Landscapes as green and lovely as everyone says. Literary giants in Dublin; Titanic history in Belfast. A pint and good craic in a traditional pub. The lure of Celtic legends.
21.07.2023 - 07:41 / roughguides.com
You may already be a connoisseur of British culture, but we’re here to show you a different side to this deliciously diverse country. If you’ve already marvelled at Big Ben and seen Stonehenge, now’s the time to discover what else Britain has to offer, beyond her world-famous landmarks. From wonderfully bizarre traditions to inspiring up-and-coming art scenes, prepare to discover Britain’s lesser-known, but equally cool, icons.
Westminster Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in the UK that English writer Sir John Betjeman dubbed as “a masterpiece in striped brick and stone”. The impressive structure has no steel reinforcements to keep it upright, and its neo-Byzantine orange and white brickwork is quite the eye catcher, as are the varying marble mosaics on the inside.
St Luke’s Church roof was destroyed in the Liverpool Blitz of 1941, and the now named Bombed out church is a hotspot for culture and creativity. The roof has never been repaired, which means visitors can revel in live performance, a night of music, or even a film alfresco within the four still standing walls.
For something different — London Westminster Cathedral © Shutterstock
The renowned Bristolian artist – whose identity is still a secret – has triggered conversations worldwide due to his politically charged street art. His graffiti pops up all over the place, particularly in war-torn countries. Have you spotted his home-town pieces like the Mild Mild West or the Well Hung Lover?
Manchester’s Northern Quarter is a flood with colour and art, thanks to the Outhouse Project. If you’re on the hunt for floor-to-roof murals and colourful graffiti, start at Stevenson Square and Tib Street and wander the surroundings, always on the lookout for the more conspicuous pieces down the back streets.
Browse hundreds of gorgeous accommodation in Manchester, at any budget.
Manchester Northern Quarter has a thriving art scene © Shutterstock
We all love a birthday party, and the Trooping of the Colour has to be the most glamorous affair for the British Sovereign. You’ll stand in awe – and respect – as over 1,400 parading soldiers and 200 horses all head-to-toe in uniform and topped with a bearskin parade past. You have to wonder how hot they must be amidst a June heatwave?
An astonishing party kicks off every year on the first weekend of August, at Brighton Pride. It’s the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride festival, and there’s no uniform. You can wear whatever you want, whether that’s rainbows, speedos or neon. Get ready for a weekend of parades and sing-a-longs to Britney, Kylie or Nile Rodgers – you’d better know all the words!
Brighton's Pride Parade — a great place to let loose © Shutterstock
Perched above Edinburgh Old Town on Castle Rock, you’ll easily
Landscapes as green and lovely as everyone says. Literary giants in Dublin; Titanic history in Belfast. A pint and good craic in a traditional pub. The lure of Celtic legends.
”Hong Kong is a photographer’s dream,” says Geraint Rowland. “It’s got impressive architecture and the busy streets teem with life, day and night.” The Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year winner was blown away by the territory. As part of their dual-destination photo commission, the four winners of the UK’s biggest travel photography competition were first guided around Hong Kong and its many islands. They soon discovered there were plenty of opportunities to point their lenses, whether the neon skyscrapers, the old neighbourhoods from which the city evolved or one of the 260 outlying islands, whose slower pace of life, unusual wildlife and natural landscapes offer a contrast to that famous urban bustle.
It’s no longer something to keep hidden.
With their chic cities, dramatic landscapes and high quality of life, the countries of Scandinavia remain objects of worldwide fascination. Yet if you’re looking to dip your toe into Nordic waters, where do you begin?
Looking for a reliable source of Brexit travel information? You’re not alone—the U.K.’s own lawmakers are still asking questions about the issue of borders and free travel after Brexit. As of January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom officially has left the European Union. But what’s to come still remains unclear: For the rest of the year, the U.K. will remain in a “transition” period, meaning nothing will change between now and 2021 in regards to borders and other travel-related items. Meaning, if you have a summer vacation planned to the U.K. or Europe, you shouldn’t worry about anything changing.
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Passengers on a 12-hour British Airways flight from the Caribbean to London over the weekend were fed a single piece of KFC chicken each after a catering mishap left the plane without regular meals, the travel website One Mile At A Time reported.
You’ve read about all the ways the Paris 2024 Olympics will set groundbreaking new precedents next year. And you’ve decided you want to be a part of history and attend the events in person.
There are high-speed trains and then there are high-speed maglev trains. While there are plenty of examples of the former (in the UK, in Spain, in France and even in Florida), only one of the latter is in commercial operation today: The Shanghai Maglev Train (SMT), also known as the Shanghai Transrapid Maglev Train. This unique train runs between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the Shanghai’s financial district every 15 minutes and is the fastest commercial train in the world.
There are few tourism destinations out there that have avoided the scourge of high-rise condos, Quarter Pounders, and traffic lights. And if that destination happens to be our planet at its most beautiful? Forget about it.
St Lucia is the ultimate island getaway for adventurers, lovers, or anyone who just wants to spend their days relaxing on multiple tranquil beaches.
For many visitors, entering Germany will be a straightforward procedure, especially for those who wish to stay fewer than 90 days.