The Ultimate UK Bucket List

Whether it’s an exotic island you want to visit on holiday, bungee jumping at the Grand Canyon or leaping out of a plane over the Great Barrier Reef, we’ve all got a bucket list of some sort. Some are more extravagant or hair-raising than others, while most tend to be centred away from the fair old shores of the British Isles.

But you really need not go so far to make some incredible memories. To help you add a more local flavour to your exciting experiences, here are five great recommendations for your UK bucket list.

Climb Arthur’s Seat



Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, and there’s plenty to do down at city level. However, the Scottish capital’s equally as famous for what lies above the medieval Old Town and the Royal Mile. Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline, but Arthur’s Seat is equally imposing, and gives you the chance to climb an ancient and extinct volcano. Back down at street level, try to coordinate your visit with the iconic Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world.

With your room booked at Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh, you’re going to be in the perfect place for a relaxing night’s rest after a day climbing volcanoes or exploring the Fringe.

Discover the Jurassic Coast


By Thomas Röttgen [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Covering 95 miles from Orcombe Point in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset, the Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site that snakes along a stunning stretch of beautiful British coastline. Step back in time some 185 million years as you hunt for fossils along a guided walk from the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, head to a museum such as the Lyme Regis Museum or Dorset County Museum, or simply take in the wonderful scenery as you go for a walk along the coast.

Book a stay at Leonardo Hotel Exeter, and you’ll only have a 12-mile journey to Orcombe Point, where you can begin your prehistoric adventure.

See the tennis at Wimbledon


By Me3154a [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Located in a beautiful part of south west London, the All England Club plays host to the oldest and arguably most prestigious tennis tournament in the world each year. Whether you love Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, and prefer Venus to Serena Williams, there are few more quintessentially British ways to spend a day than making bowls of strawberries and cream disappear while sipping glasses of champagne at good old Wimbers.

Leonardo Hotel London Croydon is just over seven miles from Wimbledon, and you can combine your trip to the tennis with other top London draws. Enjoy afternoon tea at Claridge’s, explore world famous landmarks like the British Museum, Tower of London, and Houses of Parliament, and don’t miss Buckingham Palace of course. Discover our hotels near Buckingham Palace.

Visit Cairngorms National Park


Photo © Euan Nelson (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Britain is known around the world for its castles, and Balmoral is right up there with the best of them - it’s certainly one of the Queen’s favourites, too. The royal family’s Scottish holiday home lies within the Cairngorms National Park, which is the largest national park in the UK and is packed with striking mountainous scenery.

Stay at Leonardo Hotel Inverness and it takes just 20 minutes to reach the boundary of Cairngorms National Park, while it’s another hour and 20 minutes to Balmoral. Our hotel is also only around 80 miles from the Bridge of Skye, so you can tick off the achingly beautiful Isle of Skye on your UK bucket list too.

Road trip along the County Antrim Coastal Road


Photo © Albert Bridge (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Hopping over to Northern Ireland, the Antrim Coast Road slices its way along breathtakingly rugged coastline. And what could be more rugged than myths of battling giants? Science may beg to differ, but the Giant’s Causeway remains one of the most epic sights anywhere in the UK. Castles, beaches, quaint little towns and sweeping vistas also await you along the coastal road, which you can drive, ride, cycle, or even walk along.

Whether you already live in Northern Ireland, you’re catching the ferry over, or flying into Belfast City Airport - which is just a few miles away from our hotel - Leonardo Hotel Belfast gives you the perfect base for visiting this stunning part of the UK.