As we step into 2025, Britain is set to dazzle with new and exciting travel experiences. From innovative restaurants and luxurious hotels to exciting events and highly anticipated films, this year is packed with endless possibilities. Discover the new adventures awaiting you in England, Scotland, and Wales, and see why Britain deserves a spot on everyone’s travel bucket list for 2025.
1. Starring Great Britain: Go 'set jetting’ in Britain and immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes that set the stage for 2025’s most anticipated film and TV releases. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in London, exploring sites like Borough Market and Tower Bridge. Gear up for Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two (May 2025), set in the beautiful Lake District and lively streets of London. The Peaky Blinders movie (Late 2025) will bring Birmingham’s grit to life—don’t miss the Black Country Living Museum, a key filming location for the series. In Welcome to Wrexham: Series 4 (2025), Wrexham A.F.C. continues its inspiring journey with back-to-back promotions. Visit Wrexham to experience the excitement, local passion, and stunning Welsh scenery firsthand—you might even bump into co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney! Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein will haunt Scotland, with stops in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeenshire—be sure to visit Frankenstein's Edinburgh, a gothic venue with three bars, a buzzing vibe, eclectic menu, and a monster show. Outlander fans can join Rabbie’s Outlander Tours to explore filming locations throughout Scotland ahead of the release of the spin-off Outlander: Blood of My Blood (2025). Don't miss F1 (2025), which brings the high-speed thrill of Formula 1 racing to life against the backdrop of iconic British tracks—ideal for motorsport fans gearing up for a pit stop at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix! Downton Abbey fans can step into the world of the Crawley family as the release of Downton Abbey 3 (2025) approaches—visit the iconic Highclere Castle in Hampshire, and tour through the grounds of the grand estate that brought the series to life.
2. Visit the 2025 UK City of Culture: The English city of Bradford, in Yorkshire, is officially the UK’s City of Culture for 2025! Celebrations kick off with an exciting programme of more than 1,000 events celebrating the city’s vibrant blend of culture, heritage, and nature. Bradford, the world’s first UNESCO City of Film, will also bring its cinematic legacy to life with a life up of film events through the year. With a mass of museums to get stuck into, multicultural communities and the Victorian world of Saltaire on its doorstep, Bradford is a vibrant urban hub. Explore the Bradford Movie Trail, a self-guided tour of film locations and historic sites around the city centre. Don’t miss the re-opening of the National Science and Media Museum, which has undergone a major transformation. For a taste of local culture check out the Darley Street Market opening in Spring 2025, where visitors will find artisan goods and a vibrant community atmosphere.
3. Britain’s Newest Stays: Britain’s hotel scene welcomes exciting new additions this year. Opening Summer 2025, Mollie’s Manchester revitalizes the historic Old Granada TV Studios with 128 chic rooms, injecting fresh energy into this iconic site. Hotel Gotham Newcastle (5-Star), arriving Spring 2025, transforms the Old Fire Station with 60 bespoke rooms, a lively restaurant, and a unique event space, with an additional 30 rooms debuting in autumn. Wales introduces coastal luxury with Ty Gwyn Hotel Abersoch in Spring 2025, featuring serene waterfront views and upscale relaxation. Near Stratford-upon-Avon, The PIG-on the Farm (4-Star) opens in Autumn 2025, emphasizing local produce and sustainable luxury amid Cotswold landscapes. Newcastle-Gateshead’s The Sage is set for exciting new additions in 2025, enhancing its role as a vibrant event hub along the Tyne. The development will feature a 12,500-capacity arena, public green spaces, and two new hotels: the Novotel (4-Star), with 204 stylish rooms and a waterfront-view restaurant, and the ibis (3-Star), offering 140 rooms and a lively lounge. The Resident, Edinburgh (4-star), opened in November 2024, offers a stylish urban retreat with a focus on personalized service and local culture. Blending culture and luxury, Birmingham welcomed Baloci (5-Star) in September 2024, an Indo-Persian boutique hotel with a new luxurious bar, cigar lounge and just six rooms all designed to take you on a journey through the silk road!
4. London’s Luxury Boom: London’s hotel scene is set to expand in 2025 with a slate of notable openings. Dorsett Canary Wharf (4-Star) debuts in early 2025 with 231 rooms, a sky bar, and easy access to Canary Wharf’s transport links. The luxury Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch (5-Star) in 2025 will boast 100 rooms, a spa, and a grand restaurant overlooking Trafalgar Square. Six Senses will be opening its first UK property, Six Senses London (5-Star), in early 2025 in the historic Whiteley building in Bayswater, with 109 rooms, a Six Senses Spa, and 14 exclusive residences near Hyde Park and Kensington Palace. The Newman (4-Star), opening in Summer 2025, brings 38 boutique rooms, world-class dining, and a rooftop bar to Fitzrovia near Covent Garden. The Other House Covent Garden (4-Star), opening in late 2025, will offer the luxury of a private members' club with exclusive lounges, wellness and fitness facilities, and a stunning panoramic rooftop bar and terrace. Dao by Dorsett North London (4-Star) opened in Winter 2024 in Crouch End’s restored Town Hall, featuring 68 serviced apartments, co-working spaces, a cinema, and a rooftop bar.
5. Magic on the West End: The world of immersive theatre is set to enchant audiences in 2025 with a thrilling lineup of productions. West London will see a new venue, the Capital Theatre, opening in autumn 2025. The theatre will debut with an adaptation of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing—The Classic Story on Stage, running from October 2025 to March 2026. Fashion meets Music in the West Ends glamorous adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, in November 2024, exploring ambition and grace in the fashion industry. Kicking off the new year in February, Clueless the Musical offers a fresh and humorous take on the iconic American film, capturing the lively world of Beverly Hills teens through a vibrant pop score. Blending stunning choreography with uplifting music, the West End will welcome the enchanting story of Hercules in June 2025. Paddington: The Musical is planned to debut in London for 2025, capturing the magic of Paddington's adventures and mishaps with the Brown family. Beyond London, the UK tour of Mamma Mia, running from October 2025 to January 2026, make stops in cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh promising an exuberant celebration of love and friendship through ABBA’s beloved hits. From July to August sing along to the newest musical adaptation of beloved American TV series Friends, in theatres throughout England, Scotland and Wales! Finally, the 2025-2026 tour of Matilda The Musical, debuting on October 6 closes out the year with whimsical staging, catchy songs, and the spirit of resilience, including locations in Bristol, Cardiff, and Liverpool! Theatre will be star-studded this year as Bridgerton, Wicked, and Jurassic World actor Jonathan Bailey takes center stage in London for his performance in Richard II. The production will run at the Bridge Theatre from February to May 2025.
6. Rock Out at Iconic Concerts: Taylor Swift has shown that concert tourism is a major draw for travelers, and Britain is set to host an incredible lineup of acts in 2025. Making rock history, iconic British band Oasis will reunite for a highly anticipated tour, stopping in Cardiff, Manchester, London, and Edinburgh this summer. Sabrina Carpenter will perform in Birmingham, London, Glasgow, and Manchester in March, while Usher is set to take the stage for a series of shows in London in April. The Lumineers will grace venues in Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, and Birmingham over six days in May. Kylie Minogue will bring her highly anticipated Tension Tour to Britain this spring, performing in Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, London, Nottingham, and Birmingham, delivering a spectacular show filled with fan-favorite hits. Billie Eilish will be touring the UK in July, with performances scheduled in Glasgow, London, and Manchester. Global pop star Dua Lipa is set to bring her Radical Optimism tour to her home country in 2025, with dates confirmed for London, and Liverpool. Relive the golden era of music with unforgettable performances from the three B’s— Bruce Springsteen (Manchester & Liverpool), Billy Joel (Liverpool, Edinburgh), and Bob Dylan (Nottingham & London) —all on tour in 2025. Sting is bringing the ‘70s back with electric performances in cities across Britain including Cardiff, Glasgow and more. Mark your calendars for his iconic waterfront performance at Liverpool's on the Waterfront festival at Pier Head (June 19 – 22)! Finally, Coldplay will dazzle fans with shows in London and Hull in September for their 2025 tour.
7. New Museum Openings & Exhibits: Exciting developments are on the horizon for England in 2025! Set to debut in London is the V&A East Storehouse, an innovative cultural hub in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, offering public access to over 250,000 objects and immersive displays. The Museum of Shakespeare will open in early spring, located on the site of the historic Curtain Playhouse in Shoreditch, featuring immersive experiences that celebrate the Bard's legacy. Together, these attractions promise to enhance the cultural landscape and recreational offerings across the country. England’s Jewry Wall Museum in Leicester, a key site for Roman heritage and home to one of Britain’s most significant Roman structures, will reopen in Summer 2025 with enhanced exhibits showcasing the Iron, Roman, and Medieval eras. The Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park Museum in South Wales features a new interactive exhibition that brings the old coal mine to life on screen, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in Wales’ rich mining history. In London, art enthusiasts will be captivated by the British Museum's new exhibit, Gladiators of Britain, which delves into the history of gladiators who fought in British arenas. Cadbury World will be unveiling refurbishments to their popular Chocolate Making experience, set to reopening in December 2024.
8. Britain’s Newest Foodie Offerings: Britain’s food and drink scene is set to dazzle in 2025 with new culinary openings and refined dining experiences. Moving into the new year, Gordon Ramsay will unveil his latest venture in London 22 Bishopsgate in February. The excitement continues as Carbone the renowned US dining hotspot, lands in Mayfair in 2025, alongside the anticipated arrival of Blacktap, bringing its famed craft burgers and beers across the pond. Additionally, Simpsons in the Stand is set to reopen in 2025, ensuring a rich blend of tradition and modernity in London’s vibrant dining scene. Pip at Treehouse Hotel Manchester, is set to open in 2025 and will offer a menu focused on locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. In Autumn 2024, Cardiff introduced Terra Mare, a sophisticated Italian restaurant, while Glasgow welcomed Margo a dining experience for seafood and meat lovers. In London, the Savoy Lounge, debuted in November 2024 as a luxurious addition to the Savoy Hotel. In Bristol, Dongnae, which opened in September 2024, serves Korean staples like BBQ and beef tartare. Briar at townhouse hotel, Number One Bruton in Somerset, also opened in September 2024 and offers seasonal farm-to-table dishes made with ingredients from its kitchen garden and local producers. With this remarkable array of restaurants, 2025 is reckoned to be a year of unforgettable culinary experiences in Britain!
9. Sip on British Wines & Spirits: Uncover the world of rich brewing and distilling heritage in Britain! Highland Park Distillery, Orkney, Scotland’s a 200-year-old distillery known for its smoky whisky crafted with heathered peat, is undergoing environmental upgrades to reduce carbon emissions by 20% and will welcome visitors back in 2025. Scotland’s Eden Mill Distillery will revive distilling in St Andrews after 150 years, offering premium single malt whiskies and gins. Powered entirely by renewable energy from the University of St Andrews' solar farm, the distillery will also capture fermentation CO₂ for university use. Wine enthusiasts can look forward to visiting Domaine Evermond, located in the village of Chillham, Kent, renowned for its exquisite English sparkling wines. The vineyard is set to open its doors to visitors in spring 2025, with a special inauguration by The Duchess of Edinburgh! In Wales, Polly’s Brew Co. is set to open its first taproom, Polly’s Social in Mold (Northern Wales) during the spring of 2025.
10. Celebrating Milestones: Historic Anniversaries Across the UK: Britain is set to celebrate significant anniversaries in 2025, starting with the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich will mark 100 years as a film location, highlighting its baroque architecture with special tours. In Liverpool, the Empire Theatre will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a vibrant lineup of performances, including Hamilton and Blood Brothers. The London Eye will commemorate its 25th birthday with events throughout the year, inviting visitors to enjoy breathtaking views of the city. Samlesbury Hall, a historic house in Lancashire, England, will celebrate its 700th anniversary with a year-long program under the banner "Samlesbury 700,"offering diverse activities for all ages. The estate also features four types of accommodation—huts, lodges, campgrounds, and cottages—along with exciting events and dining options. Additionally, Lullingstone Castle located in Dartford, England will honor the 20th anniversary of The World Garden and the 25th anniversary of curator Tom Hart Dyke’s extraordinary journey, with exhibitions highlighting the garden's history. The National Botanic Garden of Wales is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025 with events, special programmes, tours, and activities planned.
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