Updated · On BootsnAll since 1999 · History
Overview and Things to Consider
The United Kingdom comprises four countries - England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland - each really distinct. London is remarkably a global city with museums, theater, and chaos. England is notably green with countryside charm. Scotland is seriously dramatic. Wales is distinctly castled. Northern Ireland is especially friendly.
English is the native language but accents are truly varied. The culture is really reserved but remarkably polite. Food has notably improved. Beer culture is seriously central. The weather is distinctly unpredictable. Everything runs on time and especially efficiently.
Getting There and Around
London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted) handle most international flights. Trains are excellent - the National Rail system is comprehensive and modern. The London Underground is truly efficient. Buses cover entire country cheaply. Flying within the UK is sometimes cheaper than trains for long distances.
Renting a car is useful for countryside and Scotland exploration. Driving is on the left side. The road system is excellent. Walking is really central to experience - cities are walkable. The Railcard pass offers discounts for multiple journeys.
What's Changed Since 2016
Brexit has remarkably affected the country. Immigration policies have changed. London tourism has remained strong but congestion has increased. Food and restaurant scene has notably improved. Craft beer culture has seriously expanded. Museums remain distinctly world-class.
Digital infrastructure is excellent. Environmental consciousness is growing - public transportation is increasingly prioritized. Prices have climbed noticeably. The national identity is especially being redefined. Regional differences remain truly strong.
Ideas to Consider for Your Visit
London's museums are really world-class - British Museum, Natural History, V&A are remarkably excellent and notably free. Big Ben and Parliament are seriously iconic. The Thames is distinctly pleasant for walks. Soho and neighborhoods are especially livable.
Edinburgh's castle is truly dramatic. The Lake District is really beautiful. The Cotswolds are remarkably charming. Wales has notably dramatic castles. Northern Ireland's Titanic Museum is seriously impressive. The countryside is distinctly green.
Fish and chips are especially iconic - finding genuine ones is rewarding. Roasts are truly good. Indian food is really excellent (curry is cultural now). Beer culture is remarkably important. Tea is notably cultural.
Realities to Be Aware Of
London is seriously expensive and distinctly crowded. The weather is especially unpredictable - rain is common. The food quality varies wildly. The culture is reserved - British reserve is truly real. Driving is really left-sided.
Some attractions require booking weeks ahead. Public holidays dramatically affect opening times. Heating in accommodations can be remarkably poor. The countryside is notably inaccessible without transportation. Some regional accents are seriously difficult to understand.
If United Kingdom Is Part of a Longer Trip
The UK pairs naturally with continental Europe - ferries connect to France, Belgium, Netherlands. Flights connect everywhere. A UK and France combination is distinctly natural. A UK and Ireland combo works with ferries.
A week covers London and one regional area. Two weeks allows comprehensive exploration. The UK is especially large - seeing everything requires significant time. Each country (England, Scotland, Wales, NI) deserves attention.
Yearly Things to Consider
May through September are ideal - warm and accessible. June and July are hot and truly crowded. April and October are mild with fewer tourists. November through March are cold and grey. Winter offers Christmas markets and seasonal charm.
Royal events and ceremonial dates affect tourism. Chelsea Flower Show (May) is major. Edinburgh Festival (August) is massive. Royal Ascot (June) attracts crowds. Christmas markets (November - December) are charming. Bank holidays affect businesses.
Ideas for Itineraries
Five Days: London Essential
Days 1 - 4: Museums, Big Ben, Parliament, Thames walk, neighborhoods. Day 5: Day trip to Stonehenge or Windsor.
Seven Days: London and Scotland
Days 1 - 4: London. Train to Edinburgh. Days 5 - 7: Edinburgh Castle, Old Town, Highlands day trip.
Ten Days: England and Scotland Mix
Days 1 - 4: London. Days 5 - 6: Lake District or Cotswolds. Days 7 - 10: Edinburgh and Highlands.
Two Weeks: UK Island Tour
Days 1 - 4: London. Days 5 - 7: Cotswolds or Lake District. Days 8 - 11: Edinburgh and Highlands. Days 12 - 14: Wales or Northern Ireland or return.
From the BootsnAll archive
2 stories and articles about United Kingdom
- Planning a UK Working Holiday (1 of 2)
Article · Alicia Powell
- 3 UK Cities Worth Visiting Outside London
Article · Helen Moat · Belfast
Cities in United Kingdom
FAQ
Yes, remarkably. The museums are notably world-class and free. The city is seriously interesting. But it's distinctly expensive and especially crowded.
truly expensive - London especially. Budget 100 - 150 euros daily minimum. Outside London is cheaper. Hotels are really premium-priced.
No, trains are excellent. For countryside exploration, remarkably useful. Trains are worth the cost for their quality.
Genuine fish and chips, roasts, Indian curry (notably British now), and proper tea. Food quality has seriously improved.
Yes, distinctly. Free entry. World-class collections. Enormous - multiple visits recommended.
A week covers London and one region. Two weeks allows genuine exploration. The UK is large - comprehensive travel requires 2 - 3 weeks.
Yes, truly unpredictable. Rain is common. Pack layers and rain gear. Summer is really pleasant.
Yes, remarkably distinct. Edinburgh is notably worth several days. The Highlands are seriously dramatic. Different culture from England.
Update history (29)▸
· Rewrite
Updated for modern frameworks, with content updates and changes
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
1 member blog post from 1 blogger
- 2016: 1 post from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
1 message-board post from 1 traveler
- 2015: 1 post from 1 traveler in the UK & Ireland Travel forum (source)
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
2 message-board posts from 2 travelers and 1 member blog post from 1 blogger
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees: all content and prices updated September 2013
· Contributors
25 message-board posts from 9 travelers and 10 member blog posts from 3 bloggers
· Contributors
11 message-board posts from 5 travelers and 16 member blog posts from 5 bloggers
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
19 message-board posts from 15 travelers and 25 member blog posts from 9 bloggers
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
25 message-board posts from 20 travelers and 46 member blog posts from 13 bloggers
· Contributors
33 message-board posts from 23 travelers and 87 member blog posts from 20 bloggers
· Archive
Travel guide on BootsnAll, at a new address
Archived copy of /Europe-United-Kingdom· Contributors
3 articles, by Bill Compton, Jeanette Bergman and Christian Stanger, plus 200 message-board posts from 74 travelers and 134 member blog posts from 28 bloggers
- August 2008: A Guide to Surviving Edinburgh’s Festival Season - Scotland, UK … - Bill Compton (article) (source)
- August 2008: English Breakfast - London, England, UK - Jeanette Bergman (article) (source)
- November 2008: A Day at the Tower of London - England, United Kingdom, Europe - Christian Stanger (article) (source)
- 2008: 134 posts from 28 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
- 2008: 200 posts from 74 travelers in the UK & Ireland Travel forum (source)
· Contributors
288 message-board posts from 103 travelers and 261 member blog posts from 55 bloggers
· Contributors
136 message-board posts from 59 travelers and 246 member blog posts from 65 bloggers
· Contributors
38 message-board posts from 30 travelers and 206 member blog posts from 38 bloggers
· Contributors
6 message-board posts from 5 travelers and 36 member blog posts from 5 bloggers
· Contributors
Anthony St. Clair, BootsnAll staff, contributed to this guide from 1999 through 2003
· Contributors
1 story, by Bid and Renée
- August 2002: Chasing the Sun #2: Running from the Rain in June and July - UK to Finland - Bid and Renée (story) (source)
· Contributors
6 Insider dispatches, 1 article, by Carita Groundstroem, Malcolm Blakey and Alicia Powell
- August 2001: An Insider's Guide to Festive Edinburgh (1 Aug 2001) - Scotland, UK - Carita Groundstroem (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2001: Edinburgh's International Arts Festivals - Scotland, UK - Malcolm Blakey (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2001: How to Put on a Fringe Play (15 Aug 2001) - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Carita Groundstroem (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2001: I Want to be Mikhail Baryshnikov (16 Aug 2001) - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Carita Groundstroem (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2001: Mama Mia - Here I Go Again! (7 Aug 2001) - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Carita Groundstroem (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2001: Military Tattoo (2 Aug 2001) - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2001: Planning a UK Working Holiday (2 of 2) - Alicia Powell (article) (source)
· Contributors
7 Insider dispatches, 8 articles, by Bill Compton, Anthony St. Clair, The Global Travellers and 2 others
- April 2000: A Guide to Surviving Edinburgh's Festival Season - Scotland, UK - Bill Compton (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2000: A Golden Night - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Anthony St. Clair (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2000: Festivals Bring Edinburgh Alive - Scotland, UK - Anthony St. Clair (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2000: Fireworks End Festive August - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Anthony St. Clair (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2000: Fringe No Longer Alone - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Anthony St. Clair (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2000: On the Streets - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Anthony St. Clair (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2000: Tim and Mari’s World Tour - Ireland and the UK - The Global Travellers (article) (source)
- August 2000: Tips for Festival Fitness - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Anthony St. Clair (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
- August 2000: WWOOF’ing It in the UK - Scott Hertzberg (article) (source)
- September 2000: Dubai to Marbella via the UK (1 of 6) - Peter Cleife (article) (source)
- September 2000: Dubai to Marbella via the UK (2 of 6) - Peter Cleife (article) (source)
- September 2000: Dubai to Marbella via the UK (3 of 6) - Peter Cleife (article) (source)
- September 2000: Dubai to Marbella via the UK (4 of 6) - Peter Cleife (article) (source)
- September 2000: Dubai to Marbella via the UK (5 of 6) - Peter Cleife (article) (source)
- September 2000: Dubai to Marbella via the UK (6 of 6) - Peter Cleife (article) (source)
· Contributors
2 Insider dispatches, by Ellie Hothersall, plus 4 message-board posts from 1 traveler
· Contributors
Chris Heidrich, BootsnAll co-founder, has contributed to this guide since 1999, including dispatches from BootsnAll and AirTreks travelers