Summary

The UK offers a wealth of destinations beyond London, with the Lake District, East Anglia, Somerset and The Cotswolds, and Scotland highlighted as areas rich in natural beauty, cultural significance, and historical landmarks.

Abstract

The article emphasizes the importance of exploring regions outside of London when visiting the UK. It suggests that travelers should not limit their experience to England's capital, as the country's relatively small size and extensive train network make it feasible to visit multiple areas. The Lake District is praised for its inspiring landscapes and outdoor activities, while East Anglia is noted for its coastal towns and cultural heritage. The Cotswolds are celebrated for their quintessentially English charm, and Somerset for its literary history and Roman baths. Scotland, particularly Edinburgh, Glencoe, and Glasgow, is recommended for its diverse attractions, including historical sites and filming locations from the Harry Potter series. The author encourages visitors to discover the UK's varied offerings, acknowledging that there are many more places worth exploring.

Opinions

The author loves London but insists that visiting the city alone does not equate to experiencing the whole of England or the UK.
The Lake District is considered a top destination in England, offering stunning natural scenery and a variety of activities for all interests.
East Anglia is underrated as a tourist destination, with its coastal towns, wildlife, and historical significance offering much to explore.
The Cotswolds and Somerset are recommended for those seeking the traditional English village experience and a rich tapestry of literary history.
Scotland is highly recommended, with Edinburgh's popularity justified by its attractions, and areas like Glencoe and Glasgow offering unique experiences away from the typical tourist trails.
The author believes that the UK's size makes it possible to visit several regions during a single trip, though they caution against trying to see everything in one visit.
The article suggests that the UK's diverse regions each offer a distinct experience, contributing to the richness of a trip beyond London.

There Is So Much More to the UK Than London

Please don’t let England’s capital be the only destination of your trip!

Don’t get me wrong — I love London. I’ve been there dozens of times, and it still feels like there is a never-ending list of things to see and do. So I’m certainly not writing any of this to discourage anyone else from visiting.

But as someone who has spent a significant amount of time in the UK (and even lived there for a couple of years), I also feel like it needs to be said — going to London doesn’t mean you’ve “experienced England.”

Obvious? Yes, it would seem so. Yet I’ve had some variation of the following conversation with numerous people:

“So I decided to visit the UK this summer!”

“That’s great! Where are you going?”

“To the UK, like I just said.”

“No, I mean, where within the UK.”

“Well…London.”

“Not the Lake District? Or the Peak District?”

“No.”

“Cornwall? Bath? Edinburgh?”

“Maybe Edinburgh…”

You get the picture.

The thing is, visiting the UK isn’t like visiting the US or Canada, where it could take days to get from one part of the country to the other. It’s a relatively small island. And there are trains that go just about everywhere. I’m not saying that it’s realistic or advisable to try to see everything in one visit — you probably shouldn’t attempt this unless you’re going to be in the UK for months — but it is absolutely possible to see a couple of cities over the course of a vacation.

So, here is a brief overview of some other areas of the UK that I’ve traveled to, and why I think they’re worth seeing.

Lake District

If I had to choose just one place to go in England, it would be the Lake District. With beautiful green mountains and shimmering lakes, it’s easy to see why so many writers and artists found inspiration there. If you enjoy hiking then you’re in for a treat, but even if that’s not your thing there’s plenty to see and do, from lake cruises to museums and historic homes. Grasmere, one of its towns, is also home to the original gingerbread!

East Anglia

AKA Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. Not many tourists head this way, or at least not past Cambridge, but it really is worth a visit. The coastal towns are lovely — Norfolk’s Horsey Beach is great for seal-watching, while Cromer has a beautiful cliff walk and some of the best fish and chips around. Norwich is a UNESCO city of literature, and one of the most well-preserved medieval cities in all of England. As an added bonus, the hotels tend to be a lot cheaper than other areas of the UK, since there are fewer visitors.

Somerset and The Cotswolds

Those quaint English villages you’ve seen on Christmas cards? The Cotswolds is where you’ll find them. Just to the southwest in Somerset is Bath, which is a beautiful small city with plenty of interesting history, including a close connection to many important literary icons (Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, and Charles Dickens, just to name a few). And, as its name suggests, it is home to the famous Roman baths, which you can still visit today.

Scotland

There’s so much to see in Scotland I could really devote a whole article to it. Edinburgh is the most popular destination — arguably for good reason — but the area around Glencoe is my personal favorite (and will undoubtedly be recognized by Harry Potter fans as the filming location for Hagrid’s hut). Glasgow I feel is quite underrated and deserves more credit, and (at least in my experience) isn’t so crowded with tourists.

Those are only a small handful of my favorite areas of the UK, and I’ll be the first to admit that there are a lot of amazing places that I’ve left out (like the entirety of Wales and Northern Ireland) simply to avoid making this into an epic novel-length article. But if any of you have spent time in the UK, what was your favorite place to visit? Let me know in the comments!