Everyone knows the popularity of places such as London, Liverpool and Manchester in the UK but very often there are other parts that are grossly overlooked due to the stature of the aforementioned cities. I wanted to write this to let you all know that there is far, far more to the UK than just the capital cities.
The Lake District
The lake district is in the North West of England and is a vast and relatively untouched landscape of lakes, hills, ridges and valleys that offers some of the most beautiful scenery that the country has to offer. Lake Windermere is by far the most popular area of the lakes and it is the perfect place to take a break away from, well, everything. The walks through the lake district are plentiful and famous and have inspired some of the great writers and poets in history, Wordsworth, Blake and Keats all waxed lyrical about this picturesque part of the world. The lakes offer several boating and other water activities and there are beautiful cabins and lodges where you can stay in utter tranquility. Cycling is also popular in the Lakes and some of the pre planned routes offer breathtaking views across the valleys. The Lake District should not be ignored it is an astonishing part of the World.
Dorset
Dorset lies in the South West of England and is close to Bournemouth and the port city of Southampton, the climate and landscape here are very different to the rest of England and it’s coastline is stunning. Dorset holiday cottages are great for families to spend some time away and relax in beautiful surroundings. Poole harbour and Brownsea island are beyond beautiful and just walking along the coastline that juts in and out with caverns and private beaches is an adventure in itself. Dorset can be accessed in just a couple of hours from London by train so if London is your destination then I would certainly recommend that you take the time to see Dorset for a couple of days.
Newcastle
Situated in the North East of the country, Newcastle is really rising as a city than can compete with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester. A relatively small city but a city that know how to have fun, Newcastle has a vibrant nightlife, theatres spread across town, lots of quirky bars and comedy clubs and it boasts art, science and history museums all within short range of each other. Newcastle’s backdrop is it’s famous bridges over the River Tyne, the heartbeat of the city, from the famous Tyne Bridge which was used as a prototype for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to the pedestrian Millennium Bridge that opens and closes like an eyelid. The city is growing each year and it’s culture is expanding with it as more influences enter the city. Now is the time to visit ‘Geordieland’ and see for yourself.
Cornwall
Right at the South West tip of the country is where Cornwall sits, a largely overlooked part of the country, and criminally so in my opinion. Cornwall has literally the best coastline in the UK and it more often than not has the weather to boot. The town of Newquay is world famous for it’s waves and the surfing culture that exists there and just a little further up the coastline sits the island of Rock, inhabited by the rich and famous in some of the most grandiose houses you’re likely to see. The fishing town of Padstow is beautifully quaint and offers some of the greatest fish and chips in the World. Further inland, Cornwall is, despite it’s few villages and towns, a relatively unspoiled area which has forests and large natural environments. Interestingly, the Cornish themselves don’t actually consider themselves English and their heritage is very much a mixture of Celtic, French and Scandinavian as well as English which gives you an idea into the attitudes in this part of the country. Cornwall, like Dorset, is just a 3 hour train ride away from London and if you have more time to spare in England then head down to Cornwall, you won’t regret it.
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