United Kingdom: Where The Princess Lives
United Kingdom has 14 overseas territories spread all around the globe ranging from the tiny island of Pitcairn with its 47 inhabitants, set in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to Bermuda, which is a major financial centre.
Known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it is an ethnically diverse multinational state comprising of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is the largest island of the British Isles and Northern Ireland is the second largest.
The capital of the country is London and the major language spoken is English. The country has been at the forefront of youth culture with its rich literary heritage and traditional music. This beautiful island of rain and mist is filled with history with its castles and ruins. It is also packed with icons and relics from the past and still has breathtaking scenery. The head of the state is Queen Elizabeth II and the currency used is the British pound.
The United Kingdom is just under 1000 km long from the south coast of England to the extreme north end of Scotland and 500 km across at its widest point. It is a country which boasts of incredibly varied beautiful scenery. The traveling cost throughout Britain varies with a daily budget ranging between US$65 – US$125. In other words, you can just keep your head above the water at times because the cities are a bit expensive.
A journey through this beautiful English country is like a journey through history. Cities like Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle revel in their heritage, but yet face the future confidently. From cycling in Norfolk to surfing off in Newquay to rock climbing in the Peak District to climbing up the beautiful hills of Oxfordshire, the United Kingdom is the perfect place for activity and adventure, provided you have the time on your side.
Places to visit
The capital city itself is one among the top 100 destination spots. Take a spin on the London Eye, which is the Ferris wheel overlooking the Thames for a bird’s eye view of London. Also don’t miss the Big Ben, the Tower of London and the St Paul’s Cathedral. Oxford Street and Regent Street are London’s famous areas for pure shopping bliss. They are bursting at the seams with chain stores like Marks and Spencer, Selfridges, Jigsaw and H&M. And since they are constantly changing their stuff, you are likely to find something you won’t get elsewhere. Also, Marks and Spencer is rumored to have the most comfortable underwear in the planet!
To sample a bit of Wales, the ideal place to visit is Torfaen, which boasts of a dry ski slope, a shell grotto, historic park and a large pedestrianized and undercover shopping centre, which is home to some of the leading brands. The Ponty Pool Town Centre in the heart of Torfaen houses the modern day shops.
To get a taste of unspoilt countryside and wildlife, visit Norfolk. It also has some glorious beaches with sweeping coastlines. For stunning views of rolling hills, visit Yorkshire Dales in England and also the Lake District, which has England’s highest mountains and tranquil lakes. Also follow the footsteps of roman centurions along the Hadrian’ Wall. Other must see places in England are Durham for its famous cathedral and historic university and Newcastle, which is the perfect blend of to-the-¬hilt party town and also the 21st century cultural renaissance.
The turbulent history of Scotland has left an enduring mark on the landscape and hence Scotland offers fantastic attractions from castles to gardens to distilleries, science centers, and ceramic workshops. The same applies to Northern Ireland with museums, visitor centers, historic, and scenic attractions. Scotland is also renowned for its spirits. The balmy Scottish climes, the Peat that grows the finest grains of barley are the perfect conditions for making the best of whisky known to the world as Scotch. If liquor is quite your kind of thing to do, the Scottish Pipers will definitely lift up your spirits .No trip to the United Kingdom is complete without a trip to bagpiper country. The merry pipers with their enchanting sway can mesmerize you with their mellifluous music.
When to go
At 54 degrees North Latitude, the United Kingdom temperatures don’t match up to the warmth of the people you encounter. British weather is pleasant from April to September. The best time to visit generally depends on the activity that you intend to do in United Kingdom. In winters, it is dark quite early, as early as 4 p.m. The mercury drops to nearly zero during winters when the maximum temperature hovers around 10 degrees Celsius. In summer, the maximum temperature is about 30 degree Celsius and the lowest during the summer is about 13 degree Celsius. However, events in UK are not limited by the climate and there are events that take place all around the year. There are events whose origin dates back to the Victorian era as well as modern day festivals. London is synonymous with the famous and ever popular changing of guards at Buckingham palace – an event that takes place 365 days a year. There is practically a festival or other every week. From funny ones like the Pancake Day race in February, Nutters dance in April to the more famous ones like the Oxford Cambridge boat race in late March, United Kingdom is never a dull place.
Getting there and around
United Kingdom is well connected to the rest of the world. Two modern airports at London – Heathrow and Gatwick have airlines flying to almost all countries. Smaller airports like the ones at Stansted, Luton, Glasgow, etc. provide for travel within the United Kingdom as well as to limited international destinations. For travel within the United Kingdom, a plethora of options are available ranging from horrendously expensive to the most cost effective ones. The United Kingdom has a fantastic network of railways, roads, and even waterways. Within London, the metro rail – one of the oldest in the world referred to as the tube by Londoners is a cheap form of transport.
London’s iconic red double dickers are another form of transport. And if you still have a destination not covered by these, relax. The London cabbie knows the streets and by lanes of London like the palm of his hand, for he has taken a rigorous navigation test to earn the cabbie license. Want to explore the United Kingdom at your own pace? The bicycles are a cost effective and eco-friendly option. Bicycles are available for hire at almost all places in United Kingdom and can be hired from one city and deposited at another. The ferries and boats ply along the Thames – another leisurely form of travel. Altogether, these things would make your London trip truly unforgettable!
Known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it is an ethnically diverse multinational state comprising of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is the largest island of the British Isles and Northern Ireland is the second largest.
The capital of the country is London and the major language spoken is English. The country has been at the forefront of youth culture with its rich literary heritage and traditional music. This beautiful island of rain and mist is filled with history with its castles and ruins. It is also packed with icons and relics from the past and still has breathtaking scenery. The head of the state is Queen Elizabeth II and the currency used is the British pound.
The United Kingdom is just under 1000 km long from the south coast of England to the extreme north end of Scotland and 500 km across at its widest point. It is a country which boasts of incredibly varied beautiful scenery. The traveling cost throughout Britain varies with a daily budget ranging between US$65 – US$125. In other words, you can just keep your head above the water at times because the cities are a bit expensive.
A journey through this beautiful English country is like a journey through history. Cities like Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle revel in their heritage, but yet face the future confidently. From cycling in Norfolk to surfing off in Newquay to rock climbing in the Peak District to climbing up the beautiful hills of Oxfordshire, the United Kingdom is the perfect place for activity and adventure, provided you have the time on your side.
Places to visit
The capital city itself is one among the top 100 destination spots. Take a spin on the London Eye, which is the Ferris wheel overlooking the Thames for a bird’s eye view of London. Also don’t miss the Big Ben, the Tower of London and the St Paul’s Cathedral. Oxford Street and Regent Street are London’s famous areas for pure shopping bliss. They are bursting at the seams with chain stores like Marks and Spencer, Selfridges, Jigsaw and H&M. And since they are constantly changing their stuff, you are likely to find something you won’t get elsewhere. Also, Marks and Spencer is rumored to have the most comfortable underwear in the planet!
To sample a bit of Wales, the ideal place to visit is Torfaen, which boasts of a dry ski slope, a shell grotto, historic park and a large pedestrianized and undercover shopping centre, which is home to some of the leading brands. The Ponty Pool Town Centre in the heart of Torfaen houses the modern day shops.
To get a taste of unspoilt countryside and wildlife, visit Norfolk. It also has some glorious beaches with sweeping coastlines. For stunning views of rolling hills, visit Yorkshire Dales in England and also the Lake District, which has England’s highest mountains and tranquil lakes. Also follow the footsteps of roman centurions along the Hadrian’ Wall. Other must see places in England are Durham for its famous cathedral and historic university and Newcastle, which is the perfect blend of to-the-¬hilt party town and also the 21st century cultural renaissance.
The turbulent history of Scotland has left an enduring mark on the landscape and hence Scotland offers fantastic attractions from castles to gardens to distilleries, science centers, and ceramic workshops. The same applies to Northern Ireland with museums, visitor centers, historic, and scenic attractions. Scotland is also renowned for its spirits. The balmy Scottish climes, the Peat that grows the finest grains of barley are the perfect conditions for making the best of whisky known to the world as Scotch. If liquor is quite your kind of thing to do, the Scottish Pipers will definitely lift up your spirits .No trip to the United Kingdom is complete without a trip to bagpiper country. The merry pipers with their enchanting sway can mesmerize you with their mellifluous music.
When to go
At 54 degrees North Latitude, the United Kingdom temperatures don’t match up to the warmth of the people you encounter. British weather is pleasant from April to September. The best time to visit generally depends on the activity that you intend to do in United Kingdom. In winters, it is dark quite early, as early as 4 p.m. The mercury drops to nearly zero during winters when the maximum temperature hovers around 10 degrees Celsius. In summer, the maximum temperature is about 30 degree Celsius and the lowest during the summer is about 13 degree Celsius. However, events in UK are not limited by the climate and there are events that take place all around the year. There are events whose origin dates back to the Victorian era as well as modern day festivals. London is synonymous with the famous and ever popular changing of guards at Buckingham palace – an event that takes place 365 days a year. There is practically a festival or other every week. From funny ones like the Pancake Day race in February, Nutters dance in April to the more famous ones like the Oxford Cambridge boat race in late March, United Kingdom is never a dull place.
Getting there and around
United Kingdom is well connected to the rest of the world. Two modern airports at London – Heathrow and Gatwick have airlines flying to almost all countries. Smaller airports like the ones at Stansted, Luton, Glasgow, etc. provide for travel within the United Kingdom as well as to limited international destinations. For travel within the United Kingdom, a plethora of options are available ranging from horrendously expensive to the most cost effective ones. The United Kingdom has a fantastic network of railways, roads, and even waterways. Within London, the metro rail – one of the oldest in the world referred to as the tube by Londoners is a cheap form of transport.
London’s iconic red double dickers are another form of transport. And if you still have a destination not covered by these, relax. The London cabbie knows the streets and by lanes of London like the palm of his hand, for he has taken a rigorous navigation test to earn the cabbie license. Want to explore the United Kingdom at your own pace? The bicycles are a cost effective and eco-friendly option. Bicycles are available for hire at almost all places in United Kingdom and can be hired from one city and deposited at another. The ferries and boats ply along the Thames – another leisurely form of travel. Altogether, these things would make your London trip truly unforgettable!