Needing a break from the fast-paced and busy London? Read Nele van Hout’s article on her twelve best UK city breaks. Enjoy reading about why these recommended places are worth visiting and learn about the fun activities or sights to experience. Have fun reading about your next trip in the UK!
1. Manchester
- Its friendly people and creative scene make it the perfect place for a city break
- Easy to get around
- Great place for foodies
- Things to do: Northern Quarter Manchester, John Rylands Research Institute and Library, visit art galleries and museums and more!
2. York
- Beautiful and culture-rich city
- One of the most amazing sights in York is York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe
- York has more kilometers of preserved walls than any city in the UK
- Visit the Shambles, it’s believed that this was the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley
- Another great sight is Clifford’s Tower to get some great views of Old York
3. Edinburgh
- It was almost impossible not to fall in love
- Simply walking through Edinburgh’s Old Town is magical
- Edinburgh Castle holds Scotland’s Crown Jewels
- Calton Hill is one of the best viewpoints in Edinburgh
- There are some fantastic whisky tours in Edinburgh
4. Liverpool
- Liverpool is known for all things Beatles, as the band originates from the city
- The Royal Albert Docks are a must-visit for anybody visiting
- Wander through Bold Street for amazing independent shops, coffee bars, and restaurants
5. Brighton
- One of the most popular seaside destinations in Britain and only an hour by train from London
- Brighton Pier, 100-plus year-old pier, is a great place to enjoy some fair-ground rides, play arcade games, and eat fresh fish and chips
- Royal Pavilion – a real crown jewel of Brighton!
- Brighton i360 gives you a 360 degree views of Brighton and the sea
Keep reading to hear the remaining five best UK city breaks!
6. Chester
- Chester is by far one of the prettiest cities in the UK
- Chester city walls are over 2,000 years old, and its the only UK city wall you can walk the full circuit
- Roman Garden are wonderful to walk through; you can find ancient artifacts, ruins, and the remains of a Roman bath-house
- Tudor Styled Rows – these iconic buildings give the city that old-English atmosphere
- Chester Zoo is one of the (if not the) most ethical zoos in the UK
7. Lincoln
- Best hidden UK city break destinations
- Walking up Steep Hill is a must and is one of the most beautiful streets in the UK, filled with colorful shopfronts of independent vendors
- Make sure to stop by Lincoln’s Cathedral and Castle
8. Sheffield
- Inside the city centre, you’ll enjoy a lot of green space
- It’s easy to make your way around on foot
- Millennium Gallery has special exhibitions that change regularly, and it also houses a metalwork collection
- Sheffield Winter Garden is an urban glasshouse filled with more than 2,000 plants
- There is a lot of street art! And there are many unique independent shops- plant shops, coffee bars, vintage clothing, you name it!
9. Bath
- Bath is a charming little city, perfect for a weekend trip
- The only place in the UK where you can bathe in a natural hot spring
- The Roman Baths have to be part of your itinerary when visiting the city
- Pulteney Bridge was built more than 250 years ago and is one of the four bridges in the world with shops built across the full spans
- The Royal Crescent are some of the best Georgian architecture you can find in the UK
10. Bristol
- This lovely harbour city is filled with culture and history
- Make sure to stop at the Bristol’s Floating Harbour
- Bristol Museum & Art Gallery has a real mummy, the famous Bristol Dinosaur, and anything from art to natural history
- Stop by Brunel’s SS Great Britain – this former steamship is now used as a museum
- St Nicholas Markets has to be on your list. With over 60 vendors, you’ll be sure to find something delicious to try
11. Newcastle
- You can easily tick off all the main sights in a day or two, making it a perfect addition to our UK city breaks list
- The Tyne Bridge is one of the most iconic pieces of the Newcastle skyline
- Newcastle Castle was built more than 900 years ago and is very impressive
12. Nottingham
- Nottingham, the city of Robin Hood, makes for another great city break in the UK
- The Nottingham Castle should definitely be on your list of places to visit in the city
- Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is (supposedly) the oldest pub in England
- Nottingham is also known for its crazy network of underground caves – the city has more than 800 of them
Want to read more from Nele van Hout and her best UK city break travel guides for a lovely weekend getaway? Explore her website The Navigatio when planning your next trip and check out FOCUS’s digital magazines to find similar articles. Enjoy exploring!
Photos courtesy of: Unsplash
