The ultimate guide to UK travel: top tourist attractions
The UK is home to a variety of incredible tourist attractions, including world-famous landmarks such as Stonehenge, the British Museum, the London Eye, and Edinburgh Castle. Located throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, regardless of where you’re visiting across the UK, you’ll have plenty to see and do.
But which part of the UK has the best tourist attraction?
Well, we have the answers. Using TripAdvisor data, we researched the tourist attractions in each county of the UK (108 in total) that had the highest number of reviews on the site. From there, we then calculated which attraction from each county had the highest percentage of excellent, or five-star, reviews.
Let’s take a look at the results:
Contents:
- The top tourist attractions in the UK
- The top tourist attractions in England
- The top tourist attractions in Scotland
- The top tourist attractions in Wales
- The top tourist attractions in Northern Ireland
The top tourist attractions in the UK
There are 109 counties in the UK. 48 ceremonial counties in England, 22 county boroughs in Wales, 32 county councils in Scotland and six counties in Northern Ireland.
Here are the top tourist attractions in the top 10 counties:
In first place, with 98.1% of five-star reviews, is Ascent Aviation. Located in the Renfrewshire Council, in the west central lowlands of Scotland, it’s a unique flight simulator and pilot training centre that allows guests to experience flying to over 26,000 airports around the world. The simulator utilises 220-degree wrap-around visual generators to create a realistic flying experience for all ages.
Glenkinchie Distillery is in second place, with 91.1% of five-star reviews. Located in East Lothian Council, Scotland, Glenkinchie Distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery famous for producing the Edinburgh Malt. Founded in 1825, it is a key part of the Johnnie Walker blended Scotch whisky brand, representing the Lowland style of whisky.
Next up is the Victoria Tunnel in Tyne and Wear, North East England, which boasts 90.5% five-star reviews. The Victoria Tunnel is a historic, underground wagonway, built in the 1840s to transport coal, and later used as an air-raid shelter during World War II. Today, it is accessible to the public through private tours, where guests can see firsthand what it was like to take shelter there.
Big Pit National Coal Museum in Torfaen, Wales, is the next attraction on our list, scoring 89.8% of five-star reviews. The historic coal mine offers visitors the chance to go 300 feet underground on a guided tour led by a miner, exploring original mine workings and seeing historic buildings and machinery from its past as a working colliery.
In fifth place, the Charnwood Forest Alpacas in Leicestershire, England, achieved a score of 89.6% of five-star reviews. This 110-acre farm is one of the first, original and largest alpaca farms open to the public in the UK. The farm offers walking experiences with the alpacas and is also home to a variety of animals, including horses, donkeys, sheep, pigs, chickens, and more.
The top tourist attractions in England
There are 48 ceremonial counties in England. Here are the top tourist attractions in the top 10 counties:
In England, the Victoria Tunnel in Tyne and Wear takes the top spot. This is followed by Charnwood Forest Aplacas in Leicestershire and the Snow Centre in Hertfordshire.
Also included in the top 10 for England are Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Shropshire, Lincoln Cathedral in Lincolnshire, and Durham Cathedral in Durham.
The top tourist attractions in Scotland
There are 32 local councils in Scotland. Here are the top tourist attractions in the top 10 councils:
In Scotland, Ascent Aviation takes first place. Other Scottish attractions included on the list are Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire Council, Skara Brae in Orkney Islands Council and Dumfries House in East Ayrshire Council.
The top tourist attractions in Wales
There are 22 county boroughs in Wales. Here are the top tourist attractions in the top 10 boroughs:
In Wales, Torfaen County takes first place with the Big Pit National Coal Museum. Other Welsh attractions included in the top 10 are the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Denbighshire, the Festival Park Owl Sanctuary in Blaenau Gwent, and Powis Castle and Garden in Powys.
The top tourist attractions in Northern Ireland
There are 6 historic counties in Northern Ireland. Here are the top tourist attractions in each county:
In Northern Ireland, the Navan Centre and Fort in County Armagh takes first place, with 77.1% of five-star reviews. This is followed by the Ulster American Folk Park in County Tyrone, with 75.3% of five-star reviews, and the Marble Arch Caves, with 74.4% of five-star reviews.
The other attractions in Northern Ireland included on our list are the City Walls in County Londonderry, Mount Stewart in County Down and Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim.
Ready to embark on a UK Cruise?
If you want to explore more of the UK, why not consider a UK cruise? Cruising around the UK is a great way to explore the diverse landscapes, history, and culture close to home, offering a mixture of dramatic coastlines, ancient sites, and vibrant cities. We offer a range of UK cruise options, from family-friendly, short breaks to luxury cruises.
You can sail from plenty of UK ports, including Southampton, Liverpool, Belfast, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Dover and more. Many UK ports offer a wide selection of no-fly cruises, making it easier to begin your holiday without needing to travel to the airport.