49 Days in the UK: The Best Cities to Stay in and Places to See: A Complete Guide

Considering the fact that you have 49 days to explore the UK, you will have plenty of opportunities to see much more than just the famous landmarks of London. You should try to organize your trip in such a way as to minimize the time wasted on travelling back and forth and to leave enough time at each location to make the most of it.

If you choose to come to the UK by plane, Glasgow Airport Taxis might be useful for you, especially if you travel with children or with your luggage. Glasgow is one of those places where you can start your trip in the western part of Scotland. There is a lot to do in Glasgow, including visiting museums and admiring architecture.

How to Plan a 49-Day UK Itinerary

While the UK may appear relatively small when viewed on a map, getting from one region to another takes longer than one expects. Your 49-day itinerary should therefore split your journey into about 12–15 bases instead of switching base every day.

One possible itinerary would include visits to London, Bath, Oxford, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, York, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Belfast, Cardiff, and many other places. You can travel to cities via train while a car will come in handy especially when visiting Scotland, Wales, and the coastline.

Instead of trying to visit all the sights, focus on the nature of the region you are visiting. Take some time to explore large cities while using other bases to make excursions.

Days 1–6: Discover London and Its Historic Landmarks

Begin your adventure in London, which is the biggest city in the United Kingdom and one of the most popular tourist spots in the world. The six-day period will give you enough time to visit all the famous landmarks without making your vacation the first week a mad rush from morning until night.

Visit:

Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park

Westminster Abbey

Big Ben and Houses of Parliament

The Tower of London

Tower Bridge

The British Museum

The National Gallery

St Paul’s Cathedral

Borough Market

Covent Garden

The South Bank

Also, take some time to visit Greenwich, one day at the most.

Days 7–9: Oxford, Bath and the West of England

Take the train from London to Oxford, renowned for its historical buildings, libraries, colleges, and charming streets. Spend a day roaming through the city and touring some of its most splendid colleges.

Move onto Bath, the UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its Roman Baths and Georgian architecture. It’s small enough that you can visit it on foot, hence the two-day tour.

With extra time on your hands, you may visit Bristol, which has much to see and do.

Days 10–13: Explore Wales from Cardiff

Go westwards into Wales and make Cardiff your base. Cardiff has the best mix of old-town charm and a waterfront city, and it gives an ideal starting point for exploring Welsh culture.

See:

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Bay

The Wales Millennium Centre

National Museum Cardiff

Bute Park

Principality Stadium

Visit some parts of the Welsh countryside if you get a chance. Snowdonia National Park, the Brecon Beacons region, and Pembrokeshire coastline all provide very different scenery.

For those who are fascinated by castles, Wales proves to be an ideal destination. You will find historic castles scattered all across the country.

Days 14–18: Liverpool and Manchester

Finally, proceed north towards Liverpool, which is known for its incredible history in music and sailing. You need to take time to see attractions near the Royal Albert Dock and places associated with the city’s renowned music history.

Attractions in Liverpool include:

The Royal Albert Dock

The Beatles Story

Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Museum of Liverpool

Anfield for the football lovers

Then proceed to Manchester for about two days. See what the city has to offer in terms of history, football, museum, gallery, shopping, food, etc.

Football lovers could go to the stadiums and museums of Manchester’s teams.

Days 19–22: York and the Yorkshire Region

Starting from Manchester, head east to York, which is one of the most evocative historic cities in England. The medieval lanes, old walls, and imposing cathedral make it a good choice for your tour of the United Kingdom.

Visit:

York Minster

The Shambles

Clifford’s Tower

York City Walls

National Railway Museum

JORVIK Viking Centre

York can also be used as a starting point to explore other areas of Yorkshire, according to what you are interested in.

Days 23–28: Edinburgh and the Scottish Capital

Now, make your way to Scotland by crossing the border and stay for about six days to explore Edinburgh.

There is an amazing contrast between Old Town and New Town in Edinburgh, with each having a distinctive character.

Some of the top sights in Edinburgh include:

Edinburgh Castle

Royal Mile

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Arthur's Seat

Calton Hill

National Museum of Scotland

Dean Village

You will have time to explore the Old Town on foot too, as Edinburgh's closes, historical buildings, vistas, and pubs form a unique experience.

Days 29–33: Glasgow and Western Scotland

Go west to Glasgow, the biggest city of Scotland, spending there approximately five days. Glasgow is well-known for its architecture, music, art, museums, shopping and hospitable atmosphere.

Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Cathedral, Riverside Museum, Glasgow Green, and the beautiful architecture of Glasgow.

It is also a perfect place for exploring Western part of Scotland. It could be a good idea to have a one-day tour towards Loch Lomond and admire amazing scenery of the country without having to go to the Highlands.

For tourists, who want to have comfortable private transport on their trips, a Chauffeur Service Glasgow could be also considered.

Days 34–38: The Scottish Highlands and Inverness

Travel further to the north to reach Inverness, as a means of getting into the Highlands.

These areas of the tour will involve less urban sightseeing and more scenery.

Visit:

Loch Ness

Urquhart Castle

Cairngorms National Park

Battlefield of Culloden

Highland villages

Scenery of the Highland roadways

Should time allow, continue the trip to the Isle of Skye. Here you can see one of the most spectacular sceneries in Britain.

Days 39–42: Northern Ireland and Belfast

Make your way by plane or ferry to Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland. Spend a few days sightseeing around the city and its various sites of historical interest and culture.

Sights:

Titanic Belfast

Belfast City Hall

Crumlin Road Gaol

Cathedral Quarter

Botanic Gardens

Ulster Museum

A visit to the Giant's Causeway, one of the most characteristic natural sights of Northern Ireland, is recommended as a day trip.

Also read: Can You Describe Your First Time Visiting Someone in Prison?

Days 43–46: Return to England via the Lake District

Back to Great Britain, but this time go towards Lake District, especially if you like hiking, photography, or peaceful countryside scenery.

Make your base near Windermere, Ambleside, or Keswick and visit lakes, mountains, walking paths, and quaint villages.

Some must-do things are:

Lake Windermere cruise

Grasmere

Derwentwater

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Walking in mountains

This will be a good change of pace after spending a few weeks in big cities.

Days 47–49: Finish in London

Go back to London for your last three days. It could be helpful if you kept London at the start and end of your schedule since it allows you flexibility with changes in transport throughout the duration of your trip.

Use these three days to see anything you've missed out on, buy some souvenirs, watch a West End performance, or visit places like Notting Hill, Camden, Richmond, or Hampstead.

How to Make the Most of 49 Days in Britain

The greatest benefit of a seven-week UK tour is freedom. Do not plan to spend all of your time touring attractions. Your best memories could be made by exploring old city centers, stopping in some of the villages in the countryside, going to markets, or taking a beautiful train ride.

Whenever you can, try to book hotels near railway stations in the big cities, especially if you do not have a car. In case of the countryside, you could try to stay in small towns and villages.

But most importantly, do not take this itinerary as something fixed, but use it as a framework. The UK provides you with an amazing blend of history, culture, architecture, beaches, mountains, cuisine, music, and countryside. You have 49 days to explore all the best that the country has to offer.