Top 5 UK destinations to make your friends jealous on Instagram
1. Bristol
Bristol is an Instagrammer’s dream – take one look at #igersbristol and you’ll see what we mean. The city gave birth to Banksy, and the world-famous artist’s works are dotted all over the place. Set off on a walk and snap some of his most famous scenes, from The Girl with the Pierced Eardrum in Hanover Place, to the Grim Reaper on display at the M Shed.
As a maritime city, Bristol is also home to plenty of harbourside scenes that will seriously up your #gram game. Take a boat trip along the waterways with your phone at the ready – just be careful not to drop it in…
2. London
Well, obviously London gets a mention. It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to in the UK’s technicolor capital – from pastel-hued houses in Notting Hill, to the black cabs and red double-decker buses that criss-cross the city’s roads. Head to somewhere like Covent Garden and you’ve got no shortage of street entertainers, market stalls and bustling crowds jostling for attention. Or hop on a London sightseeing bus tour and fill your feed with snaps of London landmarks – from the London Eye to the Houses of Parliament.
If you’re after something a little more quirky, Sketch restaurant in Mayfair is home to some of the most Instagrammed toilets in the world. The futuristic pods are lit by a multi-coloured ceiling and the whole thing looks like a psychedelic scene from Alien. #toiletselfie, anyone?
3. Newquay
Nothing says summer like a beach, a board and a beautiful bronze tan. And you’ll find plenty of those in Newquay, Cornwall’s surfing epicentre. Visit in August and things hit a peak when crowds of surfers and skaters make their way here for Boardmasters festival, which runs over four days. It all happens on Fistral Beach – Cornwall’s answer to Bondi Beach – with live music and DJs aplenty.
If you fancy something a little more sedate, Newquay has plenty more beaches up its sleeve. Head to sandy stretches like Crantock and Lusty Glaze and fill those squares with equal parts sand, sea and sunsets – with a Valencia filter to make the colours pop. Or add to your stories with a scene full of gently bobbing fishing boats over at Newquay Harbour.
4. Norwich
History runs through the city of Norwich’s veins, from the medieval Norwich Cathedral to the old-school steam railway. Elm Hill should be top of your list if you’re here for the #gram, though. Some of the pretty buildings along this quaint cobbled lane date back to Tudor times, and the street is regularly named among Britain’s prettiest.
Bookish types will love Norwich, too – it was named the UK’s first UNESCO City of Literature back in 2012. The city is peppered with independent bookshops like The Book Hive in the Lanes, which lines up quirky titles you’ll struggle to find elsewhere. Time to stock up on books and impress your followers with your latest literary purchase – #amreading hashtag at the ready.
5. Cardiff
Ignoring the fact it’s thousands of years old, Cardiff Castle was made for Instagram. A Roman fort, medieval castle and Victorian Gothic revival palace all rolled into one, it houses interiors full of elaborate murals, ornate carvings and intricate stained-glass scenes – all of which make great Instagram fodder. While you’re here, get a shot from the caste overlooking City Hall, whack an old-school filter like Amaro or Hudson on for some extra spooky shadows, and hey presto – instant Insta jealousy.
If you’re wondering how to get here, take the megabus and you can make the most of free WiFi* onboard, as well as charging points* on most coaches. That means you can spend the journey adding filters, perfecting posts and fine-tuning your feed without running out of battery. Your Insta feed won’t know what’s hit it.
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Published on 6th July 2018
* Subject to availability