Great British Cities

Many visitors to the United Kingdom from overseas tend to head straight to London, where the world famous buildings and landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament hold an irresistible appeal to tourists.

And while there can be no doubt that London’s ongoing status as Britain’s number one city for tourists is more than deserved, there are many other UK cities that are equally deserving of a visit. In the south of England, the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge, with their dreaming spires, green fields and historic buildings, are picture perfect images of England, while Bath is another historic city whose tranquil way of life, ancient buildings and beautiful countryside holds immense appeal to those who like to see how England used to be in times past.

More contemporary cultural reference points can be found in the northern English cities of Liverpool and Manchester, famous for their musical heritage and their hedonistic nightlife.

Glasgow, Scotland is another city that is famous for its nightlife, and luxury Glasgow hotels make a great base from which to explore the city’s many first rate restaurants and sophisticated bars and nightclubs.

Scotland’s other great city is Edinburgh, whose historic buildings, dramatic landscape and legendary castle make it wonderfully atmospheric and a real draw for international visitors to the UK. Those looking for an Edinburgh city centre hotel can take their pick from luxury lodgings in top end chain hotels, family-run accommodation with a friendly welcome, or sleek and chic boutique hotels. If you seek accommodation in a smaller Scottish city, consider Perthshire hotels.

Crossing into Wales, the capital city of Cardiff is a fascinating place that manages to combine Welsh culture and tradition with a lively and contemporary shopping, drinking and dining scene. Cardiff’s focal point is its castle, which can be visited by day and looks beautiful when lit up at night. Cardiff has a good live music and arts scene, and is a popular destination among groups of young people looking for a lively night out.

And let’s not forget Northern Ireland, where the city of Belfast is overcoming its troubled past and finally starting to receive its fair share of international tourists. With its fascinating, if bloody, history, good nightlife scene and proximity to beautiful countryside, Belfast today is well worth a visit, and hotels in the city are increasingly well prepared to receive international tourists.