England/Scotland/Wales SHOES?

Following. We’ll be there in August. I usually wear sneakers (aka athletic shoes) but want to hear of any better options. Thank you!

We've never used waterproof shoes at all. We do use comfortable, well broken in, solid surface walking shoes, and have seldom had a problem. We do, however, keep a pair of dry socks in a zip lock baggie in our day bag. On two occasions we were glad we did.

I think you might find a lot of useful information in the Forum section for Best Walking Shoes for Travel:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/best-travel-shoes

I just bought a pair of Keen waterproof shoes, cheap at Nordstrom Rack $60 vs list of $160. These are for next year's England/Ireland trip. So far I've worn them several times on the treadmill for a mile with an incline. Comfortable out of the box.
Otherwise I wear Ryka sneakers; my feet like Devotion. https://www.ryka.com/
If you don't like sneakers look at Alegria. Most are leather, various styles, cork insoles. https://alegriashoes.com/ My arthritic feet changed so I outgrew mine.

We've never used waterproof shoes at all.

I've never NOT worn waterproof shoes when traveling. For years my go-to shoe both here in Los Angeles and when traveling was the Timberland Stormbuck oxford. Truly waterproof and great support - could go all day with no sign of fatigue. While it seldom rains in LA, when it does rain it can pour, and as drainage in parking lots isn't always the greatest, you can encounter major puddles if not prepared.

Timberland discontinued the Stormbuck oxford, so I just finished my second trip with the Timberland waterproof Chukka boot. Truly waterproof, and now that they're broken in, great support. The mildly aggressive lugs on the sole help with cobblestones as well as gravel. These are also rather attractive shoes, so you don't feel out of place in more formal situations, such as the opera or theatre.

Keen waterproof Targhee.

My pair has been to London, Paris, Havana, Yosemite, Santa Fe, San Francisco, Morro Bay, to name of few places. Pricey but IMHO worth every penny. Great sandals, lace ups and slip ons as well.

I wear Altra black leather Torin 5. They don't look like athletic shoes when they are on. They also come in wide widths even in small sizes and have a large toe box. They aren't advertised as waterproof but in practice they are. You have to step in a puddle deep enough to come up over the top of the shoes to get wet feet. Can walk through wet grass and shallow puddles all day. My feet, and back, never hurt in these shoes, even on 8 mile days of cobbles, stairs, parks, hiking trails.

Regardless of looks, I much prefer decent runners ("sneakers or sports shoes" to Americans) to cool looking Sketchers or the like. My feet need the support.

I really like the brand vessi out of Vancouver. They are waterproof and so comfortable. A little on the pricey side, but sometimes go on sale. I have the weekend sneaker in oak brown and it really doesn’t look like a regular sneaker, more like a moccasin with laces. They also have a new slip on that looks interesting. One of the most comfortable shoes I own. I will definitely be getting another pair when these give out. Might be worth a look. www.vessi.com

I wear Oboz Bozeman Low Leather shoes. They are water-resistant, fit like a dream and feels incredibly supportive! I was attracted to its looks first - it's leather with a sort of "mountain-town" look (stole that from their website - it's a good description) and does not look like your typical athletic shoe. They fit comfortably yet snugly, have a nice arch (with a very supportive insole), room for my toes and best of all, look really good on my feet - in fact, they made my feet look smaller, imho!

I like them so much, I now own 3 pair. :-)

I wore black Dansko Paisley shoes on a recent trip. They say they are waterproof, but it never rained hard enough for me to confirm that. I think they both look better and are more supportive than my athletic shoes.

I also wear Dansko Paisley and they are great for me. I find them much more comfortable in museums than tennis shoes, as the sole is very supportive. I have worn them in the rain and do not recall getting wet feet.

Whatever you get, make sure they work for YOUR feet not what works for others. I've made the mistake of choosing a brand over good fit and regretted it immensely. Any new shoes should be broken in well, but given your trip is in less than a month, you do not have time to do that thoroughly. So make sure to pack moleskin or blister protection. You can use a waterproofing spray or cream to add protection to most any shoes, that may be an option for something you already have on hand.