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Known collectively as Great Britain, the countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have centuries of history and so much to offer. I am originally from England and now live in Canada and to be honest I never appreciated the beauty and history of Britain while living there. Now, having lived in Canada for many years, I have come to appreciate the history and culture of these magnificent islands that make up Britain.

Canada, where I live now, is a wonderful country and has a lot to offer, but unlike a young country of just over 200 years, it just doesn’t have the history that Britain offers.

The scenic British country lanes inevitably lead to a historic pub or a cute bed and breakfast. Britain is steeped in extremes, the Yorkshire Moors with its stone cottages and roaming sheep, the Lake District with its magnificent lochs, numerous castles scattered across the country, the many art galleries and tourist attractions, unique cities such as Chester with its walled Tudor buildings cities like York. Centuries of history mixed with modern cities.

My absolute favorite tourist spot is Hampton Court, north of London and originally the home of Henry VIII and his hapless wives. The extensive grounds feature beautiful gardens, a maze and an English tea room. The historic buildings still house some of Henry’s original furniture, paintings and opulence of the period. Animators can be found throughout the property and the kitchens are worth checking out. Not for the faint of heart, but we can’t forget the hallway where Anne Boleyn’s ghost is said to still walk the hallways with her head under her arm!!!!

Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory rests in Portsmouth Dockyard. Being in the WRNS (Womens’ Royal Navy) I’ve always had a yearning for the ocean, so I was thoroughly fascinated by this historic ship. All decks are painted red to cover up the blood shed by the crew during battles and the whole ship seems to have been made for children as the bunk beds and dining tables and chairs are child sized. This was because the average height of men in Nelson’s day was between 4 and 5 feet, dwarfs by today’s standards.

Fish and chips wrapped in newspaper and afternoon teas with strawberries and cream teas with scones are still a staple of the culture. There is so much to see, the Blarney Stone in Ireland, the Llangollen Music Festival in Wales, the Edinburgh Tattoo in Scotland, Stonehenge and the Roman Baths in Bath.

And of course not to forget the wonderful city of London with the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the royal jewels in the Tower of London, the world-famous London Eye – Ferris wheel, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tate Art Gallery, Soho, great theater performances and Piccadilly Circus . Just some of the things worth seeing in London alone. Enjoy shopping on Oxford Street and Regent Street, browse world-class goods at Harrods or browse the market stalls on Petty Coat Lane for plenty of bargains.

I suggest if you are going for the first time that you join one of the many escorted tours. You will definitely see more and get more out of your experience. Also remember that the British drive across the road so it can be a bit scary as there are many narrow country roads and the motorways are very busy. Public transport, trains, buses and the tube are great throughout the UK and a great way to get around without worrying about driving and parking.

HOW TO GET THERE:

The UK is easily accessible from anywhere in the world, the main airports being Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin.

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