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The Atlas Obscura Guide To The United Kingdom

3,149 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in the United Kingdom

Updated January 15, 2025

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Hidden Edinburgh

Crowds clog Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the main artery between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The road is dotted with stores selling Nessie trinkets and lined with bagpipers and street performers pulling off dazzling tricks. But look beyond the tartan tourist traps, and you’ll discover tucked-away gardens, remnants of the city’s medieval past, and much more.

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Explore the United Kingdom

History & Culture 447
Architecture 425
History 320
Museums 238
Ruins 212
Art 205
Architectural Oddities 182
Sculptures 177

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Stories About the United Kingdom

Tidal flats in Denmark’s Wadden Sea National Park show what the land on the edge of the North Sea looks like today.

Exploring the Lost Land Beneath the North Sea

New research reveals that Doggerland—a sunken swath of Europe connecting Britain to the mainland—was more than a simple thoroughfare. It was home.
by Tristan McConnell
A 1,000-year-old brain of an individual excavated from a 10th-century churchyard in Belguim is still soft and wet.

The Mystery of 4,400 Preserved Brains—And One Scientist’s Quest to Solve It

The former undertaker collects human brains, talks to them, and hopes they won’t haunt her.
by Olivia Young
The U.K.’s giant trees are growing as fast as their California counterparts.

Giant Sequoias Are Thriving in an Unexpected Place: the U.K.

There are now more of the world's biggest trees in Britain than California.
by Jennifer Billock

Imbolc, Groundhog Day, and Brigantia All Celebrate the Coming Spring

Whatever you call it, early February's cross-quarter day reconnects us with ancient astronomical timekeeping traditions.
by Rebecca Boyle
To ride these contraptions, riders need bravery, tights, and a vest.

The Quirky Victorian Invention That Inspired a Risky Race

Competitors battle it out from seven feet in the air.
by Indi Bains
The deathwatch beetle found in the United Kingdom, Xestobium rufovillosum, was once considered an omen of death.

The Truth Behind the Deathwatch Beetle's Creepy Tap-Tap-Tapping

In the United Kingdom, the insects were once considered omens of death—they're actually much more destructive.
by Roxanne Hoorn
A greater mouse-eared bat takes flight.

The Mysterious Return of Great Britain's Loneliest Bat

Missing for two years, an elderly greater mouse-eared bat has been the island's only known member of the species for decades.
by Patrick Barkham
The handball court in Nelson, South Wales, August 8, 1969. The three-walled court and home to Pêl-Law, the Welsh version of the game, has stood in the town since 1860.

Can Welsh Handball Bounce Back From the Brink of Extinction?

The ancient sport of Pêl-Law hangs on, barely, at the last court of its kind. A campaign to revive a related game may help bring it back.
by Ewan Morgan

Lists Featuring the United Kingdom

Charles Goodwyn, Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection, with copies of world’s first stamp
Lock & Co.
Plaque marking the Texan Embassy
The Lioness and the Lesser Kudu.

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Buckingham Palace for Curious Travelers

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Including The Royal Philatelic Collection, Lock & Co. , and The Embassy of the Republic of Texas

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