UK destinations you need to visit before 2026 is over
There are few places in the world that are as popular among tourists as the UK, where people come from both centuries-old history and pop culture landmarks alike. If you’re planning to have a longer holiday and want to have ancient castles and estates paired with popular filming locations for cult classic films and TV series, as well as cultural powerhouses such as large museums and art galleries, you definitely need to come to the UK because you’ll find all of them relatively close to one another. If you enjoy natural, verdant landscapes you can walk through at your own pace, then you have all the more reason to book your trip.
However, with so many different places to choose from, you might feel a little spoilt for choice. If you’re still creating your itinerary, here are a few of the spots you should definitely add to your list.
Stirling
Stirling is a city located in central Scotland, around 40 kilometres northeast of Glasgow. It’s not a very well-known destination, which is a pity because it is home to some truly incredible historical sights. Get an eSIM from Holafly for the UK before you leave home because you’ll definitely want to photograph these landmarks and share them with everyone back home as quickly as possible. The city’s history began around a thousand years ago, and today you can visit the Wallace Monument (commemorating the Scottish knight who became a leader during the First War of Scottish Independence) and the statue of Robert the Bruce in the city.
Historically, the city was a very important point due to its position, which facilitated travel both to the north and to the south, being referred to as the brooch that held the Highlands and the Lowlands together. The city is home to a distillery as well, and while its inaugural single malt is set to be officially released in the summer of 2027, there are several other offerings and collections to choose from if you’re visiting. If you can splurge a little on the accommodation, consider the Gleneagles Hotel, an establishment that is over a century old and which looks like a picture-perfect, majestic country house. The hotel is in Auchterarder, only 18 miles away from Stirling itself.
Stockport
Already visited Manchester and want to see more of it, but in a different place? Well, that’s a very specific request, but incidentally, there’s also a place where you can go for similar yet different vibes. And that’s Stockport, a town in the Greater Manchester metropolitan area, around 10 kilometres southeast of Manchester itself. Most of the town is located within the boundaries of the historic county of Cheshire, and historically it was known for hemp cultivation and the manufacturing of sturdy ropes. It was one of the first places to mechanise silk factories in the Isles during the 18th century as well, living up to the region’s reputation as a pioneer of the Industrial Revolution.
Stop by the Underbank Hall, a 16th-century building with a timber frame that was a family home until 1823. Starting from the following year, it began serving as a bank, and it continues to do so today. The Bramall Hall manor house is also timber-framed and even older, with its oldest parts going back all the way to the 14th century. A previous manor was described in records from the 1080s. It is now a museum as it retains much of its old architecture, including Victorian kitchens, Elizabethan ceilings, wall murals, stained glass, wood panelling, and historic heraldic displays.
If you want to join a community event, go to the Stock Party. This year, it is held in July, has remained entirely free, and continues to include many independent food and drink venues. Multiple outdoor stages with curated local musicians are included as well.
Omagh
Omagh lies where Drumragh and Camowen form the River Strule in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. If you plan to visit later in the year, you should know that winters tend to get quite snowy, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on the type of weather you prefer. 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and events are expected to take place in Omagh as well, given the ties between the US and Northern Ireland. The town has many historic sights of its own as well, such as the Ulster American Folk Park, an open-air museum dedicated to Irish emigration over two centuries. It contains more than 30 original buildings that have been moved and restored from their original areas.
The Folk Park also includes demonstrations of heritage skills like candle-making, blacksmithing, linen weaving, and cooking over an open hearth. If you believe your family hails from Ireland, you can find your genealogy with Tyrone Roots, including the ancestral homestead. The Omagh Memorial Garden, dedicated to the car bombing that took place during the Troubles in 1998, can be visited as well. Aside from these landmarks, you should know that Omagh is also popular for its natural landscapes. You can walk or cycle through the Gortin Glen Forest Park and trek the moorlands and blanket bog of the Sperrins, a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty.
And, of course, you can’t go to Northern Ireland and not stop by a few traditional pubs. The Cat & Fiddle, Sallys of Omagh, and Bogans are beloved in the community and very popular with tourists as well. For traditional food, go to Grant’s (their menu includes vegan options as well).
Cirencester
If you look up the best spots to travel to in the UK, you’ll probably come across the Cotswolds once or twice. It’s a stunning region but, unfortunately, many tourists don’t think about exploring it more in-depth. The market town of Cirencester is often overlooked, which is a pity because it has so much to offer. The town was important in the region since the Roman era, when it was called Corinium Dobunnorum. The Corinium Museum pays homage to this history with its name but includes exhibits from as early as the Neolithic and from as late as the Victorian era.
The Church of St. John the Baptist is built of Cotswold stone, a kind of yellow limestone that is rich in fossils. Medieval-era wall paintings and stained glass still survive inside. The Barn Theatre hosts drama and musical events and has its own restaurant that you can visit after as well. The Cirencester Park country house is located west of the town and is the seat of the Bathurst family, and there’s also the Abbey House, developed on the site of the former abbey established in 1130 and surrendered in 1539. The Cirencester History Festival is set to take place between October 23rd and November 1st this year, so if you visit in the autumn, you should definitely join. Expect conversations, family events, community activities, and music celebrating local, national, and international history alike.
There are many beautiful spots to visit in the UK. If you want to avoid some of the crowds and still discover some truly amazing places, these underrated destinations are the ones that you really need to add to your itinerary.
