When you think of Scotland’s (and UK’s) most well known water body, the first name that will pop up in your head is Loch Ness. The lake is also the home to one of the world’s most famous mythical creatures, the Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie. Around a million people visit this part of Scotland, with many hoping to get a glimpse of the legendary monster. Some search for a lifetime and never see it, while others claim to have spotted ‘something from the road’. A woman driving back from Inverness claimed to have seen a dark lump in the water of Loch Ness. The lump was slate-grey in colour and shiny. According to her, it looked like a boat that had turned upside down. A lady who lives by the corner of Loch Ness has claimed to have seen the monster 13 times. Even though Nessie’s existence has never been proven scientifically, nor have any claims of her sighting been made for decades, the mysterious charm attached to Loch Ness has still not dissipated. The work of the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition is very instrumental in that. Its displays relating to the famous ‘beastie’ and the surrounding area really add to the tourist-y charm of Loch Ness.

Loch Ness has been associated with occultism and mystery forever. In the seventeenth century, a devious black wizard had raised the dead in the Boleskine Graveyard near Loch Ness. The Minister of the parish was tasked with putting the re-animated bodies back in their grave. Famous occultist and black magician Aleister Crowley lived in the Boleskine House on the south-western side of the Loch Ness. At one point of time, Crowley was infamously known as the ‘wickedest man in the world’. He had claimed to do a lot of black magic rituals which had left the house filled with demons and creatures from beyond. Crowley himself said that his black magic had gone ‘out of control’ in the Boleskine house. In his book, The Confessions of Aleister Crowley, he said that “in order to perform the operations the first essential is a house in a more or less secluded situation. There should be a door opening to the north from the room of which you make your oratory. Outside this door, you construct a terrace covered with fine river sand. This ends in a ‘lodge’ where the spirits may congregate.” The ritual’s purpose was to summon a person’s ‘guardian angel’. Crowley’s lodge-keeper Hugh Gillies suffered an incredible amount of personal tragedies during his stay at the Boleskine house, including the death of two of his children. Crowley described the Boleskine house as follows: “It was long low building. I set apart the south-western half for my work. The largest room has a bow window and here I made my door and constructed the terrace and lodge. Inside the room I set up my oratory proper. This was a wooden structure, lined in part with the big mirrors which I brought from London”. Crowley left the house in 1913 and moved to a much more modest cottage near Falkirk.

After a string of lesser known owners, the Boleskine house received its next famous owner in the year 1970. Jimmy Page, guitarist of the legendary band Led Zeppelin, who was also extremely interested in Aleister Crowley’s life and work, bought the Boleskine house at the shores of Loch Ness. Page felt that the house’s alleged ‘possessed and haunted’ atmosphere would be a great place to write songs. However, after restoring the house, Page didn’t spend much time in it and it was left under the care of his friend Malcolm Dent. He claimed to have experienced a lot of paranormal activities inside the house throughout his stay, including the ‘worst night of his life’.

Loch Ness and its mythical legends have forever tantalised a lot of hard rock and heavy metal artists over the years. Legendary British heavy metal band Judas Priest released a 13 minute long epic song titled Lochness in their 2004 album Angel of Retribution.

Engaging tales of monsters and madmen aside, Loch Ness is extremely beautiful, especially around the beautiful ruins of Urquhart Castle on its shoreline. Loch Ness stretches along the Great Glen, a fault line where the collision of tectonic plates created the surrounding mountains. With a depth of 755 feet, Loch Ness is Scotland’s second deepest loch. Loch Ness and its surrounding attractions are not very far from Scotland’s major cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh and can be reached on day tours from either city.

Here are the eight best things to see and do around Loch Ness.

1. Nessie: The world famous legend of the Loch Ness monster

St. Columba, an Irish missionary, is said to have been the first person to encounter the oldest inhabitant of Loch Ness, when the monster dragged the (soon-to-be) saint into the impenetrable depths. Afterwards, during the 16th century, Hector Boece wrote in The History of Scotland that a “terrible being” had suddenly emerged from the waters of Loch Ness and swallowed three men alive.

It took very long for the next recorded sighting to take place. Over 300 years actually. The next Nessie sighting happened in 1933 when a couple sitting on the north bank saw a strange, writhing creature cross the road right in front of them. A number of snapshots and eyewitness reports followed, not to mention a growing stream of visitors. Most descriptions say it resembles a large sea reptile with a long neck, a small head, fins, and several humps. Alex Campbell, a water bailiff for the Loch Ness and a part-time journalist, published an article about the Loch Ness monster in 1933. The article was titled Strange Spectacles in Loch Ness. In the year 2017, The Courier published an excerpt from that article: “The creature disported itself, rolling and plunging for fully a minute, its body resembling that of a whale, and the water cascading and churning like a simmering cauldron. Soon, however, it disappeared in a boiling mass of foam. Both onlookers confessed that there was something uncanny about the whole thing, for they realised that here was no ordinary denizen of the depths, because, apart from its enormous size, the beast, in taking the final plunge, sent out waves that were big enough to have been caused by a passing steamer.”

The most well known and circulated picture of Nessiteras Rhombopteryx (yes, the mythical Nessie also has a zoological name) came from the lens of London based gynaecologist Robert Wilson. It was on April 19^th, 1934, when Dr. Wilson reported seeing ‘something in the water’ and took a snap. In the picture, the long neck of a monstrous creature had just emerged from the ice-cold water. It was later revealed that that Wilson belonged to a team who had set out to play a trick on the media.

Shortly before his death in 1993, Christian Spurling, one of the “conspirators,” admitted his part in the great deception. According to the Sunday Times, Spurling, an amateur woodworker, had rigged up a dinosaur dummy on a toy submarine. The ruse worked perfectly.

Very recently, scientists have speculated that the Loch Ness monster is probably a giant eel which resides in the waters.

2. The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition

Exhibits at the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition use audio-visual techniques and static displays to recount the evolutionary history of the region and its famed Loch Ness Monster. You can read up on the latest developments in the search for the monster and see depictions, newspaper headlines, and underwater photos. The most interesting display focuses on Operation Deepscan in 1987 and includes sonar readings from the murky waters of Loch Ness. The images seem to confirm the existence of something down there, and the study certainly didn’t rule out the existence of the beloved monster.

The center also features a café and gift shop, as well as a small hotel, and offers regular boat trips on the Deepscan research vessel itself for those interested in learning more about the monster and the loch while enjoying the spectacular scenery. Another monster-related exhibit is at the nearby theme park, Nessieland.

3. The Urquhart Castle

The impressive and romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle are located just a few minutes from the village of Drumnadrochit. The ruins of the old castle stand on a tongue of land jutting out into the waters of the Loch Ness. The castle has a beautiful backdrop of the Loch Ness lake and mountain. It was once one of Scotland’s largest and strongest fortifications. Today, it is the centre of many ancient myths. Dating from the 12th century, it was a typical example of a motte and bailey fortification, but in the 14th century, stone walls replaced the original wooden structure.

In the year 1509, James IV bequeathed the formidable castle to John Grant of Freuchie, who commissioned an extension to the castle’s keep. Unfortunately, at the end of the 17th century, the fortified and formidable castle fell victim to a fire and suffered heavy damages.

The Urquhart Castle often makes appearances on TV shows and movies. It was recently featured in an episode of the hit Outlander series. Visitors to the Urquhart Castle also have the option to enjoy on-site facilities such as a café, gift shop, and stunning views of the loch.

4. Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus, at the south end of Loch Ness, is a favourite spot for tourists for its picturesque setting on the Caledonian Canal. One of the top free things to do here is simply sitting alongside the water and watching the boats head out into the loch. Don’t forget to pop into the interesting Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre. It provides plenty of detail regarding the construction and subsequent history of this major feat of engineering.

The fortress gave the place its name and was built in 1715 to become the headquarters of the English General Wade in 1729. After changing hands a number of times, the greater part of it was demolished in 1876. Benedictine monks have since built an abbey and a highly regarded school on the site. Another nearby attraction is the magnificent waterfall at Foyers.

5. Spean Bridge

A little to the south of Loch Ness is the road to the village of Spean Bridge, offering splendid panoramas of the Caledonian fault and the northern side of Ben Nevis. Spean Bridge makes an excellent base for walks through the Glen Roy National Nature Reserve, with its “Parallel Roads,” as the terraces that run along the slope are called. These indicate the various water levels of a Pleistocene lake that was dammed by Ice Age glaciers. It’s also where you’ll find the Commando Memorial, a monument dedicated to the men of the British Commando Forces who trained at nearby Achnacarry Castle.

6. Loch Oich and Invergarry

The small and cute islands in Loch Oich to the south of Loch Lomond (yes the famous Scottish Whiskey which Captain Haddock loved in The Adventures of Tintin is named after this loch) are set against a backdrop of steep hillsides and make a wonderfully picturesque sight. On the west bank of the loch near a spring known as Tobar nan Ceann stands a remarkable memorial to a bloody incident that took place in the 17th century. Here, seven brothers were executed by beheading for the deaths of two members of the Keppoch family. Their severed heads were washed in the spring before being presented to the clan chief.

Invergarry is another good base for hill walkers and hikers. It is also a popular centre for anglers as well as horseback treks through remote Highland glens and mountain passes.

7. The Caledonian Canal

The Caledonian fault has been used for transport since Thomas Telford completed the Caledonian Canal in 1849 (after commissioning work in 1803). Stretching from Fort William and ending in the east at the town of Inverness, the canal spared ships from the hazardous northern route through the Pentland Firth between the Scottish mainland and the islands of the Orkneys.

Only a third of the Caledonian canal’s length is man-made, the major part of it consists of narrow lochs including Loch Linnhe; Loch Lochy; the small Loch Oich; and then the longest (and best-known), the 24-mile-long Loch Ness. When everything is taken into account, the canal (including lochs) extends to a distance 60 miles and passes through 29 locks, the most impressive group of which are the eight locks of Neptune’s Staircase. Today, it’s the leisure industry that makes the most use of the canal. Tourists in rental boats and canoes can be seen enjoying the magnificent scenery all along the waterway.

8. The Village of Drumnadrochit

At the head of Urquhart Bay on Loch Ness’s northern shore, the village of Drumnadrochit is a great place to start your exploration of Scotland’s most famous and mysterious lake. Aside from the many myths and legends of the Loch Ness, tourists can also explore the romantic ruins of the Urquhart Castle. You’ll find plenty of things to do here. In addition to guesthouses, bed-and-breakfasts, cafés, and gift shops, it’s home to the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, which tells the fascinating story of the loch’s most famous resident, Nessie.

It’s also a great place to take a boat cruiseto do some ‘monster spotting’ for yourself, go fishing, or simply enjoy the loch’s stunning scenery. The hard-to-pronounce village also serves as an extremely popular spot for horse riding and pony trekking excursions across the glorious Scottish Highlands.

One of the most naturally beautiful parts of the United Kingdom, the gorgeous Cotswolds stretch between just south of Stratford-upon-Avon and slightly south of Bath: making it an area of substantial size and giving every traveller a lot of things to do. The boundaries of the beautiful counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Warwickshire are covered under the Cotswold region. The Cotswolds are characterized by cute little small towns and villages built using the Cotswold stone (which gives the region its name). The Cotswolds are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (check out the pictures below and you will know why). The entire region is filled with rolling green hills, miniature canals, chocolate box cottages, low priced hotels and a really high standard of produce to tantalise everybody’s taste buds. So, if that’s got your travelling juices flowing, check out

The 10 best things to do in the Cotswolds:

1. Abbey House Gardens

Located in Malmesbury, the oldest town of England, the Abbey House Gardens are a privately owned country house garden.
The Abbey House Gardens are open daily between the months of April and September. The Abbey House Gardens are one of the chief attractions of the ancient Iron Age town of Malmesbury. The Abbey House Gardens are a Grade I listed building, and were extensively renovated during Tudor times. The public admission fee of £8 is for seeing the gardens rather than the house itself. The owners of the Abbey House Gardens are keen gardeners and naturists themselves. The owners also hold several ‘Clothing Optional’ days throughout the year. If you and your family are not used to nudity or easily offended, do check on this before visiting the Abbey House Gardens or you might end up seeing way more than you bargained for. Once you are done with the sightseeing, you can enjoy the delicious refreshments at the Coy Carp Cafe. The cafe is named so because visitors can enjoy their cup of tea while feeding a vast number of fish at the same time.

2. The Wild Rabbit

This extremely fancy pub with rooms is located in Chipping Norton. The Wild Rabbit is designed to be a cosy inn which serves as a home away from home. The rooms are extremely luxurious and the popular restaurant serves a delectable selection of Daylesford-farmed produce. Equipped with roaring fireplaces, organic food menu and soft Egyptian-cotton bedlinen, the Wild Rabbit checks on all the boxes for a quintessential posh English pub.

3. Westonbirt Arboretum

One of the most famous and important arboretums in the UK, the Westonbirt Arboretum forms part of a Grade I listed site on the register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest. Located just three miles from Tetbury, the Westonbirt Arboretum was established during Victorian times. Co-incidentally, the Westonbirt Arboretum backs right onto Prince Charles’s Highgrove Estate. The Westonbirt Arboretum is spread over 600 acres and contains over 18,000 trees and shrubs. It’s divided into two sections, ‘The Old Arboretum’ and ‘Silk Wood’. The Silk Wood is a traditional woodland, and the Old Arboretum is meticulously designed with stately avenues lined with rare and exotic trees. The Old Arboretum also features an illuminated trail which runs through it every December as a part of the Christmas celebrations. The Westonbirt Arboretum is beautiful across all four seasons and has something beautiful to offer for tourists throughout the year. Admission charges are £8 for adults.

4. Arlington Row

Located in Bibury, Arlington Row has been described as ‘the most beautiful village in England’ by William Morris. No trip to the Cotswolds can be complete without visiting the Arlington Row. It is easily one of the most photographed sites in England. This row of 14^th century stone cottages is quintessential Cotswolds.

5. Stow-on-the-Wold

Located right in the heart of the Cotswolds, Stow-on-the-Wold is a historic, picture-perfect and quintessentially Cotswolds town. It is very well known for having some of the UK’s very best antique shops. This cute and abundantly characterful town was once very well renowned for its wool trade. The town’s large market square used to feature up to 20,000 sheep being sold at one point of time. When in Stow-on-the-Wold, don’t forget to check out St. Edwards Church. It is very famous for it’s gorgeous north door, which is flanked by two ancient yew trees. It’s not hard to believe the rumour that this Fairytale-esque feature inspired Tolkien’s ‘Doors of Durin’ in Lord of the Rings. With a surprising number of superb delis and restaurants for such a small town, The Old Butchers is the local favourite. As the name suggests, it’s a former butchers and now restaurant, serving meat and seafood in equal measure.

6. Bourton-on-the-water

A perennial feature on the ‘prettiest villages in Britain’ list, Bourton-on-the-Water is worth the detour to see its lovely high street with the beautiful river Windrush running through it. Cute little arched stone bridges run across the river, and a lit Christmas tree is erected in the middle of the river during December. Get those waterside selfies in and check out the nearby Dragonfly Maze (an elaborate hedge maze). Birdland Park and Gardens lie down the road, for every penguin or parrot fan. The gorgeous village also holds a cute farmer’s market on the fourth Sunday of each month.

7. Soho Farmhouse

Situated at Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, the Soho Farmhouse is a gorgeous member’s club spread across Oxfordshire’s scenic 100 acres countryside. Fortunately you don’t have to actually be a Soho House member to stay at this glorious farmhouse. ‘Farmhouse’ probably gives the wrong idea – with a Cowshed spa, onsite country pub, boathouse (with indoor and outdoor pools on a lake), multiple restaurants, cookery school, farmshop, kitchen garden and cinema, this is more of a luxurious resort. If the weather permits, you can go horse riding, play tennis, or go rowing. If it’s raining, huddle up by the log fire in the main barn, with a stiff drink to get you warmer. The hotel accommodation ranges from studio cabins (complete with little wood burners and porches) to bell tents, or even an entire farm house.

8. Kelmscott Manor

Located in Kelmscott, the Kelmscott Manor is the Cotswolds retreat of William Morris, his friends and family. Famous British textile designer (among numerous other things) William Morris loved Kemscott Manor so much that his wife purchased it after his death in 1896. His daughter May spent much of her adult life there, and the entire family is buried in the grounds of nearby St. George’s Church. Morris drew inspiration from Kelmscott Manor for many of his famous and significant designs and writings. With its beautiful gardens, barns, meadow and stream, it’s not difficult to understand Morris’s attachment to the house. The Kelmscott Manor is filled with furniture, original textiles, pictures and paintings, ceramics and metalwork. Fans of Morris’s distinctive textile designs will love the gift shop (pick up a cushion or throw blanket) and there’s an onsite tearoom, too. The Kelmscott Manor is must-see for Pre-Raphaelite aficionados.

9. Tisanes Tea Rooms

Located in Broadway, Tisanes Tea Rooms are inside a gorgeous 17^th century stone building. In the modern world of Starbucks, traditional English tearooms are few and far between. Fortunately, the Tisanes Tea Rooms is an old fashioned Cotswolds establishment that will transport you straight back to the 1940s (minus the war). The Broadway setting is as picturesque as one might expect, and the menu is comfortingly classic (well-priced, too). Pick up a cured ham sandwich, a scone and jam and choose from an extensive array of over 30 different teas during your visit to the Cotswolds. While in the area, pop into The Gordon Russell Museum. Celebrating the work of the renowned furniture designer, the museum was opened in 2008 by Sir Terence Conran and is housed in the original Grade II listed drawing office and workshop. The shop has a spectacular collection of work by local craftsmen, including (but not limited to) stylish home furnishings.

10. Whichford

The gorgeous village of Whichford and its surrounding area is home to loads of magical brews, salvage yards and a pottery workshop. Visit the family-run Whichford Pottery to dine at their cosy café and pick up a hand-thrown, frost-proof flower pot. If you have some time on your hands and fancy making a day of the visit, walk a few minutes down the road to check out Cox’s Architectural Salvage Yard after Whichford Pottery. Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised with bargain finds, like Belfast sinks, reclaimed floor boards and quirky reclaimed bathroom fittings. Finish your day off with a trip to the local Cotswolds Distillery for a tour, tasting or to pick up a bottle of gin, whisky or (for the truly daring ones) absinthe.

The United Kingdom (UK) or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and a host of small islands and territories across the world (Falkland, Tristan da Cunha etc.). The UK is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The UK is brimming with diverse scenery and extraordinarily rich cultural heritage. The entire country is also filled with world-class art galleries, museums, and wonderfully maintained estates and castles (including a few which are supposedly ‘haunted’).

The beautiful and diverse United Kingdom (UK) is one of the easiest countries to explore and travel through. The country is smaller than the American state of Texas and the entirety of it can be covered by basing yourself in a major city like London or Liverpool. The country has an extensive network of motorways and a very good railway service which can be used for exploration with ease.

A quick, 90 minute train ride is all it takes to go from the modern metropolis of London to the old charm of Salisbury. A short bus ride from Salisbury takes tourists to one of UK’s most well renowned attractions, the Stonehenge. And if you want to travel through William Wallace’s Scotland, a one hour train ride is all it takes to travel between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland’s two largest cities.

So without further ado, here are the

10 best places to visit in the UK:

1. London: The Capital and the Heart of the UK

While you may be able plan a trip to the UK without visiting London, it’s definitely NOT advisable to do so. The UK’s sprawling and beautiful capital boasts plenty of attractions to keep all kinds of tourists busy. For those interested in learning more about the UK’s rich history, one of the top things to do in London is to visit the Tower of London. It is located very close to the world famous and spectacular Tower Bridge on the banks of the River Thames. This former palace and prison includes highlights such as the iconic 1,000-year-old White Tower, with its fascinating displays of armour and weaponry, and the Jewel House, home to the Crown Jewels of the British Monarchy.

Fans of Britain’s Royal Family will want to head to the fabled Buckingham Palace, London’s Royal home since the reign of Queen Victoria I. Once at the Buckingham palace, you can enjoy the colourful pomp of the Changing of the Guard or even take a tour of the Palace’s State Rooms (be sure to book in advance as they’re only open for a few weeks in a year).

Whitehall Road is another must-see in London. On this legendary street, tourists can see London’s iconic landmarks such as the Big Ben and the Parliament Buildings, as well as Westminster Abbey, scene of many a royal wedding. Another area to visit in London is South Kensington, home to the city’s best museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum, as well as the incredibly famous Harrods department store (supposedly the largest of its kind in the world). And no trip to London can be complete without a visit to the Trafalgar Square, home to the iconic Nelson’s Column and the National Portrait Gallery.

2. Edinburgh: Capital of Scotland

No trip to the UK can be complete without stepping foot in one of Scotland’s most attractive cities, the capital city of Edinburgh. It is one of the UK’s most visited destinations. While it has many well-preserved historic buildings, the city of Edinburgh is best known as the home of the majestic and glorious Edinburgh Castle. Perched high above the old city on a rocky promontory, the highlights of this 13th-century royal fortress include things and events such as the famous One O’Clock Salute, held daily at Half Moon Battery; the Scottish Crown Jewels in the Royal Palace; the Scottish National War Memorial; and the famous Stone of Destiny (the Stone of Scone), which only came back to Scotland after a 700 years stay in the English capital of London.

Once tourists reach the castle, they can easily explore the other famous and important historic sites in the city. The most notable among them is  the Old Town’s Royal Mile with its fine architecture, boutique shops, cafés, restaurants, and amazing art galleries. Aside from that, there is also the beautiful Palace of Holyroodhouse. Other highlights in Edinburgh include the broad Princes Street. It’s  popular for its shopping and dining options. It is also famous for the Royal Botanical Garden and the National Gallery of Scotland.

3. Medieval Salisbury and Ancient Stonehenge

The Stonehenge is one of the oldest sites on UNESCO’s revered ‘World Heritage Sites’ list. For all residents of the British Isles, the Stonehenge has been a place of pilgrimage for more than 4,500 years. It was believed to have been erected as a place of worship, but these days, the crowds consist of tourists drawn by the sheer scale of this magnificent monument to mankind’s ingenuity. It is also considered to be one of the wonders of the ancient world.

Stonehenge’s sprawling site covers an area of more than 20 square kilometres and boasts a state-of-the-art visitor centre. The centre offers a fascinating glimpse into the construction and history of Stonehenge. It will help if you can plan ahead and purchase a timed ticket for the day of your visit.

16 kilometres south of Stonehenge, is the beautiful medieval city of Salisbury. While in Salisbury, you can visit one of the UK’s most famous cathedrals, dating back to 1220 and home to an original Magna Carta. Afterwards, you can also wander around the old city centre with its numerous beautiful churches and historic medieval architecture.

4. Historic Town of Windsor

The historic town of Windsor, is just a short train ride to the west of London. It offers a plethora of fun things to do for all types of tourists. In addition to the spectacular Windsor Castle, the most famous of the UK’s royal castles, the town of Windsor also has a lovely Thames-side setting and many medieval half-timbered buildings along its quaint old cobblestone laneways.

The Windsor castle has served as the summer residence of British royalty for almost a thousand years (it was built by William the Conqueror in 1078) and is the world’s largest inhabited castle. Highlights of the castle include the splendid State Apartments with the Queen’s Gallery and dining hall, each feature magnificently painted ceilings and woodcarvings. The castle also features the St. George’s Chapel, famous as the home of the Knights and Ladies of the ancient Order of the Garter.

When you’ve had your fill of these historic buildings, you can head out and explore the castle’s large and beautiful grounds, which extend for almost 10 kilometres from one end to another. Here you can enjoy some truly memorable panoramic views over Windsor and its magnificent castle.

Aside from the castle, tourists can also head over to Legoland Windsor, a fun family resort built on 150 acres of parkland and just a short bus ride from the town centre. Royal Ascot, the UK’s most famous horse-racing venue, also lies in Windsor (plan your trip to coincide with the Royal Meeting held each June).

5. Lake district and the Cotswolds

The beautiful Cotswolds are undoubtedly one of the most photographed corners of the UK. Featuring 1,287 square kilometres of pristine and stunning countryside, the Cotswolds are just a day’s trip from London. The Cotswolds are very close to the old towns of Bath and Bristol. The Cotswolds feature some of the most heavenly parts of the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.

Your May Like : 10 Best Things to Do in the Cotswolds

Travelers usually visit the Cotswolds to experience a true taste of rural English life. The Cotswolds are filled with many quaint village greens and idyllic pasturelands. One of the most popular ways to soak up all of this natural beauty is via the area’s extensive trail network, including the excellent 16-kilometer-long Cotswold Way. Some other fun things to do are horseback riding and biking, or simply soaking up the history of popular market towns such as Castle Combe or Tetbury.

When you travel north of the Cotswolds, you arrive at another slice of ravishing English countryside. 1,448 square kilometres of spectacular English scenery: the Lake District National Park. Encompassing 12 of the country’s largest lakes (Windermere and Ullswater are the biggest), this region of the UK is great to explore on foot thanks to the fact that it features more than 3,218 kilometres of trails. Highlights include the highest mountain in England, the Scafell Pike, 978 meters above sea level, as well as its many picturesque towns including Grasmere.

6. University towns: Oxford and Cambridge

The UK has long been a centre of learning, with two of its most famous university towns also ranking highly as tourist destinations. An easy commute north of London-and just 128 kilometres apart-Cambridge and Oxford have for centuries been rivals for the title of the country’s top academic establishment. That rivalry is celebrated annually during The Boat Race, the famous rowing event between the teams of both universities. The race takes place each spring on the River Thames.

A planned visit to Cambridge will give tourists a chance to wander the UK’s largest collection of preserved historic buildings. Most of the buildings appear as you take a walk through Cambridge University‘s 31 colleges, the oldest of which was founded in 1284.

In addition to touring the stunning college grounds (only a handful of the university’s buildings offer tours), visitors to Cambridge should also take a punt along the River Cam, as well as explore the old town centre.

Oxford University’s 38 colleges are equally attractive, each set around a quadrangle and several inner courtyards along with chapels, dining halls, libraries, and student accommodations (some offer unique tourist accommodation packages, too). Oxford highlights include the Carfax Tower, with its fine views over the city centre, and the numerous fine old buildings of the town’s High Street.

7. Canterbury

When tourists visit the historic town of Canterbury in Kent, they immediately realise why this beautiful town is so loved by everyone. It’s just an easy hour long train ride from central London (or just minutes away from the EuroTunnel). For over 1,500 years, Canterbury has been a draw for pilgrims. It all started when St. Augustine started converting pagan Anglo Saxons to Christianity here in AD 597.

The city’s most famous attraction is the Canterbury Cathedral. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this stunning cathedral offers a plethora of architectural marvels to see.  It features some intricately carved masonry across its exterior and interior. The highlight of the Cathedral is the beautiful choir place with its statues of six English kings. Also of note are the exquisite Miracle Windows, dating from the 12th century and depicting scenes from the life of murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket.

Afterwards, be sure to spend time wandering the pedestrianized area of Old City Canterbury with its many preserved, historic, timber-framed buildings, particularly along Mercery Lane. Other must-sees include the Canterbury Tales, a fascinating look at the life and times of famous English poet Geoffrey Chaucer (aka the “Father of English Literature”), and the amazing Canterbury Roman Museum. The museum is built around the remains of an original Roman townhouse and it features some unique and beautiful mosaic.

8. Lochness and Inverness

Despite the fact that the legends of mythical monsters have largely been debunked (just don’t tell the locals), spectacular Loch Ness remains an extremely popular tourist attraction for travellers heading to Scotland. While it’s unlikely you’ll encounter any monsters, you will, however, be rewarded with seeing some of the UK’s most beautiful scenery.

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Highlights include the ruins of Urquhart Castle, overlooking the loch, one of Scotland’s largest fortifications (the current structure dates from the 14th century). For those wanting to learn more about the area’s many legends, the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition recounts its history, along with that of its monster, including details of ongoing searches for the elusive creature.

A little farther north is Inverness, which boasts numerous excellent attractions, including Inverness Castle, the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, and the late 19th-century St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

History buffs should also check out the Culloden Battlefield and Visitors Centre. It was in Culloden in 1746 that the English and Scots fought their last battle and where the fate of Scotland as a British dominion was determined. Also of interest are the gravestones of warriors from the Scottish clans, as well as the six-meter-high Memorial Cairn erected in 1881 to commemorate the battle.

9. Manchester and Liverpool

Featuring a spectacular international airport and some of UK’s most internationally renowned sites, Manchester is often the first stop for many visitors planning to explore northern England, Scotland, or Wales. Highlights of Manchester include Castlefield, which is extremely popular for its numerous well-preserved Victorian houses, canals, and Roman ruins, along with numerous old warehouses which now serve as trendy shops, hotels, and restaurants. Other attractions include Manchester Cathedral and the historic Town Hall, as well as a rich cultural scene that includes museums (Museum of Science and Industry), galleries (Manchester Art Gallery), and entertainment (Chinatown). Old Trafford, the home ground of the Manchester United Football Club is a must-see for all football fans.

Just an hour away from Manchester, is the fabled city of Liverpool. The city offers a lot of cultural excitement for tourists. After all, it is the town which gave the world its biggest band ever, The Beatles. All fans of the ‘fab four’ can get their fix of ‘Beatlemania’ in Liverpool. Some famous attractions include Beatles Story in the renovated Albert Docks area; the famous Cavern Club, where the band made its debut in 1961; as well as the former homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney (numerous walking tours and bus tours of Beatles sites are also readily available).

A visit to Liverpool also lets tourists explore the city’s numerous historic buildings. Tourists can also walk through the city’s  lovely gardens and parks. For the art and culture fans, Liverpool is loaded with great museums such as the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Museum of Liverpool, and world-class art galleries like the Walker Art Galleryand the Tate Gallery.

10. Cardiff: Capital of Wales

Despite its diminutive size when compared to Scotland and England, Wales contains some of the best tourist attractions of the UK. Wales features breath-taking scenery and offers a chance to indulge in fun outdoor adventures in its national parks. Wales also features a lot of historic castles to tantalize the history buffs.

Cardiff, the capital of Wales is a great place to sample everything that Wales has to offer. One of the city’s highlights and most famous tourist attractions, is the Cardiff castle. Located in the middle of the city and built on the ruins of an ancient Roman fort, parts of the current structure date as far back as 1090, with much of it restored in the 1800s. Highlights include the State Apartments, the Clock Tower, the Chapel, and a spectacular Banqueting Hall with its fine murals.

Afterwards, be sure to spend time wandering the city’s many old Victorian shopping arcades, the best of which can be found around The Hayes. Also worth checking out is Cardiff Bay. One of the UK’s largest redevelopment projects, this vast area is now home to numerous fine restaurants, theatres, galleries, and shopping opportunities, many of them housed in former warehouses on lovely Mermaid Quay.

Cardiff Bay is also the home of the World of Boats. It features a unique collection of sea going vessels from all across the globe. Another point of interest is the Techniquest, a fun science centre featuring a planetarium and theatre.