November 27, 2025
9 mins
Destination: United Kingdom
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Landing in the UK as an Aussie can feel a little like visiting your distant cousin. You share plenty of history, a bit of rivalry, and more than a few family in-jokes (usually cricket-related). Sure, the weather takes some getting used to and you won’t find a flat white on every corner, but dig a little deeper and you’ll discover the UK is full of Aussie touchpoints. From memorials that honour our history to coastlines that remind you of home, it’s surprisingly easy to find those familiar comforts with a British twist.
Here are ten things to see and do that will make any Australian feel right at home, without needing a 24-hour flight to get there.
Howzat! Visit Lord’s Cricket Ground
There’s nothing quite like the sound of leather on willow to make an Aussie feel at home. At Lord’s, the “Home of Cricket,” history seeps out of every brick and blade of grass. Walking through the Long Room feels like stepping into a temple, while spotting the Ashes urn in the museum can give you goosebumps (and possibly flashbacks of nail-biting Test matches).
On a sunny day, sitting in the stands with a pint and a pork pie feels almost sacrilegious without a meat pie and VB, but hey, you’re here for the cricket. Whether you do the behind-the-scenes tour or score tickets for a match, Lord’s is a must-do.
📍 St John’s Wood Rd, London NW8 8QN
🌐 www.lords.org
Indulge in a Brunch
Back home, brunch isn’t just a meal, it’s a lifestyle. Thankfully, the UK has caught on, with Aussie-inspired cafés popping up across London and beyond. Places like Granger & Co (from Sydney’s own Bill Granger) or Lantana Café serve up all the essentials: perfectly poached eggs, smashed avo on sourdough, banana bread, and flat whites strong enough to cure jet lag.
The vibe is less greasy spoon, more Melbourne laneway—plants hanging from the ceiling, chatty staff, and plates that look almost too pretty to eat. It’s the perfect spot to grab a taste of home when you’re feeling a little homesick.
📍 Granger & Co, 50 Sekforde St, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 0HA
🌐 www.grangerandco.com
📍 Lantana Café, 13 Charlotte Place, London W1T 1SN
🌐 www.lantanacafe.co.uk
The First Fleet at the National Maritime Museum
If you’re an Aussie abroad, the story of the First Fleet is part of your DNA, whether you trace your roots back to those first arrivals or just grew up studying them in school. The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich explores Britain’s seafaring past, and its exhibitions on the voyages to Australia bring history vividly to life.
Standing in front of the displays, you can almost imagine the creaking ships, the endless ocean, and the nerves of those making a one-way journey to the other side of the world. Afterward, wander Greenwich Park for one of London’s best views over the city.
📍 Romney Rd, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF
🌐 www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritime-museum
Reflect at The Australian War Memorial
Tucked into Hyde Park Corner, the Australian War Memorial is a serene and surprisingly moving spot. Its polished granite walls are engraved with the names of Australian towns, each representing those who served and died in the two World Wars.
Standing there, far from home but surrounded by familiar names—Sydney, Wagga, Alice Springs—it hits differently. It’s a place for quiet reflection, a moment to honour those who came before us, and to feel the deep, enduring link between the UK and Australia.
📍 Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7LY
🌐 www.awmlondon.gov.au
Zip around a ParkRun
If Aussies are known for anything, it’s loving a bit of fitness mixed with community spirit. ParkRun is exactly that—and fun fact, it started right here in the UK! Every Saturday morning, thousands of people across the country lace up their trainers for a free, timed 5k.
Bushy Park in London is where it all began, and running alongside deer in a royal park is a very different vibe to pounding the pavement at home. Whether you jog, walk, or sprint, it’s the perfect way to feel like a local while keeping your step count up.
📍 Bushy Park, London TW12 1NE (and locations UK-wide)
🌐 www.parkrun.org.uk
Cycle the Cotswolds (Think Southern Highlands or Barossa Valley)
The Cotswolds is Britain’s version of the Southern Highlands or the Barossa Valley—rolling hills, stone cottages, and plenty of country pubs. Grab a bike and spend the day pedalling through postcard-perfect villages like Bourton-on-the-Water or Stow-on-the-Wold.
The roads meander through fields of sheep, over gentle hills, and past old churches. Stop at a tearoom or vineyard (yes, English wine is very much a thing these days). It’s the sort of weekend escape where you earn your pint—or your cream tea—by working up a sweat.
📍 Start in Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0AX (great rail links from London)
🌐 www.cotswolds.com
Visit the Captain Cook Museum in Whitby
Whitby is where a young Captain James Cook learned his trade before heading out on the voyage that changed Australia forever. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum brings his story to life in the very house where he once lived.
Whitby itself is a delight—colourful fishing boats bobbing in the harbour, cobbled streets winding up to a ruined abbey, and the best fish and chips you’ll ever eat. Standing by the harbour wall, it’s not hard to imagine the Endeavour setting out to sea.
📍 Grape Lane, Whitby YO22 4BA
🌐 www.cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk
See Macquarie’s Mausoleum over the border in Scotland
Over on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, you’ll find the final resting place of Lachlan Macquarie, the Governor of New South Wales known as the “Father of Australia.” His mausoleum sits in a quiet corner of the Highlands, surrounded by sweeping landscapes that look straight off a postcard.
It’s a surprisingly moving visit, this man shaped early colonial Australia, and here he lies in the misty Scottish countryside. Combine it with a road trip through the Highlands and you’ll have one of the most unforgettable experiences of your UK adventure.
📍 Gruline, Isle of Mull PA67 6DT
🌐 www.isle-of-mull.net
Hike the South West Coast Path (Our answer to the Cape to Cape Track)
Western Australia has the Cape to Cape, but Britain has the South West Coast Path—an epic 630-mile trail hugging the rugged coastline of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset. Don’t panic, you don’t have to do it all. Pick a section and prepare for wildflowers, clifftop views, and coves that look like they belong in the tropics.
Cornwall’s stretches are particularly magical, with turquoise waters and white sandy beaches—though you’ll need a wetsuit if you fancy a swim! After your hike, reward yourself with a Cornish pasty or cream tea (just remember: jam or cream first is a very heated debate down here).
📍 Start anywhere along the path; popular section: St Ives to Zennor, Cornwall TR26
🌐 www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Swim at Kynance Cove, England’s Bondi
Kynance Cove is the beach that makes you double-take. White sand, turquoise water, dramatic rocky outcrops—it’s as close to Bondi as England gets. On a sunny day, you could swear you were back home… until you dip a toe in the water (spoiler: it’s cold).
Still, with its surfy vibe and hidden caves, it’s one of the UK’s most photogenic beaches. Bring swimmers if you’re brave, or just kick back on the sand with a Cornish pasty from the little beach café.
📍 Kynance Cove, The Lizard, Cornwall TR12 7PJ
🌐 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kynance-cove
Being an Aussie in the UK doesn’t mean leaving everything familiar behind. From cricket to coastlines, brunches to bike rides, there are plenty of experiences that connect you to home—while giving you a whole new appreciation of this little island. So lace up your trainers, grab your flat white, and start exploring.
