Top Places to Visit in Great Britain: Cities, History, and Culture

Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) packs world-class destinations into a compact island. Here are highlights by major city.

London

• Buckingham Palace, British Museum, National Gallery, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, London Eye, The Shard, Tower Bridge, Houses of Parliament.

Edinburgh

• Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Palace of Holyroodhouse, National Museum of Scotland, Scottish National Gallery, Royal Botanic Garden, Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill, The Meadows, Princes Street Gardens.

Manchester

• Manchester Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery, John Rylands Library, People's History Museum, Museum of Science & Industry, Old Trafford, Etihad Stadium, AO Arena, The Lowry, Trafford Centre.

Liverpool

• The Beatles Story, Tate Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool, both Cathedrals, Cavern Club, Liverpool ONE, Albert Dock.

Glasgow

• Glasgow Cathedral, Necropolis, Glasgow School of Art, Burrell Collection, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Hunterian Museum, Pollok Country Park, Glasgow Green, Botanic Gardens, Science Centre.

Cardiff

• Cardiff Castle, National Museum Wales, Pierhead Building, Wales Millennium Centre, Techniquest, Cardiff Story Museum, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff International Arena, Principality Stadium, White Water Rafting Centre.

Belfast

• Titanic Belfast, Ulster Museum, Belfast Castle, Grand Opera House, Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast Zoo, Botanic Gardens, St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast City Hall, Cave Hill Country Park.

Beyond Cities

Lake District, Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia, Cotswolds, Stonehenge, Bath, York, Oxford, Cambridge, Cornwall, Giant's Causeway (NI).

Britain rewards slow travel—each region has distinct character, history, and flavor.