BACKPACKING THE
UNITED KINGDOM
The UK has made significant cultural contributions to the world in literature (Shakespeare, Charles Dickens), music (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Adele, Ed Sheeran), and science, (Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Steven Hawking). Not only this, the UK has a rich and complex history, which has formed some incredible architecture, from ancient castles and medieval cathedrals to contemporary skyscrapers. It also has some beautiful and varied landscapes from the Scottish Highlands, to the Welsh Valley and the Cornish coastline, a stay in the UK will be very enriching and diverse. One word of warning however, even if you go in the summer ... Pack a rain coat!
London
English
Sterling
BACKPACKING THE UK MAP
London
London
Most likely you will land in the iconic city by air. Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick are all within an hour of London by train. The tube being the easiest from Heathrow where you can just tap in and tap out with your phone or debit card. The UK is well set up for apple pay, you will rarely need cash, even street vendors and stalls will take a contactless payment. So do not worry about having cash on you when you arrive.
London is famous for its numerous iconic landmarks, including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the British Museum, the London Eye, and St. Paul's Cathedral, to name a few. With so much to do you are going to be busy here. Check out our hostel recommendations and things to do blogs for London.
Cornwall
The South West most point of the UK is Cornwall, this area is famous for fishing, beaches, surfing, stunning landscapes and surfing. It is extremely popular with home tourism (staycations), and is also famous for the Cornish Pasty, a handheld pie made with a flaky pastry crust and typically filled with a combination of meat, vegetables, and seasonings. Cornwall is also home to 'The Eden Project' a botanical garden and environmental education center in a former quarry made up of geodesic domes. This are is a must visit when visiting. Trains are available form London to Newquay for around £75 (5 hours) and buses £25 (8 hours)
Cornwall
Devon
Devon
Devon is the next region on to Cornwall and has the very famous landmark Stone Henge. It is also known for its national parks, Dartmoor National Park, known for its dramatic moorland landscapes, and Exmoor National Park, which includes coastal cliffs and wooded valleys.
Oxford & Cambridge
Oxford and Cambridge are two of the most prestigious and renowned universities in the world, here is what you need to know.
Wales
Wales
Wales has shot to stardom recently due to Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mcelhenney taking ownership of Wrexham football (soccer for the American readers) club. But before this it was a stunning country famed for breathtaking landscapes, its rhythmic complex language and having more sheep than human population! If you are into hiking, adding Snowdonia to you itinerary will be a memorable thing to do, however hostels in this area are almost non-existant so you will need a BnB or a Hotel.
Liverpool Then Manchester
These two cities are good stops to pull you back into the UK before heading up to Scotland. Liverpool is a costal City and (up until recently) the docklands were a UNESCO heritage site. Manchester is famed for its football teams however over the last decade or so has really boomed as a more affordable alternative to London. Because of this you will find everything that London has to offer but at a much more affordable price.
Liverpool and Manchester
Scotland
The Highland games, kilts, bagpipe music, James Bond, Scotland has a strong and proud cultural identity. Its landscape is incredibly diverse, ranging from rolling hills and lush valleys to rugged mountains and pristine lochs (lakes). This country is breathtaking, and not only that, it is the home of whiskey. Lets Explore