Located in Lothian, the Scottish capital lies among a series of volcanic hills and is presided over by an iconic castle. Edinburgh is an architectural treasure trove with enough neoclassical terraces, Georgian grandeur, and late-medieval monuments to thrill even the most avid architecture enthusiast. Visitors can explore the renowned Royal Mile, with its numerous tourist attractions including the beautiful, hidden Dunbar’s Close Garden, and a Camera Obscura with five floors of holograms and optical illusions. The Scotch Whisky Experience is a must-see for fans of the golden liquid, while incredible theatres, fascinating museums, excellent pubs and restaurants, and a flourishing nightlife completes the picture. Make sure to head over to Calton Hill to admire the incredible skyline of spires, towers, domes, and steeples.
A small town on the east coast of Scotland, St. Andrews is famously known as the ‘Home of Golf’. Although tours of the links, and it's Royal and Ancient Clubhouse, as well as visits to the British Golf Museum, are popular activities, there is much more to see and do in St. Andrews. The town boasts some excellent medieval architecture and great nightlife driven by its youthful student population. Don’t miss the ruins of the St. Andrews Cathedral which were abandoned in the mid-1500s; and St. Andrews Castle, which includes a fascinating 16th-century counter-mine you can explore. The town is also home to an attractive pier and harbour area, as well as three popular beaches.
Located in central southern England, Oxford has one foot in the ancient world and the other firmly in the modern. The city’s picturesque Gothic university buildings are a magnificent legacy of its past, while its cosy pubs and trendy coffee shops are imbued with a lively contemporary buzz. Bibliophiles should head to the incredible Bodleian Library, one of the oldest in Europe, and then to the gorgeous Botanical Garden or the Harcourt Arboretum for a serene reading experience. History enthusiasts will enjoy exploring the Ashmolean, the UK’s oldest public museum, filled with fascinating archaeological relics and art exhibits from all corners of the globe, as well as the Pitt Rivers Museum, home to what is arguably the best collections on anthropology and archaeology. Tolkien fans will delight in the chance to visit the house where he lived.
Situated on the famous River Thames in south-central England, London, the largest city in the United Kingdom, boasts an iconic skyline and dates back thousands of years to the Roman Empire. The capital city is home to world-class Michelin star restaurants, and four World Heritage sites: the Tower of London, Kew Gardens, the Palace of Westminster, and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Other phenomenal attractions include Madame Tussauds; the London Eye; the West End Theatres; and premier shopping at several famous markets and iconic department stores. Visitors may also enjoy a river cruise along the Thames past the Houses of Parliament and Westminster, or visit the British Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern and the Science Museum. Don’t miss a visit to the King's official residence at Buckingham Palace to view the world-famous changing of the guards.
