How’s Your British Accent? Take This Tour Across Great Britain to Find Out
Great Britain is hardly a best-kept secret in travel; its myriad charms have long been known the world over. And yet, it’s very much a multilayered destination, one that, despite its relatively small size, is full of constant surprises and hidden corners. Especially for those savvy enough to explore the entirety of the island and its three distinct countries: England, Scotland, Wales.
From the rugged Highlands of Scotland and the scenic windswept coast of Wales, to the creative metropolitan centers of Newcastle and Liverpool, to the rich history and seaside delights of Essex, our guide will give you a broader sense of the UK’s impressive regional diversity. Along the way, you’ll also discover some of the destination’s warm and welcoming dialects. There are some 40+ accents in total — not bad for an island slightly smaller than Michigan and just half the size of Spain!
Are you ready to broaden your understanding of “the British accent,” and put yours to the test? Here’s where to do it and what to look forward to along the way.
“Y’all right la’? Get your kecks on and gerrover ‘ere, it’s boss!”
Brimming with art galleries and museums, fantastic pubs, and high-end restaurants, Liverpool truly offers something for everyone — including the world-renowned Scouse charm. Explore the musical legacy of the “Fab Four” at the Cavern Club and the Beatles Museum, admire the industrial heritage and cultural highlights around the gorgeously revamped Royal Albert Dock, and indulge in the city’s many impressive culinary and nightlife offerings. Bonus: Visit early May 2023, and you’ll also be able to catch Eurovision 2023 live.
Go beyond the Beatles
The Music Icons Tour proves Liverpool's musical legacy...
Go beyond the Beatles
Liverpool’s musical legacy extends well beyond a certain famous mop-topped pop quartet, and the city’s Music Icons Tour aims to prove just that. Led by members of The Farm and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, it profiles the local scene between the 1980s and 1990s and presents insightful stories and memories during visits to concert venues, recording studios, pubs, and other hangouts. Guests get a free drink and gift, plus the opportunity to bag a selfie with a bona fide pop star.
Photo: Cristian H. Gomez/Shutterstock
See world-class art at the Tate
One of the most visited art galleries outside London...
See world-class art at the Tate
Liverpool’s Tate museum, opened in 1988 on the Albert Dock, is worth visiting for its spectacular Grade I-listed warehouse building alone (meaning the site is of exceptional national, architectural, or historical importance). One of the most visited art galleries outside London, it offers a stellar program of must-see art shows and museum exhibitions—heavyweight names such as Picasso, Warhol, and Monet are just some of artists spotlighted here over the years. Look out too for talks, workshops, and family activities, as well as free daily guided tours.
Photo: VisitBritain/Rod Edwards
Discover industrial heritage, history, and culture at the Royal Albert Dock
The Dock is a significant cultural destination...
Discover industrial heritage, history, and culture at the Royal Albert Dock
The handsome and historic complex of dock buildings and warehouses known as Royal Albert Dock opened in 1846. The first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick, and stone, it played a dominant role in global trade throughout the 19th century, which visitors can explore today through the world-class museums located here, including the Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum. The Museum of Liverpool can also be found on the Dock, as can the award-winning The Beatles Story, making it a significant cultural destination.
Photo: VisitBritain/Kathryn Ramsden
Join the locals for vibrant dining at Barnacle
The restaurant draws inspiration from the city's port-side history...
Join the locals for vibrant dining at Barnacle
One of the city’s most acclaimed dining spots, Barnacle is helmed by some of Liverpool’s most exciting culinary figures, including The Art School’s Paul Askew and Bone & Block’s Harry Marquart. Located in the industrial-chic Duke Street Market, the restaurant draws inspiration from the city’s port-side history, serving up regionally sourced dishes like Cumbrian ox cheek, “New Liverpool” seafood chowder, and a local “Maghull” carrot cake. In addition, the bar offers over 30 different gins and a delicious array of locally brewed beers.
Photo: Marian Weyo/Shutterstock
Hear live music around the city
Catch a local, international, or even an unsigned band...
Hear live music around the city
Although Liverpool’s most famous live music venue is the world-renowned Cavern Club, setting of the Beatles’ origin story, the city offers many more places to catch local and international bands and DJs. The Jacaranda, (“The Jac”), which also hosted early gigs by the Fab Four, presents shows from the local grassroots scene (and also has a record shop and café), as does The Zanzibar on Seel Street, which often showcases unsigned bands. Also on Seel Street is the Arts Club, presenting a mix of international acts and local indie nights, while the historic Mountford Hall is the place to head for more established artists: Queen, The Smiths, and The Who are just some of the acts to have graced the stage here.
Photo: VisitBritain
“Alreet! Ya gannin doon the toon? It’ll be a canny laugh like!”
Newcastle upon Tyne — known to its many friends, near and far, as simply “Newcastle” — is one of England’s largest cities, famed for its dynamic mix of industrial heritage and urban flair on the northeast coast. Settled since Roman times, its Victorian-era city center and attractive quayside areas hold top-notch art galleries and a magnificent concert hall, plenty of chic restaurants, and an energetic nightlife scene bolstered by the city’s substantial student population.
Experience watery neon thrills with Quayside Glow Tours
This kayaking excursion doubles as an urban light show...
Experience watery neon thrills with Quayside Glow Tours
Not for nothing, this kayaking experience won “Experience of the Year” at the regional tourism awards. Taking place around Newcastle’s atmospheric quayside after dark, it doubles as a spectacular urban light show thanks to the artistically illuminated buildings, changing colors of the Millennium Bridge, and the glowing neon signs of the bars and restaurants on the quays. The kayaks are illuminated too, and the tour includes a welcome drink on arrival.
Photo: Michael Ting/Shutterstock
Dine in the sky at the Vermont Hotel
Take in stunning views of the city skyline...
Dine in the sky at the Vermont Hotel
The landmark Vermont Hotel combines a comely 1930s aesthetic with a commitment to luxury. The attractive roof terrace, ABOVE, is the pièce de résistance, offering breathtaking views of the city skyline that span the River Tyne and its bridges, as well as the eponymous castle, St Nicholas Cathedral, and Hadrian’s Tower (Newcastle’s tallest building). After enjoying the vistas, sink into a comfortable sofa and enjoy DJs, live musicians, and a carefully crafted menu of cocktails and sharing platters.
Photo: Friends Stock/Shutterstock
Hear the sounds of Newscastle’s Underground
It’s literally a tunnel underground...
Hear the sounds of Newscastle’s Underground
Newcastle’s Sounds of the Underground tours take place literally under the ground—in the atmospheric Victoria Tunnel, more precisely, a preserved 19th-century wagon route that runs below the city. Originally built to transport coal from Spital Tongues Colliery, it operated between 1842 and the 1860s and was converted in 1939 into an air-raid shelter. The tour showcases the tunnel’s history while presenting an ever-changing local music lineup that spans candlelit piano concerts, folky electronica, and traditional fiddle performances.
Photo: Ken Drew/ouseburn trust
Score amazing views with a stadium rooftop tour
Get a bird’s-eye view of the city’s prominent landmarks...
Score amazing views with a stadium rooftop tour
Photo: angus reid/Shutterstock
Explore the 2,000-year-old Hadrian’s Wall
Imagine what is was like...
Explore the 2,000-year-old Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall was built almost 2,000 years ago by the Romans to keep out troublesome threats (aka Celtic Scots) from the north. It served as inspiration for the 300-mile-long wall featured in hit HBO show Game of Thrones, and this tour allows guests to imagine what it was like to be both a Roman guardian and a Celtic invader. As well as visiting the original wall, guests get to see associated locations such as Sycamore Gap and Housesteads Fort and Museum, the most complete Roman fort in Britain.
Photo: Panglossian/Shutterstock
Wales
“Oh hello love. Dere mewn! Come over for a cuppa.”
Famed for its scenic coastline and sheep-dotted meadows, Wales is a unique and much-loved British destination. Whether exploring its population-dense south or more rural, windswept north, you’ll find dramatic national parks, pristine coastal views, and medieval castles aplenty — not to mention burgeoning gastronomy and cultural scenes peppered throughout Cardiff and other vibrant Welsh towns and cities.
Hike the Wales Coast Path
The finest walking path in Great Britian...
Hike the Wales Coast Path
The scenic Wales Coast Path—considered one of the finest walking paths in Great Britain—is around 870 miles long and follows some of the country’s most outstanding coastal scenery. It’s by no means a casual stroll, featuring a total elevation change of 35,000 feet—greater than Mount Everest! But as you wind your way past highlights such as Flint Castle, the first castle to be built by King Edward I, and Dee Estuary, home to thousands of wading birds in the winter, the sweat will be worth it.
Photo: wewi-creative/Shutterstock
Feast on a fire-themed tasting menu at Ynyshir
The restaurant is renowned for its theatrical 25-course menu...
Feast on a fire-themed tasting menu at Ynyshir
Owned and run by head chef Gareth Ward, this Michelin-starred sensation is renowned for its theatrical 25-course, Japanese-influenced, fire-themed tasting menu. Thankfully the plates are bite-size, allowing guests to enjoy a dizzying range of seafood, meat dishes (including Welsh lamb and Wagyu beef), and sweet plates that are all—as per the restaurant’s driving ethos—“ingredient led, flavour driven, fat fuelled, protein obsessed.” The menu takes around five hours to enjoy, so consider booking a night at the restaurant’s hotel, set inside an 18th-century house on the Dyfi Estuary, to make the most of it.
Photo: Ynyshir Restaurant & Rooms
Kick back with natural wine at The Nook
A simple blackboard lists the day’s sharing plates...
Kick back with natural wine at The Nook
Situated in Cardiff’s up-and-coming Victoria Park area, this warm and welcoming natural wine restaurant offers an intimate bistro-style ambiance and a daily changing, seasonally focused menu. Opened by foodie entrepreneur couples Phill and Deb Lewis and John and Ceri Cook, it boasts an entire wall stacked with natural and low-intervention wines (there are five on tap), a simple blackboard listing the day’s sharing plates and specials, and a selection of local beers.
Photo: olgakimphoto/Shutterstock
Get crafty down at Cardiff’s bay area
Inside Craft in the Bay are constantly changing exhibitions...
Get crafty down at Cardiff’s bay area
The Makers Guild was set up to champion Welsh arts and crafts, and to engage and inspire audiences along the way. Its award-winning gallery, Craft in the Bay, is located in a historical building on Cardiff Bay that happens to be one of the last remaining links to Cardiff’s industrial and maritime heritage. Inside are constantly changing exhibitions by its 85 or so members, plus a curated program of community craft workshops. The in-gallery shop sells exclusively made jewelry, glass, ceramics, and more.
Photo: Billy Stock/Shutterstock
Make your own gin at Hensol Castle
Relax with a gin and tonic in the distillery bar...
Make your own gin at Hensol Castle
The 17th-century Hensol Castle is truly delightful to look at, but is all the more notable for the gin distillery hosted in its cellars. Tours here showcase the history of the castle and the contrastingly modern distillery, with options for tasting as well as gin making. Participants are given their own small stills to create their very own recipe, helped along by recommendations from staff on which herbs to use and how to proceed through each stage of the process. At the end, you’ll get a bottle of your very own creation—plus the option of a relaxing gin and tonic in the distillery bar.
Photo: barmalini/Shutterstock
Scotland
“Alright, pal! Wanna come roon ma hoose for some scran an a wee bevvy?”
From the rugged peaks of the Highlands to jaw-dropping national parks, from dynamic cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh to literally hundreds of scenic offshore islands, Scotland has natural beauty and cultural charm in abundance. The people, too, are notoriously unpretentious and welcoming, with an earthy accent that continues to melt the hearts of millions, and a spirited folklore that manifests in tradition and mythology.
Enjoy a ‘wee dram’ at the Glengoyne Distillery
A range of tours and tastings are on offer...
Enjoy a ‘wee dram’ at the Glengoyne Distillery
In operation since its founding in 1833 at Dumgoyne, this whisky-making institution is often referred to as the “most beautiful distillery in Scotland.” Its wares are unique in that they’re produced in the Highlands but matured in the Lowlands, and they eschew the use of peat smoke to dry their barley, resulting in a finished product with a clear and bright appearance and distinctive flavor. A range of tours and tastings are on offer, including a Malt Master Session, during which guests get to create their very own whisky.
Photo: Shaiith/Shutterstock
Take a ride on your (mountain) bike at 7stanes
The trails offer some of the best mountain biking in the country...
Take a ride on your (mountain) bike at 7stanes
The 7stanes are a series of seven mountain biking centers in the south of Scotland, stretching from the heart of the Scottish Borders to Dumfries and Galloway. “Stane” is the Scots word for “stone,” and at each location stands a unique stone sculpture ranging in size from three to ten feet high and reflecting a local myth or legend. There’s Glentrool, or Giant Axe Head, a symbol of the area’s stone age past; Kirroughtree, the Gem Stane, made from Scottish pink quartz; and Mabie, the Ghost Stane, made of white marble. The award-winning trails in between offer some of the best mountain biking in the country.
Photo: sirtravelalot/Shutterstock
Say ‘cheese’ on an Edinburgh tour
This is for the curd nerds and turophiles...
Say ‘cheese’ on an Edinburgh tour
This two-hour walking tour, which takes place every Saturday at midday, is one for the “curd nerds” and “turophiles”—yep, that’s the official word for “cheese connoisseur.” Taking in some of Edinburgh’s finest kebbock (a Scots slang word for cheese), courtesy of the best local boutiques and cheese mongers, it’s a fun-filled stroll, with the opportunity to not only indulge in tastings and enjoy a glass of sparkling wine, but to also try your hand at creating your very own cheese-related puns. Along the way, guests get to learn all about the cheese-making process as well.
Photo: barmalini/Shutterstock
Get adventurous with outdoor yoga
Blend the art of stretching with the great outdoors...
Get adventurous with outdoor yoga
There’s yoga, there’s hot yoga, and then there’s…adventure yoga! This particular brand, as the name suggests, takes place outside: in Edinburgh’s beautiful Holyrood Park, for example, or on beaches and in woods close to the city. The idea is to blend the art of yoga with nature, whether in the peaceful shade of a copse of trees or enjoying the sweatier and muddier side of the great outdoors. Classes for individuals, families, or groups of friends can be arranged.
Photo: Adria Escobet/Shutterstock
Hang out with the cool kids at SWG3
There’s always something happening here...
Hang out with the cool kids at SWG3
Set inside a former galvanizers yard and associated cluster of riverside service warehouses, this vibrant complex now hosts everything from art, design, and music events to fashion, food, shopping, and nightlife outlets. The ambitious year-round program means there’s always something happening here, including Yardworks, a popular annual festival championing street art and graffiti. The second floor of the main warehouse building also provides communal and private studios for over 50 local artists and designers.
Photo: PV Productions/Shutterstock
Essex
“You alright, babe? You should come over, your mates will be well jel!”
Increasingly on the Great Britain tourism radar lately, more and more visitors are discovering the laid-back charms, rich history, and coastal delights of the county of Essex. Just a short train ride from London, it encompasses cities like Colchester, which effortlessly mixes the traditional with the contemporary: The oldest recorded town in the UK, and one of the most prosperous wool towns in the country, it hosts Colchester Castle and the Colchester Castle Museum as well as the Firstsite contemporary art hub. Don’t forget to visit one of the traditional markets of Chelmsford and enjoy the pleasure pier at Southend-on-Sea, the longest of its kind in the world.
Walk around Mersea Island
The island has a rich history...
Walk around Mersea Island
Britain’s most easterly inhabited island, Mersea’s population of just under 7,000 lends it a traditional fishing village atmosphere. Its history, however, as recounted at the local Mersea Museum, is surprisingly rich. As well as evidence of a pre-Roman settlement, the museum tells of ghostly sightings of a Roman centurion and an Anglo-Saxon parish church that was destroyed by Norse raiders in 894. The 13-mile pathway around the island reveals peaceful countryside, stunning views across the Blackwater Estuary, delicious oyster shacks, and several scenic beaches (with quaint and colorful beach huts!).
Photo: Richard Bowden/Shutterstock
Encounter local and international art at Firstsite Colchester
The gallery explores the region’s artistic legacy...
Encounter local and international art at Firstsite Colchester
Located within an eye-catching, purpose-built gallery shaped like a golden crescent, Colchester’s Firstsite is dedicated to showcasing art from the east of England. It explores the region’s rich artistic legacy through a vibrant program of exhibitions—award-winning artists including Gillian Wearing, Grayson Perry, Andy Warhol, and Lubaina Himid have been presented here—alongside films, workshops, community events, talks, and screenings of live theater, opera, and ballet. There are also regular family activities, and visitors can relax in the colorful café and find quirky and stylish products in the in-house shop.
Photo: Richard Bryant/Firstsite
Travel into the past at Audley End House and Gardens
One of England’s grandest mansions, set within a spectacular park...
Travel into the past at Audley End House and Gardens
One of England’s grandest mansions, the 17th-century Audley End House is set within an equally spectacular landscaped park. Visitors travel back in time as they explore the servants’ wing, the state rooms, the still-working stables, and the kitchen garden, learning along the way about the daily lives of the inhabitants and staff. The house also includes a diverse collection of paintings and objects, a playground, and a Victorian nursery, and it hosts special events throughout the year.
Photo: Roman Babakin/Shutterstock
Enjoy wine tasting and more at Crouch Ridge
The estate produces chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot gris, and sparkling wine...
Enjoy wine tasting and more at Crouch Ridge
Crouch Ridge Estate opened its Wine Barn in 2019, and its raised terrace is the perfect spot to enjoy the estate’s fine wines while taking in the expansive views of the vineyard and surrounding Crouch Valley countryside. Guests can choose from brunch, lunch, and afternoon tea, and meals are specially prepared to complement the wines—think freshly caught fish and shellfish, meat, poultry, and vegetables from local farmers, and cheese from nearby dairy farms. As well as excellent chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot gris, the estate produces its own sparkling wine and offers overnight stays, too.
Photo: Davide Angelini/Shutterstock
Sharpen your cooking skills at Mistley Kitchen School
An emphasis is put on local and regional produce...
Sharpen your cooking skills at Mistley Kitchen School
Housed in a handsome Georgian townhouse in the ancient port village of Mistley, this cooking school—run by American-born chef Sherri Singleton and her team—offers workshops for up to six participants. Topics range from knife skills to vegan cookery, children’s sessions to Christmas baking, with occasional forays into wine appreciation. There’s a natural emphasis on local and regional produce, and right next door is an award-winning restaurant and hotel that provide dapper rooms and delicious breakfasts.
Photo: Just Life/Shutterstock