1. London

The capital as well as most visited city in the United Kingdom is that of London. It is the largest and most industrialized city in the UK as well as being the largest in the European Union. There are literally thousands of historical sites and monuments in the city including its original medieval town centre.

London, England, UK by André Zehetbauer

2. Edinburgh

The city of Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is considered to be one of the most popular destinations in the UK. It is a historical city with countless buildings and monuments that date back through the ages. Both the medieval town centre as well as the new town districts are considered to be the world heritage sites.

Edinburgh, Calton hill, Scotland, UK by baaker2009

3. Blackpool

Located in the northwestern part of England, the city of Blackpool can be found along the shores of the Irish Sea. There are eleven kilometres of golden sand beaches in Blackpool which has made it an attractive tourist destination since 1781 when the first road was paved between the city and Manchester.

Blackpool, England, UK by Gidzy

4. Manchester

The city of Manchester is the third largest in the United Kingdom. Originally founded back in 79 A.D. by the Romans, the city has grown into a bustling metropolis over the millennia. There are a number of buildings and sites in the city that date back through the centuries including the Manchester Ship Canal which was built back in 1894.

Manchester Cathedral, England, UK by mark.watmough

5. Glasgow

The Scottish city of Glasgow is the largest in the country and one of the most popular destinations in the United Kingdom. The city can be found along the banks of the River Clyde where it has grown over the years to become one of the largest seaports in the region. The historic town centre of Glasgow is a must-see attraction of this interesting city.

Glasgow Harbour, Scotland, UK by baaker2009

6. Liverpool

Located along the eastern edges of the Mersey Estuary, you will find the city of Liverpool that dates back to the early 13th century. Today it is one of the largest cities in England as well as in the United Kingdom. There are a number of sites within the city to visit and explore. One of the most important facts about that city is that it is a birthplace of The Beatles.

Liverpool town hall, England, UK by Boing! said Zebedee

7. York

The city of York is an ancient city that dates back to the days of the Vikings. It can be found along the banks of where the Ouse and Foss rivers merge. The walled city is known as being one of the most haunted locations in all of England and countless people make their way to York every single year to visit the city’s most haunted places.

York, Minster, England, UK by visitingeu

8. Birmingham

The second most populated city in England as well as in the entire United Kingdom is the city of Birmingham, which can be found in the West Midlands. It was a large market town throughout the middle ages which grew into a bustling metropolis as a result of the industrial revolution.

Birmingham, England, UK by West Midlands Police

9. Bath

The city of Bath can be found in the southwestern part of England. It was back in the first century that the town was first established by the Romans on account of the natural hot springs in the area. Throughout the centuries Bath grew to become one of the most popular spa destinations in England.

Bath, England, UK by Nigel Swales

10. Brighton

Situated in East Sussex, the city of Brighton is a popular resort town in England. Since the 11th century, people have been making their way to the city to bathe in the waters along the city’s seashores. There are several important and historical sites that can be found throughout the city.

Brighton, England, UK by Ilya Schurov

11. Torquay

The seaside town of Torquay is a popular destination in England. There are several resorts and hotels that can be found within the city which are needed to accommodate more than 100,000 visitors who make their way to the city’s shorelines every summer. Torquay is also known as being the birthplace and lifelong home of Agatha Christie.

Torquay, Devon, England, UK by Stephen

12. Cardiff

The city of Cardiff can be found in Wales. There are a number of historical sites that can be found within the city including the local castle which has attracted countless visitors over the years. Its picturesque landscape has led it to be ranked at the top of the National Geographic’s list of worldwide destinations.

Cardiff England, UK by Candy Schwartz

13. Bournemouth

The resort town of Bournemouth can be along the coastlines of Dorset, in the southern part of England. Over the centuries, the town has become a popular summer destination in the country. There are many resorts and hotels that can be found along the town’s beautiful coastlines.

Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK by Christophe.Finot

14. Bristol

You will find the city of Bristol in the southwestern part of England, along the banks of the River Avon. It is a bustling metropolis which is home to more than a million people. It is also a historical city that dates back well before the 12th century. The beautiful historical town center has attracted countless visitors over the years.

Bristol, England, UK by Arpingstone

15. Inverness

The city of Inverness can be found situated within the Highlands of Scotland where it is nestled along the banks of the River Ness. The picturesque landscapes which surround the city are one of the biggest attractions for the countless people who are visiting this historically important and strategically located city.

Inverness, Scotland, UK by Anne-Lise Heinrichs

16. Belfast

You will find the city of Belfast located in the northern part of Ireland. While being only the fourteenth largest city in Britain, it is considered to be one of the largest in the island. It is here, in the local shipyards of Belfast that the infamous RMS Titanic was built. There are a number of sites and monuments that can be found within the city as well as in the surrounding countryside.

Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK by Macnolete

17. Cambridge

The city of Cambridge can be found nestled along the banks of the River Cam, just north of the nation’s capital. There are a number of archeological sites in the area which has uncovered countless Roman and Viking artifacts over the years. It is also the home of the famous 13th century University of Cambridge which is considered to be one of the best in the world.

18. Oxford

The town of Oxford can be found in the southern part of England. While there are a number of important and historical sites in the city to visit, Oxford is most well-known on account of its university which is the oldest in the country as well as in the English speaking world.

Oxford, England, UK by Duncan Hull

19. Newquay

The seaside resort town of Newquay can be found situated along the Atlantic coastlines as well as the banks of the River Gannel. Over the centuries the area has grown into a popular destination in the United Kingdom due to the beautiful beaches that can be found within the city. It is also

Newquay, England, UK by Kicior99

20. Scarborough

You will find the town of Scarborough situated along the coastlines of the North Sea. It is a historical town which sits upon limestone cliffs overlooking the bounding seas. While the main industry in the town is fishing, during the summer months the population explodes as countless people make their way to the eastern coastlines of the country.

Scarborough, England, UK by EOS_3

The post 20 of the Most Beautiful Cities in the United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

It seems a little sad that most international visitors will make tracks to London and not venture beyond this great capital. There are so many other locations in Britain which are well worth a visit, from ancient monuments that are shrouded in mystery to thriving cities which are home to large numbers of fascinating attractions. Here are three places that are worth a second look, so be sure to rent a car and hit the road during your stay.

Stonehenge

What better place to soak up some of the mysticism of ancient Britain than this stunning monument? It’s located in Wiltshire, a beautiful county that lies to the west of London, and it attracts large numbers of visitors throughout the year, but especially during the summer months. Doubt still surrounds the actual meaning of Stonehenge to this day, although there are plenty of opinions on the subject. Even how it was built is something of a mystery.

Stonehenge, England, UK by Rupert Jones

Chester Zoo

The north-west of England is an area that doesn’t always feature on visitor itineraries, but it should. Chester Zoo is close to the border with Wales, and it’s a fascinating attraction that has remained something of a hidden gem to overseas tourists. In the UK it’s certainly not a secret, however; it attracts more visitors every year than the famous London Zoo at Regents Park. Be sure to set aside a whole day for Chester, because there is so much to see and do.

Chester Zoo, England, UK by Nigel Swales

Edinburgh Castle

The city of Edinburgh is the iconic and beautiful capital of Scotland, and it’s home to a large number of superb attractions and landmarks. Towering over them, both physically and metaphorically, is the city’s wonderful castle. It’s located at the top of the Royal Mile, and visitors can enjoy some spectacular views of the whole city from the walls. Be sure to bring a camera with you, because you’ll want to take dozens of images when you get to the summit.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, UK by Lisa Nichols

David Showell is from the UK and is a regular traveller. He works for www.CompareCarHire.co.uk.

The post See more than just London when you visit Britain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Old Town

Many of the buildings of the Old Town date back to the 1500s and surround some of Edinburgh’s most important landmarks. As with most cities it grew around the castle which sits on the rocky crag of an extinct volcano at the top of the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh Old Town, Scotland, UK by Ian Cooper

If you look at the layout of the streets, you will see similarities to the old quarters of other European cities, with claustrophobic alleyways (known as a close) and streets weaving between the buildings. Because of the space restrictions caused by the lay of the land, Edinburgh’s Old Town has some of the earliest examples of high rises, some of which reaching 15 storeys.

As you wander this part of the city, because it’s built on such a steep hill, streets that run parallel, and only yards apart will be at different levels and connected by steep narrow stair cases and closes.

When you look at the old town and wander the narrow streets you can see where JK Rowling drew much of her inspiration.

New Town

By the 18th century overcrowding in the Old town became more of a problem so in 1766 a competition was run to find a winning design. Local architect James Craig won with a logical grid design which was more common in Glasgow over on the west coast.

The New Town was a huge success and was quickly expanded, but the grid design was abandoned for one that was more picturesque like the Old Town.

It’s an interesting point of curiosity among residents that the area called New Town was planned only 102 after the official seal naming New York city.

Edinburgh Castle

There is archaeological evidence that suggests there were human settlements here around 900BC and as a fortified position there are historical references to Din Eidyn – fortress on the rock – dating back to 600AD. It has been the site of some of the most important conflicts in British history.

Edinburgh fontain and castle, Scotland, UK by Paul Boxley

It was captured in 1296 by Edward I of England, then retaken by one of Robert the Bruce’s generals in 1314, the year of the Scottish victory over the English at Bannockburn near Stirling. After the overthrow and execution of Charles I in 1650, Oliver Cromwell invaded and once again Edinburgh Castle was captured and the Crown, Sword, and Sceptre of Scottish royalty were quickly taken away an buried to protect them from Cromwell.

At the foot of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the monarchy.

It’s a city that’s full of mystery and creepy alleys, and there’s even a haunted hotel in Edinburgh, as well as the eerie Mary King’s Close beneath the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh is a wonderful city full of amazing history, architecture and one or two ghosts of revolution.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-edinburgh

The post The Turbulent History of Edinburgh | Scotland, UK appeared first on Europe Explored.