The United Kingdom is an island country in western Western Europe bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea to the west, the Channel to the south and the North Sea to the east. With a total area of 244 820 km², the United Kingdom comprises the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the north-east of Ireland (Northern Ireland), as well as several small islands and archipelagos. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. It is led by a head of government, the Prime Minister, and a head of state, the monarch. The United Kingdom comprises 4 countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The last three have decentralized administrations with various competences. The United Kingdom is also linked, to varying degrees, to 3 Crown Dependencies: Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. These dependencies are not part of the United Kingdom, but the British Government is responsible for their defence and international representation. The country also has 14 overseas territories, which are not officially part of the UK or (except Gibraltar) of the EU.

There are hundreds of places across the UK that are wonderful for tourists and attract a lot of people every year.

England is an easy country to reach when you live in Europe and yet few people take the time to really discover it... To move away from London, a city that is fascinating but does not represent England in all its wealth.

Here are the ten places across the UK that have a special interest in absolutely visiting:

-1 Stonehenge
A neolithic monument in Wiltshire, Stonehenge is a fascinating construction consisting of circles of large erected stones. The purpose of the monument is still unknown, we can discuss hours on the subject (Obelix would he have been there?!)! Whatever the story, this is a wonderful and wonderful family trip!
-2 The Hadrian Wall
The Hadrian Wall separates England and Scotland, and was built by the Roman Emperor of the same name. We met Hadrian for the first time in Antalya, Turkey. This wall stretches 73 miles across the north of the country, stretching from the North Sea to the Irish Sea.
-3 The Tower of London
The Tower of London has a rich history dating back to 1066 and the arrival of William the Conqueror.
Sabrina speaks to us about it very well in her article "Sent to the Tower", while we admire the Ravens of the Tower!
-4 The Castle of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle was built in medieval times and is located on top of Castle Rock, a large mountain of volcanic rocks. It was the royal seat of Scotland until 1603 and today it houses a museum.
-5 The National Space Centre
Based in Leicester (the city not the metro station), the National Space Centre is the largest centre in the UK entirely dedicated to space. Numerous interactive exhibitions are on offer all year round for the whole family.
-6 Longleat Safari Park
Longleat is one of the busiest and most popular wildlife parks in the UK, with a site in Wiltshire offering visitors the chance to see lions, tigers, rhinoceroses and many other wild animals.
-7 Buxton
Named The Spa of the goddess of the spring "Aquae Arnemetiae" by the Romans, Buxton is a beautiful city very interesting for tourism. Don't miss the Opera House tour. In addition, this summer Buxton is organizing its first Family Festival from August 1st to 17th!
-8 Hope Valley
A large space in the heart of the Peak District, Hope Valley offers an astonishing view of the true English countryside. The village of Castleton lies in this picturesque valley and there are many traditional stone houses, caves and ruins to explore at your leisure.
-9 Highlands
The Scottish Highlands represent another type of beauty than the Peak District. They are the heart of Scottish culture and landscape, and the sparsely populated area makes it possible to meet nature face-to-face. It is also possible to visit a few attractions, including the castle of Eilean Donan and, of course, the legendary Loch Ness.
-10 Polperro
It is located at the other end of the UK, Polperro, a traditional fishing village in Cornwall. With its small harbour and winding streets it is an excellent choice for a relaxing stay in a unique and picturesque setting.

Other emblematic places:

• York

York is a fortified city in the north of England where you can find ancient monuments with magnificent architecture, a festival dedicated to gastronomy and wine, not to mention the Assises de la Bière Anglaise, a popular university, factory shops and much more! Yorka was elected a few years ago the most beautiful city in England and without saying it is THE most beautiful, I can assure you that it is really worth the detour. Moreover, it is only 34 km from Leeds, which has an international airport. Or 2 hours by train from London to King's Cross station. It is therefore very easy to get there from France for a weekend or a week.On the spot, don't miss The Shambles, a street more than a thousand years old, which gives you the impression of being immersed in the Harry Potter saga because it has such a special charm with its half-timbered houses.

• Exmoor National Park

England is literally the paradise of parks, perhaps thanks to a little help from the rainy climate that makes vegetation grow;) Many deserve the detour and Exmoor is one of them. This 692 km2 park is located in the south-west of England and if you enjoy hiking in the wilderness, you will be served! There are waterfalls, steep cliffs, caves, hundreds of kilometers of rivers and torrents... and a vegetation that takes on magnificent colours as the seasons go by. It is better to have a vehicle to get there because the region is rather isolated and far from public transport. There are several quality hotels in the heart of the National Park for those who want to recharge their batteries away from the hustle and bustle of a big city.

• Oxford... or Cambridge

When it comes to choosing between Oxford and Cambridge, you'll get votes on both sides! Oxford is only an hour's train ride from Paddington Station in London and can be reached on foot; Cambridge can also be visited without a car and is 50 minutes from King's Cross Station in London. In both cases, you will find yourself in the midst of historic and ancient university cities (Oxford has existed since the 11th century, Cambridge since the 12th century), with a strong cultural dimension. Oxford is often described as a city that tends to be more literature oriented, where Cambridge is most famous for science (this is where the structure of DNA was discovered). Cambridge has a fairly central river that allows for pleasant walks... while Oxford is on the way to the beautiful Cotswolds region and Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. It's hard to tell them apart and I think it's above all a matter of personal feeling! Either way, both are well worth the trip and you can definitely discover each city for a day on a trip to London!