Roman Ruins, Natural Wonders and Great British Icons: 34 Things to Add to Your Ireland & UK Bucket List

– This post was written by Callum Tyler –

Like any UK bucket list, this blog features its fair share of London attractions, but you’ll also find museums and more from across the length and breadth of the British Isles and Northern Ireland.

As it’s awards season at Tiqets, we’ve included the winners and nominees of our Remarkable Venue Awards. So, once you’ve seen the fan favourites from across the UK and Ireland, you can also see what classic must-sees from this part of the world to add to your UK bucket list!

Fan favourites to add to your UK bucket list

Every year we look through your reviews to discover the world’s favourite museums and attractions. For 2020 we combed through 750,000 customer reviews and checked our data to find the most visited locations – what we came up with was a list of the top-rated things to do in the UK & Ireland! 

Here are the top-rated museums and attractions in the UK, and the perfect additions to your UK bucket list in 2021. 

The Most Remarkable Venues in the UK and Ireland

These experiences are the cream of the crop across Ireland and the United Kingdom. If you’re making a UK bucket list these should undoubtedly be on it. 

1. Jameson Distillery Bow St.

If you’re in Dublin, there’s a good chance you’ll stop at Temple Bar for a pint of the black stuff, but if you’re in high spirits then stop in at the place that’s high in spirits – the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street.

During your visit, not only will you get a free snifter of whiskey, it’s also a great opportunity to dig deeper into the history of Dublin! And needless to say you’ll get to know the how and whys of whiskey (although distilling no longer takes place onsite).

2. Sightsee on the lastminute.com London Eye

“The views were amazing. It was dark when we were there and I feel like that made it so much better” – Samantha, Ireland

At this point the London Eye is an institution. With countless copycats around the world, London’s observation wheel is arguably still the best of the bunch!

Sure, there’s usually a queue, but with its prime location on the South Bank you’ll get some of the best views of the city around. Stare down at Parliament Square, go eye-to-eye with Big Ben, and catch a glimpse of Westminster Abbey. And that’s while you’re looking in one direction.

If you’re after sightseeing in the UK, you’re in the right place at the London Eye. Make the most of the 360° views, because there’s plenty to see! Stare down at Horse Guards Parade and Buckingham Palace, goggle the Gherkin, and see all 1,000 feet of the Shard.

3. See the crown jewels at the Tower of London

“I enjoyed loads of interesting objects and fascinating historical facts. The Yeoman Guard in their traditional vestments were a pleasure to see and the buildings too. Plus I don’t remember seeing so much gold and precious stones under one roof so I can not recommend the Crown Jewel room enough! ” – Antonieta ,  United Kingdom

The Tower of London is no stranger to the Remarkable Venue Awards and this historic London sight is an absolute essential on any UK Bucket List. 

Home of the Crown Jewels and the scene for plenty of political scheming and a touch of torture (just a touch – there was only seven executions here despite plenty of tall tales), there’s never a dull moment during your visit to the Tower. 

From Yeomen Warders a.k.a. Beefeaters, medieval weaponry, and armour worn by Henry VII himself there’s plenty to see inside. The oldest church in England is even located here – St John’s Chapel, on the first floor, dates all the way back to 1080 AD. 

4. See a different side of Edinburgh at the Real Mary King’s Close

“It was a brilliant experience and our guide was very much in character also very professional and fluent giving us a lot of info about the famous Mary King’s close. I highly recommend taking the underground tour. Thank you again!” – Gemma

Before you hear about the location, it’s worth hearing a fact or two about Mary King herself. A rarity during the early-17th century, Mary King was a well-to-do merchant who sewed her own garments and sold fine cloth. If her monetary credentials aren’t impressive enough, Mary King, as a burgess, also had the right to vote!

With that information at the back of your mind, let’s turn to the area of Edinburgh where Mary lived. Its history is a little more gruesome, and as you explore it after dark you can’t help but imagine it as it was some 400 years ago when yells of Gardyloo echoed from above before the splat of night soil hit the floor of the tightly-packed tenements. 

Best Attractions in the UK and Ireland

These fan favourites offer guests something spectacular. The experience may only last a couple of hours, but it will stay in your mind for years to come.

5. Discover the blues’ short history at Stamford Bridge at Stamford Bridge Stadium Tour

Visit the grounds of Chelsea F.C. and get unrivalled access to the home of the Blues. Stamford Bridge also has the biggest football museum in London, so you’ll get a little extra bang for your buck.

During a visit you’ll see the tunnel, dressing rooms, press room, and areas normally reserved for players, management, and officials

6. See the home of Premier League champions* on the Anfield Stadium Tour

“Absolutely outstanding! Warm welcome, lovely staff who couldn’t do enough, very friendly! The place was immaculate. An experience I will treasure” – Angela, United Kingdom

If your love for the Reds runs deep, then a pilgrimage to Anfield is an absolute must. You’ll never walk alone during this guided, behind-the-scenes Anfield Stadium Tour which even gives you access to the player’s tunnel, where you can touch the iconic ‘This is Anfield’ sign.

Take a photo from top of the new Main Stand with the pitch stretching out behind you, see the Home and Away team dressing rooms, get a sample of a press conference, and visit the club’s museum for an insight into the history of Liverpool FC.

7. Go behind bars at Crumlin Road Gaol

“It was great! The tour was brilliant, we learned so much. Lots of interesting facts and stories all explained by the excellent tour guide, Conor. Definitely worth a visit.” – Dejana, Ireland

There’s always more hidden gems in Ireland, and Crumlin Road Gaol is certainly one of them. Crumlin Road Gaol gives its guests a glimpse into the Victorian-era prison –  where 17 executions took place – not just by allowing them to explore the grounds, but adding a more human context through tales of escape, execution, and empathy. 

The gaol was closed in 1996, but during its 150-year lifespan it held some of Ireland’s most notorious prisoners as they fought for their vision of Ireland, be it Loyalist or Republican. Names like Éamon de Valera, Martin McGuinness, Michael Stone and Bobby Sands.

On this 60 minute self-guided tour, you’ll have access to all areas of the gaol –  from the tunnel linking the courthouse on the other side of the Crumlin Road to the Hanging Cell, the historic holding cells, centre circle, C-Wing, and the graveyard

This former jailhouse imprisoned some of the most important figures in Ireland who struggled for independence and was the scene of 17 executions over its 150-year lifespan.

8. The Beatles Story

“Simply stunning!”– Mági, Hungary

How did four lads from Liverpool recreate popular music as we know it? The Beatles Story will give you a deeper insight into one of the world’s most important bands and how they rose from their humble Merseyside roots to being “more popular than Jesus”.

Exhibits will guide you through their musical voyage –  from gigs in the Cavern Club (there’s even a replica inside the museum), to spiritual escapes in India. Pick up a complimentary audio guide available in 11 languages and join the magical mystery tour!

Best Museums in Ireland and in the UK

9. Glasnevin Cemetery Museum

Glasnevin Cemetery Museum is one of the many hidden gems in Ireland, it’s also the world’s first cemetery museum! Arguable one of the best museums in Ireland, the exhibitions will take you through the cemetery’s history, funeral monuments, and there’s even an impressive touchscreen table containing 200 life stories of important Irish figures, spanning roughly 200 years.

During a visit you’ll get to tour the grounds and learn a thing or two about some landmark moments in Irish history from the Ulster Covenant and World War I, to the Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence. 

Sports stars, Irish heroes, and some 1.5 million Dubliners – by birth or adopting the city as their own  – have been laid to rest here. During a dead interesting tour of the Dublin cemetery gives an overview of the architecture, sculptures, and the horticultural wonders inside the graveyard. 

10. Titanic Belfast

“Amazing place, highly recommended! We spent 3 hours inside and it wasn’t boring for a minute.” – Natalia

It just might be Belfast’s most notorious export, and the world’s most famous ship owes much of its esteem to Harland and Wolff, the Belfast based ship builders. Even now, the shipyard’s bright yellow cranes Sampson and Goliath are still icons of the Belfast skyline. 

While James Cameron and Leonardo DiCaprio have helped shape how we perceive the ship and her one-and-only voyage, the Titanic Belfast adds deeper (and slightly less dramatic) context to the ship’s history, from inception to destruction. 

While the Titanic Belfast has only been around since 2012, it’s quickly earned its place as one of the best museums in Ireland. Across six floors, the museum unfurls the story of the Titanic and gives guests the chance to see artifacts from the ship, as well as hear the stories of its passengers. Alongside the museum, there’s also the chance to step aboard the SS Nomadic –  the last White Star Line ship in existence.

11. Science Museum

“Fantastic day to say the least. I have spent 5 hours with my 4yrs old daughter and did not even realised how fast the time went by. So many cool things to play with, I felt I went back to my childhood myself. Absolutely 100% fun. Will go back asap.” – Mauro, United Kingdom

Arthur C. Clarke said that “Magic’s just science that we don’t understand yet.” And for any kids visiting London’s Science Museum, the weird and wonderful experiments on display may as well be magic. (Don’t worry, adults, there’s explanations beside the experiments.)

The Science Museum – Wonderlab has 50 awesome experiments and demonstrations that will leave you fascinated long after you leave. There’s lightning storms crackling against the ceiling, twirling fire tornadoes, Infinity Boxes, and alien-like ferrofluids dancing under magnets. If that’s not enough, you can play with electronic sound waves and learn just how useful explosions can be for practical applications. 

12. The Postal Museum

“A very informative, interesting and varied compilation. The addition of a trip with the Postal Rail should not be missed. Everything is also recommended for children!” – Ulrich, Germany

This is one of the hidden gems in the UK! Telling the story of the UK’s postal system, this museum is packed full of artifacts. You can expect to see a restored mail coach that once thundered across the country; the Penny Black, the world’s first postage stamp; and even love letters that were recovered from a shipwreck.

There’s also interactive activities to keep you even more entertained. Indulge your childlike wonder and send anonymous messages through the museum’s pneumatic tubes, and travel underground on a miniature train that takes you through 100-year-old subterranean tunnels!

Best Landmark in the UK and Ireland

13. St Paul’s Cathedral

Sir Christopher Wren defined the London skyline long before big names like Canary Wharf, the Gherkin, and the Shard were even imagined. While it can be tempting to get caught up in the throng of modern London attractions like the aforementioned Shard, or to stay and explore the strip of shopping and sightseeing that stretches from Holborn to Oxford Street a jaunt to St Paul’s Cathedral and Paternoster Square is a must for your UK bucket list. 

Wren’s construction that began after the Great Fire of London was finished in 1710, but the ground itself has been dedicated to St Paul since the first church was raised there in 604 AD.

It’s hard to imagine that the church used to look like this when the dome has become so synonymous with the cathedral, but the site’s history is long and you can find out more about it with tickets for St Paul’s Cathedral. 

14. British Airways i360

“Really great experience. The staff are professional and the environment was very welcoming akin to any BA flight. The engineering is impressive and the exhibition video was interesting. The views are spectacular. Highly recommend it!” – Rosaline, United Kingdom

How does sipping on bubbly at 450 feet sound? Sure it’s not the usual 30,000 feet we’re used to from British Airways, but this Brighton-based experience still offers up dizzying highs.

British Airways i360 will lift you skyward in a pod and offer up impressive 360° views of Brighton and the South Downs, and on a clear day you might even see Beachy Head and the Isle of Wight. 

Once you’re up there, prepare for epic seascapes, colossal coastal wind farms, and watch the rooftops of Brighton shrink away to miniatures as you climb ever higher in your luxurious observation platform.

15. Tower Bridge

“The exhibition is well organised and informative. The walkways give great views, especially with the glass floors. The engine rooms are also really interesting, with magnificent machinery and clear descriptions. Staff were friendly and helpful. The whole experience is excellent value – highly recommended.” – Richard, United Kingdom

As far as sights in London go, Tower Bridge is a veritable young’n. Built between 1886 and 1894, the bridge has become an icon for the city. During a visit to Tower Bridge, you can walk across an all glass walkway raised 42 metres above the Thames! As you stare down, cars will be whizzing by beneath your feet and the swell of the Thames will never be out of sight.

While the view from the top alone is worth a visit, you’ll also get to learn the history of Tower Bridge through displays and videos. There’s even the chance to go down to the bridge’s Victorian engine rooms and see mechanics that open it for traffic on the Thames.

16. St Johns Beacon Viewing Gallery

“The visit was very fun and the view stunning, but the experience deserves 5 stars for the kindness of the guys there!” – Simona, United Kingdom

As Liverpool’s tallest structure, it’s hard to miss St Johns Beacon. With a visit to the viewing gallery at the top, you can stare down at Liverpool from 122 metres up!

You’ll be able to see the Liver Building, River Mersey, Cunard Building, Liverpool Cathedral, and much more from the top of Liverpool’s Radio City Tower. On a clear day you might even see Blackpool or Snowdonia! 

There’s 558 steps to the top, but don’t worry the elevators will fly you up to the top in just 30 seconds! 

Best Onsite Experience

17. Irish Whiskey Museum

In Ireland, there’s always room for one more whiskey museum. Located in the heart of Dublin, next to Trinity College, the Irish Whiskey Museum gives you all you need to know about Whiskey! 

There’s plenty of tours to choose from, so whether your palate is just getting accustomed to the taste, or you’ve been hunting down finely-aged malts for a few decades there’s something for everyone. 

Needless to say there’s a tasting involved where a guide will help you track down the different notes in each glass – if drinking it straight isn’t for you, then there’s whiskey cocktails at hand. 

18. Kensington Palace

“The place is absolutely picturesque!! The palace is well-kept and the information given is clear and interesting, the short history talks are also really good! I loved the experience!!” – Josefina, United Kingdom

It’s still a royal residence, but it doesn’t mean you can’t visit Kensington Palace. You won’t run into Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge, and their family, but a visit will add some insight into the lives of royals from the past to present. 

Make sure to take a stroll through the gardens, then check out the exhibitions that shed light on the palace’s 300 year past. You’ll be basked in opulence as you walk up the Grand Staircase and visit rooms like the King’s State Apartments and the ornate Cupola Room and Drawing Room. 

19. Royal Yacht Britannia

“An excellent visit, with an audio guide at various points along the way. So very well organised, loved every minute of the tour”– Anastasia, United Kingdom

The Royal Yacht Britannia is one to see if you’re ever in Edinburgh. The royal yacht commissioned for Queen Elizabeth II served the royal family for 43 years (1954-1997) before she retired. 

During a visit to the Queen’s old ship, guests can tour five decks, including the Queen’s bedroom behind a glass wall, and the State Dining and Drawing Rooms, which played host to the foreign royalty, and presidents and prime ministers from across the world. Fun fact: the clocks on board are stopped at 3:01, the time that the Queen last disembarked.

You can see it with Tiqets with the Royal Edinburgh Pass.

20. Titanic Experience Cobh

“Really excellent – it was an engaging and emotional experience which was enjoyed by the whole family” – Audrey, Ireland

The last stop for passengers to board the Titanic was here in Cobh, and a visit to the Titanic Experience Cobh is one of the hidden gems in Ireland.  

This ticket is as close as you’ll get to boarding the Titanic. 123 passengers boarded in Cobh, and during you’ll visit you’ll be handed a replica ticket of one of those passengers. A live guide will help you trace their footsteps as you visit reconstructed cabins, hear eyewitness accounts of life on board, and more. 

Cutting-edge technology and emotive storytelling will immerse you in the life of the third-class passengers aboard the Titanic, and you’ll even feel the lurch of the ship as it hit the iceberg. At the end of your trip, you’ll hear what became of the passenger’s ticket you received.

Award-winning venues to add to your bucket list

In addition to rounding up the best-rated museums and attractions, we also went on the hunt for the best hidden gems and the most innovative venues of 2020. Judged by a panel of tourism experts, here are the winners of Best Hidden Gem in the UK & Ireland and Most Innovative Venue in the UK & Ireland.

The Best Hidden Gem in the UK

23. Forth Boat Tours

Boat lovers, this one’s for you! Forth Boat Tours’ cruises promise spectacular views of The Three Bridges UNESCO World Heritage site, the Edinburgh skyline, Inchcolm Island and the medieval abbey, marine wildlife including seals, puffins, porpoises and the occasional whale. They also adhere to the Scottish Natural Heritage code on marine pollution and the environment, which they’ll highlight to you when you hope on one of their boats.

The Most Innovative Venue in the UK

 22. Sherlock: The Official Live Game

During the pandemic, Sherlock: The Official Live Game wanted to continue offering their customers a means to enjoy their escape room-style game. They developed a new official Sherlock game in an outdoor environment, available via an app so people could play using their own smartphones. They gave visitors two options, a guided version by Myrcroft, Sherlock’s brother, and an unguided version where customers play in their own time. Elementary, if we do say so ourselves!

What to add to your UK bucket list

If you’re looking for a combination of sightseeing in the UK, unmissable museums, and hidden gems, then look no further. There are natural formations, ancient and mysterious structures, masterpieces of architecture, and cultural institutions that deserve to be seen at least once in your lifetime. 

23. See folklore come to life at The Giant’s Causeway

Northern Ireland might have been bypassed on your UK bucket list, but in “our wee country” – the native’s nomenclature for Ulster – there’s a number of sights that deserve a chance. Chief among them is the North Coast, namely the Giant’s Causeway. 

The old myth goes that the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill – or Finn McCool as you’ll see it more commonly written – built the causeway as stepping stones to Scotland, but when the gargantuan Scottish giant Benandonner came looking for a fight, Finn had to think fast knowing this was a fight he couldn’t win. So, like any cunning giant would do, Finn dressed himself as a baby and tricked Benandonner into thinking that if the baby could be so big, then the father would be a force no one would want to meddle with. In a state of fear, Benandonner fled back across the sea, ripping up the Causeway as he went. 

This writer’s attempt at explaining the mythology pales in comparison to the local guides who walk the Causeway weaving the rich oral history in their (Northern) Irish brogue. You can walk the famously shaped rocks yourself, but it’s worth joining a tour if you want the full story! 

24. Get educated on Oxford and Cambridge

Amongst the most famous universities in the world, education’s roots in these cities go all the way back to the middle ages – 1096 CE for Oxford and 1209 CE for Cambridge. 

A trip to the campuses is worth it, the limestone buildings are steeped in history and have an apt look as palaces of knowledge. You’ll walk the same routes that some of the world’s greatest have trod, including Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

The cities themselves are both just as beautiful to sightsee in, and it would be criminal not to  punt along the River Cam, or see Oxford from the Thames. 

26. Get in touch with your inner druid at Stonehenge

As old as the pyramids and even more enigmatic, the first stones at Stonehenge have been carbon-dated to a time between 2400-2200 BC. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an essential part of anyone doing some serious sightseeing in the UK.

Getting up close to this Neolithic monument that remains shrouded in mystery should be part of any UK bucket list. Just how and why did these 25-tonne, 13-feet-high standing stones get transported from miles away and for what purpose?

Located on Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge is within easy reach of London, if you’re visiting from overseas and you haven’t got a rental car, then you can book a day trip from London.

27. Take a dip with the Romans in Bath

Abundant in Georgian architecture, Bath is worth a visit for the atmosphere alone. But the real star of the show is the city’s Roman Baths.

If your holiday is based around London, but you want to knock a few more items off your UK bucket list, then you can do an all in one trip to Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath, or Stonehenge and Roman Baths.

28. See London icons Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster

London’s souvenir business would take a serious hit if Big Ben wasn’t around. When you think Big Ben you conjure up an image of the whole structure in your mind, but the nickname is actually just for the bell of the striking clock. The tower itself is named after Queen Elizabeth II (as of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012)

This emblematic area will be placed high on any UK bucket list. During a guided tour of Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament you can see where Britain’s politicking takes place in the House of Commons and House of Lords, and see the coronation chair, walk the same aisle as William and Kate, stroll the oldest garden in Britain, and visit the graves of Charles Dickens, Isaac Newton, and more inside Westminster Abbey. 

29. Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace

It would be rude to travel all the way to the UK and not pop over to the Queen’s place. Standing outside the gates of Buckingham Palace and watching the Changing of the Guard won’t cost you a thing and the ceremonial display that revolves around the famous red tunic and bearskin hat will leave a more lasting impression of British military discipline than a souvenir bear wearing the same uniform.

If you want to immerse yourself in the experience more fully, then join a tour where your guide will explain the intricacies the soldiers go through, from loud stamping and not smiling, to the ceremony’s beginnings in the 15th century.

30. Get a view fit for royalty atop Arthur’s Seat

Looming over Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat is a key component of any good UK bucket list. A walk up this extinct volcano will give you stunning views over Scotland’s capital city, including some important landmarks for anyone sightseeing in the UK .

The Palace of Holyrood House – the former residence of Mary, Queen of Scots is only a stone’s throw from Arthur’s Seat, and you can even see Edinburgh Castle once you’re at the top! 

31. Discover history at The British Museum and the Natural History Museum 

While this won’t count as sightseeing in the UK, it should definitely be part of an UK bucket list. It’s too difficult to choose just one, so do both; this pair definitely deserves your time.

The Natural History Museum’s entranceway alone has shaped the childhood memories of countless children, and as you get older it only gets better. A snap from the main stairwell is enough to inject energy into any Instagram feed, and photographers will want to spend far too long there getting the settings just right for the perfect shot. But aside from its architectural prowess, the museum proper holds everything from casts of dinosaurs, fossils of giant sloths, and even a first edition of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species.

The British Museum is a veritable treasure trove of human history. Amongst its stars are the Gebelein Man, a naturally mummified body that predates the dynasties of pharaohs; the Rosetta Stone, an Egyptian decree that has helped decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics; and Lely’s Venus, the marble statue that  inspired the works of Peter Paul Rubens and belonged to the personal collection of Charles I. Making an early appearance and coming along with a guide will help you appreciate the museum’s greatest treasures.

32. See the remains of Roman Britain at Hadrian’s Wall

Another part of the Roman Empire’s legacy in Britain. Stretching across England’s northern borders as protection against unruly Scots some 2,000 years. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site for your UK bucket list, the wall stretched 73 miles from the River Tyne to the Irish Sea.

Some Roman forts still remain along the wall and you can learn about the history of Roman Britain through permanent exhibitions at the Birdoswald Roman Fort museum. If you want to see a reconstruction of a house that a commanding Roman officer would have lived in, then this half-day tour from Newcastle will give an insightful glimpse into the lives of legionaries in Rome’s most northern reaches. 

33. Have your own Midsummer’s Night Dream in Stratford-upon-Avon

Has ever an Englishman left his mark on storytelling like the Bard? From sonnets to stageplays, this native of Stratford-upon-Avon created stories that have weaved their way into the fabric of society. We even owe Shakespeare thanks for some of the most common words we use today – now that’s swagger.

During a visit to Shakespeare’s birthplace, you can visit a number of homes that played an important part during his life, including where he was born, where he passed, and the home of his bride-to-be Anne Hathaway (there’s no Juliet balcony, but the thatch roof is awfully charming). Of course, any visit would be replete if it didn’t involve theater, so expect to see some key scenes while you’re here. 

If you can’t get enough of the British countryside’s charm, then escape from London’s hustle and bustle with a ticket that will take you not only to Stratford upon Avon, but Oxford and the Cotswolds too. 

And one for luck: see more than monsters at Loch Ness

While Scotland’s most famous loch is synonymous with the mythical sea creature that keeps kids and conspiracy theorists fascinated, the lake in the Scotish highlands has a lot more going for it than fairy tales.

During a guided tour of the lake you can get to know more about local history, and you get the added joy of deciphering a thick, Scotch accent. Whether you walk over to Urquhart Castle, or just want to soak up the stillness of the glens and chill beside the water, the natural beauty of Loch Ness is worth the visit. 

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Can’t get enough of destinations in the UK? Make sure these attractions get the accolades they deserve by voting for your favourites in the international Remarkable Venue Awards.