From Whisky to History: Unique Themed Tours to Try in 2026

There’s so much more to see on your next trip than all the mainstream landmarks we’ve all become so overly accustomed to. But more than that, exploring new places can be a far more personal experience than wandering around the attractions you feel obliged to go and see. In line with this, themed tours in the UK that align with your personal interests are becoming one of the best ways to experience the places you’re visiting. 

From tasting whisky in the Highlands and walking through the filming locations of your favourite movies to following in the footsteps of fascinating historical figures, these tours go beyond the usual tourist trail. In 2026, there will be even more choices for travellers who want something memorable and meaningful. If you’re planning your next trip, keep reading to find a 2026 tour with a bit of a twist.

Whisky Trails Across Scotland

Scotland’s whisky trails are some of the most renowned themed tours in the world. The Malt Whisky Trail, in particular, links together famous distilleries like Glenfiddich, The Macallan, and Cardhu, offering tastings and behind-the-scenes tours. Many visitors also head to Islay, known for its smoky single malts and friendly distillery bars that sit right by the sea. Campbeltown and the Highlands also have their own smaller trails, each with a different atmosphere and flavour.

Beyond the delicious whisky on offer, these routes offer the ability to wind through quiet countryside, coastal roads, and towns enriched with history. Local guides often share stories about how whisky shaped communities and how traditions are still passed down through families. Some tours also include visits to cooperages where barrels are made, or to local pubs where the same whisky has been poured for generations. Whether you’re a serious whisky fan or a casual spirits drinker, these trails offer a truly authentic taste of Scottish heritage and the Scottish way of life.

Industrial Heritage Tours in Northern England

The industrial past of Northern England is still very much visible everywhere, and many tours help to bring that history to life. In Manchester, the Science and Industry Museum offers guided walks through the old factory districts, showing how the city became the world’s first industrial hub. Meanwhile, in Leeds, the Armley Mills Museum and nearby canal walks trace the history of textile production, and in Sheffield, steel-making heritage tours explain how the city’s cutlery and tools revolutionised global manufacturing. Canal boat tours can also show how goods were once moved between factories, and over in Ironbridge Gorge, you can walk across the world’s very first iron bridge and make a visit the early workshops that built it.

These experiences go beyond displays: in many of these towns, former warehouses and mills have been turned into explorable spaces where you can discover actual restored machinery that’s up and running once again, especially for you. Industrial heritage tours reveal not just what Britain made, but how working class people irrevocably shaped the country we know and love today.

Literary Journeys Through the Countryside

For book lovers, literary tours are one of the most peaceful and indulgent ways to explore the UK. In Yorkshire, visitors can walk across the moors that inspired the Brontë sisters’ famous works, such as Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, starting from their former home in Haworth. Meanwhile, the Lake District offers the inspiring Wordsworth Trail, with stops at Dove Cottage and the landscapes that shaped his world-famous poetry. Down south, in Bath and Hampshire, Jane Austen tours explore her Romantic-era life and writing, including the Georgian streets that appear in her novels.

If you’re more interested in modern literature, the UK also offers a number of tours built around modern writers. In Oxford, fans of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis can join guided walks that visit their favourite pubs and university haunts, whilst in Edinburgh, you can take the Harry Potter walking tour to see the cafés and streets that inspired the books. Many of these tours are carried out in small groups with a laid back, relaxed approach, led by locals who know the stories inside out. The tour guides mix the literature with the place, demonstrating how the landscape itself becomes part of a book’s story.