Truly Great Britain
It's only a small island, but there's plenty to see and do, and if you're short of time, you can still fit a lot into five days and cover a lot of ground
- Published: 28/02/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Brunch
The clue's in the name: Great Britain might only appear to be a speck on the world map, but this plucky little island can pack a heftier punch than a country 10 times its size. Few places manage to cram so much history, heritage and spectacular scenery into such a tiny space.
Twelve hours is all you need to cover the country from tip to tip, but you could spend a lifetime getting to grips with Britain - from the ancient relics of Stonehenge and Hadrian's Wall to the great mediaeval cathedrals of Salisbury, Ely and Canterbury, and the magnificent country houses of Chatsworth and Castle Howard. This is an island entranced by its past, but it's a long way from a dusty old relic - sneak a peek at the gleaming skyscrapers stacked up along London's skyline or the futuristic biomes of the Eden Project, and you'll realise there's plenty of life left in this elegant old girl yet.
This past-future schism is only one of many contradictions you'll stumble across on your British travels. Contrariness and eccentricity are hardwired into the national character. After all, Britain is really three countries rolled into one, and its constituent nations haven't always made easy bedfellows down the centuries. The process of devolution over the last decade has only served to underline their differences, and you're bound to be struck by just how different things feel in Britain's corners these days - whether it's moseying along Edinburgh's Royal Mile, admiring the cutting-edge architecture around Cardiff Bay or exploring one of London's lively street markets.
But while it's sometimes hard to get a handle on, in many ways it's Britain's contradictory character that makes it such a fascinating place to visit. With a sensory smorgasbord of picture-pretty villages, stately cities, world-class museums and stunning national parks, not to mention countless miles of coast and countryside to explore, Britain's an awfully big adventure packed into a conveniently pint-sized package.
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RUNNING SHORT OF TIME? NO PROBLEM
FIVE DAYS LONDON TO LONDON
If time is tight you'll have to pack in the sights, so we've stripped this trip down to include the bare essentials. If you have more time, consider extending the itinerary with local day trips from each key area.
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1. LONDON
Let's face it - you'll need more than a couple of days to properly explore the nation's capital, London, and even then you'll only have time to scratch the surface. But if you're on a really tight timeframe, you'll have to plan your sightseeing with military precision. At the very least, try to tick off the Tower of London, the British Museum, the Tate Modern and Greenwich. If you can spare a few more days, you could also add in some shopping and museum time in Kensington and Knightsbridge, take in the city's skyline from the London Eye, browse for a bargain at Portobello Road Market and perhaps venture out to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.
2. OXFORD
One you've "done" the capital, head west to spend a day exploring elegant Oxford, England's most famous university town, whose first college was founded way back in the 13th century. Famous writers including Philip Pullman, JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis were all inspired by the architecture and atmosphere of this superbly scenic city, and we bet you will be, too. If your itinerary allows, a side-trip to the fabulous stately home of Blenheim Palace will provide you with a perfect introduction to the rarefied world of the English stately home.
3. BATH
Day four is reserved for beautiful Bath, renowned for its Georgian architecture, classy restaurants and top shopping, not to mention one of the best-preserved Roman baths in Europe. You should also have time for a quick detour via the great circle of Stonehenge, but it's really worth allowing more time if you can - an extra afternoon will allow you to take a guided tour, understand the history and geography of the ancient monument and explore some of the other nearby ancient sites associated with Stonehenge. You could even extend your trip into nearby Salisbury, famous for its magnificent mediaeval cathedral and sky-topping spire (the tallest in England).
4. WINDSOR
On the final day, turn eastwards and head back towards the big smoke via the monumental fortress of Windsor Castle, arguably England's most impressive royal residence. Don't miss the Changing of the guard at 11am sharp.
This is an edited extract from 'Discover Great Britain', 1st edition Lonely Planet Publications, 2010.
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