40 'Must Do' Destinations & Events
There are certain places, events, and activities
in life you just don't want to miss, and many of these
can be done in London or not too far afield. Most
of us either living in the UK or visiting will only
be doing so for a relatively limited time, so it's
important that every experience is grasped, every
option considered. How many of our 'must do's' have
you done?
1. Spend a summer evening enjoying a performance
of a play by the greatest ever playwright (Shakespeare,
in case you weren't sure!) in a unique setting - Shakespeare's
Globe. The reconstructed Tudor theatre on
the banks of the Thames has a magical atmosphere,
matched only by the excellent Open
Air Theatre in Regent's Park - where the Pimms
is sold by the jug and a picnic meal is almost obligatory.
2. Experience central Europe's most picturesque capital
- Prague.
True Bohemian rhapsody at affordable prices.
3. Join the queues at a leading British sports event
- such as Wimbledon
- and watch the national hopes deflate once again
as Henman crashes out. Great tradition and atmosphere
though, matched only by Lords
during an Ashes Test.
4. Visit one of England's most historic cities -
York.
An important Roman, Viking, and medieval city, York
boasts an impressive cathedral, castle, city walls,
medieval streets, and Viking archaeology. Also makes
a great place for exploring Yorkshire and the moors.
5. Get some culture at one of the world's greatest
treasure houses, the British
Museum. Stocked to the rafters with Egyptian
mummies, Roman statues, Celtic treasure, and art and
artifacts from around the world. Entry is free.
6. Enjoy the best views in London atop the London
Eye - spectacular.
7. Venice
is a unique, magical city - despite the crowds. Walk
the winding alleyways, float down the canals, enjoy
the drowned splendour of this once-powerful island
empire.
8. London has more pubs than any other city in the
world, and many are historic
gems. There are few better places to enjoy
a Sunday roast and a few pints.
9. Horse-racing is a popular British sporting pastime,
particularly as it is a spectator sport rather than
one that requires actual exertion. The Grand
National at Aintree, the Epsom Races, and Ascot
are key events on the racing calendar, and a great
excuse to dress up, drink champagne, and make a day
of it.
10. Spain is one of Europe's most beguiling countries,
and its coastal resorts are overrun with package holiday
tourists for half of the year. The real treasures
are inland though - beautiful cities such as Granada,
Seville, Madrid, and Barcelona.
Don't miss out on a Spanish experience.
11. Markets have been an important part of community
life in London and the UK for centuries. Visit a weekend
market and enjoy the sights, sounds, and bargains
- some of London's best include Camden (street fashion,
crafts), Greenwich (arts and crafts), Portobello and
Camden Passage (antiques and collectibles), and Columbia
Road (flowers and plants).
12. Paris
is France's compelling capital city, and has a reputation
for romance, history, and style. Just 3 hours by Eurostar
or an hour by plane, there's no excuse for not visiting
this fascinating city.
13. Britain's historical and architectural legacy
is hard to beat, and palaces
and castles dot the landscape. Many - such
as Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, and Blenheim
Palace - are within reach of London, and provide a
fascinating visual reminder of royal and aristocratic
life.
14. London
theatre is rightly recognized as the world's
strongest, with leading casts, great drama, and popular
musicals filling up to fifty theatres every night.
Shows such as the Lion King, Les Miserables, Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang, and Mamma Mia are the hot tickets,
so book ahead.
15. A bit further afield, Egypt
has celebrated seven millennia of history and culture.
A trip to the fascinating and friendly countries of
the middle east - Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey in particular
- is easy and affordable from the UK. Pyramids and
the Nile, Luxor and the Red Sea resorts - Egypt is
several lands and peoples in one.
16. London's history, hidden corners, scandals, murders,
ghosts, pubs, and architecture are brought to life
on guided walks.
Every day, expert guides transport you back in time
and to new places for a fiver - a unique London experience.
17. The South Kensington Museums are some of the
best in the world. The V&A,
Natural History, and Science Museums are all
well worth a visit, and best of all entrance is free.
18. Rome
is the Eternal City - a treasure house of Roman, Medieval,
and Renaissance art and architecture. Also recognized
as a great place to shop, eat, and just watch the
world go by, Rome should be on every travellers' itineraries.
19. Antipodeans in the UK have a unique opportunity
to pay homage to the sacrifice of the soldiers who
served and died in the first and second world wars.
The bulk died in northern France between 1914-1918
fighting the Germans, and the landscape there is dotted
with melancholy memorials and cemeteries. Further
afield, ANZAC tours
to the site of the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign have
become very popular, and Kiwi cemeteries in Italy
and Crete commemorate the dead of World War Two.
20. The rolling green fields and quaint villages
of the British countryside are justly celebrated,
and one of the best ways to enjoy the Country is by
staying in a rural cottage. Cottage
holidays are becoming more and more popular,
and heritage organisations such as the National Trust
have a portfolio of historic cottages for hire.
21. The Greek
Islands are a must for lovers of sand and
sea mixed in with traditional island life and a rich
history. Don't miss out on the island experience.
22. Oktoberfest
has become something of an Antipodean ritual, and
the Germans definitely know how to celebrate beer!
Either during Oktoberfest itself or at any time during
the year, a visit to the German beer halls in Munich
are a unique 'OE' experience.
23. Take part in a traditional British event, whether
it be the Highland Games of the Scottish clans,
cheese-rolling in an English village, morris-dancing,
swan-upping, or Guy burning.
24. Put your tourist's hat on and mingle with some
famous (wax) people at Madame
Tussauds or sample some spookiness at the
London Dungeon.
25. London's
parks are fantastic green lungs for the city,
and a picnic in the park is one of the best ways to
enjoy the scenery. Try Greenwich
for river views and the Royal Observatory, Regent's
Park for roses, squirrels, the lake, and the Open
Air Theatre, Hyde
Park for wide open spaces and Speaker's Corner,
and St. Jame's
Park for birdlife and Buckingham
Palace.
26. Oxford
and Cambridge
are the UK's famous university towns, characterized
by their 'dreaming spires' and students on bicycles.
Amazing medieval college architecture, boating on
the rivers, student night life - and both towns are
just an hour from London.
27. The Running
of the Bulls at the San Fermin Festival in
Pamplona has been a festival highlight for centuries.
Now the locals are pretty much outnumbered by Antipodeans,
but this remains one of Europe's premier events.
28. London's architectural treasures include two
mighty churches - St.
Paul's Cathedral and Westminster
Abbey. Both are amazing buildings that have
played key roles in Britain's history - the coronation
of kings and queens, funerals for leading citizens
(Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Nelson, and - most recently
- the Queen Mother), and places of celebration and
worship.
29. Bath
is a Roman city that is now famed for its elegant
Georgian streets, medieval Abbey, and the 2000-year
old Roman bathing complex. Just 90 minutes from London,
Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site such is its historical
and architectural importance, and it also makes a
great base to explore the Cotswalds and Stonehenge.
30. Football is a national institution, and there
are few bigger sporting occasions than a big Premiership
match. London has a number of leading teams - Arsenal,
Chelsea, Tottenham, and West Ham to name but four
- while Liverpool and Manchester United have huge
world-wide followings.
31. Music
Festivals are an integral part of the British
Summer, with Reading and Glastonbury being two of
the better-known events. Leading acts, camping in
the mud, and lots of other shows and stalls make these
festivals a unique weekend away.
32. Europe has some of the best mountain slopes and
resorts in the world, so it's not surprising that
Skiing
In Europe is such a popular past-time. The
Swiss, Italian, Austrian, and French alpine regions
in particular are key skiing destinations.
33. Scotland has some great destinations - Loch Ness,
the Isle of Skye, and the Highlands - but Edinburgh
is its showpiece capital. There's plenty to see and
do in this quintessential Scottish city - including
the hill-top castle, Holyroodhouse, Arthur's Seat,
and the Old Town. At New Year's, the Hogmanay Festival
features Europe's biggest street celebrations.
34. Canal boating is a great way to see the
British countryside - drifting slowly along one of
hundreds of canals, enjoying the scenery, stopping
at riverside pubs, and sleeping on board. The inland
reaches of the Thames and the Norfolk Broads are two
particularly popular boating spots.
35. The British seaside is simply unique -
tacky amusement arcades, stony beaches, the smell
of greasy chips hanging in the air, and (with luck)
a pier as well. Brighton and Blackpool are two classic
examples of seaside resorts, while Cornwall boasts
a surfing resort at Newquay.
36. Get off
the beaten track and see something different
- go inside Wellington's Arch, visit Richmond's Ham
House or Hampstead's Kenwood House, or just wander
around a new part of the city.
37. Cruising on the Thames is a great way
to see London from a different perspective, whether
you're just catching a regular service from Westminster
to Greenwich or going on a longer cruise. There are
plenty of riverside
pubs along the Thames to enjoy.
38. Enjoy London's wide and varied restaurant
scene, where the multi-cultural community
is reflected in a number of different cuisines. Indian
restaurants are particularly popular - you simply
can't leave the UK without having a decent curry -
but London has in recent years gained a reputation
for fine food and greater affordability.
39. Dublin
and Ireland are just an hour from London, and the
Emerald Isle is renowned for its beauty and hospitality.
Don't just do the St. Patrick's Day trek, explore
this fascinating isle in all of its different guises.
40. Amsterdam
is a popular destination for a number of reasons -
drugs and sex, art and history - and is a city that
will constantly surprise and intrigue. There's no
city quite like it.
We could of course add so many more destinations
and events to our list, but hopefully the 40 above
will give you plenty of inspiration to make the
most of your Big 'OE'.
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