More than two and a half million tourists visit the UK every month on day trips, short breaks, and annual holidays. They are attracted by the wide variety of attractions and activities that the UK has to offer. London, the capital city of the UK, is now the most visited city in the world. London attracts about 16 million visitors a year.

The UK has everything from picturesque villages to metropolitan cities. From family fun parks to luxury hotels. From mountain ranges to sandy beaches. From rose-covered cottages to the palaces of the British Royal Family. From country inns to themed public houses. From The Beatles to William Shakespeare. From Land's End to John O'Groats.

Visit the UK aims to provide you with the information you need to plan your trip.

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UK Bank Holidays and UK Public Holidays

Aztec calendar stone
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England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales enjoy similar sets of bank holidays every year. Some are celebrated in all four countries, and some are only celebrated in one or more countries.

We all think of bank holidays and public holidays as being the same, and often use the terms interchangeably. However, there is a difference: bank holidays are those holidays when banks and some other businesses are closed, and public holidays are those holidays that have become established through common practice.

Top tourist attractions in England

British Museum
Great Russell St., London WC1B 3DG
Every year the VisitEngland web site publishes a list of the most popular visitor attractions in England.

In 2013, the British Museum in London was again the most popular free attraction, and the Tower of London was again the most popular paid attraction.

Attractions in London filled 9 of the top 10 and 15 of the top 20 positions in the list, with Brighton Pier in East Sussex, in sixth, being the most popular outside the London area.

15 of the top 20 in the list were free attractions, with only 5 being paid attractions.

Visa requirements for visitors to the UK

Map of the UK
Image by nearby.org.uk
Visitors to the UK who live in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland have the right of free movement and residence in the UK. Hence they do not need a visa to enter the UK. Members of their family need an EEA family permit.

Visitors from other countries need a visa to visit the UK. Visitors from some countries might need an entry certificate instead of a visa, but it functions in much the same way as a visa. A visitor to the UK is normally allowed to stay for up to 6 months.