Travel in the UK?

Question

I will be living in London for the summer, and I want to plan some trips of the city, and maybe even out of England - just not too far. Could anybody give me some ideas of the best places to visit? Which countries, cities, towns, sites, etc...?

Answer 1

I'd think about popping over to continental Europe for a few days - because quite honestly the prices for train tickets in the UK are horrendous, and you could probably go abroad cheaper than you could get around Britain. I'd suggest Italy - fly to Pisa on one of the cheapo airlines (I suggest this partly because it's cool to be able to say you've been to the Leaning Tower, and partly because Pisa Airport is super-easy to get to and from, there's a train straight into the town). If you stay in a hotel in Pisa for a couple of nights you could get the train to Lucca one day (a really lovely walled town) and go to Florence another day (although I warn you that it's very touristy, which is why I don't suggest staying there). Italian train tickets are really really cheap, so it wouldn't cost too much to do this and it would be a really lovely holiday.

If you are going to travel around the UK, try to book your train tickets in advance - you can do this online - as you can get much better deals that way. I live in the South West, and feel I should put in a good word for Devon and Cornwall - they're very much the sort of places you think of when you think of England; lots of green fields, and lots of opportunities to eat scones. They're quiet, but after the city busyness of London that might be nice. St Ives is lovely - a very little place by the sea, but it has a branch of the Tate Gallery and just a really nice vibe. Or you could go to the Eden Project, which is devoted to plants, and has amazing giant greenhouses. Or you could try to catch a play at the Minack Theatre - it's in the open air, on top of a cliff, with the sea as the backdrop; it's beautiful.

One other thing - make sure you go to the Natural History Museum while you're in London. It's my favourite place in the whole world!

Enjoy your stay!

Answer 2

Best place to visit outside of London is Edinburgh, Scotland. Actually the best places to visit are all in Scotland,lol! Stirling, Glasgow, St Andrews, Isle of Skye are all absolutely gorgeous. Try a few of them and you'll be hooked!

Another Celtic area would be Ireland, just a hop over the Irish Sea. Amazing places there too - Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Shannon, Sligo, Limerick.

I will say though that cities and towns in England are nice too. It's always interesting to check out places like Liverpool, Oxford, Bath, and York. You could also visit Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon.

You can always check out Paris rather easily from London. The Eurostar train will take you from London to Paris in about 2 1/2 hours. They can also take you to Lille, Calais, Brussels, and the French Alps.

I think that should take care of most of your summer but if not then just take out a map, close your eyes, and point! Living in London basically gives you the chance to go anywhere!

Answer 3

Don't miss Edinburgh, Scotland! It's a magnificent capital city with adventure, culture and the best places to eat outside of London. You'll love it, and you'll love how cheap it is compared to London (although, Edinburgh can still be expensive).

If you book a plane ticket soon enough, you can get a flight from Gatwick or Luton for around 10, 15 or 20 quid one-way. Train may be a bit much (£100), but it's about a 6 hour train, or about a 1.5 hour flight.

Manchester is often considered the UK's second city. I disagree. I think it is honestly Edinburgh. I hope this helps. Cheers.

Answer 4

The south is great!

North devon coast is gorgeous!!
As is Cornwall...
With lotsa countryside as well.. it is a beautiful area.. awesome for camping and stuff..

And the city of Bath is really pretty.

Bournemouth/Poole is a pretty cool place with nice beaces and a harbour....

Answer 5

you should commute and not using a visa for a visit the following, yet in case you wanted to stay for more suitable than 3 months then you would want a Visa to stay the following completely. you want to coach for British Citizenship in accordance for your marriage or get a Visa when you're prepared. in case you stay in this united states of america too lengthy without permission you receives deported residing house.

Answer 6

Wales is far nearer London than Edinburgh is (no matter what the undoubted attractions of that city). The Wye Valley is a beauty spot without equal in the UK, go to Tintern and Monmouth, the Usk Valley is another must do. In fact just look at this piece I wrote for a travel mag in Thailand:


From London, Wales is more accessible than its more famous Celtic cousin Scotland and is far more compact. Wales though small is beautiful. It is a country of rugged mountains, deep, narrow valleys, and a spectacular coastline.

Because of its heavy industrial and coal mining past South Wales is often thought of as being ugly and scarred by industrial relics. But a lot has been done to remove the old scars the mining valleys are now green again, but still fiercely proud of their heritage. Now there is only one working coal mine where there were once hundreds. However, the tightly knit communities remember their past with two mining museums. One tradition of the industrial past remains intact; many of these communities retain their male choirs and brass bands. That is why Wales is called the Land of Song. Wales' capital city, Cardiff grew rich on the transportation of the `black diamonds' from the Rhondda Valleys.

Big Pit, at the sleepy village of Bleanavon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sitting at the entrance of the world famous Rhondda Valleys, the Rhondda Heritage Park, once buzzed with the drone of machinery and the chatter of men as they walked to work. Now each of these interactive museums allows you to experience a flavour of the miners working life. Accompanied by an ex-miner guide you can journey down many hundreds of meters to the `pit bottom'. Here you will learn and experience what it was like to work thousands of meters underground.

But the valleys are diverse in nature, head for nearby Llanwonno, on your way to the extensive St Gwynno's forest, call in at the Brynffynon Pub and collect your thoughts at the picturesque St Gwynno's Church. This place will make you feel that you have ventured far from the nearby towns of Ferndale and Ynysbwl.

Not all the valleys of South Wales are steep-sided with an industrial past. The Wye Valley along the English border is gently sloping and wide. Here you can experience perfect peace: no mobile phone signals penetrate this valley. The River Wye frequently marks the border between England and Wales, the border town of Monmouth is famous as being the birthplace of Charles Rolls. Co-founder of the Rolls-Royce motor cars. And of Henry V, the second of the Lancastrian kings.

The now peaceful town of Monmouth on the Monnow River once saw bloody clashes in the wars between the Welsh and the invading English. Indeed Henry the V, the second of the Lancastrian dynasty was born in the town. Over the centuries this area has been fought over and changed hands many times. Monmouth is now firmly on Welsh soil, and has been at peace for the last three hundred or so years.




Make the trip up to the Kymmin, and take in the striking views from this white house sitting loftily above the town. Then retrace your steps and take long walks in sylvan scenery besides the gushing River Wye. Walk in the salmon-spawning season and watch these fish swim upstream

and leap the many shallow waterfalls, in their quest to reach their spawning grounds. Now you are on the edge of one of Wales' three national parks. The Brecon Beacons National Park offers many opportunities to tramp its silent uplands and to explore its challenging scenery.

If it is coastal scenery you want then it doesn't come better than Pembrokeshire, Wales' second National Park. Bounded on three sides by the ocean nowhere in Pembrokeshire is far from the sea. Pembroke feels remote and there are many self-catering cottages and hotels that offer good deals. Treat yourself to a pub lunch then blow away the lethargy with a walk around this wild and beautiful coastline. It is a haven of nature and wild life, bobbing in the North Atlantic waves you can see seals, and dolphins. The island of Skomer is a nature reserve and bird sanctuary.

Before leaving this enchanted county spend some time in the ancient merchant town of Tenby. This once busy trading port is now quiet, still clinging to the coastline that inspired Captain James Cook to name New South Wales after it. While here visit the ancient Merchant's House, this is a preserved ancient house whose rooms are just as they were five of six hundred years ago. Another must visit is the island of Caldy home to a community of Cistercian Monks, who augment their income with the production of exclusive hand-made perfumes and toiletries. Then, on to Britain's smallest city, St David's is named after the Welsh Patron Saint, who was born there in 530AD.

The Welsh Coastal Path is a walk of over 186 miles and stretches from Amroth in the south to St Dogmaels in the north. It will take you past rugged St David's Head which is pitted with mini-fjords and half-moon-shaped bays and coves with cinnamon coloured sands.

North Wales is also famed for its castles and for the tallest mountain in England and Wales: Snowdon. Snowdon sits in Wales third National Park, it is a challenge to rock climbers from all over the world. Take the brisk walk to the top of the mountain 3560 feet above sea level, or let the train take the strain. From the small town of Llanberis The Snowdon Mountain Railway is one of Wales many narrow gauge railways, collectively known as the `great little trains of Wales'. It will take you to the summit, where on a good day, you can view the whole North Wales coastline and as far as Liverpool and the Isle of Man beyond.

Snowdon National Park includes massive forest ranges, protected mountains and Wales' largest waterfall, Pistyll Rhaeadr. Here is the strong hold of the very ancient Welsh language; the original tongue of Britain. The population here conducts its everyday discourse in Welsh, and Welsh language signs abound. Don't be surprised if a local greets you with `Swdachi heddw?' which means `Hello how are you?

Wales is a land of age-old castles and in North Wales they are scattered like pebbles across the landscape; from Conway, to Caernavon, to Harlech. These are castles built over 800 years ago by the English King Edward II in his attempt to subdue and overcome his Welsh neighbours.




The largest town in the north is Llandudno nestling on its own peninsular, here Alice Pleasance Liddell spent very many holidays. Who was Alice Liddlle? She was the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass books.

Travelling west along the scenic coast road, you will pass both imposing Conway and imposing Caernavon Castles. The old town of Caernavon is the gateway to Wales' best-kept secret: the Llyn Peninsular, a jagged arm that points the way to Ireland.

The Llyn is Wales' least populated area, and has unbroken strings of sandy beaches that stretch to the very tip of the peninsular. Some of them have evocative names, like Porth Oer (Whistling Sands), a softly shelving half moon beach that really does squeak when you walk on the sand. At Hell's Mouth Beach surfers come from all over Europe to ride the waves of this three-mile long beach. But this is just one of the water activities you can try, for the Llyn is a Mecca for water-sports enthusiasts. Try your hand at windsurfing, sailing, wakeboarding, body surfing or power boating.

The small village of Porth Dinllaen, is one of the very few villages that can not be reached by road. To get there you will need to walk along the beach or cross the Nefyn Golf Course. As you would expect this place harks back to a quieter more gentle time. Relax at the Ty Coch Inn and daydream.

Sitting at the `finger' of the Llyn is Bardsey Island; legend has it that this is the final resting-place of 20,000 saints. Bardsey also has its own king, and issues its own local stamps, although the only residents are now, a farmer and his family and a wild life warden. The island is home to 10,000 Manx shearwaters, fullmars, and guilemots; the island is a nature reserve and is accessible by boat from the mainland.

Wales then is a land of scenic beauty, rugged coastlines, impressive valleys and the ubiquitous castles, put in place to keep the rebellious Welsh in their place.