Brighton Pier, England, UK by Samuel Justice

Brighton

The seaside town of Brighton is located just a short train ride to the south of London and is particularly charming on a sunny day. The main pier here is a great place to take a stroll, while shoppers will want to head to the Lanes to browse for bargains. Most of the main attractions here can be found close to the sea, while the Royal Brighton Pavilion is one of the town’s most unusual landmarks and music lovers will find that a wide range of concerts are regularly held here.

Canterbury

The small city of Canterbury is one of the most vibrant destinations in the county of Kent. The city centre is pedestrianised, allowing visitors to wander along the cobbled streets and soak up the atmosphere. Canterbury is famous for its architecture, and no trip to the city would be complete without paying a visit to Canterbury Cathedral. This was also the setting for Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and visitors can get a feel of what the city was like at the time of Chaucer complete with the sights, sounds and smells of the era by visiting the Pilgrim’s Way Museum.

Canterbury Cathedral, England, UK by Steve Evans

Aylesbury

This historic market town can be found just 35 miles to the north west of London, meaning that visitors will have plenty of time to absorb the main sights within a day. Aylesbury is a town that is simply bursting with charm and exploring the town centre is a real treat. Aylesbury is also famous for its ancient standing stones, which are believed by many people to have mystical powers.

Bournemouth

City slickers who are looking for a little fun in the sun should take the train to the southern beach town of Bournemouth. Eating fish and chips by the sea is a popular pastime here, while there are plenty of wide rides and other attractions waiting to be enjoyed.

Oxford

The historical city of Oxford makes the ideal daytrip destination. Wandering along the cobbled streets and lanes in the old section of the city is an uplifting experience, and lovers of history and architecture will find numerous impressive churches, colleges and other buildings to explore, while the Pitt Rivers Museum is a great play to visit to learn about this city’s vibrant past.

Oxford University, England, UK by Biker Jun

Bath

With it Georgian architecture and chic and sophisticated bars and restaurants, Bath is the perfect blend of the old and the new. The buildings that can be found in the town centre are particularly well preserved and this makes exploring a lot of fun. There are plenty of great outdoor cafes here where visitors can enjoy a snack while indulging in a little people watching, while many of the shops here feature handicrafts that cannot be found in any other part of the country. Bath was named after the Roman Baths that were once extremely popular here, and the Roman Baths Museum is the perfect place to find out all about them.

Of course, these are just a few of the destinations that are waiting to be discovered by both visitors to London and those who live there. Conceirge services offered by some of London’s best 5 star hotels are often more than happy to organise a day’s excursion so make sure you pick their brains about the various destinations that are within easy reach of London’s very excellent railways.

Article sources:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/london/travel-tips-and-articles/77050

http://www.wikitravel.org/london

Tom, a freelance writer from London, is a huge fan of rustic Britain and often indulges in his love of the Isles by taking the train without a destination in mind..!

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Luckily, Britain has a lot to offer holidaymakers, so here are some great ideas for activities and sights in the south of the country.

Explore the south-west

Salisbury in Wiltshire is home to the spectacular Stonehenge and you don’t need to be a history buff to appreciate this impressive monument, which is perhaps one of the most instantly recognisable collections of standing stones in the world.

Stonehenge, England, UK by mari

There are also some fantastic towns and cities to explore in the south-west. Bristol offers museums, art galleries, an aquarium, the impressive harbourside and the Bristol Blue Glass Factory and Shop, where you can watch skilled craftsmen blowing glass – and even have a go yourself.

Alternatively, head to Bath and check out the city famed for its historic Roman baths and spas. The city is home to the only hot spring in the UK and natural water still flows through the bathing complex the Romans built around it all those years ago. You can spend the whole day there and feast on a three-course lunch, as well as being pampered in the thermal baths.

Cornwall

Cornwall is a popular holiday destination in the UK and there is plenty to enjoy. If you’re lucky enough to get some nice weather for your holiday, try some of the many watersports on offer, such as canoeing, surfing and body boarding. There are activity centres dotted all along the coast, so you can easily find something near you.

Be impressed by historic buildings

If you’re looking for a rainy day activity, visit some of the many impressive historic houses, castles and cathedrals in the south-east. If you’re in Berkshire you can’t miss an opportunity to check out Windsor Castle, which was famously almost destroyed by fire in 1992.

Canterbury Cathedral – one of the most famous buildings of its type in Britain – is also well worth a visit and this World Heritage Site is a truly impressive example of gothic architecture at its best.

Canterbury Cathedral, England, UK by Steve Evans

Enjoy a day at the races

Visit Plumpton Racecourse in Lewes, East Sussex, which is open for events all year round and hosts 16 days of jumps between September and May. Check out the competition and place some bets, or simply soak up the atmosphere and enjoy watching the races.

Poole

If you’re heading south a visit to Poole is a must. This lovely coastal town is home to a stunning harbour and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal overlooking the sea. Nature-lovers can head out to Brownsea Island, which is home to the red squirrel, while Adventure Wonderland boasts the largest natural maze in the south and is ideal for those of you with young kids.

Catch fireworks in Plymouth

If you head down south in mid-August you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to watch the British Fireworks Championships. Explore the city during the day before gazing at the spectacular evening show, which will take place on Plymouth Hoe on August 14th and 15th.

British Fireworks Championships in Plymouth, England, UK by Adrian Lilburn

This post was written and contributed by freelance web writer, James Midrun, who has helped many an avid blog reader to find fantastic short breaks in the UK, as well as helping families to enjoy family fun in Skegness!

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Megalithic sites at Carnac, Brittany, France by Steffen Heilfort

One unique and fascinating location in Brittany is the Megalithic sites at Carnac.  Found at the southern part of Brittany, these sites showcase prehistorically arranged standing stones that amount to more than 3,000 pieces.  These perfectly aligned megaliths are believed to be a Roman army that was magically turned to stones by Merlin.  Tours are arranged by local travel agencies for the convenience of the tourists.  Aside from seeing these megalithic sites, tourists can plan to extend their oneness with nature by camping in Carnac or by taking windsurfing or sailing lessons at the Bay of Quiberon.  At Carnac, you are sure to be amazed at how the standing stones were arranged at a time when technological machineries were not yet available.

Another area in Brittany that is a must-see and must experience is Locmariaquer.  Locmariaquer, about 7 miles away from Carnac, boasts of its beaches facing the Atlantic Ocean.  Similar to Carnac, Locmariquer also has prehistorically arranged megalithic stones that were believed to be erected during the Neolithic period.  It also has a burial monuments and statues that are thousands of years old.  The gargantuan stones that are aligned make visiting tourists believe in the existence of giants.  However, touring the other sights of Locmariaquer will refresh tourists’ religious beliefs as there are several churches around the area that were built hundreds of years ago.  Some of the churches are worth visiting are the Notre Dame de Kerdro, which was built in the 1000s by the Quimperle monks, and the Chapelle du Moustoir, which was built in the 1700s.  Don’t think that Locmariaquer will only satisfy tourists’ spiritual yearnings; this place can also satisfy tourists’ gastronomical needs.  As Locmariaquer is located near the bay, its coastal area is a source of the freshest and even the rarest oysters one can find.  Tourists can attest that this area has the best oysters as oyster cultivation in Locmariaquer dates back to the 1800s.

Cote Emeraude Fort La Latte, Brittany, France by Benh LIEU SONG

Finally, touring France will not be complete if one doesn’t take sight of at least one of the many existing castles in the country.  Brittany is one area that still has well-maintained castles that can bring visitors back in time. One of the worthwhile castles to be visited is the Fort La Latte that is located in Cotes-d’Armor in Brittany.  The view of this castle from either side is pristine waters of the Atlantic.  The structure has even been used as a location of some Hollywood films.

Now that you know of the unique sites and activities to do in Brittany, plan your trip now!

This travel article was written by Hannah of Independant budget holiday guide, www.packedup.co.uk

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The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 in a co-listing with Avebury Henge monument. It is a national legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument. Stonehenge is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage, while the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust.

View Stonehenge — the well-known prehistoric monument stone monument in United Kingdom in a larger map

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