Things to See & Do in the United Kingdom
London is the energy, Edinburgh the postcard, Glasgow the surprise. Together they cover a lot of the UK in one easy rail line.
London
Base yourself centrally — South Bank, Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, or near a well-connected Tube station — and plan the days by area. The British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern and Natural History Museum have free general admission; West End theatre and the Tower of London are worth booking ahead.
Edinburgh
The Old Town and New Town together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk the Royal Mile between the castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, climb Arthur’s Seat for the view, and expect hills and stairs.
Glasgow
Scotland’s largest city is a UNESCO City of Music, with free museums like Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and plenty of Charles Rennie Mackintosh architecture. It is also the natural jumping-off point for Loch Lomond and the west Highlands.
A Highlands add-on
From Glasgow or Edinburgh, a guided day can reach Glencoe, the Trossachs or Loch Ness. For Inverness or the Isle of Skye, I’d plan a separate base rather than squeezing them into a long day trip.
Back to the United Kingdom overview
Let’s plan your UK trip
Tell me which cities are on your list, roughly when you would like to go, and whether the Highlands are part of it. I’ll plan the route and book the stays, trains and flights.
The initial 30-minute consultation is complimentary. The professional research fee is $50 per traveller aged 2 or older, paid before research begins.