If you want to plan a weekend trip or find some cool and unique things to do in England, then this list will help you along the way.
These days out are great for those that want to explore their own country, or are planning a trip to England and want to make the most out of it.
Hop in the car, train, or plane and go on a great trip to explore the outstanding natural beauty of England whether that’s a world heritage site, guided tour, or museum.
10. Downton Abbey Village, Blenheim Palace, and Cotswolds Day Trip (London)
If you’re a fan of the show Downton Abbey, then this is one day trip you can’t miss. Downton Abbey Village offers those that want to step back in time the opportunity to visit the filming locations of the show, with a glorious English stately home on the side.
Blenheim Palace was created for John Churchill and his victory over French and Spanish forces at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. The grand palace is now home to the 11th Duke Of Marlborough and opens its doors as a British museum every year. If you go, be sure not to miss out on their formal gardens, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
This Cotswolds tour takes you on a relaxing and scenic day trip to the most outstanding countryside in England. Offering picturesque views and stunning scenery, this is an ideal tour for anyone who wants to see charming homes and villages surrounded by lush greenery and idyllic landscapes of the beautiful countryside.
You can choose to explore these areas by yourself by car, or you could take a guided tour which takes about 10 hours and starts from central London. If you decide to start from London, you can always explore everything else and scratch them off your UK bucket list.
9. Eden Project (Cornwall)
Eden Project is a Botanical garden, eco-park, and education center for those that love beautiful gardens. It’s located in Cornwall and is one of the most visited places in England for those that are into simple days out or need things to do in England.
Over the years Eden Project has created several exhibits that you can check out, including The World of Glass, Mediterranean Biome, Rainforest Biome, and outdoor gardens.
Eden Project also has contemporary art you can enjoy as well as various performances and storytelling.
Eden Project is also the largest greenhouse in all of Europe, which is cool and unique to just see and scratch off your bucket list.
If you are looking for the best things to do in England and want to see more than just their main attractions, then you should invest in Eden Project tickets.
8. The Roman Baths (Bath)
The Roman Baths in the city centre of Bath is one of the most visited tourist attractions in England and certainly, a must-visit for anyone who wants to see things to do in England related to the fascinating history of the Roman Empire.
This Roman spa was built during the Roman occupation during the middle ages and has been popular since then. The bath complex still retains its antique architecture and many historical artifacts that will make any history lover enjoy their day out in the historic city of Bath.
After touring the Roman bath complex, you can explore the city’s many amazing museums that house various historical artifacts and stories of how Bath became what it is today.
The Roman Baths are brought to life by costumed actors who guide visitors around the baths, which makes for a unique experience. If you book a tour it becomes an interactive day out, with actors who are there to help you along the way and answer any questions that might come up.
Fans of the Middle Ages and Medieval times in general must make their way this UK bucket list tourist attraction.
7. Jurassic Coast Day Trip (Bournemouth)
Jurassic Coast is a stretch of England’s coastline that can be found in Dorset. The Jurassic Coast Line actually follows this coast and is used by tourist train companies to give riders an experience of what it was like to travel along the coast when steam trains were still in use.
The Jurassic Coast stretches for about 95 miles all the way from Studland Bay to Swanage and offers amazing views of the coastline, cliffs, and beaches. The coast is very popular with tourists looking for things to do in England because of its historical value and natural beauty.
Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is a stretch of English coastline that was added onto the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2001. It is considered one of the most significant dinosaur fossil sites in all of Europe. If you want to uncover Earth’s history or enjoy learning about dinosaurs, then this is the best place to visit in England
If you are looking for things to do in England with kids, Shrek’s Adventure is perfect. Shrek’s Adventure is an interactive fairytale experience that kids and adults can enjoy.
Shrek’s Adventure is a motion-based experience that uses groundbreaking technology to create an interactive fairytale adventure. Visitors explore the storybook of Shrek in order to rescue Fiona from her tower prison.
The whole ride is narrated by Shrek and Donkey, which makes it even more special for children who are fans of Shrek.
This way they feel like they’re interacting with their favorite movie characters in a real-life setting. Kids can also take pictures in front of the image of Shrek in London after riding this amazing attraction!
To visit Shrek’s Adventure, you will need to buy tickets. You can check the prices using the button above.
5. The Bloody Tour of York (York)
The Bloody Tour of York is perfect for history lovers out there that want to learn more about the Viking invasions, the Plague, and the Roman occupation of England. The tour takes visitors through York’s most haunted attractions, including Clifford’s Tower and York Castle Museum.
At Clifford’s Tower, you will learn all about the bloody siege in 1190 where William the Conqueror ascended to power by massacring everyone inside the tower who were loyal to King Richard. You will learn how the massacre started centuries after it happened.
At York Castle Museum, you can see exhibits related to jail cells dating back to 13th century London and hear ghostly tales surrounding this jail museum. Visitors also get access to an interactive experience called Horror at York where they are given a torchlight tour around Clifford’s Tower at night. The tour itself is very interactive, so be prepared to interact with actors dressed up as ghostly characters that will tell you more about the tower’s past!
If you are interested in these types of things to do in England, then use the button above to see all tours offered as well as pricing.
Recently The Bloody Tour of York added a new Gin Tour to their schedule. If you love gin, be sure to check that one out as well!
4. Jack the Ripper Tour (London)
The Jack the Ripper Tour is another one of those things to do in London that are designed for adults. This tour will take you all around London where you can see everything from crime scenes to pubs where Jack the Ripper drank during his reign of terror.
Jack the Ripper was a serial killer who murdered several women in Whitechapel, East End of London back in 1888. He was never caught and his true identity still remains unknown.
If you want to learn more about this Jack the Ripper’s motives, then be sure to check out this tour because it includes an hour-long walking tour through some of the most haunted areas of London!
Be sure to buy your tickets ahead of time using this link so you don’t miss out on this one.
As the Jack the Ripper tour is starts in London, if you are not living in London you will be able to make a it fun day trip by visiting the various historic sites in the beautiful city of London. The British Museum, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and Big Ben come to mind.
3. Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise (London)
The Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise is a great way to see all the major attractions London has to offer. It provides visitors with two routes: Big Bus Red Route and Big Bus Blue Route.
As you ride around on this double decker bus, you will get an audio commentary from your tour guide about each attraction that you pass by. The tours run for approximately 2 hours, depending on which route you take. There are 30 stops along the route, so you will be able to see a lot of things.
Both tours start at Green Park Underground but you can hop on at any station where the bus stops.
The Big Bus Red Route tour explores all London’s favourites and goes through Westminster Pier, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London.
The Big Bus Blue Route tour explores the West End and goes through Tower Pier, The City (the center of the city), St Paul’s Cathedral, Bank of England Museum, The Monument, and County Hall.
The Big Bus Tour is a great way to get a taste of all the major attractions that London has to offer. For more information, be sure to check out click the button above where you can get tickets and more.
2. Harry Potter Studio Tour (Watford)
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is one of the best things to do in England and is a very popular iconic attraction for people of all ages. If you are looking to do things in London with children then this is one of those fun day out ideas that should definitely be on your list!
This Harry Potter Studio Tour allows you to step in to the iconic Harry Potter sets. Explore the various displays, exhibits, and costumes from the Harry Potter movies as well as various interactive experiences such as Diagon Alley (where you can get fitted for robes) and The Forbidden Forest (where you can take a broomstick flying lesson). You will be able to see how each set was designed and learn about the different special effects used in the films like green screens and CGI.
This tour is so popular that you will need to book your tickets in advance. If you want the best value for money, go for a ticket which allows you to visit both studios. You might want to make it a weekend trip if you visit both studios!
1. Stonehenge (Wiltshire)
Stonehenge is an absolute must-see tourist attraction site for anyone visiting the United Kingdom. We wrote a full guide on how to visit Stonehenge so be sure to check that out after reading this article.
The mysterious standing stones are something of true wonder and can be traced back to more than 5,000 years ago! It’s no wonder that Stonehenge has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
The various stone circles were erected in different stages and stand as one of Britain’s oldest prehistoric sites. Many people wonder what purpose Stonehenge served but it still remains a mystery to this day as there are several theories about why Stonehenge was created such as: as a temple for worshiping the sun, as some sort of astronomical calendar or clock, or even as a cemetery!
Regardless of what believe its purpose to be, Stonehenge is an amazing historic site and definitely a top place to visit in England.
The stone circle of Stonehenge is believed to be the reason for why people started believing in magic as it’s one of those mysterious places that seem like something out of Harry Potter! It’s not surprising that this spot has been used as the setting for many films and TV shows.
The best way to get there is by car as it’s about 23 miles from London. It takes roughly an hour and a half to get there by car and you should avoid going on the weekend as it will take much longer.
Over time we will update this list with new things do in England as they become available. If you are looking to explore your own country, or you’ll be traveling to Great Britain soon, be sure to check out some of these recommendations.
