The fortunes of this estuary island are linked to the tides
21.07.2023 - 07:46 / roughguides.com
If you didn’t know that the “Great” in Great Britain was strictly a geographical term (it refers to the largest island – containing England, Scotland and Wales – of the British Isles), you’d be tempted to give Britain the accolade anyway. From dynamic London to misty Scottish mountains, there’s enough to see and do here to swallow up months of travel.
There's just as much choice when it comes to choosing a place to stay, from chic boutique hotels to crumbling castles and converted mansions. And whatever takes your fancy, our indefatigable authors are always on the lookout for the best. From the Rough Guide to Great Britain, here are 20 of their favourites.
On a farm in a secluded wood, three miles south of East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, you'll find a lovely, luxury treehouse (sleeps 4) and shepherds’ huts (sleep 6) to rent. Both are beautifully finished and eco-friendly complete with wood-burning stoves, en-suite showers, and even wi-fi. The location is peaceful, with chickens and geese, rope swings to play on and woods to run around in – the perfect combination of nature and home comforts.
This glamorous warehouse conversion in London has a laidback edge, with gorgeous, colourful rooms with lots of eco touches; the on-site Bruno Loubet brasserie is a popular spot. The Georgian Townhouse, across the square, is more whimsical, with thirteen boudoirish rooms and a cosy cocktail bar.
© The Zetter Hotel
This funky six-room guesthouse offers comfort and shabby chic style. Each room is different, with the aesthetic varying from peeling plaster to original artworks.
“England’s most rock’n’roll hotel” in Brighton is a real one-off, featuring extravagantly themed rooms inspired by pop culture and pin-ups. There’s a fifties-style boudoir, a pop art “modrophenia” room featuring bedside tables made from scooters, and even a twin room styled as Lord Vader’s Quarters, complete with light sabre, Darth Vader costume and Star wars DVDs.
© Pelirocco Hotel
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Staying in this fabulous lighthouse near Eastbourne, perched high up on the dramatic cliffs just west of Beachy Head, is unforgettable. The cosy rooms boast stupendous views, there’s a snug residents’ lounge and – best of all – there’s unrestricted access to the lamproom at the top of the lighthouse, where you can sit and watch the sun go down.
These thirteen two-storey weatherboard cockle-farmers’ huts (sleeping two to six) in Whitstable, Kent, offer cute, characterful accommodation near the harbour in Whitstable. Most have sea views, and some have basic self-catering facilities.
For a real splurge, indulge in an overnight stay at this 600-year-old castle near Arundel. It comes complete with portcullis, 60ft curtain walls, gardens, lakes, croquet lawn and
The fortunes of this estuary island are linked to the tides
Woolacombe Beach is where soft sand meets the wild Atlantic and is perfect for our pooches. It consists of a wide, three-mile long sandy stretch from Barricane Beach down to Baggy Point, but dogs are restricted in certain areas. Parts of it are surfing areas and some kiosks even offered boards and lessons for dogs, though I didn’t want to embarrass Bob and Bertrand – our lovely Beagles – by insisting they try. Other pet owners were not so bashful. There are lots of dog bins and the cafes have bowls of water for four-legged friends. The Barricane Beach cafe is run by animal lovers, has great coffee and great-value curry nights.Gayle
On a Saturday morning in the Lake District, perhaps at the base of a popular fell or along the shores of a placid lake, you might think you were at a countryside Crufts. The region’s footpaths are bustling with spaniels, labradors and golden retrievers – and the ubiquitous cockapoo, of course – all in procession, dragging their owners up hills or along forested trails, tongues out, tails wagging, noses poised to sniff the behind of anything they might pass.
Enter the WGBH “Downton Abbey” sweepstakes by March 15, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a six-day trip for two to Great Britain, including air, hotel, some meals, rail passes, and tours of Downton Abbey filming sites.
On April 15th, 2019, the whole world watched in shock as Notre Dame burst into flames. Thankfully, much of the cathedral’s structure, including its iconic bell towers and flying buttresses, survived the blaze. It will likely be closed to tourists for years, but a flood of donations has already put restoration plans in motion.
If you’re looking to find the least expensive accommodations in a destination regardless of what kind of accommodation it is, you might be surprised to learn that Airbnb isn’t always the cheapest. A new study from Compare the Market shows that hotels can sometimes beat Airbnb prices. The study covered the average Airbnb vs. hotel rates (per night) in 52 important destinations around the world.
Scotland sports such a strong selection of tourist attractions – from castles and cabers to kilts and whisky – it’s easy to forget that there is much more to this land. Venture away from the cities and you'll find rugged mountains, remote glens and mile-upon-mile of wave-lashed beaches. Ready to explore? Here are seven Scottish places that you've probably never heard of, but must visit.
In a city where it’s possible to pay up to US$250 for a rib eye steak, it is no surprise that most feel daunted at the prospect of visiting the pricy Russian capital, Moscow . Yet there are plenty of quirky cafés, hidden restaurants and expat haunts that will not break your budget. Here is a selection of some of the city’s best.
For a small country, Wales offers incredible diversity – so much so that it's one of our top travel destinations. Even better, many of Wales' (beautiful) landscapes and experiences remain surprisingly undiscovered. From pristine white-sand beaches and rolling, quintessentially Welsh valleys to tucked-away villages, here are the most beautiful places in Wales you really should visit.
Whatever your scene, from sweaty electronic music dancefloors to open-air beer gardens, Cape Town has it all. Being a hedonistic city – especially in the summer – Cape Town has plenty of great bars where you can drink and party, especially on Long and Bree Streets where it’s safe and busy, and there are taxis to get you home. In the summer, the Atlantic Seaboard is a great option, and the party starts with the first sundowners. Taken from the new Rough Guide to Cape Town, these are 7 of our favourite places to sample the city’s nightlife.
Letting it all hang out has been pretty newsworthy in recent years. There has been an influx of over-the-top pranks at World Heritage sites including Angkor Wat, Machu Picchu, and the Great Pyramids of Giza, while 2015 saw ten backpackers make headlines for baring all at the summit of Borneo’s Mount Kinabalu. Resulting in a brief jail sentence and a fine, the stunt prompted the UK government to issue a code of conduct for travellers.
Taking a more sustainable approach to our travels has never been easier – or more important. In recent years, Wales has emerged as one of the world’s most eco-friendly destinations. In fact, there's a sustainable Wales for all types of traveller, with rewarding sustainable trips for every season.