Top 26 things you need to see and do in Britain in 2017
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Get ready for some major staycation inspiration!
Lonely Planet has unveiled its new Great Britain travel guide, in which its holiday gurus have revealed the top 26 experiences you definitely won't want to miss if you're holidaying in the UK.
The comprehensive list includes the sights you won't want to miss, the beautiful destinations you need to see at least once in your lifetime, and even ultimate British experiences from a drink at the pub to a full Sunday roast dinner.
The guide is already available to buy now , but in the meantime we take a look at their top recommendations below...
Looking for more staycation ideas? Make sure to also check out our British Breaks page which has everything from city guides to ideas for cheap days out, including the best deals and sales you'll want to know about.
1. Stonehenge
(Image: Getty)
Mysterious and compelling, Stonehenge is Britain’s most iconic ancient site. People have been drawn to this myth-laden ring of bluestones for the last 5000 years, and we still don’t know quite why it was built.
Most visitors get to gaze at the 50-tonne megaliths from behind the perimeter fence, but with enough planning you can book an early-morning or evening tour and walk around the inner ring.
In the slanting sunlight, away from the crowds, it’s an ethereal place – an experience that stays with you.
2. Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a city of many moods – famous for its festivals and especially lively in the summer.
It’s also worth visiting out of season for sights such as the castle silhouetted against a blue spring sky with a yellow haze of daffodils misting the slopes below the esplanade.
Or on a chill December morning with the fog snagging the spires of the Old Town, the ancient streets and alleyways more mysterious than ever, rain on the cobblestones and a warm glow beckoning from the window of a pub.
3. Bath
(Image: Moment RM)
Britain boasts many great cities, but Bath stands out as the belle of the ball.
Thanks to the natural hot springs that bubble to the surface, the Romans built a health resort here.
The waters were rediscovered in the 18th century, and Bath became the place to see and be seen by British high society.
Today, the stunning Georgian architecture of grand town houses and sweeping crescents (not to mention Roman remains, a beautiful cathedral and a cutting-edge 21st-century spa) means Bath demands your undivided attention.
4. Isle of Skye
(Image: Getty Images)
Of all Scotland’s many islands, Skye is one of the most famous and best loved by visitors, thanks to a mix of history (the island’s link to Bonnie Prince Charlie is forever remembered by ‘The Skye Boat Song’), accessibility (the ferry from the mainland has been replaced by a bridge) and sheer beauty.
With jagged mountains, velvet moors and towering sea cliffs, Skye’s scenery never fails to impress.
And for those days when the mist comes in, there are plenty of castles and local museums to explore, and cosy pubs to enjoy.
5. The Cotswolds
(Image: age fotostock RM)
The most wonderful thing about the Cotswolds is that, no matter where you go or how lost you get, you’ll always end up in an impossibly picturesque village complete with rose-clad cottages, an ancient church of honey-coloured stone, a pub with sloping floors and fi ne ales, and a view of the lush green hills.
It’s easy to leave the crowds behind and find your very own slice of medieval England – and some of the best boutique hotels in the country.
6. Snowdonia
(Image: Getty)
The rugged northwest corner of Wales has rocky mountain peaks, glacier-hewn valleys, sinuous ridges, sparkling lakes and rivers, and charm infused villages.
The busiest part is around Snowdon itself, where many people hike to the summit, and many more take the jolly rack-and-pinion railway, while to the south and west are rarely trod areas perfect for off -the-beaten track exploration.
And just nearby sit the lovely Llŷn Peninsula and Isle of Anglesey, where the sun often shines, even if it’s raining on the mountains.
7. Oxford
(Image: Gallo Images)
For centuries, the brilliant minds and august institutions of Oxford University have made Oxford famous across the globe.
You’ll get a glimpse of this revered world as you stroll hushed college quads and cobbled lanes roamed by cycling students and dusty academics.
The beautiful college buildings, archaic traditions and stunning architecture have changed little over the centuries, coexisting with a lively, modern, working city.
8. Football
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
In some parts of the world it’s called ‘soccer’, but here in Britain it’s definitely ‘football.’ Despite what the fans may say in Italy or Brazil, the English Premier League has some of the world’s fi nest teams.
Big names include the globally renowned Arsenal , Liverpool and Chelsea , plus the most famous club on the planet: Manchester United .
North of the border, Scotland’s best-known teams are the Glasgow duo of Rangers and Celtic – their ‘old firm’ rivalry is legendary – while in Wales the national sport is most definitely rugby.
9. The Lake District
(Image: Getty)
William Wordsworth and his Romantic friends were the first to champion the charms of the Lake District, and it’s not hard to see what stirred them.
The soaring mountains, whaleback fells, razor-edge valleys and – of course – glistening lakes (as well as England’s highest peak), make this craggy corner of the country the spiritual home of English hiking.
Strap on the boots, stock up on mint cake and drink in the views: inspiration is sure to follow.
10. Hadrian's Wall
(Image: Getty)
Hadrian’s Wall is one of the country’s most revealing and dramatic Roman ruins, its 2000-year-old procession of abandoned forts, garrisons, towers and milecastles marching across the wild and lonely landscape of northern England.
This wall was about defence and control, but this edge-of-empire barrier also symbolised the boundary of civilised order – to the north lay the unruly land of the marauding Celts, while to the south was the Roman world of orderly taxpaying, underfloor heating and bathrooms.
11. Castles and Stately Homes
(Image: VisitBritain RM)
Britain’s turbulent history is nowhere more apparent than in the mighty castles that dot the landscape, from romantic cliff top ruins such as Corfe or sturdy fortresses such as Caernarfon, to formidable Stirling and still inhabited Windsor.
And when the aristocracy no longer needed castles, they built vast mansions known as ‘stately homes’ at the heart of their country estates.
Classics of the genre include Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth House in England, Powis Castle in Wales and Scone Palace (pictured) in Scotland.
12. Cornwall
(Image: Getty)
At Britain’s far southwestern extremity, the former kingdom of Cornwall boasts endless miles of coastline with rugged cliffs, sparkling bays, scenic fishing ports and white sandy beaches favoured by everyone from bucket-and-spade families to sun-bronzed surfers.
Above the cliff s, the towers of former tin mines now stand like dramatic castles, while inland from the coast is a tranquil landscape of lush farmland and picturesque villages, crowned by the gigantic domes of the Eden Project – a stunning symbol of Cornwall’s renaissance.
13. Cambridge
(Image: Photographer's Choice)
Abounding with exquisite architecture and steeped in tradition, Cambridge is a university town extraordinaire.
The tightly packed core of ancient colleges, the picturesque riverside ‘Backs’ (college gardens) and the surrounding green meadows give Cambridge a more tranquil appeal than its historic rival, Oxford.
Highlights include the intricate vaulting of King’s College Chapel, while no visit is complete without an attempt to steer a punt (flat-bottomed boat) along the river and under the quirky Mathematical Bridge.
You’ll soon wonder how you could have studied anywhere else.
14. Stratford-Upon-Avon
(Image: age fotostock RM)
The pretty English Midlands town of Stratford-upon-Avon is famed around the world as the birthplace of the nation’s best known dramatist, William Shakespeare .
Today, the town’s tight knot of Tudor streets form a living map of Shakespeare’s life and times, while crowds of fans and would-be thespians come to enjoy a play at the theatre or visit the historic houses owned by Shakespeare and his relatives, with a respectful detour to the old stone church where the Bard was laid to rest.
15. Canterbury Cathedral
(Image: Getty)
Few other English cathedrals come close to Canterbury, the top temple of the Anglican Church and a place of worship for over 15 centuries.
Its intricate tower dominates the local skyline, its grandeur unsurpassed by later structures.
At its heart lies a 12th-century crime scene, the very spot where Archbishop Thomas Becket was put to the sword – an epoch-making event that launched a million pilgrimages and still pulls in the crowds today. A lone candle mourns the gruesome deed, the pink sandstone before it smoothed by 800 years of devout kneeling.
16. Cardiff
(Image: Getty)
The exuberant capital of Wales, compact Cardiff has emerged as one of Britain’s leading urban centres.
After a mid-20th-century decline, the city entered the new millennium with vigour and confidence, flexing architectural muscles and revelling in a newfound sense of style.
From the historic castle to the ultramodern waterfront, from lively street cafes to infectious nightlife, from Victorian shopping arcades to the gigantic rugby stadium that is the pulsating heart of the city on match days, Cardiff undoubtedly has buzz.
17. Britain's pubs
(Image: Digital Vision)
Despite the growth of stylish clubs and designer bars, the traditional pub is still the centre of British social life.
From the ornate Victorian boozers of London, Edinburgh and Leeds, to the food focused gastropubs of Yorkshire, MidWales and Devon, and countless rustic country pubs hunkering under thatched roofs and timber beams – Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem claims to be the country’s oldest – a lunchtime or evening visit to the pub can be one of the best ways to get under the skin of the nation.
18. Pembrokeshire
(Image: The Image Bank)
Perched at the tip of wild and wonderful West Wales, the county of Pembrokeshire boasts one of Britain’s most beautiful and dramatic stretches of coast, with sheer cliffs, natural arches, blowholes, sea stacks, and a wonderful hinterland of tranquil villages and secret waterways.
It’s a landscape of Norman castles, Iron Age hill forts, holy wells and Celtic saints – including the nation’s patron, St David – and intriguing stone monuments left behind by prehistoric inhabitants.
19. York
(Image: Moment Open)
With its Roman remains and Viking heritage, ancient city walls and maze of medieval streets, York is a living showcase for the highlights of English history.
Join one of the city’s many walking tours and plunge into the network of snickleways (narrow alleys), each the focus of a ghost story or historical character.
Explore the intricacies of York Minster, the biggest medieval cathedral in all of northern Europe, or admire the exhibits from more recent times at the National Railway Museum, the world’s largest collection of historic locomotives.
20. Scotland's Northwest Highlands
(Image: VisitBritain)
The Highlands abound in breathtaking views, but the far northwest is truly awe inspiring.
The coastal road between Durness and Kyle of Lochalsh offers jawdropping scenes at every turn: the rugged mountains of Assynt , the desolate beauty of Torridon and the remote cliffs of Cape Wrath.
Add to this Britain’s fi nest whale-watching, and the nooks of warm Highland hospitality found in classic rural pubs and romantic hotels, make this an unforgettable corner of the country.
21. Liverpool
(Image: Getty)
For many visitors, Liverpool will forever be associated with The Beatles , but a visit here proves the city has much more to offer.
After a decade of redevelopment, the waterfront is once again the heart of Liverpool, with Albert Dock declared a World Heritage Site of iconic and protected buildings, a batch of top museums ensuring all sides of the city’s history are not forgotten, and the Tate Liverpool gallery and Beatles Story museum, celebrating popular culture and the city’s most famous musical sons.
22. British food
(Image: Getty)
Britain offers a groaning table full of traditional eating experiences.
Tuck into national favourites such as fish and chips, Cornish pasties or toad in the hole, followed of course by rhubarb and custard or spotted dick, or indulge yourself in a quintessentially English afternoon tea.
And don’t miss the chance to sample regional specialities such as jellied eels (London), Scottish haggis, Cumberland sausage, Stilton cheese, Northumberland kippers, Lancashire hotpot, Melton Mowbray pork pies, Welsh lamb, Yorkshire pudding... the list goes on.
23. Glen Coe
(Image: Getty)
Scotland’s most famous glen combines those two essential qualities of the Highland landscape: dramatic scenery and deep history.
The peacefulness and beauty of this valley today belie the fact that it was the scene of a ruthless 17th-century massacre, when the local MacDonalds were murdered by soldiers of the Campbell clan.
Some of the glen’s finest walks – to the Lost Valley, for example – follow the routes used by the clanspeople trying to flee their attackers, and where many perished in the snow.
24. Whisky
(Image: Mint Images RF)
After tea, Britain’s best-known drink is whisky. And while this amber spirit is also made in England and Wales, it is always most associated with Scotland.
With more than 2000 whisky brands available, there are distilleries dotted all over Scotland, many open to visitors, with Speyside one of the main concentrations and a favourite spot for connoisseurs.
Before enjoying your tipple, heed these warnings: never spell whisky with an ‘e’ (that’s the Irish variety); and when ordering at the bar, never ask for ‘Scotch’. What else would you drink in Scotland?
25. London's Museums
(Image: VisitBritain RM)
Institutions bright and beautiful, great and small, wise and wonderful – London’s got them all.
The range of museums is vast: from generalist exhibitions (British Museum, V&A) to specific themes (Imperial War Museum, London Transport Museum, Natural History Museum); from intriguing private collections (Sir John Soane’s Museum, Wallace Collection) to those celebrating people associated with the city (Handel, Dickens, Freud).
You could spend weeks without even scratching the surface. And most of them are free!
26. Golf
(Image: Iconica)
While some may consider it a good walk spoiled, golf is one of the most popular sports in Britain for participants at all levels and (especially when it comes to major tournaments) for thousands of spectators too.
With courses across the country, including some in the most scenic locations, visitors to Britain with a penchant for the little white ball will surely want to try their skill.
A highlight for aficionados is a round on the Old Course at St Andrews, the venerable home of golf.
(Image: Â© 2017 Lonely Planet)
The Lonely Planet Great Britain travel guide is out now.
Reproduced with permission from Great Britain, © 2017 Lonely Planet. www.lonelyplanet.com