The Most Overrated Tourist Destinations In The UK

Stonehenge, Salisbury - 'underwhelming!'

Image Source/ Swindon AdvertiserAlthough one of the most famous and mysterious phenomenon to ever occur in the UK, Stonehenge doesn't always go down a treat with its visitors. You might have visited Stonehenge on route from Bristol to London and even enjoyed the iconic, grand sights it has to offer. However, Stonehenge has been described as underwhelming and full of crowds.

Buckingham Palace, London - 'too many tourists!'

Image Source/ BBCBuckingham Palace, home to the Queen, is situated in the heart of London. If you're looking for an imperial, astonishing visit, your best to skip the palace. With packs of tourists, ugly architecture and expensive tour tickets, the palace is reduced to a hotel-looking building surrounded by a gate.

Angel of the North, Gateshead - 'ugly, boring!'

Image Source/ BBCDriving up to Newcastle you might come across the great sculpture designed by Antony Gormley, which is the iconic staple that tells you you're nearly there. A lot of the time, people park nearby in order to get out for a closer look. But the great metal eyesore has been described as ugly, boring and a waste of time! But hey, at least the parking's free.

Platform 9 3/4, London - 'too many queues!'

Image Source/ TripAdvisorThe fake Platform 9 3/4 was installed into a wall at King's Cross Station. However, it's not the original one and will see you waiting 30-60 minutes to even get yourself a photo! There's a gift shop nearby offering to take a "professional" photo with one of their Hogwarts' scarves.

Windsor Castle, Berkshire - 'overrated'

Image Source/ Whiskied WanderlustWindsor Castle is a regal castle situated in Windsor. The residence attracts thousands of visitors each year but doesn't always go down a treat. A TripAdvisor reviewer wrote that it's a "nice historic building" but was too overrated. They suggests Neuschwanstein Castle in Munich for a real royal visit.

Madame Tussauds, London - 'not funny'

Image Source/ Lonely TravelerIf you've ever visited London you'll be fully aware of what Madame Tussauds is. This place is home to legendary celebrity-lookalike waxworks. The waxworks are actually so good it makes the whole experience boring. It gives nothing to point and laugh at, which is what you really want from a waxwork museum.

Eden Project, Cornwall - 'overpriced'

Image Source/ WikipediaIf you've not been to England you might've never heard of the Eden Project. Essentially, it's two huge enclosures home to thousands of different plant species and is a massive tourist location. However, the experience has been described as overpriced, with tourists complaining that you can see as much as you can at Kew Gardens.

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh - 'hostile staff'

Image Source/ TripAdvisorIf you've ever seen Edinburgh Castle you'll notice it sits high up on Castle Rock and overlooks the streets and buildings of aesthetic Edinburgh. Many people enjoy the hike up to the castle walls and some may even pay the extortionate prices to get in. With limited parking, hostile staff and tacky stalls that block the view, you're probably best visiting Stirling castle.

The London Aquarium, London - 'average!'

Image Source/ TripAdvisorMake sure to skip this one on your London checklist. As you may have noticed, London is land-bound, and doesn't stretch along the coast. This means that everything you see here is entirely unrelated to London. Essentially, just the same as your average aquarium elsewhere!

The Peak District, Derbyshire - 'unwalkable'

Image Source/ Peak District KidsThe Peak District spans over several counties in England and includes peaks such as Dark Peak and Mam Tor. While it's a widely visited hiking area, a lot of people tend to think that the Peaks are overstated. An Irish Reddit user spoke of the lack of walkable land (80% of it being farmland) which massively restricts hikers.

Leicester Square, London - 'tourist-trap'

Image Source/ MyLondonIf you've gone to London you have to go to Leicester Square or you've not done it right, right? Wrong. Not only is it surrounded by tourist-trap, overpriced restaurants, it's basically New York's Time Square without the neon. If you want to follow the crowds, then definitely go here...

Holy Island, Northumberland

Image Source/ VisitScotlandBeing the birthplace of Christianity in Britain, you would think of a grandiose location. But that's not what you get when you visit Holy Island. Although it's causeway access and priory ruins are great to look at, the island is essentially a village with these added extras.

Abbey Road, London

Image Source/ WikipediaSwarms of people make the trek to Abbey Road in North London just to replicate that iconic photo The Beatles took. Well, don't. The road's not closed, it's very much active, and trying to get yourself this boring photo might actually get you killed!

Hadrian's Wall, England

Image Source/ Roaming SpicesHadrian's Wall, or the Roman Wall, covered the whole width from Wallsend to River Tyne to protect the Roman province of Britannia. Now, there's still remnants of the wall that lie around Cornwall and other areas. Many people flock to see the wall, however it doesn't always go down well. One TripAdvisor suggested only visiting in the Summer as in the Winter you can walk for miles without seeing a wall!

Warwick Castle, Warwickshire

Image Source/ FlickrThe medieval castle was originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. It has since been developed into a widely enjoyed tourist attraction, but that doesn't stop it being overrated. Guests have complained how expensive everything was, the lack of organisation and the flocks of school kids!

Loch Ness, Scotland

Image Source/ EuronewsIf you want to catch yourself a glimpse of a monster, best not to show up to Loch Ness. Despite it's mythical lore, you probably won't catch much sight of Nessie here. Even the Scots can agree that taking the trip to Loch Ness is overrated, but they still encourage you to go, if just for the beautiful lake.

Harrod's, London

Image Source/ The TelegraphThe first thing wrong about Harrod's is where it's placed... right in the middle of Oxford Street, which constantly bustles with London's fixture of tourists and residents. Secondly, the department store is just that, but for those wanting to buy their status.

Sandringham Castle, Norfolk

Image Source/ The Week UKOne of the royal residences, Sandringham has a rich, regal history in the UK. Each Winter attractions are put on which encourage flocks of people to come from all over the UK. However, it's very overrated. One reviewer described the experience as "underwhelming" and without any "wow factor".

Brighton Beach, Brighton

Image Source/ The ArgusBrighton itself is a fantastic place, with a fabulous gay scene and an array of music venues and bars for you to head to. But its beach... well, not so much. A brown and pebbly affair, it only lives up to its name on those extremely sunny days, and even then it's way too crowded.

Ben Nevis, Scotland

Image Source/ WikipediaBen Nevis, Britain's tallest mountain, is just that. There's no beauty in it as you traipse up its stumpy terrain. So for you mountaineers, this might just be one to tick off the bucket list and not much else. If you want views from gorgeous mountains, Britain's not your place.

The Shard, London

Image Source/ Hospitality InteriorsThe Shard is by far not overrated... just massively overpriced! Being the tallest building in the EU, the views from the 69th and 72nd floor are breath-taking and allow you to get a proper eyeful of London. However, even for a standard ticket its at least £30, which does nothing to rival Sky Gardens, which you can get in for free.

Land's End, Cornwall

Image Source/ Peter Puddiphatt PhotographyCornwall is well known for its gorgeous, glistening beaches and it's delicious ice cream. One thing that lets the Cornwall name down is definitely Land's End. While it's the furthest outward point of England, it's not even the most Southern, and attracts swarms of people just for that tacky picture with the sign.

Piccadilly Gardens, London

Image Source/ The TelegraphIf you're wanting to experience British culture and learn about the rich history, just skip Piccadilly Gardens. Home to tacky, cheaply-made trinkets and fast food chains, the Gardens really don't have much to offer and will set you back a hefty amount.

The Cotswolds, England

Image Source/ CN TravellerAlthough offering the quaint and peaceful conditions of a traditional English countryside, the Cotswolds don't really have much more going for it. There's cute villages and the residents are perfectly pleasant, but if you're looking for something breath-taking maybe look the other way.

Kensington Palace, London

Image Source/ Encyclopaedia BritannicaBased in Kensington Gardens, this royal residence doesn't have much going for it. It's been described as "dark and dank", with inaccessible labelling and a hard-to-track information system as you navigate it. The only reason for visiting here would be to see Princess Diana's dresses.

Roman Baths, Bath

Image Source/ TripSavvyIn the city of Bath you might stumble across the iconic Roman Baths. A lot of people go to learn about its rich history and interesting architecture. However, not everybody enjoys their experience. One reviewer wrote that they were "packed in like sardines". He compared it to his previous visit in the 1980s which was "magical".

York Minster, York

Image Source/ Rick Steves EuropeYork Minster is the picturesque cathedral that sits in the centre of York, one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Although a great experience, to enter the cathedral is expensive. One TripAdvisor review read:

"I have read the bible a few times but nowhere does it say that you have to pay to go into God's house. Greed and rip off merchants spring to mind."

The London Eye, London

Image Source/ Days Out GuideAnother London tourist destination tops this list, as that's where most of the tourist traps are! One of these is the iconic London Eye. Essentially, the great big Ferris wheel is just that, a Ferris wheel. There's nothing about it that makes it a standout attraction.

South Downs, England

Image Source/ WikipediaThe chalk hills that span across 260 square miles attract thousands of tourists each year. Many come to walk along its coastal path or along the top of the steep terrain. However, not everyone sees the glory. One TripAdvisor reviewer had issues with limited visibility on an overcast day (which most days are in England!).

Covent Garden, London

Image Source/ LondonCovent Garden is a great place to visit and you should definitely tick it off your London list. However, this doesn't mean everything's okay. You'll have to watch out for the usual tourist traps and find the nice cocktail lounges to sip from. Also, make sure to keep a hold of your wallet!