Backpacking UK

Backpacking UK, fun for the serious Backpackers

For The Backpacker, UK is a Must-visit!

When it comes to backpacking, UK must be visited at least once in a lifetime. There’s much to be seen and experienced by the backpacker. UK has an excellent bus and rail network, so it’s easy to go around the country at reasonable prices. Youth hostels are also burgeoning all over the UK; backpackers won’t have to worry about finding a place to stay. Most of all, the Queen’s subjects are among the warmest and most hospitable people in the world.

As if these aren’t reasons enough for backpacking, UK's sites and sounds like the country’s bustling cities and quiet countryside are unparalleled anywhere else. Truly, there’s no gem brighter than the UK – backpacking will prove that. So when you’re backpacking in the UK, make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Inside London

When visiting the UK, backpackers’ first stop is naturally London. For millenia, wars, fires, and plagues have ravished the UK; backpackers can witness not just their imprints on the capital, but how London has grown to become among the world’s most powerful cities.

When backpacking in the UK, there’s much to see and do in London alone. Take a ride on the world’s largest observation wheel, the London Eye – you’ll literally have your eye on London, something you won't experience everyday as a backpacker. UK trips, of course, lose their essence without a visit to Buckingham Palace and sticking around for the changing of the guards. You can also pay homage to the late Princess Diana at her home in Kensington Palace.

Mystery shrouds the history of monarchs in the UK. Backpacking in London, therefore, won’t be complete without a trip to the mysterious Tower of London and the eerie Bloody Tower. Shake off those jitters with a relaxing cruise on the Thames. Don’t forget those Big Ben photo ops when backpacking in the UK!

Book a London hostel or check out our London travel article, as well as our London Guide!

Manchester Fever

For many a backpacker, UK’s football craze can be infectious. There’s no better place to experience it than Manchester, home of the world’s greatest football team. You definitely can’t pass up a visit to Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. Better yet, watch a home game, and you’ll know what all the fuss is about. It’s one of those things that you can only experience when backpacking, UK-style.

Manchester also has the best clubs in the UK. Backpacking can be tedious, so take a break, unwind, and dance the night away to your heart’s content. And you can’t miss Manchester’s fantastic shopping. After all, there’s a reason why it’s the shopping capital of northwest UK! Backpackers can enjoy everything from the poshest designer labels to some of the best bargains in Europe.

Book a Manchester hostel.

Live Liverpool

The Beatles were one of the best things that ever came out of the UK; backpacking, therefore, is never complete without a jaunt to Liverpool, the famed Field of Dreams. Pay a visit to the houses where John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney grew up – Mendips for the former, and 20 Forthlin Road for the latter. You can also trace the band’s legacy at The Beatles Story within Albert Dock, and trawl through the many pubs where the band played in its early days, including The Cavern Club, known to be the most famous club in the world and not just the UK. Backpacking can indeed be a refreshing lesson in pop culture!

There’s a lot to Liverpool than just The Beatles, however, something you should keep in mind while backpacking. UK’s coastline is quite beautiful around these parts, so do visit the Dee estuary and the protected dunes of Formby.

York and You

For a backpacker, UK just gets increasingly more interesting as you go along because every place offers something new. In York, you can experience the one-of-a-kind Ghost Hunt of York. This walking tour takes you on an exhilarating nighttime journey through the city’s haunted locations - something you don’t get to do every day as a UK backpacker!

If you’re faint of heart, don’t fret. You can still enjoy York’s many historic sites without the spooks. A visit to York Minster cathedral is a must when you're backpacking. UK's largest Gothic cathedral, is also the largest in Northern Europe. Channel your Christian beliefs, or simply witness the extent of human imagination - York Minster has something to offer the backpacker. UK's Christian history is also particularly rich in York, and one that you can discover by walking the city walls.

Book a York hostel or check out our York Guide!

Dip in Bath

The entire city of Bath is nothing short of an open-air museum, so there’s much awaiting the backpacker. UK’s Roman history is particularly rich in Bath, from the Roman Baths to the famous Abbey.

Follow the footsteps of author Jane Austen by visiting her townhouse, and get a glimpse of life in the Victorian era. Also, just a hop, skip, and a stone's throw away is the historic Stonehenge. Witness the Summer Solstice festival with 'em Druids; or better yet, take part in it. Prepare to be awed by the sheer power and mystery of this infamous site! Then soak in the natural hot waters of Bath after a long day of serious backpacking; UK’s north still awaits.

Explore Edinburgh

Hands down, Edinburgh is Scotland’s most beautiful city – something you shouldn’t miss as a backpacker. UK definitely outdoes itself with this coastal city!

Treat yourself to a stunning view of the city from the formidable Edinburgh Castle sitting atop an extinct volcano when UK backpacking. You can also visit the many parks and museums scattered throughout the city. And here’s a well-kept secret for UK backpackers: stand on the Forth Road Bridge, and you might see a frolicking sperm whale or two!

Of course, you can't miss the Edinburgh festivals. Hardly a month goes by without the city celebrating some sort of festival, so you're bound to make it to one – or two – when you're UK backpacking. Most notable are the Edinburgh Military Tattoo festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a comedy showcase that you'll certainly enjoy as backpacker – UK's greatest comedians started here!

Book a Edinburgh hostel.

Go Glasgow

Glasgow is about art, and it has all the museums to prove it! Glasgow’s museums are among the most plentiful in the UK; backpacking folks can’t afford to miss these! Most notable is the Burrell Collection, the largest art collection ever acquired by one person. For a history lesson on the city, the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens is a must-visit when backpacking. UK’s art all in one city – imagine that!

If you want to take a break from backpacking, UK's tea culture can be experienced in the Glasgow Willow Tea Rooms where you can take tea the way they did in an era long gone. Designed in 1904 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the Willow Tea Rooms has since been painstakingly preserved to maintain the splendor of its interiors. It's something you can miss as a UK backpacker – the British love their tea, after all!

Book a Glasgow hostel.

Backpacking in the UK is one of the most exciting adventures you can ever go on. There's much history and culture to be experienced in the UK. Backpackers won't be able to get enough! Start packing that backpack now – if you haven't already!