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Vacation to a Sceptered Isle – Now is the Ideal Time to Holiday in Britain

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By Rik Ravado


Never Been a Better Time to Visit the UK?

There has never been a better time to visit the UK with the pound (£) at a record low against the dollar ($) and euro. The United Kingdom (UK), also known as Great Britain (GB) or the British Isles consists of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  But as any Irishman will tell you, Southern Ireland, while being part of the British Isles, is not part of the UK.

For those outside the UK, British holidays are currently tremendous value for money and now is the perfect time to visit Britain for your vacation. For those of you living in mainland Europe you don’t need to fly any more.

Why not catch a High Speed train to Paris then hop across the channel to London via the fabulous and cost-effective Eurostar train? It takes just 2 hours 15 minutes (at speeds up to 186 miles per hour) to travel from St Pancras in the heart of London to the Gare du Nord at the centre of Paris.


Tourist Map of the United Kingdom
One of many British Light Houses - this one is in Northumberland
One of many British Light Houses - this one is in Northumberland

"This Sceptered Isle"

If you live in the UK, then there are sound environmental and financial arguments for taking a holiday at home. With the pound so low then overseas holidays are looking increasingly expensive relative to a home grown holiday.

If you are taking an English holiday then start in London by all means but there are many British treasures that lie outside the M25 (the busy motorway around London). Britain has one of the most diverse landscapes in the world.

If you travel across the UK by car or train you’ll find the terrain is constantly changing from gentle hills such as the Cotswolds or the South Downs to the ultra-flat Fenlands of East Anglia to the craggy mountains of Wales and Scotland.

But where ever you are in the UK, you're never more than two hours drive from the varied coastline. No wonder William Shakespeare described Britain as ‘this Sceptered Isle' in his play, Richard II.

10 Great Reasons to Visit Britain!


This Sceptered Isle

This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England

From Richard II, Act 2 (by William Shakespeare)

Hiring a comfortable barge for a week and cruising the extensive UK canal network is a great way to see this Sceptered Isle and chill out at the same time!
Hiring a comfortable barge for a week and cruising the extensive UK canal network is a great way to see this Sceptered Isle and chill out at the same time!
  1. The value of the pound gives unprecedented value for money
  2. Massive amount of activities and things to do for all the family
  3. Amazing varied and interesting landscapes, compact countryside offering short distances between tourist sites and places of interest
  4. Ease of access from Europe – particularly from Paris via Eurostar.
  5. Unique window on history with loads of World Heritage Sites, architectual treasures including Cathedrals, Castles Royal Palaces and Stately Homes
  6. Pubs (Public Houses) offering incredible food, accommodation and hospitality at bargain prices and a great place to meet the locals
  7. Fabulous national parks and public gardens offering amazing walking opportunities and stunning views often for free
  8. Many free museums and galleries including some of the most famous collections in the world
  9. English spoken everywhere though you may struggle a little with some regional dialects
  10. A comprehensive rail network. Britain also has a fine network of preserved canals. Why not hire a barge and chill out?

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Corfe Castle in Dorset
Corfe Castle in Dorset

Iconic British Phone Box on a British Postage Stamp
Iconic British Phone Box on a British Postage Stamp

What Are You Waiting For?

So what are you waiting for? If you are British then its time to rediscover this Sceptered Isle you call home.

If you don’t live in the UK then there has never been a better time to travel to Britain. With the British pound at rock bottom, you’ll get unprecedented value from your visit to these unique and beautiful islands, shaped by the winds and tides of world history.



Stonehenge in Wiltshire
Stonehenge in Wiltshire

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Seven Sisters chalk cliffs in Sussex

British News from the BBC

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    Up to 60 people are injured in a crowd surge during a performance by band JLS at Birmingham's Christmas lights switch-on. - 6 hours ago

  • Bankers' deals could be 'torn up'

    Alistair Darling confirms the City watchdog will be able to "tear up" bankers' contracts if pay deals reward undue risk-taking. - 31 minutes ago

  • Cameron speaks of Christian faith

    David Cameron describes himself as a Christian who believes in God and goes to church, although "not as regularly as I should". - 3 hours ago

  • 100mph storm winds batter south

    Winds of up to 100mph hit parts of the UK as stormy weather moves across Wales and southern England. - 2 hours ago

  • Interfaith week tackles tensions

    The first interfaith week is being held in England, to strengthen relations and help tackle societal issues. - 2 hours ago

Comments

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Vivenda profile image

Vivenda  says:
8 months ago

Almost makes ME want to holiday there...

Rik Ravado profile image

Rik Ravado  says:
8 months ago

Let me take you there Vivenda!

LondonGirl profile image

LondonGirl  says:
8 months ago

great hub, on the whole, but "the best of Britain surely lies outside the M25" means we might fall out (-:

Rik Ravado profile image

Rik Ravado  says:
8 months ago

I agree with you really LG - Its just that so many tourists ONLY visit London and miss out on the rest of the UK.  I'll amend my hub accordingly so we don't fall out!

BristolBoy profile image

BristolBoy  says:
8 months ago

Down here in Falmouth we seem to get many northern European tourists and I expect that this year the numbers will increase. There are generally however very few tourists from areas outside of northern Europe as far as I can tell (certainly not the numbers that go to London, Bath etc). I expect some of them will have trouble if they go to some areas of Cornwall with the accent though!

Rik Ravado profile image

Rik Ravado  says:
8 months ago

Bristolboy - Yes London is great but its a pity more visitors don't make it as far as the South West!

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