Tourists from all over the world visit the United Kingdom to take in its thousands of years’ worth of history, development and culture. It might rain a lot, but this little island has a lot to offer no matter where you’re from or where you visit while you’re there. The country is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our guide takes you through their respective capital cities and gives you some top tips on places you should visit while you’re in the UK.

The capital of the whole UK is London, which is in the south-east of England. There are loads of tours, restaurants, museums, theatres and other things to visit that are guaranteed to keep you busy. You could also visit Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard, go and see the famous black door of 10 Downing Street on a walk down Whitehall, or perhaps visit the Houses of Parliament. London’s one of the major cities of the world, so you’re sure to be spoiled for choice.

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. In 2004 it became a UNESCO City of Literature and in 2009 was voted the best place to live in the UK, so it’s definitely worth visiting if you get chance. If you’re looking for attractions to visit then you should definitely check out Edinburgh Castle, which overlooks the city and is over 1000 years old. You could visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a royal residence with a great art collection, or perhaps visit Edinburgh Zoo to see the famous Penguin Parade.

If you visit Wales, then you should definitely see its capital city, Cardiff. Take in the sights on a boat ride round Cardiff Bay, which is a key attraction and the largest waterfront development in Europe, or perhaps go for a walk along Mermaid Quay. If you like music festivals, then you should visit The Big Weekend, a free festival featuring bands and the UK’s largest traveling funfair. You could also see a free concert at the Wales Millennium Centre or visit the Impressionist paintings at the National Museum Cardiff.

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland and, despite its troubled history, was recently declared to be the safest city in the UK. You could visit City Hall, which offers free guided tours, or perhaps Saint Anne’s Cathedral, which is very impressive and situated close to some great little stores, cafes and galleries. The ill-fated Titanic was built in Belfast, so it’s well worth checking out the Titanic boat tour. The Waterfront Hall also features some great performances it’s well worth investigating.

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