United Kingdom

A four-in-one destination (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), the U.K. offers beautiful, memorable, and accessible nature, some of the best museums in Europe, and a flourishing food scene far beyond mushy peas or beans on toast. Its landscapes are unparalleled and diverse—think craggy mountain peaks, ancient forests dripping with moss and ferns, and cool glassy lakes increasingly popular for wild swimming.

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Overview

Planning your trip

Use these articles, resources, and guides to plan and inspire your next trip to the United Kingdom.

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Read Before You Go
The sculpture was unveiled this week on Newington Green, London, after a decade of campaigning and fundraising, but many critics took to Twitter to question why it had to feature a naked female figure.
Hotels
Whether it’s a villa in Italy, a dude ranch in the U.S. West, or a luxury all-inclusive in the Caribbean, here are places where accommodations and experiences are ideal for large family groups with a wide range of ages.
The British capital may be expensive, but there are affordable design hotels in every corner of the city.
The luxury hotel industry is changing fast. The Langham Hospitality Group CEO Bob van den Oord discusses how his brand is adapting—and what the future holds for high-end travel.
These are the 24 hotels we recommend most for wellness.
Open to the public who book hotel rooms and suites, the Twenty Two is also opening its second location in NYC this fall.
Sleek design. Hot chefs. Prime location. The alluring new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is the first new hotel to open in this London neighborhood in a decade.
From lobby bars to rooftop lounges, these are the hotel bars Afar editors love checking out when they’re checking in.
These historic villas and apartments across England and Ireland evoke the romantic spirit of the hit Netflix romance series.
British luxury hotel group Maybourne has opened the Emory, London’s first all-suite hotel, next to Hyde Park.
Omer Acar, the CEO Raffles and Fairmont, shares his vision behind the recent growth of both luxury hotel brands and talks about what great hospitality truly means. (Spoiler alert: It’s all about people.)
Take glamping to a whole new level at one of these bubble hotels and vacation rentals, many with see-through roofs for stargazing.
AFAR’s picks for the 31 best new hotels in the world.
These five concierges in Paris, Hong Kong, Cape Town, London, and Marrakech reveal their favorite city itineraries that they usually only share with guests.
Lace up your hiking boots: These vacation rentals are perfectly situated for adventurers who love to explore on foot.
At the Fife Arms in the Scottish Highlands, the artwork is extraordinary and the afternoon tea might involve whisky.
The new Raffles London at the OWO already feels like a grande dame.
As the city undergoes a hotel boom in the run-up to the Coronation, we round up the 15 best hotels, classic and contemporary alike.
In honor of the third season of the hit Apple TV+ show—out March 15—Airbnb is launching a very special overnight stay for a few lucky fans.
When London reopens to the world, these new hotels—stylish townhouses, global brands, and a refreshed grande dame—will be waiting.
Put down your pint and head upstairs to find comfortable beds, cool designs, and maybe a cozy fireplace or reading nook. Could pubs with rooms be the perfect alternative to big chain hotels?
From a historic ship-turned-hotel docked in Edinburgh to the first Four Seasons in Greece, these are the 10 best new hotels opening across Europe in the new year.
There are plenty of exciting hotel openings, exhibits, and more to discover in the U.K.’s capital from now until the end of the year.
Didn’t make the guest list? (We didn’t either.) You can still get in on the fun with these royal wedding weekend hotel packages in the U.S. and the U.K.
The Room with a View package offers a daredevil drop from the St. Giles Hotel’s 164-foot-tall central tower.
Relax, reset, and recharge at the following hotels—each is ideal for a (long) weekend escape.
These well-curated hotel shops will give you a sense of place and a lasting memory.
A stay at the iconic St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London is a must for any train buff.
Monachyle Mhor in Scotland’s Trossachs National Park
There are thousands of traditional Japanese inns with hot springs across Japan. This hot spring lodge is part of a decade-old Japanese pastime.
Resources to help plan your trip
We learned from experience so you don’t have to—heed our advice to set yourself up for permanent ink success.
Spoiler alert: The U.K. and Great Britain are different things. Here’s what you need to know about the history and etymology of a fairly baffling cluster of islands.
Italy or India, Bangladesh or Burundi: Where will your reading take you this year? If your booklist needs some international flair, consider these recent stories by writers around the world.
Netflix used Belvoir Castle as a filming location in its hit drama starring Olivia Coleman. Now you can rent it for limited 1-night stays this winter—including New Year’s Eve.
Immerse yourself in four emerging destinations on this exclusive 13-day Journeys from London with AFAR and TCS World Travel.
When you take the time to listen, the country speaks through the buzz of bees, the hubbub of the market, the desert wind.
An elegant journey on Europe’s most iconic train takes a traveler into the past. But not the one she imagined.
An extensive exhibit by a visionary artist, a celebration of the Beatles, exciting new restaurants, and more make autumn the season you should finally get to London.
It’s possible to explore the country like your favorite characters from the award-winning period drama series, among them fictional aristocrats Lady Mary and Lord Sinderby.
Two lucky “Downton Abbey” fans will get the chance to live like the Crawley family at Highclere Castle. Here’s how to book it.
These 8 adventures are perfect for book lovers who want to travel the world like award-winning authors and cherished characters (and not worry about the planning).
Tour the houses of Vladimir Nabokov, Jane Austen, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and other authors to see what inspired them to write their acclaimed books.
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