Attraction

1. British Museum

History and archaeology museumBloomsbury

Britain's great museum of world history and culture in Bloomsbury, with free entry to a permanent collection spanning two million years of human civilisation.

View details — British Museum

Attraction

2. Edinburgh Castle

Historic fortress and royal castleOld Town

Edinburgh's fortress on an extinct volcanic plug, home to the Honours of Scotland, St Margaret's Chapel, Mons Meg and the daily One O'Clock Gun.

View details — Edinburgh Castle

Attraction

3. Palace of Holyroodhouse

Royal palaceHolyrood

The monarch's official residence in Scotland at the foot of the Royal Mile, with State Apartments, Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers and the ruins of Holyrood Abbey.

View details — Palace of Holyroodhouse

Attraction

4. Tower of London

Historic castle and palaceTower Hill

Nearly a thousand years of royal history on the Thames, home to the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the famous Yeoman Warders.

View details — Tower of London

Attraction

5. National Gallery

Art museumTrafalgar Square

The nation's collection of Western European paintings on Trafalgar Square, with free entry to works from the 13th to the early 20th century.

View details — National Gallery

Attraction

6. National Museum of Scotland

National museumOld Town

Free national museum on Chambers Street covering Scottish history, natural world, science and world cultures, with Dolly the sheep and the Lewis chessmen.

View details — National Museum of Scotland

Attraction

7. The Royal Yacht Britannia

Former royal yacht and museum shipLeith

The former royal yacht, berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, where five decks including the state apartments and the Royal Deck Tearoom are open to visitors.

View details — The Royal Yacht Britannia

Attraction

8. Westminster Abbey

Gothic abbey churchWestminster

The Gothic church beside Parliament where English and British monarchs have been crowned for centuries, full of royal tombs and memorials.

View details — Westminster Abbey

Attraction

9. Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park

Extinct volcano and royal parkHolyrood

An extinct volcano rising 251 metres above Holyrood Park, a short walk from the Royal Mile, with city-wide views from its rocky summit.

View details — Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park

Attraction

10. Natural History Museum

Natural history museumSouth Kensington

A cathedral-like Victorian museum in South Kensington with free galleries of dinosaurs, minerals, wildlife and earth sciences.

View details — Natural History Museum

Attraction

11. National Galleries Scotland: National

Art galleryNew Town

Scotland's national art gallery on the Mound, a free Playfair building with works by Raeburn, Titian, Vermeer, Botticelli and Canova's The Three Graces.

View details — National Galleries Scotland: National

Attraction

12. Tate Modern

Modern and contemporary art museumBankside

Britain's national gallery of modern and contemporary art, set in a former power station on the South Bank with free collection displays.

View details — Tate Modern

Attraction

13. St Giles’ Cathedral

CathedralOld Town

The High Kirk of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile, with a 15th-century crown steeple, the Thistle Chapel and a long link to John Knox.

View details — St Giles’ Cathedral

Attraction

14. St Paul’s Cathedral

CathedralCity of London

Sir Christopher Wren's domed cathedral in the City of London, with climbable galleries offering views over the capital.

View details — St Paul’s Cathedral

Attraction

15. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Botanic gardenInverleith

A 28-hectare botanic garden in Inverleith, founded in 1670, with free entry to the grounds, restored Victorian Palm Houses and the Chinese Hillside.

View details — Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Attraction

16. Victoria and Albert Museum

Art and design museumSouth Kensington

The V&A in South Kensington is a free museum of art, design and performance, covering fashion, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and more.

View details — Victoria and Albert Museum

Attraction

17. Calton Hill

Hill, viewpoint and monumentsCalton

A 103-metre hill at the east end of Princes Street crowned by the unfinished National Monument, the Nelson Monument and the City Observatory.

View details — Calton Hill

Attraction

18. Hyde Park

Royal parkHyde Park

One of London's eight Royal Parks, with the Serpentine lake, Speakers' Corner and miles of paths between Mayfair and Kensington.

View details — Hyde Park

Attraction

19. Edinburgh Zoo

ZooCorstorphine

A conservation zoo on Corstorphine Hill run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland since 1913, home to tigers, koalas, giraffes and penguins.

View details — Edinburgh Zoo

Attraction

20. Tower Bridge

Landmark bridge and exhibitionTower Hill

London's Victorian bascule bridge, where a ticketed visit takes you along high-level glass-floored walkways and into the original engine rooms.

View details — Tower Bridge