12 of the best city breaks in the UK 2024

Edinburgh is one of those cities where you’ll never run out of things to do and new places to explore.

Things to see and do in Edinburgh

First off, Edinburgh Castle, sitting high on its volcanic rock overlooking the city is one of the best attractions to visit. Not only do you get fantastic views of the beautiful city, but you’ll also learn about the city's past, the people that lived in the castle and the royals. You’ll also get the chance to see the Scottish Crown Jewels.

Carlton Hill is a UNESCO World Heritage Site sitting high above the city. Here you can see the National Monument, the City Observatory, the Robert Burns Monument and fantastic views of the coast. Arthur’s Seat is another highpoint and a must if you’re a walker. Edinburgh was built on a now-extinct volcano, and Arthur’s Seat is the main peak of a collection of hills forming Holyrood Park.

Once you’ve seen Edinburgh from its highest points, venture underground at the Real Mary Kings Close. The tour takes you down into a series of preserved streets underneath the Royal Mile and tells the story of the poorest inhabitants of the city in the 17th century and the challenges they faced.

Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is one of the city's most famous streets, running through the Old Town and leading to Edinburgh Castle. There are plenty of shops to explore as you walk the mile, and you may even come across a bagpipe player or two.

A walking tour is a great way to cover many tourist hotspots in the city, such as the Scott Monument, Greyfriars Bobby, Grassmarket, and locations related to Harry Potter.

A little outside of the city, you’ll find Edinburgh Zoo, which makes for a great family day out, and you’ll get to say hi to Yang Guang and Tian Tian, Edinburgh's two famous pandas.

Our Dunbar Club Site is a 45-minute drive away from Edinburgh. Just a short walk to the seaside, Dunbar has plenty to explore nearby but is close enough to the city to make a few day trips in and explore.

You can also check out more of our campsites in and near Edinburgh here.

Well known for its pottery industry, Stoke-on-Trent has a huge variety of things to do from museums to theme parks.

Things to see and do in Stoke-on-Trent

The Pottery Museum and Art Gallery can be found in Hanley. Here you’ll find collections of ceramics, local archaeology finds and information about the lives of those working in the pottery industry. The largest Anglo-Saxon collection of gold and silver ever found the Staffordshire Hoard is on permanent display here too.

If you’d like to delve deeper into the local pottery industry, you can visit the Emma Bridgewater factory and the World of Wedgewood among others.

If you’re camping with kids, there are plenty of options for a family-friendly day out. You can walk among free-roaming monkeys at Trentham Monkey Forest, have an exhilarating day at Alton Towers Resort or take a more relaxed ride on the Churnet Valley Railway.

If you love exploring the outdoors, whether that’s going for long walks, hiking, cycling, birdwatching, caving, rock climbing or bouldering, you can do it all at the Peak District National Park. The Peak District reservoir is also a great place for fishing and watersport activities such as sailing, kayaking, canoeing and windsurfing

Whilst planning your camping break in Stoke-on-Trent, check out our Alton, The Star Club Site which is perfectly located between the cities attractions and the Peak District National Park.

If you’re looking for a mini escape, Bath is the city to visit. The Roman and Georgian architecture flows throughout the city, making it one of the UK's most stunning environments.

Things to see and do in Bath

The Roman Baths are undoubtedly the most popular tourist attraction in the city. Below today’s street level, the Sacred Spring, Roman Temple, and Roman Bath House collections of artefacts tell the story of the Roman way of life.

Discover centuries of history during a visit to Bath Abbey. The stained-glass windows and brilliant architecture can be seen from the outside, and upon entering, you’ll be able to learn all about the history of the abbey over its 1,200-year lifespan.

Literature fans can visit The Jane Austen Centre, a celebration of her life and works. The Regency Tea Room, above the exhibition, is manned by staff in full regency regalia and provides a lovely break from exploring the city.

If you’re partial to a stronger beverage, Bath has a few different breweries you can visit, all providing tasting experiences.

Our Devizes Club Site is just a 35-minute drive away from Bath. In the heart of Wiltshire, surrounded by countryside to explore, Devizes is perfectly located for accessing the city.

Home to the UK’s most prestigious university, the city of Cambridge offers a great mix of rich history and stunning scenery.

Things to see and do in Cambridge

Of course, a Cambridge city break is incomplete without visiting the university buildings. King’s College Chapel has the largest fan-vault ceiling in the world and is a real sight to behold. The Fitzwilliam Museum is a treasure trove of historical artefacts and information, and the Scott Polar Research Museum is all about the university’s world-class polar research.

Cambridge is a large city with a distance to travel between places to visit, which makes it incredibly popular with cyclists. The city is well set up for biking between attractions, and as a pedestrian, you’ll soon learn to dodge those on two wheels.

Another popular thing to do in Cambridge is to go punting on the River Cam. You can hire a boat and take it to the water yourself or book a boat tour and see the city from a whole different perspective. Punting is good fun in fair weather, especially when followed by a visit to one of the many pubs in the city.

If you’re looking for a break away from city life, Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a great escape. The garden is home to over 8,000 different plant species in a series of landscapes.

As with any city, Cambridge has a diverse range of shops and places to eat, so you won’t find yourself short of things to do in the city during your holiday.

Cambridge Club Site is a 20-minute drive away from the city. The rural campsite is surrounded by countryside to explore and in perfect proximity to exploring Cambridge at your leisure.

If you’re looking for more campsites to set up base for your city break, you can find more of our Cambridgeshire campsites here.

If you’re looking for a London feel, but without the huge walking traffic, Manchester is the city to visit. Manchester is full of diverse and unique restaurants, bars, shops, museums and galleries.

Things to see and do in Manchester

Manchester is booming with museums and galleries to visit. Whilst on your city break, you can explore the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester Museum, the National Football Museum, Manchester Art Gallery and the People's History Museum.

Nestled in the heart of the city's Medieval Quarter, Manchester Cathedral is another great place to visit. It has stood here for over 600 years, and visitors can explore the cathedral's breathtaking interior, including the unique choir and extravagant ceiling.

Whether you’re a bookworm or obsessed with fine details and art, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library will not disappoint you. The late-Victorian neo-Gothic building looks more like a castle, cathedral or something out of Harry Potter. Within the library, you’ll find the oldest known piece of the New Testament, magnificent illuminated medieval manuscripts and a 1476 William Caxton edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

You can't visit Manchester without seeing or hearing something about football. Two of England's top Premier League teams divide the city. Whether you’re a fan of football or not, it’s definitely worth booking a visit to the Etihad Stadium or Old Trafford.

We have several campsites scattered around Manchester. To view and book our member-exclusive campsites, become a member today. If you’re looking to book a Club Site, our Crowden Club Site is less than a 45-minute drive into Manchester city centre.

At the heart of the West Midlands, Birmingham has plenty of culture and history to offer while keeping up with contemporary life.

Things to see and do in Birmingham

The iconic Bullring, Grand Central and New Street are the most popular areas for shopping. You can also wander around the city centre’s many side streets to find more independent and high-street shops, salons and restaurants.

In the city centre, you’ll also find the National SEA LIFE Centre, Birmingham Museum and Gallery, the Ikon Gallery and the Thinktank Science Museum.

The newly built and famous Library of Birmingham also sits in the city centre and is free to enter. It has a rooftop terrace with great views of the city as well as a secret garden with beautiful flowers and stunning views.

A short distance from Birmingham city centre, you’ll find the Jewellery Quarter, Custard Factory and the Mailbox. Don’t take these names too literally, as they’re far from it. Instead, they’re full of secret hidden gems, fun activities, lovely stores and phenomenal food.

Whilst you’re exploring Birmingham, you’ll notice its large network of canals. Birmingham has a 313-mile-long stretch of canals that travel through the city and surrounding areas. You can explore the canals on foot or book a canal boat trip and enjoy the city.

For any movie and TV fanatics, several movies and shows have been filmed in locations such as the Jewellery Quarter, Grand Central and the canals. These include, Mission Impossible, Ready Player One and a Birmingham favourite, Peaky Blinders.

Away from the city centre but within driving distance, you’ll find the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham Back to Backs, Cadbury World and the Black Country Living Museum.

With all the travelling you’ll be doing on your city break, it's always nice to sit back, relax and enjoy some tasty food. Well, you’re in luck as Birmingham boasts its wide variety of cuisine.

Chinatown and the Balti Triangle are just two locations for mouthwatering dishes. The whole city is flooded with a variety of options, so no matter what you're feeling, you’ll never be disappointed with Birmingham's food range.

When planning your camping break in Birmingham, you’ll want a convenient campsite to set up base, our Kingsbury Water Park Club Site is just a 20-minute drive from Birmingham city centre and right next door to Kingsbury Water Park. If you’re looking for more campsites in Birmingham, become a member to enjoy our member-exclusive sites.

One of the most visited cities in the UK, Canterbury is full of history, impressive architecture and fascinating stories to tell.

Things to see and do in Canterbury

A visit to Canterbury Cathedral, founded in 600AD is a must. It’s home to the tallest landmark in the city, Bell Harry Tower, which can be seen for miles. Canterbury Cathedral was also the location of Archbishop Thomas Becket’s death.

If you’re looking for more fascinating architecture, Canterbury’s City Walls, St Augustine’s Abbey, Christ Church Gate and Westgate Tower and Gardens are all great spots to visit. Canterbury Roman Museum is also a beautiful place to find out more about the history of the local area.

The River Stour flows through the city, making boating and punting a large part of Canterbury’s historical past. Hire a boat and go punting yourself or join one of the guided boat tours to learn more about the city’s history and buildings along the river.

If you’re looking for a fun day out with the kids, Wingham Wildlife Park, around a 25-minute drive away and Howletts Wild Animal Park are great places to visit.

A popular campsite to select if you’re taking a city break in Canterbury is our Canterbury Club Site. It’s just one mile south of the city, and you can walk from the campsite or take the bus that stops outside the site entrance. If you’re looking to explore more of Canterbury or Kent, you can check out our Kent campsites here.

Built on a backbone of music and arts, Liverpool is a great city break as it’s thriving and bursting with things to do.

Things to see and do in Liverpool

For many, Liverpool is most well known for being the home of The Beatles. If you’re a fan of the legendary band or want to learn more about them, you can take the Magical Mystery Tour, which is a 2-hour bus ride, taking you to places associated with Paul, John, George and Ringo as they grew up and left their mark on the city.

Another way to learn about the band of four is to visit The Beatles Story, which is jam-packed with memorabilia, special exhibitions and exclusive photographs.

If you’re looking to explore more of Liverpool, you’ll come across many independent shops, cool cafes and stunning galleries. Lark Lane, Liverpool ONE and the Royal Albert Dock are just a few of the best places to spend an afternoon shopping and admiring the stunning city views.

Contemporary attractions aren’t all that’s on offer. Liverpool stands true to its history and culture. There’s not one, but two cathedrals to visit in the city; Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ. Both are completely different in their appearances, architecture and feel.

For any football fans, it’ll be no surprise that Liverpool is home to not one but two huge football clubs. Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C. divide the city in two and keep the rivalry alive. Explore both Anfield and Goodison Park on your city break and really understand the root of the cities' long-standing rivalry.

Finally, you can’t explore Liverpool without experiencing the waterfront, which has Unesco World Heritage status. You can take one of the many trips available on the Mersey Ferry to see Liverpool from the water. The Mersey Ferry has multiple cruises available, including evening cruises, bird-watching cruises and the usual daytime services.

Whilst planning your camping break, check out our Delamere Forest Club Site, which is a 50-minute drive from Liverpool. Here you’ll get the best of both worlds as it’s a straightforward route into the lively Liverpool city centre, but if you also want to enjoy some peace and quiet, the campsite is surrounded by Cheshire’s largest area of woodland, making it perfect for walkers and nature lovers.

London is the most visited city in the UK. If you’re planning a trip to London on your next UK city break, make sure you carve out plenty of time to enjoy all the wonderful attractions the capital has to offer.

Things to see and do in London

There’s too much to do in London for one trip, and once you’ve had a taste, you’re sure to go back time and time again. Here are some of the top attractions and sites to visit.

The Tower of London, Her Majesty’s Royal Palace, makes for a full day out in itself. See the crown jewels, the site of many royal beheadings and visit endless exhibitions about the history of the historic castle. Tower Bridge and Westminster Bridge are here too, so worth a visit during the same trip.

You can then walk up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, and if the Royal Standard flag is flying, you’ll know the King is in residence. While visiting the palace, you’ll get to see The Changing of the Guard, an old ceremony where The King's Guard hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace.

Next up, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben shouldn’t be missed. If you fancy a bird’s-eye view of London, the London Eye or Emirates Air Line cable car is a great way to see the whole city from the sky.

If you’re looking for a shopping day out or some great food spots, Oxford Street, Camden Market and Covent Garden are popular destinations. Similarly to Birmingham, London has a wide variety of great food places scattered around the city.

London is also flooded with great museums. The British Museum was established in 1753 and is home to over eight million items sourced from around the world. Other famous museums to visit include the London Bus Museum, Science Museum London and the Natural History Museum.

For those Harry Potter fans, you can have a magical day out with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Harry Potter films at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. London also has its own Madame Tussauds and west end, with over 250 theatres that perform a variety of class acts.

If you want to discover more of what London has to offer and book a campsite close to all the action, check out our variety of London campsites here.

Worcester, in the West Midlands, is just over 100 miles away from London and makes for a much quieter city break without compromising on things to do.

Things to see and do in Worcester

The focal point of Worcester is, of course, the impressive Worcester Cathedral. The cathedral was constructed in 1084 and is the resting place of King John. Both the interior and exterior are beautifully crafted and full of detail.

Another great location worth visiting is the National Trust-owned Greyfriars House and Gardens. The half-timbered house was built in 1485 and tells the story of the many families that have lived there.

The Tudor House Museum is also a great visit throughout the year. The beautiful 16th-century property on Friar Street is free to enter and tells the tale of life for those living in Worcester during that period.

Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, the Infirmary Museum and the Museum of Royal Worcester are all recommended.

With the usual high street shops, regular markets and plenty of places to purchase local produce, there are plenty of shopping opportunities to enjoy.

If you’re booking your camping break to Worcester, Blackmore Club Site is a 20-minute drive away from the city and offers beautiful views of the Malvern Hills with fantastic walking and cycling routes from the campsite. If you’re looking for other nearby campsites, or you want to discover more of Worcester, check out our campsites in Worcestershire here.

Bursting at the seams with Neolithic, Iron Age and Bronze Age History, Salisbury has so much to offer and is a great UK city break.

Things to see and do in Salisbury

Old Sarum, dating back to the Iron Age, was the original site of Salisbury. The site of the old castle and cathedral, along with housing settlements, can be visited today and can be seen from our Salisbury Club Site.

Within the city, Salisbury Cathedral has both the tallest spire and one of the oldest clocks in the world. It’s well worth a visit to marvel at the architecture and learn about the building’s past and present. The Magna Carta, one of the most celebrated documents in English history, can be found in the Chapter House. It’s the best-preserved copy and one of only four left in the world.

Salisbury Museum has a host of exhibitions to interest all. Learn about the history surrounding the city; see fascinating archaeological finds and view fine works of art.

Away from the city, there’s Stonehenge, Avebury Stone Circles, Longleat Safari Park, and so much more.

Whilst planning your city break, check out our Salisbury Club Site, which is less than 10 minutes away from the city. If you’d prefer to walk into Salisbury, it’s just a short riverside walk away. For more local campsites, check out our selection of Wiltshire campsites.