From admiring the arts to exploring movie sets and pioneering cultural spaces,
from curiosity-seeking experiences in bustling cities to healing retreats in idyllic landscapes,
coming to the UK is not just about traveling, it’s about living
The United Kingdom, or more specifically The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, comprises the British Isles, which are made up of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The word Britain is derived from an ancient Celtic word meaning “colorful”, and it lives up to its name indeed.
As you stroll through the ancient streets of UK towns and villages, you can feel the depth of the years, and when you walk into the modern skyscrapers, you will immediately be impressed by its vitality and innovative spirit. Savor an authentic English afternoon tea in a leisurely and cozy atmosphere, and step into an art gallery to linger in front of some of the most famous paintings in history. From the Highlands of Scotland to the countryside of England, from the lakes of Wales to the coastline of Northern Ireland, whether you’re chasing sunrises and sunsets or hiking through mountains, lakes and oceans, there’s something unique in every corner of the country.
Art tours and off-the-beat experiences in London
The streets of London gradually awaken in the early morning mist as the River Thames flows silently by. As the first rays of sunlight fall on Big Ben, the melodious chimes become the city’s morning song.
Ride the London Eye up into the sky for a bird’s eye view of London. The Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and other historic buildings allow you to feel the weight of history. Interspersed there are many museums, art galleries and theaters, through which you can enjoy the rich cultural connotations of London. At leisure, soak up the sun in the Royal Parks or see London in a whole new light with Secret Adventures, a small kayak tour on the River Thames. Finish off with a cocktail in The Shard, the city’s tallest building, or choose a rooftop bar for a nightcap.
On the south bank of the Thames, across the river from St. Paul’s Cathedral, large, towering chimneys attracts a lot of attention. This is the Tate Modern, one of London’s most popular art galleries. Originally an imposing power station, it was converted into a modern building for art.
Admission is free. You can not only see the world’s masterpieces, but also enjoy food, performances and 360-degree views of London.
The huge turbine hall of the power plant was transformed into a place serving as the main passageway and center for small gatherings and works of art. The two-story glass box on the top of the main building not only brings in plenty of natural light, but also serves as a rooftop café and a place to enjoy the cityscape. On top of the huge chimneys, the designers added a roof made of semi-transparent panels called “Swiss Light”, so named because it was financed by the Swiss government. As night falls, the “Swiss Light” emits a brilliant crystal light, making the entire museum seem like a lighthouse, accompanied by the rising tide of the River Thames, adding a bright view of London at night.
The Southbank Centre, a cluster of arts and cultural buildings near the Tate Modern, is where London’s arts scene and vibrancy are at their strongest. The three main buildings, the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Hayward Gallery, are iconic halls of art, attracting music and art lovers to performances, exhibitions, cultural events and festivals.
However, the Southbank Center is also a great place for Londoners and tourists to relax and unwind. You can wander through the tree-lined parks and enjoy the views of the River Thames, sit in one of the riverside cafes and enjoy a cup of coffee, and most likely encounter a book reading or poetry-sharing workshop, or take a stroll through the Southbank Centre Food Markets, a vibrant and creative market that sells a wide range of crafts and food, from burgers to Middle Eastern and Asian dishes, making it a great choice for lunch, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Directly north of Trafalgar Square in the city center stands the National Gallery of Great Britain, which began with just 38 paintings and has expanded over time to become a national gallery with a wide collection of mainly paintings.
To celebrate its 200th anniversary this year, the National Gallery has curated a series of events that will extend from the gallery to Trafalgar Square and across the country, with 12 exhibitions opening on May 10, 2024 in 12 museums and galleries in 12 regions of the UK. At the same time, an art workshop will tour the UK throughout the year, bringing art learning activities into the communities.
One of the most highly anticipated of these events is the special exhibition: Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers, scheduled to run from September 2024 to January 2025, which will feature at least 50 works, including world-famous Van Gogh works such as Sunflowers, Garden of the Asylum, and The Bedroom.
The festival will also present an exhibition of early Siena art, organized for the first time outside of Italy. You will have the opportunity to admire some of the earliest and finest paintings in Europe. Be there in person and witness the beginning of art history. Don’t miss this art extravaganza if you’re planning a trip to the UK this year.
Adjacent to the River Thames and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre sits the venerable London Borough Market, dating back to 1276. The unique architectural style and vintage European flair is a real eye-catcher. From fresh vegetables, fruits, meats to a variety of specialty snacks, the quality is good. The recommended list of the top few includes Furness Food Hut’s paella, Richard Haward’s oysters, Scotchtails’ Scotch eggs, and Khanom Krok’s Thai Coconut Cake. Borough Market is not only one of the must-see attractions for tourists, but also the preferred place for local residents to do their shopping. It also hosts many interesting events from time to time, such as breakfast lectures, pancake making contests, and so on.
Brick Lane in East London is another must-see destination for foodies. “A curry on Brick Lane” has become the wish for tourists from all over the world. Of course, apart from curry, South Asian barbecue lamb chops, Middle Eastern rolls and Greek desserts are all worth trying.
Brick Lane is not only a culinary destination, it is also considered a classic symbol of British culture. The street is brightened up by graffiti in a variety of styles, and the Vintage Market is filled with a wide range of items from the 1920’s to the 1980’s, from clothes, shoes, hats and jewelry to old records. The old Truman Brewery is now the venue for exhibitions and events, and when you step inside, you’re likely to encounter a unique fashion week.
The Culpeper, a four-storey Victorian-style building in East London built in 1884, takes you into the slow life of characterful London. It is not a restaurant in the traditional sense, but a stylish multi-purpose social venue. The open bar on the ground floor, surrounded by windows on all sides, serves coffee and wine drinks, as well as light meals at noon and in the evening, and is open until 2 a.m. every day. On the second floor is a traditional English restaurant with a regular three-course set menu of starter, main course and dessert that changes daily, with fresh and thoughtful food combinations and ingredients. The third floor features five guest rooms with a nostalgic aesthetic, and many locals also come here for the weekend. The most unique place is the top floor of The Culpeper, where there is a garden and a rooftop bar. Many of the ingredients in the downstairs restaurant and rooftop bar come directly from the rooftop garden, changing flavors with the seasons and surprising the taste buds.
On the Greenwich Peninsula sits The O2 Arena, built to celebrate the Millennium, with world-class concert halls, performing arts venues, restaurants, bars and shopping malls.
The indoor skydiving experience brand iFLY has recently landed at The O2. At 260 kilometers per hour, it’s like being in a real skydiving environment, free-falling through the air. Of course, there will be instructors to guide and accompany you throughout the whole process. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a curious beginner, and no matter what your age or ability, you’ll be able to experience it.
Floatation has become one of the most popular stress-relieving therapies for the stressed-out modern people, and Floatworks has opened two floatation centers in London, located near Angel Station in Islington and Vauxhall Station in Lambeth. Entering a floating chamber with water of high density Epsom salt. In the quiet, warm and cozy atmosphere, your body is floating freely in the water weightlessly, you will feel incredibly relaxed. Both the muscle tension and pains in the physical level and the anxiety and worries in the psychological level will be slowly eliminated. The whole process will last for an hour, and after floating, you can enjoy tea and snacks in the lounge.
Close to nature and living at ease
Natural beauty and idyllic scenery are at the heart of the English countryside. The 800-year-old private island of Monkey Island, situated in the village of Bray on the River Thames in Berkshire, is becoming a popular destination for leisure travelers with the opening of YTL Hotels’ Monkey Island Estate in 2019, the only luxury hotel on Monkey Island. When you spend a night on Monkey Island, the banks of the Thames are an extension of your bedroom.
When you step onto Monkey Island, you are instantly immersed in the natural countryside. A few roosters are lounging by the river in the garden. Little squirrels are busy under the old walnut trees. The walnut-orange cake, now popular in English homes, is originated from there.
Stay at Monkey Island Estate and enjoy idyllic English living. Recline in a room decorated with historical touches to meditate and rest. Take a walk along the River Thames and experience the beauty of nature. Or take a dip in the pool, relax in the gardens, enjoy a British afternoon tea, sip a non-alcoholic cocktail at the Monkey Bar, and finally be sure to visit the Floating Spa, floating on the river, for an aquatic wellness journey.
The bustling city of London is also home to a large oasis of tranquility, with a number of distinctive Royal Parks being a great place for people to relax and unwind on a daily basis.
For centuries, Hyde Park has been the site of fiery speeches by women’s rights activists, where the Rolling Stones rocked out by the lake, and where Britain’s first Pride movement began. It’s no wonder it’s also known as “The People’s Park”. Of course, this vast green space in the heart of the city also boasts panoramic lakeside trails, waterfront cafes and plenty of wildlife to watch.
In summer, the Queen Mary’s Garden in The Regent’s Park fills the air with the intoxicating scent of 12,000 roses, a true ‘Wonderland’ as poet Sylvia Plath described. The Hub in the park is London’s largest outdoor sports area, where you can hire pitches for everything from soccer and rugby to cricket and lacrosse. The park also regularly hosts a variety of cultural events and music festivals.
Once a royal hunting ground, Bushy Park on the south bank of the River Thames is now renowned for its abundant wildlife and tranquil natural surroundings. Take a stroll through the park and you’ll see herds of deer grazing lazily in the meadows, hear a variety of birds chanting, and ducks frolicking in the water. The park has been constructed with many recreational facilities such as walking trails, bike paths, picnic areas and children’s play areas, making it very suitable for family outings.
Go deep into nature and learn about plants with Forage London and Beyond. This is an organization that specializes in organizing walks to pick edible plants, designing a variety of routes that take participants on nature walks to pick all kinds of herbs, flowers, and berries in parks, forests, and waterfronts of all sizes in London, Dorset, and Hampshire. For example, you’ll learn to identify different plant species, the historical uses of plants, how to recognize poisonous and edible mushrooms, how to grow your own mushrooms, how to make herbal remedies, and even different cooking methods and food preservation methods.
Nottinghamshire, with its rich history and natural beauty, now offers a unique way to explore the county – take a boat trip on one of its peaceful canals and enjoy a relaxing ride through the city, hearing about the history of the canals, enjoying the sights and wildlife along the way, and taking a break in one of the quaint pubs that line the water’s edge. The recommended “Nottingham to Beeston” canal tour starts on the River Trent and passes through the Attenborough Nature Reserve before heading into the city center and back to the River Trent. You’ll pass old buildings, bridges, parks and green spaces along the shore. When the boat arrives at Beeston Marina, get off the boat and take a stroll through the delightful scenery along the shoreline and stop at a café for a delicious afternoon tea.
Signature spa breaks across the UK
Slow down, turn off your cell phone and rejuvenate your body and mind with a luxurious spa vacation at one of the UK’s award-winning hotels and resorts. There is a wide range of treatments and superb facilities. Experience a head-to-toe massage, relax and unwind in the sauna, or simply while away the hours by the pool with a good book, before wandering through the prestigious spa towns and learning about the history of British spas.
Akasha Spa, Hotel Café Royal
Located on London’s Regent Street, combining Eastern traditions with Western technology, the 18-meter circular pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi create an oasis of tranquility in the heart of the city, with ambient lighting, soothing music and fragrances to embrace you in.
In addition to spacious exercise and treatment areas, also experience meditation, yoga, Watsu, and a customized meal menu. The hammam, decorated in Carrara Marble, offers elaborate body scrubs and a variety of treatments in a gorgeous setting.
In partnership with health technology company Therabody, Hotel Café Royal brings a range of high-tech experiences to Akasha Spa. SmartGoggles, an innovative eye mask powered by SmartSense technology, gently reduces heart rate and induces deep relaxation; RecoveryAir JetBoots promote circulation with a revolutionary pressure massage; and Theragun Pro promotes muscle recovery after a day of sightseeing or exercise.
The Coach House, Beaverbrook, Surrey
Surrounded by quaint gardens and overlooking the hills of Surrey, Beaverbrook Manor is located in the historic town of Leatherhead, west of London. The Coach House is the manor’s sanctuary of wellness. Entering the kaleidoscopic space, dappled light streams through stained-glass windows designed by artist Brian Clarke, and the ceiling is dotted with oak leaves, poppies, and an assortment of other colorful blooms.
Book a unique biodynamic massage at the tranquil Meadow Hut, where former therapist for Chelsea soccer team and yoga instructor Lino Zinchi will treat you to a unique treatment incorporating deep tissue massage, shiatsu, Ayurvedic therapy and acupressure point massage. Finish the treatment with a sound bath to slowly soothe the muscles, mind and emotions. Finally head out to the beautiful gardens and have a wonderful spiritual walk accompanied by Lino.
Eynsham Baths, Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire
The 60-acre Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire’s Eynsham Park boasts a lavish bathhouse that is an exact replica of an ancient Roman style. Carved columns and classical décor meet high ceilings and plenty of natural light. A winding staircase leads to a spacious dressing room, with tranquil treatment rooms on one side and a spacious bathing hall on the other.
The bathing area features frigidarium, caldarium, and tepidarium, as well as an Alpine-style hay sauna and an Ottoman-style hammam. The treatment menu, on the other hand, draws inspiration from Indian and Chinese traditions to recreate ancient healing rituals. Inside the elegant treatment rooms, ancient mantra chanting calms your central nervous system. The signature treatment, Marma Chikitsa, combines chakra therapy, marma points therapy, gentle abdominal massage and craniosacral therapy. The spa eschews branded products, and wellness expert Eiesha Bharti Pasricha has spent three years formulating medicinal plants from which she hand-blends a wide range of essential oils, balms, potions, serums, scrubs and soaps.
Cliveden Spa, Cliveden House, Berkshire
In front of Cliveden House’s imposing porch, boot-clad hikers and robe-clad spa-goers go their separate ways toward distinctly different wellness programs. The spa staff will lead you into the verbena-scented locker room, from which exits lead to either the heated outdoor pool or the indoor water facility area. Here, you can shuttle between the steam room, infrared sauna, indoor pool and Jacuzzi, and lounge on a tanning bed in between dips or treatments. Renowned skin specialist and facialist Teresa Tarmey is available every Friday.
The spa’s latest addition is a snooze-inducing treatment designed for modern people who experience sleep problems due to stress. Wrapped in a warm water bed, a large amount of deep sleep massage oil will be applied to your limbs. Mist droplets appear on the skin and the air is filled with the fragrance of essential oils. Afterwards, a hot stone massage relieves every inch of sore muscles, and the body becomes so light.
Gaia Spa, Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plymouth
Tucked away in a 16th-century country manor house, Gaia Spa is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Experience luxurious treatments, relax in the infinity pool and soothe in the crystal salt steam room. All treatments are using Gaia’s own products, combining effective natural ingredients with skillful therapeutic techniques to meet the different health needs of modern people.
The signature GAIA Crystal Therapy, which uses crystals to discover areas of chakra blockage, includes meditation, a full body massage and a scalp treatment massage. Also try the GAIA Mud Cocoon targeting the entire body, face and scalp, which includes a sea salt exfoliation, a natural mud clay mask, and a body cream with nourishing coconut oil and shea butter.
Bath, the original wellbeing destination
Bath is an elegant city full of traditional heritage, modern culture, green spaces and surprises dotted everywhere. Since Roman times, beautiful Bath has been a destination for relaxing vacations. Today, ancient Roman baths and modern thermal spas still attract people in droves.
Bath’s city center is small and compact, with places to eat and drink abounding, as well as the opportunity to immerse yourself in breathtaking museums and galleries, and enjoy a wide range of festivals, theatre, music and sporting events throughout the year. The honey-colored Georgian buildings look as if they’ve stepped out of a Jane Austen novel, and you can visit the iconic Royal Crescent and the majestic Circus. Outside the city there’s plenty to see too, such as the beautiful Somerset countryside, Stonehenge, castles and wildlife parks.
However, Bath is most famous for its natural thermal waters.
At Thermae Bath Spa, you can bathe in Bath’s warm, mineral-rich natural springs like the Celts and Romans did more than 2,000 years ago. There’s also the opportunity to take in the breathtaking views of the Bath skyline while having a wellness experience in the Wellness Suite, Rooftop Pool, before heading to the Springs Café for snacks and drinks.
Not far from Thermae Bath Spa is the Gainsborough Bath Spa, where the Spa Village combines Bath’s naturally warm waters with a range of treatments such as aromatherapy, hot stone massages and aqua body therapies. After your treatment, head to the restaurant to enjoy one of the hotel’s signature English lunches or afternoon teas. The Spa Village has also teamed up with Hungarian skincare brand Omorovicza to bring Budapest’s thermal waters into Bath. You can experience Omorovicza’s unique range of spa mineral treatments, such as Hungarian Mud Detox, Golden Massage with gold sugar scrub exfoliation, or a Bespoke Mineral Revitalising Facial.
For an alternative to the traditional spa experience, a visit to The Soul Spa is recommended. Try the deeply relaxing sound bath, and bathe in the vibrations of crystal bowls for an immersive mind and body relaxation. In addition, acupuncture, reiki, hypnotherapy, energy healing, tarot card readings and psychic healing are all available. Recently, The Soul Spa launched the Dream Odyssey Tour, a 20-minute virtual reality journey through the TRIPP VR device.
Bath is also home to Britain’s oldest public outdoor swimming pool, the Cleveland Pools, now restored and ready for a refreshing dip. The ancient Roman Baths still stand in the heart of the city where you can explore its history.
Turkish Baths, Harrogate
The charming town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England is also blessed with natural hot springs. The town is set in a picturesque valley surrounded by rolling hills and tranquil countryside.
The historic and functional Turkish Baths in the city center is one of only seven remaining Victorian baths in the UK.
Leave your daily stresses behind, grab a towel and step into the bath to begin the experience.
After a cleansing shower, head to the steam room for a steam bath, where inch by inch, steam infused with eucalyptus extract removes muscle tension, opens pores and eliminates toxins. Next, cool off in the plunge pool to feel the physical benefits of the hot and cold experience. Then go back to the hot room again, with a range of rooms between 40 and 70 degrees Celsius to choose from. Feel free to jump into the pool for a refreshing swim. Afterwards, cool off in the Frigidarium.
Finally, enjoy a relaxing treatment. Take your pick from a variety of experiences, from body massages to traditional Turkish rituals and hot mud wraps.