United Kingdom's Must-See places

[Susan Veness]

angie green's post about split holidays got me to thinking about where overseas visitors would have to go to get a TRUE sense of what the US has to offer, which made me wonder where Americans would have to go to get a true sense of what the UK has to offer.

Each time we visit the UK, we try to visit somewhere I've never been so that eventually I'll have a full understanding of what the UK has to offer. So far, I've seen pretty much all of London, Cornwall, much of the South West, much of the South East, Bath and Stonehenge.

Just with the few places I've been, I've fallen totally in love with England. I haven't seen any of Scotland or Wales.

What would be your Must See places throughout the UK, to give me a good sense of all that your beautiful country has to offer?

[Tiggers Friend]

For starters and not including London

The Cotswolds, still traditionally English from another century with beautiful countryside.

York, for the Minster and the Shambles. Nice shops and good choice of places to eat.

Chester, absolutely unique - complete Roman Walls, amphitheatre, Cathedral, River and the Rows (medieval two level shops).

[ELAINE]

I live locally so am a bit biased but i love stratford, The open top bus, shakepeares birth place, the park ,the theatre etc. and not far from Warwick castle which is good if there is one of the festivals on... the jousting is good to watch. Only problem is everything is so expensive... i guess that's tourism

[Catlady]

The Scottish Highlands are truly beautiful....:happy-thumb

[dmrevis]

Its interesting that people automatically link "british" with sights in England. Many of the things mentioned are already places in England, with the exception of Catlady.
Without being derogatory in anyway, many Americans think England and Great Britain/UK are one in the same.
To me there is no place that is truly "British" with the excption of some seaside towns, north or south of the border.

[Susan Veness]

I think some of the confusion comes from the dual terms, "Great Britain" and "United Kingdom" (confused even more by the shortened "Britain"). I would agree many "Americans" would consider the term 'British' to be a reference to England, just as many overseas guests consider 'America' to be a term meaning the United States (it isn't; the United States are only a portion of America).

I'm afraid our history lessons in the US schools don't cover Scotland and Wales in the same depth as they cover England, so it's a failing in that regard. Wales barely gets a mention, other than in connection with the Prince of Wales. England itself is very much at the center stage, as that is where our 'Founding Fathers (and Mothers)' came from.

Nevertheless, I'm very curious to know about the entire UK, not just England, and would love to come up with a long list of Must Sees. Loving the suggestions so far! :)

[ELAINE]

History lessons in uk schools don't cover much of England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland!!
My kids have been taught absolutely nothing about kings and queens etc which i would have thought was fundamental to learning about a country's history!!! and sorry i would probably be one of those people who confuses America with the United States:thumbsdow
We don't really have any "Britishness" because we are too worried about not alienating people with different beliefs and culture.

[Susan Veness]

sorry i would probably be one of those people who confuses America with the United States

It's become an interchangable term any more, and many citizens of the United States wouldn't bat an eye at calling themselves American, even though it doesn't tell the 'whole story', so to speak. But say you're an American when you're up in Montreal Canada and you'll have a nasty kettle of fish on your hands. They're 'American' too, seeing as they live in North America, and some of them get a bit testy about it. :D I'm afraid it's just a word that's taken on a new popular understanding, and is used by (nearly) everyone to mean a citizen of the US.

But back to the UK....where, including England, Scotland and Wales should I not miss visiting?

[dmrevis]

well if you have the time to get all the way up to Orkney then that gets my vote. Sure, i lived there for 20 years so i'm biased but its an amazing place and i'd be back there in a heartbeat if circumstance allowed. So much history from all walks -Vikings, Canadian, the two world wars etc. Some of the best scenery anywhere in the world. The cleanest air and beaches and the lowest crime rates. Not to mention world class produce and food. I miss it!:laughing:

[Susan Veness]

Your history is amazing. I'd really like to see more of the Viking history. I've got this vision in my head of a place that I can't quite pinpoint (though I think it's on the western edge of Scotland) that was Viking territory, and I'd love to see if it's really there.

Simon tells me the Orkney's are only about an hour or so from London (flying). Certainly within striking distance, so I'll add that one to the list! :)

[LeonieM]

I've always lived in the South/South East corner of England, but if you want to see something spectacular, you have to visit Cheddar Gorge and the fantastic caves.

Really, most of our country is absolutely beautiful. I really believe that the UK has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

[Susan Veness]

I saw something about the Cheddar Gorge and it sounds fantastic. Isn't that where they age cheese in caves? Would LOVE to see it!

[DaveDreaD]

Personally i love the Lake Distict , not a patch on some of the 14,000m ranges you have throughout various states but these are walkable by all young and old , 10 days after we got back from Florida this year we hired a cottage in the village of Coniston at the base of the old man (2603ft) we used this as a base for walks in every direction and it was a great way to unwind after florida (although i did put some punishing walks in) Of coarse this part of England is very very wet and to get a sunny break even in august is a lottery but that waer has to come from somewhere. The history in that area dates back hundreds of years and its just beautiful.

http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=683164&l=ea695&id=635549120
http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=683163&l=558d3&id=635549120
http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=683168&l=59ed5&id=635549120

[dmrevis]

Its more than an hour, and maybe 4 or 5 with connections. There are no direct flights from London. You have to go via a Scottish Mainland airport like Glasgow, Edinbrugh, Aberdeen or Inverness. Flights to there are about 60-90 mins, then another 45-70 mins from there. It can be cheap if you book far enough ahead. It can also be frightfully expensive -the most expensive part is hopping over the North Sea to the Islands as only one airline operates the route. I've seen fares for a 30 min flight to INverness more than the cost of a flight to New York! Location is off the North coast of Scotland - go right to the top of the UK, then its about 20 miles north of there.
www.visitorkney.com

[LeonieM]

I saw something about the Cheddar Gorge and it sounds fantastic. Isn't that where they age cheese in caves? Would LOVE to see it!

I don't know about that, Susan! Here's the link to what's available. http://www.cheddarcaves.co.uk/attractions.htm

Cheddar cheese is named after the area, certainly, but I don't know about aging it in caves - too warm and damp possibly. I buy McLellands - which is Scottish!

[Susan Veness]

DaveDreaD, the view from the top of the top of that mountain looks spectacular! Even in the mist, it's really beatuiful. :)

dmrevis, it sounds like we'd need to be in Edinburgh for a flight out, but that's ok, because Edinburgh is certainly on my radar for a visit some time soon. My brother goes there a lot and absolutely loves it.

LM, I just checked my DK guidebook and it says, "The caves in the gorge once provided the perfect environment of constant temperature and high humidity for storing and maturing the cheese." It sounds like they must have done it at one time, but probably don't any more! Guess all that humidity makes the stuff mold faster, hey? :eek:

[Catlady]

Yeah and I bet it got smelly in there too.......:tut-tut:

[spencem]

You need to throw in a trip to North Wales as well, the Victorian charm of Llandudno and the majestic scenery of Snowdownia. Make sure you include a trip down the LLanberis pass for the Welsh slate mining museum and the high tech hydro-electric plant next door, the tours are fascinating.

I'm not from the area, but we used to holiday that way as a kid and it still feels like home to me. There is a certain farm house high above Barmouth that I will make a very good offer for if my numbers ever come up.

[Tiggers Friend]

You need to throw in a trip to North Wales as well, the Victorian charm of Llandudno and the majestic scenery of Snowdownia. Make sure you include a trip down the LLanberis pass for the Welsh slate mining museum and the high tech hydro-electric plant next door, the tours are fascinating.


Great choice spencem the hydro plant is amazing, you can go on a coach tour inside the mountain which allows you to see the turbines.

Of course while you're in that area you must take in the great castles of Caernavon, Conway, Beuamaris and Harlech. Ans while you're at it Telford'd magnificent bridge across the Menai Straits!

[Simon Veness]

Agh - the Menai Straits! I vividly remember trying to play football for Cardiff Uni against Bangor many years ago. The Bangor sports fields were on the side of the Menai Straits and it was raining and blowing a gale - like trying to play uphill into a waterfall!! Thankfully, their bar was very accommodating afterwards as we all ended up even wetter inside than out! :cheers:

[pete21]

i would say just past inverness to see the lochness moster is a beatuiful place 2 see & explore.also in wales snowdona is also beatuiful the views from the top of the mountain is breath taking

[Tiggers Friend]

Agh - the Menai Straits! I vividly remember trying to play football for Cardiff Uni against Bangor many years ago. The Bangor sports fields were on the side of the Menai Straits and it was raining and blowing a gale - like trying to play uphill into a waterfall!! Thankfully, their bar was very accommodating afterwards as we all ended up even wetter inside than out! :cheers:

Of course had it been a Sunday and on Anglesey you would have had to put up with soft drinks!!

[visitor]

I would agree with most of the above but don't miss out Derbyshire especially the Peak District.

[scottygal]

I would suggest the Scottish highlands......scenery is breathtaking. Also a definate must is Fort William where you can go so far up Ben Nevis on foot....and the views from that part are out of this world. When I lived in Scotland I always took any family and friends visitors up that way. The Scottish are amongst the most welcoming and friendliest people you can get

Does it show Scotland is my original homeland? :D

[Susan Veness]

I'm hoping we can get to Scotland soon. It just sounds so lovely! We've got a trip to Barcelona for our next trip over, but I hope we can do Scotland the next time. :)

[scottygal]

You certainly would not regret a Scotland trip Susan.

You may even be lucky to see Nessy :laughing::laughing::laughing:

[Catlady]

Somewhere else that has just sprung to mind are the Isles of Scilly. We visited them about 16 years ago taking a small plane from near Sennan in Cornwall to St Marys and got a small ferry boat over to Tresco Island where there are tropical gardens as the weather is so mild. The weather the day we went was glorious (which helped) and as we were approaching the island looking out of the plane it was like we were landing on a tropical island.:happy-thumb
The only thing that they did when we checked in was weigh each passenger..:eek::eek:..
apparently as it was only a small plane we had to be loaded right. Not sure if they still do this.
I believe you can get a helicopter or a ferry boat over there as well.

[namtaf]

you could try pembrokeshire in west wales lots of sandy beeches and lots of castles :happy-thumb

[visitor]

Apart from Derbyshire's peaks, Northumberland is another fantastic county. You could spend several happy weeks in each of these places and not see everything they have to offer. Where would we be without being stranded on Lindisfarne :happy-smi

[Susan Veness]

*Susan runs out to Staples to get more sticky-notes for her UK book*

Wonderful suggestions! Hopefully we have a long, long time to be able to see it all. I do love travelling around the UK and seeing the castles, countryside, pubs, etc, so I'm making note of all your suggestions. Will certainly aim to visit them all!

[Mickey Mouse]

It's become an interchangable term any more, and many citizens of the United States wouldn't bat an eye at calling themselves American, even though it doesn't tell the 'whole story', so to speak. But say you're an American when you're up in Montreal Canada and you'll have a nasty kettle of fish on your hands. They're 'American' too, seeing as they live in North America, and some of them get a bit testy about it. :D I'm afraid it's just a word that's taken on a new popular understanding, and is used by (nearly) everyone to mean a citizen of the US.

But back to the UK....where, including England, Scotland and Wales should I not miss visiting?

Your not kidding! i used to work with a canadian and everytime i was going to the US i would im off to america and when we had a conference in toronto we met this guy who was born in england lived in aus til he was 10 and moved to san diego. when the canadian asked so what would you call yourself he said american, ive never seen someone go more red! from then on ive allways called it the states! imm off to the states etc, wow really got to him!

[cheekylou]

I agree with others, the lake district is a must see destination it's absolutely beautiful and although i live only an hour away, when you're there it feels as though your a million miles away!
My husband is always trying to sell cornwall to me although we haven't got there yet i hear its gorgeous.
I love the history of the country it just annoys me when we are expected to be PC incase we offend anyone. my boss is asian and always says it's a joke that we try to please everyone. I read somewhere that someone tried to sue because she couldn't understand her work being written in english as she was polish!! :angry:

[Susan Veness]

I don't want to open up a big debate or anything, but I don't understand how loving your country and being proud of it could offend anyone. Patriotism isn't 'competition' or being 'better than anyone else', it's just loving where you're from, being proud of your country, and nothing more.

I guess that's why Americans (meaning, citizens from the US) might be taken as arrogant in some cases, but it's a false reading of our intent. We DO love our country, but that doesn't mean we don't respect and appreciate what everyone else has, too.

Whenever I meet someone from overseas who talks with pride about their own country, it always generates a postive response in me. It's like talking about your love for your children. How on earth can that be a bad thing? :happy-thumb

The replies here just reinforce the pride you all obviously have, and it makes me want to visit every single place mentioned. That sort of patriotism can't possibly offend. :)

[mikeymouse]

The uk has many wonderfully sights to see each place has it's own wonderfully little place , have been to the lake district and found the Honiston pass one of the most beautiful places on earth , the Norfolk broads are a must a real" stress buster " if you hire a boat , but as said before there is no place like home Scotland just does it for me :happy-thumb try a drive round Glencoe just an amazing sight , right here on my doorstep is the most amazing countryside by far sought after by the rich and famous the Queen ,Billy Connelly ,to name a few the north east of Scotland is a place not to be missed :happy-thumb

[Tiggers Friend]

I don't want to open up a big debate or anything, but I don't understand how loving your country and being proud of it could offend anyone. Patriotism isn't 'competition' or being 'better than anyone else', it's just loving where you're from, being proud of your country, and nothing more.


I think the issue here is that patriotism (devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty)/nationalism (Devotion to the interests or culture of one's nation) have been hi-jacked by self serving policitians to use in arguments about racism etc. The current line from many politicians is that if you are a patriot or nationalist you are therefore by definition a racist. This country has a long and proud history of supporting asylum seekers (the hugenoets, european jews, Ugandan asians to name a very few) as well as immigration which has contributed to a rich and diverse population which the majority of the population supports (there will always be bigots). It doesn't mean we can't take a pride in the country and expound it.

[cheekylou]

I agree with the diverse population mentioned by TF I think it's great that our kids experience different cultures within their home country giving them the first hand experince to respect other beliefs but i've heard of primary schools banning xmas and the kids have to have a 'celebration festival' instead. That's what is wrong as we should celebrate all festivals in the same manner.
One place i'd love to visit to answer the forum is Ireland. I've never been and would love to go. There's so many places to visit within our nation. If i won the lottery i'd buy a camper van and tour around it!! :purplejum:purplejum

[bex1812]

It's become an interchangable term any more, and many citizens of the United States wouldn't bat an eye at calling themselves American, even though it doesn't tell the 'whole story', so to speak. But say you're an American when you're up in Montreal Canada and you'll have a nasty kettle of fish on your hands. They're 'American' too, seeing as they live in North America, and some of them get a bit testy about it. :D I'm afraid it's just a word that's taken on a new popular understanding, and is used by (nearly) everyone to mean a citizen of the US.

But back to the UK....where, including England, Scotland and Wales should I not miss visiting?

At the risk of sounding dense but i am highly confused!!

I always thought north america was all the 52 states and canada was its own country and not a part of north america? same as south america is its own country?

I thought canadians would want to shout about being canadian not american?

[Tiggers Friend]

I always thought north america was all the 52 states and canada was its own country and not a part of north america? same as south america is its own country?


North America is a continent, as is South America. Canada is a country in North America and the USA is a country as well. Hope this helps :)

[Susan Veness]

It can be confusing to us, too! :) As TF says, North America is a continent. Canadian's are North Americans because they live on the continent of North America. The name of the continent just got shortened to America, and 'American' took on the popular meaning of 'US citizen'. But our Canadian cousins are Americans too.

[bigkid]

it has amused me to read this thread, partially reminiscing about childhood holidays all over the country, and being brought up in the best county here (cornwall), but partially reading about people being worried about bigging up their own areas and not wanting to offend, how 'british' haha. i personally dont think there is anything wrong with being proud of where you are from and now that i live in lincolnshire and having done so for 7years now, i still always tell locals how much better cornwall is, of course everyone knows i am just winding them up. i think there is a massive difference between being proud of your country or county and being ourightly racist and discriminatory, that i hate, pride i love. if we arent proud of where we are from, a) we probably wouldnt be there and b) we wouldnt look after it.

any way, what i was actually going to say was that Cornwall is great :laughing: and as someone said back a bit (sorry i cant remember who), the isles of scilly are brillant. i have to admit now that the last tme i went was when i was 10/11 on a school trip it was brilliant!!! its tropical waters make for gorgeous gardens, not what you would expect of the counrty at all. the water is beautiful and of course the lovely cornish people :) this said, BF and I looked into going last yeah and boy has it got expensive. its a bit rediculous but i guess they have to get everything in from the mainland, that and they like to cream off tourists.

Cornwall as a whole is beautiful and i could fill a whole thread with stuff about it but wont bore people. its crazy really, having lived there all my life i took it for granted and at 18 couldnt wait to get away and now im away i miss it. However, now i am in Lincolnshire and it is also beautiful for different reasons, its really really flat here with lovely scenery and some nice market towns etc and isnt far from Norfolk, i havent made it there yet but its meant to be amazing.

as a kid i went to the Lake District every year for my holidays and i love it. i am still working on BF for us to take the dogs walking there as i have amazing memories of walking my old dog up there bu he isnt much of a walker and doesnt see the point i going.
i went to Scotland at a very young age (about 6) and one of the few memories i have of it is the whiskey distillery hahahaha no wonder i love a single malt so much now.


there are still so many places that i want to see in the UK. the world is such a huge place to explore!!!!

[LeonieM]

I grew up in West Suss ex, lived in East Suss ex from the age of 18 to 25, and have lived in Kent since I was 30. So, that's the South-East covered. When living in Bognor, we regularly went to Portsmouth (Hampshire), went ice skating on regular school trips to Southampton, and family holidays to Dorset, Devon and Somerset. I have to say that's most the South Coast covered - but I've never been as far as Cornwall! Back in the day the motorway stopped just past Southampton, and it was a job getting beyond Bournemouth. That's all changed, but now we live in Kent it's just too far to venture by car. It took us nearly all day to get from Kent to Bristol, Avon, and that's nowhere near as far as Cornwall.

It is somewhere I'd like to go some day, but since rediscovering Orlando, we now spend all our holidays (such as they are) there.

I'd like to make it further north than Yorkshire one day, too! We have driven up to the Metro Centre at Gateshead while staying in Leeds with my brother - and that took 1½ hours from there! I've also been to the fantastic living history museum at County Durham (again, from Yorkshire). One day we might actually make it to Scotland!

The trouble is, to go on holiday in the UK costs so much, it's actually cheaper to go abroad for us!

[Susan Veness]

i think there is a massive difference between being proud of your country or county and being ourightly racist and discriminatory, that i hate, pride i love. if we arent proud of where we are from, a) we probably wouldnt be there and b) we wouldnt look after it.

:clapping2:

That's it, exactly! Being proud isn't the same as being racist. I love my country, I'm an American through and through, but when I visit other countries I'm astounded by the beautiy, the history, and the value of each place I have been. It takes nothing away from my love of country, and my love of country takes nothing away from your love of country. And if you brag about your kids, I'll be just as thrilled and delighted in their accomplishments as I am in my own son's. It's as simple as that.

Reading your thoughts on the places you live or the places you have visited really has me excited to see all of them. Maybe they're even more special when you're from somewhere else, hey? Cornwall was like another world to me, and I adored it. London was eye-popping. Just totally unlike anything I'd ever seen, and I find more to love about it each time I visit. Brighton, Hove, Kent....they all hold a special place in my heart. The way you feel about Orlando, I feel about the places I've been in the UK. Be proud of your country's appeal, and say so. :)

[wanttogetthere]

Bath

beautiful place, beautiful buildings, beautiful people.

Visit the Roman baths and drink the water, it tastes like salty rotten eggs, but has great healing qualities (apparently)

The town is filled with street entertainers and you can find some fantastic tea/coffee shops and people watch for hours.

Every time we visit there i come home feeling like I have just had a relaxing holiday.


Another great place is Liverpool, so much history, many musuems, art galleries etc... huge docklands area, and of course home to The Beatles. Lots to see and do there and the people are very friendly.

[Mickey Mouse]

St michael's mount in cornwall, depending on the tide you can walk across or get a boat;
St Alban's was very nice, this was 10-15 years ago;
Can not go wrong with the Lake District! :purplejum