Experiencing the Best of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom may sometimes be misconstrued as just the same as Great Britain. That is wrong, although, it may not be entirely wrong because the UK does comprise Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But even with this confusion, there is no question that people always go back to the UK to see the beautiful secrets that it holds.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is surely Britain’s greatest national icon, symbolizing mystery, power and endurance. This ancient monument of huge stones solitarily standing on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England has captured imaginations for centuries. Theories about who built it have included the Druids, Greeks, Phoenicians, and Atlanteans. Speculation on the reason it was built range from human sacrifice to astronomy.

The stones we see today represent Stonehenge in ruin. Many of the original stones have fallen or been removed by previous generations for home construction or road repair. There has been serious damage to some of the smaller bluestones resulting from close visitor contact (prohibited since 1978) and the prehistoric carvings on the larger sarsen stones show signs of significant wear.

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Located in 300 acres of beautiful landscape, Kew Gardens sits beside the river Thames between Richmond and Kew in south-west London. The Gardens are a World Heritage Site with six magnificent glasshouses, and are home to a remarkable collection of plants from all over the world including over 14,000 trees. The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew is one of the world’s leading botanic gardens.

Today there are 26 gardens at Kew, ranging from the Aquatic Garden to the Winter Garden, each containing up to 100 species of plants. The gardens are also home to 6 stunning glasshouses, each containing a different example of plant life around the world. Kew Palace is the oldest surviving building within the Royal Botanic Gardens. The 17th-century building was the family home of King George III and Queen Charlotte.

Southend Pier

At a whopping 1.3 miles, Southend Pier is the longest pleasure pier in the world. The original opening was back in 1830, and in 1890 the first electric trains started running the length of the pier. Built so craft could moor away from Southend’s perilous mudflats, it has survived several fires, boat crashes, two world wars and economic decline. Take the train to the pier head, or better still, stroll along this record breaking survivor for the full Southend experience.

A stroll along the pier is a classic part of a trip to the English seaside, but if you’re visiting Southend you need to have your walking shoes with you.

Bestival

Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004 where wherein people wear fancy-themed dresses. An attempt was even made to set the Guinness World Record for most people in fancy dress at any one event. By 2010 this was achieved, when 55,000 festival goers set a new Guinness World Record.

The festival is also heavily involved in supporting social, political and environmental causes  is often described as a “boutique festival” due to its non-corporate feel. It is also known for piloting odd and innovative ideas, including an inflatable church where people can get married.

The UK is a great place to experience new things like Coasteering or Zorbing. Aside from the fact that it holds so many beautiful places one should visit, people should also start getting off the London trail and look take the chance to check out the scenes that were used for the Harry Potter films.