Change of Guard, Buckingham Palace, London, UK by Dan McKay

Summer is the best time to visit London thanks to the assortment of activities available. Tourists can stroll through St. James Park right through to Buckingham Palace in order to witness the Change of Guard which is such a spectacle. The annual Notting Hill Carnival attracts millions of tourists who come solely to witness its pomp. The streets of West London are always packed with people who are eager to witness the biggest festival in Europe. Adults and children alike can get to enjoy this festival without discrimination. This makes London the ideal family vacation destination.

Most people regard London as one of the best cities across Europe because of its edgy fashion. Whichever street you walk down in London, you are likely to peer through the clothes store windows to catch a glimpse of the wide array of fashion. Top Shop is one such place that celebrities from all over visit to grab the latest trends in fashion. Budget conscious shoppers come to this shop to browse through the many fashion endowed floors. This chic store has an in-house disc jockey who makes standing in the queues a bit more tolerable. Fashion loving people definitely enjoy visiting this city.

Notting hill carnival, London, England, UK by S Pakhrin

Another thing that makes London one of the top cities in Europe is football. Wembley stadium plays host to very important football matches such as the UEFA champion’s league fina. Hordes of football loving visitors come to this city annually to watch important matches. The English Premier League is also very popular worldwide and it attracts many foreigners who come to watch their favourite football teams in action. Popular teams such as Chelsea and Arsenal call the city of London home and they have many fans all over the world. Some people even fly into London just to see their favourite footballers in the hope of getting an autograph.

The city of London is home to more than 7.5 million people excluding visitors. A lot of these Londoners come from abroad so they speak an assortment of languages making it a culture rich city. The theatres in London are the best in the world. One such theatre is the West End Theatre which attracts the best actors. There are lots of tranquil green spaces where visitors can sit down and have picnics. There is no shortage of parks form Richmond Park to Hyde Park. Visit London and experience the free attractions and some of the best sporting events in the world.

Richmond Park, London, UK by Cristian Bortes

Author Bio: Blogger who researchers and talks about the fantastic city of London and what makes it special for tourists for Eccleston Square Hotel

The post Why London Is Regarded As One Of The Top Cities In Europe appeared first on Best of European Union.

St Mary’s Abbey, York, UK by Mrs Logic

Ghost Hunting in York

One of the UK’s most beautiful cities, York features an array of buildings left over from times of yore – including the castle which looks over the city – and is home to some fantastically spooky nooks and crannies. Going on one of the ghost walks throughout the city is a fantastic way of learning a bit of British history.. whilst also being scared out of your wits!

Culture at the Edinburgh Festival

Once per year Edinburgh is flooded by tourists looking to soak up as much culture as they possibly can as the Scottish town becomes one of the liveliest places on earth. With shows on all day, every day in more locations than it is possible to count there is everything from cutting edge comedy through to new media debates and much, much more.

Notting Hill Carnival

Why not hit the streets and lose yourself in the atmosphere of Notting Hill carnival? As raucous, lively, vibrant and bold as anything in Rio, the London based carnival features a fiesta atmosphere and a procession of eye catching spectacles.

Notting Hill Carnival, UK by extrageographic

Go Running

Why just leave it to the Olympians to partake in sporting activities? Like most sports, running is much more fun to do that it is to watch and this can be made even more interesting if you decide to jog in some of the UK’s more scenic destinations. From Hampstead or the New Forest through to the Yorkshire Dales, running is much more fun when done in an aesthetically pleasing surrounding. It would be advisable, however, to cast aside the latest trend for barefoot running if you don’t know your surroundings and to invest in a pair of running shoes. An alternative to this is to hire a bike and take that out for a spin instead.

Visit The National Media Museum

Based in Bradford, Yorkshire the National Media Museum is a must stop destination for fans of film. With one of the world’s few remaining functional Cineramas, a giant IMAX and screens playing host to the crème de la crème of world cinema, there is always something to keep the burgeoning cinefile entertained. On top of this the museum boasts an archive of rare film and television memorabilia and has new exhibitions and displays from artists around the world. For those looking for something less high brow, the museum also boasts an arcade of retro games such as Street Fighter and Tetris which are ideal for wiling away the hours on.

Kieron is a UK based fashion writer and blogger who is looking forward to spending the summer avoiding the Olympics. He is particularly looking forward to jogging in his Skechers around Ogden whilst avoiding watching Discuss, Javelin and a host of other events.

The post Avoiding the Olympics: Alternative Things to Do in the Britain This Summer appeared first on Best of European Union.

A dancer at Notting Hill Carnival, London, UK / extrageographic

With millions on track to the UK for the greatest show on earth, what are the non-Olympics alternatives for those fatigued with the Games?

Alan Turing’s Life and Legacy – The Science Museum

Though you mightn’t be familiar with Alan Turing you’re probably using one of his inventions as we speak. So as you know, Turing invented the computer. He is also the codebreaker who managed to shorten the Second World War by years. This exhibition pays homage to Alan Turing, whose short tragic life impacts on us all on a daily basis. Based in the excellent Science Museum in London, Codebreaker: Alan Turing Life and Legacy is a must see exhibition this summer.

Damien Hirst – Tate Modern

Whether you see Damien Hirst as the greatest artist of our generation or consider him part business man/ part showman, this exhibition is a must see on a trip to London. Held at the brilliant and beautiful Tate Modern, the artist’s greatest works are in abundance and a visit allows you to see all the meat, medicine and animals suspended in tanks of preserving chemicals you will ever hope for. It’s certainly worth a visit, whether you’re a lover or even a hater of Hirst.

Notting Hill Carnival

Since its beginnings in 1964, the Notting Hill Carnival has become a weekend of significant spectacle. Take part in the celebrations and watch the flats, dancing and ambitious celebration. It’s a vibrant celebration and one that celebrates multi-cultured of Britain in all its colourful glory. Sunday is the best day for family, but the whole festival is a feast for the senses.

Another London – Tate Britain

A wonderful exhibition that documents London’s period of change that was 1930 – 1980. With over 150 photos from some of the twentieth centuries top photographers, this is a must see exhibition to get an insight into the UK’s main city. From the photographers experience of UK immigration to the relationships the photographers had with the city as tourists and citizens, this is a must see and gives a fantastic sense of perspective on London. All the greats are on show, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Marc Riboud, Irving Penn, Bill Brandt, Dora Maar and Robert Frank.

Superhuman – Welcome Institute

What better time to look at man’s efforts into enhancing physical performance than just in time for the Olympics. From early prosthesis found in an Egyptian tomb to aids in sight, hearing and limbs, this exhibition focuses on the history of prosthetics. The exhibition has pieces of the wondrous as well as the weird and includes everything from silver noses attached to spectacles for women who disfigured from syphilis, to a piece on the rise of isotonic drinks.

With so much on in London in summer 2012, we’re pretty sure you might even get side-tracked from the Olympics.

Cormac Reynolds writes for specialist UK visa site Global Visas and lives in London.

The post Great London Events during the 2012 Olympics appeared first on Best of European Union.