All United Kingdom

The Atlas Obscura Guide To United Kingdom

3,099 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in the United Kingdom

Updated October 18, 2024

Email

Countries & Constituents

Unusual Attractions in United Kingdom

See All 3,099 Things To Do in United Kingdom

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in United Kingdom

See all 101 Places to Eat in United Kingdom
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Trips

NEW - Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Learn More

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Hidden Edinburgh

Crowds clog Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the main artery between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The road is dotted with stores selling Nessie trinkets and lined with bagpipers and street performers pulling off dazzling tricks. But look beyond the tartan tourist traps, and you’ll discover tucked-away gardens, remnants of the city’s medieval past, and much more.

View Itinerary

Explore the United Kingdom

History & Culture 440
Architecture 414
History 315
Museums 228
Ruins 208
Art 204
Architectural Oddities 180
Sculptures 174

The United Kingdom Leaderboard

Recent United Kingdom Activity

Stories About the United Kingdom

A 1,000-year-old brain of an individual excavated from a 10th-century churchyard in Belguim is still soft and wet.

The Mystery of 4,400 Preserved Brains—And One Scientist’s Quest to Solve It

The former undertaker collects human brains, talks to them, and hopes they won’t haunt her.
by Olivia Young
The U.K.'s giant trees are growing as fast as their California counterparts.

Giant Sequoias Are Thriving in an Unexpected Place: the U.K.

There are now more of the world's biggest trees in Britain than California.
by Jennifer Billock

Imbolc, Groundhog Day, and Brigantia All Celebrate the Coming Spring

Whatever you call it, early February's cross-quarter day reconnects us with ancient astronomical timekeeping traditions.
by Rebecca Boyle
To ride these contraptions, riders need bravery, tights, and a vest.

The Quirky Victorian Invention That Inspired a Risky Race

Competitors battle it out from seven feet in the air.
by Indi Bains
The deathwatch beetle found in the United Kingdom, Xestobium rufovillosum, was once considered an omen of death.

The Truth Behind the Deathwatch Beetle's Creepy Tap-Tap-Tapping

In the United Kingdom, the insects were once considered omens of death—they're actually much more destructive.
by Roxanne Hoorn
A greater mouse-eared bat takes flight.

The Mysterious Return of Great Britain's Loneliest Bat

Missing for two years, an elderly greater mouse-eared bat has been the island's only known member of the species for decades.
by Patrick Barkham
The handball court in Nelson, South Wales, August 8, 1969. The three-walled court and home to Pêl-Law, the Welsh version of the game, has stood in the town since 1860.

Can Welsh Handball Bounce Back From the Brink of Extinction?

The ancient sport of Pêl-Law hangs on, barely, at the last court of its kind. A campaign to revive a related game may help bring it back.
by Ewan Morgan
Edward Jenner's letter to John Glover Loy.

Vaccination Could Easily Have Been Called 'Equination'

A recently sold letter from medical pioneer Edward Jenner provides some insight as to why.
by Matthew Taub

Lists Featuring the United Kingdom

Charles Goodwyn, Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection, with copies of world's first stamp
Lock & Co.
Plaque marking the Texan Embassy
The Lioness and the Lesser Kudu.

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Buckingham Palace for Curious Travelers

11

Including The Royal Philatelic Collection, Lock & Co. , and The Embassy of the Republic of Texas

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More