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.

Related Guides
Read Before You Go
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.
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
From honoring new beginnings to welcoming the harvest season, here are eight festivals and holidays that celebrate our stately friends.
JetBlue is also celebrating “Twosday” with fares as low as $349 round-trip to London.
Author Lauren Shockey’s colorful book presents hangover cures and remedies found across the globe, in the form of traditional and delicious dishes.
From a twist on the traditional British pub to charitable, eco-friendly hotels and dining in a prison, experience an alternative side of London that also supports its local communities along the way.
Escape the crowds in favor of the British country’s UNESCO sites, diverse landscapes, ruins, and undiscovered cities—and minimize your carbon footprint from the comfort of a train car at the same time.
There’s perhaps no better way to immerse yourself in Great Britain’s vibrant cities, UNESCO sites, and gorgeous countryside than on two feet. Whether taking urban strolls, hiking the coast, or ambling through pastoral greenery, you’ll meet local people, slow down, truly take it all in, and increase your steps—all while lowering your carbon footprint.
From England’s Stonehenge to Welsh and Scottish castles, Great Britain has plenty to offer travelers seeking history, culture, and true adventure. Here, three enlightening tours on which visitors can experience Great Britain in all its glory.
Years after chef Zoe Adjonyoh started her Ghanian restaurant in London, she decided it was time to return to the country where her father was born to learn more about the food—and her long-lost relatives.
Departing from London Victoria Station, the newly reimagined Cygnus carriage on the British Pullman is very intentionally Wes Anderson.
The first transatlantic JetBlue flights from JFK to Heathrow are finally operating.
The latest additions—from Europe’s great spa towns to a nearly 100-year-old railway in Iran—are definitely worthy of a detour or even planning your next trip around.
The English city has been on the United Nations’ culture organization’s heritage in danger list since 2012 amid concerns that modern development was marring the historic character of its docklands.
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