From cream teas to mystic stone circles, check out our pick of essential experiences when visiting the UK.
Eat a cream tea.
You’ve watched the aristocracy sit down to one in Downton Abbey, read about them in PG Wodehouse novels and now you really want to try an English cream tea for yourself. Well, you’re in luck. The country is packed with teashops, hotels and cafes that serve this calorific combination of scones (rich baked pastries), thick clotted cream and jam, alongside a pot of fresh tea. Cream teas are most associated with the southwest of England – and especially Devon and Cornwall – but they are also part of afternoon tea, or high tea. Some of the most famous can be found at long-established London institutions including Claridge’s, Fortnum & Masons, The Ritz and The Savoy.
Bathe like a Roman.
Step back in time a few millennia when you visit the city of Bath, Somerset, famous for its public baths built by the Romans in the middle of the 1st century AD to harness the area’s natural hot springs and mineral-rich water. The original baths have been redeveloped over the centuries and the site now comprises four sites, including the Roman Temple, the Sacred Spring and a museum where you can see relics from the baths. While swimming in the pillar-bordered Great Bath (pictured above) is not allowed, a few steps away you’ll find the modern Bath Thermae Spa, with three floors of pools including one on the rooftop, where you can experience those famous hot mineral waters for yourself.
Tour Oxford’s world-renowned colleges.
From the 17th century Gothic dining hall that inspired Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films to the landmark Magdalen Tower, Oxford University is a must-see on any trip to the UK. Fortunately, you don’t need a cap and gown to enjoy its famous quadrangles and gardens. Many of its 45 colleges – which are spread across the city centre – are open to the public. Magdalen is widely considered to be the prettiest; Christ Church is the largest and one of the most famous while University College claims to be the oldest.
Visit mythical Stonehenge.
This mysterious circle of prehistoric rocks on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, is one of England’s most famous sights. Built over a period between 4500 BC and 1500 BC, the stones – some of which weigh up to 25 tonnes – are thought to have been erected with sledges, rollers, pivots and pulleys and some to have been moved from 140 miles away in Wales. Yet no one knows why the ring was constructed and the attraction is shrouded in legend and folklore involving wizards, healing powers and astronomy. The June Summer Solstice sees thousands of people from all over the world gather at the site to watch the sun rise above the stones. Entry on this special day is free but be prepared to arrive early to ensure the best viewing spot.
Have a drink at England’s oldest pub.
There are more than 40,000 pubs in England – so there’s no excuse for not visiting one. From traditional country taverns to city boozers, there’s a pub to suit every taste. Order a pint of beer, a cider or a gin and tonic if you want to blend in with the locals – and add a packet of ready salted crisps to the order for added authenticity. Pubs have been a mainstay of British life for centuries, with some dating back centuries. Among the oldest pubs in the UK is Nottingham’s Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, which claims to have been established in 1189; The Royal Standard of England in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, which is listed in the Domesday Book, and Hertfordshire’s Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, believed to have been founded sometime in the 8th century.
See more of the UK’s sights with a rental car. Booking in advance guarantees the cheapest deals.