Visit these tourist sites in the UK to experience life like a native.

The variety in the UK is amazing. It's amazing that anyone who lives in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland ever travels outside of these countries given their abundance of picturesque landscapes, regal palaces, untamed mountain ranges, and some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.

Although we often go to places like Spain, Portugal, and Greece to escape our notoriously erratic weather, there are more options available to us Brits when we choose to stay here. A 600-year-old country home hosting a spa weekend? No issue. a home that belonged to King Charles? Easy. A protracted, multi-day trek across a jumble of farms and fields? You can virtually travel anywhere in the United Kingdom on your power thanks to an unusual "right to roam." You can travel almost anywhere on trains and three-lane highways. Try staying in a campervan, a conventional bed-and-breakfast, a boutique hotel with good cuisine, or a pub with fish and chips as alternatives to large RVs because the roads in the countryside are too small.

Here are seven places in the UK that residents enjoy visiting.

Devon, England

Many Britons choose to spend their summer vacation in this county on the extreme southwest peninsula of the U.K., but not just because it is the sunniest and warmest area. Although hikers adore the desolate, windswept Bodmin Moor, most tourists head straight for the picture-perfect fishing towns along the coast, such as Padstow, Mevagissey, Polperro, and Mousehole (pronounced "muzzle"). In reality, Cornwall has two distinct coastlines: one along the English Channel and the other along the Atlantic Ocean, which abruptly converges at Land's End.

The greatest way to experience Cornwall is to walk portions of the South West Coast Path, where you'll come across craggy cliffs, sandy bays, and miles-long beaches. Oh, and don't forget the famous Cornish pasty, which is a pie made of meat and potatoes, and the Cornish cream tea, which consists of a savory scone, strawberry jam, and thick clotted cream.

UK's Lake District

There are two categories of British visitors to Cumbria, a county in northwest England: those seeking luxury and those seeking the polar opposite. Numerous opulent English country manor houses and hotels, including Armathwaite Hall and Brimstone Hotel, are available for the former. The Lake District National Park, which is home to Scafell Pike, England's tallest peak, is accessible to other tourists.

The headquarters of the British outdoor apparel business is located adjacent to one of the region's treasures, the stunning Castlerigg Stone Circle, which is as old as Stonehenge. Many Brits have traveled to the little market town of Keswick in quest of a new waterproof jacket.

England's Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is a wealthy region that spans a sizable portion of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire (pronounce them correctly as Wu-stun-her and Glost-uh-her and you'll impress the locals). It is a traditional weekend getaway for families getting together or couples looking for great food and country walks. Visit Blenheim Palace, an Oxfordshire manor estate that serves as both Sir Winston Churchill's birthplace and ancestral home. Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire is a good example of a Cotswold village that is more typical of the region. Don't miss out on fine contemporary British cuisine at The Old Butchers and The Old Stocks Inn (the latter is Michelin-starred but quite laid-back), as well as traditional English pubs The Porch House and The Queen's Head.

Wales' Brecon Beacons

Wales is different from England. The wild areas are wilder, there are fewer people, and the beer may be better. Wales boasts the darkest skies in the UK, however, I may be partial since it's where I was born and raised. The Brecon Beacons National Park, which is situated close to the north of the nation's capital Cardiff, is the International Dark Sky Reserve that is the most accessible. A trip up Pen y Fan is a must, and other attractions include Waterfall Country and the secluded Llanthony Priory, which also serves as an interesting hotel. The ideal Welsh bar, the 12th-century Red Lion Inn, is located in the little community of Penderyn, which also houses a single malt whiskey distillery and is a Dark Sky Discovery Site. Castell Carreg Cennen and King Charles III's residence Llwynywermod located at the park's western boundary, and the town of Abergavenny, a great starting point for wonderful treks, the Michelin-starred Walnut Tree restaurant, and the medieval Raglan Castle, is located there.

Baltimore, England

The northwest seaside city and home of The Beatles may have made headlines last year after losing its UNESCO World Heritage designation, but it continues to be a favorite among Britons for enjoyable weekends away. A few streets away, Liverpool's majestic Victorian structures recall a time when the city was an important factor in the expansion of the British Empire. The city's historic Royal Albert Dock has been turned into a bustling area of pubs and restaurants.

The area is now well known for its entertainment, which includes pubs and clubs, music (including the historic Eurovision Song Contest in the M&S Bank Arena in 2023), and Premier League football from Everton F.C. and Liverpool F.C. The Cavern Club, where The Beatles were born, and Cains Brewery Village, a former brewery that has been transformed into a pop-up hub for entrepreneurs, craft breweries, and street food, are must-see attractions. Go watch Everton F.C. play in front of its devoted fans at a distinctive stadium designed in the 1930s if you want to experience football at its finest.

Wales' Pembrokeshire

Although the UK may not be well recognized for wildlife viewing, Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales contains a disproportionate number of seabirds. Between April and July, the massive colony of Atlantic puffins on Skomer Island is the main draw. Dolphins and seals can be spotted somewhere off the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park from its isolated beaches and bays. If you'd prefer to see a castle, the little-known Carew, Llawhaden, and Manorbier castles in Pembrokeshire are notably different. But go to Tenby if all you want to do is unwind by the water. This harbor town, frequented by many Welsh tourists each spring and summer, features four beaches and walls built in the 13th century that house numerous inns, bars, and shops. Additionally, Beavers Retreat Glamping, which is close to Manorbier, has geodome yurts if you'd prefer something more serene. This is Wales at its most eccentric.

Skye Island in Scotland

Visitors from all over the U.K. come to the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of northwest Scotland to see the Old Man of Storr, which is located on the Trotternish peninsula. However, this untamed area, which is full of lochs, waterfalls, and castles, is a photographer's and outdoor enthusiasts' paradise. Skye is a Scottish island that is connected to the mainland by a bridge. It is known for its castles Armadale and Dunvegan, Kilt Rock waterfall, and the dinosaur footprints on An Corran Beach. The area is famed for its darkness in addition to its two distilleries, Talisker and Torabhaig. The aurora borealis is frequently visible up here at 57o North latitude. The Three Chimneys on Loch Dunvegan, the luxurious cottages at Mint Croft, and the 16th-century hunting lodge Kinloch Lodge Hotel & Restaurant are all excellent locations to immerse yourself in Skye legend.