United Kingdom Travel Guide

United Kingdom regions, sights, hotels, what to do and what to see

The United Kingdom has been called the biggest small country on Earth due to its sheer diversity. The UK is short for the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" and is formed by the province of Northern Ireland and the countries of Great Britain - England, Scotland and Wales.

The United Kingdom has too many sites to mention. Though detached from the continent of Europe by only a few miles of water, the UK is permeated by a strong sense of its cultural separateness. Everything is different here: measures (pounds and ounces are still more popular than the now official kilos), traffic (small island, lots of traffic jams), customs and food.

Scotland was an independent nation until the Act of Union in 1707 when the Scottish Parliament was persuaded to dissolve after the English imposed trade sanctions and offered bribes to the Scottish nobility. The Scottish people were furious and the resentment has never fully gone away. There has always been a strong sense of identity and although no longer an independent sovereign state, Scotland is still considered a country in its own right.

Scotland's most visited city is the capital, Edinburgh. It is known as the "Athens of the North" due to the beautiful scenery, architecture and historical background. The city has a very cosmopolitan atmosphere due to the huge number of foreign tourists and students that flock there. 'Edinburgh,' said writer Robert Louis Stevenson, 'is what Paris ought to be'. There are so many attractions to visit: Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, The Scottish Parliament, Museum of Scotland, Royal Yacht Britannia, Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill, Royal Botanic Gardens and many more. Also if you are in the city in August you've just become immersed in one of Europe's greatest festivals; The Edinburgh Festival!

Wales was an independent nation until she was absorbed into England in the Act of Union 1536. However the Welsh people like the Scot's retain a fierce sense of national identity. The Welsh language is becoming more popular and the establishment of the Welsh Assembly means Wales after several centuries is taking steps towards nationhood. Meanwhile, Wales remains a Principality.

But there are also things that resemble Europe: nationwide shops and businesses rule the appearance of most high streets, the tourist infrastructure is very well developed all over the UK and the growth of a nostalgia-obsessed heritage industry has produced a lot of museums, theme parks and commemorative monuments. However, the country is rich in monuments, that attest to its intricate history; from ancient hill forts and Roman villas, through a host of medieval cathedrals to the ambitious civic projects of the Industrial Revolution.

The UK offers a lot of diversion to all its tourists: For pulsing cultural and nightlife, London, Manchester and Leeds are a must. To feel the charm of the English seaside and the importance of harbours for an island like the British Isles, travel along the southeastern coastline and explore the heritage of Maritime England at Portsmouth. In the central part of England you will find towns plenty of historical heritage like Salisbury, Oxford, Cambridge and Norwich. Moving to Eastern England you will find the delightful Norfolk Broads, a huge area of connecting inland waterways popular for sailing, fishing and various watersports.

Western and northern England fascinate with beautiful landscapes: rugged moorlands, picturesque flatlands and rocky coastlines. A visit to the South Western penninsula is a must - Dartmoor and Exmoor in Devon and Somerset, and Bodmin in Cornwall. Also, in Newquay there is world class surfing. For true wilderness, however, you better travel to the mountains of Wales or the Scottish Highlands. The finest of Scotland 's lochs, glens and peaks, and the magnificent scenery of the west coast islands, can be reached easily from the contrasting cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

by bardofthebroch

UK Travel Guide
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