United kingdom

Rule Britannia! The United Kingdom, the island nation made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is one of the most attractive destinations in the world for overseas visitors. And it's easy to see why. With beautiful landscape, centuries'-worth of well-preserved history, a world-rivaling arts and theatrical scene, and, well, London, the UK has a suite of attractions as rich as a Cornish cream tea and as varied as the reactions to the Turner Prize. There's one constant, though: wherever you roam, at the end of the day you'll never be too far away from a warm room, a cup of tea and a slice of cake. After all, we are British!

Tingle under the touch of history as you run your fingers over the stones of the Tower of London or walk the city walls of York in the footsteps of the Vikings. You can go back even further on a visit to Stonehenge, the vast ring of sacred stones that crowns Salisbury Plain and whose earthworks are thought to be 5000 years old. Go to the other extreme and appreciate some of the world's most cutting-edge art and theatre, at venues like the Tate Modern in London and the Festival Fringe in Edinburgh – or if you're of a more classical bent, watch a Shakespeare play at the Globe Theatre or make a pilgrimage to Bard's birthplace in Stratford-Upon-Avon. And, of course, there are the sports: from hiking in the Lake District to kayaking in Fort William, golf in St Andrews or Welsh Rugby Union in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.