by Phil Edwards
Who isn't tempted by the mystique of Great Britain?
The castles, the museums, the historical sites, the tame green countryside -
the country is much like the people, with a deepness and complex history beneath
a deceptively restrained surface.
Wales
The rough beauty of Welsh landscape, with its high mountains, deep valleys,
rivers, and marshes, is as well-known as the Welsh language's lack of vowels.
Wales is completely unique, with its own deep, rich history and heritage. Wales
is the homeland of Arthurian legend, and any visitors interested in Camelot
should visit the many landmarks in Wales associated with Arthur, including the
tree where Merlin is supposed to lie sleeping. Wales is often called the land
of song, and if you visit, you should not miss attending a cymanfa ganu ("singing
festival"). And you should visit Tintern Abbey, made famous by William
Wordsworth's poem; Tintern is one of many (mostly ruined) abbeys, priories,
and castles scattered across the Welsh countryside.
Scotland
Where does one start? Scotland is lowlands and highlands and islands, a land
of rugged rustic beauty and the intellectually-renowned colleges of Edinburgh.
If it's monsters you like, you can look for Nessie in the Loch Ness; if you
prefer more down-to-earth pursuits, Scottish men and women are friendly, hospitable,
and kind. Scottish cuisine is unique, to say the least, but much better than
the descriptions of things like haggis (sheep's stomach filled with a meat and
oatmeal mixture and boiled) would lead you to think! Bagpipes and kilts, Highland
games and Scottish single-malt whiskey (the name comes from the Gaelic uisge-beatha,
meaning "water of life") are only part of the culture you can experience
in Scotland.
The large cities in Scotland have marvelous art and culture museums, and there
are dozens of excellent historical museums and sites. In Edinburgh Castle, don't
miss the famous Stone of Scone, over which all the Scottish kings were crowned,
or the ancient Scottish crown jewels. And in the countryside, some of the historic
castles are available as lodging; speak to your travel agent for information.
Cornwall
Cornwall is the historic birthplace of King Arthur, and it's easy to believe
in Arthurian legends when you stand on its high cliffs. It's mostly rural now,
but has a unique culture and a strong seafaring tradition. Many British emigrants
to the Americas set sail from its port Falmouth.
England
Northern England is the home of the famous Lake District of Cumbria, from where
the English Romantic poets Byron, Wordsworth, and Shelley often drew their inspiration.
Much of Northern England is historically heavily industrialized, but you shouldn't
let that deter you from visiting; the countrysite is beautiful, and the coast
nearby. You'll also find dozens of sites in the countryside where standing stones
were erected in the past, as well as museums filled with archaeological treasures
from Britain's past.
When you move southward, you can find the remnants of Sherwood Forest, only
a pale shadow of the immense old-growth forest of Robin Hood tales. You'll also
find dozens of castles and castle remains from a millennium of history, ranging
from the concentric rings of earthwork foundations left over from the wooden
fortresses of Saxons, to the relatively new castles of the Normans. Many castles
are still lived in, and there are castles in England you can spend the night
in, others that you can tour during the day.
Southward still is Salisbury Plain, the austere green meadowland on which stands
Stonehenge. Visitors are not allowed to get close enough to touch the ancient
standing stones, but you can still feel the history that permeates the countryside
around them.
And on the south coast of England, Bath has an amazing variety of architectural
treasures, ranging from the still-usable Roman baths to the proud Georgian townhouses
that line its streets. Bath has more protected historical buildings per capita
than any city in England. If you visit, you should not miss the Roman baths;
the Pump Room, center of Georgian society; and the Royal Crescent, lined with
elegant Georgian homes from the 19th century heyday of Bath. And from Bath,
you can take the 2 ½ hour bus trip to London, surely the crowning glory
of any tour of England.
London
London is one of the premier cities of the world, populated by more than seven
million people. And it is filled with history, with art, with culture. It is
not to be missed, no matter what your interests. If you like nightlife, London
has some of the best nightclubs in the world, ranging from tough punk bars to
celebrity-haunted clubs. In the day, you can get free admission to the British
Museum, the British Library, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery,
and Tate Gallery; admission to many, many other cultural attractions is inexpensive.
There are dozens of walking tours of London, both self-guided and using a guide;
if you look online, you can find many of the self-guided ones for free. Almost
every guidebook to London also has its own self-guided tours listed.
If you want to visit some of the admission-charging attractions (for which students
and seniors may be able to get "concessions," or discounts), consider
Westminster Abbey, the Cabinet War Room, and St. Paul's Cathedral. Covent Garden,
once a pleasure-garden for the rich and not-so-rich, has evolved into a boutique
filled shopping district. And if you hang out around Buckingham Palace, you
can see the Changing of the Guard, and maybe even a member of the Royal Family
or two.
Travelers to London, in short, may wish they had a month or three to just tour
London; two millennia of history is a lot of layers to dig through. One word
of warning: London does have problems with pickpockets, especially in the more
tourist-haunted sections of town. Avoid showing money around, and keep your
pockets guarded.
- About the Author -
P. Edward is a writer and manager of the The UK Web Index Directory and UK Package Holidays
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