Destination Profile: The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Population: 61.9 million

Capital: London

Major language: English

Number of U.S. students who studied abroad in U.K. during 2008/2009 academic year: 31,342

Popular cities with study abroad programs: London, England; Oxford, England; Brighton, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Glasgow, Scotland; Belfast, Northern Ireland

What to see

Below are some of the most notable tourist spots in the respective countries of the United Kingdom. Many programs include day trips to see cultural and historical spots. Find out what you might experience!

England

Stonehenge: While still widely misunderstood, this nation icon is a must-see. Some have claimed the site was built to serve as a temple. Others believe it relates to the prehistoric calendar, and still others think it was a burial site.

London: Many of the quintessential sites of England are located in London such as Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.

Bath: The roman baths, museums and theaters in this town, located 97 miles outside of London, are rich in early history.

Cotswolds: The beauty of the 500-600 year old limestone towns and villages in this part of England make it a frequently toured destination.

Stratford Upon Avon: William Shakespeare’s hometown will provide a glimpse of life during the time of the poet and dramatist.

Scotland

Loch Ness: Looking for a day full of mystery? This is one of Scotland’s most visited destinations because people yearn to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness monster.

Edinburgh castle: The location of this castle on a rock has history tracing back 3,000 years. It was the royal castle during the Middle Ages.

Glencoe: This area of Scotland is surrounded by mountains on all sides and full of history.

Melrose Abbey: This first Cistercian abbey in Scotland was established in 1136 but destroyed by 1385 by Richard II's of England army. The ruins are still a tourist attraction.

Wales

Some of the most visited places in Wales include castles (Cardiff Castle, Conwy Castle and Harlech Castle). The coast of Wales includes many beautiful beaches such as in St. David’s, Llandudno and Gower Pennisula. Brecon Beacons National Park is one of the top inland tourist destinations.

Northern Ireland

Ulster museum: This museum boasts to be “Northern Ireland’s treasure house of the past and present.”

Marble Arch Caves: This underground system of rivers, waterfalls and chambers can be explored by foot or boat.

Down Cathedral: It is believed that Saint Patrick lies buried here.

Giant’s Causeway: This collection of basalt columns formed from volcanic activity is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

With all these exciting choices, how will you decide?!