Places to Visit in United Kingdom
A island nation of four constituent countries — royal pageantry, a two-thousand-year urban history layered under one city, and weather that changes on the hour.
The United Kingdom's temperate maritime climate means genuinely unpredictable weather in any season — layered clothing and a compact umbrella are standard advice regardless of month. London sits on the River Thames in the southeast of England and functions as the country's dominant transport hub, with excellent rail connections to the rest of England, Scotland, and Wales via a network that, unlike much of continental Europe, is run by multiple private operators with fare structures that reward advance booking. May-September offers the longest daylight hours and warmest weather, though 'warm' rarely exceeds the mid-20s Celsius; winter days are short (sunset before 4pm in December) but Christmas markets and indoor museum culture compensate. Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory outside restaurants, where a 12.5% service charge is often added automatically to the bill.
Capital
London
Currency
Pound Sterling (GBP, £)
Time zone
GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1)
Calling code
+44
Best months
May – Sep
Visas and entry
Not part of the Schengen Area. Most Western nationalities (US, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan) can enter visa-free for up to 6 months as a visitor, but as of 2025 nearly all non-UK/Irish visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) arranged online before departure. Other nationalities require a Standard Visitor visa.
Where to start in United Kingdom
The place ranked first in each of our city guides.