United Kingdom

Reasons to go:

1. London
2. Edinburgh
  • Best views of the city: Calton Hill, Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park (don’t miss the Scottish Parliament Building nearby).
  • Old Town: St Giles’ Cathedral, Victoria Terrace, walking the narrow streets.
  • New Town: elegant architecture of Moray Place, Circus Lane, etc.
  • Castles: Edinburgh Castle, Craigmillar Castle (my favourite).
  • Art galleries: National Galleries of Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland Modern One and Modern Two, Edinburgh Arts & Picture Framers on Nicolson Street (great Scotland themed postcards).
  • Museums: Surgeons’ Hall Museum, National Museum of Scotland.
  • Hiking: Pentland Hills Regional Park.
  • Other stuff: The Meadows (park), the walk along Water of Leith (past Dean Village), Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
  • Stockbridge neighbourhood is the best place to stay.
  • Restaurants: The Outsider Restaurant, The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage. On my wishlist: Purslane Restaurant, The Cottage at Royal Terrace.
  • Cocktails: Hey Palu, The Last Word, Panda & Sons, Bramble, Lucky Liquor Co, Nightcap, Nauticus. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society for whisky.
  • On my wishlist: boat tours from Scottish Seabird Centre to see puffins.
3. Hiking

3.1 Lake District National Park

  • Striding Edge hike - ridge walk to/from Helvellyn. Start from Patterdale or the bus stop/car park at (54.542464, -3.058717).
  • Other hikes: Crinkle Crags, Stickle tarn, Scafell Pike, Hardknott Roman Fort, Buttermere (Buttermere village, Red Pike, along the ridge to High Stile, return along the north-east side of Buttermere lake).
  • Note: a great way to visit without a car is to take the train to Windermere, stay there and take buses to starting points of different hikes. Usually a pdf of current bus schedule can be found.

3.2 Brecon Beacons National Park

  • Llyn y Fan Fach circular hike is my favourite of the two hikes I did. Start from the free parking at (51.899802, -3.745603). Cross the bridge at (51.899485, -3.744223) and head up to Waun Lefrith (51.878681, -3.747141). On the way there check if you’ll be able to cross Afon Sawdde river at (51.890747, -3.739819) on your way back. If not, check if you’ll be able to cross at (51.883836, -3.740053). From Waun Lefrith (51.878681, -3.747141), continue along the ridge to Picws Du (51.882617, -3.727827). If it hasn’t rained for a while, it is enjoyable to continue directly to Fan Brycheiniog (51.882211, -3.708217), otherwise the best route is via Fan Foel (51.88713, -3.714687). Next head down to Llyn y Fan Fawr lake (51.878487, -3.697168) where you can swim (just avoid the leeches). Walk around the lake and enjoy some of the best views from (51.884627, -3.704198) and (51.888798, -3.718685). Head back to the parking via an Afon Sawdde river crossing you’ve picked earlier, or if neither of the two seemed appealing try the route that goes via (51.9053, -3.733062). My hike was 13.5km with 670m total ascent.
  • Pen-y-Fan Horseshoe circular hike is very similar, and much more popular. Doing both hikes makes for an enjoyable weekend; but if you are not looking to fill a weekend, there is no need to do both. Start from the free parking at (51.843705, -3.399637), or the free overflow parking at (51.838082, -3.391301). Cross the stream at (51.853529, -3.403939), cross the bridge at (51.852124, -3.409132), head up to (51.849611, -3.421684), and continue to Cefn Cul (51.863349, -3.432719). Climb the three peaks - Corn Du (51.881683, -3.443655), Pen y Fan (51.884041, -3.437008) and Cribyn (51.881794, -3.419635). Then head down to the saddle point at (51.874924, -3.408075), from there you can head back to the parking via (51.867366, -3.404173) or make it into a bigger loop. The bit between (51.878446, -3.445299) and Pen y Fan is very busy, as most people park at (51.86872, -3.472004) to get a selfie on the famous Pen y Fan. My hike was 15.5km with 690m total ascent.
  • If you happen to be in Cardiff, best coffee is at Mec Coffee, Sway, and Sibling. Pettigrew Bakeries has good sourdough. See the juxtaposition of Senedd and Norwegian Church Arts Centre. Pontcanna (think Kings Road and Severn Grove) is the best area to stay.

3.3 Other hikes:

4. Oxford
  • Extremely pretty architecture: all the colleges, Bodleian Library, Sheldonian Theatre.
  • Museums: Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Pitt Rivers Museum, Ashmolean Museum. All of them are free, no bookings required.
  • Coffee: New Ground Coffee Oxford, Society Café.
5. Manchester
  • Architecture in central Manchester: Manchester City Council, Manchester Cathedral (the outside is the best bit, but it is also free to visit), Rylands Building, 100 King Street, 98 Deansgate (53.481826, -2.247922) and other buildings along Deansgate street. Canal street. Arch of Chinatown. Squares: Shambles Square, Albert Square, St Ann’s Square, Hardman Square, Amphitheatre (53.477851, -2.248827). New architecture: Tower of Light, Four New Bailey (53.482117, -2.254149).
  • Libraries: John Rylands Library is the most beautiful one, free. Manchester Central Library is delightfully round, free. The Portico Library is on my wishlist, free. Spoilt for choice, I skipped Chetham’s Library, not free.
  • Manchester Art Gallery is great, free. Andrew Law Galleries might have a free exhibition of L. S. Lowry paintings or something else. If you do see Lowry’s paintings, head to Millennium Bridge afterwards for the view of Whitworth Bros flour mill. Art galleries on my wishlist: The Whitworth and Esea Contemporary.
  • Northern Quarter - the party neighbourhood. It has conversions of old structures - Mackie Mayor food court and Smithfield Market Buildings (53.484805, -2.236816), street art and the best coffee at Just Between Friends Coffee.
  • Architecture along Oxford Road: Manchester Museum, The Old Quadrangle of The University of Manchester, Holy Name Church, Contact Theatre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
  • Wilmslow Road curry mile - a vibrant neighbourhood stretching from (53.457641, -2.226647) to (53.451953, -2.222354). Mughli Charcoal Pit restaurant - their charcoal pit broccoli is incredible.
  • Ancoats neighbourhood. Exciting architecture: converted Old Sedgwick Mill (53.483469, -2.227284) - see the magnificent wave-shaped glass roof inside, Burlington House (53.481299, -2.22993). Area around Hallé St Peter’s. Artista Perfetto Ancoats has good coffee. The area around Cotton Field Park; Pollen Bakery has divine cheesecake.
  • Maray Manchester is a great restaurant.
  • Coffee: Just Between Friends Coffee is my favourite. Mukafe Studio and Atrium Coffee are on my wishlist. Fort Coffee is good.
  • Events: see what’s on at The Lowry and Aviva Studios.
  • On my wishlist: Jodrell Bank, Weaste Cemetery, Castlefield Viaduct walk.
6. Bristol and around
  • Hunting for street art in Southville: North street, Luckwell road, West street and East street are a good place to start. This map is a good starting point. Upfest Gallery is on my wishlist. The street art festival happens every 2 years, so there is a steady supply of new murals.
  • Stokes Croft is another area for street art hunting.
  • Architecture: The area around Broad street and Corn street has a lot of beautiful old buildings. This pdf makes for a fine self-guided tour. Wills Memorial Building is beautiful on the outside; I believe the inside is magnificent too, taking a tour is on my wishlist. On my wishlist: Bristol Cathedral, The Mount Without (an intriguing venue, not sure if easy to visit).
  • Underfall Yard is fun. Visit the Engine House (51.44685, -2.618236); engine demos run on weekend mornings. My favourite view of Bristol’s colourful houses is from Bristol Marina (51.448102, -2.610924). Spike Island art gallery (free) is on my wishlist. Nearby, a tiny ferry runs between SS Great Britain Ferry Landing and Hannover Quay. The journey is fast and cheap. And you get to catch a glimpse of SS Great Britain ship.
  • Clifton Suspension Bridge is impressive. On my wishlist in that area: a hard hat tour of Clifton Suspension Bridge, exploring Clifton Village, a long walk through Leigh Woods.
  • Walk up to Cabot Tower for great views. Climbing to the top of the tower (free) is on my wishlist.
  • Arnolfini Arts (free art gallery) is on my wishlist.
  • Food: Root (my favourite restaurant in Bristol, also great views of cranes outside M Shed museum), Urban Tandoor (Indian). On my wishlist: tasting menu at Adelina Yard, tasting menu at Wilson’s Restaurant, COR Restaurant, Nadu (Sri Lankan), The Coconut Tree (Sri Lankan), Albatross Café.
  • Coffee: Sweven Coffee (my favourite), Full Court Press.
7. Birmingham and around
  • The Jewellery Quarter - a lovely neighbourhood.
  • Street art in Digbeth: Custard Factory, The Brolly Works public parking, etc. I used this map as a rough guide.
  • Lapworth Museum of Geology - a paradise of rocks and fossils. Fluorescent rocks on the upper floor are magnificent.
  • Gas Street Basin - an area of canals. Ikon Gallery is great.
  • Restaurants: Land (vegan tasting menu), Chakana (Peruvian restaurant with vegan options).
  • Cocktails: Fox and Chance, Couch Stirchley.

Near Birmingham:

  • Lichfield cathedral is beautiful. The rooftop tour is still on my wishlist.
  • Coventry Transport Museum is excellent, with Thrust SuperSonic Car on display.

Notes:

  • Signalbox has a useful map of UK train network.
  • Trainline app is the best tool for planning train journeys, and tracking trains in real time.
  • National Parks in the UK do not have entrance fees or opening hours.
  • If you are planning to camp, this website might be a good place to start.