The classic of the tourist genre, good old England is constant to the point of impossibility! Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, the constant five-o-clock, double-decker buses and bright red telephone booths and the battle of Big Ben, without which London is hard to imagine and understand. The Scots with their bagpipes and kilts, the Irish with pints of dark Guinness in their hands and the Welsh, for whom there is no nicer landscape than gloomy castles drowning in the purple leaves of autumn, will gladly complement the answer to the question of what to see in the UK.
TOP 15 sights of Great Britain
Big Ben
The symbol of London, Big Ben appears in all films and TV shows about the British capital. The Clock Tower of Westminster Palace sends signals every hour to everyone who lives in local time. The strike of this clock is broadcasted by the BBC radio station, and the New Year on the planet begins with the first blow of Big Ben at midnight on December 31st.
The height of Big Ben is 96 meters, its bell has a three-meter base, and the clock itself has a seven-meter diameter.
The tower is closed to the public, but you can admire it from many points in the center of the capital of Great Britain.
Westminster Abbey
The Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Westminster or, simply, Westminster Abbey is a religious building and an example of the early Gothic style in architecture. The first stone was laid 1000 years ago. English monarchs were crowned here, and then they were buried with honors.
For art lovers, the abbey also has something to see. It houses one of the UK's richest collections of paintings, antique books, handmade tapestries and church utensils.
Ticket price: 20 GBP
London eye
The 135-meter London Ferris wheel is firmly established at the top of the ranking of the highest in the Old World. The project began to be implemented at the end of the twentieth century and was dedicated to the onset of the new millennium.
The London Eye is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of tourists to take a bird's eye view of the capital of Great Britain with their own eyes.
The attraction's 32 capsules can accommodate up to 25 passengers each. One wheel revolution takes about half an hour.
Ticket price: 23.5 GBP.
The tower
An 11th-century fortress in the historic center of the British capital, the Tower has long been one of the world's most visited landmarks. During its existence, it was a prison and a treasure house, minted coins and stored weapons, executed queens and watched the stars.
The Tower is definitely worthy of attention:
- British crown treasures collection.
- Armouries.
- Guided tours by English beefeater guards.
- Tower crows. It is they, according to legend, who are the real guarantors of the British monarchy.
To get there: by metro to the station. Tower Hill, by trains to Fenchurch Street or London Bridge, by bus. N15, 42, 78, waterbus to Tower Pier from Charing Cross, Westminster and Greenwich.
Ticket price: 24.5 GBP.
Bridge of the Giants
Huge stone pillars on the ocean coast, 3 km from the Irish city of Bushmills, appeared as a result of the solidification of lava erupted millions of years ago by a local volcano. The Irish prefer their version, in which there is a monster with one eye, a brave peasant and his resourceful wife. To learn the essence of the tale, tourists will be helped in the reserve organized around the Giants' Road.
In addition to basalt pillars, the surrounding area is also worthy of attention to the seascapes opening from the rocky cliffs.
To get there: by bus. or by train from Belfast (about 100 km), by steam train from Bushmills.
Castle in Belfast
The old Irish castle is called the visiting card of Ulster, so well it illustrates any idea of Great Britain. Surrounded by moorlands, the castle is amazingly beautiful any time of the year, if only you like a little dreary scenery.
The castle was built in the 19th century on the site of its predecessor, and the first mention of the local fortress falls on the end of the 12th century.
In the English garden around the castle are hidden images of nine cats, having found which you can make a wish.
Tourists are also encouraged to dine in the restaurant, choose gifts for friends at the souvenir shop, or, if they're lucky, listen to rock or classical music at summer concerts.
Free admission.
St. Paul's Cathedral
The residence of the London bishop and the largest Anglican church in Europe was built at the beginning of the 18th century. Its main attraction is a huge dome, which exactly repeats the outline of the dome of the Vatican Cathedral of St. Peter. The outer gallery of the dome offers magnificent panoramic views of the British capital, while the temple itself contains elaborate mosaics, stately sculptures and carved benches.
To get there: Central metro line station - St Paul’s or bus. N4, 11, 15, 25, 100, 242.
Ticket price: 18 GBP.
Stonehenge
The world-famous stone megalithic structure in Wiltshire has been exciting the minds of scientists and researchers for decades. Huge chunks of stone, weighing up to 50 tons, are set in a certain order on a vast plain as early as the Stone or Bronze Age. Scientists have not yet been able to accurately date the building.
The purpose of the Stonehenge megaliths is also open to question. It is believed that the stones hide the tomb of the pagan queen, others believe that the complex served as a sanctuary for the Druids. Astronomers are trying to match the shape of Stonehenge with its ability to observe the sky, and historians are generally unsure of anything and continue to study the megaliths in Wiltshire.
To get there: by car along the M3 and A303 highways, by train from Waterloo station to Andover, then by bus. N8.
Ticket price: 14.5 GBP.
Dartmoor
The name of this national park in Devon County is familiar to fans of Conan Doyle's work. It was in the swamps in Dartmoor that the story of The Hound of the Baskervilles was set.
In the Middle Ages, the marsh region was declared a royal hunting ground, and today the local landscapes are often enlivened by the Dartmoor ponies grazing on the lawns.
Archaeologists have discovered many primitive sites and traces of the presence of ancient people in the swamps.
The park's tourist center is located in the town of Bowie Tracy.
To get there: by car on the M5 highway or by train. It takes about half an hour's drive from Plymouth to the park entrance.
Harlek Castle
Today, medieval Harleck Castle serves as a venue for festivals, historic reenactments and open-air concerts, and was built in the 13th century to mark English rule over the Welsh people.
The fortress is surrounded by two rows of solid walls, protected by the North Sea on one flank and a deep moat on the other, while the watchtowers offer magnificent views of the surroundings.
To get there: by car along the A496 through Barmouth.
Ticket price: 4, 25 GBP
Holmes Museum
Already at the exit of the metro, you are greeted by the figure of the legendary detective, invented by Conan Doyle. The Sherlock Holmes Museum was opened in 1990 and since then it has become a famous landmark in Great Britain. Here you can look at the situation described by the author of books about the great detective, see his violin, sit in an armchair by the fireplace and meet Mrs. Hudson, leaving a story about your impressions in the guest book.
There is a gift shop on the ground floor.
How to get there: by metro to the station. Baker Street or ed. No. 13, 74, 113, 274.
Ticket price: 15 GBP.
Royal Mile in Edinburgh
Exactly a mile is occupied by four streets of the capital of Scotland, called the Royal Mile of Edinburgh. A popular UK landmark, the Royal Mile starts at Edinburgh Castle and runs through the city to Holyrood Bridge.
The first houses appeared here in the XII century. Merchants and artisans settled around, drinking establishments were opened, local authorities and the Holy Inquisition met.
Today, on the Royal Mile, you will find some of Scotland's finest souvenirs, taste excellent whiskey and a local museum, and see where kilts are made that make Scottish men look particularly masculine.
Loch Ness
The deep Scottish lake became known all over the world thanks to the legend of a prehistoric monster living in its waters. The dinosaur was affectionately nicknamed Nessie, and crowds of curious tourists were drawn to the shores of the lake to see with their own eyes that the mythical monster exists.
The Loch Ness Monster Museum is open on the shores of the lake.
Location: 36 km southwest of Inverness.
To get there: by train to Inverness, then by taxi or rented car.
Edinburgh castle
Standing on a steep cliff, a medieval castle seems to hover over the Scottish capital. Since the XII century, it served as the residence of the Scottish monarchs, and its main relic is the Stone of Destiny, which participated in the coronation of any king of Scotland.
The cannon shot traditionally marks 13 o'clock every day, and Harry Potter fans can see with their own eyes the walls that served as the backdrop for some of the film's episodes.
Open from 9.30 am to 5 pm.
Ticket price: 16.5 GBP.
Adrianov Val
The defensive structure, built by the ancient Romans in the II century, stretches for 117 km across northern England. It is called the most outstanding antique monument in Great Britain. You can look at the remains of the wall and the ruins of forts in Northumberland County.
The nearest town is Morpeth.
To get there: by car from London along the A1 highway.
