United Kingdom

A four-in-one destination (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), the U.K. offers beautiful, memorable, and accessible nature, some of the best museums in Europe, and a flourishing food scene far beyond mushy peas or beans on toast. Its landscapes are unparalleled and diverse—think craggy mountain peaks, ancient forests dripping with moss and ferns, and cool glassy lakes increasingly popular for wild swimming.

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Overview

Planning your trip

Use these articles, resources, and guides to plan and inspire your next trip to the United Kingdom.

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Read Before You Go
Hotels
The luxury hotel industry is changing fast. The Langham Hospitality Group CEO Bob van den Oord discusses how his brand is adapting—and what the future holds for high-end travel.
These are the 24 hotels we recommend most for wellness.
Open to the public who book hotel rooms and suites, the Twenty Two is also opening its second location in NYC this fall.
Sleek design. Hot chefs. Prime location. The alluring new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is the first new hotel to open in this London neighborhood in a decade.
From lobby bars to rooftop lounges, these are the hotel bars Afar editors love checking out when they’re checking in.
These historic villas and apartments across England and Ireland evoke the romantic spirit of the hit Netflix romance series.
British luxury hotel group Maybourne has opened the Emory, London’s first all-suite hotel, next to Hyde Park.
Omer Acar, the CEO Raffles and Fairmont, shares his vision behind the recent growth of both luxury hotel brands and talks about what great hospitality truly means. (Spoiler alert: It’s all about people.)
Take glamping to a whole new level at one of these bubble hotels and vacation rentals, many with see-through roofs for stargazing.
AFAR’s picks for the 31 best new hotels in the world.
These five concierges in Paris, Hong Kong, Cape Town, London, and Marrakech reveal their favorite city itineraries that they usually only share with guests.
Lace up your hiking boots: These vacation rentals are perfectly situated for adventurers who love to explore on foot.
At the Fife Arms in the Scottish Highlands, the artwork is extraordinary and the afternoon tea might involve whisky.
The new Raffles London at the OWO already feels like a grande dame.
As the city undergoes a hotel boom in the run-up to the Coronation, we round up the 15 best hotels, classic and contemporary alike.
In honor of the third season of the hit Apple TV+ show—out March 15—Airbnb is launching a very special overnight stay for a few lucky fans.
When London reopens to the world, these new hotels—stylish townhouses, global brands, and a refreshed grande dame—will be waiting.
Put down your pint and head upstairs to find comfortable beds, cool designs, and maybe a cozy fireplace or reading nook. Could pubs with rooms be the perfect alternative to big chain hotels?
From a historic ship-turned-hotel docked in Edinburgh to the first Four Seasons in Greece, these are the 10 best new hotels opening across Europe in the new year.
There are plenty of exciting hotel openings, exhibits, and more to discover in the U.K.’s capital from now until the end of the year.
Didn’t make the guest list? (We didn’t either.) You can still get in on the fun with these royal wedding weekend hotel packages in the U.S. and the U.K.
The Room with a View package offers a daredevil drop from the St. Giles Hotel’s 164-foot-tall central tower.
Relax, reset, and recharge at the following hotels—each is ideal for a (long) weekend escape.
These well-curated hotel shops will give you a sense of place and a lasting memory.
A stay at the iconic St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London is a must for any train buff.
Monachyle Mhor in Scotland’s Trossachs National Park
There are thousands of traditional Japanese inns with hot springs across Japan. This hot spring lodge is part of a decade-old Japanese pastime.
Resources to help plan your trip
Make the most of your readerly passions at these global cities recognized for their vibrant literary communities.
From the stand-ins for Windsor Castle to Balmoral, these are the places where many critical scenes were shot—and that fans of the hit Netflix show can visit IRL.
Indulge your medieval castle fantasies in Europe.
Here are eight places for experiencing the paranormal, from centuries-old castles to an island of decaying dolls.
The new cost is part of the U.K.'s forthcoming Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, which will be required of all noncitizens entering the country, including U.S. travelers.
Pride Month in New York left me feeling jaded. A hop across the pond helped me newly see the value of celebrating LGBTQ community.
Charming French châteaux or windswept Irish vistas? Norwegian fjords or Welsh beaches? Europe’s best drives offer it all.
Whether you’re a wildlife-watcher, hiker, or a plain-old sun-worshipper, there’s a gorgeous beach waiting for you somewhere on the globe.
London’s dining scene is having a golden moment.
Stone circles, buzzing cities, and the castle from Bridgerton all feature in our list of favorite spots.
Two decades ago, one chef opened a restaurant in the tiny village of Cartmel. That decision would change the area forever.
Coronations, Eurovision finals—and that’s just in May.
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