The United Kingdom (UK) is one of the most visited parts of the world. The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are lots of different places to visit, from London, the capital of the UK, which is a hotspot for fine food, great shopping and a bustling night life, to Douglas on Isle of Man, which is a sleepy town famous for its water wheels and horse-drawn tram (one of only two left in the world). Other historic places to visit include Edinburgh, which is steeped in history and hosts festivals throughout the year including the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, and Newcastle, once a heavily industrialised town and is now one of the UK’s funkiest cities. Lines such as P&O Cruises, Cunard and Princess Cruises call at Southampton, one of the worlds biggest ports. Visitors will be able to see ships on Southampton waters year round. The UK also has major airports where you can catch connecting flights to river cruise destinations in France, Germany and Hungary.

PLACES TO STAY
London is an expensive city and it can be tough to find reasonably priced accommodation. Try the Hoxton Hotel in East London or the kitsch Pavilion near Hyde Park. For luxury travellers there’s endless choice, like The Goring (where Kate Middleton spent the night before her wedding), the venerable Brown’s or The Corinthia with its fantastic private roof terraces for penthouse suites. In Edinburgh, stay at the very grand Victorian The Balmoral and in Belfast book into the super slick and contemporary The Fitzwilliam.

WHERE CAN YOU CRUISE?
Click here for a list of the top cruise ports in the United Kingdom.