Places to Go in the United Kingdom

By Ferne Arfin, About.com Guide to United Kingdom Travel

Dive into Shakespeare, dive shipwrecks off Scotland, dive into a vibrant street market, or dive into a plate of hand-dived scallops - whatever you enjoy on vacation, there's loads to see and do in England, Scotland and Wales.

The UK is small but packed with variety. It has brilliant white cliffs, gentle rolling countryside, remote rugged mountains and coasts, windswept fells, timeless islands, quaint villages, ancient market towns and vibrant cities. Here you'll find information, advice and inspiration about all kinds of places to go and things to do in the United Kingdom.

1. Best Bets for First Time Visitors
2. Food and Drink
3. Festivals and Seasonal Events
4. Arts and Entertainment
5. Royalty
6. Historic Homes and Stately Mansions
7. Museums, Exhibitions and Galleries

8. Gardens and Garden Shows
9. Family Fun
10. Sports
11. The Great Outdoors
12. Shopping
13. Nudism

Best Bets for First Time Visitors

There are so many different things to see and do in the United Kingdom. Where do you begin? If you've never been to the UK before - or you've never ventured beyond London - deciding where to go can seem overwhelming. Relax - it's pretty hard to make a mistake because there is something cool to do wherever you end up in England, Scotland and Wales. But, to get you started, here are a few of my own top picks and must-sees.

• An Even Dozen "Must-See" Places in the United Kingdom
• The Seven Wonders of the United Kingdom
• UK Day Trips - Short Easy Away Days From London

Food and Drink

There's a lot more than fish and chips on British tables these days. Raise a glass in a traditional pub, dine out in grand style, sample ethnic cuisines from the length and breadth of the British Commonwealth or bring the taste of Britain to your own kitchen with traditional recipes to try.

• Cheap Eats in the UK - 12 Money Saving Mealtime Ideas
• The English Pub Pundit Visits the Old Cross Pub
• The Turf Tavern - Inspector Morse's Oxford Local
• Finding Your Way in the Balti Triangle

• English Summertime Means Strawberries and Cream
• L'Ecole de Cuisine at Simpsons - Learn to Cook With a Master Chef
• Bangers and Mash to Cook at Home
• Romantic Restaurants with Rooms

Festivals and Seasonal Events

Plan your trip to take in one of the hundreds of festivals and special events that take place all over Britain. From celebrations of ancient traditions, to huge opera, theatre and rock festivals, something special is happening somewhere in England, Scotland, Wales and the Offshore Islands just about every day of the year.

• Festival Survival Guide - Top Tips for Glastonbury and the Music Festival Season
• Easter Egg Hunts and Easter Egg Rolls at Gardens and Stately Homes
• Romantic Inspirations for Lovers and Valentines
• New Year's is Hogmanay In Scotland - Where New Year's Lasts Four Days
• The Best Winter Fire Festivals in Scotland
• Quick Facts About the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

• Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
• Wimbledon Fortnight
• Royal Ascot
• The Chelsea Flower Show
• Glyndebourne Opera Festival - Britain's Most Elegant Opera Evenings

Arts and Entertainment

The UK has something for culture vultures of every persuasion. Theatre, literature, music and the visual arts are important elements of daily life in England, Scotland and Wales. Whether you're into Shakespearean theatre, Beatles nostalgia or indie music clubbing; the paintings of Old Masters or the latest art brat's unmade bed, you're bound to find your kind of entertainment amidst so much Great British creativity.

• The Royal Shakespeare Company - Where the Play's The Thing
• New Music and Old at the Cavern Club in Liverpool
• Clubbing and Nightlife in the UK

Royalty

Love them or hate them, Britain's Royals are impossible to ignore. Here's where you can satisfy your curiosity about Royal homes and palaces, find out how to attend annual Royal events, see Royal exhibitions and keep up with the comings and going of Britain's Royal Family, past and present.

• Plan a Visit to Balmoral - The Queen's Private Estate
• Royal Ascot - The Social Event of the Year
• Althorp - Princess Diana's Childhood Home

Historic Homes and Stately Mansions

Treasures, fabulous grounds, amazing collections and even menageries. Visiting UK's historic homes, palaces and mansions offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous of the past - and sometimes the present.

• Hardwick Hall, More Glass Than Wall
• Plan a Visit to Longleat
• Top 10 Stately Homes to Visit in the UK
• Plan a Visit to Traquair
• William Morris's Red House - English Home of the Arts&Crafts Movement

Museums, Exhibitions and Galleries

The UK has hundreds of outstanding museums. Whatever your interest - fine art, applied art, science, history, arms and armor, costumes, furniture, music and musical instruments, and more - there's bound to be several a world class museum collections in the United Kingdom.

• The IKON Gallery in Birmingham
• The Royal Armouries in Leeds
• Britains Best Museums and Galleries - A Guide to Collections Around the UK

Gardens and Garden Shows

English cottage gardens and the 18th century landscapes of Inigo Jones are justifiably famous all over the world. In the past, British horticulturalists traveled around the world to bring back rare and exotic specimens that would thrive in the UK's unique climates and microclimates. The gardens they created are bursting with pleasures to enjoy throughout the year and full of ideas to take home.

• Best Gardens to Visit
• Garden Design at The Red House of William Morris
• Plan a Visit to RHS Wisley
• Fountains Abbey and Studley Water Garden

Family Fun

If you're heading for the UK, don't leave the kids at home. There's plenty to do for the whole family, including animal parks that are SO MUCH FUN, great family accommodations, family friendly walking and cycling vacations, Viking centers and loads more.

• Longleat Safari Park - A Kid's Eye View
• Top 10 Family Attractions in the UK
• Car-free Cycle Routes in Scotland
• The Swannery - Up Close and Personal with Wild Swans in Abbotsbury
• Out and About in the UK National Parks

Sports

No true Brit ever let a little wet weather stand in the way of a day out sailing - or a football match for that matter. The British are a sporty bunch and there is plenty to enjoy as a spectator or a participant - regattas, tennis matches, famous horse races and horse shows; cycling, riding, skiing, even surfing. Pack your sporty gear and get moving.

• Wimbledon Fortnight
• The Grand National - The Greatest Steeplechase in the World
• Cowes Week - International Yacht Racing Round the Isle of Wight
• Dive the Shipwrecks of Scapa Flow

• The Henley Regatta - An Insider's Look
• Top Mountain Biking on the 7stanes Trails
• Golf in Scotland

The Great Outdoors

From the countryside to the coasts, the landscapes, national parks and beaches of the United Kingdom are wonderful places to explore throughout the year and in all kinds of weather.

• The Most Beautiful Beaches in Britain
• Quick Guide to the National Parks
• Loch Lomond - A Quick Guide to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
• A Quick Guide to Snowdonia National Park

• The Lake District at a Glance
• Hike the Jurassic Coast of Dorset
• The Countryside Code of England and Wales
• The Scottish Outdoor Access Code

Shopping

Napoleon called Britain a nation of shopkeepers. He probably meant it as an insult but, hey, it's a fair cop, Guv. The UK has some fabulous places to shop - for everything from cutting edge fashion to comforting classics. And the best part is you don't have to stay in London to find serious shop hound territory. So, get ready to whip out that plastic.

• Birmingham - Shopping Capital of the Midlands
• Luxury Discount Shopping
• Follow the Orkney Craft Trail
• Gift Buyers Guide

Nudism

Find nude beaches and learn about nude beach etiquette and nudity laws in Britain.

• A Guide to UK Nude Beaches
• Morfa Dyffryn in Wales
• Pednevounder in Cornwall
• UK Law on Public Nudity
• Nude Beach Behavior