The United Kingdom is made up of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The former Empire used to be one of the most powerful countries in the world, but nowadays, its people are focused on the future rather than the past, which witnessed the fall of the empire, the loss of its trading base and the nation's inability to adjust to a diminished role in the modern world.

The country is not a colonial empire anymore, but there are numerous sights to remind visitors of that glorious past. Many of these sights are located in England and include the nation's capital of London, where you can visit landmarks such as Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and the historically rich Westminster Abbey.

Other interesting places in England include Canterbury Cathedral, which is probably the most impressive, evocative and most beautiful cathedral in England; Durham, which boast numerous cathedrals too; Oxford, the world's most famous university town and York, which has been the capital of the north for nearly 2000 years.

The Lake District is the greenest and most pleasant part of England, while the New Forest boasts the largest area of natural vegetation left in England. Northumberland is one of the wildest and least-spoilt counties in England. In Northumberland are probably more castles and battlefield sites here than anywhere else in the country. The famous prehistoric site of Stonehenge, the limestone escarpment of the Cotswolds and the rocky Isles of Scilly are also worth a visit.

In Scotland, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow shouldn't be missed, while the Aviemore Area offers excellent hiking and skiing possibilities.

Wales offers interesting national parks, including Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks. The cities of Cardiff, Conwy, Hay-on-Wye and St David's are also very popular with tourists.

Click on the images to learn more about this interesting destination. A map of United Kingdom will open full-screen. Just click on towns and places you want to know more about.