Vacation in the U.K.

[Saulus]

So this year I have decided I will be taking my two week vacation in the UK-- it won't be my first time there, however I will be making an effort to see a lot of the places I didn't get to see my first time around.

I will be heading there sometime this July, and I plan to make the trip to England, Stonehenge, and then spending some time up in Scotland and possibly visiting Ireland. Last time most of the highlights of my trip were visiting the Loch Ness, and all the different castles in the region (including Edinburgh Castle).

I was wondering, as I know there are many British Sundarians out there, any suggestions on must-see locations? I'm most interested in historical locations, and areas with a lot of history. Of course, I may make it a point of my trip to try to have a pint with any staff members near the areas I'm visiting... We'll see

Thoughts?

[Verrath]

I was actually considering a UK trip too, though no definite plans at all yet.

[Janus]

Geez... historical locations... um... where do you start?

I think the problem over here is that we have too much history so it's gonna depend on what sort of thing you are interested in.

Throw a stone in any given direction and you'll hit something historic. I work accross the road from an 11th century round church and that's just something I pass on the way to work.

The best suggestion I can give is to decide where you are going then put the towns into a search engine with the search criteria of something like historic points of interest then see what strikes your fancy. Personally I'm a big fan of roman britain but that might not give you much by way of huge monuments to visit.

Warwick Castle (pronounced Warick for anyone who didn't know) is IMHO the best castle site you can go to if that is your thing.

[Verrath]

I remember the pub by the Thames in London that a friend took me to.... the one that Shakespeare wrote all his plays in. History was oozing out of the floorboards there I forget what it was called, but it was a very cool place.

[Machiavelli]

Bath is well worth a visit!

[Azulfae]

There is loads of stuff in London, The globe theatre (has a lot of Shakespearian history) and the london dungeons are near london bridge and then there is tower bridge 5 mins away which is just beautiful and the whole tower of london right by that.

You could probably spend several days just plodding around central london near the river. If you want ideas for a london trip give me some PM's and i can help you out for ideas depending on what you are interested in. Hyde park, london zoo Buckingham palace, the london eye, (awsome view of the city.) I could go on and on.

Outside of london there is so much, Bath is a gorgeous roman town for sure. I love that city and then there is the lake district if you love beautiful mountains and large lakes. I'm speding my summer holidays in a house looking over lake Windermere near to where Beatrix Potter lived. There is lots of history there, museums about peter rabbit and all sorts of really peaceful lovely stuff to see.

In contrast you have Dartmoor and Exmoor down in the westcountry which unlike the lake district in cumbira is a much more... dark sinister moorland with a lot of mythology and strange sites thet to be honest are plain scary at night.

I grew up in Plymouth near dartmoor and regularly went to wistmans woods where Brian froud sits on afternoons drawing inspiration to draw fairys and goblins. He says he sees them but we all know he is mad. (Brian froud did the artwork for the film Labyrith if you are not familiar) There are stone circles that I have hidden on nearby hilltops when doing my duke of edinborough award at school and in the middle of the night with some friends lay shaking as we watched practicing druids walk along stone lines to approach the circle with torches and other stuff and get up to all sorts.

I still have a large sheep/goat skull that I found near that circle. There is not much tourist orientated set up around dartmoor but that is the atraction for some. It's very raw and untamed in comparison to the lake district. Sherlock holms set hound of the baskervilles on dartmoor or bodmin moor I'm not sure, it's all connected anyhow.

Princetown has a tourist centre that's the best place to start or look for somewhere to stay if you fancy dartmoor.

If you want to do the outdoors, get boots and waterproofs and all the gear and do Dartmoor in Devon, Snowdon in wales, The lake idstrict in Cumbria and then up to the highlands in scotland to get the most for your money. It's harsh if the weather turns though, you have to be well planned.

I could babble on for hours, again it all depends what you want to see of England.

Drinking real Irish Guiness in Dublin is a must for any American/Canadian tourist also.

[Thief Of Navarre]

Geez... historical locations... um... where do you start?

I think the problem over here is that we have too much history so it's gonna depend on what sort of thing you are interested in.

Throw a stone in any given direction and you'll hit something historic. I work accross the road from an 11th century round church and that's just something I pass on the way to work.

The best suggestion I can give is to decide where you are going then put the towns into a search engine with the search criteria of something like historic points of interest then see what strikes your fancy. Personally I'm a big fan of roman britain but that might not give you much by way of huge monuments to visit.

Warwick Castle (pronounced Warick for anyone who didn't know) is IMHO the best castle site you can go to if that is your thing.

There is loads of stuff in London, The globe theatre (has a lot of Shakespearian history) and the london dungeons are near london bridge and then there is tower bridge 5 mins away which is just beautiful and the whole tower of london right by that.

You could probably spend several days just plodding around central london near the river. If you want ideas for a london trip give me some PM's and i can help you out for ideas depending on what you are interested in. Hyde park, london zoo Buckingham palace, the london eye, (awsome view of the city.) I could go on and on.

Outside of london there is so much, Bath is a gorgeous roman town for sure. I love that city and then there is the lake district if you love beautiful mountains and large lakes. I'm speding my summer holidays in a house looking over lake Windermere near to where Beatrix Potter lived. There is lots of history there, museums about peter rabbit and all sorts of really peaceful lovely stuff to see.

In contrast you have Dartmoor and Exmoor down in the westcountry which unlike the lake district in cumbira is a much more... dark sinister moorland with a lot of mythology and strange sites thet to be honest are plain scary at night.

I grew up in Plymouth near dartmoor and regularly went to wistmans woods where Brian froud sits on afternoons drawing inspiration to draw fairys and goblins. He says he sees them but we all know he is mad. (Brian froud did the artwork for the film Labyrith if you are not familiar) There are stone circles that I have hidden on nearby hilltops when doing my duke of edinborough award at school and in the middle of the night with some friends lay shaking as we watched practicing druids walk along stone lines to approach the circle with torches and other stuff and get up to all sorts.

I still have a large sheep/goat skull that I found near that circle. There is not much tourist orientated set up around dartmoor but that is the atraction for some. It's very raw and untamed in comparison to the lake district. Sherlock holms set hound of the baskervilles on dartmoor or bodmin moor I'm not sure, it's all connected anyhow.

Princetown has a tourist centre that's the best place to start or look for somewhere to stay if you fancy dartmoor.

If you want to do the outdoors, get boots and waterproofs and all the gear and do Dartmoor in Devon, Snowdon in wales, The lake idstrict in Cumbria and then up to the highlands in scotland to get the most for your money. It's harsh if the weather turns though, you have to be well planned.

I could babble on for hours, again it all depends what you want to see of England.

Drinking real Irish Guiness in Dublin is a must for any American/Canadian tourist also.

The truth! If you want someone to show you around in July I only live about 40 miles (cycling distance) from stonehenge! I'd be more than happy to book a week or so off work and show you what 'I' know, the rest you will have to explore for yourself... that being said Im a whiskey drinker and would like to see the Laphroaig distillary on Islay, I hear its a beautifull isle to boot!

[Machiavelli]

that being said Im a whiskey drinker and would like to see the Laphroaig distillary on Islay, I hear its a beautifull isle to boot!

Islay single malts; nectar of the gods.

[Doubtful]

Their is a fantastic cycling event on Islay every year; a good chance to turn them wheels, meet new folks and drink some of the best whisky ever to be made..

Islay cyclist:
http://www.thewashingmachinepost.net/

The Islay ride:
http://www.rideofthefallingrain.net/

I'd be taking part this year but I'm already booked up to do the London Triathlon on that day.

As far as holidays go, the west country is a mighty fine place to visit; Bristol, Bath, Glastonbury, Dartmoor, Cornwall and many many fun and old places.

[Thief Of Navarre]

Im not sure I could do a 100mile bike ride But it certainly does look like good honest fun!

[Saulus]

No kidding, I would hope it's mostly downhill, I want to go on vacation not run a marathon.

[TamurtheLame]

I spent an entire week in London and didn't see everything I wanted to see. You could literally spend your two week vacation in London. We saw a couple plays downtown also, they were very well done and entertaining.

We also took a short train ride to Leads Castle, very beautiful place and well worth the visit.

However, I am sure our English friends can provide a more in-depth list of sites.

Have fun!

[Dune]

My house is at the top of the list.

Some other places across the UK.

Grizedale forest, depending on if you like walking or mountain biking. Theres a nice North Face trail there.

You should also try Wales. Some nice places there such as Snowdon.

The Globe theatre is nice too.

Leeds Armoury, in leeds of course, is quite a nice place to look around.

Blackpool because of how the old Britian used to be in my eyes.

Its been said before historical locations are almost everywhere in England and each area have thier own castles to visit or areas too see. There are some nice steam trains across the whole of the UK which are nice for a relaxing journey. I also have been London on a few occasions and being English I find London a smelly and busy place that is too expensive.

Hope you have fun on your trip