25 great things to do in Great Britain
To celebrate the publication this March (1 April 2012 in the US) of our new edition of Insight Guide Great Britain, we thought we'd share 25 recommendations for places to visit and things to do in England, Scotland and Wales:
1. Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon
The home town of Britain’s greatest playwright has lovely timbered houses and a famous theatre.
2. Buckingham Palace
View the art collection, the State Rooms and the horse-drawn coaches at the Queen’s London residence.
3. The Eden Project
Lush vegetation thrives in the tropical climate simulated within these futuristic greenhouses in Cornwall.
4. British Museum
One of the world’s largest museums charts human culture back to prehistory in London's elegant Bloomsbury district.
5. Tate Modern
An art museum in a disused power station is one of London’s most popular attractions.
6. The Royal Crescent
Bath’s semi-circle of houses is a wonder of Georgian architecture.
7. London department stores
Harrods, Selfridges & Co and the like are one-stop wonders for shopaholics.
8. Stonehenge
No one quite knows why this spectacular prehistoric monument near Salisbury in Wiltshire was first built.
9. Royal Mile, Edinburgh
The historic thoroughfare linking the Castle with Holyrood Palace.
10. King’s College Chapel, Cambridge
Hear the college's world-class choir in an exquisite building in one of England's top university towns.
11. Changing the Guard
A chance to see a colourful display of military discipline and pomp in London.
12. Brighton Royal Pavilion
The exotic palace in this south-coast English resort was created by the profligate George IV.
13. Portmeirion
A quaint village in Wales with buildings made from architectural salvage.
14. High tea at The Savoy
Treat yourself to tea, scones, strawberries and champagne at this top London hotel.
15. York Minster
Gothic splendour makes York's cathedral one of the country's greatest medieval buildings.
16. Premier League football
Experience Britain’s football fever at a live game.
17. Chatsworth House
See how the other half live at one of Britain’s grandest stately homes in the heart of Derbyshire's Peak District National Park.
18. Hiking in the Lake District
The hills and lakes of Cumbria provide rewarding terrain for walkers.
19. Legoland
This theme park near Windsor is great fun for the whole family and very popular with kids.
20. St Andrews Golf Club
Perhaps the most famous course in Scotland, the homeland of golf.
21. Hay-on-Wye
Bibliophiles flock to the Welsh Borders for Hay's bookshops and celebrated annual literary festival (10 May–31 June 2012).
22. Buxton
In the Peak District National Park, this Derbyshire spa town is famous for Georgian architecture and its opera festival.
23. Fine dining at Bray
This pretty Thameside town has two Michelin-starred restaurants, Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck and the Roux family's Waterside Inn.
24. Tower of London
Meet the Beefeaters and view the Crown Jewels at this Norman fortress.
25. Kelvingrove Art Gallery
Just one of the many outstanding art museums in Glasgow.
