Great Britain has a long, rich history – but is learning about past kings and queens always the most fun thing to do? Maybe for an hour a day. The rest of the time you want to have fun of course! We’ve rounded up the best things to do in the UK to give you a hit list for your next trip.
1. Get Knighted at Warwick Castle
Between jousting battles, archery displays and a replica trebuchet, you’ll feel like you’re about to step into battle at Warwick Castle. This is loads of fun for the nerd in all of us AND covers off the whole ‘earning some history thing’. What better way to see how a medieval castle works than to step inside and live and breathe it? Disclaimer: you will not ~actually~ be knighted (you have to do way more than just show up at the Castle), but it’s close enough.
2. Whizz down the Orbital Slide
London’s ArcelorMittal Orbit slide is the world’s longest tunnel slide! Naturally that makes it a must do. At 178m long, you’ll fill your lungs with air for a scream as you zoom around the iconic structure in 12 circles before a 50m straight path. Who is up for round two?
3. Join Flight Club
I am an unashamed darts fan. Darts are cool, and darts are a good group activity that goes well with a beer. Flight Club in London’s Shoreditch is probably the coolest place to play darts though. Part bar, part restaurant and part darts hall, you won’t find any daggy dart playing here, it’s very ~now~ with electronic dartboards.
4. Play rooftop football
What’s Manchester’s biggest passion? Yep, football. Right next door to Manchester United’s home field, Old Trafford, you’ll find Hotel Football, which is an OTT football themed hotel that has a giant football pitch on their rooftop where you can play a game with your friends while watching the sunset. If you can’t make it into the team, this is the next best thing.
5. Floating Hot Tub Fun
The British celebrate summer in a way those of us from warm countries might find intimidating. But because of their love of the sun, they have the BEST summer activities. Take for example the floating hot tubs, AKA HotTug, down the River Thames in London. You literally grab a crew, some brews and chill in your private 38 degree hot tub while watching the sights go by. DREAM SCENARIO.
6. Dance at a ceilidh (and learn how to pronounce it)
Know who knows how to party? Scottish people. Their traditional social events are known as ceilidhs (say it like kay-lee) and they are wild with whirling dances, kilts (don’t whirl too hard), folk music, storytelling, drinking and feasting. You don’t have to be part of a clan to attend, just head to Ghillie Dhu in Edinburgh and join a pre-planned ceilidh. Totally one of the best things to do in the UK.
7. Get crafty with beer
London may be synonymous with gin, but lordy do they do a good craft beer! No one will tell you this, so discover it for yourself by hitting up #CraftEast and seeing East London’s beer wares with Yardarm Tours. It’s hipster AF, sure, but it’s one of the best days out for anyone who wants to see a new side to London (like MTV’s Emily St John ???? ).
8. Stand up paddleboard around Bristol’s Harbourside
If you’re a SUP (stand up paddleboard) fan, you will love this. If you’re not, you’ll also love this. That’s how good it is. It’s fun, you get to see good views of Bristol and it’s the ideal spot for beginners thanks to the calm water. Plus you’ll be the only person you know who can say they went stand up paddleboarding in Great Britain!
9. Test your serve at a ping-pong bar
Bounce ping pong bars in London are a laugh a minute (especially if you can’t play like me). Just like the darts bar, ping pong has been reimagined in a modern setting, so you can have bespoke cocktails while you bat the ball back and forth in a trendy bar. The best part? The have theme nights! From 80s to Disco, you will be able to dance and play the night away.
10. Trampoline in a giant underground cave
Not to be confused with the above ping pong bar, Zip World Bounce Below is a mind blowing trampoline park that is actually underground in an ancient slate mine. Located in North Wales, you can go from level to level, bouncing and sliding in the enormous caves. There’s literally nothing else like it.
11. Go on a ghost walk in York
Scaring yourself silly is fun according to some people (not me but I am willing to concede to the masses), and most of the UK seems to be heavily haunted. York is pretty famous for it and has a plethora of creepy folklore and palm-sweating legends. Walk around town, at night of course, and prepare to be terrified. Trust us – it may not sound like it, but this is absolutely one of the best thing to do in the UK while you’re in your 20’s.
12. Bungee Jump in Glasgow
Kicking things off with a classic adventurous activity, it’s the ultimate hair-raising experience – bungee jumping. At Titan Crane Bungee Jump in Glasgow, you’ll get that exciting stomach-in-your-mouth feeling via a 50-metre free-fall over the River Clyde, before being whipped back up into the sky by a special bungee cord.
Hot tip: warm up those vocal cords before you take the leap, as you’ll probably find it difficult to hold in your screams of fright/delight mid-air. Embrace it.
13. Ziplining in Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park, Wales
Snowdonia (Eryri) may sound like a mystical land straight out of Narnia, but we promise it’s real – this captivating national park in Wales is one of the top places for adventure seekers to explore in Great Britain.
Nestled among the mountainous landscape, Zip World Penrhyn Quarry is home to an epic zipline, that happens to be both the world’s fastest and Europe’s longest! You (and up to 3 mates) can (simultaneously) soar over the bright blue waters of the quarry’s lake, on a zip line that’s over 1.5-kilometres in length. Unlike regular seated style ziplines, on the Velocity 2, you’ll be safely strapped into position, lying flat, headfirst. This is the closest you’ll ever get to feeling like you’re flying.
Image source:Zip World Penrhyn Quarry
14. Water sports in England’s Lake District
An adventure addiction doesn’t always have to be satiated by more thrills. Sometimes you crave the opposite. An overwhelming calm. Like the type you get after spending a day out in nature, by the water, in England’s Lake District.
Kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, canoeing, windsurfing, paragliding, caving, canyoning. Don’t get us wrong, there are still plenty of opportunities to spike your heart rate, but Great Britain’s great outdoors is nice to enjoy at a leisurely pace.
The Lake District is such a must-see, that we’ve included it in our own trips! Travellers on England & Scotland have the option to take a cruise along the beautiful Lake Windermere in the Lake District, or to immerse yourself in this beautiful region for a few days, check out the Hiking And Bushcraft In The Lake District Detour Mini Adventure.
15. Conquer the Tower Top Climb in Brighton
As England’s most iconic seaside city, Brighton is famous for its beautiful beaches and buzzing nightlife. However, even the most well-known sights and experiences are given new, innovative twists in this modern city – like, for instance, the Brighton i360 viewing tower!
Hosted by energetic Brighton i360 engineers, the Tower Top Climb experience is an opportunity for travellers to see Brighton like never before. After taking a “pod flight” up to its maximum height, climbers sneak through a previously hidden hatch, where a 24-metre ascent awaits to get to the open-air platform at the very top of the tower. The 360 views from the city to the sea are seriously impressive. While you are soaking up the scenery from the tippity-top, the engineers will be egging on your adventurous spirit, encouraging you to push your limits by taking a peek over the edge ?
16. Surfing in Devon, England
England may not be the first destination to spring to mind when we mention epic waves and a passionate surf community. But one trip to Devon might just change your mind.
Ocean lovers will find their thrills in the fantastic beginner to intermediate beach breaks of Croyde Bay. If you need a lesson or two, Contiki’s Surf & Yoga in Devon Detour Mini Adventure is a great place to start. Hosted by local guide Elly, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to hit the waves, while also making time for coastal hikes, yoga, and sharing meals around the campfire with your new friends.
17. White Water Rafting in London
If your first thought upon hearing this idea is something along the lines of “white water rafting… in the city?”, then we anticipated your confusion. But yes – you really can go white water rafting in London, and in fact, it’s one of the best things to do in Great Britain.
The Lea Valley White Water Rafting centre was the course used for the canoe slalom events at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and now you can hit the rapids for some action and adventure of your own.
If you love the thrill of rafting, then you absolutely have to have a crack at hydrospeeding for bonus white-water fun.
18. Hike Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands
For a little less ‘eeeeeek’ but a whole lotta ‘ahhhhh’, head out in search of adventure on the slopes of Ben Nevis, Great Britain’s tallest mountain (and one of Scotland’s 282 Munros). Part of the Grampian Mountain Range, Ben Nevis has two main walking tracks for those determined to conquer the climb.
The challenging Carn Mor Dearg Arête route is reserved for prepared and experienced hikers, so most travellers prefer to walk the Mountain Track. However, this peak certainly is not for the faint-hearted. The return trek on the Mountain Track generally takes between 7-9 hours, and 3.5-4.5 out of those is just the journey to the summit ? You’ll be 100% grateful for the fresh air in your lungs after that hike!
If you’d like to experience the enormity of this mountain and still be able to feel your legs the next day, take a trip on the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola. Scaling the face of the Aonach Mòr mountain, you’ll have sweeping views of Ben Nevis and the surrounding Scottish Highlands.
