England
Though England be butmay be little, but she is also fierce. From London, the culturally- rich compact capital that bursts with history, charm and character, to the nearby Cotswolds and its delightful tangle of chocolate box villages and honey-hued country estates, England offers almost every landscape possible. Head to the Lake District, where glistening lakes and proud mountains have long stirred the imaginations of writers such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Beatrix Potter. Set your sights on Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, and potter around the pretty lakeside towns of Windermere and Ambleside. If the sea calls, head down the Jurassic Coast in Dorset to fossil-filled beaches and sea-carved bays or carry on further to Devon and Cornwall who which boast a coastline that could easily rival those on mainland Europe. Yorkshire’s smattering of castles and country homes are not to be missed either. Road trip up to the medieval cobblestone streets of York and journey 15 miles further north to Castle Howard for an introduction to life as an 18th century earl and countess.
Wales
In Wales, it’s about one thing and one thing only – the great outdoors. Snowdonia National Park is the obvious place to start. With almost 1,000 square miles of rivers, crumbly cliffs and verdant valleys, as well as the tallest mountain in England and Wales, Snowdonia is the ultimate adventure destination. Like the rest of the UK, Wales has its fair share of castles too, like Conwy and Beaumaris, which are two of the four UNESCO World Heritage sites the country has. For When it comes to coastlines, you won’t can’t beat Pembrokeshire. Home to sweeping shores and wild dunes, you can kayak and spot local seals, dolphins and puffins that frequent nearby Skomer Island. And if you want to feel like you are not even in Wales – which we can’t imagine you will actually want to do – stop by Portmeirion. Built to replicate an Italian town, it is filled with trinket shops, perfectly manicured gardens and a castle; and is just a stone’s throw from the sea. La dolce vita with a Welsh twist is how we see it.
Scotland
Edinburgh is an obvious place to start in Scotland. Draped across rocky hills, this is a city that is simultaneously down to earth and well above it thanks to its medieval Royal Mile, turreted skyline and neoclassical New Town. Edinburgh is a city that loves to celebrate too. I. So if you plan on visiting in August, you’ll be just in time for the Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s largest arts and media festival, and if you stop by over New Year’s you’ll be in for a Hogmanay like no other. With the Atlantic Oocean, fresh mountain waters and rolling hills on its doorstep too, Scottish cuisine is definitely not to be overlooked. From Aberdeen angus beef and Shetland salmon to malt whisky and gin distilleries, Scotland serves up is the ultimate smorgasbord. Visit Oban for dramatic shores and of course, its centrally located whisky distillery or journey all the way to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides for the best black pudding money can buy.
Northern Ireland
You’ll probably recognise a number of Northern Ireland’s attractions from Game of Thrones. So where better to start than the Giant’s Causeway, a mystical and magical cluster of hexagonal stone columns that jut out into the North Atlantic Ocean. The Titanic Museum also remains one of the country's top attractions. Sitting at the head of the slipway where the famous ocean liner was built, the museum charts the history and creation of the boat and grants guests the opportunity to explore every detail of the boat through multiple interactive exhibits. In Belfast, a visit to the National Trust's Crown Liquor Saloon is a must also. Presenting Victorian flamboyance at its best, it is the premier spot to enjoy a pint of Guinness – especially when the locals descend on it after work.
