How to plan your own trip to England? Traveling around the UK by car Traveling around the UK on your own.

Photo: flickr.com by Anthony White

What to take with you to England, how to save money on a trip and why you don’t need to take a first aid kit - the ZagraNitsa portal offers ten useful tips that will help you plan the perfect trip to Foggy Albion!

Take the most comfortable clothes

Perhaps there is no point in saying that it is better to leave smart clothes and high-heeled shoes at home (unless, of course, you are going to attend social events). In England they value comfortable things: the local rhythm of life does not suggest anything else. As for traveling across the English expanses, comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes that can be easily taken off and put on will be your faithful companions: it is worth remembering that the weather here is very changeable. Give preference to jackets and windbreakers that will not take up much space in your suitcase or backpack. If you plan to allocate time for shopping in the capital, it is better to take a minimum of things at all, otherwise, in addition to the clothes you brought, you will have to look for a place for the purchased ones.

Don't take a huge first aid kit

Many travelers mistakenly believe that they need to take their entire home first aid kit with them to Foggy Albion. But why fill space in your suitcase with something you can easily buy in England if necessary? Yes, you won’t find brilliant green here, but it can be replaced with any other antiseptic, which is abundant in pharmacies. In addition, any drug that you are used to in the CIS will be available.

Diana Korotkova:

It is not necessary to bring a first aid kit to England. If necessary, the NHS will make you a temporary registration - just call 111. In addition, there is a therapist in pharmacies: he can prescribe an antibiotic if necessary

Book online

Many of us are used to buying tickets on the spot, whether for a bus or a theater. On the one hand, it seems more convenient: come and buy a ticket at the box office, where, if necessary, you can consult with the cashier. But in fact, online booking has many advantages. Not only will you avoid having to queue, you could also save a pound or two. Many arts centers, museums, and even transportation companies offer significant discounts when purchasing advance tickets on their official websites.

Use useful resources

Don't forget about tax free

Travelers who plan to spend a significant amount of money on shopping should not forget about the tax free system. It provides for a refund of value added tax when a tourist leaves the country. Thus, you can save from 7 to 22% of the money spent within three months from the date of purchase.

Diana Korotkova:

Many people go to England for shopping, so tax free is a convenient thing. You can get back some of the money spent. And some tourists don’t even know about it. It's a pity that it doesn't apply to restaurants and hotels

Travel by bus

If, when traveling around the cities of England, your priority is to quickly get to your destination, the best option is to buy a train ticket. But if you're planning to save an extra pound, it's worth choosing the bus: the fare will cost you significantly less. For example, if a train ticket from London to Liverpool costs from 30 pounds, then a bus ticket costs from 6 pounds.

Evgeny Vorobyov:

Traveling around England by bus is cheaper than by train, so this is a better travel option if you want to save money. And if you are traveling with a group, you can take a group train ticket - this will also be very profitable. But the main thing is that the number of people boarding the train corresponds to what is indicated on the ticket, otherwise you may receive a fine. Well, to travel around London, of course, you need to purchase an Oyster card

Consider all housing options

It should be remembered that hotels are not always the best option for accommodation. Sometimes hostels can offer better conditions than many hotels with two or three stars. In addition, almost all hostels offer accommodation in single or double rooms, and you will not have to share a room with unfamiliar neighbors. Moreover, you can find completely free accommodation if you use hospitality networks. On Bewelcome or CouchSurfing you will find locals who will be happy to offer accommodation for the night.

Take with you only what you need

Many will tell you: you should take a lot of necessary things with you on a trip. But in reality, it turns out that all this will just lie in your suitcase. If you are not going to a desert island, you can buy everything you need in any city. To save yourself the hassle, bring a three-pin socket adapter with you. But even if you forget this seemingly important item, you can still purchase it in England.

Alexander:

The umbrella is available from Poundstretcher for £2.99. Rain jacket from Primark - less than £10. The adapter can be found for £1 at Poundworld. The most important thing to take is money and a good mood!

Rent a car

During a short trip, a great option for getting around the city and beyond is to rent a car. A day's rental in London will cost you from 35 pounds.

Alexander:

If I came to England for a few days, I would rent a car. It’s cheaper and you can see a lot of sights. Parking near supermarkets is usually free for 1.5 to 3 hours, even in large cities. When I need to find parking, I use JustPark and Parkopedia.

Connect mobile Internet

Since you will not always be able to find free or even paid Wi-Fi, it is worth taking care of such a necessary thing as mobile Internet. After all, you will probably need to look up the route on the Internet and add a photo to Instagram! You can choose the operator Giffgaff: for 10 pounds you will get 2 gigabytes of Internet, 100 minutes of calls and free SMS messages.

We wish you successful travels!

Nowadays, it is difficult to find a person who is not familiar with the good old film “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson,” and few who watched this film would not want to personally meet the famous detective. If this is all about you, then you are a potential tourist to England, or, to be more precise, to its very heart, London.

Preparing for an independent trip

The main point of visiting any country is the entry documents for the trip, London is no exception. There are options here - obtain a visa to London yourself or entrust this issue to a specially trained person. It should be taken into account that England is one of the countries for which it is very problematic for citizens of the former USSR to obtain a visa, especially the first one! It’s good if you have experience traveling to other European countries, then your chances will increase many times over.

What documents you will need for a trip to London can always be found on the official website of the British Embassy. Please note that all documents are carefully checked.

Usually the first visa is issued for six months, with the possibility of multiple entries and exits. You can confidently organize the second and subsequent trips to London and other cities of England on your own, but the first is a special matter. The highest probability of successfully obtaining your first visa is to apply for it through a travel agency that has a high level of accreditation at the British Embassy.

You simply choose the appropriate agency, a convenient travel time for you, any tour trip to London, pay for the tour from 1000 euros and wait for the results of the document verification by the embassy. Then you check into a hotel according to the tour program in London, agree with your accompanying person that you will be disconnected from the group and the subsequent meeting place for the return trip home and... You are free in a free country!

However, there is a small “but” here - a passable knowledge of English, or at worst German, otherwise you will look in London like a deaf-mute down...

Features of the trip

And here you are alone among the huge metropolis - London. To get to know the city and its residents better, it is advisable to use public transport. Preference should be given to the metro, its network is well developed in London, and the metro stations are well marked, and Londoners are friendly people and will always give you advice. The main thing is not to run into guest workers; they often do not know not only London, but also English.

Along with this material you usually read:

When planning a trip, do not forget to decide in advance what you will buy as a gift for loved ones or colleagues. After all, this is also a kind of expense item. For purchases you need to take money with a reserve and not spend it for the time being. And we will advise you on prices.

The Netherlands is the country of tulips. And all visitors definitely want to visit the park of these flowers. But there are other parks in the country that are definitely worthy of your attention. Find out as much as possible about them and it will be easy for you to navigate the choice of parks to visit.

UK visa

If you don't have a passport European Union, Israel or United States, then you most likely need a visa for a holiday or transit in the United Kingdom.

Visa to Schengen countries does not grant entry into the United Kingdom.

UK visa does not give the right to enter other countries of the European Union. An additional visa is not required to enter Northern Ireland (not the Republic of Ireland - it is an independent state and is not part of the United Kingdom) and Scotland.

There are many rumors about how difficult it is to get a visa to the UK. You will indeed need a lot of effort to collect and translate the required documents and fill out the application form in English, but if you are attentive, scrupulous and provide information that corresponds to reality, then you will most likely receive a visa.

In any case, do not leave getting your UK visa to the last minute.

When to go to London

If you believe the statistics, London has the highest number of sunny days from April to July. Warmest in July and August. Least rainfall from June to August. So from a weather point of view July– the best month to travel to London, but if you prefer to travel when there are not very many visitors yet and it’s warm outside, then it’s better to come to London in June.

Summer in England

IN July and August in London the likelihood of good weather is higher, but the number of visitors and, accordingly, queues will be greater. English gardens are also best visited in July and August, although magnificent tulips bloom in English gardens in May. If you've been to London before, July and August are very good for traveling around the rest of England or getting out of London.

Autumn in England

The best time to travel to London may be early September– at this time in London it is still warm, but there are no longer crowds of tourists and school groups, queues at attractions are very short and there are not very many visitors in the museum halls.
End October and the beginning November– these are school holidays in Russia and Ukraine. If you're traveling to London with children, be prepared for... October and November The weather is usually miserable: it's likely to be cold and rainy, but it's a great time to visit museums. According to statistics October– the rainiest month in London. At the end of October, almost all country estates close until March, which limits the scope of country trips.

Winter in England

If you are going to London in December, then prepare for very short daylight hours (in December in London it gets dark at four in the evening) and keep in mind that public transport on Christmas Day ( December 25) does not work, and in the days around Christmas it works very poorly. Don't plan to travel by public transport in England these days. But the biggest sales begin the day after Christmas - on the so-called Boxing Day. December 26.
If you are traveling to London in the first half January, then you can expect the same daytime temperatures as in November, December and February - from 5 to 9 degrees Celsius.
IN February There is less precipitation, and daylight hours are already noticeably longer than in December.

Spring in England

During the spring months The weather can change very dramatically, but usually spring begins to feel as early as mid-February. There are a lot of school groups during spring break, and if you're traveling with one, make sure your students bring extra waterproof shoes, warm clothes, and umbrellas or raincoats.

New Year in London

To watch the celebration New Year, you need to take care in advance of purchasing a pass to the embankments, where the fireworks are clearly visible (it is better to arrange for purchasing tickets in advance by following this link).

Money: Cash and Credit Cards

Credit cards

Credit and debit cards Visa and Mastercard accepted everywhere, but take cash with you just in case. Be sure to check if the banknotes you are offered are out of use. The only place where they can be exchanged is the Bank of England in the City of London.

Try not to use credit cards in the UK to withdraw cash from an ATM is usually very expensive. On the other hand, some tourists claim that withdrawing cash at debit card is better than exchanging cash.

If your credit card has this symbol (contactless payment), then you will most likely be able to use your credit card without having to purchase an Oyster card.

Banknotes

In some Eastern European countries, exchange offices and banks will shamelessly give you old banknotes that have been withdrawn from circulation. I will repeat once again: You won't be accepted for old banknotes in stores. The only way to exchange old notes for new ones is to go to the Bank of England in the City of London (Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH Mon.-Fri. 9am-4pm. Closed on weekends).

Banknotes currently in circulation: £5 (polymer), £10 (polymer), £20 (paper), £50 (paper)

You can pay in dollars and euros only in some shops in central London; in all other places credit cards and cash pounds sterling are accepted.

Currency exchange

If you are coming from outside the US, it is better to take euros; in some exchange offices, the exchange rate for euros to pounds sterling is better than for dollars or other currencies.

Thomas Exchange UK Ltd is considered to have a good exchange rate

Cloth

Whenever you travel, bring comfortable walking shoes and a quality umbrella (or a light, waterproof cover-up or jacket). In late autumn and winter, you can safely bring warm socks and warm, waterproof shoes with you.

Dress in layers , so that clothes can be combined and changed depending on the weather, which in England can change several times a day. In the cold season, it is better to take two thin sweaters with you than one thick one. A scarf also helps very well in cold weather; it is better to take a sweater without a neck and a scarf than a sweater with a high neck.

Please note that the weather on the island can change almost instantly. Even if the sun is shining in the morning and there is not a cloud in the sky, check the weather forecast before leaving your hotel, although the British weather service is not particularly accurate in predicting the weather.

What to take with you

If you use a smartphone and need to be able to receive voice calls from your home country while in England, then it makes sense to take a regular small mobile phone with you. In England you can very easily buy SIM card with Internet access via 3G/4G for your smartphone, and transfer your domestic card to a regular mobile phone.

To make it more convenient to use audio guides at various attractions, it is better to bring your own headphones. If you're traveling as a couple, you might want to buy a headphone splitter because not all London attractions provide free audio guides.

Tipping in the UK

As in all countries I know except Japan, tipping is encouraged, but not required, as in the USA, for example. In restaurants, check the bill and if you see in the list of dishes “Service charge”, or, in the hidden form of “S/C”, usually in the amount of 10 to 12.5% ​​of the bill amount, then this is a tip, but you are not obliged to pay it, you can ask the waiter to remove the Service charge from the bill.

In other places you will see the inscription “Service charge not included” on the invoice. This is a transparent hint to you that it would be nice to get a tip. In a taxi it is considered good form not to take small change, but you can leave a tip of 5-10% if you are feeling particularly generous.

Particularly advanced impudent people not only include Service Charge in the bill, but also proudly write in capital letters “Gratuity is not included.” Gratutity is the tip that you have actually already paid through Service Charge. Don't fall for this scam.

What you should take care of in advance

If you are going to go to “ The studio where Harry Potter was filmed“, then tickets must be ordered online - they cannot be purchased on the spot. If you are traveling during the season (school holidays, July-August), then tickets need to be booked a couple of months in advance.

At this time, it may be a good idea to book Tower tickets in advance as well, this will help avoid long queues at the ticket office. In addition, many attractions offer discounts when purchasing tickets online.
If you are going to attractions owned by Merlin Entertainments (which include Madame Tussauds, horror story London Dungeons, aquarium Sea life, Ferris wheel Eye of London, Legoland And Worwick Castle) then it makes sense to buy a combined ticket for several of them at once on the company’s page with a big discount.

Many attractions in London and England only sell discounted tickets online. Make a list of what you want to see and make sure to buy tickets in advance.
Get to “ Ceremony of the Keys” or inside the stone circle of Stonehenge with a special excursion, you can only reserve seats for these events in advance.

Taxfree, Tax-Free shopping, VAT Refund

When to receive VAT Refund

If you are not a citizen of the European Commonwealth, then you can apply for a VAT (Value Added Tax) return at the borders when traveling outside the EU. If you are traveling from the UK to the EU rather than returning directly to your non-EU country, it will usually be collected in the EU country from which you are traveling home.

Taxfree in the UK

VAT in the UK is 20%, but returns are slightly lower. Not all stores participate in the scheme Retail Export Scheme or Tax-Free Shopping, and those that participate usually require a minimum purchase amount of approximately £75 to qualify for a VAT refund.

When making a purchase, ask to register it as Tax-Free. You should be given a check in form VAT 407, which you will have to fill out yourself. This does not have to be done in the store.

Receiving tax free at the UK border

If you bought electronics or jewelery worth more than £250, put them in your hand luggage and go through border control. Only then go get your VAT back.

On all other purchases VAT is refunded before passing border control. Therefore, first go to the VAT refund counter and only then check in for your flight and/or check your baggage with the airline.
Insist on VAT refunds in cash, not by credit card or check.

What to watch out for in London

London is a very safe city unless you are deliberately trying to get into trouble. Petty theft (such as a phone left on a table or a handbag you don't keep an eye on) and pickpockets on the subway are the most serious troubles you can expect in the city. Naturally, if you are not staying in the most prosperous area and are returning to the hotel late in the evening, then you should be especially careful. Try not to use your smartphone near the road; there have been cases when thieves on mopeds snatched phones from your hands.

I have been looking towards the UK for a long time. Without getting to know this country, the picture of the development of European civilization would be incomplete.

However, every time something stopped me: either the exchange rate of the ruble against the pound, or the difficulty of obtaining an English visa. Finally, I decided that I couldn’t put it off any longer, I had to go.

There was no goal to look at some cities in detail (say, London or Edinburgh). The goal was to get an idea of ​​the entire country.

At first I chose a tour of England, Scotland and Wales. And then she decided to capture neighboring Ireland.

The best option was found by the travel agency “Turtransvoyage”. The tour was called "Britain Gran Turismo" and covered the capitals of all parts of Great Britain: London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast, as well as the capital of the Republic of Ireland - Dublin.

The duration of the trip is 12 days, the cost is about 100 thousand rubles.

I booked it in January, received my visa in June, and in August I went on a long-awaited tour of the UK and Ireland.

Description of the trip

We took off from Sheremetyevo early in the morning and landed at Heathrow 4 hours later.

England

We spent the first two days in London.

Our hotel Royal National Hotel 3* located in Bloomsbury, a 5-minute walk from the British Museum.

Our acquaintance with London began with a sightseeing tour of the city. After a late lunch, we visited Tower Castle, and in the evening, after checking into the hotel, the two of us walked around evening London (Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, the Thames embankment, Parliament, Westminster Abbey).

Evening London. View of Parliament

The next day in the morning we went to Windsor. We walked around the town and saw Windsor Castle, the magnificent country residence of the British kings.

In my free time I took a walk along the Thames. The Thames in this place looks calm and rustic, its banks are covered with forest, and swans swim near the pier.

Opposite Windsor, on the other side of the Thames, is the city Eton– one might say that the cities smoothly flow into each other. Eton is famous for its college, studying at Eton College is very prestigious.

Eton

In August, the college was closed, but the security guard kindly allowed us to enter the courtyard (spacious and solemn).

From Windsor we returned to London. Those interested (including me) went to Westminster Abbey.

The events of this day were so busy (and I signed up for all the excursions) that I barely had time to have a snack before the boat trip on the Thames.

The water offers an enchanting view of London. Tower Bridge looks especially impressive against the backdrop of surrounding skyscrapers.

Tower Bridge

The ship took us to Greenwich. We looked at this famous area of ​​London, which was once a separate city. Now you can get to Greenwich by metro.

We returned to the center by bus.

It was Friday, and on Fridays many museums in London are open late. So in the evening I also went to the National Gallery.

I returned to the hotel through the Soho area. People were celebrating the end of the working week, the pubs were packed, musicians were playing in the streets.

Day 3. In the morning we left London and headed west towards Wales. Along the way we had a stop in a small, picturesque city.

Castle Combe

The village has a 15th century castle, now home to the Manor House Hotel.

20 km from Castle Combe is located, famous for its thermal springs, discovered by the Romans.

We spent about three hours in Bath. The city is beautiful, but, unfortunately, on this Saturday the center was packed with people. There was a crowd of people waiting to enter the thermal complex, there was a wedding going on in the cathedral, people were lying on the grass in the park, walking along the embankment.

Baht. Bridge over the River Avon

City Park in Bath

At the same time, as soon as you moved a little away from the center, quiet, deserted courtyards began to appear. Bathing pavilions alternated with residential buildings. Once upon a time, in one of these houses, surrounded by the care of Lady Hamilton, lived Admiral Nelson, who arrived in Bath to heal his battle wounds.

I went to the local art gallery. Someone from the group went to the Jane Austen house-museum (the writer, although she didn’t really like Bath, spent quite a lot of time there).

Wales

Having left Bath, we soon left England and found ourselves in Wales.

Interiors of Cardiff Castle

The castle is relatively recent (in some places it even reminded me of it), but it is located on the territory of a fortress founded by the Romans. Inside the fortress walls, on a hill stands a mighty tower, hollow inside. There are good views from the tower and the fortress walls.

We left Cardiff heading west. Outside the window stretched the wooded hills of the Brecon National Park.

Our next stop was near. It stands on the seashore, at the mouth of the Sient River. All that remains of the castle are actually the walls and towers, but it exudes such formidable strength and antiquity that you inevitably fall under the influence of this formidable severity and antiquity.

Caernarvon Castle

At Caernarfon Castle, the Crown Prince receives the title "Prince of Wales".

After Carnarvon, we drove for some time through the Snowdonia National Park, crossed the bridge to the island of Anglesey and, having reached the tip of the island - a place called Holyhead ("Holy Head"), took a ferry.

By ferry we crossed to the Irish coast in two and a half hours and arrived in the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, around midnight.

Ireland

We spent the next three nights in Dublin, on the student campus, which is used as a hotel for receiving guests in the summer. The room was not much different from the rooms in other hotels along our route, but we had to go across the street to the dining room.

5 day our trip was dedicated to Dublin. To be honest, I expected more. The city gives the impression of being provincial, much like Oslo.

Dublin at dusk. River Liffey

The city's main attractions are the Trinity College Library, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Guinness Brewery.

Dublin Castle is small and does not dominate the area, but is hidden in the courtyards. However, the castle is nice. And Trinity College is very worthy. There are several museums, including the National Gallery and the National Museum of Ireland. State museums are free – just like in the UK.

Dublin Castle

First we had a walking tour, then most of the group went to the coast to Cape Howth. I stayed in Dublin to get to know the city more closely.

The famous Dublin pub - Temple Bar

On Day 6 The day was a trip around provincial Ireland, and it was one of the best days of our tour.

First we visited the rock Cashel. This is an unusually powerful place with an ancient church, Celtic crosses and views of the endless plain.

Rock of Cashel

By lunchtime we arrived at Kilkenny. This city was once the capital of Ireland and has retained its medieval appearance to this day. Unfortunately, we were served for a long time at the pub, and we did not have time to devote enough time to the sights of Kilkenny.

To Kilkenny

The third stop on our way was near the lake Glendolough in the Wicklow mountains.

Wicklow Mountains

The place is absolutely magical. Among the mountain forest there are the ruins of a church and a cemetery, a narrow round tower rises nearby, and a little further - a chapel. In the 6th century, Saint Kevin, a follower of Saint Patrick, settled in this picturesque place. Subsequently, an abbey arose here.

We walked through the forest from one lake to another. Heather bloomed on the mountain slopes. The day was approaching evening, but the sun was very bright.

In the morning 7 days we saw the castle gardens Powerscourt. located in the outskirts of Dublin. The gardens are very beautiful.

After lunch we went to Belfast. From Dublin to Belfast – 140 kilometers. We didn’t even notice the border between the two countries: the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain (the region of Northern Ireland). From the zone where euros are used, we again found ourselves in the pound zone.

It is believed that Northern Ireland looks richer than its neighbor, but I did not notice this. And Belfast looks, perhaps, even simpler than Dublin.

On the streets of Belfast

Belfast Town Hall

Belfast has a spectacular town hall and some beautiful buildings and squares, but overall there are few attractions in Belfast.

One of them is the Titanic Museum. The ill-fated Titanic was built in Belfast shipyards. We looked at the shipyards, at the original museum building, but the museum itself was already closed by this time.

Titanic Museum

Day 8 was the pinnacle of our UK and Ireland tour. On this day we visited Giant's Causeway, one of the most stunning places in Ireland. We walked along the seashore and looked at the “paved” path going into the sea.

Then we climbed the rocks and walked along the edge of the rocks, enjoying the views.

Scotland

In the afternoon we took the ferry to Scotland.

We spent three nights near the city of Stirling.

Day 9 was dedicated Edinburgh. In August, Edinburgh hosts the Fringe Festival, which brings together numerous theater and music groups. On the one hand, this is interesting, on the other hand, there are too many people in the center.

After the city tour we went to Edinburgh Castle. What was left from visiting the castle was mostly a feeling of crowding.

In the afternoon there was an excursion to an ancient Scottish city St Andrews, famous for its university. By the way, Prince William and his future wife Kate studied at this university - that’s where they met. I thought that crown princes entered or by default. And here is some St. Andrews in the very north of the country, on the shores of the North Sea. It turns out that this is also a very prestigious university and, by the way, very expensive. St. Andrews is also the birthplace of golf, and all decisions regarding the rules and attributes of this game are made here.

In general, most of the group went to see the university and golf courses, but I stayed in. I went to the National Gallery, the Cathedral, and watched performances by musicians.

Then I met a girl from our group. Together we went up to the observation deck of the Walter Scott monument (this monument is a narrow and high Gothic tower). We walked along the Royal Mile, which runs from the castle to the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse.

View of Edinburgh from the Walter Scott Monument

Behind the Palace of Holyroodhouse rises a high hill, the top of which is called Arthur's Seat. We followed the path to the top.

Edinburgh residents are envious that they have such a place to walk right in the center of the city.

On 10 day watched Sterling. The city is good and the castle is wonderful.

Tapestries at Stirling Castle

In the afternoon we went to Loch Katrine. Previous tour organizers took previous groups to Loch Ness, in the very north of Scotland, but now they chose a closer lake.

Loch Katrine is a picturesque forest lake surrounded by mountains. To the right of the pier there is a walking path along the shore. You can climb the trail to the top of Mount Ben An. The forest is full of blueberries.

Loch Katrine and the ship "Walter Scott"

The historical ship "Walter Scott" sails on the lake. Many of the group took a boat ride. I went to the top of the mountain, but didn’t have time to get there. From the slope there were wonderful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

IN Day 11 there was a long drive from Stirling to London with a stop in the city York. York is a very interesting city, there are many museums, the Minster Cathedral, famous for its stained glass windows, the colorful Shambles street with half-timbered houses, a large piece of the city fortress wall has been preserved around the historical center. Unfortunately, there was only enough time for a superficial inspection, a walk along the fortress wall and a climb to the Clifford Tower.

On Shambles Street

Clifford Tower

After York we drove another 350 km south. Over the course of a day, the landscape changed dramatically. In the morning outside the window there were Scottish mountains covered with heather. A little to the south, emerald fields with lambs and cows began. Then the bushes appeared. The hills lowered, and in front of London they gave way to a plain. The forests have begun. That's it - from the harsh Scottish mountains and moors we moved to a wooded plain.

Views along the way:

It was about 10 pm in London.

And the next morning they flew to Moscow. However, a quarter of the group stayed in London after the tour to see the city and surrounding areas according to their program. I greatly regretted that when I ordered the tour, I did not foresee such an opportunity. However, since the English tourist visa is given for six months, many try to use it twice. A visa is expensive, and getting it is a chore, so once you’ve been given a visa, a second trip suggests itself.

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Speaking of the Jurassic Coast, it is worth mentioning such a picturesque place as Durdle Door. This natural limestone arch is a popular tourist attraction on the English Channel coast in Dorset. Such unusual gates appeared as a result of the natural impact of waves on limestone rocks. I invite you to enjoy photographs of the stunning landscapes surrounding the arch.

The Isle of Wight Needles is a spectacular limestone geological formation located in the western part of the Isle of Wight, England. Three pointy rocks line up towards the mid-nineteenth century lighthouse.

Covent Garden is one of London's most popular attractions. The area around the glass-enclosed building on the site of a former vegetable market is always crowded, especially during weekends and in the summer. Covent Garden is famous for its many cafes, restaurants, pubs, stalls, markets and shops. Numerous street performers entertain visitors in the pedestrian square.

It is unlikely that anyone will argue with the fact that London is one of the main tourist destinations in the world. According to official statistics, London attracts more than 15 million visitors a year. The British capital is a vibrant hub of art, entertainment, music and numerous monuments. The British are rightfully proud of the huge concentration of cultural attractions in London. From royal palaces to the Houses of Parliament, Roman ruins, castles and cathedrals, you can spend many days exploring London's landmarks and always find something new and interesting. The capital of England and the United Kingdom is also the most populous city in the UK with over 9 million residents. London's history dates back more than 2,000 years, when the Romans first founded the ancient city of Londinium here. Numerous tourists come here throughout the year, and if you plan to be one of them, here is a list of the top 17 London attractions for the active traveler.

Hunstanton is a small seaside town on the north-west coast of Norfolk in England. On the western side, the city is bordered by a series of dramatic cliffs with contrasting orange, red and white colors of sedimentary chalk rocks.

Lundy Island is one of England's natural wonders - a small island of just under five square kilometers in Bristol Bay. Since Neolithic times, Lundy has been covered with old gravestones, according to recent research dating back to the 5th century.

The Romans left behind many wonders, including the famous Colosseum and the Appian Way, but the Roman Baths are also one of the greatest achievements of their time. Due to their rich heritage and enormous significance, the Roman Baths in England are visited by at least 1 million visitors every year. It is the most popular attraction in the British city of Bath and the region.

During the late 1800s, Lord Palmerston, the British Prime Minister of the time, commissioned the construction of several sea forts in the Solent to defend Portsmouth harbor from French invasion following the news that Napoleon III had become Emperor of France. No attacks were ever carried out, but the forts continued to be fortified with weapons and maintained for most of the century. After being decommissioned in the 1980s, the forts were sold off to private parties. Now, after a US$4.85 million refurbishment, one of them has been transformed into an exceptional luxury hotel, with two others in the pipeline.