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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
A rending of Virgin's forthcoming high-speed train
Trending News
Virgin Unveils Plans for New High-Speed Trains That Could Shake Up European Rail Travel
Virgin Group has laid the groundwork for its latest travel endeavor: high-speed rail that will operate from London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, and compete directly with Eurostar.
October 15, 2026 06:01 PM
 · 
Bailey Berg
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London’s Most Famous Landmarks Are Becoming Luxury Hotels—Including a Spectacular New Waldorf Astoria
October 14, 2026 01:51 PM
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Looking out through the windows at new DiamondAir Lounge at Heathrow Airport with views of the runway
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Heathrow Just Opened an Exclusive New Airport Lounge—but It’s Not in the Airport
October 5, 2026 05:39 PM
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An aerial view of the Oceania Vista cruise ship sailing
Cruise News
Oceania Is Launching a First-Ever Entirely Gluten-Free Cruise, and It Will Sail the British Isles
September 10, 2026 05:35 PM
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Portmeirion Wales
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This Buzzy, Storybook Town in Wales Looks More Like Italy Than the U.K.
September 4, 2026 09:27 AM
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HOTELS
Terrace rooms and Brasserie Angelica showcase the Newman's blend of design, dining, and neighborhood connection.
Stay Here Next
This New Hotel Feels Like London at Its Most Local
Opened in February 2026, the Newman is an independent hotel that puts guests in the heart of Fitzrovia, a character-rich London neighborhood that visitors often overlook.
June 19, 2026 12:14 PM
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Lucy Kehoe
Rooftop pool opposite white column smokestacks above a power station, reflecting in the water
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Hotels We Love
The Most Stylish London Hotels for Under $300 a Night
London may be one of the world’s most expensive cities, but these 13 hotels prove you don’t need a luxury-hotel budget to stay somewhere stylish.
June 2, 2026 02:15 PM
 · 
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JW MARRIOTT PHOENIX DESERT RIDGE RESORT & SPA. PHXDR
JW MARRIOTT PHOENIX DESERT RIDGE RESORT & SPA. PHXDR
Hotels We Love
From French Polynesia to Paris, These 11 Hotels Around the World Are Getting Accessibility Right
The hotels on this list are as thoughtful about accessibility as they are about design, going beyond compliance to make travel more comfortable and intuitive for disabled guests.
April 3, 2026 02:01 PM
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A person in a winter coat and boots standing in the snow beneath the northern lights, with two domes in the background
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Hotels We Love
The 19 Best Hotels in the World for Stargazing
Sleep under the world’s darkest, clearest skies across six continents at one of these 19 dark sky zone hotels.
March 12, 2026 01:57 PM
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Exterior of the Langham, London.
Hotels
The Hotel Brand That Transformed Modern Hospitality
From Victorian London to Boston and Pasadena, Langham hotels continue to define timeless elegance and modern hospitality.
Sponsored by
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Our Most Memorable Hotel Stays of 2025: a Former Convent, a Cliffside Retreat, an Over-the-Top Penthouse Suite
Afar editors share the 2025 hotel stays they didn’t want to leave—and would happily return to.
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A guest room with a balcony at the Newman in London
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This New Independent London Hotel Has Art Deco Rooms, Chess Nights, and Sandwich Trolleys
Opening in February 2026 just north of London’s West End, the Newman takes cues from Fitzrovia’s bohemian history, balancing thoughtfully designed rooms with street-facing spaces meant to be shared.
December 18, 2025 01:02 PM
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The 8 Best Places for an Epic Multi-Generational Trip—and Where to Stay
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May 16, 2025 02:12 PM
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Is This the Future of Luxury Hotels? This Hotel CEO Weighs In
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.
March 7, 2025 11:49 AM
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24 Wellness Resorts and Hotels You Should Book Right Now
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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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COVID + Travel
England Has Reopened to Travelers—Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Vaccinated travelers from the U.S. no longer need to quarantine—but there are still some rules to follow.
July 29, 2021 04:15 PM
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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
 · 
Jill Lawless
Hotels
The 5 Most Exciting London Hotel Openings in 2021
When London reopens to the world, these new hotels—stylish townhouses, global brands, and a refreshed grande dame—will be waiting.
July 14, 2021 12:34 PM
 · 
Annie Fitzsimmons
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 6, 2021 11:29 PM
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COVID + Travel
U.K.’s Heathrow Airport Opens Terminal for High-Risk Travelers
As of June 1, travelers arriving from a “red list” of coronavirus hot spots will pass through the London airport’s Terminal 3.
June 2, 2021 02:53 PM
 · 
Jill Lawless
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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 7, 2021 03:43 PM
 · 
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
Glasgow’s Coolest Neighborhoods
Although far from intimidating, Glasgow is still big enough to facilitate several days of exploration. Its different areas all have their own fascinating quirks and highlights. From the gritty East End of the city, containing such places as Glasgow Green and Barrowlands, to city center enclaves such as Garnethill and Merchant City, to the leafier environs of the West End and Southside, the city boasts a wealth of possibilities in every direction.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
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The Best Restaurants + Foodie Experiences in London
London is home to some of the world’s top restaurants and greatest chefs, as well as a diverse ethnic culinary scene and a seemingly endless supply of gastropubs and pop-ups. So throw away tired cliché’s about British food and embrace the best foodie experiences in London. Sample the culinary delights of East London, explore traditional and trendy markets and support the emerging farm to table scene with these excellent restaurants and foodie experiences that visitors to the city won’t want to miss.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
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Emma John
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