Great Britain Travel Guide

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Edinburgh Castle, Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge, Manchester United, The Beatles Britain does icons like no other place on earth, and travel here is a fascinating mix of famous names and hidden gems.

Big Ben ()
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From the graceful architecture of Canterbury Cathedral in the south to the soaring ramparts of Edinburgh Castle in the north, via the mountains of Wales or the picture-postcard landscape of the Cotswolds, Britains astounding variety is a major reason to travel here. The cities tempt with top-class shops and restaurants, and some of the worlds finest museums, while cutting-edge clubs and world-famous theatres provide endless nights to remember. Next day, youre deep in the countryside, high in the hills or enjoying a classic seaside resort. In Britain, there really is something for everyone, whether youre eight or 80, going solo or travelling with your friends, your kids or your grandma.

A journey through Britain is a journey through history but not history thats dull and dusty. This is history you can feel and re-live. You can lay your hands on the megaliths of a 5000-year-old stone circle, or walk the battlements of a medieval fortress just as they were patrolled by knights in armour many centuries ago. Fast-forward to the future and youre admiring 21st-century architecture in Glasgow or exploring the space-age domes of Cornwalls Eden Project.

While Britain boasts complex traditions and culture, on the surface, at least, its familiar to many visitors thanks to a vast catalogue of British film and TV exports. And for most visitors, Britains national language English is equally recognisable, and one more reason why travel here is a breeze. Of course Wales and Scotland have their own languages, but everyone speaks English too and all outsiders get a little confused by local accents in places such as Devon, Snowdonia and Aberdeen.

A final thing to remember while youre planning a trip to Britain: getting from place to place is pretty straightforward. Although the locals may grumble (in fact, its a national pastime), public transport is pretty good, and a train ride through the British landscape can be a highlight in itself. Whichever way you get around, in this compact country youre never far from the next town, the next pub, the next restaurant, the next national park or the next impressive castle on your hit-list of highlights. The choice is endless, and weve hand-picked the best places for you. Use it to steer yourself from place to place, and mix it with making your own discoveries. You wont be disappointed.

Stourhead (), England
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Mysterious and compelling, Stonehenge () is Britains most iconic ancient site. People have been drawn to this myth-rich ring of bluestones for the last 5000 years, and were still not sure why it was built. Most visitors get to gaze at the 50-ton megaliths from behind the perimeter fence, but with enough planning you can book an early-morning or evening tour and walk around the inner ring. In the slanting sunlight, away from the crowds, its an ethereal place an experience that certainly stays with you.

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Edinburgh

Edinburgh () is a city of many moods famous for its festivals and especially lively in summer. Its also worth visiting out of season for sights such as the castle silhouetted against a blue spring sky with a yellow haze of daffodils misting the slopes below the esplanade. Or a chill December morning with the fog snagging the spires of the Old Town, the ancient streets and alleyways more mysterious than ever, rain on the cobblestones and a warm glow beckoning from the window of a pub.

Edinburgh Castle ()
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Oxford

For centuries, the brilliant minds and august institutions of Oxford University have made Oxford () famous across the globe. Youll get a glimpse of this revered world as you stroll hushed college quads and cobbled lanes roamed by cycling students and dusty academics. The beautiful buildings and archaic traditions have changed little over the years, leaving Oxford much as alumni such as Einstein or Tolkien would have found it.

All Souls College ()
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Isle of Skye

Of all Scotlands many islands, Skye () is one of the most famous and best loved by visitors, thanks to a mix of history (the islands link to Bonnie Prince Charlie is forever remembered by The Skye Boat Song), accessibility (the ferry from the mainland has been replaced by a bridge) and sheer beauty. With jagged mountains, velvet moors and towering sea cliffs, Skyes scenery never fails to impress. And for those days when the mist comes in, there are plenty of castles and local museums to explore, and cosy pubs to enjoy.

Portree ()
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The Cotswolds

The most wonderful thing about travel in the Cotswolds () is that no matter where you go or how lost you get, youll still end up in an impossibly picturesque village complete with rose-clad cottages, an ancient church of honey-coloured stone, a pub with sloping floors and fine ales, and a view of the lush green hills. Its easy to leave the crowds behind and find your very own slice of medieval England and some of the best boutique hotels in the country.

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Snowdonia

The rugged northwest corner of Wales has rocky mountain peaks, glacier-hewn valleys, sinuous ridges, sparkling lakes and rivers, and charm-infused villages. The busiest part is around Snowdon (), where the sun often shines, even if its raining on the mountains.