Canterbury Cathedral
 The most impressive and evocative, if not the most beautiful, cathedral
in England is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of All
England. Like most cathedrals, it evolved in stages and reflects a number of
architectural styles, but the final result is one of the world's great
buildings. The ghosts of saints, soldiers and pilgrims fill the hallowed
air, and not even baying packs of French children can completely destroy the
atmosphere. After the martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas à Becket in 1170, the
cathedral became the centre of one of the most important medieval
pilgrimages in Europe, a pilgrimage that was immortalised by Geoffrey
Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales. Canterbury itself was severely damaged by
bombing in WWII and parts of the town have been insensitively rebuilt, but
it still attracts flocks of tourists, just as it has for the past 800 years
- though numbers may decrease now pilgrims are charged a US$5 fee to enter
the cathedral.
Stonehenge
 The
great and ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is one of the wonders of the
world. What visitors see today are the substantial remnants of the last in a
sequence of such monuments erected between circa 3000BC and 1600BC.
There has always been intense debate over quite what purpose Stonehenge
served. Certainly, it was the focal point in a landscape filled with
prehistoric ceremonial structures, now a World Heritage Site.
Five-thousand-year-old Stonehenge is the most famous prehistoric site in
Europe, but it remains both a tantalising mystery and a hackneyed tourist
experience. It consists of a ring of enormous stones topped by lintels, an
inner horseshoe, an outer circle and a ditch. Although aligned to the
movements of the celestial bodies, little is known about the site's purpose.
What leaves most visitors gobsmacked is not the site's religious
significance but the tenacity of the people who brought some of the stones
all the way from South Wales. It's estimated that it would take 600 people
to drag one of these 50-ton monsters more than half an inch. The downside of
Stonehenge is that it's fenced off like a dog compound; there are two main
roads slicing past the site; entry is via an incongruous underpass; and
clashes between new age hippies and police at summer solstice have become a
regular feature of the British calendar. Each year New Age Druids celebrate
the summer solstice, but closer access at other times is strictly limited.
The Cotswolds
This limestone escarpment, 18 miles north-east of Bristol, overlooking
the Severn Vale, is an upland region of stunningly pretty, gilded stone
villages and remarkable views. Unfortunately, the soft, mellow stone and the
picturesque Agatha Christie charm have resulted in some villages being
overrun by coach tourists and commercialism. Renowned villages include
Bibury (claimed to be the most beautiful village in England); the
chocolate-box town of Bourton-on-the-Water; and the breathtakingly pretty
Chipping Camden. The best way to explore the Cotswolds is to walk; the
100-mile Cotswold Way is a gem of a hike, full of history and interesting
terrain that make the abundance of quaintness easier to swallow.
Oxford
Arguably the world's most famous university town, Oxford is graced by
superb college architecture and oozes questing youthfulness, scholarship and
bizarre high jinks. The views across the meadows to the city's golden spires
are guaranteed to appear in three out of 10 English period dramas, but they
manage to remain one of the most beautiful and inspiring of sights. Back in
the real world, Oxford is not just the turf of toffs and boffs, it was a
major car-manufacturing centre until the terminal decline of the British car
industry and is now a thriving centre of service industries. The pick of the
colleges are Christ Church, Merton and Magdalen, but nearly all the colleges
are drenched in atmosphere, history, privilege and tradition. Don't kid
yourself, you wouldn't have studied any harder in such august surroundings.
York
This proud city attracts millions of visitors, but it's too old, too
impressive and too convinced of its own importance to be overwhelmed by mere
tourists. For nearly 2000 years it has been the capital of the north, and
played a central role in British history under the Romans, Saxons and
Vikings. Its spectacular Gothic cathedral, medieval city walls, tangle of
historic streets and glut of teashops and pubs make it a great city for
ambling around. York Minster is the largest cathedral in Europe, and right
up there with the world's great buildings. The city's Museum Gardens are
amongst the most beautiful in Britain and include a number of picturesque
ruins and buildings.
 York
Maze on the outskirts of the city is cut each year from a vast field of
maize!
The giant maze of maize is planted each May. At almost 30 acres, York
Maze is the largest in the world and 1.5 million plants are used to make
York Maze. The design for the pathways is cut each June and because maize
plants grow up to three metres tall in less than 10 weeks, the maize is tall
enough to get lost in by July, and it opens to the public. Finally the crop
is harvested in September to feed the cows, before the cycle begins all over
again in May.
Hotels in York -
» YORK
Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions
Lake District
The most green and pleasant corner of a green and pleasant land, the
landscapes of the Lake District are almost too perfect for their own good:
10 million visitors can't be wrong, but they can sure cause a few traffic
jams. The area is a combination of luxuriant green dales, modest but
precipitous mountains and multitudinous lakes. Each of the lakes has its own
distinct character: wisdom holds that Ullswater, Grasmere and Windermere are
the prettiest, but Wast Water, Crummock Water and Buttermere are equally
spectacular and far less crowded. Be prepared to hike into the hills, or
visit on weekdays out of season if you have any desire to emulate the bard
and wander lonely as cloud.
Hotels Lake District
Durham
Durham is the most dramatic cathedral city in Britain. It straddles a
bluff surrounded on three sides by the River Wear and is dominated by the
massive Norman cathedral which sits on a wooded promontory, looking more
like a time-worn cliff than a house of worship. The cathedral may not be the
most refined in the land, but no other British cathedral has the same
impact. The cathedral shares the dramatic top of the bluff with a Norman
castle and the University College, while the rest of the picturesque 'city'
(population 38,000) huddles into the remaining space on the teardrop-shaped
promontory.
Scotland
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of the world's greatest cities. Its dramatic site,
extraordinary architectural heritage and cultural vigour soon charm all
visitors. The crowded tenements of the historic Old Town contrast with the
orderly grid of the Georgian New Town, which in most cities would be a
historic enclave by itself. Backdrops include glimpses of the Firth of
Forth, the Pentland Hills and classically draped Calton Hill.
Edinburgh is best seen on foot, and the best place to start is Edinburgh
Castle: beautiful, romantic and a reminder of the city's bloody past. Its
foundations date back as far as 850 BC, and the oldest surviving section
dates from 1130. From the 11th to 16th centuries, the castle was the
symbolic seat of Scottish royalty, and today it's still home to the army's
Scottish Division. It sits at the western end of the Royal Mile, which runs
down to the more comfortable royal accommodation at the Palace of
Holyroodhouse. This thoroughfare contains an extraordinarily intact
streetscape, which has survived from the 16th and 17th centuries. A walk
down some of the alleys that run off it is to rediscover the vital city of
that time. Several museums and restored town houses in this vicinity give
fascinating insights into urban life of the 17th century.
Nearby Calton Hill is worth climbing for its superb views and romantic
monuments dating from the Enlightenment, when the city was known as the
'Athens of the North'. Before you walk down into the New Town, have a look
at Greyfriars Kirk, site of the signing of the National Covenant in 1638.
The graveyard was the backdrop for one of Disney's most heart-rending films,
Greyfriars Bobby, the story (based on legend) of a little Skye terrier which
held vigil for 14 years over the grave of his master.
New Town lies to the north, separated by the sunken railway line and
Princes St Gardens, which feature the supremely Gothic Sir Walter Scott
Monument. Georgian order and elegance are reflected in New Town's beautiful
squares, circuses and terraces. The National Gallery of Scotland has an
impressive collection of European art, while the pageant of Scottish history
can be seen at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Edinburgh has a rich and varied cultural life, from the Tattoo to the
International and Fringe festivals. These are times to be sure to book
accommodation well in advance. B&B accommodation is one of the best ways to
get an insight into the daily life of Edinburgh's residents. There is a
handy concentration north of New Town and in the suburb of Newington, south
of the city centre. Numerous youth hostels are sprinkled on the city's
outskirts. Surprisingly, the Royal Mile has numerous good-value and
enjoyable eateries, with everything from Singaporean satays to traditional
Scottish cuisine.
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>> Hotels in Edinburgh
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>> Last Minute Hotels in Edinburgh |
 Channings
Hotel Edinburgh 
Situated on a peaceful cobbled street a few minutes walk
from the city centre. The individually designed rooms are
decorated in Edwardian period furnishings. All are equipped with every
modern facility - modem points, satellite TV, iron and ironing board.
They are cosy and luxurious. The brasserie is warm and
richly decorated with a menu designed to combine Scottish and European
cuisine. In contrast the wine bar and conservatory has a airy
uncluttered Scandinavian design and serves light meals.
The hotel's motto is 'a quiet haven in a busy city' and it strives to
keep an ambience of stress-free living. |
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» EDINBURGH Sightseeing Tours
Events & Attractions |
Glasgow
Long overshadowed by Edinburgh, a mere 30 miles (48km) away, Glasgow
actually has a lot to offer. It has left its reputation as a black hole of
unemployment, economic depression and urban violence far behind. The 1980s
and '90s saw the city reinvent itself culturally and socially. You're in no
doubt that this is a Scottish city, brimming with vibrancy and energy. The
city centre is built on a grid plan on the north bank of the shipbuilding
river Clyde. Sights are spread over a wide area, with Sauchiehall St the
place to go for shops, pubs and restaurants.
The oldest part of the city is to the east, around the intact Gothic
masterpiece of Glasgow Cathedral, St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life & Art
and the oldest house in Glasgow, 15th-century Provand's Lordship. Heading
back west, an interesting walk takes you through the gracious houses and
commercial structures of 18th-century Merchant City. Busy Sauchiehall St is
home to the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Art Nouveau masterpieces of the
Glasgow School of Art and the still-operational Willow Tearoom. The Tenement
House is an extraordinary time capsule, providing vivid insight into
middle-class city life at the turn of this century.
Also not to be missed is Glasgow's top cultural attraction, the Burrell
Collection, housed in the Pollok Country Park 3 miles (5km) south of the
city. Its idiosyncratic collection includes Chinese porcelain, medieval
furniture and impressionist paintings, housed in one of the world's few
inspirational buildings to be built in recent times.
St Andrews
This beautiful and unusual town melds the heady concoction of medieval
ruins, a golfing mecca, windy coastal scenery and a schizophrenic
university. Once the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland, today golfing is
the town's religion. It's home to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the
world's most famous golf course, the Old Course. A ruined castle sits above
the bay, around the ruins of what was once the country's largest cathedral:
it was pillaged during the Reformation. In the town centre, medieval closes
lead off the cobbled streets, with the city gate, chapels, a medieval cross
and museums within easy walking distance. Like the contemporary universities
of Cambridge and Oxford, the university has no campus and its buildings are
scattered in the centre of town.
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides, off the western coast of Scotland, are the country's
most accessible and bewitching islands.
Jura lies near the coast of Strathclyde, yet it is magnificently wild and
lonely, with desolate walks, breast-shaped mountains (the Paps of Jura), a
whisky distillery and a lethal offshore whirlpool its prime attractions.
Islay is the most southerly of the Inner Hebridean islands, and is best
known for its smoky, single-malt whisky. The Museum of Islay Life in Port
Charlotte relates the island's long history, while the 8th-century Kildaton
Cross is one of the finest surviving Celtic crosses. Castle ruins and over
250 species of birds add to its attractions.
Further north, Taransay, where BBC TV marooned a community of volunteers
for all of 2000, is one of the Inner Hebrides' most remote islands, an
unspoilt place of cliffs, rocky coastlines and sandy bays. Grey seals and
wild goats are the most commonly glimpsed inhabitants. Mull is one of the
most popular islands, with superb mountain scenery, castles, a railway and
small-town charm. The island's capital, Tobermory, is a particularly
picturesque fishing port. The spiritual retreat of Iona, an early Christian
centre founded by St Columba, lies off the south-western tip of Mull.
Further north, Coll has a popular walking trail, good sunshine, lots of
wind, few people, two castles and a bird sanctuary. Tiree, just south-west,
is a low-lying island with beautiful, sandy beaches and one of the best
sunshine records in Britain.
Skye attracts lots of visitors and has very changeable weather. However,
the large, rugged and convoluted island is ringed by spectacularly scenic
coastal walks, and inland the rocky Cuillins attract serious climbers.
Aberdeen
An extraordinary symphony in grey, almost everything in Aberdeen is built
of granite - even the roads. When drenched with sun and rain, the silvery
stone has a fairy-tale shine; when suffocated by cloud it can be a wee bit
depressing. A spotless place, brimming with civic pride, Aberdeen is the
service port for one of the world's largest offshore oilfields. Its already
large population is mixed with multinational oil workers and a vital student
population - a heady mix! An evocative fish market and important maritime
museum cluster around the busy harbour. In the vicinity of the city's main
thoroughfare, Union St, there's historic Castlegate, late-medieval Provost
Skene's House and the Aberdeen Art Gallery, which houses an important
Pre-Raphaelite and modern art collection.
Aviemore Area
The Highland resort town of Aviemore is the stepping-off point for the
hiking and skiing paradise of the Cairngorm Mountains. Lying on the only
arctic plateau in Britain, the area attracts rare animals such as pine
marten, wildcat, red squirrel, osprey (particularly around the Boat of
Garten) and deer. Fishing for salmon is popular in the pure mountain water
of the River Spey and surrounding lochs, while the Rothiemurchus Estate and
Glenmore Forest Park preserve acres of pine and spruce, with guided walks
and trails and a range of water sports.
Wales
Cardiff
A busy commercial and university city, the Welsh capital doesn't usually
appear near the top of visitors' must-see lists. However, those who linger
will discover its striking city-centre castle, important national museum and
art gallery, redeveloped docks area and pockets of beautiful architecture.
Don't miss also the Millennium Stadium, opened in 1999 and home to Weslh
Rugby. It's also the temporary venue for major English football matches.
Cardiff is a good place to base yourself because it's surrounded by
interesting sites and transport links are good.
Cardiff has a good selection of B&B accommodations, sprinkled along
Cathedral Rd, to the west of the city centre, and on Newport Rd to the east.
Purveyors of Welsh specialties such as rarebit (the Welsh version of cheese
on toast) and laverbread (a nicer-than-you'd-think seaweed concoction) can
be found in the city centre, along with coffee shops and bistros serving
more usual fare. Rugby is Cardiff's most popular form of entertainment, but
there's also theatre, an arts centre and a pop arena for those who want to
avoid the scrum.
Snowdonia National Park
Britain's second-largest national park, after the Lake District,
Snowdonia covers 840 sq miles (1352 sq km) of North Wales, including Snowdon
- at 3560ft (1068m), the highest peak in Britain south of the Scottish
Highlands. About 500,000 people touch the rugged summit every year, whether
by climbing, walking or taking the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Long the
testing ground of more ambitious mountaineers (Edmund Hillary, for example),
Snowdon's many trails make the summit accessible to hikers of varying
abilities. The park also contains rivers, lakes, waterfalls, forests,
moorlands, glacial valleys and a lovely coastline, as well as Stone and
Bronze Age burial chambers, Roman forts, Norman castles, steam railways and
relics of the country's mining heritage. Centres include the climbers' haven
of lakeside Llanberis, postcard-pretty Betws-y-Coed, the former slate-mining
village of Blaenau Ffestiniog and the castle town of Harlech.
St David's
This special place would be a village if it were not for its cathedral
and important links with the fondly remembered St David, whose remains are
buried here. The late 12th-century cathedral can hardly be considered a
landmark since one of the major preoccupations of its builders was to hide
the structure from passing Norse raiders. The building has an atmosphere of
great antiquity, with its drunken floor (the result of an earthquake in
1248), Norman nave, shrine and permanently reserved monarch's stall. In the
Middle Ages, two pilgrimages to the shrine were said to equal one to Rome.
Apart from drinking in the antique ambience, there are several tours of St
Non's Bay which visit nearby islands.
Llandudno
For a taste of that faded grandeur which wintry seaside resorts do so
well (all you need is 'Every Day is Like Sunday' by Morrissey playing in the
background), head for Llandudno. A traditional and immensely popular seaside
resort in northwestern Wales, the town owes its unique Victorian air to its
architecture, lengthy pier and imposing promenade. The donkeys plodding up
and down the sands also belong to a previous era. Llandudno is beautifully
situated between two sweeping beaches, dominated seaward by the Great Orme
(a spectacular limestone headland) and landward by the mountains of
Snowdonia. Llandudno has an Alice in Wonderland connection: the Liddell
family, whose daughter Alice was the source of Carroll's inspiration, spent
many summers in the town.
Conwy
Picturesquely dominated by its classic castle, Conwy is one of the best
European examples of a medieval walled town. Conwy Castle has eight massive
crenellated towers, its shape largely dictated by its rock-bound
foundations. The best view is from across the River Conwy, with the
Snowdonia Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop. Three-quarters of a mile
of the town's walls remain intact, topped off with 22 towers and three
original gateways. The Smallest House in Britain, the 14th-century,
timber-and-plaster Aberconwy House and Bodnant Garden, 13km (8mi) to the
south and one of the finest gardens in Britain, round off Conwy's collection
of sights.
Brecon Beacons National Park
This popular park measures only 15 miles (24km) from north to south and
45 miles (72km) west to east, yet it comprises four mountain ranges and a
variety of terrain: privately owned slopes grazed by sheep and yet more
sheep, mining valleys and bare escarpments. Most visitors are walkers
heading for Offa's Dyke Path, which passes along the eastern border, or the
Taff Trail, heading south from Brecon. Principal centres include the
historic market town of Brecon, the self-styled 'Gateway to Wales' town of
Abergavenny and eccentric Hay-on-Wye. Offa's Path runs through the Black
Mountains, which boast the best views, with sights such as the ruins of
Llanthony Priory, the River Honddu, the pretty church at Patrishow and the
highest peak at Waun Fach. The highest point in the bare-crested hills of
the Brecon Beacons is Pen-y-Fan.
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Superficially, Belfast is a big, rather ugly industrial city dating in
the main from only last century. But, of course, Belfast is not just any
city - politics, history and religion are inescapable parts of its fabric.
For visitors it is compact, with relatively light traffic and conveniently
located points of interest. The major central landmark is Donegall Square,
surrounded by imposing remnants of the Victorian era. It is in the west of
the city that the poverty shows and that (Protestant) Shankill Rd and
(Catholic) Falls Rd run - Six O'Clock News names if ever there were.
Separate taxi services run tourists around the two mural-lined precincts for
around £10.
Donegall Square is dominated by the City Hall, a true example of
muck-and-brass architecture. Also on the square is the Linen Hall Library,
which houses a major Irish literary collection. The area north of High St is
the oldest part of Belfast, and is known as the Entries. It was badly
damaged by bombing during WWII, and today only a handful of pubs are left to
reflect the character of the past. The River Lagan runs through Belfast, and
the cranes of its shipyards still dominate the western skyline. Queen's
Bridge, a lovely bridge with ornate lamps, is just one of those spanning the
Lagan. The Crown Liquor Saloon displays Victorian architectural flamboyance
at its most extravagant. As much a museum as hostelry, the Crown's exterior
is covered in a million different tiles, while the interior is a mass of
stained and cut glass, mosaics and mahogany furniture. It's impossible to
get a seat, and even standing room is rare, but the Crown is well worth
putting on your itinerary.
The Grand Opera House across the road is another of Belfast's great
landmarks. It's been bombed several times, and at the moment has been
restored in an abundance of purple satin. History and culture are on show at
the Ulster Museum near the university; the collection includes items from
the wrecked Spanish Armada of 1588. On the outskirts of Belfast are its
splendidly located and well laid-out zoo; the Cave Hill Country Park;
Belfast Castle, which dates in theory from the 12th century, but the
existing structure was built in 1870; and Stormont, the former home of the
Northern Ireland parliament, and now home to the Northern Ireland Secretary.
The bulk of Belfast's restaurants and accommodation cluster south of
Donegall Square and along the inner-urban stretch known as the Golden Mile.
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