Recent research has shown that since the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, many of us are feeling more patriotic with almost a third of those interviewed saying that they were proud to be British. Almost half of those people who took part in the poll said they felt an immense sense of pride as they watched Wills and Kate take their vows in Westminster Abbey. Other things that made Great Britain so ‘great’ were British History, the NHS and our armed forces. To coincide with this poll, we thought we would create a Top 5 of destinations in the UK that you guys should visit on coach holidays to truly discover how great our country really is…
1. The Lake District
It only takes one visit to the The Lake District on England coach holidays to understand why this beautiful part of
the UK had to feature in our Best Of British Top 5. Not only do you have the stunning lakelands of Windermere to admire but you can also follow in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter who once lived in Yew Tree Farm in the Yewdale Valley. Rent a boat and go sailing across the lakes, feed the swans, enjoy a hearty lunch in one of the many countryside pubs, go rambling through the National Park, explore beautiful gardens and learn local folklore from the ‘Fairy Steps’ in Beetham to ‘Devil’s Bridge’ in Kirkby Lonsdale and see if you too can spot the ‘Tizzie-Wizzie’ who supposedly resides in the Windermere area.
2. Edinburgh
When thinking of Scotland coach holidays, you can’t fail to miss the enchanting
city of Edinburgh with plenty of diverse attractions to suit everyone’s taste. Many consider city breaks to Edinburgh to see the military spectacular of the Tattoo and not forgetting the entertaining Fringe Festival. Although it is a city, you will never be short of green spaces where you can take in amazing views or simply relax and enjoy the great outdoors on crisp winter days. You can’t visit this fine Scottish city without including a tour of the impressive Edinburgh Castle that sits on its own volcanic rock overlooking Royal Mile. Here you can see the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone Of Destiny where monarchs were crowned and the beautiful St Margaret’s chapel. Venture into the city itself and you’ll find amazing shops along Princes Street, Holyroodhouse, an array of eateries to suit all tastebuds, fantastic galleries & museums, gardens and more.
3. London
You can’t have a Best of British Top 5 without featuring the nation’s capital city somewhere in the list. Again, there is no shortage of things to do, places to visit and shows to see when on London city breaks. Obviously, the main
attraction of London is its Royal connections and the weddings of William & Kate and Zara & Philip, not forgetting the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 is attracting visitors from across the globe. Highlights include Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, St James Palace, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court. Once you’ve had your fill of Royalty, why not take a flight on the London Eye and enjoy the amazing views (if it’s a clear day), relax in St James Park with a picnic, go roller-blading in Hyde Park, catch a top West End show on London Theatre Weekends and not forgetting the abundance of shopping opportunities from favourites such as Oxford Street to the pull of designer labels in Knightsbridge. Go celeb spotting, take part in Walking Tours, ride an open-top bus and refuel at one of many eateries that London has to offer – you won’t be disappointed!
4. Llandudno
Considering that Lewis Carroll met his ‘Alice’ in Llandudno, you can see why so many of us flock to this Victorian seaside resort on Wales coach holidays every year. Why not stretch your legs on the longest pier in Wales, take a ride on Britain’s only cable hauled tramway or chill out with a picnic on one of many beaches that have been awarded the Blue Flag. There’s amazing views to be had riding on Britain’s longest ever cable car, try out sno-tubing on the slopes, explore World Heritage Sites such as Conwy’s Castle, visit the beautiful gardens of Bodnant, explore the Bronze Age Copper Mine and don’t forget to leave plenty of time for some window-shopping!
5. Belfast
When considering Ireland coach holidays, a visit to Belfast should definitely feature high in your agenda. The city is formed of four quarters and each one
offers something different from the beautiful St Anne’s in Cathedral Quarter to the entertainment capital of Queen’s. Discover its traditional roots in the Gaeltacht Quarter and no city breaks to Belfast would be the same without exploring the old shipbuilding yards of the Titanic Quarter. Soak up the city’s culture and history through its many museums and galleries, be entertained through street carnivals and festivals, admire literary works of legends such as Seamus Heaney & Michael Longley and don’t forget to visit a traditional Irish pub and join in with Craic (not forgetting to sample a pint or two of the famous black & white stuff)!
This is just a glimpse of what makes Britain so ‘great’ so why not discover more on UK coach holidays? Is there a destination that we’ve missed in our Best Of British Top 5? If so, let us know the location and your reasons why it should be featured and we’ll add it to the list next time. Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!