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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
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Claridge's, one of London's most historic hotels, first opened in 1812.
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Heading to London? Skip the Hotel and Stay at a Pub
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10 Reasons to Go to London This Fall
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October 12, 2018 08:20 PM
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10 Hotels Offering Over-the-Top Experiences for Royal Wedding Fanatics
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10 Hotels Offering Over-the-Top Experiences for Royal Wedding Fanatics
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.
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Last-Minute Alert: Rappel From the Rooftop of This London Hotel
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Guests Can Rappel From the Rooftop of This London Hotel
The Room with a View package offers a daredevil drop from the St. Giles Hotel’s 164-foot-tall central tower.
December 18, 2017 02:17 PM
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How to Master the Art of the Minibreak
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How to Master the Art of the Minibreak
Relax, reset, and recharge at the following hotels—each is ideal for a (long) weekend escape.
June 14, 2017 07:03 PM
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12 Amazing Hotel Boutiques that are Changing the Face of the Gift Shop
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12 Amazing Hotel Boutiques that are Changing the Face of the Gift Shop
These well-curated hotel shops will give you a sense of place and a lasting memory.
September 02, 2015 04:02 PM
 · 
Jen Murphy
Railway Hotels: St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London
Hotels
Railway Hotels: St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London
A stay at the iconic St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London is a must for any train buff.
March 28, 2012 12:43 PM
 · 
Robin Cherry
Hotels
Monachyle Mhor in Scotland’s Trossachs National Park
Monachyle Mhor in Scotland’s Trossachs National Park
February 15, 2012 07:16 PM
 · 
Amy Westervelt
Hot Springs Lodgings: Zagyosoh Ryokan in Japan’s Izu National Park
Hotels
Hot Springs Lodgings: Zagyosoh Ryokan in Japan’s Izu 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.
February 15, 2012 07:05 PM
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Lisa Katayama
Resources to help plan your trip
UNESCO World Heritage
UNESCO Adds 33 New Sites to Its 2021 World Heritage List
The latest additions—from Europe’s great spa towns to a nearly 100-year-old railway in Iran—are definitely worthy of a detour or even planning your next trip around.
July 30, 2021 03:04 PM
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Pat Tompkins
UNESCO World Heritage
UNESCO Strips Liverpool of Its World Heritage Status
The English city has been on the United Nations’ culture organization’s heritage in danger list since 2012 amid concerns that modern development was marring the historic character of its docklands.
July 21, 2021 04:42 PM
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Jill Lawless
Travel Tales
For One Traveler, London’s Carnival Becomes an Unexpected Home
Author Louis Chude-Sokei was born in Nigeria, spent part of his childhood in Jamaica, and came of age in L.A. This mix of places and cultures shaped his life—but also left him feeling unmoored. Until he stumbled upon London’s Notting Hill Carnival.
July 06, 2021 11:29 PM
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Louis Chude-Sokei
Tips + News
U.K. to Resume International Travel, Adding Several Countries to “Green List”
Several of the approved destinations—like Australia and New Zealand—still won’t let travelers in.
May 07, 2021 03:43 PM
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Associated Press (AP)
Art + Architecture
The Most In-Depth “Alice in Wonderland” Exhibit Ever Will Debut in London This Month
Opening March 27, 2021, the themed exhibition will explore how the fantastical tale inspired global culture and influential creators, including Walt Disney, Salvador Dalí, and Tim Burton.
March 16, 2021 12:47 PM
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Sarah Buder
If You Only Have Three Days in London
Trying to plan a perfect three days in London? Although three days is never enough time, here’s what we suggest. Spend two days in the city’s heart; peruse Picassos and borrowed treasures at London’s best museums. Row through a royal park. Dig through kitchy Portobello Market. Spend a day taking in iconic London sights from Southbank before heading to East London for a taste of urban hip. End your three days with a sky-high cocktail and fabulous view over London.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
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Emma John
The Best of Glasgow
Glasgow, on the banks of the river Clyde, is the largest city in Scotland. Many people come for the vibrant live-music scene—but if club-hopping isn’t your thing, the contemporary arts, theater, and revitalized cuisine will keep you occupied.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
The Best Markets in London
Some of London’s markets are age-old. Others, like the Southbank, are almost brand-new. But as long as the weather’s fair, they’re a great place to hang out—and maybe grab a bargain.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
 · 
Emma John
The Best Bookshops in London
London has been a literary hub for hundreds of years. These bookshops are wonderful places to search through the spines—and keep the independent bookstore alive.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
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Emma John
A Perfect Day in London
A perfect day in London starts with breakfast at the elegant Delaney or Borough Market. Walk past London culture, history and street life along Southbank. Enjoy a birds-eye view of London from a capsule on the London Eye, the top of the Tate or outside the dome of St. Pauls. Indulge in a pint or afternoon tea before ending your perfect day at one of London’s West End shows.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
 · 
Emma John
The Best Places to Take Tea in London
It’s hard to choose the best place to take tea in London. Should you take afternoon tea in the lush, sophisticated surroundings of London’s best hotels, with a view over London’s iconic landmarks or in Soho’s secret tea room? No matter the setting, you’ll spend afternoon tea enjoying tiny sandwiches, warm scones, tiny cakes and pots of jam and clotted cream.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
 · 
Emma John
The Essential Guide to Edinburgh
Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh is history incarnate. The Old Town features well-preserved medieval architecture and design, while across a deep valley, the New Town—misleadingly named considering it dates to the 19th century—is a marvel of Georgian buildings and public squares. Other city highlights include Edinburgh Castle, the National Galleries of Scotland, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
 · 
Barry Steven Shelby
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