The United Kingdom encompasses England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Here are some popular destinations to keep in mind when planning your next UK holiday!
Things to see in England
England is a thrilling mix of history and modernity – where the cabs are black, football is a religion, the royal family reigns supreme and the countryside is pitcture-perfect.
- Lakes District: a gorgeous expanse of green landscape, hills, mountains and lakes that attracts more than 10 millions visitors a year.
- Oxford: home to the world’s academically-elite, this town oozes charm and character
- Canterbury Chapel
- Roman Baths: a bath-and-temple complex built by the Romans in 100AD (constructed over one of Bath’s three natural hot springs)
- Shakepeare’s Globe: the reconstructed Globe Theatre, which burned down in 1613.
- Stonehenge: Located in Wiltshire, the origins of this mysterious prehistoric site have tortured tourists and historians alike for years. A ring of enormous stones, Stonehenge is thought to be aligned in harmony with celestial bodies, however its purpose is obscure. No one knows how or why the stones were originally dragged up from South Wales 5000 years ago. Each year, the site attracts hundreds for the summer solstice.
There are also plenty of sightseeing opportunities in London, such as its museums (in particular, the Tate Modern and the National Gallery of Art), the Westminster Abbey (one of the most poplar churches in the Christian world), Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and Bond St.
Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Religion plays at the heart of much of Ireland’s history, and there’s plenty to show for it: sacred sites, stone circles and 1000-year-old churches mingle with the castles, forts and old mansions of the exquisitely-beautiful gardens and countryside. Blarney Castle (in County Cork), the Kilkenny Castle (in Kilkenny), and, of course, the charming city of Dublin itself are all worth popping into.
Scotland’s cities each have something different to offer - such as the medieval character of Edinburgh, the red stone of Glasgow and the charm of Aberdeen. Inner Hebrides, beaches and Highlands cap off this remarkable country.
While Wales might be the smalles of the lot, there’s still plenty of sights to see. Highlights include Cardiff, the Caernarfon Castle, the Devil’s Bridge and St Govan’s Cathedral.
Holiday tours and package deals
Mini-coach tour companies, such as Astral Travels (www.astraltravels.co.uk) are a great way to plan your holiday, thanks to the small group-atmosphere and short sightseeing tours. Astral plans everything from full-day tours (such as its Stones and Bones tour to Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge and Celtic burial grounds) to half-day tours (such as the evening London Pub Tour) as well as organizing extended tours and private tours, for those seeking customised tours of Britain.
For those seeking family day holiday packages, educational tours, cruise/boat trips, or shopping trips, head to Translink Tours (www.translinktours.com.au) for a comprehensive list of travel arrangements.
Visit www.goldentours.co.uk for a complete choice of bus/coach/boat tours within England’s capital.
Trafalgar Tours (www.trafalgartours.com) offer plenty of travel/accommodation coach package deals, such as the 8-day Britain and Ireland Highlights package that visits Stratfor-upon-Avon, York, Glasgow, Edinburg, Belfast, Cardiff, Bath, Stonehenge and Salisbury.
For online holiday package deals, head to STA Travel (www.statravel.com.au), where you can find cheap airfare packages, such as the Big Trip UK deal (starting from $1249, includes return airfares, 2 nights accommodation and breakfasts).
Be sure to check out Topdeck Europe for more organized tour packages and accommodation deals (www.topdecktours.co.uk).
Backpackers to Scotland and Wales can sign up for a Haggis backpacker tour; those traveling to Ireland need to sign up for a Shamrocker backpacker tour.
Other great online deals can be found at www.knowhowtravel.com.au and www.onlinetravel.com.au, such as these package deals: Classic Belfast (3 days from $227), Take a Wee Dram of Edinburgh (2 nights from $217) and A Week in London (6 nights from $779).
Or, plan your next trip to the UK around England’s famous Tennis Grand Slam event – book a Wimbledon Championships package from $573 at www.travelshop.com.au