25 great things to do in Great Britain

Stonehenge, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, (photo by Corrie Wingate)
Stonehenge, near Salisbury in Wiltshire


To celebrate the publication this March (1 April 2012 in the US) of our new edition of Insight Guide Great Britain, we thought we'd share 25 recommendations for places to visit and things to do in England, Scotland and Wales:

 

1. Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon

The home town of Britain’s greatest playwright has lovely timbered houses and a famous theatre.

 

2. Buckingham Palace

View the art collection, the State Rooms and the horse-drawn coaches at the Queen’s London residence.

 

3. The Eden Project

Lush vegetation thrives in the tropical climate simulated within these futuristic greenhouses in Cornwall.

 

4. British Museum

One of the world’s largest museums charts human culture back to prehistory in London's elegant Bloomsbury district.


5. Tate Modern

An art museum in a disused power station is one of London’s most popular attractions.


6. The Royal Crescent

Bath’s semi-circle of houses is a wonder of Georgian architecture.

 

7. London department stores

Harrods, Selfridges & Co and the like are one-stop wonders for shopaholics.

 

8. Stonehenge

No one quite knows why this spectacular prehistoric monument near Salisbury in Wiltshire was first built.

 

9. Royal Mile, Edinburgh

The historic thoroughfare linking the Castle with Holyrood Palace.

 

10. King’s College Chapel, Cambridge

Hear the college's world-class choir in an exquisite building in one of England's top university towns.

 

11. Changing the Guard

A chance to see a colourful display of military discipline and pomp in London.

 

12. Brighton Royal Pavilion

The exotic palace in this south-coast English resort was created by the profligate George IV.


13. Portmeirion

A quaint village in Wales with buildings made from architectural salvage.

 

14. High tea at The Savoy

Treat yourself to tea, scones, strawberries and champagne at this top London hotel.

 

15. York Minster

Gothic splendour makes York's cathedral one of the country's greatest medieval buildings.

 

16. Premier League football

Experience Britain’s football fever at a live game.

 

17. Chatsworth House

See how the other half live at one of Britain’s grandest stately homes in the heart of Derbyshire's Peak District National Park.

 

18. Hiking in the Lake District

The hills and lakes of Cumbria provide rewarding terrain for walkers.

 

19. Legoland

This theme park near Windsor is great fun for the whole family and very popular with kids.

 

20. St Andrews Golf Club

Perhaps the most famous course in Scotland, the homeland of golf.

 

21. Hay-on-Wye

Bibliophiles flock to the Welsh Borders for Hay's bookshops and celebrated annual literary festival (10 May–31 June 2012).

 

22. Buxton

In the Peak District National Park, this Derbyshire spa town is famous for Georgian architecture and its opera festival.

 

23. Fine dining at Bray

This pretty Thameside town has two Michelin-starred restaurants, Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck and the Roux family's Waterside Inn.

 

24. Tower of London

Meet the Beefeaters and view the Crown Jewels at this Norman fortress.

 

25. Kelvingrove Art Gallery

Just one of the many outstanding art museums in Glasgow.