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The UK’s most popular tourist attractions have been revealed – how many have you visited?

Tourism chief said attractions are ‘recovering well’ from the coronavirus lockdowns, article bookmarked.

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The UK ’s most-visited tourist attraction last year has been revealed, with a surge in visitors compared to 2022.

The British Museum finished number one and saw a total of 5.8 million visitors in 2023, a 42 per cent jump on the previous year, according to trade body the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva). The last time the British Museum topped the list was 2019.

Last year’s popularity was partly attributed to the success of its China ’s Hidden Century exhibition, which ran from May until October.

Bernard Donoghue, Alva director, said attractions are “recovering well” from the coronavirus lockdowns, with 146.6 million visits to major UK venues in 2023 – a jump of 19 per cent on 2022.

However, he warned “they’re still not back to full recovery” as people “got out of the habit of going to museums and galleries ” when they were closed.

The number of visits to attractions is still below pre- pandemic levels, down 11 per cent from 163.9 million in 2019 before the Covid-19 crisis.

Mr Donoghue told Simon Calder’s Independent Travel Podcast the industry was prepared for “a long and slow recovery after lockdown”.

“There’s a change in the economy, of course, the cost of living crisis. And so people are being much more tactical, sensibly, about how they spend their leisure pounds.”

The limited return of Chinese tourists due to the country’s coronavirus travel restrictions is also affecting overall visitor numbers to UK tourism hotspots, although the tourism chief is “hopeful that we should get back up to pre-Covid levels of Chinese visitors by the end of 2025”.

After the British Museum, the second most-visited attraction was the Natural History Museum in west London, which had its best year for visits at 5.7 million.

In third place was Windsor Great Park, Berkshire , with 5.5 million visits.

The UK’s most-visited tourist attractions in 2023

• The British Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Windsor Great Park
• Tate Modern
• Southbank Centre
• V&A South Kensington
• The National Gallery
• Science Museum
• Tower of London
• Somerset House

The most popular attraction in Scotland was Edinburgh ’s National Museum of Scotland (2.2 million visits) while the number one spot in Wales was taken by St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff (600,000 visits).

Titanic Belfast had the most visits in Northern Ireland , with 800,000 people coming to the attraction.

Indoor attractions saw a 23 per cent increase in visitors compared with a 2 per cent increase in outdoor attractions.

In the Coronation year, Westminster Abbey had a 49 per cent increase in visitors to 1.5 million.

Mr Donoghue claimed that the government’s failure to reverse its 2020 decision to end tax-free shopping for inbound visitors has led to a “significant decrease” in spending in attraction gift shops by overseas tourists.

“We are absolutely missing out on expensive items being bought by visitors from around the world, particularly from America, the Middle East and the Far East,” he said.

“We know that we’re losing out to places like Paris , Milan , Madrid and Rome .”

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England visitor attractions: latest.

Released on:  12 July 2023

Next release:  2024 (to be confirmed)

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please contact  [email protected] .

Report highlights

• Attractions in England reported a 42% increase in the volume of total visits from 2021 to 2022, however, this is still 35% below 2019 levels.
• Places of Worship and Museums / Art Galleries received the highest increase in visits year on year (117%) and (114%) respectively.
• The Natural History Museum was the most visited free attraction in 2022, attracting 4.7m visitors, up 196% on 2021.
• The Tower of London was the most visited paid for attraction in 2022, attracting 2.0m visitors, up 284% on 2021.

View the latest report including data tables

Annual attractions survey 2022 full trends report.pdf.

England Visitor Attractions Annual Report 2022

Annual Attractions Full Listings 2022.xlsx

England Visitor Attractions Full Listing 2022

Most Visited Top 20 Free and Paid Attractions 2022_England and Regional.pdf

Most Visited Attractions in England by Region, 2022

About the survey

The annual trends report provides an overview of the visitor attraction sector using results from a mix of online and postal surveys. This approach means we’re unable to verify results provided by individual attractions beyond a basic ‘sense check’. Read more about our  methodology (PDF 487KB) .

The lists of English attractions included in the report only feature those that choose to participate and agree to make their results public.

The Annual Survey of Visits to Visitor Attractions is designated as official statistics and follows the  Code of Practice for Official Statistics (2022)   set by the Office for Statistics Regulation.

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• The 10 Most Visited Attractions In The United Kingdom

Rich in myth, legend, lore and history the United Kingdom captures and draws in hundreds upon thousands of tourists every year weather it be to see the renowned British Museum which is dedicated to Art, Culture and History or The Tower of London which has seen the deaths of not one but two of England 's monarchs this tiny island nation draws us in. In this article we will look at some of the top and most visited of England's tourist attractions and see why each hold the captivating power that they do.

The Allures of the Queen's Country

The british museum.

The British Museum , located in the heart of London, saw some 68,20,686 people in 2015 and boasts of 8 million works that originates from every continent and brilliantly displays the history of our race on its walls. Built in 1753 it originally consisted of the collections of physician and scientist, Sir Hans Sloane and opened to the public in on January 15 th , 1795. It was been expanded over the years due to British colonization and has resulted in several branch institutions. King George II doubled the collections that were shown and in addition to the Sloane library added in particular the Cottonian Library, named for Robert Cotton, which dates back to Elizabethan times and the Harleain library, which was the collections of the Earls of Oxford and the only surviving copy of Beowulf. In the 19 th Century sculptures of Greek and Roman origins as well as Egyptian artifacts dominated the antiquities displays, and after the Battle of the Nile in 1801 the British Museum acquired even more Egyptian artifacts it was King George III who presented the museum with the Rosetta Stone in 1802. The museum is a beacon of history, culture, and art drawing the curiosity and love from millions around the world.

The National Gallery

The National Gallery is renowned around the world as one of the great houses of Art and is located at Trafalgar square as well in the heart of London. The National Gallery is the second most visited places in all of England. It was founded in 1824 and houses over 2,300 pieces of work that date from the mid-13th Century through 1900. Unlike Galleries or Museums the National Gallery did not come into being due to any princely art collection but rather when the British Parliament bought 38 paintings from the heirs of John Julius Angerstein, an insurance broker and patron of the arts. As well the collection belongs to the British people. The allure of the talent and the works of the great masters is what draws people to the Gallery as the walls are covered in artistic representation of history, including both that of England and of the world as a whole.

The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum Like the British Museum the Natural History Museum, sometimes called the Cathedral of Nature, charges nothing for admission and the collections that are housed inside its great walls belong to the people. The Museum is the home of life and science exhibits that total some 80 million items with five main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology. As well as being a renowned center of taxonomy, identification and conservation. Due to the age of the institution the collections not only have scientific value but historic as well, such as collections from Charles Darwin and is particularly famous for its display of dinosaur skeletons. The Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, is a patron of the museum as well. With so much history and scientific discovery under one roof it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Tate Modern

Tate Modern is a Modern Art Gallery located in London and was established in 2000 and is based out of the former Bankside Power Station and houses the British national collection of art from 1900 to present day. It is a draw for those who love or have an interest in modern art. Tate is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art. Like the other galleries there is no admission charge to access the collection displays, though tickets may be sold for any major display the gallery has, so it also draws those who may be on a budget for their vacation.

The Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum located in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which is the smallest district of London, and is south of the center. The Museum was created in 1852 and named in honor of Britain's Queen Victoria and her consort, Albert. It houses a permanent collection of 4.5 Million objects and spans 5,000 years of art, from ancient times to present day. From the cultures of Europe, North America, Asia and North Africa. The displays of ceramics, glass, textiles, costumes, silver, ironwork, jewelry, furniture and medieval objects, sculpture, prints, printmaking, drawings and photographs are among the largest in the world and draws in 3,432,325 people a year.

The Science Museum

The Science Museum was founded by Bennet Woodcroft in 1857 and had the distinction of having Queen Victoria lay the foundation block. The Queen asked the museum to be named for her and her late husband and initially it was though when the new building was built ten years after it took on the title of the Art Collection and the Science Collection. It included a collection of machinery which became the Museum of Patents in 1858 and the Patent Office Museum in 1863. This Collection contained many of the famous exhibits that are now apart of the Science Museum. The museum attracted 3,356,212 people in 2015 and like the others galleries and museums around Britain the general admission is free.

Somerset House

Somerset House is a neoclassical manor house that was originally the site of a Tudor Palace was designed by Sir William Chambers in 1776. It has been further expanded with the addition of Victorian Wings in 1831 and 1836. It sits just east of Waterloo Bridge and south of the Strand on the banks of the River Thames. The East wing is also an adjacent campus for the King's College London. Elizabeth Tudor, the future Elizabeth I, stayed at Somerset House during the reign of her sister, Mary I.

Tower of London

Tower of London is a historic royal castle that is nestled on the north bank of the river Thames and was founded towards the end of 1066 as a part of the Norman Conquest. A grand palace in its early construction it served as a royal residence. The castle was used as a prison from 1100-1952 although it was not its primary purpose. As a whole the Tower is a complex of several buildings with two centric rings of defensive walls and a moat. Though not a prison, initially it had imprisoned some of History's most infamous royals including the Princes in the Tower. Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, was beheaded on Tower Green in 1536 as well was her cousin, Kathryn Howard some years later. The tower brought in 2,785,249 visitors in 2015.

The National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery is an art Gallery in London that houses portraits of historically import and famous British people. It was the first of its kind when it opened in 1856. The gallery moved in 1896 to its current location at St Martin's Place which is just off Trafalgar Square. The gallery houses a collection of 195,000 portraits that stretch throughout the span of British history, and sees 2.06 million people yearly. Like the other museums and galleries in Britain the National Portrait Gallery is free to the public.

The Top Places to Visit in England Never Disappoint

Due to her rich history and just how steeped in myth, legend, and lore, England will always hold a place in the hearts of people from all around the world.

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Britain’s most-visited tourist attractions have been revealed

The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA)’s new report shows which UK attractions welcomed the most visitors in 2023

If you’ve ever spent ages queuing in South Ken’s Museum District or squeezing through a sea of people along the South Bank, it’ll come as no surprise that London attractions are some of the most visited in the UK . 

And if you don’t believe us, just take a look at the numbers. Tourist spots in the capital absolutely dominate this year’s ranking of the country’s most visited attractions, put together by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions  (ALVA). 

In 2021 and 2022 the Crown Estate in Windsor  took the top spot, but for 2023, a different London landmark swooped into first place. With over 5.8 million visitors, the British Museum was the UK's most popular attraction. That’s a 42 percent increase on its footfall from the previous year. You can read more about the British Museum’s triumph here . 

The Natural History Museum came second with 5.7m people walking through its halls, while the Crown Estate dropped to third and saw a 3 percent decline in visitor numbers. Still, it was the only attraction outside of the Big Smoke in the top ten. 

After the Crown Estate , the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh emerged as the most visited site for the rest of the UK, with 2.2m tourists walking through its doors. Two other Edinburgh landmarks also came high up on the list —  Edinburgh Castle saw 1.9m visitors and the National Gallery Scotland  welcomed 1.8m. 

The UK's most popular tourist attractions, according to the ALVA

• The British Museum
• Natural History Museum
• The Crown Estate
• Tate Modern
• Southbank Centre
• Victoria and Albert Museum 
• The National Gallery
• Science Museum
• Tower of London
• Somerset House

The UK's most popular tourist attractions outside of London

• The Crown Estate, Windsor
• National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh
• National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh
• Windsor Castle, Windsor
• RHS Garden Wisley, Woking
• Stonehenge, Salisbury
• Kelingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
• Riverside Museum, Glasgow
• Roman Baths and Pump Room, Bath  

Of course, there are other measurements of success when it comes to tourist attractions — like which rakes in the most cash  or which has the most world-wide recognition, such as this London attraction that was named one of the best cultural spots on the planet . And if you want to know which ones to avoid, take a look at these lists of the attractions which are  most overcrowded , most disappointing and most overpriced .  Did you see that   this 200-year-old attraction in England is being forced to close ?

Plus:  Britain’s worst railway stations for delays have been revealed . 

Stay in the loop: sign up to our   free Time Out UK newsletter   for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.   

• Amy Houghton Contributing writer

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Top 20 Most Popular UK Cities for International Visitors

The Office of National Statistics, which keeps track of such things, has named the UK cities most visited by international visitors. As you might expect, London comes in at number. Edinburgh coming in at number two isn't much of a shock either. But some of the other destinations in the UK Top 20 list, may surprise you. Check out their profiles to find out what makes each of them so popular.

Home of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, The British Museum and more British Icons, London is a world center of theatre, art, music, literature, and culture. It's also a city of colorful markets, great shopping, green open spaces, and a cosmopolitan culture.

London is home to 7.5 million people, or 12.5 per cent of the UK's population. Not counting visitors, more than 1.5 million Londoners come from abroad. They speak 300 different languages. On top of its cosmopolitan locals, London welcomes more than 25 million visitors a year through its five airports, national rail stations, and Eurostar terminal, the gateway to the continent.

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

Scotland's capital and the seat of its Parliament, Edinburgh combines the young and modern sensibilities of a great university city and national capital with a historic and dramatic setting. Here you'll find the world's biggest performing arts festival, a 1,000-year-old castle and a mountain - Arthur's Seat - right in the middle of town. And, Edinburgh's annual New Year's celebration - Hogmanay - is a four-day street party to end all street parties.

Edinburgh has about half a million people, including more than 62,000 university students. At least 13 million people visit every year. During the main festival month of August, the population of Edinburgh swells by more than one million, making it, temporarily, the UK's second-largest city.

Festival Edinburgh - From the end of June through to early September, Edinburgh reels through one festival after another. Film, books, art, music, television and jazz, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Festival are just some of the summer festivals. But the big event is the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe , a free-for-all of drama, music, comedy and street theater that veers wildly from brilliant to dire and that takes over the whole city for most of August.

Come winter and Edinburgh folks are ready to party again, staging the world's biggest New Year's celebration, Hogmanay. The torchlight parades, fire festival events, concerts, funfairs, and winter swims go on for four days.

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Manchester is often called the first modern city. In the 18th century this Northwestern city, 30 miles from Liverpool, was the cotton making capital of the world and one of the breeding grounds of the industrial revolution. Its entrepreneurs and industrial tycoons endowed it with museums, galleries, theatres and libraries as well as outstanding civic architecture. A devastating IRA bomb in 1996 created the need for city center regeneration resulting in a new, dramatic 21st century cityscape.

Today, some of the most exciting architecture in Britain can be found in Manchester and the nearby Salford Quays area. Among the highlights are Bridgewater Hall, home of Manchester's Hallé Orchestra; Urbis, a glass curtain-walled exhibition center, and the Imperial War Museum, designed by Daniel Libeskind.

Manchester has long been a hotbed of the indie and pop music scenes. Among the bands and artists who got their start, Manchester can claim Elkie Brooks, Take That, Freddie and the Dreamers, Hermans Hermits, The Hollies, Oasis, Simply Red, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Morrissey and dozens more.

Today a large student population keeps Manchester's club scene as lively as ever. And, as one of the gateways to England's Lake District , Manchester makes a good anchor for a two base vacation, combining outdoor activities with urban nightlife.

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A combination of entrepreneurial daring and engineering know-how made Birmingham the manufacturing engine of Britain through the 19th century and most of the 20th. James Watt first commercially manufactured his steam engine here; the transatlantic cable and the Orient Express were Birmingham built, and this was the heartland of the British motor industry.

Birmingham also has several tasty claims to fame . George Cadbury made his choccies here and his Bourneville Estate was an early planned community. In more recent times, Birmingham has become the heartland of that Anglo-Punjabi specialty, Balti cuisine.

With a population of more than a million, Birmingham is the UK's second-largest city. It's a vibrant, multi-ethnic destination with a lively arts and music scene and some of England's best shopping. Its Selfridges - the company's first store outside of London, is an ultra-modern building that looks like it just landed from outer space.

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Heavy Metal is a Birmingham sound. Both Judas Priest and Black Sabbath were local bands. And Ozzie Osborne is a native son. Other styles of music thrive in Birmingham too. The city kick-started the careers of Duran Duran, ELO and UB40.

With its great shopping and the huge NEC conference center as draws, Birmingham has loads of visitors. Sadly it doesn't have nearly enough hotels to meet the demand. So if you are planning on heading there for a special event, plan on booking early.

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Scotland's largest city and the third-largest city in the UK, Glasgow's had long taken a back seat to Edinburgh with tourists and visitors. Its reputation as a rough, crime-ridden, dirty and hard-drinking city put people off. But, since the mid-1980s, Glaswegians have worked hard to turn that image around.

And they've succeeded.

In 1995, Glasgow was the European Capital of Culture. The award wasn't for the heritage culture that enlivens Edinburgh but for an entirely more contemporary vibe. And it keeps getting better. In 2008, Lonely Planet named Glasgow one of the top 10 cities for tourists. In the same year, the Mercer report, a quality of life survey, put Glasgow among the top 50 safest cities of the world. Nervous tourists note: that was more than 30 places higher than London.

Today, Billy Connolly's hometown is a hip destination for contemporary art, jazz, clubs, comedy, design and fashion (of both the chic and the gutsy street kind). It's also the gateway to the Western Highlands. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is about half an hour away.

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When visitors think of Liverpool , the Beatles may come to mind. And, of course, there's plenty to do that's Beatles related - not least of which is is visit to the famous Cavern Club .

In 2008, the mantle of European Capital of Culture landed on Liverpool, revitalizing this city in England's northwest, as the award often does. Liverpool's Albert Docks area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its role in Britain's maritime history. Visitors to the area can learn about Liverpool's role in the history of the slave trade (commemorated in the world's only International Slavery Museum ), emigration to the Americas and Australia, and the spread of trade and culture across the British Empire. The spotlight on the dock's history has also brought trendy clubs, hotels, shopping, dining and a Liverpool branch of the famous Tate Gallery to the immediate surrounding area.

Over the years, Liverpool has had its ups and downs, but the recent revival of interest in this historic city means there are quite a few new and trendy hotels.

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Bristol, on the borders of Somerset and Gloucestershire, is a small, attractive city with a history of creativity and innovation. It makes a great base for touring with Stratford-upon-Avon , Warwick Castle , Bath, Stonehenge , Cheddar Gorge and Longleat all within easy reach.

Once one of England's most important ports, like Liverpool, it was a center for the triangular trade in the 17th and 18th centuries, shipping manufactured goods to Africa in exchange for enslaved people who were then forcibly transported to the Americas. Abolitionist Thomas Clarkson lived undercover at The Seven Stars Pub on Thomas Lane in the 18th century. He gathered the information about the slave trade that his friend William Wilberforce used to support the Act for the Abolition of Slavery. You can still raise a pint of real ale in the pub, open every day since 1760, whose history goes back to the 1600s.

Born in Bristol

From the pioneering Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel to the leaders of today's cutting-edge animations, Bristol has been a hotbed of talented innovators. Brunel, who designed Britain's first long-distance railway, the Great Western between London and Bristol, also designed the first ocean-going, propeller-driven transatlantic steamship, the SS Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge (completed after Brunel's death). The bridge, over the Avon Gorge, is the symbol of Bristol.

The Bristol Old Vic, an offshoot of London's Old Vic Theatre, and its associated drama school has populated international stages and screens with graduates. Cary Grant was born in Bristol; Patrick Stewart, Jeremy Irons, Greta Scacchi, Miranda Richardson, Helen Baxendale, Daniel Day-Lewis and Gene Wilder all learned their craft there.

Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep are also Bristol natives, having been created at the city's Aardman Animation. And the mysterious graffiti artist, Banksy, another Bristol native, has left his mark there.

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Oxford University is England's oldest university, dating back to the 11th century. It's the reason that many people make their way to this small city, 60 miles northwest of London, on the edge of the Cotswolds.

The city has England's oldest public museum , The Ashmolean, recently refurbished with its exhibition space doubled. Visitors can also enjoy shopping in a lively covered market, find an almost hidden pub that was popular when Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were still hiding their affair from their respective spouses, and explore a haunted castle.

And then, of course, there are the colleges. Visitors are welcome to stroll the fascinating, historic grounds and chapels of most of the colleges. Some are only open during fixed times of day or as part of official guided tours. Official Guided Walking Tours, run by the Oxford Tourist Information Centre, allow you to take in the sights at college, including several well-known landmarks and movie locations. You can even see some of the locations used in the Harry Potter films.

Oxford makes a great London Day Trip , with or without a car. It's also a useful base for exploring the Cotswolds, visiting Blenheim Palace in Woodstock (a ten-minute bus trip away), or shopping till you drop at Bicester Village, one of the UK's best designer discount centers.

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• Brown's Cafe - Cheap Eats in Oxford

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Cambridge , like its traditional rival Oxford, grew out of an association of scholars who settled in one place and founded the colleges. According to tradition, Cambridge, Britain's second-oldest university, was founded in 1209 when a group of scholars fled Oxford after a disagreement with local townspeople.

Smaller and less urban than Oxford, Cambridge is, nevertheless, a lively place full of fascinating museums and galleries, theatres, restaurants, and pubs.

The colleges themselves, which together have produced more Nobel Prize winners than any university in the world, are masterpieces of Medieval, Tudor and Jacobean architecture. Among the standouts open to visitors, Kings College Chapel, with its soaring thistle vaulted ceiling, is a must-see.

From April to September, Cambridge can be packed with tourists who arrive on buses, stay a few hours, and then skedaddle. But train services from London are frequent, and journey times relatively short, so it's a shame not to linger a bit longer to explore some of the lovely gardens along the Backs (where Cambridge colleges back up onto the River Cam). Because of the crowds, many of the colleges now charge an entry fee to visit their grounds and limit opening hours.

Taking a Punt at a Punt

Punts are the traditional flatboats that are propelled with poles along the Cam and Granchester rivers. The punter stands and pushes the pole into the mud. It's not as easy as it looks! More than one beginner has either lost a pole or been left clinging to one as the punt floats on. Nowadays, visitors can hire a chauffeured punt (the chauffeur will probably be a student) for a guided cruise along the Backs. It's low-key but quite fun.

One of Cambridge's shortcomings is a dearth of really nice hotels near the center. One of the most interesting, however, is The Moller Centre , part of Churchill College. It's a conference center at heart but anyone can stay in business class luxury at budget prices in this architecturally unusual place. 

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Cardiff , the capital of Wales and its largest city, has experienced a virtual renaissance. In a little over a decade its visitor numbers have increased by more than 50 percent. When the Millenniium Stadium, home of the Welsh national rugby union team and the Welsh national football team, opened in 1999, the city welcomed about 9 million foreign visitors. In 2009, that figure had risen to more than 14.6 million foreign visitors, with French and Irish rugby fans leading the way.

The rebirth of Cardiff includes redevelopment of the waterfront along Cardiff Bay. The Senedd, home of the Welsh National Assembly and designed by British architect Richard Rogers, opened there in 2006.

Nearby, the Wales Millennium Centre, opened in 2004, is a performance venue for theatre, musicals, opera, ballet, contemporary dance, hip hop, comedy, art, and art workshops. It has two theaters and seven resident companies including the Welsh National Opera. Free performances take place in the center's foyer every day and visitors to the bars and restaurants can enjoy views of Cardiff Bay. The building is a striking landmark on its own, clad in Welsh slate, bronze-colored steel, wood, and glass. It is a reflection of the Welsh landscape.

The most famous features of the building, designed by Jonathan Adam, are the lines of poetry, made up of windows, that cross its facade. Written for the center by Welsh writer Gwyneth Lewis, the Welsh and English words are not translations of each other but are, in fact, two different short poems that complement each other. The words of the Welsh poem, "Creu Gwir Fel Gwydr O Ffwrnais Awen" (Creating truth like glass from the furnace of inspiration), are arranged beside the words of the English poem, "In these stones, horizons sing." At night, light from inside the center shines through the windows.

Not everything about Cardiff is brand new. Cardiff Castle began its life as a Roman garrison, about 2000 years ago. It has been a Norman castle keep and home to a variety of noble families. In the 19th century, the Marquess of Bute had the living quarters transformed into a Victorian fantasy castle with fabulous and opulent interiors. Today it belongs to the city of Cardiff and the castle, along with its surrounding parkland, is the scene of festivals and events throughout the year.

Cardiff's post-millennial revival and its position as the seat of the newly devolved Welsh government means the hotel and accommodation selection is very good.

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Brighton is hip, colorful, and unusually urban for a seaside resort . "London's beach", 60 miles from the capital, is a year-round day trip or short break destination with lots more to offer than its seafront.

Shopping, dining, a hoot of a fantasy palace, a brilliant aquarium, great nightlife and theater, block after block of Regency houses - not to mention the most scenic pier in Britain - combine with a tolerant and breezy ambiance to make Brighton a very cool place to visit and an even cooler place to stay awhile.

If you like cities, there's a good chance you will love Brighton. Millions of people do. At least 8 million people visit Brighton annually - about 6.5 million for day trips . Brighton Pier alone gets 4.5 million visitors a year. The city regularly ranks among the top 20 for overseas visitors and is among Britain's top 10 visitor destinations overall. It is also one of Britain's most popular LGBTQ destinations with a large resident gay population.

It may be London's beach, but don't expect to pop into the sea. The water is usually pretty cold and the shingle beach is not to everyone's taste. But all kinds of watersports fans, surfers, paddle and windsurfers do love it. And strolling along the seaside or lazing on the beach is just part of Brighton's appeal.

Come for amazing shopping in the Lanes and the North Laine, goggle at the Royal Pavilion, eat lots of great fish and chips, and enjoy the festival and club scene. It's a quick day trip by train from London and one you don't want to miss.

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Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead

Newcastle-upon-Tyne began its history as a major Roman fort defending the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. The evidence is still there at the Arbeia Roman Fort & Museum , including a reconstruction of the fort that guarded the mouth of the Tyne and exhibits with archeological finds from the site.

In the early Middle Ages, after the departure of the Romans, the Venerable Bede, an Anglo Saxon monk, lived and wrote his histories of early Britain at Jarrow, just downriver from Newcastle on the south bank of the Tyne. Jarrow Hall (formerly Bedes World), in Jarrow, is a new museum and World Heritage Site candidate near the ruins of Bede's Anglo Saxon monastery.

Fast Forward

Newcastle is a good base for exploring the northeast of England, but don't be surprised if the locals could care less about all that impressive history. They have their eyes firmly fixed on today and tomorrow.

Newcastle nightlife is legendary, spawning bands, performance artists, and good times in quantity. Back in the 1960s, Jimi Hendrix lived and busked in Newcastle. He was discovered and managed by Chas Chandler, a musician with Newcastle band, The Animals. Dire Straits was a Newcastle band and Sting is a Geordie boy. ("Geordies" are natives of Newcastle). One of England's big university cities, students keep the Newcastle music scene alive and kicking.

Since the Millennium, the Newcastle/Gateshead Quays have been transformed into a futuristic and arty landscape. The Newcastle/Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a unique pedestrian "drawbridge". Instead of splitting and opening to allow tall boat traffic through, the bottom pedestrian deck of the bridge tips up to meet the support arch, like an eyelid, opening and closing.

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art  on the quayside is a huge contemporary art space and the biggest exhibition space of its kind in the world. Before its transformation into a cutting-edge visual arts exhibition center, it was an enormous and abandoned flour and animal feed mill. Not far away, the Sage Gateshead is an ultra-modern music performance and learning center. Rock, pop, classical, acoustic, indie, country, folk, electronic, dance, and world music are all performed inside Sage's gleaming bubbles of stainless steel and glass. The Northern Sinfonia has its home at the Sage.

Geordies The native dialect of Newcastle, Geordie, is distinctive and one of the oldest in England. If you've ever seen actor Jimmy Nail or Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole, you've heard this inimitable accent.

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People sometimes dub Leeds The Knightsbridge of the North because this city, built on a tradition of wool, textile, and clothing manufacture, is one of the UK's major retail and fashion hubs. Glamorous shops are housed in some of the most splendid Victorian arcades in Europe. Famous Harvey Nichols established its first store outside of London here. And one of Britain's most famous businesses, Marks & Spencer , began its life as a humble market stall in Leeds Kirkgate Market.

21st Century Leeds

Leeds is a thoroughly wired up place. Leeds IT companies host more than a third of all UK Internet traffic and there are more ISDN lines per head of population than any other major city in the world. A new Internet Quarter, full of call centers and server farms, is in the works.

Currently the UK's third largest city, Leeds is also the fastest growing city in Britain. Its population of three quarters of a million includes more than 100,000 university and college students who support a lively music scene. There are about 1,500 bands currently active in Leeds. Among the city's recent success stories, the Kaiser Chiefs and Corinne Bailey Rae hail from this Yorkshire city.

And speaking of Yorkshire

Leeds is well placed for some nightlife and retail therapy as part of a tour of the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. It's also less than half an hour, by train or car, from the Medieval, walled city of York.

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The small northern English city of York has been an important population center for at least 2,000 years . As a Roman, Viking, and Medieval Anglo Saxon city, its relics, monuments and architectural treasures are woven into the fabric of everyday modern life.

It's a lovely city for walking , with hundreds of half-timbered buildings and other marvels to look at and explore at every turn. Its markets, located in the same squares and stalls they have occupied for hundreds of years, sell everything from fruit and vegetables and snazzy hats to designer kitchen utensils and DVDs. Boutique shops that line York's winding lanes provide plenty of prey for the avid fashion hunter. Some of the best shopping streets are mentioned in the Domesday Book and have been commercial centers for more than 900 years.

York Minster, one of Europe's greatest gothic cathedrals , dominates the city, visible from any vantage point within the walls. It has a stained glass window bigger than a tennis court and a crypt where you can explore the Minster's Roman foundations.

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On it's own, it might be hard to understand why Inverness, on the River Ness near the head of the Moray Firth, is among Britain's top 20 cities for visitors. But Inverness is more than a quiet provincial city. It is the unofficial capital of the Highlands and the gateway to all that is Scottish about Scotland.

Just outside of Inverness, the Culloden battlefield bears witness to one of the great lost causes in Scottish history. In 1746, the clans who supported a restoration of the Stuarts to the throne rallied behind Prince Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, in what was known as the Jacobite cause. The climax, at Culloden, was an hour-long battle in which at least 1,000 died. It led to the brutal "pacification" of the Highlands, the banning of clan chiefs and tartans and the attempted destruction of Highland culture. The story is explained at an outstanding visitors center, run by the National Trust of Scotland, on the iconic Culloden Battlefield site . Read a description of the eve of battle and the battle itself, in Sir Walter Scott's novel, "Waverley".

A few miles southwest of Inverness, Loch Ness marks the last great body of water at the northern end of the Great Glen, the deep channel of interconnected lochs and waterways that cuts across southwest to northeast across Scotland, from the North Atlantic to the North Sea. Coach and Caledonian Canal tours can be arranged to visit the loch to have a look for the legendary Loch Ness monster, Nessie. Even if you don't spot it, Loch Ness is a beautiful place to visit and home to Rock Ness, a rock festival with its own sea monster. Urquhart Castle is known to be a particularly good place for Nessie watching.

The Whiskey Trail and Beyond

East of Inverness, the area surrounding the River Spey, is prime territory for Scotch whisky tourism . Speyside distilleries make some of the most famous and most treasured whiskies in the world. Many are open to the public. The area is also popular for salmon fishing and shooting holidays.

Inverness is also within easy striking distance of the Cairngorms and Cairngorm National Park, a popular skiing destination and home to Balmoral , the Queen's Scottish vacation home. And, if you are heading for Orkney , flying from Inverness is the fastest way to get there.

But one word of advice: Inverness on weekend nights can be an incredibly noisy place. If you are planning an early start for a cruise or a tour, find yourself a quiet hotel, away from the center.

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From its 2,000-year-old Roman Baths to its Georgian terraces and Pump Room, the entire city of Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Jane Austen enjoyed the health-giving waters of Bath and its accompanying social scene, as did many of her characters. Besides offering visitors a feast of historic architecture, this small pleasant city has more than enough diversions for demanding modern weekenders. This includes great restaurants, top shopping , quirky museums, a lively cultural scene and, of course, a post-millennial, multi-million pound, thermal spa.

Bath is a bit too far from London for a day trip that does justice to its many pleasures, but it makes a fine overnight getaway with lots of charming places to stay and dine. Among the sights, Bath Abbey , occupying a site that has been a place of Christian worship for 1,200 years; The Jane Austen Center ; The Roman Baths and Pump Room, where 18th and 19th-century high society socialized and where you can still taste the waters of the ancient spring or stop for tea.

Bath is also a showcase of England's finest 18th-century architecture , with stunning terraces of pristine, white houses that have formed the backdrops of countless films. No. 1 Royal Crescent . the first house built on Bath's iconic, 18th century Royal Crescent is now open as a museum. Restored and authentically furnished, it offers a glimpse into fashionable 18th-century life.

And shop hounds will also enjoy Bath. Its shopping areas are crammed with independent boutiques - fashion, antiques , jewelry and more.

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Visitors to Nottingham will search in vain for the origins of the Robin Hood stories in Nottingham Castle, once a base for wicked usurper King John and his henchman, the Sheriff of legend. It's now a 17th-century ducal mansion. But Castle Rock and the cave system beneath it, a scheduled ancient monument, hint at a medieval (and earlier past).

North of the city, the remains of Sherwood Forest , 450 acres of Britain's most ancient oak trees, can still be visited.

Perhaps it was stories of the legendary Robin of Sherwood that turned Nottingham into the nursery for so many literary lights. Lord Byron's title came from the Nottinghamshire estate he inherited when he was ten years old. He is also buried in a Nottinghamshire churchyard. D.H. Lawrence, son of a Nottinghamshire miner, grew up in the area. And both J.M. Barrie, creator of "Peter Pan," and novelist Graham Greene cut their creative teeth on the Nottingham Daily Journal.

The Mayflower Trail

Visitors looking for the history of the Pilgrim Fathers will find much of interest in the Nottingham area, the heart of Pilgrim Country. William Brewster, the postmaster of Scrooby in Nottinghamshire, was instrumental in leading a group of Separatists to Holland in 1607. The group eventually fetched up on the shores of Massachusetts, founding the Plymouth Colony in 1620. The Mayflower Trail is a circular tour through the quiet villages of Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire that gave rise to the Separatist movement.

Student Travelers

It's not all about history and literature, though. With two universities and 370 schools, Nottingham has the third-largest student population in the UK and has a lively nightlight to go with it. There are at least 300 bars, clubs, and restaurants in Nottingham, and several large music and dance venues to keep night owls entertained.

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I have to confess I found it hard, at first, to understand why Reading made it to the top 20 list of popular UK cities. Though an important town in the Middle Ages, today Reading is largely a commercial center that's important in the IT and insurance industries.

True, it is within a very short distance of some of England's iconic sites like Windsor Castle, Eton, as well as a raft of stately homes, scattered across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire that are worth visiting. It's not far from the scene of the Henley Regatta and it does have a large university population.

But, what probably drives Reading into a top UK destination are two hugely popular festivals.

The Reading Comedy Festival, which traditionally takes place in the autumn, is three weeks of stand-up comedy acts. It attracts British and Irish comedians and their fans, along with dozens of brave hopefuls for open mic events.

The Reading Festival is one of the UK's biggest music festivals. It takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend and has an unusual twist. The festival is paired with the Leeds Festival, which takes place on the same weekend with the same lineup. Artists appear at one of the festivals then rush across the country to the other to appear again.

When it comes to staying in Reading, you might consider finding accommodations outside of its hotel options. If you are going to one of the many festivals, you are more likely to camp. If you are looking for real charm, the countryside all around has a bit more to offer you in terms of unique scenery. But Reading is also an important business center and the business traveler is well served.

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Aberdeen , 130 miles northeast of Edinburgh on the North Sea coast, is something of a boomtown. Before the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, Scotland's third-largest city was a fishing port - it's still one of Britain's largest fishing harbors with a huge annual haul from its North Sea trawlers - and a university town. Aberdeen University's charter dates from the late 15th century.

The oil industry has brought oil tycoon prices. Shops, hotels and restaurants in Aberdeen have prices comparable to London. And for a city of less than 300,000, Aberdeen has remarkably good designer and boutique shopping.

The city is almost entirely built of local granite. In good weather, mica in the stone sparkles in the sun. But, to be honest, blue skies in this part of Scotland are pretty rare and in overcast weather, the characteristic greyness can be pretty grim.

Still, if industrial powerhouses are what you are after, Aberdeen may be a good stopover on your way to salmon fishing on the Dee. Aberdeen, which has Europe's biggest and busiest heliport, is sometimes known as the energy capital of Europe.

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The first time I saw Chester , I thought its street after street of beautifully kept half-timbered buildings could not be real. Surely I had stepped into a modern theme park.

As it happens, I was partly right. Chester's famous "Rows" are partly Victorian reproductions of earlier buildings. But some of the best are really Medieval. The rows are continuous rows of galleries, reached by steps from street level and forming a second level of shops. No one is quite sure why they were built in this way but some of them, including the Three Arches on Bridge Street, have been galleried shops since the 1200s, having survived the Black Death of the 13th century and the English Civil War of the 17th.

Roman Chester

Chester, and the four ancient streets that make up its High Cross district - Eastgate, Northgate, Watergate and Bridge - are more than a thousand years older than its Medieval Rows. The walled city was actually founded as a Roman fort in 79 A.D., during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. It's one of the best-preserved walled cities in England with some sections of the ramparts dating back 2000 years to the Roman originals. The city was a major center in the Roman province of Britannia. Recent excavations, the biggest archaeological dig in Britain, have uncovered a Roman amphitheater where fighting techniques were demonstrated.

Even if you're not a keen fan of history, Chester, in the heart of affluent Cheshire, is fun to visit. It's full of independent boutiques, has several good museums and art galleries, and is known for top restaurants, luxury hotels and spas.

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Must-see attractions in The United Kingdom

Windsor Castle

Windsor & Eton

The world’s largest and oldest continuously occupied fortress, Windsor Castle is a majestic vision of battlements and towers. Used for state occasions, it…

Westminster Abbey

The West End

A splendid mixture of architectural styles, Westminster Abbey is considered the finest example of Early English Gothic. It's not merely a beautiful place…

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle has played a pivotal role in Scottish history, both as a royal residence – King Malcolm Canmore (r 1058–93) and Queen Margaret first made…

Tate Modern

One of London's most amazing attractions, Tate Modern is an outstanding modern- and contemporary-art gallery housed in the creatively revamped Bankside…

Roman Baths

Welcome to one of Northern Europe's most significant Roman sites. Today more than a million visitors a year come to see its historic finds, atmospheric…

Canterbury Cathedral

A rich repository of more than 1400 years of Christian history, Canterbury Cathedral is the Church of England’s mother ship, and a truly extraordinary…

Natural History Museum

Kensington & Hyde Park

With its thunderous, animatronic dinosaur, riveting displays about planet earth, outstanding Darwin Centre and architecture straight from a Gothic fairy…

St Paul's Cathedral

Sir Christopher Wren’s 300-year-old architectural masterpiece is a London icon. Towering over diminutive Ludgate Hill in a superb position that's been a…

Tower of London

Few parts of the UK are as steeped in history or as impregnated with legend and superstition as the titanic stonework of the Tower of London. Not only is…

Titanic Belfast

The stunning, star-shaped Titanic Belfast is the city's number-one tourist draw. Standing majestically at the head of the slipway where the Titanic was…

Eden Project

South Cornwall

Looking like a cross between a lunar landing station and a James Bond villain's lair, the gigantic hemispherical greenhouses of the Eden Project have…

Shakespeare's Globe

Seeing a play at Shakespeare's Globe – ideally standing under the open-air "wooden O" – is experiencing the playwright's work at its best and most…

British Museum

With almost six million visitors trooping through its doors annually, the British Museum in Bloomsbury, one of the oldest and finest museums in the world,…

Predating Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza, extraordinary Skara Brae is one of the world's most evocative prehistoric sites, and northern Europe’s best…

Durham Cathedral

Northeast England

Monumental Durham Cathedral is the definitive structure of the Anglo-Norman Romanesque style, a resplendent monument to the country’s ecclesiastical…

Warwick Castle

Warwickshire

Founded in 1068 by William the Conqueror, stunningly preserved Warwick Castle is Warwick's main attraction.

Glasgow Cathedral

Glasgow Cathedral has a rare timelessness. The dark, imposing interior conjures up medieval might and can send a shiver down the spine. It's a shining…

One of London’s best parks, Hyde Park spreads itself over 142 hectares of neat gardens, wild expanses of overgrown grass and glorious trees. As well as…

Science Museum

The Science Museum will mesmerize with its interactive and educational exhibits covering everything from early technology to space travel. Take the family…

Rosslyn Chapel

Many years may have passed since Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code and the subsequent film came out, but floods of visitors still descend on Scotland's…

Houses of Parliament

Both the elected House of Commons and the House of Lords, who are appointed or hereditary, sit in the sumptuous Houses of Parliament, officially called…

Buckingham Palace

Built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, Buckingham Palace replaced St James's Palace as the monarch's official London residence in 1837. Queen Elizabeth…

Kew Gardens

Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court

Where else in London can you size up an 18th-century 10-storey Chinese pagoda and a Japanese gateway while finding yourself among one of the world’s most…

Stirling Castle

Hold Stirling and you control Scotland. This maxim has ensured that a fortress of some kind has existed here since prehistoric times. You cannot help…

Dunluce Castle

This medieval castle ruin is perched on top of a dramatic cliffside overlooking the glorious Causeway Coast.

Borough Market

For a thousand years, a market has existed at the southern end of London Bridge, making this still-busy ancient gathering point a superb spectacle…

Hampstead Heath

North London

Sprawling Hampstead Heath, with its rolling woodlands and meadows, feels a million miles away from the city – despite being about 3.5 miles from Trafalgar…

Salisbury Cathedral

England is endowed with countless stunning churches, but few can hold a candle to the grandeur and sheer spectacle of 13th-century Salisbury Cathedral…

Tower Bridge

It doesn't matter from where you first glimpse Tower Bridge, with two neo-Gothic towers rising gracefully from either side of the Thames: London's…

Whitby Abbey

There are ruined abbeys, and there are picturesque ruined abbeys. And then there's Whitby Abbey, dominating the skyline above the East Cliff like a great…

Museum of London

Romp through 450,000 years of London history at this entertaining and educational museum, one of the capital's finest. Exhibiting everything from a…

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle, an immense moated pile just east of Maidstone,  is often considered the world’s most romantic castle. It's certainly one of the most visited…

Glastonbury Tor

Bristol, Bath & Somerset

Topped by the ruined medieval Chapel of St Michael, the iconic hump of Glastonbury Tor is visible for miles around, and provides Somerset with one of its…

Camden Market

Eclectic and alternative, Camden Market attracts millions of people each year and is one of London's top places to visit. What started out as a collection…

Madame Tussauds

Packed with waxwork likenesses of celebrities, Madame Tussauds is kitschy and pricey, but makes for a fun-filled day. There are plenty of personalities to…

Temple Church

The magnificent Temple Church was built by the secretive Knights Templar, an order of crusading monks founded in the 12th century to protect pilgrims…

Corfe Castle

The massive, shattered ruins of Corfe Castle loom so dramatically from the landscape it's like blundering into a film set. The defensive fragments tower…

The Chartwell Estate was home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924 until his death in 1965. It offers a breathtakingly intimate insight into the life of…

Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park is one of London’s loveliest expanses of green, with a rose garden, impressive playground, a 6th-century Anglo-Saxon burial ground and…

Turner Contemporary

Turner Contemporary is a blockbuster art gallery, bolted together on the site of the seafront guesthouse where master painter JMW Turner used to stay…

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Art & Culture

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• Most visited tourist attractions in London, UK 2019-2023

The British Museum was the most visited tourist attraction in London in 2023, welcoming roughly 5.8 million visitors. The Natural History Museum in South Kensington and the Tate Modern followed in the ranking that year, with around 5.7 million and 4.7 million visits, respectively. Overall, while attendance at the leading tourist attractions in London increased significantly in 2023 over the previous year, in most cases it remained below the figures reported before the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

Museums in the UK

The museum industry plays an important role in the United Kingdom’s cultural sector. Overall, museums and galleries accounted for approximately seven percent of the  cultural sector's employment in the UK in 2023. That year, the number of museum enterprises in the United Kingdom experienced an annual increase, reaching nearly 800.

London's contribution to tourism in the UK

London is by far the most visited destination in the United Kingdom by international travelers, accounting for over half of all international tourist arrivals in the UK in 2022. That year, the UK's capital also ranked as the leading city tourism destination in Europe based on the number of bed nights , ahead of Paris and Istanbul.

Number of visits to leading tourist attractions in London, United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

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United Kingdom (England)

2019 to 2023

visitor attractions in membership with ALVA; visitor attractions are ranked based on the highest number of visits in 2023

¹ Data from 2019 to 2022 for the Barbican Centre were not available.

² The National Portrait Gallery closed for refurbishments in 2020 and reopened in June 2023.

Figures have been rounded.

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Leisure Travel

• Leading European city tourism destinations 2019-2022, by number of bed nights
• Most visited museums in Europe 2019-2022

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• International tourism volume in the Community of Madrid 2001-2022
• Number of inbound tourist arrivals in selected European destinations 2019-2022

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Statistics on " City tourism in Europe "

• Contribution of leading destinations to inbound tourism in European countries 2022
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• Number of international tourist visits to London, UK 2011-2022
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• Hotel occupancy rate in London (UK) 2019-2023
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• Share of Britons taking a city break vacation 2014-2022
• Most visited museums and cultural attractions in Paris 2019-2022
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• Most visited tourist attractions in Barcelona 2022
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Other statistics that may interest you City tourism in Europe

European city tourism overview

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Love Exploring

Fascinating vintage photos of the world's most beloved tourist landmarks

Posted: 19 April 2024 | Last updated: 20 April 2024

Nostalgic snaps

Ever wondered what the Colosseum, Grand Canyon or Taj Mahal looked like before they became the popular attractions we recognise today? We’ve rounded up the most interesting vintage photos from the late 1800s to the 1990s to show you these tourist hotspots in times gone by.

Click through the gallery to discover fascinating historic images of the world's most popular tourist attractions...

Niagara Falls, Canada and USA

The gushing great waterfall has always fascinated its onlookers, and back in 1859 it was no different. Look closely and you can see a small crowd of tourists standing beneath Terrapin Tower, built in 1833 at the edge of Horseshoe Falls (the Canadian section).

A wooden bridge was constructed earlier in 1827 for people to drink in the incredible views across the water. The bridge was an instant hit and attracted visitors from both America and Europe, before tightrope artist Blondin's famous performances over the falls in 1859 helped catapult the attraction to further international fame. 

Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt

This 4,500-year old statue is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, located on the Giza plateau on the western bank of the Nile in Egypt. A mythological creature with a lion’s body and a human head, the Sphinx was buried up to its shoulders in sand until the early 1800s, when a team of explorers tried to dig it out.

A further dig in the 1930s helped to clear the sand completely. Pictured here in 1882 surrounded by British troops after the Battle of Tel-El-Kebir, you can see that its body remains partially buried.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, USA

The first National Park in the US, Yellowstone was established in 1872 and covers a large region in northwestern Wyoming as well as Montana and Idaho. This photograph was captured prior to its official founding and shows men carrying out the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871.

Tourists began to visit by rail or horse and carriage from the late 1800s, although it wasn’t until cars were allowed in 1915 that tourism really spiked. For thousands of years, Yellowstone has been home to indigenous people and today 26 tribes have ties to the area.

Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

The striking basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, were formed by volcanic activity around 50 to 60 million years ago. It gained wider recognition when politician Sir Richard Bulkeley gave a presentation to the Royal Society in 1693 and became popular with wealthy Victorian tourists during the 1800s.

The opening of the Causeway Hotel in 1836 drew more visitors to the site. This photograph from 1887 shows a woman sitting at the 'Wishing Chair', a set of columns that form a perfect seat, which is so popular today that the stones have become smooth and shiny.  

Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York, USA

This famous statue didn’t start its life in New York – in fact, it was displayed at the Paris World’s Fair in 1878 (pictured), before being given to the US by France in 1886, to commemorate the alliance between the two countries during the American Revolution. A few decades later, the majestic statue on Liberty Island had become one of the city’s – and world's – best-loved landmarks.

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

The most recognisable feature of the Paris skyline was built between 1887 and 1889, completed in time for the Paris World’s Fair of 1889 – although it was only supposed to be a temporary structure. Its original licensing rights were only set to last 20 years and it was almost torn down in 1909, but city officials voted to keep it after recognising its value as a radio station.

Pictured here in 1889, today the Eiffel Tower usually attracts around seven million visitors each year. 

Giza Pyramids, Egypt

The Giza Pyramids are among the last surviving Ancient Wonders of the World, dating back to the 4 th dynasty (circa 2575–2465 BC). The three pyramids, the largest of which originally measured 481.4 feet (147m) tall, represent three kings: Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.

Since the Egyptian government’s push to increase tourism in 1975, visitor numbers have surged to around 14 million a year. The Pyramids are pictured here in 1890.

St Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia

With its striking multicoloured spires and mesmerising patterns, St Basil’s Cathedral was created to commemorate the victory of Ivan the Terrible over the Tatar stronghold of Kazan, and has stood as a symbol of the nation since it was completed in 1560. Pictured here in 1890, it wasn’t until around the 1930s that it became a tourist attraction.

In 1931, a state-controlled company called Intourist launched a poster competition to advertise travel to and within the Soviet Union, including a poster advertising Moscow, which featured the grand cathedral.

Central Park, New York City, New York, USA

When Central Park officially opened in 1876 it became instantly popular with New Yorkers, with activities including gondolier trips on the lake (pictured here in 1894), carriage rides and model yacht racing favoured by early visitors. The 840-acre park is one of the world’s top attractions today and receives more than 42 million visitors each year.

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Palace of Versailles, Paris, France

With 2,300 rooms spread over 679,784 square feet (63,154sqm), the Palace of Versailles has become a symbol of the monarchy’s corruption and excess which led to the French Revolution. The first section of the existing palace was built in the 1630s by King Louis XIII, while further additions were made by Kings Louis XV (1715–74) and Louis XVI (1774–92).

In 1837, a museum was officially inaugurated there, heralding the beginnings of tourism. Pictured here in 1895 surrounded by visitors, the palace and its beautiful grounds have become a key attraction in France.

Buckingham Palace, London, England

Shown here during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897, Buckingham Palace is one of the UK’s most famous landmarks and has served as an official residence of the Royal Family since 1837, remaining the administrative headquarters of the King today. The palace, which has 775 rooms and is set among 39 acres of grounds, has held public tours every summer since 1993. Another popular event with visitors is the daily Changing of the Guards Ceremony outside the Palace gates.

Erechtheion Temple, Acropolis, Athens, Greece

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Acropolis in Athens is one of the oldest and most famous archaeological sites in the world. Located on a limestone hill above the city, it has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and today it’s a popular attraction that's visited by around three million people each year.

Pictured here in 1897 is the Erechtheion Temple, which was built between 421 and 406 BC.

Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul was built between 1609 and 1616, as a way for Sultan Ahmed I to reassert the Ottoman Empire’s power following the Peace of Zsitvatorok (1606) and losses in wars with Persia. With six minarets, five main domes and eight smaller domes, it’s one of the most impressive surviving mosques from the Classical period.

Today it attracts around 4.5 million people each year, although it hasn’t always been so popular – in this photograph from 1899, the outside of the mosque looks eerily quiet.

The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), Petra, Jordan

Carved into red, pink and blue sandstone among winding desert canyons, The Treasury (Al Khazneh) is part of the ‘Lost City’ of Petra. This prehistoric settlement, pictured in 1900, was once the capital of the Nabataean Empire, which controlled a vast swathe of the Middle East before being absorbed by the Roman Empire. 

It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and since then tourism has been on the rise.

Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, France

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

In this photograph, taken in 1903, Theodore Roosevelt visits Inspiration Point in the Yosemite Valley, accompanied by the well-known naturalist John Muir. Parts of the area were established as a State Park in 1864 before a National Park was confirmed in 1890, although it wasn’t until 1906 that the parks were merged to create Yosemite National Park as we know it today.

Tourism has risen significantly in the past 75 years: one million people visited the park for the first time in 1954, two million in 1976, and double that amount by the 1990s.

Forbidden City, Beijing, China

The Forbidden City is an imperial palace complex enclosed by 2.17 miles (3.5km) of citadel walls in the heart of Beijing. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built between 1406 and 1420 by the Yongle emperor of the Ming dynasty and was the Chinese imperial palace for 500 years, home to 24 Chinese emperors.

Pictured here in 1908 is the Forbidden City in one of its last years as a functioning palace, as the republic overthrew the last Qing emperor in 1911 and it ceased to be the seat of government.

Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington, USA

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

The temple complex of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia is said to be the world’s largest religious structure, covering 400 acres and comprising more than a thousand buildings. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, the city of Angkor was a centre of power for the Khmer dynasty which was one of the largest and most powerful in southeast Asia.

While it no longer serves as a temple today, it’s Cambodia’s most popular tourist attraction. Pictured here in 1910, Apsara dancers pose in traditional dress outside the temple.  

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA

Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, USA

Cedar Point is one of the oldest theme parks in America and has been welcoming thrill-seekers through its gates for 150 years. The first roller coaster Switchback Railway debuted here in 1892, a couple of decades after the park opened.

As you can see from this shot taken in the 1920s, it quickly became a busy and popular destination as more and more rides and attractions were added. 

Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France

This striking photograph from the 1920s shows a group of men taking part in an outdoor exercise class next to the Arc de Triomphe – an activity you might have difficulty with during peak season nowadays! The iconic arch was commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806, intended to celebrate the victories of the French army in the Battle of Austerlitz (1805) and it took 30 years to build. 

Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, California, USA

You might be surprised to learn that the Hollywood sign that towers above Los Angeles once read “Hollywoodland”, as shown in this image from 1925, in which a group of surveyors pose underneath it. However in 1949, it was decided that the sign – which was originally built as a temporary advertisement for a housing development – should drop the “land”, in order to refer to the whole area.

Now, the famous backdrop is captured on many tourists' cameras.

Times Square, New York City, New York, USA

The Times Square of the 1920s (pictured here) is a far cry from the flashing lights and billboards of the Times Square we know today. Originally known as Longacre Square, in the 1880s it comprised a large open space surrounded by apartments, but shortly after that electricity arrived in the area, and streetlights and theatre signs sprung up.

It was renamed to Times Square in April 1904, after the New York Times , which was set to relocate its headquarters there in January 1905.

Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Atlantic City Boardwalk has been a popular attraction ever since it was constructed in the 1870s, as well as attracting more people to Atlantic City beach, pictured here filled with sun-seekers in the Roaring Twenties. It's thought to be the first boardwalk of its kind in the United States, and has been lined with luxurious hotels, eclectic stores and restaurants since its earliest beginnings.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, USA

The red-orange Golden Gate Bridge has spanned its namesake strait since 1937, and at the time it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world. Pictured here on 24 May 1937, a few days before its official opening date, a small number of journalists were allowed to cross the bridge.

Today, the bridge is crossed by 112,000 vehicles per day.

Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakech, Morocco

Jemaa el-Fna is a vibrant and bustling marketplace in Marrakech’s medina quarter, known today for its street performers, food stalls, snake charmers and a nightly carnival. The square dates right back to 1062, when Marrakech was founded, and since then it has served as an important public space at the heart of the city.

Pictured here in the 1930s, dotted with informal market traders and passers-by, it’s quite a contrast from today’s vast network of covered stalls.

Empire State Building, New York City, New York, USA

Pictured here under construction in 1931, New York’s Empire State Building took just one year and 45 days to build. It was the tallest building in the world until the 1970s, when it was replaced by the World Trade Center.

Today, more than four million visitors take the trip up to the Empire State Building’s 86th and 102nd floor observatories each year, to gaze at the city’s views from up high. 

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

Designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, the Sagrada Família cathedral in the heart of Barcelona is an architectural feat of epic proportions. Construction began in 1882, yet by 1926, the time of Gaudí’s death, only a quarter of it was completed.

Building works halted due to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and started again in the 1950s. Even today, it’s still not finished, although the current team of architects claim it will be completed by 2026. The epic Neoclassical cathedral is pictured here in the 1940s.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA

With its vast network of ravines carved into colourful rock, the Grand Canyon is one of the largest and most magnificent canyons on Earth. It's been a US National Park for more than 100 years, celebrating its centenary in 2019.

The enormous canyon plunges to around 6,000 feet (1,829m) at its deepest point, and is peppered with scenic viewpoints including the famous glass Skywalk at the West Rim and Mather Point in the south. Pictured here is a couple visiting in the 1940s.

Matterhorn, Swiss Alps

This horn-shaped mountain in the Swiss Alps, six miles (10km) southwest of Zermatt, gained global recognition when its summit was first conquered by British explorer Edward Whymper on 14 July 1865. Tragically however, four of his party fell to their deaths on the way down.

In 1971, Whymper published a book about his experience climbing the mountain, Scrambles Among the Alps , which became a global bestseller and sent tourists flocking to the Matterhorn. Pictured here are holidaymakers on a viewpoint on the Italian side of the mountain in the 1950s.

Mount Rushmore, Keystone, South Dakota, USA

The monument to four presidents of America – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln – was carved into the rock in South Dakota’s Black Hills region between 1927 and 1941. Pictured here during construction in 1940 is the profile of Jefferson and the outline of Washington in the distance, as seen from the top of Lincoln's head.

Today, Mount Rushmore is a popular landmark usually receiving more than two million visitors a year.

Coney Island, New York City, New York, USA

A buzzing amusement park complex located in New York City’s borough of Brooklyn, Coney Island has been a thrill-seeker’s paradise for more than 120 years. Steeplechase Park, Luna Park and Dreamland were its first parks, opening in 1897, 1903 and 1904 respectively, although Luna Park was destroyed by a fire in 1944.

Pictured here are some daring park-goers in 1946.

Mount Everest, Himalayas, Nepal

The tallest mountain on the planet has fascinated people for millennia, but its summit wasn’t successfully reached until 1953, when New Zealander explorer Edmund Hillary and Nepali sherpa Tenzing Norgay officially scaled the peak. Shown here in 1955, a climber gazes out at Mount Everest from one of the surrounding paths.

However, overcrowding of the path towards the summit in recent years, fuelled in part by cut-price expeditions from Nepali trekking companies, has led to growing concerns about safety. The 2023 season was the deadliest on record, with 17 fatalities.

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida, USA

Weeki Wachee is one of the deepest natural springs in the US, but the attraction has become well-known for its popular mermaid shows which have taken place since the 1940s. These involve real-life “mermaids” swimming up to 16 feet (5m) below the surface to perform impressive synchronized dances.

Pictured here in 1949 are some mermaids cooling off at the dock between shows. Today, the site has grown to include a water park, riverboat rides and casual restaurants.

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

An iconic piece of Rio de Janeiro’s skyline, the 98-foot-tall (30m) Christ the Redeemer monument standing on the summit of Mount Corcovado is the largest Art Deco-style statue in the world. You might be surprised to learn that the landmark had been more than 70 years in the making when construction finally began in 1922 – the idea was first suggested in the mid-1850s.

Here it’s pictured with tourists in the 1950s. 

Machu Picchu, Peru

A well-preserved citadel dating back to the Inca Empire which ruled over western South America in the 15 th and 16 th centuries, Machu Picchu is located around 50 miles (80km) northwest of Cuzco, between the peaks of its namesake and Huayna Picchu. It became well-known to the Western world when American archaeologist Hiram Bingham and his team began digging there in 1911, after which Bingham published a book, The Lost City of the Incas , which led tourists to flock to the Inca Trail.

Pictured here in the mid-1950s, a Peruvian Indian man in traditional dress gazes out at the view.

St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

This beautiful church in the Vatican City was built between 1506 and 1626, and today it serves as the universal headquarters of the Catholic Church as well as being the Pope’s residence. With features including an impressive dome at the centre, which was partially designed by Michelangelo, a large bronze baldachin above the altar designed by Bernini, and a statue of St Peter on his throne, there’s plenty to see inside the vast church.

Pictured here is a coachload of tourists visiting the Basilica, circa 1955.

Stonehenge, Salisbury, England

One of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain in southern England was built around 5,000 years ago in the Mesolithic Period. It consists of large sarsen stones, sourced from nearby, and smaller “bluestones” which – intriguingly – have been traced to Preseli Hills in Wales, around 200 miles from Stonehenge.

In 1986 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site which helped put it on the map as a tourist destination. Pictured here on Summer Solstice 1956, Druids carry out the Dawn Ceremony to mark the longest day of the year.

Disneyland, Anaheim, California, USA

Disneyland (renamed Disneyland Park in the 1990s) opened on 17 July 1955 and the Sleeping Beauty Castle, which is modelled on Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany, is its most recognisable attraction. It’s been popular since the get-go, receiving 28,000 people on its opening day – some were so desperate to get in that they jumped the fence.

This picture shows its popularity continued well into the 1960s, as tourists surround the fairy-tale fortress, and it's no different today.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

The Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, originally intended as a memorial for his wife. Located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India, the impressive building combines Indian, Persian and Islamic architectural influences and is one of India’s most popular attractions, visited by up to eight million people each year.

Pictured here is a much quieter Taj Mahal in 1960.

Space Needle, Seattle, Washington, USA

The uniquely shaped Space Needle in Seattle was opened on 21 April 1962, as part of the World's Fair. Offering panoramic views over the city from three viewpoints, one of which contains a revolving glass floor, its summit takes just 43 seconds to reach by lift – despite being 520 feet (158m) off the ground.

Pictured here in 1962, tourists dare to look down.

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Gateway Arch, St Louis, Missouri, USA

Great Wall of China

It turns out overcrowding at the Great Wall of China is nothing new – if this photograph from the 1970s is anything to go by. The landmark, which has an official length of 13,170 miles (21,196km), was mainly built during the Ming dynasty, which lasted between 1368 and 1644.

In 2019, the most popular section of the Great Wall, Badaling, instituted a cap of 65,000 visitors per day to prevent overcrowding. All in all, the wall receives an average of more than 10 million visitors per year.

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

Sydney Opera House has been an iconic feature of the Sydney waterfront since it opened in 1973, housing some of the world’s leading artists and performances over the years. The building was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who resigned from the job and left Australia halfway through its construction due to circumstances involving the Minister for Public Works, Davis Hughes.

It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973 – the building is shown here on its opening day.

Epcot, Disney World, Florida, USA

Walt Disney World in Florida opened on 1 October 1971 and greeted 10,000 eager fans on its first day. Initially, the resort was made up of six individually themed lands: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square and Tomorrowland.

In 1982, Epcot (pictured here under construction) opened, and its name initially stood for 'Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow'. Walt Disney World attracts more than 55 million people a year, making it the most visited holiday resort in the world.

Louvre Pyramid, Paris, France

The Louvre Museum in Paris was originally built as a fortress in 1190, before being reconstructed in the 1600s so it could serve as a palace. It was opened as a museum in 1793 but had to close just three years later due to structural issues with the building, before being reopened by Napoleon in 1801, as the Musee Napoleon.

It was renamed the Louvre in 1815. The pyramid, pictured under construction in 1987, was designed by architect I.M. Pei and was completed in 1989, quickly becoming a symbol of the museum.

Disneyland Paris, Paris, France

Staying in the French capital, Disneyland Paris – initially called Euro Disney – opened on 12 April 1992 and is pictured here on the press preview the day before. The resort had a rocky first few years, struggling with losses and failing to attract as many visitors as its American counterparts.

Yet thanks to advertising campaigns in the early 2000s, by 2005 Disneyland Paris had turned its fortunes around and become the number one tourist destination for Europe, selling more tickets than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

Big Ben, London, England

Snapped during the Second World War, this picture shows the iconic Big Ben clock tower and adjoining Houses of Parliament seen from Westminster Bridge, with military vehicles and a vintage tram crossing the river and military barrage balloons in the sky in the background.  Construction of the clock tower began in 1843 and today the building stands at 315 feet (96m) tall.

While it would have been virtually deserted during the war, today one of London’s greatest landmarks receives around 4.5 million visitors per year.

Washington Monument, Washington DC, USA

Construction on the Egyptian-style obelisk of Washington Monument began in 1848 – when the first cornerstone was laid in the presence of Abraham Lincoln – and finally completed in 1888. The National Mall’s tallest structure at 555 feet (169m) high, it has been a popular gathering spot for more than a century.

It's pictured here in 1917 at an event to commemorate the American Civil War, when a large crowd formed a human US flag on the ground holding cardboard stars to represent the states.

Bourbon Street, New Orleans, USA

One of America’s oldest and most famous social spots, plans were laid for Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter in 1721 by engineer Adrien de Pauger, who named it after the ruling French royal family at the time. The landmark Old Absinthe House (pictured on the left) was constructed in around 1806, shown here in 1953 alongside a streetcar named Desire, before the ever-popular street was transformed into the neon-lined hub we know today. 

Colosseum, Rome, Italy

The Colosseum is a large stone amphitheatre in Rome which was built in AD 70-72. Commissioned by the Flavian Emperor Vespasian, who ruled the Roman Empire between AD 69 and 79, it was created to host gladiatorial combats and other forms of public entertainment. The city of Rome became popular with tourists in the mid-1800s, although political upheaval led to a decline in tourism in the 1870s that lasted until the end of the Second World War.

Looking quiet in this shot from 1944, it wasn’t until the 1950s that tourism picked up again, thanks in part to popular movies including Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita,  which were filmed in the city.

Now discover the famous landmarks that were almost destroyed

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14 Top Attractions & Places to Visit in Birmingham, UK

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 28, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Author Bryan Dearsley visited England in the spring of 2022 exploring The Midlands, including the city of Birmingham.

Birmingham is Britain's second largest city , and its location in the West Midlands makes it a great place to begin exploring popular tourist spots such as the Cotswolds and Malvern Hills areas. It's especially fun to embark on tours by canal boat : Birmingham's canals were a byproduct of the Industrial Revolution, and today this extensive canal network is used mostly for pleasure boating.

The city has a larger canal system than Venice. Little wonder then that one of the top free things to do in Birmingham is exploring the preserved canals and historic buildings of the iconic Gas Street Basin .

These days, the city is best known for its jewelry and food stuffs, as well as its numerous cultural activities and festivals, and, most recently, for having hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games. A popular annual event here is the world's largest St. Patrick's Day Parade .

To ensure you can cram as much as possible into your itinerary, be sure to refer to our list of the top attractions and things to in Birmingham, England.

See also: Where to Stay in Birmingham

1. Explore Victoria Square & the City Center

2. see the birmingham back to backs, 3. visit the roundhouse & gas street basin, 4. take a tour of birmingham museum & art gallery, 5. see the blooms at birmingham botanical gardens, 6. get smart at thinktank, birmingham science museum, 7. take the family to the national sea life centre birmingham, 8. wander the jewellery quarter, 9. enjoy a concert at st. philip's cathedral, 10. barber institute of fine arts, 11. take a fun trip to the nec & resorts world birmingham, 12. see the cute creatures at birmingham wildlife conservation park, 13. satisfy your sweet tooth at cadbury world, bournville, 14. step back in time at black country living museum, dudley, where to stay in birmingham for sightseeing, birmingham, united kingdom - climate chart.

The heart of Birmingham revolves around the pedestrian-friendly Victoria Square, an area that can be explored via the Birmingham City Centre Path. Along the way, you'll discover the attractive old Town Hall , built in 1832 and a masterpiece of Victorian architecture. Resembling a Roman temple, this impressive structure features 40 ornate Corinthian columns made of Anglesey marble.

It's been the center of the city's music scene since hosting the first performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah in 1847. Nowadays, its impressive Symphony Hall, with its world-class acoustics and stunning auditorium, regularly features A-list singers and performers and is also home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Adorning the forecourt are two memorials, one to Queen Victoria and another to inventor James Watt. The Renaissance-style Council House , built in 1874, with its famous "Big Brum" clock (a slang phrase for Birmingham) is close by.

Other old-city sites to visit include pedestrian-only Chamberlain Square and the Central Library. The library is home to the largest Shakespeare collection outside the United States, boasting 50,000 volumes in 90 languages.

Well worth visiting and within easy walking distance of the city center, the Birmingham Back to Backs attraction is a unique collection of the small back-to-back homes once so prolific throughout the city. Built around a central courtyard — in this case, Court 15 — in the mid-19th century, these homes offer a unique insight into the often difficult conditions in which the working classes lived.

Interesting displays also provide an insight into these workers' important contribution to city life. Other highlights include a traditional 1930s sweet shop, along with a souvenir shop, or participating in one of the fun workshops held here regularly.

For a first-rate tourist experience, consider booking one of the attraction's two cottages for an overnight stay. Admission is by guided tour only.

Address: 50-54 Inge Street, Birmingham

Official site: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/birmingham-back-to-backs/

Birmingham is justifiably proud of its industrial heritage. Nowhere is this more evident than along its extensive canal network. Highlights of this remarkably well-preserved canal system include the Roundhouse.

Built in 1874 and originally used as a storehouse and stables, this horseshoe-shaped building today makes for a perfect base from which to explore the canals, whether on foot or from one of the fun guided kayak and bike sightseeing tours available. A small museum on-site shows the development and later preservation of the building.

After a pleasant waterside stroll along Canalside Walk , you'll find yourself in Gas Street Basin. Constructed as an inland port for horse-drawn barges hauling cargo, this wide basin's surrounding old warehouses have been carefully restored and now house everything from restaurants to cafés and boutique shops.

Address: 1 Sheepcote Street, Birmingham

Official site: https://roundhousebirmingham.org.uk

The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, opened in 1885, is considered one of the finest such museums outside of London. Its art treasures include a collection of works by Pre-Raphaelite painters, as well as artwork from the 17th to 19th centuries and sculptures by Rodin and James Tower.

There are also interesting displays related to the city's history, including archaeological finds dating back to the Stone Age, along with the impressive Pinto Collection with its 6,000-plus toys and other items made of wood. A gift shop is located on-site, and if you're interested in a great high tea experience, the exquisite Edwardian Tearooms is worth a visit.

If there's time in your schedule, pay a visit to The Ikon Gallery , a contemporary art museum located in a heritage building that's worth exploring.

Address: Chamberlain Square, Birmingham

Official site: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag

Another great tourist attraction that should be included on your West Midlands travel itinerary is The Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Spread across 15 acres in the affluent suburbs of Edgbaston, these 19th-century gardens are easy to get to from the city center and home to countless species. A visit is very much like stepping back in time, thanks to the perfectly preserved Victorian-era glasshouses and other period park features.

It's particularly well known for its collection of bonsai trees, including one that's over 250 years old. In addition to the more than 7,000 plants from across the globe, you'll also enjoy seeing a variety of wildlife, including rare tropical birds and a butterfly house. Other on-site amenities include a gift shop, a tearoom, plus playgrounds for the kids.

Address: Westbourne Road, Birmingham

Official site: www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

Families traveling with budding young scientists won't want to miss Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum. This award-winning museum includes a large number of fascinating science-related exhibits, many of them hands-on and interactive.

Highlights include an impressive collection of steam-powered machines, from locomotives to tractors, as well as industrial machinery, many related to Birmingham's important role as an industrial center through the centuries. Other fun displays include a chocolate packaging machine and the Spitfire Gallery, with its authentic WWII-era aircraft (including one of 10,000 Spitfires made locally).

Be sure to also visit the Science Garden, with its human-sized hamster wheel and kids' adventure playground. The Thinktank Planetarium, with its fascinating tours of the stars and planets, is another great way to keep the whole family entertained.

Address: Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham

Official site: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank

One of Birmingham's most-visited tourist attractions, the National SEA LIFE Centre is home to an impressive 60-plus exhibits related to marine life. Pride of place goes to the aquarium's massive million-liter ocean tank, with its unique underwater tunnel, which allows visitors an uninterrupted view of the diverse sea life on display, including everything from reef sharks to giant turtles.

All told, some 2,000 critters call the aquarium home, including numerous rare seahorses, giant octopi, lobsters, crabs, and stingrays. The attraction's big stars, though, are its playful otters (look out for Mango and Starsky), along with its penguins.

Housed in the impressive Penguin Ice Adventure habitat, these fascinating creatures are fun to watch as they frolic. A 4-D cinema is also on site and offers regular educational programming. If time and budget permit, book one of the fun behind-the-scenes or penguin-feeding experiences.

To make a full family day out of it, pop across the canal to the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre . In addition to plenty of hands-on building brick experiences to enjoy, there's a fun 3-D cinema, an indoor playground, along with a café and a LEGO shop.

Address: The Water's Edge, Brindley Place, Birmingham

Official site: www.visitsealife.com/birmingham/

The Jewellery Quarter is an area of Birmingham that is steeped in tradition. Here, more than 200 jewelers' workshops and silversmiths produce 40 percent of Britain's jewelry, chiefly in the vicinity of the Clock Tower on the corner of Vyse and Frederick Streets and around the Georgian church of St. Paul's.

Be sure to visit the area's top sightseeing spot, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter , which offers an insider's look at the trade in the fascinating Smith & Pepper Factory. Also worth checking out is the nearby Hall of Memory opposite Baskerville House, erected in 1925 to commemorate the 14,000 city men who lost their lives in WWI, and St. Paul's Square with its attractive church.

If time permits, be sure to pop over to the Pen Museum . Situated in the Jewellery Quarter's old pen factory, this first-rate museum showcases the city's former role as a hotbed of pen making along with the history of writing instruments. A special treat is having the opportunity to make your own steel nib using the same machinery and techniques used in the 19th century. Also fun is the reproduction Victorian schoolroom, where guests can practice their penmanship using traditional quills.

Address: Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham

Official site: www.jewelleryquarter.net

Built in 1715, St. Philip's Cathedral, the third smallest in England, began life as a parish church and was elevated to its present status in 1905. The cathedral was gutted during a bombing raid in 1940, but foresight saw its famous stained-glass windows by Burne-Jones (1884) removed a few weeks prior.

Returned to their rightful place when the cathedral was rebuilt in 1948, these significant treasures are now a highlight of any trip to Birmingham. Be sure to check the cathedral's website prior to your visit for details of talks, seminars, exhibits, and concerts.

Another religious structure worth visiting is St. Martin's Church . Dating from the 13th century, it also features windows by Burne-Jones.

Address: Colmore Row, Birmingham

Official site: www.birminghamcathedral.com

Located close to Birmingham University, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts houses an excellent collection of art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Highlights include masterpieces by the likes of Botticelli, Bellini, Tintoretto, Rubens, Rembrandt, Watteau, Manet, Monet, Gainsborough, Constable, and Degas.

The building itself should also be explored, especially for its excellent statue of George I. If time permits be sure to check out the institute's schedule of classical lunchtime and evening concerts. Guided tours are available, and a shop and café are located on-site.

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham

Official site: http://barber.org.uk/

A visit to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Resorts World Birmingham makes for a fun day out. They are located a 25-minute train ride east of Birmingham, near the city's airport. Opened in 1976 and one of the country's largest and most important exhibition centers, the NEC regularly hosts musical concerts and a wide variety of consumer shows.

The real fun, though, takes place next door at Resorts World Birmingham . Opened in 2015, this large entertainment complex offers plenty of fun things to do for all ages. Designed to resemble a cruise ship, the attraction's seven-story-tall centerpiece is home to numerous restaurants, shops, a spa, and a hotel. If you've time, book a sumptuous afternoon tea in the ritzy Sky By The Water restaurant, so named for its great views over the complex grounds and its large lake.

A must-visit for families, the new Bear Grylls Adventure offers plenty of exciting experiences. Located between the NEC and Resorts World Birmingham, this thrilling indoor/outdoor attraction features everything from an assault-style climbing course to high ropes, axe throwing, archery, and even a shark dive, to name but a few.

Address: Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham

Official site: www.resortsworldbirmingham.co.uk

A fun creature-focused attraction that's well worth seeing for those traveling with kids is the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park . This city-run attraction on the edge of Cannon Hill Park is a small zoo that's home to a variety of animals including red pandas, lemurs, and meerkats.

Established in 1964, the zoo has also become important for its research and breeding programs. A variety of fun experiences are available for kids, including some that allow unique hands-on experiences based around the care and upkeep of a variety of the gentler species.

At the very least, be sure to check the zoo's website for details of feeding times, when you can often see these cute creatures at their liveliest.

Address: Pershore Road, Birmingham

Official site: www.birmingham.gov.uk/conservationpark

Located in Cadbury's Bournville manufacturing site, just a short drive from Birmingham, Cadbury World is one of the area's largest and most popular attractions. It welcomes more than 500,000 visitors each year. With a focus on fun, visitors get to discover the history of chocolate, as well as the manufacturing process through a number of excellent themed interactive exhibits.

Along the way, guests learn the story of the Cadbury business, one of the world's largest confectioneries, as well as having a chance to enjoy theme-park-like attractions suitable for families. A highlight is exploring the Bull Street attraction with its replica shops reminiscent of the 1820s.

Be sure to also try your hand at making your own confectionary, as well as getting in some shopping in the world's largest Cadbury's sweet shop. Afterwards, be sure to spend a little time exploring the picture-perfect village of Bournville itself, built by the Cadbury family after 1860 specifically to house their large workforce.

Address: Linden Road, Bournville

Official site: www.cadburyworld.co.uk/

In the town of Dudley, just nine miles west of Birmingham, The Black Country Living Museum occupies a 26-acre site and offers visitors a vivid insight into the history of mining (hence the "black"). An old mine shaft and reconstructed turn-of-the-century industrial community consisting of 50 authentic buildings, many of them dismantled and rebuilt on the property, can be explored.

It's also fun to wander around the neighboring network of canals, a part of the adventure that takes place in an authentic narrow boat once used to transport coal.

Other highlights of this fascinating open-air museum include the chance to interact with costumed guides well-versed in the histories of the local people. There are also plenty of unique shopping opportunities, vintage trams, buses, and commercial vehicles, as well as a traditional English fun fair from the 19th century.

Located between Birmingham and Coventry, Sarehole Mill Museum is an old water mill that dates back to the mid 1500s. Located on the River Cole in Hall Green, it's fun diversion if you're able to get here, and contains fascinating exhibits on its history, as well as one that deals with J.R.R. Tolkien, who as a child lived only a few hundred yards away.

Address: Tipton Road, Dudley

Official site: www.bclm.co.uk

If you're looking to spend a few days sightseeing in Birmingham, we recommend these centrally located hotels in Birmingham located close to popular museums and tourist attractions such as the National Sea Life Centre:

Luxury Hotels :

• The luxurious Hyatt Regency Birmingham is a high-rise hotel in the city center that's well worth staying at, featuring excellent city views, contemporary décor, spa facilities, an indoor swimming pool, and whirlpool.
• Another good luxury option is the Genting Hotel , a four-star property that offers a mix of rooms and suites, a restaurant with great views over the city, and a spa.
• The Edgbaston should also be on your list and is a delightful boutique hotel featuring elegant en-suite bedrooms, a great restaurant, and a posh afternoon tea.

Mid-Range Hotels :

• The wonderfully named Staying Cool at Rotunda is a great centrally located mid-range-priced hotel offering a sleek design, serviced apartments, floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable beds, and incredible city views. Fresh fruit for juicing is a nice added touch.
• Hipsters and those who enjoy attractive old buildings should look into the Frederick Street Townhouse located in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, with cozy rooms, great beds, and old-style bathtubs.
• For a truly unique experience, book into the new Boatel Birmingham , featuring accommodations for up to eight guests in three rooms aboard a classic canal barge.

Budget Hotels :

• The Staybridge Suites Birmingham is a great choice for those seeking a cheap Birmingham hotel and features affordable suites with kitchenettes, a free breakfast, and fitness center.
• So, too, is the Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre , with its budget-friendly rates, central location, wonderful staff, and great breakfast.
• Be sure to also look for hotel deals at the Hilux Birmingham , an apartment-style hotel within walking distance of top attractions that offers quality bedding and clean accommodations.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Easy Day Trips : The city of Manchester makes for a fun day trip from Birmingham, with its museums and revitalized city center being easy to get to by car or train. Lovely Liverpool is about the same distance (and as easy to get to), and is popular for its many Beatles-related things to do. Although a little further afield, Bristol can also be enjoyed in a day, with a stop at the beautiful Cheddar Gorge being a must-do along the way.

Great Weekend Getaways : The charming city of Chester makes for a great weekend getaway when in England, and is famous for its historic city walls and medieval architecture. Another historic cathedral city worth staying at is Durham , which also features a well-preserved castle and numerous cobbled streets. The northern city of Hull is not without its charms, too, including its museum quarter and excellent maritime museum.

England Travel Ideas : Be sure to set vacation time aside for a visit to England's capital, the city of London , a popular place to visit for its ancient castle (the Tower of London) and Buckingham Palace. The English Lake District makes for another great place to stay, famous for lovely Lake Windermere and its endless water sports and hiking opportunities. The lovely city of Winchester is another great option, especially as it's located close to the country's top tourist attraction, Stonehenge.

More on England

Money latest: McDonald's to start selling bigger burgers - as it makes very rare changes to classic items

The fast food giant has revealed its chefs have created a "larger, satiating burger" in a bid to boost sales. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below, plus leave a comment in the box.

Wednesday 1 May 2024 17:49, UK

• Bitcoin suffers nightmare month - and it's just got worse
• Key dates for Spotify customers, energy bills, free childcare and interest rates in May
• Wait for interest rate cut leads to surprise dip in house price growth
• McDonald's to start selling a bigger burger

Essential reads

• You're probably washing and storing your clothes wrong. Here's what you should do instead
• Turns out supermarket boss was right about self-checkouts
• State pensions 'could be in doubt for future generations'
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Ask a question or make a comment

Are you struggling because of high interest rates? Sky News is keen to hear from people who are due to refix their mortgages this year or are on a variable rate or tracker mortgage or trying to get on the housing ladder. 

Email us your stories at  [email protected]  - or WhatsApp us  here .

UK supermarkets could soon see a "healthier" version of white bread, according to scientists.

A team of researchers at Aberystwyth University will be studying the milling and blending process for white flour.

Peas, beans and oats could be added to wheat flour to boost its nutritional value.

The research project has been funded by Innovate UK, the UK's national innovation agency.

Read the full story here ...

Parents taking their kids to Taylor Swift concerts this summer might be worried their lack of knowledge will leave them feeling a bit left out.

But what if we told you you could be a mastermind?

That's the promise of a new college course ahead of the biggest pop star in the world hitting the UK in June.

The 7 May course, which is run by the  Glasgow Cylde College and is free, will give members of the public a jam-packed session that will leave them ready for the singer's upcoming  Eras Tour.

Those who enrol in a one-off college masterclass will learn about the pop star's music, set lists, crowd chants and even her "evolving wardrobe and hairstyles".

A statement on the college website reads: "Ahead of her hugely anticipated arrival, Glasgow Clyde College is offering a one time-only masterclass aimed at preparing parents and plus ones of Taylor superfans, providing the full Love Story on all things Eras Tour to help them have the best night of their lives.

"From set lists and crowd chants to need-to-know information on each Era, the masterclass, which is being delivered by a Taylor Swift expert, will give people a whistle-stop lesson that'll leave them ready for the gig."

You can book your Swiftie masterclass here .

The cocoa market is in a particularly turbulent period, with the price of the ingredient falling to its lowest level in a month. 

It comes after prices reached their highest peaks in more than four decades earlier in the year, making it reportedly more expensive than copper. 

Traders had been betting on an acute supply shortage driven by poor harvests in West Africa. 

However, the rally made it more expensive to maintain positions and prompted traders to pull out of the market - leaving the product vulnerable to big price swings. 

The price has now fallen by 16% since the end of last week, offering some relief to chocolate makers/eaters.

The fast food giant has revealed its chefs have created a "larger, satiating burger" in a bid to boost sales, according to Bloomberg. 

The mega-sized burger is reportedly designed to attract customers who want more filling patties. 

It will be introduced in certain markets first to test its appeal. 

McDonald's unveiled plans in December that bosses hope will boost growth by focusing on core menu items. 

The chain has seen sluggish sales, partly due to its perceived support of Israel in Middle East and Muslim-majority markets. 

McDonald's has denied taking any position in the ongoing conflict and said it is not responsible for the actions of its franchisees.

So far, it has launched an ad campaign highlighting what it says are improvements to its Big Mac, quarter pounder with cheese and double cheeseburger.

This is apparently the first time in the company's 84-year history that it has made changes to its classic burgers.

By Emily Mee , Money team

Discovering a hole in your favourite pair of jeans or a rip in your well-worn cosy jumper is certainly irritating - but it doesn't mean those items are destined for the bin. 

In fact, ethical fashion campaigners say that's the last place your items should be going. There is usually plenty you can do to repair them - or even to avoid damage in the first place. That way, you can keep your best-loved pieces in your wardrobe for years to come. 

Katrina Caspelich, from fair fashion campaign Remake, takes the Money blog through what you can do...

Store your clothes better

Clean them before storing them: Always ensure that clothes are clean before storing them. Launder or dry clean them according to the care instructions on the label. Stains and dirt can attract insects and cause fabric deterioration over time.

Use breathable storage containers: Opt for breathable storage containers such as cotton canvas bags or boxes instead of plastic bins. This allows air circulation and prevents moisture build up, which can lead to mould and mildew.

Avoid direct sunlight: Store clothes in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause colours to fade and weaken fabric fibres over time.

Hang clothes properly: Invest in quality hangers that provide adequate support to garments. Use padded or wooden hangers for delicate items like suits, dresses and knits. Avoid using wire hangers, as they can cause garments to lose their shape. Don't hang wet clothes on hangers - they can stretch.

Use garment bags: For long-term storage of formal wear or seasonal clothing, consider using garment bags to protect items from dust, insects, and moisture.

Rotate clothing: Rotate your wardrobe seasonally to prevent garments from being stored for too long without use. This helps to prevent fabric deterioration and ensures that all pieces are worn regularly.

Avoid overcrowding: Avoid cramming clothes into storage containers or closets. Overcrowding can cause wrinkles, stretching and distortion of fabric fibres. Leave some space between garments to allow for air circulation.

Store leather items properly: Leather garments should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use padded hangers to maintain their shape and avoid folding, as creases can become permanent.

Does how you wash clothes make a difference?

What exactly makes a gentle wash gentle? For delicate fabrics, you should always use cool to lukewarm water. (Hot water isn't needed unless you are concerned about bacteria and diseases like COVID-19). 

Pro tip: Be wary of wringing out your wet clothes. It can seriously alter the shape of your garments.

Other options

Wash your stuff less. The only clothes that should always be washed after one wear are underwear and sweaty clothes. Most garments worn regularly should be okay to wear two to three times before washing. Unless your denim has a bad habit of stretching out, experts say you should wash them after three or four wears so they age better. You can also throw them in the freezer to kill bacteria.

Spot clean your clothes. To clean a spot, start by removing any excess spillage and blot away as much moisture as possible with a paper towel or hand towel. NO RUBBING. Use some stain remover or gentle detergent on just the stained spot. Let it air dry or use cool air to speed up the process.

Air dry. Hang your clothes outside, Italian style. For heavier items that could stretch when hanging, lay them out flat on a surface to dry.

When should you dry clean?

Read the care tags! Don't be so quick to adhere to every garment's dry clean only tag - there's lots of chemicals involved that lurk on dry-cleaned wool, cotton and polyester. Plus, lots of brands put those tags on when they lack confidence in our ability to properly and gently wash our clothes.

If it is made of wool, linen, silk, cotton or cashmere - which is likely a majority of your closet - these fabrications can handle gentle hand washes so long as you pre-treat and single wash anything with stains, as well as wash items in groups determined by fabrication and colour.

If you aren't 100% sure what exactly a garment is made of, you can always test a little spot under the sink water to see if you get a ton of colour bleeding, warping or shrinkage before going all in.

If your garment has any fancy embellishments, flocking or beads attached by glue then you should probably take it to the cleaners if it's not just in need of a little spot clean.

Pro tip: When you find yourself at the dry cleaners, you can try asking for alternatives like a liquid carbon dioxide cleaning, which uses pressurized CO2 mixed with other gentle cleaning liquids as opposed to perc.  Another option is requesting a wet cleaning method , a wash that resembles a normal washing machine but utilises special soaps and conditioners for an extra gentle wash.

How do you know when a broken item is repairable, or when it's no longer usable?

It's important to always assess the extent of the damage. Small tears, missing buttons, loose hems or minor stains are usually repairable with basic sewing skills or by taking them to a tailor. 

Considering the condition of the fabric is also important. For example, if the fabric is in good shape apart from the damaged area, it may be worth repairing. 

However, if the fabric is severely worn out or faded in multiple places, it may not be worth repairing. Also, some types of damage such as large holes, extensive fraying or irreparable stains may render the garment unusable or not cost-effective to repair. 

Finally, it's important to consider the sentimental value of the item. If the piece holds sentimental value or is a high-quality piece, you may just want to hold on to it and invest in repairs.

If the item is no longer usable, you could upcycle or repurpose it. Get creative and turn the item into something new. Some ideas include turning old jeans into shorts, using fabric scraps for quilting or crafts, or transforming a worn-out tee into a cleaning rag. 

Donation is another option. If the clothing item is still in decent condition despite the damage, consider donating it to a local charity or thrift store as some organisations accept damaged clothing for recycling or repurposing.

Finally, look for textile recycling programmes in your area. Many communities have textile recycling centres or programmes that accept old clothing, even if it's damaged, to be recycled into new textiles or other products.

How about shoes?

Like clothing, extending the wear of your shoes requires proper care and maintenance. Some ideas include rotating your shoes between different pairs of shoes every day to allow each pair to air out and recover their shape between wears. 

Clean your shoes regularly to remove dust, dirt and stains. 

It's also a good idea to apply waterproofing spray to protect your shoes from water, stains, snow and other environmental damage. Like clothing, it's important to attend to any signs of damage or wear as soon as possible, replacing worn-out soles, repairing loose stitching, and fixing damaged heels to prevent further deterioration. Definitely consider taking your shoes to a professional cobbler for these regular repairs! 

By Connor Sephton , news reporter

Bitcoin has suffered its biggest monthly loss since June 2022 - amid signs that market euphoria is starting to cool.

The world's biggest cryptocurrency saw its price plunge by almost 15% in April.

Even though we're just 12 hours into a brand-new month, Bitcoin is continuing to fall further.

This digital asset is often valued in dollars rather than pounds - and certain price points tend to have psychological significance for traders.

Over the past few weeks, Bitcoin had successfully managed to avoid a big fall under $60,000 (about £48,000).

But all of that changed in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

After the $60,000 threshold crumbled, a sharp drop to $57,000 soon followed.

So... with Bitcoin down 7% over the past 24 hours, what happens next?

Well - traders are now engaged in what can best be described as an arm wrestle.

If Bitcoin manages to hold stable around $57,000, its value may start to recover.

But if selling pressure grows as American investors start to wake up and see what's happened, further declines are to be expected.

Bitcoin has now fallen by 22% since hitting an all-time high of $73,750 in March - which technically puts this cryptocurrency in a bear market.

However, avid enthusiasts will insist this is nothing more than a healthy correction, and Bitcoin's longer-term prospects are good.

One thing is clear: this is a volatile asset, and investors should only put in whatever they can afford to lose.

In what seems to be becoming a daily occurrence, four more lenders have announced mortgage rate rises.

Halifax, BM Solutions and Virgin are all doing so for the second time in around a week. They're joined by Nottingham Building Society.

Halifax are increasing rates on purchase products by up to 0.2%; BM Solutions by up to 0.24%. These begin tomorrow.

Virgin increased rates on products between 0.08% and 0.2% yesterday evening, while Nottingham has lifted rates this morning by up to 0.25%.

Mortgage rates have spiked in the last two weeks as financial markets have moved from pricing in a base rate cut in June to thinking it will come in August. Expectations of three cuts this year are now two.

The backdrop is sticky inflation in the US - and concern the global and domestic battle against rising prices isn't over yet.

Skipton had actually announced some decreases - but any optimism from this proved momentary.

Dariusz Karpowicz, director at Albion Financial Advice, told Newspage: "The atmosphere in the mortgage market is rather grim, with major players like Halifax, BM Solutions, Virgin and Nottingham Building Society repeatedly raising their fixed rates.

"This pattern of frequent rate hikes, sometimes occurring multiple times within a week, is casting a shadow over market sentiment. 

"The anticipated 'spring bounce' is nowhere in sight; instead, we're witnessing a continuation of mortgage woes. 

"Higher rates are expected to dampen buyer enthusiasm and potentially delay any positive momentum. 

"As for when borrowers can expect relief, it hinges on broader economic stabilisation. For now, the outlook remains cautious and subdued."

As April rolls into May, let's take a look at the key money dates to add to your calendar this month. 

A small note before we jump in - May is a month with a couple of bank holidays, so if any of your benefits payments would normally fall on those days, you'll get the money on the previous working day instead.

1 May - Prescription price change

The cost of your NHS prescription, in England, increases by 25p today - from £9.65 to £9.90.

Repeat prescription customers can apply for a prepayment certificate (PPC) which charges a fixed amount for a set period of prescriptions.

However, the cost of a one-year PCC will also rise to £114.50 from £111.60 - a rise of almost £3.

If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you don't have to pay for your prescriptions.

9 May - Interest rate decision 

Next week, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will meet for its latest review of interest rates. 

The MPC has decided to freeze the base rate at 5.25% over recent months.

While nothing is guaranteed, the BoE is widely expected among economists to hold the rate once again - thought to be waiting for inflation to get closer to the Bank's 2% target. 

12 May - Free childcare applications open

From 12 May, eligible working parents of children from nine-months-old will be able to register for access to up to 15 free hours of government-funded childcare per week.

You won't be able to claim the hours until September. 

Check if you're eligible here . 

15 May - Subway loyalty points changes

Sandwich giant Subway has outlined a series of measures in its branches regarding its loyalty schemes. 

Customers have until 14 May to use the current scheme before it changes to a new app-only loyalty scheme. 

From 15 May, any points will expire and become unredeemable.

May 24 - Energy price cap announcement

Regulator Ofgem will announce the new energy price cap for the period 1 July to 30 September.

The current price cap (£1,690 a year) is expected by analysts at Cornwall Insights to fall by just over £100 to around £1,559 for the average household per year. 

Spotify hikes 

As we reported in the Money blog, Spotify will hike its prices by around £2 per month...

Depending on a customer's billing date, payment change to the higher rate will fall in either May or June. 

Spotify has said it will email existing customers with one-month's notice of the increase.

By James Sillars , business reporter

A piece of good news to bring you: a welcome fall in oil costs.

A barrel of Brent crude started the week close to $88.

It is trading at $85 today after three days of declines – the latest in Asian trading today.

The major move lower, however, came yesterday afternoon.

Analysts credited increasing hopes of a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East and on rising US crude inventories and production.

It's been another positive start to the day for the FTSE 100 - rising 0.1% to 8.157 points in early deals.

The index has started higher each session this week but, in truth, it has struggled to make big inroads since last week's record closing high.

Banks and miners are leading the way.

Next, however, was among the fallers despite posting a strong rise in full price sales.

The first quarter increase of 5.7% was above market expectations but the retailer, usually renowned for keeping expectations low and over-delivering, maintained its guidance for annual sales and profits.

Its shares were 1.2% lower.

Among the fallers in the wider market was Aston Martin Lagonda.

The luxury carmaker's stock was almost 9% down after posting bigger than expected quarterly losses.

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