|
|||||
 Doorway at Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
 The Rough Guide to Britain by Robert Andrews, Jules Brown, Rob Humphreys, Phil Lee, Donald Reid If ever a nation were both hostage to and beneficiary of its history, it's Britain. The single most important thing to remember when travelling here is that you're visiting not one country, but three: England, Wales and Scotland. For visitors foreign and domestic, that means contending with three capital cities (London, Cardiff and Edinburgh) and three sets of national identity - not to mention the myriad accent shifts as you move between them. More information and prices from: Amazon.com - US dollars Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars Amazon.co.uk - British pounds SeekBooks.com.au - Australian Dollars Amazon.de - Euros Amazon.fr - Euros |
European CitiesAmsterdamThe city is an incredibly beautiful collection of old world European architecture elegantly partitioned by canals. More at: Amsterdam Holidays AthensCapital of Greece and home to the Parthenon. More at: Athens BarcelonaSecond city of Spain and major Mediterranean port, bustling Barcelona incorporates a delightful historic mix of Roman remains, medieval quarters and 20th century avant-garde art. More at:
CardiffKnown as ‘Europe’s youngest capital’, Cardiff, in south Wales, has re-invented itself as one of Britain’s most buzzing, young-at-heart and stylish cities. It’s a rapidly-evolving, vibrant and fascinating place for a short break, so come and see what it’s like keeping up with the Joneses - Tom was brought up near here, and Shirley Bassey’s a local girl. More at: Cardiff: Europe's youngest capital * Stunning Interiors Unveiled For Park Plaza Cardiff EdinburghThe location of Edinburgh - capital of Scotland and a World Heritage Site - is spectacular, with the castle high on its rock, views over the River Forth, elegant architecture and its own extinct volcano, Arthur’s Seat - described by thriller writer Ian Rankin as "a natural wonder, a wilderness in the middle of a city." A favourite Edinburgh pastime, beloved of students and others, is to climb to its summit to see the sun rise over the sea. More at: Edinburgh: Scotland's festival capital * Edinburgh International Festival GlasgowGlasgow is one of Europe’s most important cultural centres, a heady mix of grand Victorian and sensuous art nouveau, and wonderful museums, galleries and concert halls. More at: Glasgow: Scottish gem LiverpoolLook lost in Liverpool and someone like Terry Allen is likely to appear at your elbow. He's one of a team of Navigators employed by Liverpool City Council. Want to see pre-Raphaelites art? The Walker Art Gallery is just by the station, and all its Victorian grandeur comes free. Anfield football stadium, home of Premier Division Liverpool Football Club? A ticket may be hard to get hold of, but anyone can go on a tour of the dressing rooms. More at: Liverpool: 'Culture Capital' on the Mersey Lisbon"We drove over Lisbon yesterday in a blazing heat and saw the Church of St Vincent, and the Botanical Gardens where palms and prickly pears and huge cactuses were growing, and enormous oleanders covered all over with the richest red blossom ..." More at: Lisbon 1859 LondonLondon is matchless for its impressive range of landmarks. World-wide, few people would mistake the location of Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben or Trafalgar Square, for example. Read on: London - City of Landmarks MadridMadrid, the capital of Spain, is a charming city, rich in culture and, at night it really rocks! Madrid Spain - Take A Tour Of A City That Rocks NewcastleGatesheadLying close to England’s north-eastern coast, the two cities sit side by side, divided only by the River Tyne. This is a great place for walking around and exploring. First head down to the Quayside area, for a view of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge (it closes like a winking eye to allow ships to pass), meander amongst the street art and perhaps enjoy a light lunch in one of the bars or restaurants. More at: NewcastleGateshead: Lively home of the 'Geordies' ParisParis, the French capital and Eurodisney (Disneyland Resort Paris) provide some unique experiences. CityBreakaways provide some excellent deals. More at: Paris and Eurodisney Weimar"Thanks to the kindness of a soldier we got inside the palace, and saw the rooms where Goethe lived so much with the Grand Duke and Duchess." More at: Weimar 1865 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Copyright © Alan Price and City Visit Guide contributors. All rights reserved. |