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.

Related Guides
READ BEFORE YOU GO
HOTELS
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.
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.)
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.
RESOURCES TO HELP PLAN YOUR TRIP
A new class of stylish trains debuting in 2026 promises immersive interiors, elevated dining, and scenic journeys across Europe and Asia.
From Victorian London to Boston and Pasadena, Langham hotels continue to define timeless elegance and modern hospitality.
We asked travel advisors where to go now, before the crowds catch on.
Whether you want to see a K-pop idol’s art collection in San Francisco, Keith Haring’s lesser-known sculpture in Arkansas, or Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits in Houston, these are the best museum exhibits to build a trip around in 2026.
From the Canary Islands to the South of France, these places are worth a visit when the crowds thin and the temperatures cool.
Afar editors share the 2025 hotel stays they didn’t want to leave—and would happily return to.
Preparing for major travel plans in 2026? Look to the stars.
Celebrate the 200th birthday of steam-powered railways on routes winding through Welsh peaks, along the Cornish coast, and into the Scottish Highlands.
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.
The onetime domestic carrier is rapidly expanding its global network with new flights to major cities in Europe and Asia.