Has a history dating back over 2,000 years and is one of the largest cities in Europe, offering a world of charm and sophistication. Visit The Tower of London and Tower Bridge, which is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world, standing gracefully on the River Thames. The Houses of Parliament are situated alongside Westminster Abbey in Parliament Square. Buckingham Palace became a Royal Residence in 1761 when George III purchased it. Queen Victoria was the first Monarch to reside at the Palace in 1837.

Is a wonderful area of rolling hills, winding rivers, and honey-colored cottages set in peaceful villages with names like Upper and Lower Slaughter and Bourton-on-the-Water. Broadway, a much-photographed “show village,” hosts an array of antique and specialty shops on a street of lovely old houses built in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Stratford-Upon-Avon is an old market town that has grown on the fame and talents of William Shakespeare. The Bard’s birthplace, a half-timbered 16th century building on Henley Street, can be visited and is one of many buildings that belong to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Trinity Church is the beautiful parish church of Stratford-Upon-Avon and Shakespeare’s burial place. Outside the town at Shottery, Anne Hathaway’s cottage is a picturesque reminder of the days when thatched roofs were common.

Has been both the political and ecclesiastical capital of the north of England. Medieval, half-timbered buildings line the narrow streets, the most famous of which is the Shambles. The Shambles is formerly a butchers’ quarter and now a street of antique, art, and book shops. York’s town walls complete a three-mile circuit around the old medieval boundaries of the city. York Minster, a massive medieval church, towers over the little streets and houses of the old town.

Geologic activity in ages past has given birth to the outstanding natural beauty of the Lake District with volcanoes, folding movements, and glaciers each having played a part. It is now a resort area of leisurely lake-shore walks and summer boat trips on the Lakes. Many famous writers and poets have found inspiration in the grandeur of the countryside. Cockermouth is one of the oldest towns in the Lakeland and birthplace of William Wordsworth.

The University town of Oxford is a walking city of fine architecture. The college buildings and quadrangles date as far back as 1249 when University College, the oldest of all the colleges was founded. Northwest of Oxford is Woodstock, a charming, unspoiled town with fine Cotswold stone houses and buildings. The extensive grounds of Blenheim Palace, the ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill, border Woodstock. Churchill was born here in 1874 when his mother was staying at Blenheim Palace.

Is an elaborate network of hot and cold water pools were built here by the Romans in 53 AD, but they were not rediscovered beneath the centuries of accumulated debris until 1878. Today, they are Bath’s most popular attraction, and a museum-like display attests to their importance in the city’s history. The crescents and terraces, squares of this period can still be seen as you stroll through Bath’s perfectly-preserved streets.

Wiltshire just north of Salisbury lies Stonehenge, one of Britain’s most important prehistoric monuments. One theory for this strange formation of gigantic stones is that they were used as an astronomical observatory and there have been speculations of Druidic origins, although the stones in fact are much older than the time of the Druids.

Snowdonia National Park covers a vast area of 845 square miles including 25 miles of coastline. Access to the most beautiful part of this area is made easier by the Snowdon Mountain Railway starting at Llanberis. The Brecon Beacons National Park is one of Wales’ most beautiful areas, with numerous waterfalls, striking caves, and hilly scenery. St. David’s Head is the most westerly point in Wales, with its rocky coasts, bleak plateau and narrow valleys. Pembroke is a pleasant old town with remains of its 13th-century walls. Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is its most important cultural and economic centre.

Famous for iconic images of bagpipes and kilts, is a mountainous country bisected by the Central Lowlands where Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh is located. One of the most dramatically situated capitals in Europe, this stately city hosts an international arts festival each summer. Many championship golf courses are situated nearby. In the north, the Highlands and Islands form one of Europe’s last great wildernesses. These magnificent peaks, windswept moorlands and lonely sea inlets were once the home of the Scottish clans.

April to October has been the traditional time to visit the British Isles, when it is the warmest time of the year, and when British Summer Time extends daylight hours into the evenings. Visitor attractions are fully operational at this time, and when many social and sporting occasions take place.

From April to June, the countryside bursts into bloom. Wild daffodils and bluebells herald the start of the season when gardens are at their most colourful. July and August are the hottest months, both in terms of temperature and the abundance of events!

During the winter months, days are short and the temperatures are often cold. Many attractions in the countryside close for the season. However, the city museums and sights remain open, and their restaurants and theatres will be in full swing.

Visitors who travel over Christmas or New Year may enjoy holiday festivities in the cities. This is also when country house hotels offer festive programs which make an excellent addition to a city break. Perhaps you prefer a family vacation or a relaxing retreat from everyday life in a lovely resort, there are a great variety to choose from!