Whatever you might ever desire from your vacation, the United Kingdom has it all. There are cities with outstanding cultural experiences, vibrant nightlife, historic buildings and excellent museums. The natural beauty of the country can be explored in the abundant national parks, beaches, and peaceful countryside which offer excellent opportunities for outdoor activities.
Historic cities, culture & sports in United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is located in Western Europe. It consists of Great Britain and some other islands, including one sixth of the island of Ireland. The island country is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. The country has a diverse landscape consisting mostly of hills with some rolling plains in east and southeast.
London is the capital of culture, fashion and business in the UK. it is also one of the most popular tourism destinations in the world, with some of the most visited museums and palaces in the world. The second largest city in England, Birmingham is the city of canals, art and culture with numerous concerts, theatres and art galleries to explore.
More British cities. The multicultural city ofManchester has fascinating historic buildings and canals and wide entertainment scene. In addition, Manchester is the city of sports with successful football clubs and opportunities for outdoor activities. A city of art, architecture, music and sports, Liverpool is a historic port city with magnificent neoclassical buildings, docks and fascinating museums. The European Capital of Culture for 2008 has a lively entertainment and sports scene. Cardiff is the capital of Wales with many cultural activities and historical attractions, and the lively port city of Newcastle in the North of England also deserves your visit.
Historic attractions. The green university city ofCambridge boasts a wide selection of historical monuments, museums and galleries. Rich in cultural life, Cambridge hosts numerous concerts and theatres. The famous university city of Oxford also offers plenty of historic and cultural attractions, while the capital of the Northern Ireland, Belfast is a city of rich cultural heritage with numerous renovated castles and monuments. Many tours from London stop in the famous stone monuments of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, near Salisbury. A World Heritage Site,Stonehenge contains impressive stone formations from the Neolithic and Bronze Age.
Beach holidays & island vacations in the UK
The sunny, fashionable seaside town of Brighton in the south coast of England is a fascinating mixture of history, culture and entertainment. The streets of Brighton are dotted with fine boutiques and art galleries and the pebble beach is a popular spot for relaxing. Another charming seaside town in the south coast of England, Bournemouth is home to long golden-sanded beaches by the clear blue sea. The seaside town of Blackpool is home of the most popular fun park in the United Kingdom, the Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Isle of Wight’s unspoilt nature and fine beaches are ideal for outdoor activities and water sports, and the Lake District National Park is an excellent choice for outdoor sports and more. The remote southwestern county of Cornwall has breathtaking, unspoiled landscapes with coastal cliffs and moors ideal for hiking, and sandy beaches by the blue sea, and many old towns and fine galleries to explore.
Scotland. A fascinating mixture of new and old,Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland with spectacular medieval castles, palaces and cobblestone streets, museums, galleries and festivals. The Lothian countryside near to city has historic buildings and wonderful green parks ideal for golf. Edinburgh is a good starting point to trips to other fascinating destinations in Scotland, such as Loch Ness, one of the most famous lakes in the world, and home to the mythical monster. The biggest city of Scotland,Glasgow offers visitors great opportunities for shopping and nightlife, as well as plenty of historical and cultural attractions.
The Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernseyenjoy the warmest climate in the United Kingdom. The unspoiled nature is ideal for outdoor activities. Another popular UK island destination, the British Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man offers unspoiled nature and historical attractions to be admired. With its monkeys, tunnels and scenic rock,Gibraltar is one of the places, which has had more than its share of fascinating and diverse tourist attractions, particularly so if you take into account the miniature size of this British protectorate located in the southernmost point of Europe, surrounded by Spain.
History and culture of United Kingdom
The United Kingdom was a leading industrial and maritime power in the 19th century which had a key role in developing the democracy, literature, arts and science with colonies all over the world. Many famous philosophers, scientists and writers are British, William Shakespeare being the most remarkable of them. Since the collapse of the huge British Empire in the World Wars the country has a key role in many international organizations like the European Union and NATO. Nowadays the United Kingdom is a prosperous constitutional monarchy with a Queen. Even today the United Kingdom has fourteen overseas territories remaining from the British Empire. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have their own legislature and government.
Cultural superpower. The inhabitants of the UK represent different ethnic backgrounds. The United Kingdom has a remarkable position in developing classical music and rock and pop music with famous bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Developed in the United Kingdom, football is the most popular sport in the country with famous and successful football clubs of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. The famous Wimbledon tennis Championships are held in London. Motor sports are popular in the country with many championships and successful Formula one and rally drivers. Other important sports are cricket, golf, snooker and horse racing.
Practical information for your trip to United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a mild and damp climate with mild winds. Cloudy weather and rain can be expected at any time of the year, and the temperatures rarely exceed 30ºC in summer or get below 0ºC in winter. The best times to visit the United Kingdom are springs and summers from April to September, July and august being the peak seasons for tourism.
Visitor services. The United Kingdom has excellent facilities for visitors with a wide selection of accommodation and restaurants. Especially London and other major cities in South east are very expensive. The big cities have very vibrant nightlife with trendy bars and clubs, and the famous English pubs serving both food and the British real ales can be found almost everywhere, even in the countryside.
How to get there. The United Kingdom has several airports serving both international and domestic flights between the major cities. The Heathrow Airport near London is the busiest airport in the world with numerous connections from all over the world. Due to the strict security regulations at the airports delays are not rare. The Channel tunnel connects the United Kingdom to France. There are regular and comfortable but quite expensive rail connections from continental Europe to the United Kingdom via the Channel Tunnel. The country can also be accessed by car or by inexpensive buses via the Channel Tunnel, or by ferries from several European ports.
Getting around. The extensive and comfortable public transportation in the United Kingdom consist of trains and buses, as well as domestic flights. The many islands can be accessed by ferries. There is an extensive road network in the country but there are some tolls on bridges and tolls. The United Kingdom drives on the left. Many kinds of taxi can be found in the United Kingdom.
Safety. The UK is generally a quite safe destination for visitors. However, crime such as theft and pickpocketing does happen especially in the large cities. Due to the threat of terrorism there are tight security regulations in many public places.
Information by http://www.happytellus.com/united-kingdom