The best new attraction for 2026 has been unveiled, and it’s not a theme park.

TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards bring together the best of the best of beaches, hotels, and things to do. If you’re visiting a new destination, it’s worth looking at the attractions it recommends, as it often manages to uncover hidden gems.

When it comes to the Best of the Best Things to Do in the United Kingdom, the top slot is taken by a rather surprising attraction that many people may not have heard of. However, it has an impressive 4.7 score on TripAdvisor, including over 18,000 reviews that rank it as Excellent. It’s a must for people interested in history and the royal family.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is just a 20-minute tram ride from the centre of Edinburgh and is docked in the Port of Leith. The yacht was first launched in 1953, and for decades was a floating home away from home for the royal family. It covered over a million nautical miles as it hosted royal trips, state visits, glittering royal parties, and official events.

Visitors can step onboard and explore this ship, which was once among the most famous on the seas. You can visit the bridge and learn about how the ship was navigated, before touring the royal quarters and seeing where the Queen and other family members spent their time while sailing.

There’s also a chance to see the crew’s quarters, and even step into the impressive, and very shiny, engine room to learn about the inner workings of the ship. An interactive visitors’ centre packed full of interesting archive footage telling the history of Britannia provides important context.

It’s also worth visiting the Royal Deck Tearoom to enjoy a taste of royal life. This grand tearoom is set on part of the ship where the royals would play games and entertain guests onboard. If you grab a table, you can be one of them. Enjoy smoked salmon sandwiches with a cup of tea, a glass of champagne, or treat yourself to a scone slathered in clotted cream.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is docked just outside of Ocean Terminal, a large waterfront shopping centre that has a wide selection of chain stores, cafés, and a cinema. It’s home to the Wee Museum of Memory which is full of objects from the past few decades aimed at invoking nostalgia. Visitors can pick up and feel or smell items from retro electronics to food packaging, all aimed at shaking your childhood memories loose.

On warmer days, you can walk along the nearby waterfront promenade while enjoying views across the Firth of Forth estuary and looking out for cruise ships coming in to dock.

Ensure our latest stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.