Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Whitstable in Kent). And beer has never been better, with small breweries producing
top ales, while English vineyards produce decent wines.
THE COAST
The coastline of England and Wales is exceptional. You will find
beautiful sandy beaches (
West Wittering
in Sussex,
Newgale
in Pembrokeshire,
whole swathes of
North Norfolk
), strangely bleak stretches (
Dungeness
in Kent),
looming white cliffs (much of England's south coast, from
Dover
to
Devon
), estuar-
ies in
Essex,
and countless little bays around
Wales.
The variety is astonishing for
what is basically a small island.
THE
most unforgettable
TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
W
Standing at the top of Snowdon (Wales):
And, even better, finding it's so clear a
day that you can see the sea both to the west and, in the haze, to the north. It's the
highest mountain in England and Wales, and feels like it. You might have walked
up, but you probably took the clattery steam cog railway. Walking down the grassy,
rocky slopes will take several hours, but it's worth it. See p. 722.
W
Seeing Buckingham Palace for the first time (London):
Enter the Mall under
Admiralty Arch and you can see the palace at the end of The Mall; the grandeur
of the Queen's home increases step by step until it fills your vision, dotted with the
bright red tunics of the ceremonial guardsmen. See p. 86.
W
Having a pint:
It could be at a centuries-old pub on the Yorkshire Moors or a little
place in the backstreets of London; it might be a famous inn or somewhere unas-
suming in any town or city. But there's nothing that helps you appreciate the
scenery quite like a glass of good British beer.
W
Viewing the sea for the first time:
Coming over the crest of a hill, or around a
bend, and finding that great, twinkling expanse, fringed by beaches, maybe cliffs:
Everyone has their own perfect memory, but the excitement never fades. You'll pull
over, stroll onto the sands… and you can do it all around the country.
W
Looking over the city from the top of St. Paul's (London):
You really can climb
up to that glorious dome, which offers 360-degree views over the capital, giving the
feeling that you're at the heart of where modern London began. If that's uplifting,
the view down is deliciously dizzying. See p. 111.
W
Riding an old train:
Waiting for the whistle and the blast of steam is magical.
There are dozens of “heritage lines” around the country, more than 20 in Wales
alone. Old locomotives chug across idyllic countryside, along the coast, and up
Welsh mountains. The National Railway Museum in York (p. 644) pays homage.
THE
most unforgettable
CITY EXPERIENCES
W
Finding yourself in the city of the Beatles (Liverpool):
The childhood homes of
Paul and John might be underwhelming (in a nice way), but there's still the Magi-
cal Mystery Tour (taking in Penny Lane), the Beatles Story (full of memorabilia),
a reborn Cavern Club, and the Beatle Week in August. See p. 583.
W
Having a bath in Bath (Somerset):
The stunning, steaming Roman Baths are
there to visit, with lunch in the Pump Room restaurant; then you can sample the
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