The UK is a mass of sprawling metropolises, with culture from across the board bubbling away upon the streets of the city. But where has the greatest amount of culture in the UK – and where is worth trying to squeeze every ounce of this culture from.
London, England
No mention of culture in the UK is complete without taking a quick tube tour of London. From the Victorian architecture to the V&A Museum, the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Tate art galleries, almost every step across London’s pavement is steeped in culture. The height of London’s culture has to be the history that the city keep alive – from the Tower of London to Westminster Palace to the Royal Botanical Gardens (all UNESCO heritage sites). But part of the culture of London comes from the melting pot of people that the city attracts. Waiting staff by day, the indie theatres, music venues, and watering holes are populated at night by those with talents showing off the culture they hope to offer in the future. London’s culture is too vast to isolate and is best explored.
Liverpool, England
This port city may not be most people’s initial thoughts when it comes to high culture, but the European Capital of Culture 2008 is looking to spend 2018 showing why it was crowned in the first place. A slate of activities to showcase the unique Merseyside charm and appeal, including celebrations of The Beatles, performances by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and cash boosts for 14 of the city’s existing festivals. Liverpool is also known for it’s Aintree racecourse, which hosts the Grand National every April. As William Hill shows, the Grand National is a prestigious event that takes a glance at the sporting culture of the UK using the illustrious racecourse as a backdrop. Liverpool also boasts a waterway of culture with boat trips round the city that showcases the port history the city has to offer.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Heading up north, past Hadrian’s Wall and into bonny Scotland gives us another stop off on our cultural tour of the UK. Auld Reekie, as Edinburgh used to be known, has shifted its stinky image and replaced it with one of culture. From the Edinburgh Fringe to the King’s Theatre and Edinburgh Playhouse that showcase the delights beyond the wall, Edinburgh’s Golden Mile contains glimpses into its Celtic past. Edinburgh also boasts galleries and cultural landmarks such as the National Library of Edinburgh, the Nelson Monument, and the Scottish National Gallery. Just a short trip out of Scotland is the Scottish highland countryside, while Hadrian’s Wall sits 100miles below the city, offering a scenic depiction of the history between England and Scotland.
Almost every city in the UK has some aspect about itself that provides glimpses of culture, and almost all of them could have made the list. While everyone has their own favourite locations, London, Liverpool, and Edinburgh each offer a different look at how culture can be delivered by a city.
