40 of the most interesting places in the UK

The UK is a country rich in history and culture. Despite the fact that the islands seem very small, they are home to many unusual places, from numerous medieval castles to modern installations.

In this article we will tell you about the most interesting sights in the UK. But we will try to choose those that are less rumoured. After all, you probably know about Big Ben and Tower Bridge. But you may not have heard of Marble Arch Caves or the Giant’s Causeway. Here are 40 important places in the United Kingdom.

England

1. The Lost Gardens of Heligan

An unusual botanical garden in Cornwall, famous for its amazing figures made of moss that look like mythical creatures. In fact, they are the product of human and natural labour – the sculptures were originally made of wire and stone, but grass, foliage and moss have brought them to life and made them full-fledged inhabitants of the park. In addition, you can find a corner called “Jungle”, where exotic plants from the tropics and subtropics are planted. And even see how pineapples grow. Agree, not the most obvious sight in England. And lovers of gloomy and severe nature will appreciate another part of the garden – “Lost Valley”, where centuries-old oaks and beeches stand in a wall, covering the sky.

2. Sherwood Forest

Another natural attraction made famous by the noble outlaw Robin Hood of Nottinghamshire. There’s even a festival in his honour that recreates the medieval atmosphere and celebrates the legendary hero. Sherwood Forest is also famous for the thousand-year-old Major Oak. Such a long-lived among the trees invariably attracts attention and was even included in the “List of Wonders of England”.

3. Avebury

Let’s move from natural wonders to man-made creations. Surely you’ve heard of Stonehenge? In Britain, there is a Neolithic monument similar to it, consisting of huge stones brought here and an earthen rampart. How? What’s it for? By whom was it created? There are no exact answers to these questions. All that the scientists were able to find out more or less reliably is the age – 2100-1650 years BC. Someone considers this place to be an observatory, someone a pagan temple, someone a burial mound. Unlike Stonehenge, which is closed to visitors, you can wander around the site and get up close and personal with the prehistoric era.

4. Hadrian’s Wall and Antonina’s Wall

These are two defence walls that are 160 km apart. They were built by the Romans to protect them from the raids of northern tribes. The length of these structures is impressive – they cross the island across, from coast to coast. Hadrian’s Wall is 117 kilometres long and Antoninus’ Wall is 63 kilometres long.

5. Rochester Castle

Castles are some of the most iconic landmarks in the UK. Here we will focus on just one of them. Rochester Castle is over a thousand years old. During this time, it has been rebuilt many times and survived several major raids. Nowadays, this stone giant is open to visitors, who are always amazed by its power and impregnability.

6. Albert Dock in Liverpool

And this is a landmark of a very different kind. Liverpool was for a long time the largest port in the world. Naturally, the docks there were impressive. The most famous of them, the Albert Dock, was built in 1846 using innovative technologies for that time – from stone and metal rather than the usual wood. It is now an art space with many museums, bars, concert venues and shops.

7. Churchill’s headquarters

Part of the Imperial War Museum, which is an attraction in itself. The exposition is dedicated to one of the most famous statesmen of our time. The headquarters is located in a bunker built in 1938. During the war, members of the government who stayed in London gathered here, and Churchill himself spent several days here. It is now home to an exhibition on his life.

8. Shambles Street

A small street in York with a medieval atmosphere and beautiful buildings of the time. Here you can buy souvenirs or sit in small restaurants. Interesting point: it is believed that this street was the prototype of Slanting Lane in the Harry Potter films.

9. Eden Project

A botanical garden in Cornwall known for its amazing bubbles. They are actually geodesic domes, each with a different microbiome created to grow a particular type of plant.

10. London Eye

A huge Ferris wheel in London, 135 metres high. In good weather, the view reaches 40 kilometres. The cabins are particularly safe. Each of them can accommodate up to 25 people. And there are 32 cabins in total, according to the number of boroughs in London.

Wales

11. Snowdonia National Park

Interesting places in the UK are not just concentrated in England alone. The rest of the country also boasts both natural and historical sites. A good example of this is Snowdonia, which is a vast area where visitors can be alone with the unspoilt wilderness. In addition to leisurely walks in the most picturesque places, tourists are also offered more active holidays – river rafting, cave excursions, summiting (the largest mountain here is 1085 metres above sea level), trekking, golf and animal watching.

12. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

This stunningly beautiful site is not only an architectural monument, but also a fully functioning part of the shipping system and part of the Llangollen Canal. The aqueduct looks majestic from the outside and delights tourists travelling along its top with its views.

13. Devil’s Bridge

This is another unusual man-made structure. Its peculiarity is that it is three bridges built on top of each other. The original bridge was rather flimsy and did not inspire confidence, so it was decided to replace it. However, during construction, the old structure was not dismantled, but used as a reinforcement of the piers for the new bridge. Even later, when the metal version was being built over the gorge, the two old bridges were left in place again.

The bridge owes its name to a legend. According to legend, it was built by the devil at the request of a woman who needed to get to the other side. In return, he was going to take the soul of the first person to cross the bridge. But the woman outsmarted him and let her dog cross the bridge first.

14.  Swansea Coast Museum

Even the coast has its own museum. It tells about the two directions of its development – maritime and industrial. The museum is located on the territory of a former dock. Visitors can see impressive exhibits: machine tools, steam engines and huge hammers.

15. Cardiff Castle

When talking about famous places in the UK, you can’t ignore the castles. Wales has something to show in this respect too. It is a beautiful medieval structure, originally playing the role of a fortress, and in the Victorian era became the mansion of one of the richest people of that time – the Marquis of Bute. So you can see both harsh military might and aristocratic luxury at the same time.

16. St David’s Cathedral

Another monument of medieval architecture. Although its purpose is entirely ecclesiastical, its imposing walls suggest that it too could have withstood more than one attack and siege. The cathedral is famous for housing the relics of St David, who converted the Vikings and Normans living here to Christianity. Nowadays, it is not only a religious but also a cultural centre, hosting annual events and festivals dedicated to music and other arts.

17. Llandudno

A popular seaside resort and a very pretty town, every stone of which breathes history. Here you can enjoy not only the coast of the Irish Sea and cool fresh air, but also learn interesting facts about the life of Llandudno. For example, this is the place that inspired Lewis Carroll to write “Alice in Wonderland”, because it was here that the family of the real girl Alice, who became the prototype of the heroine of the fairy tale, lived.

18. Trail along the Offa Shaft

This rampart straddles the border between Wales and England. It is 240 kilometres long. Outdoor enthusiasts can walk along it from start to finish. It usually takes 10-11 days. During this time travellers will see several castles, a magnificent panorama of Tintern Abbey, picturesque Welsh landscapes and other interesting places.

19. St Fagans Open Air Museum

The museum is located in Cardiff and shows the life and lifestyle of the local people. It covers the period from the ancient Celts to modern farms. There are recreated roundhouses from the Middle Ages and more recent sites such as a mill, chapel and school. The crafts expositions are of particular interest, as they are not just static pictures, but show craftsmen working with ancient technologies – blacksmiths, weavers, cattle breeders.

20. Isle of Anglesey

This place is for those who are fond of ancient history and love wild natural corners. Many monuments of megalithic culture have been preserved here: menhirs, cromlechs and dolmens. Later the Celts lived here. Roman artefacts and other interesting monuments of ancient history can also be found here.

Scotland

21. Royal Mile in Edinburgh

A colourful and picturesque landmark that links Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. In between are numerous shops, craft shops, bakeries and pubs. There’s also a good chance of catching a festival, parade, concert or other event, often held right in the open air.

22. Scottish Whisky Heritage Centre

The largest collection of the Scottish national drink – more than 3.5 thousand bottles. Each of them has its own history. In addition, here you can taste about a hundred varieties of whisky from different producers, as well as learn about the methods of its preparation and the secrets of its consumption.

23. Museum of childhood

You can find a piece of your own childhood here, even if it was far away from Scotland. The number of old toys here is breathtaking – dolls, railways, soldiers, marionettes. There are also more modern halls, such as a section dedicated to arcade games. You can also watch children’s films and cartoons in a small cinema, play board games or attend a theatrical performance.

24. Space Reflections Park

It’s time to get out in the fresh air and visit one of the UK’s most unusual attractions. At first glance, the garden seems to be filled with some abstract futuristic sculptures and strange landscaping. But a closer look reveals that they all carry some kind of scientific information. Visitors can learn about the oscillation of physical waves, imagine a black hole, make sense of a cluster of stars and explore many other phenomena. And for those whose heads have become full of new information, the park has built a “Pointlessness Gazebo” so they can relax and reboot.

25. Isle of Skye

Despite its modest size, the island’s scenery is amazingly diverse – some places are overgrown with lush greenery, while others resemble Martian deserts and craters. There is a valley of fairies with a mysterious spiral of stones, a functioning lighthouse, a distillery, a castle and many other amazing places. To visit the Isle of Skye it is better to allocate a few days, and if time permits, even a week. Believe me, you will find something to do there. On each of these days, the programme will be quite rich.

26. Loch Ness Lake

This is one of the most famous places in the UK outside of London and England. Thousands of tourists come here to see the very same prehistoric monster. The lack of any convincing evidence of its existence does not prevent the legend from living and thriving. Meanwhile, Loch Ness is also the largest reservoir of drinking water on the whole island, part of the Caledonian Ship Canal, owner of picturesque shores and home to Urquhart Castle. So even if you don’t encounter Nessie, there’s still plenty to see.

27. Stirling Castle

“Whoever owns Stirling owns Scotland.” This is where the rulers of this country traditionally lived, and the castle itself has survived many battles and liberation campaigns of the proud Scots. Now the building has been restored and from a walk through it you can learn a lot of interesting things about the life of that time – how balls were prepared, how tapestries were woven and what was served at dinners for kings. You can hear most of this information not only from the guide, but also see it performed by actors.

28. Yacht Britannia

Back to Edinburgh. A museum ship that in its glorious past belonged to the royal family. Now moored in the port of Leith in the Scottish capital. Queen Elizabeth II travelled across the Atlantic on this yacht, and at various times she also hosted US Presidents Eisenhower, Ford and Reagan. Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent their honeymoon on the Britannia.

Now tourists can stand on the ship’s captain’s bridge, visit the royal apartments and walk the decks.

29. Edinburgh Police Information Centre

On the one hand, it is a museum telling about the history and service of constables, as well as about high-profile crimes. On the other hand, it is a great opportunity to interact with modern police officers – ask questions about their work and take masterclasses on how to behave safely in the city on busy streets and during public events. Despite the fact that the museum occupies a very small space, it is worth putting it on the list of interesting places in the UK.

30. Edinburgh Hub

This place should be of interest to regulars of various cultural events. After all, this is the headquarters of the famous Edinburgh Festival. Concerts, exhibitions, lectures and theatre performances are held here. The building itself is also mesmerising with its architecture. Despite its medieval forms, it was built in the middle of the XIX century. Inside, the best artistic specialists worked on its design, so you can spend a long time looking at the various decorative elements, guessing in them the red carpet, applauding spectators and other attributes of creative life.

Northern Ireland

31. Road of Giants

It’s also the pavement of giants. A pile of stones resembling stakes driven into the ground. Since almost all of them have the form of regular hexagons, fans of conspiracy theories are sure that this is a man-made creation of those giants who lived on Earth before humans. But scientists are sceptical about this assumption. They are sure that the pavement was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption. Anyway, to look at this splendour is worth at least once in a lifetime. In addition, the ruins of a medieval castle are nearby, which can also be included in your itinerary.

32. Darke Hedges Alley

Not the most famous, but a very interesting landmark in the UK. It is an avenue of beech trees leading to Grayshill Manor, planted 250 years ago. During this time, the trees have become so intertwined with their branches and their trunks have acquired such a bizarre shape that they look more like the enchanted plants of a fantasy film than a real landscape. This is actively used by film-makers. Here they shot scenes for such films as: “Transformers: The Last Knight” and “Game of Thrones”. After the famous TV series, the fame of this place increased, so the local authorities even had to close this road to motor traffic, because of the increased traffic, the roots of the trees began to be damaged.

33. Titanic in Belfast

It is not for nothing that the building has the same name as the tragically lost ship. It was in Belfast that this ship was built, as well as its twin brothers: the Britannic and the Olympic. Actually, the museum tells the story of their creation, launching and demise (only “Olympic” lived to an advanced age and was written off for retirement). Symbolically, the museum itself is built in the form of the iceberg that destroyed the Titanic.

34. Ulster Folklore and Transport Museum

In one part of the park you can learn about traditional crafts and village life. In the other, you can ride rare steam locomotives, vintage cars, horse-drawn carriages and retro trams.

35. Marble Arch Caves

The longest chain of mountain caves in Northern Ireland. The official name of this unusual and interesting place is “Marble Arches”. True, it looks like marble only externally. The caves themselves consist of karst rocks. However, this does not prevent tourists from enjoying their stunning beauty. Artificial lighting makes the spectacle especially mesmerising – shimmering stalactites and stalagmites, shimmering terraces, fragile mineral veils. All this makes a lasting impression. Part of the route is travelled by boat, and part of it is walked along a conveniently paved path.

36. Devenish Island

It is located on the island of Loch Erne, and the name means “Bull Island” in Irish. Interesting there are buildings of XII and XV centuries. These are a round tower and an ancient chapel, as well as other monuments that allow you to touch the era of knights and conquests.

37. Massenden Temple

A somewhat unusual round rotunda for a UK landmark. The church has a rather sad history – it was supposed to be a wedding present for the niece of the Bishop of Derry’s niece, Fridesvida Massenden. But the girl didn’t live to see that moment and passed away at the age of 22.

A significant part of the temple is the library. To prevent the books from being spoilt by dampness, a special ventilation system was developed for the building, and a fire was always burning in the basement to maintain a certain level of heat and humidity.

It is also worth noting that Massenden Temple stands in a picturesque spot on the Atlantic Ocean. Over time, part of the rock has collapsed. And the authorities even had to reinforce the shore to prevent the structure from sliding into the water.

38. Belfast Castle

Neo-Gothic style chateau built in the middle of the 19th century. Quite a small but stylish mansion. It delights visitors with its architecture and interiors. There is a garden around the castle, where, according to rumours, Jonathan Swift got the idea for the book “Gulliver’s Travels”.

Another detail that cannot be overlooked is the cats. They were considered the patrons of the Marquesses of Donegal, who built the estate. There are 9 images of these animals hidden in the park. It is said that whoever finds them all will have good luck.

39.  Londonderry city wall

A fortress wall known for its phenomenal strength. Which is not surprising, because its thickness in some places reaches 9 metres! And its eight-metre height does a good job of cooling down the fervour of invaders. For all the time of its existence – since 1618, the wall of the city nobody managed to break through. Even during direct hits, it stood as if nothing had happened. Inside it is the pretty town of Derry, which is just as pleasant to walk around and enjoy the cosy atmosphere.

40. Belfast City Hall

It was built after Belfast was granted city status. The building is beautiful both inside and out. Once you’re there, you’ll want to admire the 53-metre high dome, look for the statue of Queen Victoria and visit the Whispering Gallery, where even softly spoken words are audible from across the room.

Of course, this is not all the sights of Great Britain. And the more you travel around this country, the more you will fall in love with it and get into its atmosphere, discovering more and more new corners.