Royal Museum, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by subberculture

In Edinburgh, museum-goers are spoilt for choice with a wide selection from aviation to xylophones. To make things a little easier, here are four of the best the city has to offer…

The National Museum

It’s probably a good idea to set aside the whole day for this one. 20,000 exhibits across 36 galleries cover everything from science and technology to world cultures and art. This impressive collection includes the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, the mummified body of 3,000 year old ancient Egyptian Iufenamun, and specimens collected by evolutionary theorist, Charles Darwin. The National Museum even has its own Scotland gallery, dedicated to centuries of the country’s history and showing how life today is shaped by events of the past. Aptly located in the middle of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, the museum is close to the city’s main train link. Entry is free and it’s open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Museum of Childhood

Take a trip down memory lane in the Museum of Childhood – the first museum in the world dedicated to the history of our youth. Filled with a nostalgic array of toys, books, games and more, it is more than just a collection of objects to play with; the galleries aim to explore all aspects of growing up, using interactive exhibits to spark creativity and learning. Computer games demonstrate how life has evolved since the late 20^th century, while teddy bears, trains and pedal cars remind us how certain things will always be a part of our childhood. Entry to the exhibition is free, but donations are welcome and well worth it for a theme so close to our hearts. The Museum of Childhood is open Monday – Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

Our Dynamic Earth

Ever wondered what it’s like to stand in a tropical rainforest, with the sticky heat on your face and the sound of animals around you? Wonder no more at Dynamic Earth, the museum that transports you around the world in a range of interactive exhibits. Come face-to-face with extinct dinosaurs, dive to the bottom of the sea and feel the earth shaking under your feet as you explore the past, present and predicted future of our planet. Although entry is payable, tickets are very reasonable at only £11.50 for an adult, £7.50 for a child, and children under the age of 3 go free!

The People’s Story Museum

Step into the Scotland of the past at The People’s Story Museum, located on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Dedicated to the lives of the city’s working class from the 18^th century to the present, the galleries are filled with everyday objects, photos and treasures that create an intricate story to be explored by all. Learn about important trades like printing, brewing and biscuit making, compare home wares of yesteryear to the modern objects we use today, and observe waxwork scenes that bring the exhibitions to life in a dramatic and very real way.

If you live in Edinburgh but haven’t taken advantage of these great museums, why not make a plan for the next rainy day? For those visiting from elsewhere, there are plenty of hotels and serviced apartments within range of the city’s fantastic array of attractions.

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Manchester Cathedral from Blackfriars Bridge / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Pimlico Badger

Manchester and Liverpool are now the third and fourth most popular destinations for foreign visitors to these shores. They travel north to revel in the history of the region, soaking up the cultural atmosphere created in equal measure by the unique characteristics of the local population and the best of architectural genius. Prime examples of superb building skills on show are the historical Three Graces of Liverpool, the dramatically modern Manchester Imperial War Museum and the soaring Hilton Hotel.

History and Culture

Both Manchester and Liverpool have rich historical and cultural roots that are celebrated today through the opening of contemporary art galleries and museums. The Manchester Art Gallery includes an impressive collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and an ever-changing programme of imaginative exhibitions. In recognition of its programmes, the museum was short listed for the Guardian’s Family Friendly Museum of the Year award. Equally celebrated, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool holds what is arguably the finest collection of decorative artworks, including those by Turner and Rembrandt.

Both cities have an excellent reputation for stage plays and theatre productions. Music contributes to the culture too with the ‘Madchester’ scene in Manchester and several bands hailing from Liverpool, going back to The Beatles.

Liverpool / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by djmcaleese

Hospitality

Both cities are well known for the warm and lively characteristics of the people who make their homes there. A vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere exists in both cities, with both Manchester and Liverpool hospitality offering diverse restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs. One of the most recent additions to Manchester’s hospitality is the Cloud 23 Skyline Bar at the Hilton Hotel in Deansgate. Cloud 23 exudes sophistication, serving exclusive cocktails against a cityscape backdrop viewed through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Not to be outdone, Liverpool offers the Panoramic on the 34th floor of West Tower with stunning 360° views across the city to the Wirral peninsular. For those who like to keep their feet more firmly on the ground, both cities have an array of fine dining restaurants and bars offering both local and international cuisine.

Shopping

For the best in designer shopping in contemporary, sophisticated surroundings, both Manchester and Liverpool have everything for the discerning shopper from main chain store outlets to exclusive and unusual designer or vintage boutique shops.

When in Liverpool, visit the exclusive Metquarter for fashion and beauty outlets or the elegant Victorian arcades of Lord Street in Southport, in the Liverpool city region outside the city centre. No visit to Manchester would be complete without a visit to Afflecks, an astonishing maze where you can buy practically anything you can think of from the 50 independent outlets that range over five floors.

Manchester stadium / Agnieszka Mieszczak

Sports

Both Manchester and Liverpool are rightly proud of their football teams, both of which put the cities firmly on the sporting map. Liverpool’s football teams, Liverpool and Everton, are not the only claims to sporting fame for the city, as it is also home to the world famous Grand National horse race held each year at the Aintree Racecourse. Manchester too shares a dual football identity with the internationally famous teams of Manchester United and Manchester City.

Sometimes it seems the world is getting smaller, but it’s also true that a wider appreciation and willingness to explore has revealed many previously hidden riches in two of England’s most beautiful northern cities.

About the author: Francesca is a freelancer who proudly hails from the city of Liverpool! She enjoys sharing her knowledge of the city as a great tourism desitination, as well as the UK as a whole. This guest post was written on behalf of the University of Liverpool.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by foshie

If you follow the pretty banks of the river Cam you can see the Backs – the rear gardens of the Cambridge colleges that are maintained in beautiful splendour by dedicated armies of gardeners. In spring especially, the carpets of daffodils and crocus make a breath-taking sight. The best way to see these gardens is to hire a punt to take you downriver. If you feel confident you can try using the pole yourself, though you may want to hire a chauffeured punt if you’d rather be in the hands of an experienced polesman who can also give you a guided tour as you go.

Cambridge offers many properties to rent, including short term flats, near the city centre. Wherever you stay in this wonderfully flat and pedestrian-friendly city, you’re guaranteed to be a short walk or bike ride to all of the attractions. There is also an open-top tour bus that will show you the sights and help you get your bearings in the city.

The Fitzwilliam museum on Trumpington Street has an impressive collection of antiquities from Egypt, Greece and Rome, English and European glass and pottery, jades from China, and ceramics from Japan and Korea. The Cambridge and County Folk Museum will show you how people lived in this area over the years, in the marsh lands around Cambridge (The Fens) since 1700. Kettle’s Yard on Castle Street is a modern art museum with substantial collections and regular exhibitions and musical events.

Cambridge market is one of the few markets in the country that opens seven days a week, 362 days of the year. It only ever closes on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. It sells everything from fresh produce, meat, fish and cheese to flowers, jewellery, leather goods, and a unique outdoor hairdresser! It’s one of the oldest markets in England, having been granted a Royal charter in 973AD.

Whether you visit Cambridge for its historical colleges, beautiful gardens or thriving city centre, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy.

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