ENGLAND
London London is England's capital city and literally bursts with culture and seemingly endless artistic and architectural triumphs. The City of London, in the east, is built on the site of the original Roman settlement and is now London's financial district, like Wall Street, currently enjoying a revival of new modern hotels, restaurants and wine bars, amidst the older "classics." London is ever bustling and growing and its varied metropolis ensures captivating museums, gourmet dining, unique galleries, clubs of every flavor, nightlife and a diverse range of sensational year-round theatre, music and outdoor recreation. [go back]
London Sightseeing Palaces and Historic buildings - London
Banqueting House Whitehall Palace was the sovereign's main residence between 1530 and 1698 before it was destroyed by a fire. Banqueting House is all that now remains of the Palace. It is famous for its Rubens ceiling paintings and as the site of Charles' execution. [go back]
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace is open to the public from August-September. Tours take in the State Rooms, including the Throne Room, Picture Gallery and State Dining Room. These principal rooms, which form the backdrop to the pageantry of court ceremony and official entertaining, occupy the west front overlooking the garden and are all opulently decorated with some of the finest pictures, tapestries and works of art from the Royal Collection. [go back]
Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Palace is the oldest Tudor palace in England with many attractions including the State Apartments, the famous maze, King's Apartments, Tudor kitchens and real tennis courts. Houses of Parliament During August and September there are tours of this historic building. Visitors can see the Queen's Robing Room, the Royal Gallery, the Prince's Chamber, the Chamber of the House of Lord's, the Central Lobby, House of Commons, Members Lobby, Division Lobby, St Stephens Hall and Westminster Hall. [go back]
The Tower of London With Yeoman Warders, ravens, the Crown Jewels and a history that saw the Tower as a palace, prison and (bizarrely) a zoo, the Tower of London is not to be missed. [go back]
St Paul's Cathedral St. Pauls is one of the world's most famous cathedrals designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Visitors can climb into the Whispering Gallery for its special audio effects and magnificent views of the interior. The Crypt houses memorials to famous figures, such as Lord Nelson. [go back]
Westminster Abbey As one of Britain's finest Gothic buildings, Westminster Abbey has hosted coronations, marriages and burials of British monarchs. Visitors can see the coronation chair, royal tombs and the grave of the unkown warrior. Due to a number of special services the Abbey opens at 1300 on 1 Oct and 1330 on 7 Nov. The Abbey is closed all day to visitors on 23 Oct. [go back]
Kensington Palace Kensington Palace has been a royal home for over 300 years with parts of the Palace remaining as a private residence to members of the Royal Family today. Any visit should include the Kings Apartment with its magnificent collection of Old Masters, the elegant Orangery and Sunken Garden and the spectacular Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection including dresses worn by The Queen and Diana, Princess of Wales. [go back]
Visitor's Attractions - London
British Airways London Eye At 135 metres in height, this is the world's highest observation wheel. It provides a 30-minute, slow-moving 'flight' over London, offering fantastic panoramic views. It is especially enjoyable in the evening and has become a romantic gesture to overlook the bright lights of London at night while in the confines of a quiet booth. [go back]
BFI London IMAX Cinema Enjoy a film on the UK's largest cinema screen - at 20 metres high, it is nearly as tall as five double decker buses! Together with a powerful digital surround-sound system and the most sophisticated motion-picture projector in the world, film fans can totally immerse themselves in larger-than-life 2D and 3D images. [go back]
Kew Gardens The Royal Botantic Gardens feature 300 acres containing living collections of over 40,000 varieties of plants. There are also seven spectacular glasshouses, two art galleries,a Japanese garden and a rock garden. [go back]
London Aquarium Featuring hundreds of varieties of fish and sealife from around the world. This is the only place in London where visitors can come face to face with sharks, gigantic conger eels and deadly stone fish. There are daily talks, dives and feeds. Visitors can meet piranhas, stroke stingrays and touch starfish and crabs. [go back]
London Brass Rubbing Centre Visitors can make traditional brass rubbings of Britain's royalty, medieval and Tudor characters as well as unusual Celtic designs. Materials and help are provided. Look out for special offers mid-week. [go back]
London Dungeon Located deep in the heart of London, buried beneath the paving stones of historic Southwark, lies the world's most chillingly famous horror attraction - bringing more than 2,000 years of gruesomely authentic history vividly back to life....and death. As you delve into the darkest chapters of a grim and bloody past, recreated in all its dreadful detail, remember that everything you experience really happened...! [go back]
London Planetarium For over 40 years the London Planetarium has thrilled visitors with its famous star shows. Today visitors can take a virtual reality trip through space thanks to the most advanced star projector in Europe. There are also two interactive space zones - discover your weight on Jupiter, learn about blackholes and search for Extra Terrestrials! [go back]
Shakespeare in London
Shakespeare's Globe The Globe is a reconstruction of an open air theatre designed in 1599, situated close to its original Bankside, Southwark location. The idea to build the reconstruction had been a long term dream of Sam Wanamaker, the famous actor and director. After overcoming many obstacles his dream was finally realised when Shakespeare's Globe was opened by The Queen in June 1997. [go back]
Step back in time Seeing a performance at Shakespeare's Globe is a unique experience designed to be as close to watching a performance in the 16th century as possible. There is no electronic equipment, microphones or stage lighting used, and as in Shakespeare's time, audience participation is encouraged.
As the theatre is open to the elements it is important to be prepared for all weathers. The theatre's seating arrangements consist of wooden benches (many without back supports) in three galleries and standing room in the yard around the stage. People standing are known as 'groundlings' and pay only £5, the equivalent of the penny paid in 1600. [go back]
England - More Places of Interest
Darlington Darlington is situated amid some of the most beautiful countryside in England. County Durham's largest town and the birthplace of the railway age, the original engine is in the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum at the town's North Road station. Three national parks are within easy reach, the River Tees and North Yorkshire are to the south, rural Teesdale to the west and County Durham to the north. Darlington offers a wide variety of attractions including excellent education, health and leisure facilities, good shopping, and safe parking. [go back]
Lake District The Lake District National Park is the very heart of beautiful Cumbria in England's North Country. For centuries its great lakes, mountains, falls and wooded valleys have provided inspiration to writers such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. [go back]
Manchester England's third largest city, Manchester is one of Britain's liveliest centres for the arts, nightlife, sport and entertainment. Excellent international transport links make it a leading gateway to the many attractions of England's North Country [go back]
Exeter A leading University city, commercial centre and transport hub with good road, rail and air links, Exeter was largely rebuilt after much damage in the war. The 13th Century cathedral has a magnificent W front and there are notable waterfront buildings. [go back]
Bath Superb Roman remains and a wealth of fine Georgian architecture justify Bath's position as a World Heritage site. This elegant city, whose name and fame derive from its hot springs, is full of colour, style and life. It combines a fascinating history with countless museums and attractions, a vibrant shopping and nightlife scene and a year-round programme of theatre, festivals, live music and street entertainment. [go back]
Liverpool The city is familiar to many people the world over, as birthplace of the legendary group The Beatles and home of football giants Liverpool Football Club. Its early fame and fortune was made as the country's main transatlantic trading port in the 18th century, a fact Liverpool celebrates in its numerous museums and fine municipal buildings. [go back]
York York is one of the most intriguing cities in England, offering layers of history from Roman through Viking, Saxon and medieval times. The city combines numerous award-winning attractions, a magnificent cathedral, quaint teashops and bustling medieval shopping streets. [go back]
Sheffield Set in the Pennines S of Leeds, Sheffield has one of the finest surroundings of any English city. Famous for its steel and cutlery industries, it has a thriving cultural life and is home to the pop fans' mecca, the National Centre for Popular Music. [go back]
Stratford - upon - Avon Beautifully situated on the River Avon, Stratford is the home of England's greatest playwright William Shakespeare. Rich in heritage and culture, with impressive architecture and a unique collection of shops and restaurants, the city welcomes visitors from all over the world. [go back]
Coventry To the south east of Birmingham, Coventry is a modern city with a long history including the story of Lady Godiva. Full of interest, its post-war cathedral, an inspirational architectural achievement, stands alongside the ruins of its medieval predecessor. [go back]
Cambridge Quieter, more ethereal than Oxford, Cambridge has one of Britain's most beautiful and intimate city centres - much of it pedestrianised. It's also a hive of high-tech excellence, which brings added verve to its historic university and streets. Strolling, punting, exploring galleries are just a few ways to pass the time. [go back]
Oxford This ancient University City is at once timeless and modern, its 'dreaming spires' and tranquil college courtyards coexisting with lively arts venues, bustling shops and fashionable restaurants. [go back]
Chester Encircled by a glorious two-mile ring of Roman and medieval walls, Chester is a rare and truly magical blend of the ancient and traditional with modern cosmopolitan chic. Step back in time amid pristine Georgian and Victorian architecture, shop in the unique medieval two-tier galleries called the Rows and enjoy the city's classy café culture. [go back]
Newcastle & Gateshead Newcastle & Gateshead face each other across the River Tyne, joined together with no fewer than seven bridges within the central area alone, they make up the heart of a region steeped in history. Today, however, you're more likely to be bowled over by their many new and exciting developments, as innovation is everywhere - from Newcastle's recently restored Grainger Town to the ground breaking Gateshead Millennium Bridge - this is an area that dares to be different. [go back]
Nottingham All year round Nottingham buzzes with life thanks to the unique blend of shops, bars and pubs, restaurants, theatres and galleries. This renaissance city combines history and legend, culture and style, revealed by its many attractions, architecture and medieval associations with the legendary outlaw Robin Hood. [go back]
WALES
Cardiff The capital of Wales is also Europe's youngest capital, with a progressive and confident personality to match. A century ago, it was the busiest coal port in the world; today those very docks have been transformed into a dazzling waterfront complex of restaurants and visitor attractions. Outstanding museums, theatres and shops mean all-year, lively entertainment. But with over 330 parks and gardens, Cardiff is also among the UK's greenest cities. [go back]
Caernarfon Caernarfon, at the southern end of the Menai Strait, is the ceremonial capital of Wales. The great turrets of Caernarfon Castle have dominated the town and its harbour for 700 years and it is the location for the investiture of the Princes of Wales. [go back]
SCOTLAND
Glasgow Glasgow brings together proud Victorian architecture, sensuous art nouveau, 18th century warehouses and minimalist, avant - garde buildings. Having prospered in turn from the tobacco trade, cotton production and shipbuilding, the city has an amazing portfolio of museums, galleries, theatres and concert halls. It was selected as European City of Culture in 1990 and City of Architecture and Design in 1999 and is a dynamic cultural centre with a real buzz to it. [go back]
Inverness Scotland's newest city is also the acclaimed social and cultural capital of the Highlands. Its appealing setting at the mouth of the River Ness surrounded by hills rightly justifies its description as Britain's countryside city, offering wonderful outdoor pursuits to compliment wining, dining and shopping in Inverness itself. [go back]
Edinburgh Famous for its Castle, Palace, Royal Mile and outstanding medieval and Georgian architecture, the city is crammed with a diverse range of attractions. However, Edinburgh is also a modern, dynamic city where festivals attract the world's leading performers and speciality shops and lively pubs create a buzzing, cosmopolitan atmosphere with a distinctly Scottish twist. [go back]
Fort William A major touring centre for the Western Highlands, Fort William has one of the finest settings in Scotland. On the banks of the Great Glen and just below Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, it is a mecca for walkers, climbers and fishermen. [go back]
Durham An ancient cathedral city in a dramatic setting on a bluff high over a bend of the River Wear, Durham, a World Heritage Centre, is surprisingly compact. It has England's third oldest university and a long history as a seat of ecclesiastical power. [go back]
Selby South of York, the small market town of Selby on the Ouse was once a substantial port served by canal barge. The town has a magnificent abbey which survived the Dissolution and which contains much fine Norman and Early English architecture. [go back]
Bristol This is a city that has been at the cutting edge of discovery and creativity since the Middle Ages and is still reinventing itself - with avant-garde attractions like the unique Harbourside development and a buzzing nightlife scene. Fashionable, artistic and creative; a melting pot of food, history, and culture waits for you in Bristol. [go back]
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London
Edinburgh