United Kingdom travel guide
The United Kingdom packs castles, cathedrals, mountains and coastline into a small area. In one trip you can walk Roman walls in York, punt past the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, watch the sun set over the Highlands and spend an evening in a pub with live music. Choose London for major museums and royal sights, Edinburgh and Glasgow for Scotland's culture and festivals, and Cardiff and Belfast for the capitals of Wales and Northern Ireland. Bath, Chester, Canterbury and Durham are compact historic cities, while the Lake District, the Highlands and the Cornish and Welsh coasts reward those who want landscapes and walking. Late spring to early autumn offers the longest days and the best chance of dry weather, though the weather is changeable in every season. The UK suits history lovers, families and independent travellers, and trains link most major cities. Plan your itinerary city by city with Zippy Trips.
Capital: London.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Visa required, apply before you fly.
Before you go to United Kingdom
- Currency
- GBP £
- Bargaining
- Not expected
- Card networks
- Visa, Mastercard, Amex
- ATM fees
- Free at LINK/bank ATMs; standalone ATMs charge GBP 1.50-3.50
Cities in United Kingdom
- London The capital and largest city of England and the UK, London is a global metropolis blending world-class museums, royal palaces, iconic…
- Edinburgh Scotland's dramatic capital perches on volcanic rock, where a medieval Old Town faces a Georgian New Town across a valley. Edinburgh Castle…
- Belfast Northern Ireland's capital has transformed dramatically since the Troubles, now celebrated for its industrial heritage as birthplace of the…
- Bath A UNESCO World Heritage city famed for its Roman Baths, Georgian Royal Crescent, and honey-coloured limestone architecture. The only city…
- York England's most complete medieval city sits within intact Roman walls. York Minster, the Shambles, Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National…
- Oxford The City of Dreaming Spires is home to the world's second-oldest university, with honey-stone college quads, renowned Bodleian Library, the…
- Cambridge A compact fenland city defined by its world-famous university, punting along the Backs, Gothic King's College Chapel, and the Mathematical…
- Manchester A powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution, Manchester is now a vibrant city celebrated for its music scene, football heritage, world-class…
- Brighton England's favourite seaside escape combines a glittering shingle beach, the eccentric Royal Pavilion, the famous Lanes antique quarter,…
- Liverpool Birthplace of The Beatles and home to two famous football clubs, Liverpool is a UNESCO World Heritage waterfront city with outstanding…
- Glasgow Scotland's largest city is a powerhouse of Victorian architecture, world-class art galleries, buzzing café culture, and the friendliest…
- Bristol Perched on a gorge above the Avon, Bristol is a creative city known for Banksy street art, a buzzing harbourside, the SS Great Britain, and…
- Windermere At the heart of the Lake District National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Windermere is England's largest natural lake, surrounded…
- Birmingham England's second city boasts more canals than Venice, a booming food scene anchored by the Balti Triangle, and world-class galleries and…
- Leeds Yorkshire's largest city is a thriving retail and cultural hub with a spectacular Victorian covered market, vibrant nightlife, the iconic…
- Cardiff Wales' vibrant capital combines a striking castle in the city centre, the magnificent Civic Centre, a revitalised Cardiff Bay, and the…
- Newcastle upon Tyne Straddling the Tyne with its iconic quayside bridges, Newcastle is famed for its gregarious nightlife, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary…
- Canterbury A UNESCO World Heritage city and spiritual heart of the Anglican Communion. Its magnificent Norman Cathedral, medieval streets, and the…
- Stratford-upon-Avon The birthplace of William Shakespeare draws visitors to his half-timbered Tudor home, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the Royal Shakespeare…
- Durham Durham's spectacular Norman Cathedral and Castle — both UNESCO World Heritage Sites — crown a wooded peninsula in a loop of the River Wear.…
- Chester Britain's best-preserved walled Roman city, Chester dazzles with its 2,000-year-old red sandstone walls, medieval black-and-white…
- Nottingham The legendary home of Robin Hood features a hilltop castle, vast sandstone caves beneath the city, the oldest inn in England, the world's…
- Inverness The Capital of the Scottish Highlands serves as the gateway to Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, and the North Coast 500 road trip. The…
- Salisbury A cathedral city in the Wiltshire chalk downs, Salisbury is the closest major town to Stonehenge. Its medieval cathedral holds the…
- St Andrews A small but storied Scottish coastal town, St Andrews is the home of golf, Scotland's oldest university, a ruined cathedral, and bracing…
Frequently asked questions about United Kingdom
- Do Indian citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?
- Visa required, apply before you fly.
- What currency is used in United Kingdom?
- The currency in United Kingdom is the British Pound (£). £1 is about ₹126.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in United Kingdom?
- Accepted card networks: Visa, Mastercard, Amex. Typical ATM fees: Free at LINK/bank ATMs; standalone ATMs charge GBP 1.50-3.50. Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in United Kingdom?
- SIM cards available in United Kingdom.
- What is the capital of United Kingdom?
- The capital of United Kingdom is London. Time there: IST - 4 h 30 min.