What are your recommendations for places to visit in the UK for visitors from Canada?

Posted by Low_Chicken6739@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 32 comments

Hi,

We have some family visiting us soon, who are coming over from Canada. We are based in SW London and are trying to find things to do with them. We will definitely bring them into central London for a few days but also want them to have some more quintessential British experiences.

We are planning to go to the Lake District for a few days and also Cornwall. But I’m wondering what hidden gems are there that we might have overlooked?

Thank you!

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BumblebeeNo6356@reddit

Don’t do Stonehenge, it’s a disappointment

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pencloud@reddit

Not so bad if you do it for free - there's public byway (you can drive and park on) called "The Drove" or "Byway 12" and public / permissive footpaths that go right past the stones (the one on the alignment of the road that was closed a few years back is very close to the stones). All for free.

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Martinonfire@reddit

Durham and Lindasfarne (holy island)

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pencloud@reddit

If you're heading south-west in the car, there's this place you could stop at while passing... Bramshott Canadian Memorial om the A3 just past Hindhead tunnel. Never stopped, but passed it many times.

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Both-Drummer-5951@reddit

It’s not a massive site, but there is the Canadian War Memorial in the New Forest, which they might find interesting. Then the rest of the day nearby — Beaulieu motor museum, Exbury Gardens, perhaps a dinner at the Pig near Brockenhurst.

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EUskeptik@reddit

Great suggestions! ✅

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EUskeptik@reddit

Rochester for the castle, cathedral and high street with strong links to Charles Dickens.

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Brighton for its seafront, pier, Pavilion and shopping in The Lanes and quirky North Laine.

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Stratford-upon-Avon for links with William Shakespeare.

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Stonehenge (someone suggested Avebury is better but a foreign tourist would want to have visited Stonehenge).

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Castle Combe, quintessential picture-postcard Cotswold village, best seen early on a weekday.

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Bath, city of Georgian architecture, Roman relics including the Pump Rooms, the Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, the Crescent.

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Bristol, if only to drive across Brunel’s magnificent Clifton Suspension Bridge.

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Dartmouth, best visited by vintage steam trains from Paignton.

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Plymouth, historic maritime city, best features are Barbican (old town) and Plymouth Hoe for the views.

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The Eden Project, St Ives and Land’s End are probably essential sites in Cornwall but Land’s End is a shameless tacky and very expensive rip-off. Hey, but that’s tourism!

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GrabbedByTheGhost@reddit

Salford, Grimsby and Bradford are worth a shout. Bastions of culture.

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Background_Fox@reddit

New Forest

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Bacchus_Bacchus@reddit

Bath. I say this as a Canadian living in London

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Musicman1972@reddit

Go via the Cotswolds and stop for tea at Bourton or something. A bit obvious but always a winner.

What are they into?

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CaptainVXR@reddit

If you're taking them to Cornwall, go one way via Stonehenge and Salisbury, the other stay in Bristol a few nights if you can, and take day trips to Glasonbury and Wells combined, Bath, and Cardiff, as well as exploring Bristol.

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Different_Dance_1560@reddit

Lavenham in Suffolk? A quintessential British historic town- you can have afternoon tea at the Swann inn which is well worth a visit all on its own. Plus, if you’re driving there you’ll go through Essex, which, if you stick to the rural roads for some of the journey, is absolutely beautiful British countryside with lots of old buildings and farm shops?

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Altnabreac@reddit

Altnabreac.

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Distinct_Ad_2165@reddit

just don't go near the railway station!

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Altnabreac@reddit

The station is fine but don't speak to the station cottage owners - proper wrong'uns!

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Another_Random_Chap@reddit

Bear in mind that Cornwall and the Lake District are in opposite directions, and will take a day each to get to/return from. Unless they're coming for an extended stay I think you'd be better picking one or the other.

Hampton Court is good for kids. Brighton is also reasonably close with lots to do.

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grunt1533894@reddit

From SW London I would say Dorset, easy to get to and you can visit - Weymouth for quintessential Georgian British seaside, Purbeck for Corfe Castle and a steam train to Swanage, Charmouth/Lyme for fossil hunting, Cerne giant for the lolz, and maybe Maiden Castle too

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steveakacrush@reddit

Assuming you are driving to the Lake District maybe stop off in Chester for a day.

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Another_Random_Chap@reddit

Via Ironbridge & Shrewsbury

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steveakacrush@reddit

Oh yes good idea.

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ComfortableAncient46@reddit

Chester on a way to Lake District. You can drive around North Wales, show them Snowdonia with some castles on a way.

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Present-Swimming-476@reddit

In the Lake District - if the weather is nice, grab a picnic and head to either Ennerdale Water or Wastwater - and relax for a couple of hours.

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Present-Swimming-476@reddit

oh - and avoid bank holidays and weekends

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G-reeper66@reddit

The Cotswolds

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grubbygromit@reddit

Warwick/Stratford.

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

If you're going to Cornwall, consider the Night Riviera sleeper train. It's a fun way to travel (albeit a bit pricey).

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Alternative-Bee2962@reddit

If you're going to Cornwall have you thought about stopping off at Stonehenge on your way as it's on the way. I live to it and personally not fussed but it's well known worldwide and very popular with tourists. Also if going to Cornwall the Eden Project is a nice place to visit and avoid Newquay as just a tourist hot spot and places like Truro, Padstow, Loo, St Ives or Bodmin are worth a visit if going to Cornwall.

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