It’s a bank holiday weekend, on the verge of summer and rather than
head off to guaranteed sunshine Brits are staying put and holidaying in the UK.
A poll commissioned by Travelodge found that 65% of UK residents plan to take their
summer holiday in the UK this year – a higher proportion than the past two
years.
London has emerged as the top UK destination this year, over Cornwall
in 2012, as city breaks overtake traditional seaside holidays as the favourite
domestic getaway.
‘Staycationing’ in the capital
The rise of city breaks as the favourite choice for Brits holidaying in the UK may have something to do with our unpredictable weather.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert from TravelSupermarket, said: “British coastal resorts are great, but you’re not guaranteed Mediterranean weather. If it rains and you’re in London there are still hundreds of things to do and places to see”.
Top ten London attractions for tourists - and locals
The London Eye
Taller than Big
Ben and more popular than any other paid-for London attraction, the London Eye
offers the most spectacular views of the city, with visibility of up to 40km in
all directions. Originally built as a temporary structure, the Eye has proved
so successful that it has just celebrated its 10th birthday and looks set to
remain one of the best-loved landmarks on the London skyline.
The Tower of
London
It is impossible
not to be drawn in by the (often grisly) history of the Tower of London. See
the spot where Anne Boleyn was beheaded, the infamous White Tower where Richard
III imprisoned his young nephews, and, of course, the Crown Jewels, still
proudly in place despite the best efforts of Colonel Blood in 1671. It’s well
worth employing a Yeoman Warder as your guide – they're often as entertaining
as they are informative.
Tate Modern
Sitting
grandly on the banks of the Thames is Tate Modern, Britain's national
museum of modern and contemporary art. Its unique architecture is due to it previously
being a power station. Inside you'll find temporary exhibitions by top artists
from Damien Hirst to Gauguin. The gallery's restaurants offer fabulous views
across the city. Entry is free to the
main collection but special exhibitions require the purchase of a ticket.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Christopher
Wren’s masterpiece has squatted imposingly in the City of London for the past
300 years. It withstood the bombardment of the Blitz and has become
something of a monument to the determination and resilience of London and
Londoners in general. Visit the cathedral to admire its architectural
splendour, its crypt – including Nelson and Wellington’s tombs – and marvel at
the uncanny acoustics in the famous Whispering Gallery.
The River Thames
There’s no
better way to see the sights of Britain’s capital than from the Thames. Taking
a boat trip on the Thames is a must for any visitor to London. A river cruise gives you the chance to sit back and enjoy as you drift past the
Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and more.
The Royal Observatory
Part of the
National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, the Royal Observatory is home to the
National Meridian Line. This line officially separates East from West at
Longitude 0º and is known as the ‘Prime Meridian’. It also represents the
official centre of world time – Greenwich Mean Time. By placing your feet on
either side of the line, you can stand in both the eastern and western
hemispheres simultaneously. The Observatory also has a cutting-edge
planetarium, some of the oldest timekeepers in the world, and the UK’s largest
refracting telescope.
The Houses of
Parliament
Once a royal
residence, the Palace of Westminster – more commonly known as the Houses of
Parliament – has been the seat of the British Government since the 16th
Century. Visitors from all over the world can visit Parliament to attend
debates, watch committees and tour its labyrinth of ancient, Gothic and modern
buildings, including the Clock Tower affectionately known as Big Ben.
The British Museum
The
world famous British Museum exhibits artifacts from all over the world from
prehistoric to modern times. Highlights include the
Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, and the mummies in the Ancient Egypt
collection. Entry is free but
special exhibitions require tickets.
Buckingham
Palace
A visit to Her Majesty’s place of residence is a
must. Of the Palace’s 775 rooms, only the 19 State Rooms – used by the Queen
and her guests for official and state entertaining – are open the public,
between August and September each year. These are well worth seeing as they
contain some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection, including
paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto, sculpture by Canova and priceless
pieces of porcelain and furniture. Visitors can also take a stroll around part
of the Palace gardens during the Summer Opening weeks.
And
that’s only a small sample of what London has to offer, with its famous street
markets, theaters, restaurants and nightlife.
No wonder
so many people from the UK and all over the world choose to holiday in London.
Discover London
Take a
look at our own guides to London life for more information
about the city’s varied neighbourhoods, history and attractions.
No comments:
Post a Comment