The Ultimate 1 Week UK Itinerary — Must-Visits in London, Scotland and Wales

With non-stop flights to London, you can now resume your dream vacation. But why stop there? Make the most of your trip in the UK —  from visiting the highest mountains in Wales to majestic castles in Edingburgh. Kick start your trip planning with some ideas in this ultimate one-week UK itinerary!

 

*Pro-tip: Get up to 10% off flight bookings on Qatar when you book with your UOB Card before 31 August 2022

 

Travelling Around the UK

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

To travel across the three destinations in this itinerary, get the three-day BritRail Flexipass for unlimited rides on the extensive UK train network.

The main transport system within the city is the London Tube. Similar to Singapore, you can either get an Oyster card for £5 (like an EZlink), or use your credit card to tap and pay.

 

Day 1 – 3: London

1) London’s Hipster Markets 

 

Camden Market

Photo credit: TripAdvisor

 

Start off your trip exploring Camden Market, a popular vintage market that opens daily!

 

Apart from thrift shops, there are over 60 food stalls serving everything from burgers and pizzas, to sushi and curry — grab a Venezuelan wrap packed with flavour from Arepazo Bros, or indulge in a sinful serving of The Mac Factory’s gourmet mac and cheese!

 

Entrance fee: Free

Opening hours: 10AM – late (individual stalls vary)

Address: Camden Lock Place, London NW1 8AF

 

Brick Lane Market

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

Only open on the weekends, Brick Lane Market is the place for antique finds and secondhand goods like furniture, clothes and vinyl records. 

 

For food, we recommend trying the ham at Pigling Street‘s Posh Pork Baps. Their meat boxes have slices of their signature slow-roasted pigling topped with applesauce, and a side of salad and pickles!

 

Entrance fee: Free

Opening hours: 11AM – 6PM (Saturdays), 10AM – 6PM (Sundays)

Address: 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QR

 

2) Check out Windsor Castle and London’s Unique Museums

 

Spend a day delving into Britain's rich history. 

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

Visit the world’s oldest castle that the royal family still calls home. At Windsor Castle, look firsthand into the lives of British kings and queens since medieval times as you visit the State Apartments and Queen Mary’s Doll House. 

 

Catch the Changing of Guards ceremony at 11AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. And don’t miss out St. George’s Chapel too — it’s where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married

 

Entrance fee: From £26.50 

Opening hours: 10AM – 4PM (1 March - 31 October), 10AM – 3PM (1 November- 28 February), closed on Tue and Wed

Address: Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1NJ

 

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

Next, head to the Natural History Museum. The museum’s extensive collection of fossils will leave you in awe — just imagine a blue whale skeleton “swimming” above you, and getting up close to a full-sized Sauropod replica! You’ll also love learning more about the Earth’s history, human evolution and many other animals past and present. 

 

Other museums worth visiting include the British Museum, for a deep dive into Britian’s history, and Tate Modern Museum for its impressive collection of international modern and contemporary art. 

 

Entrance fee: Free (for Natural History Museum)

Opening hours: 10AM – 5:50PM, last entry 5:30PM

Address: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD

 

3) Harry Potter Studios Tour

Photo credit: Tom Kulczycki

 

Potterhead or not, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a quintessential experience in London. The recommended time here is three hours but if you’re a fan, it’s easy to spend double that time here. Experience the magic of Hogwarts, get up close with the sets, props and costumes down to the minute details. Don’t forget to chug down some delicious butter beer too!

 

Entrance fee: From £49.95/adult (~S$86)

Opening hours: 10AM (first tour) – 6:30PM (final tour), first tour begins at 9AM on weekends

Address: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden WD25 7LR

 

4) Buckingham Palace

Photo credit: Jean Carlo Emer

 

Witness the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace that takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

 

*Pro-tip: Be there at least half an hour earlier to secure a good viewing point. 

 

Entrance fee: Free

Changing of the Guard ceremony timing: 11AM

Address: Westminster, London SW1A 1AA

 

5) London’s Beautiful Churches

 

Westminster Abbey

Photo credit: Ian Branch

 

If this 13th century gothic church looks familiar, you’ve probably seen it from where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, got married!

 

Entrance fee: £25 online (~S$42, free with London Pass)

Opening hours: 9:30AM – 3:30PM, closes 3PM on Sat, 4:30PM – 6PM on Wed

How to get there: Walk 350m from Westminster Underground Station

 

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

Here’s a pro-tip, skip the queue for the London Eye and head to St. Paul’s Cathedral instead. Although you’ll have to work for the view (climbing up 528 steps to be exact), you’ll be rewarded with three different viewing points: One with a top-down look at the nave, and two outdoors at varying heights — offering views of the city skyline and River Thames.

 

Entrance fee: £18 online (~S$30, free with London Pass)

Opening hours: 8:30AM – 4PM, opens 10AM on Wed

How to get there: Walk 400m from Borough Market to London Bridge Underground Station. Take the Northern line to Bank, transfer to the Central line and alight at St Paul’s Station. Walk 150m to St Paul’s Cathedral.

 

Where to Eat in London

There are lots of food options as you explore the markets, but here are some spots you don’t want to miss:

 

Brick Lane Beigel Bake

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

This 24-hour bakery is almost always seen with a long queue up front. They have the classics like smoked salmon, and cream cheese bagels. But the star of the show is their delightfully tender and flavourful signature salt beef beigels.

 

Cost: £4.30 (~S$8)

Opening hours: 24 hours

Address: 159 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB

 

Steak at Flat Iron

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

This wallet-friendly steak is not only generous in size, but also ​​incredibly delicious and tender. 

 

They don’t take reservations, so queues can go up to two hours. But fret not, just leave your number with the staff and they’ll text you when your table is ready.

 

On top of your yummy meal, there’s also free-flow popcorn and a free ice-cream dessert. Just ask the server for it after your meal. 

 

Cost: £12 and above (~S$21) — 1 steak

Opening hours: 12PM – 12AM, closes 11.30PM on Sundays

Address: 17-18 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QH 

 

Dishoom

Photo credit: Dishoom

 

It’s a tad strange but ask any local for food recommendations and Dishoom’s Indian street food seems to come up frequently. Some must-haves are the House Black Daal, Mattar Paneer, and Spicy Lamb Chops.

 

Cost: Grills start from £6.90 (~S$12) 

Opening hours: 8AM – 11PM, closes 12AM on Fri and Sat

Address: 12 Upper St Martin's Ln, London WC2H 9FB

 

Day 4: Wales 

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

Escape into the mountains as you head to Wales. A full day at Snowdon Mountain is exactly how you’d want to spend your time in nature. 

 

You’ll see waterfalls, vast lakes, and adorable sheep as you make your way up to the summit — the highest point in Wales! It’s a six to eight-hour hike up Snowdon, but thankfully, you can cut your time to two hours with the Snowdon Mountain Railway (from mid-March to October). 

 

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

We recommend taking the train up to Clowgyn (the ¾ point), then slowly making your way down by foot. You get a decent view of the ridges and valleys at this viewpoint, and some exercise afterwards. The hike down is about two and a half hours, so be careful as the terrain can get rocky and steep at times.

 

Cost: £29/adult (~S$50), Llanberis – Clogwyn Return Fare Early Bird

Opening hours: 8:30AM (First train at 9AM). Closing varies (Call +44(0)1286 870223 to confirm)

How to get there: From Turf Square Bus Station, take Bus S2 for 30mins and alight at the Snowdon Railway Station. Purchase your bus ticket directly from the driver for £1.80 (~S$3)

 

Where to Eat in Wales

 

Platform Grill at Snowdon Mountain Railway

Photo credit: TripAdvisor

 

Platform Grill is a fuss-free eatery perfect for a post-hike fill. Located right by the Snowdon Mountain Railway, they serve Quarter Pounders and Jumbo Hotdogs, which you can choose with or without chips!

 

Ainsworth’s Traditional Fish & Chips

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

Ainsworth’s serves the classic Fish & Chips as well as mushy peas dip, which goes well with both fries and fish.

 

Opening hours: 11:45AM – 9PM, closes 10PM on Fridays and weekends

Address: 41 Bridge Street Turf Square, Caernarfon LL55 1AF

 

Day 5 – 7: Edinburgh

 

1) Edinburgh Castle 

Photo credit: The Times

 

It’s hard to decide what’s more iconic about Edinburgh Castle, its rich royal history or the fact that it’s perched atop an extinct volcano.

 

Marvel at the architecture of this former royal residence, and learn of its dark history — the underground prisons here housed prisoners of war back in the 1800s!

 

Entrance fee: £18 (~S$31)

Opening hours: 9:30AM – 6PM, last entry 5PM (1 Apr to 30 Sep). 9:30AM – 5PM, last entry 4PM (1 Oct to 30 Mar)

How to get there: Walk 600m from Edinburgh Waverley Station

 

2) Calton Hill

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

 

Calton Hill is one of the more prominent areas in central Edinburgh, known for its collection of historic monuments. One being the National Monument inspired by the Acropolis in Athens, which is currently unfinished due to lack of funding. 

 

Entrance fee: Free

Opening hours: 24 hours

How to get there: Walk 480m from Regent Gardens Entrance

 

3) Day trip to St Andrews

 

St Andrews Castle 

Photo credit: About St Andrews

 

This seaside castle may be in ruins now, but it’s every bit intriguing. What you don’t see above ground is made up for with underground passages to explore. These were created during the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s!

 

St Andrews Cathedral

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

 

St Andrews Cathedral is just a 350m walk from St Andrews Castle and is another must-visit in Edinburgh. What was once Scotland’s largest church, is now an open-air museum housing collections of medieval artefacts. Within it, you can also scale the 33-metre high St Rule’s Tower for a sweeping view of the town!

 

St Andrews Castle and Cathedral 

Entrance fee: £12 (~S$20)

Opening hours: 10AM – 5PM (1 Apr to 30 Sep), 10AM – 4PM (1 Oct – 31 Mar),  last entry 30 minutes before closing

How to get there: Walk 1km from St Andrews Bus Station

 

St Andrews Museum

Photo credit: The Travel Intern

 

Wrap up your visit in St Andrews at the Victorian-style mansion (turned museum), and learn all about St Andrews’ historical origins. You’ll find out how the city came to be known for its university, and even golf. End the day with some tea and cakes at the museum’s in-house cafe before heading back.

 

Entrance fee: Free

Opening hours: 10:30AM – 4PM, closed on Sun

How to get there: 1.2km walk from St Andrews Cathedral

 

Where to Eat in Edinburgh

 

Papii Cafe

Photo credit: Papii Cafe

 

Papii Cafe is a popular breakfast and brunch spot that’s known to serve a big stack of fluffy buttermilk vanilla waffles topped with bacon, maple syrup, strawberries and cream.

 

Cost: £5.68 (~S$10)

Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM, closed on Mon

Address: 101 Hanover St, Edinburgh EH2 1DJ

 

Oink Hog Roast 

Photo credit: @oink_hogroast via Instagram

 

Don’t miss the pulled pork sandwiches made with Scottish hog roast. Have yours stuffed with traditional haggis (pudding made out of sheep lungs, hearts, and liver) and homemade mustard mayo for an added kick!

 

Opening hours: 11AM – 5PM

Address: 34 Victoria Street, Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JW

 

Make the most of your London trip with UOB Cards

Photo credit: Marcin Nowak

 

This is finally your year to check that long-awaited London trip off your travel bucket list — while exploring a few more places beyond the city too! What’s more, being a UOB Cardmember helps you save as you plan your trip.

 

Get up to 15% off accommodation bookings with Agoda, Booking.com and Expedia. And save up to S$50 on travel bookings with Klook or Trip.com, along with 10% off flights with Qatar. Not to mention, up to 30% off travel insurance with InsureTravel!

 

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With plenty of UOB travel deals to suit your itinerary, you’ll have everything you need for your next epic adventure.

 

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