Need some travel tips for the UK?

Top 5 UK Travel Destinations

When travelling in the UK there are some attractions that everybody wants to see and so you do the postcard tour, which of-course can be great fun. However, it doesn’t take a great deal of effort in London to step off the beaten track for a peak at some of the lesser known but none the less fabulous places. Here are a few of our personal favourites, travel tips for the UK.

1. Travel tips for the UK – London, Sicilian Avenue in Bloomsbury

Set aside from the hubbub of the West End of London Bloomsbury is a fascinating and historic part of London. Home to the British Museum and some of the best book shops for culture and artefacts around. Don’t forget to check out Sicilian Avenue for eclectic shopping walking distance to Covent Garden, it’s a visual treat in a busy working part of the capital.

2. Travel tips for the UK – London, House Museums

While visiting Bloomsbury try to see a couple of these unique museums left to the nation by two of the most remarkable collectors and artists, Sir John Soanes (architect) and Charles Dickens (author), they will give you some insight into the history and development of London:

The Sir John Soanes Museum – 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields

The Charles Dickens Museum – 48 Dougthy Street

3. Travel tips for the UK – Want to go slightly ‘off-piste’ in London:

• Music – live at the Half Moon Pub

Fabulous live music, great entertainment all year round in a historic pub situated in South West London near the Thames

• Comedy – a range of venues to choose from

Live comedy is a great way to get in the groove of the city, and you have a vast selection of over 70 comedy clubs to choose from. And to boot this is still a really affordable night out in the capital and you are bound to find someone who’ll tickle your fancy. For great and innovative comedy go off the beaten track and try the 99Club or the Meccano Comedy Club at the Slug and Lettuce pub in Islington.

• Theatre – from Shakespeare to Ionesco

How do you choose in London with so much available in terms traditional, avant garde and musical theatre. With 50 theatres in the West End alone, and even more beyond, it seems London could satisfy the greatest dramatic appetite. It is always worth checking out the up and coming alternative fringe theatres. For new plays and drama check out the Arcola Theatre it is a renowned community theatre at the heart of the fringe arts scene, located in a converted factory in Hackney. The Riverside Studios in Hammersmith is more established and yet still innovative.

• Cinema – Leicester Square and the alternative scene

When in London you have a range of cinema options, from the big traditional theatres in Leicester Square, where film openings take place, to arts cinemas like the Renoir chain. And then there is Cultural Expose an alternative film club in London.

4. Travel tips for the UK – Oxford, the Botanical Gardens

With so much to see that is well documented and enclosed within the beautiful buildings of the city and the university, don’t forget to visit the Botanical Gardens (especially in late Spring). The gardens offer a spectacular display in every season. My personal favourite is seeing the tulips against the backdrop of the ivory towers of Oxford.

5. Travel tips for the UK – Edinburgh

Fabulous city on a human scale with an ancient history, a rich cosmopolitan culture and a unique arts festival – the Edinburgh Festival, at the end of the summer (August). Check out the Festival programme and plan your visit. Look out for the Fringe festival where you come across many up and coming entertainers from all over the world – you’ll be spoilt for choice.

6. Travel tips for the UK – Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

Majestic ancient structure perfectly situated in rolling countryside, owned by the Percy family since 1309; also the backdrop for many films including: Mary Queen of Scots (1971); Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone (2001). Have lunch in either the glass restaurant overlooking the spectacular water gardens, or tucked up in the top of Europe’s biggest tree house!

By Lamia Walker, Founder of HouseSitMatch.com

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