridge (legendary universities), York (medieval walls, cathedral) and Liverpool (the Beatles, culture) complete the English picture.

Wales and Northern Ireland

Wales is the land of castles (600+), Snowdonia National Park (mountains and lakes), the wild beaches of the Pembrokeshire Peninsula and vibrant Cardiff. Northern Ireland offers the spectacular Giant's Causeway (UNESCO — 40,000 basalt columns), a revitalised Belfast, the Antrim coast (the Dark Hedges from Game of Thrones, Carrick-a-Rede), and Hadrian's Wall (UNESCO, the northern frontier of the Roman Empire).

03Classic routes in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is well connected by train, car and affordable domestic flights. Driving is on the left.

• London + Scotland: London (4 days) → train to Edinburgh (4h30) → Edinburgh (2–3 days) → Highlands and Skye (4–5 days by car). The classic 2-week itinerary
• Southern England: London → Stonehenge → Bath → Cotswolds → Oxford → Stratford-upon-Avon → return. Heritage and countryside, 7–10 days
• NC500 (North Coast 500): an 830 km loop from Inverness through the Northern Highlands. Britain's most spectacular road trip, 5–10 days
• Harry Potter tour: London (Warner Bros Studios, King's Cross) → Oxford (Hogwarts) → Alnwick Castle → Glenfinnan Viaduct (Scotland) → Edinburgh (Elephant House café)
• Cornwall and Devon: London → train to Exeter → Jurassic Coast → St Ives → Land's End → Tintagel → Dartmoor. Beaches, cliffs and Arthurian legends, 7–10 days

04Getting around the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has a good rail network and excellent roads. A car is ideal for the countryside and Scotland, while the train is best for connections between major cities. Check out our travel experiences to plan your trip to the United Kingdom.

• Eurostar: Paris to London in 2h15 (Gare du Nord → St Pancras). From $45/£39 if booked in advance. The most convenient way to arrive from mainland Europe
• Train: National Rail, LNER, Avanti. London to Edinburgh in 4h30 (LNER, from £30). BritRail Pass available for tourists (unlimited travel days)
• Car: driving is on the left! Essential for the Highlands, Lake District and Cotswolds. Rental from £25–40/day. Roads are narrow but well maintained
• Domestic flights: easyJet, Ryanair. London to Edinburgh from £20. Useful for saving time on longer distances
• Bus: National Express, Megabus. Budget-friendly (London to Edinburgh from £10), but slow. Good for travellers on a tight budget

05Budget: how much does a trip to the UK cost?

The United Kingdom is a relatively expensive destination, especially London. Expect to spend £60 to £180 per person per day ($75–225 USD) depending on your travel style. Scotland and Wales are significantly cheaper than London.

• Accommodation: hostel £15–35, B&B £50–90, hotel £80–200. B&Bs (Bed & Breakfasts) are a British institution and often the best value for money
• Meals: pub lunch £8–15 (fish and chips, pie), restaurant £15–30, afternoon tea £25–50. Supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S) offer excellent meal deals at £3–5
• Transport: Oyster Card ~£8.50/day in London, Advance train tickets from £15–30, Eurostar from $45
• Activities: most major museums are FREE (British Museum, National Gallery, Tate, V&A). Castles £10–25, West End shows £20–100
• Tip: the London Pass (from £80/day) includes 80+ attractions. Worth it if you're sightseeing intensively. The free museums help offset London's high accommodation costs

06When to visit the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom has an oceanic climate: temperate but unpredictable. Summer (June – August) is the best time to visit: very long days (sunset at 9:30–10 pm in Scotland), pleasant temperatures (18–25°C / 64–77°F), festivals (Edinburgh Fringe in August, Glastonbury in June). Spring (April – May) is gorgeous with gardens in bloom and bluebell woods.

Autumn (September – October) brings spectacular colours to the Highlands and the Lake District, with fewer tourists. Winter (November – February) is cold and short on daylight, but London sparkles (Christmas lights, ice rinks, markets), and Scotland celebrates Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) and Burns Night.

07Recommended itineraries in the United Kingdom

London + Classic Scotland (2 weeks)

London (4 days: museums, Westminster, Camden, Notting Hill, West End) → LNER train to Edinburgh (4h30, 2–3 days: castle, Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat) → car rental → Highlands: Stirling → Glen Coe → Fort William → Isle of Skye (3 days) → Loch Ness → Inverness → return to Edinburgh. The perfect circuit.

Southern England (7–10 days)

London (3 days) → train to Bath (1h30, 2 days: Roman baths, architecture) → car to the Cotswolds (2 days: Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury, Stow) → Stonehenge (1 day) → Oxford (1 day: colleges, Bodleian Library) → return to London. Heritage, bucolic countryside and legendary universities.

NC500: the wild Highlands (7–10 days)

Inverness → east coast (Dunrobin Castle, Smoo Cave) → north cape (Durness, Balnakeil) → west coast (Lochinver, Assynt, Sandwood Bay beaches) → Ullapool → Torridon → Applecross (Bealach na Bà pass) → return to Inverness. 830 km of spectacular coastal roads, remote pubs and wild nature.

08The United Kingdom off the beaten path

Beyond the classics, the United Kingdom hides real treasures. The Orkney Islands (off Scotland's north coast) offer the Neolithic site of Skara Brae (UNESCO, older than the pyramids), Atlantic-battered cliffs and a fascinating Viking history. Northumberland (Hadrian's Wall UNESCO site, castles, England's darkest night skies) is overlooked by most tourists.

The Pembrokeshire Peninsula in Wales (300 km coastal path, wild beaches, puffins), the Outer Hebrides (Caribbean-like beaches with ice-cold water, Callanish Standing Stones) and the Peak District (moorlands, stone villages, hiking) are hidden gems. For a complementary trip, neighbouring Germany pairs easily. Explore all our destinations.

09Formalities and practical information

Since Brexit, the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU or the Schengen Area. EU citizens need a valid passport (national ID cards are no longer accepted). US and Canadian citizens also need a valid passport. No visa is required for stays of less than 6 months.

• Documents: valid passport required (EU national ID cards are no longer accepted since Brexit). US, Canadian and Australian citizens can visit visa-free for up to 6 months
• Currency: pound sterling (GBP). 1 USD ≈ 0.79 GBP. Contactless payment is universal everywhere (even for a £2 coffee). Scotland has its own banknotes, accepted throughout the UK
• Time zone: GMT / UTC+0 (BST UTC+1 in summer). 5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time. Eurostar Paris to London in 2h15. Flight Paris to Edinburgh 1h45
• Driving: on the left! Roundabouts go clockwise. Allow time to adjust. Automatic transmission recommended to simplify things
• Weather: always pack a waterproof jacket, even in summer. The weather can change 4 times in a single day, especially in Scotland
• Plugs: Type G (3-pin). An adapter is essential (available at airports, supermarkets and Boots pharmacies)