Admittedly, as much as we love to travel, neither of us had explored much of the UK before this year. But with international travel being restricted, we used it as an opportunity to explore our home country, and we’ve been pleasantly surprised! We have collated a list of the prettiest cities in the UK (in our opinion) and mini travel guides to accompany each. This will be updated monthly. Enjoy!
Oxford
Oxford is known around the world for its prestigious university and place in history. It’s old town charm makes it an attractive destination for those looking for a break from London.
How we got there: We got the train from Marylebone Railway station to Oxford, which took us just over an hour. Our last minute ticket with a rail card cost us £20 each (but can be significantly cheaper if you book in advance).
What we got up to:
- Oxford Bunch Bar was our first stop. This independent spot serves all day breakfast/brunch and has been coined best brunch in the city.
- Bridge of sighs – This bridge connects two parts of Hertford College and it’s distinct design makes it a popular city landmark. Top tip: the entrance to The Turf Tavern – one of Oxford’s oldest and prettiest pubs – is tucked away down the alley to the left of the bridge, if you’re walking away from the Bodleian library
- Bodelian Library – one of the oldest and biggest libraries in Britain
- The Radcliffe Camera – An iconic piece of oxford architecture
- University Church of St Mary – While the church itself is worth a visit, the church’s tower is what should be on your itinerary. Be warned the winding stairs are very steep! For £5 you can climb to the top for the best views of the city.
- Punting – two rivers run through Oxford – The isis and the Cherwell. You can go punting on either or hire boats.
- Magdalen College – Known as one of the prettiest colleges in Oxford, and for good reason. Like many Oxford Collages, you have to pay to enter (£7 general admission) and you’ll have access to the chapel, main hall and it’s very own deer park.
Bath
We can’t have a Prettiest Cities list without mentioning Bath. Often seen as the ‘Jewel of the South West’, Bath is renowned for its beauty, and is actually a personal favouite of mine. Did you know the City of Bath is listed as a cultural site on the UNSECO world heritage list?
How we got there: We got the train from London Paddington. It cost us around £37 for a return ticket, with a railcard.
What we got up to:
- Thermae bath spa – Britain’s only natural thermal spa, offering traditional and state-of-the-art spa facilities. For £43 you get access to their open air rooftop pool, Minerva bath and wellness suite. I spent the full 2 hours using the spa facilities followed by their Serenity Candle Massage.
- Roman Baths – Transport yourself back to Roman times by visiting the well-preserved remains of one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world. You can learn about the history of this site with a guided tour.
- Sweet little things – Bath’s cutest tea room!
- Bath Abbey- The history of this worship site stretches as far back as Anglo-Saxon times. On weekdays you can john a guided tour and climb the abbey’s 212 steps for panoramic views of the city and a lesson of bath’s history.
- Alexandra Park viewpoint – This is the perfect spot to end your day, with panoramic views of the entire city. I climbed to the top of this viewpoint for sunset and was breathless both from the climb and the view. Warning: I climbed up at sunset meaning it was completely dark and a little scary coming back down!
Cambridge
Cambridge is a city on the River Cam in eastern England. It is architecturally very beautiful and home to the prestigious University of Cambridge, dating to 1209.
How we got there: We got the train from London Liverpool street for just under £15 with a railcard
What we got up to:
- Fitzbillies Bakery – We started here for a delicious brunch.
- Cambridge market – Traders have been running stalls at the historic market square in the city centre since the middle ages. It is open for trading from 10am to 4pm every day.
- Punting – We went punting down the River Cam with @cambridgepunters. It is one of the best ways to see the city but it can get busy, so if you’re a first timer we’d recommend booking a gondolier-like guide to take you!
- Visit the University collages – take some time to admire the impressive architecture of Cambridge’s infamous Collages.
- Cambridge University Botanic Garden – The Botanic Garden is open to visitors throughout the year. This heritage-listed botanic garden contains 8,000+ species from all over the world.
Bristol
This quirky and energetic city has received widespread recognition for its many virtues, one of which being its diverse art and culture scene. Bristol is known for the graffiti that covers almost every available surface in the city and has been voted one of the best places in Europe for street art. It is in fact the UK’s 8th most-visited city (ahead of both Oxford and Cambridge).
How we got there: We got the train from London Paddington Station for £37 with a railcard.
What we got up to:
- The Crafty Egg – This warm and rustic spot is perfect for breakfast.
- Clifton Observatory- This iconic landmark was established in 1766 and offers spectacular views of Bristol, Avon Gorge and the Clifton suspension bridge
- Bristol Harbor – The harbor is filled with restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels. They also have Sunday markets here and activities including yachting, paddle boarding, and rowing.
- Bristol Christmas Market – If you are visiting between 4th November and 23rd December, you can catch the Christmas Market located in the city center. Visitors can expect a magical winter atmosphere as they explore over 40 wooden chalet-style stalls with food, drink, and crafts as well as entertainment, heated seating, and live music.
Manchester
Mann-eh is a major city in the northwest of England with a rich industrial heritage and a buzzing social scene.
How we got there: We took a 2-hour train ride from London Euston, which did set us back £60 each.
What we got up to:
- Mackie Mayor – A cosmopolitan food hall in an 1858 market building on the edge of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. A perfect spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. They don’t take bookings here so just walk in, and take a seat!
- Federal cafe bar – Serving up the best quality coffee, the best tasting brunch, and the best customer service in all of Manchester, according to them. I can confirm.
- Junkyard golf – The home of crazy golf, cocktails, and all things junk. They have 9-hole crazy golf courses available
- Sea life – explore an underwater world with over 5000 creatures and over 12 zones.
- Hatch – Is an award-winning food, drink, and retail destination. As you can probably tell, much of this trip revolved around food! Hatch is open 7-days a week.
For more pretty city content, keep your eyes peeled! And if reading really isn’t your thing, we have an overview in our highlights reel on instagram @kybetravel.
