The Great British bucket list: 9 places every Londoner should visit in the UK

Make the most of a long weekend at one of these must-visit destinations
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Liz Connor25 February 2016

Beautiful countryside, historic cities, soaring fells, sandy shores and celestial stargazing spots: these are some places in Britain that are simply unmissable.

If you’ve spent the past few years sun worshipping abroad, there’s never been a better time to fall back in love with the UK. With so many beauty spots just a short car or train journey away from the capital, there really is no excuse not to take advantage of the natural nirvanas that lie on your doorstep.

Here are ten brilliant places to holiday at home in this year.

Go stargazing on the Isle of Man

The clarity of the sky and minimal light pollution make the Isle of Man a unique haven for star spotters. Currently home to 26 of Britain's Dark Sky discovery sites, it has some of the most spectacular skies in Europe. With the naked eye you can easily see the Orion Nebula and the Great Andromeda Galaxy, whose light has been on its way to us for over 2.5 million years. The Island is also ideally placed to see the magnificent sight of the Northern Lights, if conditions are right.

Clear night skies in the Isle of Man
David Tiernan/Flickr

Hike the Brecon Beacons

With mountains and moorland, standing stones and castles, lively waterfalls and breathtaking views across South Wales, the Brecon Beacons mountain range has masses to offer explorers. The National Park is 42 miles wide, so there’s plenty of ground to be covered by foot, including Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain. Make sure to visit the pretty Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Sgwd yr Eira waterfall and the Black Mountain Quarries.

Visit the Roman Baths in Bath

The beautiful city of Bath was founded upon natural hot springs with the steaming water playing a key role throughout its history. Lying in the heart of the city the Roman Baths were constructed around 70 AD as a grand bathing and socialising complex. It is now one of the best preserved Roman remains in the world - 1,170,000 litres of steaming spring water reaching 46 °C still fill the bathing site every single day. Visit The Great Bath, its magnificent epicentre and walk on the ancient pavements as the Romans did 2,000 years ago. The Great Bath that lies below street level can also be viewed from the Terrace, which is adorned with statues and shadowed by the great Abbey.

Bath's beautiful Roman Baths
Corbis

Climb Arthur’s Seat

Holyrood Park is a 640 acre Royal Park, just a short walk from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in the heart of the city. The park's highest point is Arthur's Seat, a dormant volcano, and sits 251m above sea level giving excellent views of the city; it is also the site of a large and well preserved fort. Within the park you can also visit: St Anthony’s Chapel, a 15th century medieval chapel; Salisbury Crags, a series of 150 foot cliff faces dominating Edinburgh’s skyline; as well as Duddingston Loch – a freshwater loch rich in wildlife.

Soak in the views in Snowdonia

A sandy coastline of beaches, spectacular cliffs and glorious estuaries: Snowdonia National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty with something for everyone. The highlight of this unspoilt area is Mount Snowdon, the biggest mountain in Wales and England at 3,560ft. Those who aren’t keen on tackling the beast by foot can take a train to the summit for spectacular views across the national park.

Tranquil Snowdonia Lake
Getty Images

Do a pub crawl in the Cotswolds

This idyllic region is defined by rolling hills, or ‘wolds’, that run through five counties - Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. Explore quintessential villages of honey-coloured stone, amble peacefully around picturesque market towns, make a splash in the lake-land area or simply soak in the atmosphere at some of the area's quaint drinking holes. Locals love the Falcon Inn in Wotton-under-Edge and the Horse and Groom in Bourton-on-the-Hill.

Ski the Cairn Gorm mountain

Don’t head to Italy for snowsports this year. Instead, take a train to Scotland. CairnGorm Mountain near Aviemore has a reputation as one of the most beautiful - and sometimes challenging - places to ski in the UK. Whether you're a skier or not, the ride on the train to the Ptarmigan Top Station is a unique experience with an opportunity to take in fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding area. For skiers, there is a wide range of routes on offer, with the longest run running 3.3 kms. In total, 12 lifts including Scotland’s only funicular train service the resort, which includes seven green runs, six blue, eight red and one black piste.The resort also has the added attractions of a terrain/fun park.

Go sailing in the Lake District

England's largest National Park is home to Scafell Pike - its highest mountain, Wastwater - its deepest lake and thriving communities like Keswick and Bowness-on-Windermere. The idyllic Lake District has more than sixteen lakes and numerous tarns plus a stretch of coastline. So there's plenty of opportunity to go rowing, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, fishing or simply splash about on the shores.

Sailing freindly: the Lake District
Corbis

Drink a cream tea on the beach in Devon

No trip to Devon is complete without a traditional cream tea. With glorious coastlines both north and south, it’s difficult to choose a spot to pitch your chair in - but South Sands, Bigbury on Sea and Mothecombe are particularly unspoilt. In addition to beautiful beaches and stunning scenery, you’ll also find National Parks, rustic villages and towns, historic buildings and ruins to explore.

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