Bath

The circus is an 18th century master-piece by Mr John Wood Senior and his son,  built to emulate the Roman amphitheatre. The Royal Crescent by John Wood Junior is a swung, parabolic  row of 30 houses. Both these architectural features communicate via Brook street. Bath, the very name says it all, the watering place to be and be seen in the 18th century. The hot mineral springs were first discovered by a certain Blalud around 800 BC. He was the King's son and he had been cast out to tend the swine and the dogs. During his rounds, he chanced upon the springs. His pigs, smitten with the same disease, splashed about in the water, and were cured. Blalud went and did likewise and was allowed to return to the Court. Monuments protect by UNESCO.

Straford-upon-Avon

This old market town on the Avon is well known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, England's greatest playwright. The house where he was born consisted of two parts, a shop and an inn. Anne Hathaway's cottage (she was Shakespeare's wife), is an excellent example of an Elizabethan country cottage with a thatched roof. The parental home of Shakespeare's wife is situated about 1 mile away in the small village of Shottery. These little villages are visited by some 300 000 tourists every year. 

general information

Kingdom 
Capital: London
Area: 243 000km2
Population: 63,2 millions
Population density/km2: 260
EU member since 1973
National anthem: God Save The Queen

• Flowers are the national symbol for the countries of the United Kingdon. England's symbol is the rose, Scotland has the Thistle and Wales has the daffodil and the leek.

• The first passenger railway in the world was built in England between Manchester and Liverpool.

• 2/3 of the British media belong to American and Australian groups.

• The largest shopping centre in Europe, Harrod's, is in London. There, you can buy the most extensive range of items. Originally, the store was specialised in fruit and vegetables.

• 80% of the population is English, 9% Scottish, 5% Welsh and 3% Irish.

• The United Kingdom is undergoing a process of regionalisation with Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

England is the heart of Great Britain with great places like London, Manchester and Oxford. It is also the best spot for a mix of ancient history, English lifestyle and new adventures. Whether you visit the beaches in Newquay, the hills of Yorkshire, the shops in Notting Hill or the music scene in Liverpool, you are guaranteed a great journey around the green island.

Dover

From the famous white chalk cliffs rises the magnificent Dover Castle. Originally constructed in Norman style, it was frequently rebuilt in later centuries. At the centre of the extensive fortress lies the Great Keep (1180), an impressive building which somewhat resembles to the Tower of London. Notice too the simple row of houses called Athol Terrace, at the bottom of the cliff. Dover has suffered at the hands of invaders on several occasions. First, Caesar's legions landed here, and later, the Saxons and the Jutes. Dover was also heavily bombarded in World War II.

London

From Luton airport
Coach: easyBus, in conjunction with Greenline, runs a frequent 24-hour coach service to London Victoria via Brent Cross, Finchley Road, Baker Street and Marble Arch.
Train: travel to central London in 34 minutes with First Capital Connect. A frequent shuttle bus runs between the airport and the train station taking just 10 minutes. There are up to six First Capital Connect trains an hour between London and Luton Airport Parkway station. You can buy tickets on the day or in advance on the First Capital Connect website.

From Gatwick airport
Train: the Gatwick Express to London Victoria runs every 15 minutes from 4.35am-1.35am and takes 30 minutes. Alternatively, First Capital Connect operates regular train services to London and the South Coast. As does Southern, which operates four trains an hour London Victoria.

From Stansted airport
Coach: easyBus runs a direct express minibus service to Central London (Baker Street)
Airport bus: Terravision, easyJet's transport partner, operates an airport bus that leaves 30 minutes after your flight lands, from outside the terminal.
Train: the Stansted Express runs every 15-30 minutes until midnight. The journey takes about 45 minutes to London Liverpool Sreet in the City or 35 minutes to Tottenham Hale for connections to London's West End.

A high point in the Gothic Revival is undoubtedly the British Houses of Parliament. The impressive building, which is also called Westminster Palace, is 286m in length and has more than 3km of corridors. At the North End, there is famous Clock Tower, with the 14 ton bell known as Big Ben. At the other end stands the 102m high Victoria Tower. When Parliament is in session, the flag id hoisted on this tower during the day while at night a light shines on the Clock Tower. Big Ben strikes every quarter of an hour with its characteristic loud chime. The bells in the clock tower were named after the building contractor, Mr Benjamin Hall (Big Ben), a man of whom it was said you could get around him, but only after a long walk.

Bloomsbury is the former stamping ground of British writers such as EM Forster and Virginia Woolf. Contemplate the greats at the Dickens Museum or the British Museum, at the centre of which is the former British Library reading room, where Karl Marx would ponder over heavyweight books. Afterwards, relax at the Brunswick Centre with cafes, restaurants and high-streets shops.

Tucked just behind Oxford Street, St Christopher's Place is a specialist shopping area that is home to exclusive shops like Mulberry and Whistles, as well as lesser-known quirky boutiques. The restaurants here specialise in global cuisines ranging from Thai to Turkish. Most offer heated pavement seating, so you can sit outside even when it is chilly after dark.



Shop
A London institution, Fortnum & Mason has stood in Piccadilly for more than 300 years. A pioneer of exotic food and crafts from all corners of the British Empire, it is synonymous with luxury products. Make sure you have a look at the famous window display.
The Topshop flagship store in Oxford Street is a real treasure trove. Avoid the weekend scrum and you will be able to leisurely explore four levels of affordable cutting-edge fashion, accessories, shoes and more. Selling staple items found in every discerning British girl's wardrobe, look out for the independent labels on the basement floor, Kate Moss's much-hyped line of clothing and the best in boys' fashion on the top floor.


Drink
Annies Bar. Best for the image-conscious. This unique bar has a "cocktail awareness menu" that lists calories and units in the drinks, a cutting-edge beer cooling system, and maze-like toilets with floor-to-ceiling mirrors. As if the design wasn't impressive enough, the venue also hosts open-mic live music nights on Thursdays and DJs Fridays and Saturdays. 180 Kentish Town Road, www.annies-bar.com

Day trip
Horsham. This attractive Sussex market town is only an hour from London Victoria and 15 minutes from Gatwick airport. The town is a haven for shoppers with plenty of quaint and interesting shops dotted around the town centre. Come on a Saturday to experience the still-thriving market, selling arts and crafts, antiques and local produce in the Market Square and the Carfax. Brisk winter walks can be enjoyed alongside the River Arun.
Southampton. A comfortable 75-minute journey by train from London is Southampton, home to some of the south coast's best concert halls, art galleries and shopping centres, not to mention excellent bars, restaurants and clubs. The City Art Gallery has a selection of fascinating exhibitions. The West Quay mall boasts more than 100 shops including French Connection, H&M and Marks & Spencer.

Newscastle

From the airport
train: metro trains go directly to the city centre.

See
Gateshead Millennium Bridge has been designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and Gifford, this feat of engineering is the world's first and only tilting bridge. The unhurried motion is said to mirror Newcastle's leisurely charm.

Shop 
Metrocentre with around 330 shops occupying a whopping 170,000m2 of space and four themed areas to match every budget, this is a true shopping paradise.
Need a new light sabre or replacement sonic screwdriver? Look no further than the city's sci-fi store Forbidden Planet.
Aisle Alter Hymn is the nation's first wedding shop dedicated to civil partnerships. It offers full wedding regalia for gay, lesbian, transgender and transexual customers.

Locals looking for a bargain go the Quayside Market every Sunday (9am-2.30pm). A vibrant showcase for designers, jewellers, food producers and photographers.

Old romantics should check out Gibside 18th century Pleasure Grounds and Chapel, a beautiful park once owned by the late Queen Mother's family, the Bowes-Lyons. It is just 15 minutes from the city centre.

The Blue Carpet artwork on New Bridge Street is a blue-titled floor outside the Laing Art Gallery, making it an unusual and distinctive meeting point.

Grey's Monument pinpoints the centre of the city's shopping district and is home to buskers and soap box speakers. The towering monument, in honour of former PM Earl Grey, has been turned into mini-hotel 40 metres off the ground as part of a unique arts project.

Day trip
South Shields. This picturesque seaside town is just a 30-minute drive from Newcastle and features a beautiful stretch of sandy beach and rugged coastline. 
Warkworth. Built in the 12th-century, Warkworth Castle is an impressive monument to the Percy family, once the north's most powerful family. It has one of the country's finest castle keeps.

Jersey

From the airport
Taxi: It costs about £16 to get to St Helier, the largest town on the island.

Shop
Ransoms Garden Centre in St Martin is not just for gardeners. It is a small village incorporating an excellent bakery, restaurant, pet centre and Potting Shed Gift Shop for some unusual souvenirs.
Recently opened GreenHouse sells environmentally-friendly products, from children's clothes to skincare and beauty products.

It must be one of the smallest shops on the island but the Camera Corner is piled high with cameras and other photographic equipment.

The Central Market, in Halkett Place, has been selling fruit, vegetables and meat for two centuries. There are antiques, books, jewellery and fashion stalls to browse, as well as a coffee shop and post office.

Sunset Nurseries in St Peter is an interesting free attraction where you can see exotic plants being grown and send postal flowers to friends back home.

The Jersey Bowl, close to the airport, not only has 18 lanes, but also a restaurant, beer garden, pool lounge and Qasar arena.

According to Jersey's agricultural statistics, the island produces about 36 000 tonnes of the famous Jersey Royal new potatoes every year, that is about a third of a tonne for every  man, woman and child on the island.

Jersey is so close to France that if you are on the east coast your mobile phone may automatically switch yo a French network.

Day trip
Les Ecrehous. These islands between Jersey and France are home to just a few weekend cottages and can be reached by fast inflatable boats. A peaceful retreat for a day.
Brittany. Join Jersey's golfing enthusiasts on a trip to neighbouring Brittany for a day on one of dozens of championship courses within easy reach of St Malo, including Golf des Ormes. 

The pristine beaches, the island is teeming with AA-rosetted and Michelin-starred restaurants.

By day. The island is small and beautiful and every five minutes there is something pretty to stop and look at. On a glorious day, head for Mark Jordan At The Beach to sample excellent seafood, not to mention superb chunky chips, while watching the surf roll in. 

By night. One of the best place to sample the great food that the island has to offer is the Michelin-starred Ocean restaurant at the island's beloved Atlantic Hotel. This is upmarket cuisine with all the flourish and presentation you would expect., specialising in modern British food. The menu changes daily as fresh ingredients are key. 

 

Cornwall

The North Cornish coast with its long sandy beaches and crashing Atlantic waves is the place to go to be part of a scene. The Camel Estuary breaks the coast. On the East is Rock, with a beach crowd who hang in boats (both sailing and rib), behind boats ( generally mono or boarding), on the golf course ( St Enodoc) or, if they are looking for surf, in Polzeath. They stay in Rock, Daymer Bay, Polzeath or the lovely fishing village of Port Isaac (home to Doc Martin). They rent their cottages and they have probably been going to the same cottage all their lives.

On the other side is Padstow and beyond this the surf beaches of Constantine Bay and Boobys Bay. There is a Championship golf course at Trevose. This side is a bit less crowded and regulars will say they prefer it that way. Both sides meet along the Camel Trail, a don't miss bike ride along a disused railway line. Most families coming to either side stay in cottages.

The coast down to Newquay has a string of family-friendly resort hotels near Morgan Porth and round Watergate Bay. Bedruthan is a perennial favourite. The Watergate Bay is good for older kids with their Surf Academy. 

Sometimes known as the "Delectable Duchy", Cornwall offers the visitor endless variety: the north coast contrasting with the south both in scenery and climate. The north is fresh and invigorating, the south is extremely equable and mild. Cornishmen claim that theirs is the first, last and best county in England. It is certainly an excellent place for holidays after the year's strife among the hustle and bustle of everyday modern life.

Good if you want sand in your toes, the world's best cream teas and watersport actions. Come July, the UK's coolest county is packed full of surfers types.

You will love how much there is to do. As you head south, drop into the Eden Project where you can ride the UK's longest zip wire over the flora and fauna filled geodomes. Catch a play at the open-air Minack Theatre and try surfing. Take a sailing lesson on the River Fal or, if you fancy foraging, join a Rache Lambert wild walk (wildwalks-southwest.co.uk) and learn to identity edible hedgerow plants. But if all that sounds too healthy, head to arty St Ives for a stroll around the boutique shops and Tate gallery followed by a calorie-blow-out cream tea or Cornish pastry at The Yellow Canary.

The Eden Project is a great day out 

Facebrag about lying in the white sandy beaches such as Sennen Cove, close to Land's End and Kynance Cove near Lizard Point.

Eat at Rick Stein's fish and chip shop in Padstow, then catch the foot ferry across to Rock, where London's posh set like to hang out in August for dinner at Tides restaurant. In St Ives you won't get fresher seafood than the Seagrass Restaurant.

Don't leave without walking to St Michael's Mount. Wait for the tide to recede, then stroll the stone causeway to this fairy-tale island which houses a beautiful garden and medieval castle, and if the tide comes in while you're there, don't panic, there's a ferry.

Pack it:

• a brolly: this is UK, which means it could rain
• sunglasses & suncream: let's be optimistic and plan for hot weather in the summer
• a beach towel: you're going to get wet at some point, whether you're learning to surf, sailing or just going for a paddle

the Land's End Peninsula is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt corners of Cornwall

Newquay, in North Cornwall, is one of the sunniest places in the UK and is heaving with parties in the summer. Check out White Stuff Surf Relief Festival in July or the Rip Curl Unleashed Festival in August which include live bands and DJs at sunset. 

St Ives. The best way to arrive in St Ives is surely by train. Overnight to St Erth, you can have breakfast in the cafe before joining the branch line through Lelant, round into Carbis Bay and mile upon mile of golden sands open up before you, kitesurfers dotting the blue. Turn the final corner and there is St Ives in all its sparkling glory. It is always sunny in St Ives. The light is extraordinary and good for the soul. There are two beaches. Porthmeir for surf, Porthminster for buckets and spades. St Ives does get hugely busy in the summer.

Polperro, a place of unending fascination for the visitor and artist having a picturesque harbour, full of interest with its fishing boats and the pleasure craft of the holiday makers. Unique in respect of its architectural and historic interest, a quaint house on props is built over the tiny river whre it flows into the harbour. The late 16th century "House of Jonathan Couch" (grandfather of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch better known as "Q" the Cornish novelist) has been restored and is well worth a visit. 

Watergate Bay

This pretty stretch lies between Padstow and Newquay. It is a good spot for sport: surfing, kite-surfing, kite-boarding, land-yachting, you name it. But if that sounds too exhausting, stroll to the Watergate Bay Hotel, overlooking the beach, and watch the action from behind a huge plate of seafood. Enjoy the views of Watergate Beach after a gentle cliff-top walk to nearby Porth island, a headband attached to the coast by a bridge.

Isle of Wight

Alum Bay and the Needles

Manchester

From the airport

Train: trains depart every 10 minutes for the city.

What to do: shopping on King Street, on Saturday fashion market at Tib Street, Manchester Art Gallery (free), have a wander around the Castlefield Canal Bassin.

Oklahoma is the Northern Quarter's only cafe, shop and video store in one. The walls are decked in art-house films to ren and there is a boutique with Perspex rings, notepads and gadgets.

Info: Metroshuttle is free-on-Saturday

Manchester gents typically come in one of two moulds: sporty or dandy.

In 2011, Piccadilly Gardens was overhauled by Japanese architect Tadao Ando to incorporate a fountain complex and striking concrete wall.

The Trafford Centre is great for shopping but there is more to this epic mall too. The multiplex cinema is open until 3am on the weekend while fast Mexican food from Barburrito and Tampopo's authentic noodles are both must-trys.

Manchester was created during the Roman occupation and 1500-year-old ruins still litter the Castlefield basin.


Day tripping
Formby. The sand dunes and salty forests of Formby couldn't contrast more with Manchester's urban bustle. It's just an hour's drive to this coastal haven, which is home to red squirrels and huge, sandy flats. A perfect afternoon out in good weather.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Home to collections by Barbara Hepworth, Andy Goldsworthy and more, the lakes, crumbling bridges and forests of the park are worth a forage, too, while the alpine-style cafe has hot chocolate for the day'end.

Margate

What's to love: Quintessential English seaside with added cool, care of Tracey Emin.

Best beach: Go jet-skiing in Walpole Bay or swim in the Victorian tidal pool.

See & do: Head to the new-look Old Town for quirky shops and tea rooms. Don't miss beauty brand Haeckels which creates products from ingredients foraged on the beach.