The British Isles is a group of islands that includes two main islands known as the island of Great Britain and the island of Ireland.
The country is made up of four different countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland and has an area of 242,000 square miles and a population of just over 64 million. One-third of this population lives in the capital city of London.
Great Britain is separated into two large islands by the North Sea and the English Channel.
The larger island of Great Britain is home to England, Scotland, and Wales. The smaller island of Ireland which is separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea is home to Northern Ireland.
Here is a list of 12 things not to miss when visiting Great Britain.
1. The British Museum
The British Museum is a large museum in London, England. It was founded in 1753 and was the first public national museum in the world.
The museum has around eight million items from all over the world on display, making it Europe’s largest cultural institution with collections of art, archaeology, and natural history. The origins of the name are not certain but it may be derived from “Brittania”, which is thought to mean Roman Britain or Brittany (a region in France).
It houses one of the best-known art galleries anywhere in Europe – including sculptures by Michelangelo, paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt as well as other famous European artists.
There are also many objects that come from ancient Greece and Rome, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and elsewhere in Africa, as well as coins and medals.
On the third floor of the museum, there is one of the most impressive collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts anywhere in the world.
2. Stonehenge
Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world.
Not only is Stonehenge a UNESCO World Heritage Site with International Astronomical Union, but it also holds great cultural significance to the people of Britain. The stone circle was built over 3,000 years ago and has been used for ceremonies and celebrations throughout history.
It consists of many large upright stones (sarsen stones) with lintels that form a trilithon shape when combined with two other large horizontal stones (bluestones). It is believed that these bluestones were brought to Stonehenge from 250 miles away because they are not native to the area around Stonehenge.
3. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace in London is typically the royal family’s main residence. The palace was originally three large houses that were joined together, but it has since been expanded by various monarchs so Buckingham Palace today consists of 775,000 square feet.
The palace has received more than one billion visitors over the past 60 years. Visitors are able to take a tour through the staterooms, which have all been restored with wonderful illustrations and artwork on display.
Visitors can also watch the changing of the guard at 11:30 am every day from April to July or 1:00 pm daily from August to March along with other themed events throughout the year.
4. Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is located in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has been a major royal castle since the 15th century.
In addition to being one of the most popular tourist attractions, Edinburgh Castle has been involved in several wars including some with the English as well as rebellions within Scotland.
The view from atop tower walls is some of the best views that you will find in Edinburgh which provides a 360-degree panorama across Edinburgh and beyond.
5. The Lake District
The Lake District is an area of natural beauty located in Cumbria, North West England, United Kingdom.
It is also a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its amazing mountainous landscapes and waterfalls which have inspired many artists throughout history such as William Wordsworth who wrote: “I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud”, which is a poem about the Lake District.
The most famous waterfall in the area is probably Ullswater which was used as a painting subject by the English Romantic painter J.M.W Turner.
The Lake District is also known for its hills and mountains including one of the most popular hills in England, Scafell Pike.
6. Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house located in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It was built between 1705 and circa 1722 and it has been the ancestral home of the dukes of Marlborough since 1817.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site with many beautiful rooms filled with artworks and paintings collected by the family throughout history.
Blenheim Palace was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, who became Prime Minister during World War II. He received the Nobel Prize in literature and he is also the only British prime minister to have won a Nobel Prize.
The palace has become one of Britain’s biggest attractions with more than 1 million visitors every year. The grounds are also very beautiful with many green spaces including Blenheim Park which is over 3,000 acres.
There are various outdoor activities that you can do at this lake including fishing, canoeing, kayaking swimming, and windsurfing.
7. Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, England is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with being a popular tourist attraction.
The wall was constructed during the time of Roman Emperor Hadrian and stretched 117 miles from coast to coast across northern England. The wall separates Scotland from Northern England and consists of several structures including forts, mile castles, garrisons, and signal towers among other things.
There are also many museums along the wall where visitors can learn more about its history as well as see restored parts of it from above ground level since only 10% is left today.
8. London Eye
The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel located on the banks of the River Thames in London, England.
The Ferris wheel has a height of 135 meters and it weighs about 443 tonnes. It opened to the public all the way back in 1999 and since then over 32 million people have been on it.
It was completed in 1999 at a cost of £75m and it is considered as one of the most popular attractions in Britain with thousands visiting every day. The wheel takes about 30 minutes to complete a full rotation which gives visitors some spectacular views across London including St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Nelson’s Column, Canary Wharf, the Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre among other things.
9. Giant’s Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns located on the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
It was formed after an ancient volcanic eruption and it has become one of Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions with around 700,000 visitors every year. Visitors are able to walk among the beautiful structures which were formed by lava coming out of fissures as well as cooling down rapidly before reaching the surface.
The site was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it contains many features that are unique to this kind of basaltic formation including its symmetry, its biological interest, and the beauty all around you when you arrive at this place. There are various theories about how these basalt columns were created but it is believed that they were formed by volcanic activity during the Tertiary period which spans from 66 million years ago to about 2.6 million years ago.
10. St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral is the second largest church in London, England and it has been an important feature of the city since its inauguration all the way back in 1697.
It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren who used to be England’s most famous architect during his time (he also designed various other buildings throughout England).
St. Paul’s is considered as one of the finest examples of English Baroque architecture with many tourists coming just to see this beautiful building that is located right next to another big attraction known as The City which contains modern skyscrapers having a distinct style all their own.
11. The City
The City is an area in Greater London that was established back in antiquity when Romans first settled here. Today, this part of the city contains many modern skyscrapers including the Gherkin which is one of them with its distinct design that includes a bulge at the top.
This part of the city also includes several other attractions like Tower 42, One New Change, The Place, and 20 Fenchurch Street among others. It is considered as one of London’s financial districts where you will find big banks along with small investment firms.
This area has become quite popular with tourists since it offers visitors a contrast between old and new architecture including historical landmarks dating back to medieval times which are great for photo opportunities.
12. Loch Ness
Loch Ness is a large body of water that stretches for about 23 kilometers along the Scottish Highlands.
Its popularity increased dramatically after a man named George Spicer claimed to have seen a creature moving in the waters back in 1933 which later became known as “Nessie”.
The area has become quite popular with tourists who come here hoping to get a glimpse of this mysterious creature. Loch Ness is located at an elevation of 220 meters above sea level and it contains various other islands such as Eilean Munde, Eilean Gorm, Great Glen Isle, and Inch Murrin among others.
Final Thoughts
Visiting Great Britain is an experience like no other.
From the history and culture of its old cities to its stunning landscapes and natural wonders, you’ll find plenty to see and do here.
There are many places to visit in Great Britain that makes this country one of the most visited travel destinations on the planet.