The castle, which is situated on the Cave Hills with a view over Belfast Lough, is a stunning sight, with a long and interesting history. Belfast Castle, which is the home of a restaurant and two museums, is a must when visiting Belfast.
The city hall from 1906, situated in the middle of Belfast, is built in classical renaissance-style and decorated on the inside with three different kinds of marble. With its characteristic verdigris domes, the city hall is one of Belfast's greatest attractions, and there are free tours every weekday from July to September.
Opens daily and costing £4.50 the gardens generally stay open till dusk. Over an area exceeding 15 acres, you will find an array of greenhouses, flowers and plants, with every thing from pretty ornamental gardens to rock gardens. Based in the Edgbaston area, buses run frequently from the city centre.
Cadbury World, Bournville lies around 4 miles from the city centre in one of the suburbs. It is a huge chocolate factory, which opens daily from 10.00am to 4.00pm taking you through the history of the cocoa bean and the Cadbury family history. For your £6.50 ticket not only takes you through various displays, but also gives you the chance to try out free chocolate samples straight from the production line. It can get quite busy, so it is advisable to book ahead. To do so, call 0121 451 4159
Open daily with free admission the gallery contains some of the finest pre-raphaelite art in the world. Amongst these, is a collection of exquisite, religious paintings, art dating from the 18th to the 20th Century and an International collection.
Housing a marvellous collection of classic art deco and art nouveau furniture. There is also a wide range of 18th century porcelain figures, pottery through the ages and Salvador Dali's famous 'Lips'. Open every day, except Wednesday, 10.00am to 5.00pm and on Sunday it opens 2.00pm to 5.00pm; free admission.
Offering free entertainment all year round, the Palace Pier is one of the most famous sites in Brighton. Play in the Palace of fun and the Pleasuredome, with state of the art fairground rides and video arcades. Or if you prefer, try out one of the many take-away food outlets, Brightons premiere fish and chip cafe or just relax in one of three lively bars. Quite a contrast to the traditional theatre that once graced this site.
Built in 1789 the Royal Pavilion was changed in accordance with ever growing Eastern trends in the early 19th Century (1815-1822). It is adorned with twirling domes, pagodas and balconies. Marvel at this Recently restored 19th century grand palace with its amazing colour schemes and outstanding craftsmanship Open daily from 10.00am to 6.00pm except on the 24th/25th December.
The castle is built in the geographical and historical heart of the city. The castle, which stands as a testament to the incredible variety of history in Cardiff, includes Roman remains, Victorian excess and an eleventh century Norman keep
This architecturally refined construction (which has a seating capacity of 72,500) is built right on the edge of the river Taff, and on its Western side is approached by bridge. Rugby is the national game of Wales, and when Wales plays at home, the streets of Cardiff are teeming with good- natured supporters, especially if they happen to be playing their long standing rivals, England.
333 feet high and at the East end of Princes Street, Calton Hill has the best views of Edinburgh. It is covered with an assortment of monuments including the Burns monument and the National monument, which was the city's lame attempt at copying the Parthenon out of respect for those who died in the Napoleonic wars. You can also find the city's observatory, built in 1818, where you can watch a 20-minute 3D audio/visual that will take you through the history of Edinburgh - open daily April to October 10.00am - 5.00pm. Tickets £2/1.20.
This structure is the largest of its type in the world. It was made in the 1980s, and was built from a plan of the original. The device allows one to view the mountains, bays and town from different magnifications. The camera can either be reached by a steep walk or by the cliff railway.
The castle, seen from just about anywhere, and open daily, offers beautiful views across the city. Its foundations date back to 850BC and it is still home to the Scottish Army division. You will find it at the Western end of Royal Mile and is definitely worth visiting.
Famous for the story of the little Skye terrier who visited his masters grave for 14 years. See their graves and a statue of the terrier in this small and haunting church, which provides peace and solitude away from the bustle of Edinburgh's main streets.
Built in the 1850's the gallery houses many important works of art. There are collections of European art from Renaissance to Postimpressionism. You will also find works by Rubens, Gainsborough, Rembrandt, Constable, Monet and Cezanne amongst others. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 5.00pm and Sunday 2.00pm to 5.00pm and is free. Scottish Tourist Board City Centre Representatives are available on the streets to guide you advice on where to eat, where to shop, the best places for music, a guide to museums and galleries and advice on which attractions to visit. You will find them throughout the day at Royal Mile, Waverley Bridge and Princes Street.
Royal Mile which runs from Edinburgh Castle at the Western end to Holyrood Palace is a wide thoroughfare. Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, described it as "perhaps the largest, longest and finest street for buildings and number of inhabitants, not in Britain only, but in the world". Royal Mile is a stunning street with buildings dating back to the 16th Century. Each little 'tucked away' alley is worth exploring, as you never know what wonders you will find. If you can manage to ignore all the touristy shops you will discover a fascinating insight into this thriving city.
This collection is Glasgow's top attraction house in 15th Century Pollock Country Park 3 miles (5km) south of the city. It contains a distinctive collection of porcelain, paintings by Renoir and Cezzane and a stamp collection. Open daily, there is a café and restaurant and admission is free.
The Cathedral is the oldest surviving building in Glasgow dating back from the 15th Century. A striking example of pre-reformation Gothic architecture it also contains a museum of medieval material. Open daily, admissions free. Sunday service is at 11.00am and 6.30pm.
The gallery and museum in the city's West End has seen Glasgow's most important Victorian and Edwardian International exhibitions. Surrounded by the beautiful Kelvingrove Park and the River Kelvin it should not be missed. The art gallery containing paintings from the 19th and 20th Century and the museum are open daily from 10.00am - 5.00pm.
This two room/kitchen flat in a tenement in Garnethill, dates back to 1892 and shows you what middle class life was like in the 19th - early 20th Century. Open daily from March to October 2.00pm - 5.00pm and costs around £3.00.
This beautiful village has a wonderful beach as well as a good youth hostel. To its west there is a stretch of angular cliff, which has on it a five-mile pathway leading all the way to Worms Head, the peninsula's most western point.
By standing on the corner of Water Street and The Strand, one can really begin to get to grips with the spirit of Liverpool and the Mersey. From this spot, you can see the famous Royal Liver Buildings, which complete with the 'liver Birds' perched on top, is probably Liverpool's best known symbol.
A basin surrounded by massive five story brick warehouses. It was constructed in 1846 during the city's heyday and suffered dramatically in the subsequent economic decline. It finally closed for business in 1972, and has since been splendidly re-vitalised to house cafes, museums, shops and an art gallery.
This must be the best place in the world to discover (or rediscover) the legacy of Liverpool's most famous pop quartet. Examining the impact they had on the 60s, this walk-through exhibition is presented in an informative and entertaining manner.
Open daily August to September, 9.30am - 4.15pm, tickets cost £9.50 for entrance to the home of the Royals since the reign of Victoria. The history of the palace dates back to 1702, but with just eighteen of the 600 rooms open to the public it's only a small taste of what life is like behind the great palace walls. The highlight is probably the Picture Gallery, stretching right through the palace and containing the Queens art collection, which is larger than that of the National Gallery. Don't expect to see the Queen as she usually heads off to Scotland for the summer months.
Open daily 10.00am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am - 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday, Madam Tussaud's is one of London's top attractions. Opened in 1802, the lady Tussaud used to sculpture heads of the guillotined aristocracy. During the summertime it can get exceptionally busy, with large queues of tourists all wanting to see their favourite stars immortalised in wax. Sections includes '200 years', which contains heads and limbs of outdated personalities, 'The Grand Hall' with royals and statesmen, the 'Chamber of Horrors' with its gruesome look at East End street life, and finally the 'Spirit of London'. Tickets cost £9.25 or you can buy a combined ticket at £11.50, which includes entrance to the London Planetarium.
Right in the heart of London, this street is over a mile long and jam-packed from beginning to end with shops, snack bars, cafes, traffic and tourists. It throngs all day long, but this is no surprise given the shopping opportunities on offer. Big department stores such as Selfridges, and every major retailer you would expect to find anywhere in England, catering right down the line from clothes and music to specialist tobaccos. At night, the street breathes a sigh of relief as it gives way to a few night clubs, and many drunken revellers wending their way home.
Heralding back to the days of the Great British Empire, which once extended to around three quarters of the globe, The British Museum yields some of the most wonderful artefacts the world has ever known. Egyptian mummies, North American totem poles, the Elgin Marbles, treasures from the Roman Empire and exquisite pieces from every time and place imaginable. Despite much controversy over the rightful ethical ownership of some of these artefacts, there is no denying that this museum is profoundly exhilarating in every way. It is can take days to explore and is free of charge.
For the more cultured traveller, the South Bank offers one of the most famous and accessible attractions south of the river. There you can find; The Royal National Theatre with its three stages, The Royal Festival Hall, The National Film Theatre and the Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI). This museum traces the rise of television and film from the past to the modern day. With all this on hand, there are also shops, cafes, a book-market and one of the most beautiful river views of London.
One of London's most popular tourist attractions, The Tower sits at the eastern boundary of the old city walls. Its building was begun by William the Conqueror in the 1070s, and since then it has been a fortress as well as a characteristic reminder of gory English history. It is mostly associated with imprisonment and death as it was the execution place of many a historical figure, royals included. It is still used as home to the Crown Jewels and the traditional Yeoman warders or 'Beefeaters' act as very efficient tour guides.
Located in the very heart of London, and home to Big Ben it is probably the most recognised sight in all of England. Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside St Steven's clock tower, not the clock itself. The former Palace of Westminster now houses the English Parliament and nearby is the enchanting Westminster Abbey. The Houses of Parliament and the Abbey are open to the public daily.
Is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Manchester. Open for most of the year, a ticket will cost you around £15.00 and will take you through a tour of the studios where you will experience a range of rides and special effects. The biggest draw for visitors is the Coronation Street set. The Nation's longest running soap opera.
Open from Monday to Saturday, 10.00am to 5.00pm with free admission, the museum houses a fantastic display of Egyptian artefacts. Currently undergoing renovation (due for completion in 2001) you may find that some exhibits are closed at the time of visiting.
The museum, which opens daily, costs £5 and is home to a menagerie of displays and exhibitions. The main attraction is a working replica of Robert Stephenson's 'Planet' which plunges visitors ½ mile to the world's oldest railway system.
At the most Northerly 'legal' and probably one of the best whisky distilleries in Scotland, you can watch the Barley Malting process take place. Tours run from April to October, Monday to Friday. Tickets costing £3.00, which includes a 'wee dram' (a small glass of whisky). Tel: 01856 874 619.
The Cathedral which is the town's most appealing site, originally started construction in the Norman style but ended up more gothic than anything else. Named after Magnus Erlendsson who was killed in 1115, the Cathedral is now his final resting place. The column where he is buried was once a site of pilgrimage said to possess divine powers. Open Monday to Saturday, admission is free and Sunday Service is at 11.15am.
In Liddle Farm, Isbister you will find this 5000 year old burial chamber. As well as a Bronze Age kitchen and family museum you can drag yourself along on a trolley through the entrance of the tomb where you will find human remains and the claws and carcases of sea eagles. Open April to October and November to March, tickets cost £2.00/£2.50.
This delightful Edwardian gallery contains the work of a collection of Welsh artists including Gwen John, her brother Augustus, Kyffin Williams and Ceri Richards. There is also a large exhibition of porcelain, for which Swansea was renowned for making at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
A famous heritage sight, renowned for its Roman baths and Georgian architecture. Bath is a town dominated by squares, crescents and circles and is the setting of many a costume drama. A wonderful city for strolling around, with many alleyways and shops.
This part of the country boasts some of England's cleanest beaches and the ones around St Ives are no exception. The three best local ones are, Porthemor, which is good for surfing, Carbis Bay, which is good if you have children, and Porthkidney Sands, for the swimmer. All are sandy.
Britain's highest mountain at 4406 feet, 'Ben' and Glen Nevis, are popular destinations for hikers and walkers alike, its popularity has been helped by Mel Gibson's Braveheart, which was filmed in and around the Glen. The visitors centre at the foot of 'Ben' gives advice for climbers and walkers.
Situated 7 miles north of Pitlochry, West Perthshire, Blair Castle is open from April to October and is home to the Duke of Atholl (the only person in Britain allowed to keep a private army). The castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions and has around 30 rooms open to the public housing lace, armour, paintings and china dating from the 1500's. The ballroom is complete with antler wall hangings.
This is now Wales' largest art gallery, with a reputation for showing work of an extremely high standard, ranging from old masters to installations from contemporary artists.
This seventeenth century stately home was built by the First Duke of Devonshire and has been in the family ever since. It plays host to a vast dining room, which is still laid out exactly as it was for the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1933. There is a diligently designed formal garden, a vast park, the Emperor Fountain, the State Apartments and the fascinating Sculpture Gallery. All this makes it a splendid destination for a day out.
Lying between Nairn and Inverness and owned by the National Trust, Culloden was the last battle to be fought on British soil. Hundreds of highlanders were slaughtered seeing the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie. With the feel of a large graveyard, communal graves are marked with stones bearing the name of each Clan. The visitors' centre is open February to December and tells the full story of this terrible and brutal battle.
11 km west of Giant's Causeway, near Portballintrae, is the most impressive ruin on the North Irish coast. Dunluce castle, which used to be the McDonnell-clan's headquarters, is placed very near the edge of a steep cliff by the sea.
Packed full of the works of the great man.
The famous castle with the two towers used to be the stronghold of the Maguire-clan, but today the castle is the home of two museums - the County Museum and the Regimental Museum for the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Fort William is a major tourist centre on the West coast, beside Loch Linnhe. Situated amongst an outstanding mountainous landscape the fort itself has been demolished, but some of the relics can still be seen in the West Highland Museum, tel: 01397 702 169.
On the northern coast of Northern Ireland are some interesting expanses of cliff, such as Giant's Causeway - an amazing landscape of almost 40,000 pentagonal and hexagonal basalt columns - which is one of Northern Ireland's greatest attractions.
Famous for the brutal murders of the Clan Donald by Government Soldiers, Glen Coe is stunningly beautiful with three massive mountains know as the three sisters. It is a perfect environment for walkers and has quality accommodation and an exhibition centre.
Southeast of the bathing resort of Ballycastle, by the North Irish coast, is a small chain of mountains with nine green valleys called Glens of Antrim. The beautiful valleys each have their charm, with beautiful rivers, waterfalls and wild flowers.
Belfast's more than 100-year-old striking opera house on Great Victoria Street has a varied repertoire of modern and classical dramas, musicals, ballets, operas and pantomimes.
The Emperor Hadrian built this wall, when the Roman Empire was at its height. It marks one of the Roman's most northerly territories and was built right across the border with an outpost at each mile. It stretches across 115 miles (185km), and snakes across some truly dramatic countryside.
This Selkirk Abbey opens daily from April to September and Mondays to Saturdays in October to March. A former priory for Augustinian Canons and founded in 1138, it was home to royal weddings such as the second marriage of Alexander II in 1285.
20 miles NorthWest of Glasgow the Loch is the largest body of water in Britain. The Loch was originally formed in the Ice Age and is surrounded by dramatic scenery. It can get very busy in summer and is popular for walking, hiking and jet skiing.
23 miles from Fort Augustus in the Great Glen, the Loch is most famous for the mysterious Loch Ness monster. The dinosaur like 'monster' has been captured on video and in photos with its long neck peering out of the water. The Taurus is a five person submarine, based North of Urguhart Castle, offering one-hour long voyages into the Loch's depths, so keep your camera handy, just in case!
This museum covers the history of Swansea starting with its seaside location, and presenting its industrial past. The many vehicles contained within the museum include the old tram that ran along the seafront and a large collection of Welsh produced motor cars. There is also the woollen mill, a working example of a man powered machine that slowly turns raw fleece in blanket.
This impressive landscape of mountains with peaks as high as 800 metres is a paradise for people, who love to walk in beautiful surroundings. From the mountains you can see all the way to Isle of Man, Strangford Lough and the biggest lake in Northern Ireland, Lough Neagh.
The library is housed in a splendid Edwardian building and is a compulsory place to visit for anyone who is interested in Wales. Among its collection they have the oldest existing piece of Welsh text.
This large, domed building, made from Portland stone was constructed in various sections from between 1912 and 1992. The museum attempt to tell the story of Wales as a country and on an international scale. Exhibitions include, Evolution of Wales,
A memorial to the industrial revolution and a World Heritage Site. The former Cotton Spinning Mill, which was Robert Owens social and educational experiment, has now been restored to its former glory and houses a interesting visitors centre. Opens daily.
Based in an old mill on the river Nith, Dumfries, the Robert Burns Centre is an award winning museum describing both Robert Burns life and life in Dumfries in the 1790's. The centre is open April to September and October to March.
Skara Brae, Orkney, is the remains of a 5000-year-old community. A British Pompeii with well-preserved houses, furniture, beds and dressers made of stone. Open year round, with wonderful sandy beaches nearby.
This Southern end of the coastline consists of some fantastically beautiful bays lying beneath the dramatically jagged cliffs. Along this stretch of coast one can visit the meandering streets of Manorbier, where its hunting castle preside of a small bay, the scenic village of Bosherston with its wonderful lily lakes, or. Further Westward of Bosherston lies St Govan's chapel, an ancient structure squeezed between a cleft in the rock above the violent waves.
This ancient megalithic monument is dated around 2000 B.C and is recognised worldwide. Its ruins form a circle 30 meters across and lie amidst the green Wiltshire hills on Salisbury plain. It is unknown to this day as to the purpose of the monument although it is widely speculated to have been an ancient observatory. Druids and revellers alike often congregate at this site to mark the coming of the summer solstice.
This amazing garden is an outstanding example of the English landscape style. Designed by Henry Hoare II and completed in 1780, the magical landscape encompasses the architecture of the classical Greek and Roman influence with the serenity of a beautiful English lake and a wooded fairyland. The theme changes subtly from one end of the park to the other, making it a truly enchanting journey.
A splendid building, built in 1973 on the site of an old gasworks. It has a wonderful view out over the sea, and a well crafted wheelchair friendly interior. Some of the artworks are from London's Tate collection, but it mostly focuses on St Ives
Scotland's most popular skiing range. Aviemore, the resort town is surrounded by forests full of pine martins, red squirrels and other rare animals. If you want to head for the slopes you can always leave the kids at the Santa Claus Children's theme park.
The Crown is an elegant and timeless pub built in Victorian style, and has succeeded in preserving the ambiance from the beginning of the previous century. The Crown Liquor Saloon, close to Victoria Street, is today greatly used by the locals and is considered one of Great Britain's most attractive pubs.
The landscapes of the Lake District are without doubt, stunning. One of the most inspirational geographical sights in England, attracting around 10 million visitors a year, and playing host to the lakes, Windemere, Grasmere and Buttermere. Each of the lakes is said to have it's own distinctive character. Be prepared to hike.
The former home of the Northern Ireland parliament, built in Anglo Palladian style, was erected in 1932 and was served as parliament until 1972, where the rule of the country was conveyed to London. The striking building, which is situated on Upper Newtownards Road, is built of granite from the Mourne Mountains.
Southwest of Enniskillen is one of Europe's finest stalactite caves, which supposedly should be more than 300 million years old. It is possible to get a guided tour of the Marble Arch Caves, where you'll get an exciting introduction to the bizarre natural phenomenon in 75 minutes.
If you want to gain a comprehensive insight in the history of Belfast, the Ulster Museum is a great place to start. The museum is situated in the botanical gardens and has previously won awards for its exhibitions, which contains everything from mummies and dinosaurs, to modern artwork.
The majestic home of British royalty for over 900 years, this medieval castle sits overlooking the Thames just 20 miles from the centre of London. There are numerous galleries to stroll around, State Apartments to wonder at (when they are not occupied by the Royals) and winding streets to roam.
The beautiful city of York has no end of historic sights. York Minster is the largest gothic cathedral in northern Europe, built on the sight of a Roman settlement and attracting over 2 million visitors each year. There are lots of little alleyways and streets to investigate, making it a great place to explore.
This museum has reconstructions of original cottages, dairies and a nineteenth century pharmacy as well as exhibits on the local geology and the history of weights and measures.
Cardigan lies on the northern bank of the Teify estuary. The town was originally build around its castle and has a large selection of historical architecture as well as many absorbing little shops. The Cardigan Heritage Centre contains an interesting insight into the success and decline of the port.
This village is possibly the most scenic of the Ceredigion Coast. The exceedingly narrow main streets lead down to the small seafront that is nevertheless well equipped for heavy tourism in the summer months.
Newquay is a romantically isolated town which is full of important looking Victorian houses, pubs and small winding streets, it also claims to be the inspiration for Dylan Thomas', Llareggub in his classic book, Under Milk Wood. Newquay has a lovely harbour and a small beech which is lined with multicoloured houses and shopfronts.
This is a superb four-mile length of beach, backed by the village of Rhossili provides some of the best opportunities for surfing in Wales. The bay takes up the whole of the western end Gower.
Snowdonia is often labelled the most dramatic and beautiful region in Wales. Of its mountains, Snowdon is the highest and is reached either by cog railway from the town of Llanberis, or by an excellent climb. Of the other mountains, the Glyders and Tryfan are particularly favoured, they are both far less busy than Snowdon and they both allow clear views of it.
