United Kingdom Travel Guide

Planning a trip to the United Kingdom and looking for practical, experience-based travel ideas? This page features all our UK travel guides, with a strong focus on London, its top sights, local neighborhoods, and hidden gems. You’ll also find destination guides for other popular places across the country, plus practical planning tips for England and Scotland, including coastal areas and the countryside.

These guides are based on multiple trips to the UK, combined with local knowledge from our UK-based contributor.

Start here:

Scroll down to find our destination guides and practical planning tips.

Red double-decker bus on the Westminster Bridge in London
Saint Michael's Mount is one of the top places to visit in Cornwall UK
Glenfiddich distillery is not to be missed on any whisky tour in Scotland

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UK Travel Guides

Browse our UK travel guides by region and city. Start with London, then continue with Scotland and other destinations across England.

LONDON

SCOTLAND

ENGLAND

Attractions & Food Experiences

Many attractions in the UK sell out quickly, especially in London and other major cities. Booking tickets in advance is often the easiest way to avoid long lines and secure your preferred time slot. Fast-track tickets for major sights can save a lot of time if you’re visiting on a short trip.

TIP: We usually book all tickets and guided activities through the GetYourGuide website. It’s a convenient place to compare options, and most bookings come with free cancellation, which is helpful when plans change.

Here you can learn about British food and find a few food-focused experiences to add to your itinerary:

Best Time to Visit

The UK is a year-round destination, but the most comfortable period for most trips is April to October. This is when the weather is generally milder and many outdoor events take place.

July and August are the busiest months, especially in London and in popular coastal areas. Expect higher prices and larger crowds at major attractions.

If you want a good balance between weather and visitor numbers, May, June, and early fall (September) are usually the best months to go. These months are also considered some of the best travel periods in Europe.

December is a popular time for festive trips. London and Edinburgh both have large New Year celebrations, and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of the best-known New Year events in the UK, with several days of official programs.

Accommodation

If you’re visiting the UK during the main travel season (May–September and around Christmas and New Year), it’s best to book accommodation well in advance. The best value places usually sell out first. We use and recommend Booking.com for hotels, B&Bs, and short-term rentals across the UK.

TIP: Use the map below to quickly compare hotels and short-term rentals by location, dates, and group size.

 

Getting Around & Tours

If you’re mainly visiting UK cities, you don’t need a car. All major towns and cities are well connected by train, and public transport is usually the easiest way to get around.

For smaller towns and rural areas, renting a car can be useful for part of your trip. Some of the most scenic regions are difficult to reach without a car. Keep in mind that driving can be slow around larger cities, and roads in the countryside are often narrow. Also, traffic drives on the left.

If you prefer not to drive, guided tours are a good alternative. There are many day trips from major cities – see our guide to the best day trips from London. You can also find excellent multi-day guided tours in England and Scotland. We did this Scotland whisky tour from Edinburgh.

TIP: Did you find this guide helpful? Bookmark this post for later, share it with your friends, and save it to Pinterest to inspire your next trip.

UK travel guide