International Travel

Archive for the ‘United Kingdom’ Category

For anyone who is visiting the Peak District from abroad, you could not have chosen a more appropriate place in which to get a good gist of England. In many ways, the Peak District is the quintessential England. It combines stately home grandeur with simple working class towns, along with historic medieval stone circles and Roman spa towns.

The area in itself is a National Park, and covers as much as five hundred and forty square miles, and throughout this area there are hundreds of different walks you can tackle. The countryside walk is another English institution and here in the peak District there are more walks than you could fit into a year of walking! Another British institution is the Public House, and again, whilst on your walks you will find many great examples of these, with a remarkable amount in this area regularly preparing wonderful food cooked and made on the premises.

If you really want to see something that will remind you of the England that you have heard and read about you will take in a visit of the great Chatsworth House, a stately home, which his large enough to spend all day looking round. The gardens have won national awards and you will find this to be as British as anything you have ever seem!

To find some lovely English cottages for rent you should search online for peak district holidays to see what sort of deals you can find for when you come to England.

A lot of people would tell you that London is an expensive place to visit, and it is possible to spend a small fortune in England’s capital if you are that way inclined, but it is also possible to spend a few days in London without breaking the bank.

For a start, a lot of the finest museums in London are free to enter. The Tate Modern, home to some of the best new galleries in the world is completely free, and there are people who would be willing to travel hundreds of miles for this opportunity.

It is also very cheap and easy to get about the capital. A zones one to four rail card is very light on the pocket and gives you travels throughout the major parts of London all day. You could end up using the tube ten times a day and the over ground several times, as well as any bus in the capital and it would all be paid for with your railcard.

There are also lots of great things to do in the evening. There are plenty of decent cheap restaurants, and if you book online, you can now get Phantom of the opera tickets very cheaply. This is a great show which is famous the world over, and this just goes to show that you don’t have to break the bank to see something world class in London.

The city is a wonderful place to explore, so please don’t let the thought of cost put you off discovering just how much it has to offer.

The sun may have set on the English Empire of history books, but by no means is England’s worldly cultural influence waning. The cosmopolitan hot-spots of sophisticated London and avant-garde Manchester speak to the global future while the Roman remnants in Bath and Celtic heritage at Stonehenge stand as monumental tributes to a time past but not forgotten.

Experience England

Culinary Intrigue

The Brits may not traditionally be known, or even praised, for their gastronomic heritage; however, England has recently experienced a culinary renaissance of sorts and can proudly boast 14 of the world’s top 50 restaurants. Erase thoughts of porridge and stodge – the British dining experience has abandoned its starchy past and embarked on a journey through multicultural and international cuisine, particularly in the South. England’s colonial history comes forth in London’s exquisite choice of Indian restaurants. Despite this new food wave, make sure not to pass on the Yorkshire pudding and Beef Wellington when traveling through the North, which offers exceptional renditions of more traditional dishes.

From London to Land’s End

Upon arrival in the English region of this massive island, it is important to include travel outside of London for the full British experience. England’s most southwestern tip of Cornwall is home to the legendary sea-cliffs below Penzance and the dramatic peninsula of Land’s End where a 25 mile trail will take you along some of the most beautiful stretches of ocean. Cornwall is also known for its architectural landmarks, including Cotehele, a most impressive Tudor mansion and museum along the river Tamar. Travel northeast to encounter ancient towns nestled in the picturesque countryside of The Cotswolds. This region is extremely popular for a glimpse into the idyllic English lifestyle with its 14th century stone and thatched roof cottages and cobblestone alleys. Keep in mind that the southern regions are heavily traveled in the months of July and August by locals and foreigners alike due to the warmer weather.

Farther north, the ancient spa town of Bath is famous for the 2000 year-old Roman bathhouses, which are still open to the public, in addition to Saxon ruins and the history of local Christianity told by the Heritage Vaults. Shakespeare buffs should not miss Stratford-upon-Avon, his home town located in the Midlands. Shakespeare and his family are buried at the Holy Trinity Church in the heart of town. While visiting the most northern regions, travel through York to see Europe’s largest Gothic cathedral, York Minster, and walk along the immaculately preserved medieval street of The Shambles. Even more enchanting are the still-standing city walls that enclose a magical mix of history and modernity in a city that was once the Danish capital of Viking England.

A Region of Global Heritage

Aside from England’s ancient history, no other nation has had such a hand in human progress in the modern era. At one time the English Empire encompassed stretches of the globe from Australia and India to Canada and America. England helped push the world stage into Industrial Revolution; the Midlands are home to the world’s first industrial cities. The land of Chaucer, Shakespeare and Dickens, Saxons, Celts and Normans, is an intriguing and essential journey for anyone interested in the formation of contemporary global culture.