Make the most of your time studying in the UK by visiting some of the best attractions in the world. From fascinating museums, to thrilling theme parks, you’re bound to find a brilliant places to spend your weekend in this A-Z guide for Canadian students of the best UK tourist attractions…
A – Alton Towers
- City: Stoke-on-Trent
- Price: From £17.25
- Description: Alton Towers is the most popular theme park in the UK. Not only is it home to over 30 rides including some of the fastest roller coasters in the world, it has a water park too.
B – British Museum
- City: London
- Price: Free
- Description: Home to one of the finest collection of antiques in the world, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures.
C – Edinburgh Castle
- City: Edinburgh
- Price: From £12.80
- Description: A historic fortress which dominates the skyline of Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, the castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
D – Drayton Manor
- City: Tamworth
- Price: From £18.00
- Description: Theme park, resort and zoo, Drayton Manor is another theme park in the middle of the country that attracts over 1.5 million guests every year.
E – Eden Project
- City: Cornwall
- Price: From £14.50
- Description: These giant artificial biodomes house the world’s largest indoor rainforest as well as an array of weird and wonderful plants and flowers.
F – Falkirk Wheel
- City: Falkirk
- Price: Boat trips from £7.95
- Description: A true inspiration for engineering and architectural students, the Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift that connects two canals. A must-see in Scotland.
G – St Giles Cathedral
- City: Edinburgh
- Price: Free
- Description: The grand and gothic medieval building and place of worship dominates the Edinburgh skyline and is just as beautiful inside.
H – Houses of Parliament
- City: London
- Price: Tours from £20
- Description: The home of British politics, the Houses of Parliament are where politicians and Lords meet to make decisions on behalf of the Queen.
I – Imperial War Museum
- City: London
- Price: £19
- Description: Consisting of five separate museums, the Imperial War Museum depicts the stories and tragedies over the last 100 years, including World War I & II.
J - Jersey
- City: Jersey
- Price: Flights from £35
- Description: Despite not being officially part of the UK, Jersey is a heavily British influenced island off the west-coast of France. A great destination for seafood lovers.
K – Kew Gardens
- City: London
- Price: From £14
- Description: The Royal Botanical Gardens has continued to increase the world’s understanding of plants by sharing 250 years’ worth of knowledge. A fantastic nature hub.
L – London Dungeons
- City: London
- Price: From £20.50
- Description: Recreating the gory historical events of old London town, the Dungeons tells the tales of the middle-ages in hilarious fashion. A must-visit in London.
M – Merseyside Maritime Museum
- City: Liverpool
- Price: Free
- Description: Submerge yourself in Liverpool’s historic seafaring past at this museum, found in the heart of the famous Albert Dock.
N – National Portrait Gallery
- City: London
- Price: Free
- Description: The first portrait gallery to open in the world, the gallery is home to famous pieces of work including Claude Monet, Rembrandt and van Gogh.
O – Great Orme
- City: Llandudno
- Price: Free
- Description: A natural beauty spot in Wales, Great Orme is a limestone headland overlooking Llandudno Bay that is a must-visit for walkers and cyclists.
P – Blackpool Pleasure Beach
- City: Blackpool
- Price: From £15
- Description: An amusement park situated along the coast of Blackpool which won the UK’s number 1 amusement park for 2014 on Trip Advisor.
Q – The Queen’s Residences
- City: UK wide
- Price: From £18.50
- Description: The Queen owns many famous buildings in the UK including Windsor Castle, Palace of Holyroodehouse and Balmoral Castle. In certain times of the year she opens up her main residence, Buckingham Palace, for guests to see her house!
R – Roman Baths
- City: Bath
- Price: From £12.25
- Description: The baths are home to natural hot springs that were used by the Romans from 70 AD and remains one of the best preserved Roman remains in the world.
S – St Paul’s Cathedral
- City: London
- Price: From £13.50
- Description: Another place of worship that dominates the city skyline, St Paul’s Cathedral in London is another architectural masterpiece inside and out.
T – Tate Modern
- City: London
- Price: Free
- Description: A modern art gallery in England’s capital, the venue attracts world-leading artists and exhibitions as well as 4.7 million visitors every year.
U - Underground (Churchill’s underground bunker)
- City: London
- Price: From £9
- Description: Discover at the Imperial War Museum where Winston Churchill held his second World War secret cabinet meetings and plotted the fall of Hitler.
V – V&A Museum
- City: London
- Price: From £3
- Description: Home to over 4.5 million objects, the Victoria & Albert Museum is the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design.
W – Westinster Abbey
- City: London
- Price: From £17
- Description: A gothic church in the city of Westminster, this was the venue where Prince William and Kate married on 29th April 2011.
X Marks the Spot
OK, so the UK hasn’t really got an attraction beginning with ‘X’, but why not bookmark or print off this blog and mark off the places you want to visit first!
Y – York Minster
- City: York
- Price: From £14
- Description: York Minster is the cathedral of York and one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. Home to over 200 years of regional and national history.
Z – Chester Zoo
- City: Chester
- Price: From £15
- Description: A zoological garden in Cheshire, the Zoo is home to a fantastic collection of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.
We hope that you've found our Best UK tourist attractions: An A-Z guide for Canadian students useful. If you're looking to apply to a UK university, download your copy of the ultimate checklist below.
