12 of the best places to visit in the UK

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1. Edinburgh

There’s always a tourist in sight in Edinburgh, but no wonder. Consider the world’s largest annual arts festival each August and the wildest New Year’s Eve party with a soundtrack of bagpipe skirls and castle fireworks. It’s a major draw no matter the time of year, though, and there’s a raft of swanky hotels to savour, including 100 Princes Street (in the former HQ of the Royal Over-Seas League) and the walnut whip-shaped W Hotel Edinburgh (bolted onto the St James Quarter galleria and home to secret speakeasy Joao’s Place). Three others to consider are the £100m Ruby Hotel opposite Princes Street Gardens, the Hyatt Centric Edinburgh Haymarket and the Resident in the West End, where rows of Georgian townhouses spread out as if on a Monopoly board. Everyone agrees that Edinburgh is now looking better than ever. Stay at W Hotel Edinburgh and book ahead for the hotel’s buzzy SUSHISAMBA, with never-before-seen views of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

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2. London

Bored of London? Then you’re bored of life. There’s nothing the capital can’t do and, even if you’ve made the pilgrimage aplenty, it remains an overwhelming experience. The sense-loading Paddington Bear Experience reimagines No 32 Windsor Gardens inside County Hall by Westminster Bridge, while a different sort of institution — The National Gallery — has entertained visitors for more than 200 years. A newer fixture is the Moco Museum, first opened in Amsterdam, now bringing rarely seen works by Basquiat, Banksy and Murakami to One Marble Arch. Bed down at Andaz London Liverpool Street and dine at its restaurant, Miyako, where sushi, sashimi and sake are elevated to art forms.

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3. Norfolk

It’s not been an ordinary few years for Norwich. Its medieval castle reopened to full effect for the first time since the days of William the Conqueror and that came alongside the arrival of a Norfolk-enrapt gallery of treasures. This is increasingly a city of independent retailers and festivals, so look out for the region’s award-winning vineyards and wineries, but also realise the city is at the heart of Britain’s largest protected wetland. The fens, marshes and woodlands of the Broads National Park are a paddle’s sift away and the temptation to stop off at a waterside pub is always a serious danger. Talking of libations, the UK’s first beer spa can be found at the Norfolk Mead Hotel: soothe your thirst while steeping in one of its wooden tubs filled with vitamin-rich malt and bubbling hops.

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4. Durham

Looking for a bit of Britain with one foot in yesteryear? County Durham has become one of the richest places to spend time in, not least in thanks to several visitor-friendly developments that prise open the past. Beamish Museum, a time capsule of the north, has an array of immersive experiences, while Shildon (aka the world’s first railway town) has one of the world’s largest collections of historic rail engines. For more steam dreams, Hopetown Darlington celebrates the region’s 200-year-old railroad heritage and Raby Castle’s the Rising is a cluster of reimagined heritage buildings, a walled garden and farmer’s market. You’ll need a holiday after all that good stuff. Explore Durham on a five-day tour with Shearings, visiting the Beamish Open Air Museum as well as Barnard Castle.

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5. Liverpool

Liverpool has soundtracked the world for more than six decades and it’s a gift that keeps on giving. The Beatles Story Museum at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock continues to celebrate the mop-topped Fab Four in spectacular style, and for even armchair fans there’s all sorts of rarely seen memorabilia to thrill over. In the intervening years since their split, Liverpool has rarely stood still and the warmth, community-spirit and music of the city is palpable, particularly at BOXPARK Liverpool — the community street food market’s first opening outside London. The city’s other love — football — is also redefining the Bramley-Moore Dock on the Mersey waterfront. Say goodbye to Goodison Park and hello, hello, hello to the Everton Stadium. Stay at Hard Days Night hotel and discover the city on a five-day Liverpool Legends tour with Leger Holidays. Also included is a visit to the Beatles Museum and Mersey cruise.

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6. Northumberland

Leaner than any other, Northumberland National Park is the least-populated in the UK. The romantic allure is in fewer crowds, cleaner rivers and the darkest skies in England. Then, across Northumberland, the Farne Islands have lowered the drawbridge to the rest of the world, with Inner Farne open to visitors again after a prolonged closure. These slithers of land are home to seal pups aplenty, as well as puffins, Arctic terns, kittiwakes and razorbills that bridge the divide between sand, sea and sky. Explore the glorious northeast on a five-day tour with Shearings, taking in the Northumberland coast and the route of Hadrian’s Wall, calling at Hexham and Chesters Roman Fort.

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7. Vale of Glamorgan

Wales is tiny, yet it remains a superlative, show-off country, squeezing in far too much for visitors to see and do. Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire draw the biggest crowds, but for something different The Vale is equally jam-packed. There’s lashings of good food and drink, from starry chef Bryn Williams’ Touring Club in Penarth to Llanerch Vineyard, which has recently put Welsh wine on the map (naturally, it’s a red). Along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, there’s 14-miles of coves, fudgy sands and unsung beaches to revel in, while away to the east is Barry Island. A setting for end-of-pier peninsula fun, it’s also the backdrop for the BBC’s Gavin and Stacey. Tidy! Stay in one of the luxury Rooms at the Deck, in Penarth Marina.

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8. Bradford

Advocates of Bradford have known it’s been cool for a while, but the next few years will see it go stratospheric. In the past century, the West Yorkshire city has been most famous for its cultural exports — pop art painter David Hockney and the Bronte sisters (Emily, Anne and Charlotte) — but that’s set to change. Firstly, Bradford is the 2025 UK City of Culture, while two marquee openings will bring further fandom. The National Science & Media Museum has had a £6m reboot and the art deco Bradford Live is a result of the reimagining of the city’s hallowed Odeon. For foodies, meanwhile, the city is also broadening its reach. Welcome, Darley Street Market, for sustainable eats and shopping. Stay at Leonardo Hotel Bradford for a central location close to City Park.

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9. Inverness

The £30m Inverness Castle Experience overlooking the River Ness is big news and it both reclaims part of Inverness for visitors (formerly it was the home of the prison and courts) and attempts to encapsulate the region’s true spirit (and, no, we’re not talking about whisky). The Highlands is always nostalgic for history and this now creates an irresistible proposition for a week of castle hopping, from Dunrobin Castle to the north, to Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, to Eilean Donan Castle on the road to the Isle of Skye. Visit Inverness and Loch Ness on a whistle-stop two-day adventure with On The Go Tours, which also takes in the Cairngorms National Park and Urquhart Castle.

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10. The Causeway Coast

Thronies rejoice! A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the latest Game of Thrones spin-off, has been filmed in Northern Ireland and the Antrim coast has once again served up the sort of landscapes that HBO producers fantasise about. Game of Thrones is no stranger to these parts (Winterfell, the King’s Road and the Iron Islands were brought to life thanks to the North), and it’s still a welcoming place, despite the initial tourist influx. Start in Belfast, end in Derry, and ride your way through Ballycastle, Ballintoy and the Giant’s Causeway. Spend a night at Ballygally Castle, set within the grounds of the castle and claiming a ghost room in addition to its atmospheric dungeon.

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11. Thanet

In the age of Londoners moving out of the city due to housing prices, the Kent coast of Thanet has become what Brighton used to be. Its triptych of coastal towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate are all hip and happening to some degree and the next few years promise to deliver more reasons to visit. JMW Turner found some of the loveliest seas and skies to paint in Margate and the town’s tribute — Turner Contemporary — is unmissable. Also with its eyes to the sea, Ramsgate has the only Royal Harbour in the country and the story of the Dunkirk Little Ships that aided the Allied forces in 1940 is equally timeless. Throw in more traditional seaside diversions — chalky cliffs, sandy beaches and the vintage amusements of Dreamland — and that’s your next mini-break sorted. Stay at the boutique No.42 by GuestHouse, overlooking the beach and promenade.

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12. Islay

The most memorable whisky island in the world waits for no one. The arrival of Ardbeg House, purchased by the LVMH brand as part of its mission to further create a world-class single malt experience, is the most recent headline-grabber. But it’s been great days for Inner Hebridean hospitality for a few years now, and another major coup for punters has been the return of the once mothballed Port Ellen Distillery, resurrected as part of a £185m investment by Diageo. Seizing the moment, access to the island is anticipated to be smoother in the coming years, with additional ferries being added to the CalMac fleet. Stay at Another Place, The Machrie, Islay’s only resort hotel, with a spectacular beach and golf course.

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