The United Kingdom (UK) is a beautiful section of the world that really has so much history to it and shows us the part of Europe that pacted countries to be under the belief of the same democracy. It consists of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (not to be confused with the Republic of Ireland, which is not part of the United Kingdom).
You’ve probably heard of London being a very famous city in the United Kingdom and a face of it, but below I have named other historic cities that would be great to add on your bucket list too as some of these are underrated:
Belfast, Ireland
Located in Northern Ireland, Belfast is the second largest city after Dublin. This city is a must-see if you’re into the story of the Titanic as it is the city where the ship was built. The history that lies in Belfast too is interesting. It had a troubling past with the Catholics and Protesants (or Nationalists and Unionists) not liking eachother, so an uproar of violence occurred. Today, there are still some segregated areas but they can be seen working together now.
Here are some interesting spots I recommend you check out in Belfast:
- The City Hall: A 173-foot copper dome that was completed being built in 1906. Inside here, you can find a free museum too.
- Ulster Museum: A free museum that features a variety of history (including on The United Kingdom), natural history, and incredible art.
- Botanic Gardens: Established in 1828, you can find some exotic tropical plants here and the oldest seed plants, including a 400-year old Xanthorrhoea.
- Queen’s University: Founded in 1845, it is one of the top public research universities in the UK.
- Titanic Museum: A museum that tells the story of the Titanic
- Donegall Square: This area has a dark history from World War II but it is now a thriving area with shops. It is surrounded by Victorian buildings.
- International Wall on Falls Road: There’s beautiful mural artwork here created by a group of artists, many spreading important messages on there.
Glasgow, Scotland
A port city on the banks of River Clyde, Glasgow is known for its 18th to 20th century history with shipbuilding and trades. The city is also remarkably known for the Victorian art it holds along with the architecture in that era that stands out. There are a lot of places to see here, but I recommend you check out the Glasgow Cathedral, a church since 1197 that used to be a Roman Catholic one but now is part of Church of Scotland, a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity. It is also known to be the oldest building in the city.
Stirling, Scotland
Also, not too far from Glasgow is Stirling, about 35-40 minutes away from eachother. If you have the chance to also go explore Stirling, I recommend giving Stirling Castle a visit. It’s a castle built on top of a volcanic rock and it is also considered one of the most important castles of the country. Other places you may want to see here is The National Wallace Monument (a tower), The King’s Knot (a park), the Stirling Smith Gallery (an art gallery), and the Stirling Old Bridge (a historic bridge).
Holyhead, Wales
Holyhead is probably one of the more underrated parts of Wales, but this port town really touches on that charm of a historic old town. This old town has lighthouses, parks right by the rugged coastline, a maritime museum, cathedrals, an arts center that hosts some theatrical shows but also a gallery of their locals’ artwork, pubs, restaurants, and some shops with stuff that are decently priced. It is also to be one of the busiest ferry ports in the UK.
Dover, England
Another major ferry port is Dover in England. Originally built to protect invasions from the English Channel, Dover’s remnants are there to tell the story as they stand out. Dover is such a quaint city, where many of these English cottage homes can be found among open green fields, and it has the Dover Castle that overlooks the sea and homes. The 350-feet high White Cliffs of Dover is a prominent geological landmark that can’t be missed. They’re super white rocks!
Liverpool, England
It is the hometown city of The Beatles and it is also a city that has some historic Victorian buildings that towers dramatically among its visitors such as “The Three Graces”. This city is also known to be a maritime one, so you’ll find some waterfronts here like the Royal Albert Dock with museums, galleries, restaurants, and bars. I have a whole guide here on some of the places you may want to visit if you want to explore the story of The Beatles in this city.
Best way to get around some of these cities
Many of these cities have hop-on and hop-off bus tours that go around and can give you an opportunity to see a lot of the city’s places in a day or two, so that may be a good option for you if you want to get around quicker.
