UK and Ireland's Coolest Cultural Experiences

Deep dive into the UK and Ireland with these epic experiences that will highlight this part of the world’s unique history and culture.

1. Have afternoon tea in London

Travelling with: Emma Ventura

Leave it to the ever-inventive city of London to first refine the quintessentially English institution of afternoon tea – and then turn it on its head. For purists, a table at the opulent Palm Court at The Ritz London – with a flute of Barons de Rothschild Brut, of course – will always be unsurpassed. But if you like your tea ritual shaken and stirred, the UK capital now offers tons of alternatives; think Japanese-inspired bites at Nobu London, trompe-l’œil creations from French pastry chef Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley’s twist on the classic, Goûtea, and – curiouser and curiouser – Sanderson London’s Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea. White Rabbit pastries, anyone?

high tea at Nobu London — Partake in an afternoon tea at Nobu London. (Image: James Moyle)

2. Go wild swimming across the UK

Travelling with: Emma Ventura

A bit chilly it may be, but the British are increasingly taking to their waters, thanks to a boom in wild swimming, as it’s known in the UK. Soak up the experience in the cooler months with added creature comforts at Yorkshire’s Broughton Sanctuary, where bracing lake swims in the beautiful grounds of the 16th-century estate are offset by its woodland sauna and fire temple experience. Or try Cornwall’s Three Mile Beach, where a cold-water package includes your own stunning pastel-hued beach house with sauna and hot tub, guided coasteering, surfing and ice baths – plus the chance to enjoy the county outside of the madding summer crowds.

wild swimming in Broughton Sanctuary — Go wild swimming in the UK. (Image: Broughton Sanctuary)

3. Party at Glastonbury Festival

Travelling with: Imogen Eveson

In the summer of 1970, Somerset dairy farmer Michael Eavis held an event in his fields near the small village of Pilton. The Pilton Pop, Folk & Blues Festival cost £1 to attend (the ticket price included free milk) and saw 1500 young hippies gather to see bands such as headliner Tyrannosaurus Rex. Fast-forward 54 years and the event that locals still call Pilton is going strong.

Glastonbury Festival has grown to be one of the biggest festivals of music and performing arts in the world – in numbers and reputation. Today, more than 200,000 people converge on 600 hectares of countryside in England’s bucolic South West in June to see headline acts storm the legendary Pyramid Stage – built on a ley line and in sight of nearby Glastonbury Tor – and to explore the weird, wild and wonderful of more than 100 other stages that encompass everything from music to dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and beyond.

the Glastonbury Festival, Pilton, Somerset, England — Glastonbury Festival is one of the biggest festivals of music and performing arts in the world. (Image: Alamy/Joanne Newman)

4. Uncover Scottish history at Perth’s new museum

Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

Scotland’s culture is inflected by its wild landscapes, from the glittering lochs to the rugged Highlands. Housed in a heritage Edwardian building in the nation’s former capital, the newly opened Perth Museum pieces together Scotland’s cultural identity through a series of artefacts.

the exterior of Perth Museum — Unearth Scotland’s culture at Perth Museum. (Image: Greg Holmes)

Think silver 16th-century swords, medieval stone sculptures and a 3000-year-old log boat. The central piece is the Stone of Destiny, a ritual stone that’s been used in the coronation of monarchs since 840 CE. The museum’s opening in March of this year marked the return of the stone to Perthshire for the first time in more than 700 years.

5. Rekindle your love of books in Hay-on-Wye

Travelling with: Taylah Darnell

As much as any bookworm loves their local library or bookshop, I’m betting many would happily renounce their membership if it meant a visit to Hay-on-Wye (myself included).

the Hay Castle Honesty Bookshop — This Honesty Bookshop runs on the grounds of Hay Castle. (Image: Alamy/Jeff Morgan 14)

Nestled in the historic county of Brecknockshire in Wales, this small community has been heralded the first ‘Booktown’ of the world thanks to the 20-plus bookshops that call it home – roughly one for every 100 of its population.

It’s impossible to stroll the streets without spotting a collection of paper spines, from shelves built into brick walls and a bibliotheca on almost every corner to the annual Hay Festival – one of the world’s biggest celebrations of literature.

shelves full of books at — Pick books from shelves built into brick walls. (Image: Alamy/Loop Images LTD)

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6. Trace your family roots in Ireland

Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

I’ve just arrived in Cobh, a harbour town on the south coast of County Cork. This was the very last sight of Irish shores beholden by great-great-great grandfather, 18-year-old Thomas Byrnes, while he was “chained ankle-to-ankle" onboard a British naval ship in 1836.

an old photo of Thomas Byrnes (second from right) — Thomas Byrnes (second from right) arrived in Australia as a convict at the age of 18.

I’m hoping to trace his story at Cobh Heritage Centre, a museum that’s compiled resources to help guests search for their long-dead relatives. I’ve already started my search to connect the threads of my ancestral past at the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin. Through rental and land records dating back to 1858, I’m able locate to the exact plot of farmland that my great-great-grandfather lived on, and one week later, I’m standing there. I’ve never visited this place before. And yet, I feel so connected to it.

the Cobh Heritage Centre, Ireland — Cobh was the final glimpse of Ireland for many Irish convicts. (Image: Alamy/Geog Photos)

This round-up of cultural experiences is part of our curated list of 100 Cultural Experiences, explore the full list here.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

UK to Ireland: 6 must-have cultural experiences