My Top 5 Places to Visit in the UK
The Best Places To Visit in Great Britain
Up until very recently I lived and worked in the UK. Born and bred in Yorkshire, I grew up in and around the city of York. My family didn't travel abroad for holidays and some of my jobs required me to travel up and down the country. When I left home and became independent, I also holidayed in the UK, alone and with friends and family. These are my personal top 5 places to visit in the United Kingdom, from historic cities and sights, to beautiful rolling countryside and fantastic days out. Join me on a trip that will take you around this amazing country... |
5. The historic city of York
This has been my home town in the past and though I have since travelled the length and breadth of the UK and a few places overseas, I still think it is a wonderful place to be and visit.
York is steeped in history. Its early history has seen the Romans, Vikings and Normans all occupy the place, along with the city playing key parts in the history of the UK itself.
The Minster (cathedral) at York is the largest historic building, plus there are still remains of the city walls and gates that give you a feel for the history that is a part of the place, along with narrow cobbled streets and other ancient buildings. Just take a leisurely walk around and you will be amazed by the history here.
York is also a modern and vibrant city. There are plenty of shopping opportunities, with high-street chains, independent shops and regular markets. Plus other great visitor attractions exist, such as the National Railway Museum, boat trips on the River Ouse and plenty of museums.
If you want to see history in the UK you couldn't find a better or more compact place to visit, in my opinion.
York is steeped in history. Its early history has seen the Romans, Vikings and Normans all occupy the place, along with the city playing key parts in the history of the UK itself.
The Minster (cathedral) at York is the largest historic building, plus there are still remains of the city walls and gates that give you a feel for the history that is a part of the place, along with narrow cobbled streets and other ancient buildings. Just take a leisurely walk around and you will be amazed by the history here.
York is also a modern and vibrant city. There are plenty of shopping opportunities, with high-street chains, independent shops and regular markets. Plus other great visitor attractions exist, such as the National Railway Museum, boat trips on the River Ouse and plenty of museums.
If you want to see history in the UK you couldn't find a better or more compact place to visit, in my opinion.
4. Alton Towers
I have to admit it is a few years since I've been to Alton Towers, but we always had a brilliant and fun time.
Alton Towers is the classic theme park in the UK, and for me it was all about roller coasters and thrill rides, rather than hotels and water parks. There are some great theme park attractions of this kind in the UK, but Alton Towers, (and Blackpool Pleasure Beach) were, for me, the best places to go.
Nemesis was always one of my faves and was Europe's first inverted roller coaster. It's a fast and furious, corkscrewing, spinning and looping ride, which always took my breath away.
The last time I visited, they had just opened Air. This was a coaster with a difference. Here you start off by getting in a seat like any other inverter, but once you're strapped in a mechanism works to raise all the seats backwards, so your backside is pulled upwards and you're 'lying' out flat on your stomach. Then you're off. I've never experience a ride quite like it and spent all my time laughing my head off! It just felt so ridiculous, but incredible at the same time.
Since then Alton Towers has launched The Smiler. Not only is it the world's first 14 looping roller coaster, but it also aims to mess with your body and mind by disorientating you with a variety of 'effects'! No idea what it's like but sounds incredible.
So if you want a fun day out, or a brilliant family base in the centre of the UK, Alton Towers is the place for you.
Alton Towers is the classic theme park in the UK, and for me it was all about roller coasters and thrill rides, rather than hotels and water parks. There are some great theme park attractions of this kind in the UK, but Alton Towers, (and Blackpool Pleasure Beach) were, for me, the best places to go.
Nemesis was always one of my faves and was Europe's first inverted roller coaster. It's a fast and furious, corkscrewing, spinning and looping ride, which always took my breath away.
The last time I visited, they had just opened Air. This was a coaster with a difference. Here you start off by getting in a seat like any other inverter, but once you're strapped in a mechanism works to raise all the seats backwards, so your backside is pulled upwards and you're 'lying' out flat on your stomach. Then you're off. I've never experience a ride quite like it and spent all my time laughing my head off! It just felt so ridiculous, but incredible at the same time.
Since then Alton Towers has launched The Smiler. Not only is it the world's first 14 looping roller coaster, but it also aims to mess with your body and mind by disorientating you with a variety of 'effects'! No idea what it's like but sounds incredible.
So if you want a fun day out, or a brilliant family base in the centre of the UK, Alton Towers is the place for you.
Find out what it's like to ride the Nemesis...
3. Scotland - Yes all of it!
I can't recommend a visit to Scotland more highly. The place is amazing. The beauty and spectacular nature of the scenery is quite outstanding. You could easily spend all your holiday in this place.
Scotland is another place of great history, from its wonderful cities to outstanding castles, plus it is all set in countryside that will leave you speechless. It has both beautiful lochs and highlands, and incredible coastline and wildlife.
If you like scenic vistas, local and national history, traditions and festivals, along with great food, unique shopping and beautiful gardens, then visit Scotland.
I've been to many places in Scotland and always, always enjoy myself. I've stayed in converted chapels, gatehouse turrets and log cabins on estates. Shopped in tiny towns and villages and walked up and down the streets of Edinburgh. It's a fantastic place to be.
And if you think the Caribbean is the only place to get blue sea and golden sand, then you should try some of the places on the west coast of Scotland. They'll make you change your mind...
Scotland is another place of great history, from its wonderful cities to outstanding castles, plus it is all set in countryside that will leave you speechless. It has both beautiful lochs and highlands, and incredible coastline and wildlife.
If you like scenic vistas, local and national history, traditions and festivals, along with great food, unique shopping and beautiful gardens, then visit Scotland.
I've been to many places in Scotland and always, always enjoy myself. I've stayed in converted chapels, gatehouse turrets and log cabins on estates. Shopped in tiny towns and villages and walked up and down the streets of Edinburgh. It's a fantastic place to be.
And if you think the Caribbean is the only place to get blue sea and golden sand, then you should try some of the places on the west coast of Scotland. They'll make you change your mind...
2. The magic of Stonehenge
The ultimate prehistoric mystery in the UK. A World Heritage site that we still don't know the true meaning of.
I was lucky enough to visit Stonehenge once when I was doing my own personal holiday tour of the south-west(ish) of England. I'd been to places I hadn't visited before like, Warwick Castle and the Cotswolds, Bath and Wells Cathedral, all beautiful places in their own right.
I left Stonehenge until last because I was looking forward to it so much - you know, save the best till last. It didn't disappoint.
I was lucky enough to be there on a relatively quiet day when there weren't many visitors. There's something about the place that you can't quite put your finger on. It has a 'feel'. Somehow it just feels special - like there's some kind of magic in the air, and of course it is considered a significant or even religious place for some.
With its true nature lost, there is still plenty of speculation on what Stonehenge really is - place of worship or a calendar? The other mystery of course, is how it was actually built. You don't truly realise until you are there, quite the scale of the place. Some of the rocks are massive and apart from getting them upright, how on earth did the people of prehistoric England get the horizontal rocks or lintels up there, balanced and steady on these 'pillars'?
An amazing place, for a spectacular day out and it's launched a new visitor's centre in the last few years that should be worth a try.
I was lucky enough to visit Stonehenge once when I was doing my own personal holiday tour of the south-west(ish) of England. I'd been to places I hadn't visited before like, Warwick Castle and the Cotswolds, Bath and Wells Cathedral, all beautiful places in their own right.
I left Stonehenge until last because I was looking forward to it so much - you know, save the best till last. It didn't disappoint.
I was lucky enough to be there on a relatively quiet day when there weren't many visitors. There's something about the place that you can't quite put your finger on. It has a 'feel'. Somehow it just feels special - like there's some kind of magic in the air, and of course it is considered a significant or even religious place for some.
With its true nature lost, there is still plenty of speculation on what Stonehenge really is - place of worship or a calendar? The other mystery of course, is how it was actually built. You don't truly realise until you are there, quite the scale of the place. Some of the rocks are massive and apart from getting them upright, how on earth did the people of prehistoric England get the horizontal rocks or lintels up there, balanced and steady on these 'pillars'?
An amazing place, for a spectacular day out and it's launched a new visitor's centre in the last few years that should be worth a try.
How they built Stonehenge?
1. Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
Though this list of places to visit is in no particular order, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has to be my personal number one. I think it's my most favourite place to visit in the whole of the UK.
It probably has something to do with happy childhood holidays in the Lake District, which we visited most (though not all), years.
The Lake District is a beautiful place itself. Another place I couldn't recommend highly enough to visit. A place of rolling hills and peaceful lakes, and just wonderful countryside and towns, but this little railway was always the highlight of our vacation.
This is a miniature steam railway that travels seven miles through the Lakeland countryside to the coast and back. (Or if you prefer - it travels seven miles from the coast to the interior of the Lake District and back!)
We always travelled on it the 'wrong' way. We would approach having travelled from our holiday home for the week, in the main part of the Lakes, over Hardknott Pass - the steepest road in England - and past Hardknott Roman Fort, into Eskdale and on to the station at Boot.
We'd then have lunch, buy our tickets for the next train and wait. Wait for the whistle and the sound of a miniature steam train coming around the corner, over the bridge and into the station. Watch the passengers get off who wanted to go on the lovely walks in the area and then watch the engine driver move the locomotive on to the turntable and push it around so the engine could be attached to the other end of the carriages, ready for the trip to Ravenglass.
If the weather was nice, we'd climb into one of the open-topped carriages a good way down so we could lean out and not only see the fantastic views but sight of the steam engine ahead pulling us along.
The rolling countryside was good enough in itself, fields and trees, views of the mountains and the animal and bird life, but watching the little locomotive puff along was just magic. One of my best memories ever. Then you'd trundle along and watch out for the estuary and then sight of the sea.
Once in Ravenglass we'd usually get off, have an ice cream and wander down through the village to the sea. Depending on the tide we'd either have a paddle or go for a walk, with just enough time to catch the next train back and travel back towards the wonders of the Lake District interior.
I think I've just relived my childhood there, but I can't recommend this trip enough.
Happy holidays!
It probably has something to do with happy childhood holidays in the Lake District, which we visited most (though not all), years.
The Lake District is a beautiful place itself. Another place I couldn't recommend highly enough to visit. A place of rolling hills and peaceful lakes, and just wonderful countryside and towns, but this little railway was always the highlight of our vacation.
This is a miniature steam railway that travels seven miles through the Lakeland countryside to the coast and back. (Or if you prefer - it travels seven miles from the coast to the interior of the Lake District and back!)
We always travelled on it the 'wrong' way. We would approach having travelled from our holiday home for the week, in the main part of the Lakes, over Hardknott Pass - the steepest road in England - and past Hardknott Roman Fort, into Eskdale and on to the station at Boot.
We'd then have lunch, buy our tickets for the next train and wait. Wait for the whistle and the sound of a miniature steam train coming around the corner, over the bridge and into the station. Watch the passengers get off who wanted to go on the lovely walks in the area and then watch the engine driver move the locomotive on to the turntable and push it around so the engine could be attached to the other end of the carriages, ready for the trip to Ravenglass.
If the weather was nice, we'd climb into one of the open-topped carriages a good way down so we could lean out and not only see the fantastic views but sight of the steam engine ahead pulling us along.
The rolling countryside was good enough in itself, fields and trees, views of the mountains and the animal and bird life, but watching the little locomotive puff along was just magic. One of my best memories ever. Then you'd trundle along and watch out for the estuary and then sight of the sea.
Once in Ravenglass we'd usually get off, have an ice cream and wander down through the village to the sea. Depending on the tide we'd either have a paddle or go for a walk, with just enough time to catch the next train back and travel back towards the wonders of the Lake District interior.
I think I've just relived my childhood there, but I can't recommend this trip enough.
Happy holidays!
Here's what I mean about using a turntable to move the engine around.
Find out more about these places
•http://www.visityork.org/
The Visit York website, where you can get up-to-date information about events happening in York.
•http://www.altontowers.com/
The Alton Towers website, where you can find opening times and much, much more.
•http://www.visitscotland.com/
Visit Scotland website. Find places to visit and accommodation to stay in, along with details and dates for festivals and events.
•http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/
The English Heritage website with all the details for Stonehenge.
•http://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/
The home of these little trains on the web. Times and fares, history of the line and more...
•http://www.visityork.org/
The Visit York website, where you can get up-to-date information about events happening in York.
•http://www.altontowers.com/
The Alton Towers website, where you can find opening times and much, much more.
•http://www.visitscotland.com/
Visit Scotland website. Find places to visit and accommodation to stay in, along with details and dates for festivals and events.
•http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/
The English Heritage website with all the details for Stonehenge.
•http://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/
The home of these little trains on the web. Times and fares, history of the line and more...