With the United Kingdom hosting India's favourite sport for the World Cup this year, this little island country is a fantastic option for planning a holiday this summer.
Whether you a have a match ticket or not, being part of the frenzy in a country that adores the sport as much as us (remember the movie Lagaan!) could make your visit incredibly exciting.
London should of course be the primary destination, and in fact, the only destination if you have under one week for the trip, but the United Kingdom is actually a whole lot more than just London.
Here's a list of some of the top places to visit, starting with;
LONDON
The iconic button shaped black cabs, the double-decker red buses, and people wearing corporate clothes over trainers on cycles, are the sights that welcome you in London.
If the weather is friendly, you could simply walk around the streets of London, or even picnic at one of the numerous parks like Hyde Park or Regent's Park.
The streets of London can never get boring; the sound of a saxophone at Piccadilly Circus, the shining flagship stores adorning Oxford circus, and the umpteen shopping complexes, cafes and restaurants littered all over the place, London can feel like the inside of a Broadway musical.
A Broadway show is one of the must do things of London (don't forget to book tickets in advance), along with loads of other activities based on your fancy like visiting museums, sport stadiums, dining at a fancy rooftop restaurant with views of the Thames or simply grabbing a pint of beer at a classic English pub.
The one thing to remember here is to always stay on the right side of the escalator since the Brits get really annoyed when tourists block these passageways that they are always hurrying to cross over.
Remember, London is a lot like Bombay where people are always hurrying to make a living. So as tourists we should try and stay out of their way.
London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet and you can get a real sense of that while travelling in the tube (underground metro), just look around in your compartment and you will see that you are sharing the journey with people from most parts of the world. Fascinating!
LIVERPOOL
Right from the airport, you feel you've reached a hipster part of UK, with the fancy band themed pubs.
Of course, the city is famous for being the birthplace of Beatles, and there are loads of pubs that offer some story behind the most famous bands of all time.
Walking around and experiencing this, along with a possible trip to the most rabid football fan stadiums of all, Anfield, can make Liverpool a really interesting destination.
CAMBRIDGE
This is a university town that seems right out of the Harry Potter Novels, but apart from the fabulous college buildings everywhere, there is an interesting activity called 'punting'.
It is a row boat where there is one guy (usually a student at the University) at the end rowing with a long oar that reaches the bottom of the river bed - a combination of Kerala boats with the backdrop of Venice.
When we visited here, we had the option of doing this on our own for £60 or going on a share boat for £45 (£15 per person). We chose the share, which is actually much better, as a professional punter comes along with you, and narrates the stories of all the colleges of Cambridge as you pass them by.
You get to hear about the various colleges - Trinity, Josephs, many others and get the opportunity to take tons of photos.
When we did this activity, the punting ended with our punter crashing in between 2 boats to park his boat, and the guy on shore who was mooring our boat tells the punter "TT doesn't look for a place to park the boat, TT makes the place. I would love to see what you do with the car". A display of the dry English sense of humour.
LAKE DISTRICT
The view from this quaint little town is breathtaking. You can either grab a cold beer and some must-try English 'fish & chips' at one of the lakeside pubs or if you are feeling adventurous enough, rent a boat and drive around this massive lake, feeling the wind in your hair.
Whatever way you prefer, the picture-perfect scenery of this place will leave your mind feeling refreshed.
SCOTLAND
Scotland is on the itinerary of most tourists who visit UK. The easy way is to fly from London to Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a beautiful mix of history, architecture, culture and has a very cool vibe. The foodies should try the Scottish national dish - 'Haggis' (don't ask me how it is made). Of course, Scotland is whiskey connoisseurs delight, what with all the whisky tastings available at almost every pub.
Don't miss the chance to rent a car or take a bus tour through the 'Highlands'. This drive through the mountains is not for the faint hearted, the vistas are etched with lakes (don't miss Loch Ness). If you go all the way up to 'Inverness', you can explore the whisky heritage of this area through visits to distilleries of world-famous single malts - Glenmorangie, Dalwhinnie to name a few.
COSTWOLDS
This one is certainly recommended for the driving enthusiasts, a road-trip through these perfectly manicured rolling meadows decorated with fairy-tale cottages and thatched roof houses, is a must do if you are on a long trip to the UK.
Just rent a car (Indian driving license is valid in the UK and it is a left-hand drive like India). If you are lucky to find the sun shining, then be sure you will go back with those perfect Instagram clicks.
PLANNING FOR THE TRIP:
Whether you a have a match ticket or not, being part of the frenzy in a country that adores the sport as much as us (remember the movie Lagaan!) could make your visit incredibly exciting.
London should of course be the primary destination, and in fact, the only destination if you have under one week for the trip, but the United Kingdom is actually a whole lot more than just London.
Here's a list of some of the top places to visit, starting with;
LONDON
The iconic button shaped black cabs, the double-decker red buses, and people wearing corporate clothes over trainers on cycles, are the sights that welcome you in London.
If the weather is friendly, you could simply walk around the streets of London, or even picnic at one of the numerous parks like Hyde Park or Regent's Park.
The streets of London can never get boring; the sound of a saxophone at Piccadilly Circus, the shining flagship stores adorning Oxford circus, and the umpteen shopping complexes, cafes and restaurants littered all over the place, London can feel like the inside of a Broadway musical.
A Broadway show is one of the must do things of London (don't forget to book tickets in advance), along with loads of other activities based on your fancy like visiting museums, sport stadiums, dining at a fancy rooftop restaurant with views of the Thames or simply grabbing a pint of beer at a classic English pub.
The one thing to remember here is to always stay on the right side of the escalator since the Brits get really annoyed when tourists block these passageways that they are always hurrying to cross over.
Remember, London is a lot like Bombay where people are always hurrying to make a living. So as tourists we should try and stay out of their way.
London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet and you can get a real sense of that while travelling in the tube (underground metro), just look around in your compartment and you will see that you are sharing the journey with people from most parts of the world. Fascinating!
LIVERPOOL
Right from the airport, you feel you've reached a hipster part of UK, with the fancy band themed pubs.
Of course, the city is famous for being the birthplace of Beatles, and there are loads of pubs that offer some story behind the most famous bands of all time.
Walking around and experiencing this, along with a possible trip to the most rabid football fan stadiums of all, Anfield, can make Liverpool a really interesting destination.
CAMBRIDGE
This is a university town that seems right out of the Harry Potter Novels, but apart from the fabulous college buildings everywhere, there is an interesting activity called 'punting'.
It is a row boat where there is one guy (usually a student at the University) at the end rowing with a long oar that reaches the bottom of the river bed - a combination of Kerala boats with the backdrop of Venice.
When we visited here, we had the option of doing this on our own for £60 or going on a share boat for £45 (£15 per person). We chose the share, which is actually much better, as a professional punter comes along with you, and narrates the stories of all the colleges of Cambridge as you pass them by.
You get to hear about the various colleges - Trinity, Josephs, many others and get the opportunity to take tons of photos.
When we did this activity, the punting ended with our punter crashing in between 2 boats to park his boat, and the guy on shore who was mooring our boat tells the punter "TT doesn't look for a place to park the boat, TT makes the place. I would love to see what you do with the car". A display of the dry English sense of humour.
LAKE DISTRICT
The view from this quaint little town is breathtaking. You can either grab a cold beer and some must-try English 'fish & chips' at one of the lakeside pubs or if you are feeling adventurous enough, rent a boat and drive around this massive lake, feeling the wind in your hair.
Whatever way you prefer, the picture-perfect scenery of this place will leave your mind feeling refreshed.
SCOTLAND
Scotland is on the itinerary of most tourists who visit UK. The easy way is to fly from London to Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a beautiful mix of history, architecture, culture and has a very cool vibe. The foodies should try the Scottish national dish - 'Haggis' (don't ask me how it is made). Of course, Scotland is whiskey connoisseurs delight, what with all the whisky tastings available at almost every pub.
Don't miss the chance to rent a car or take a bus tour through the 'Highlands'. This drive through the mountains is not for the faint hearted, the vistas are etched with lakes (don't miss Loch Ness). If you go all the way up to 'Inverness', you can explore the whisky heritage of this area through visits to distilleries of world-famous single malts - Glenmorangie, Dalwhinnie to name a few.
COSTWOLDS
This one is certainly recommended for the driving enthusiasts, a road-trip through these perfectly manicured rolling meadows decorated with fairy-tale cottages and thatched roof houses, is a must do if you are on a long trip to the UK.
Just rent a car (Indian driving license is valid in the UK and it is a left-hand drive like India). If you are lucky to find the sun shining, then be sure you will go back with those perfect Instagram clicks.
PLANNING FOR THE TRIP:
- With 133 days of rain in a year, UK is one of the wettest regions of Europe, so it's always a good idea to pack in an umbrella, a raincoat or a poncho.
- Ensure enough winter wear, since even the "summer" months of UK can feel cold to the average Indian. The Brits check the weather every morning before planning their attire for the day!
- While it's always a good idea not to carry too many credit cards while on a trip, definitely try to carry along a contactless card if you have one, as these could conveniently serve as tap and pay-as-you-go for public transport.
- Carry bare minimum Pounds in cash, since cards are accepted everywhere, including the exorbitantly priced, but cute black cabs of London that you'll want to make at least one trip in.
- Keep an open mind. As with any travel, being open to the possibilities a new place can throw at you is always good to have. UK is home to some of the world’s largest LGBTQ community, and people are as proud of their identities as their rich cultural heritage, and tend to express it openly.
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