Breathtaking scenery, centuries of history and a dash of colourful pageantry: despite its relatively compact size, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to give it its full name, has an abundance of them all. Walk in the footsteps of royalty in London, explore quaint villages of honeyed stone in the Cotswolds or discover the wild beauty and rich traditions of Scotland. Here are some of the best things to do on a tailor-made UK holiday.
SEE THE STATE ROOMS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
With its imposing facade, Buckingham Palace is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. Most of the year, the monarch’s official residence is a working royal palace, the focus for national and official celebrations and for entertaining visiting heads of state. For ten or so weeks in summer, however, the magnificent state rooms are open to the public and offer an amazing insight into the life of the British royal family. Walk through lavishly decorated rooms brimming with exquisite paintings, antique furniture and fine porcelain, and enjoy temporary exhibitions focusing on different areas of royal life from wedding dresses to childhood. If you’re here in winter, the State Rooms are open again on select dates from November to February, but for expert-led group visits only.
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WALKING TOUR OF ROYAL LONDON
London’s royal connection stretches back almost a millennium, creating an extraordinary legacy in the way of architecture, parks and pageantry. On a private guided walk, tailored to your interests and timetable, you’ll see some of the city’s most iconic sights and hear the intriguing stories behind them. Tudor enthusiasts can stroll through London’s oldest royal park where Henry VIII used to hunt deer and pass by the palace where he lived with his second wife, Anne Boleyn – until he had her beheaded. Aficionados of more recent history will appreciate the view along the Mall from Admiralty Arch, commissioned in honour of Queen Victoria, to another memorial to Britain’s second-longest reigning monarch. Those more interested in the lives of the current members of the family can enjoy sights such as Clarence House, the current official home of King Charles III, and Buckingham Palace with its famous balcony. This last also provides an impressive backdrop for the colourful Changing of the Guard, a not-quite-daily ceremony dating back almost 200 years.
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DISCOVER HARRY POTTER'S LONDON
Dive into the London of the world’s most famous boy wizard in the ancient streets that inspired his creator JK Rowling and provided many of the locations for the films. Accompanied by a guide steeped in Harry Potter knowledge, you will be whisked by car between a curated selection of iconic sites. These include Kings Cross Station, where the Hogwarts Express leaves from Platform 9 ¾, and the gloriously neo-Gothic hotel next door that stands in for the station exterior. Australia House in the Strand provided the grand setting for Gringotts Bank, while Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron pub were filmed at (and drawn from) various gaslit alleyways and historic covered markets. You might also like to visit the House of MinaLima, run by the graphic design team behind the movies and filled with high-quality Potter souvenirs, and extend the magical adventure with an afternoon visit to the Warner Bros Making of Harry Potter experience.
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VIP TOWER OF LONDON VISIT
Built as a fortress almost 1,000 years ago, the Tower of London remains an imposing presence on the banks of the Thames. One of four World Heritage Sites in the city, it has been a royal palace and a notorious prison; nowadays, it’s the home of the Yeoman Warders, the resident ravens and, most famously of all, the spectacular Crown Jewels. On a morning VIP visit, with experts on hand, you will have 45 minutes of privileged access before the doors open to the public to browse the priceless collection of jewel-studded crowns, coronets, sceptres and orbs on display in their elegant bomb-proof vault. Gemstone connoisseurs will appreciate the stars among the 23,000 or so in the collection, such as the large Black Prince’s Ruby (actually a spinel), the 105.6-carat Koh-i-Nûr diamond and St Edward’s Sapphire, thought to have been cut for a coronation in 1042. Linger afterwards to discover the Tower’s extraordinary history through permanent and temporary exhibitions and Yeoman-guided walks.
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VISIT HIGHGROVE, THE KING'S PRIVATE GARDEN
Enjoy a unique royal experience on a visit to the gardens of Highgrove, the private home of the King and the Queen near the Cotswolds town of Tetbury. When the then Prince of Wales acquired the property in 1980, there was not much to look at: just an overgrown kitchen garden, rough pasture and scrappy bits of woodland. Just over 40 years later, there is a 15-acre horticultural masterpiece, managed organically and with sustainability at the forefront. From April to October, accompanied by an expert guide, you can step into a series of glorious ‘outdoor rooms’ which reflect both the King’s artistic ability and his passions. These include the atmospheric Stumpery, the vibrant award-winning Carpet Garden – inspired by a Turkish rug – and the colourful Wildflower Meadow. Afterwards, relax over a light lunch or quintessentially British cream tea in the Orchard Room, before snapping up a stylish souvenir from the Estate Shop’s array of traditional crafts pieces.
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DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF THE COTSWOLDS
Covering nearly 800 square miles of gently rolling hills in central-southwest England, the Cotswolds is one of the country’s most picturesque regions and officially an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With a personal driver and knowledgeable guide – and a schedule tailored to your interests, time available and the British weather – you’ll set out to see some of the sights that make this a special place. Chief among these are the quaint villages and market towns of honey-coloured local stone, built on the back of a thriving medieval wool trade. Names to note include ‘the Venice of the Cotswolds’ as Bourton-on-the-Water is sometimes called, and the two distinctively named villages a short walk away along the riverside, Upper and Lower Slaughter (from the Old English for ‘wet land’). Don’t miss Bibury, whose 14th-century Arlington Row cottages are among the most photographed buildings in the country.
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LITERATURE IN THE LAKE DISTRICT
The romantic landscapes of England’s northwest corner have inspired generations of famous writers, and their words continue to lure the literary-minded to this breathtaking region of mountains and ribbon lakes. At Windermere, the largest lake, you can hop by boat through stunning scenery and stop at the World of Beatrix Potter to meet some of her colourful characters, then head to the house where she created her children’s stories. Poet William Wordsworth was born in the area and his childhood home in the market town of Cockermouth is open to the public, though it was a later house near Ambleside called Rydal Mount – also visitable – that he described as ‘the loveliest spot that man hath ever found’. Other names to have found a haven here include 20th-century fell walker and author Alfred Wainwright and Victorian polymath John Ruskin; delve into their worlds at the northern end of the 126-mile Wainwright’s Way at Buttermere and at the historic house where Ruskin used to live.
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GET TO KNOW SCOTLAND'S LOCAL SIDE
Scotland's grand castles and sweeping Highland landscapes are captivating enough, but getting to know the people behind its traditions can be just as fascinating. Our local contacts can arrange experiences that offer a more personal introduction to the country, perhaps meeting a shepherd and his expertly trained sheepdogs on a working farm or discovering the secrets of Scottish cooking alongside a chef. For those drawn to its history, private visits can reveal corners of ancestral castles normally closed to the public, and whisky enthusiasts can delve into the craft behind a fine single malt. Each encounter brings you a little closer to the Scotland that locals know and love.
Read more: Discover the best things to do in Scotland.
