I was in the UK about 3 years ago, around this time of year. With the onset of the British summer, my news feed has been flooded with pictures and posts of family and friends who are traveling in the UK and it has me revisiting every memory of those 4 amazing weeks i spent in the UK.
I had enrolled in the summer school programme at the London School of Economics. My friends and I chose to stay at the student residence offered by LSE which was close to both LSE and the heart of London. What can be said about London that hasn't already been said, sung or written. The sight of Londoners making their way to work, picking up their morning cup of coffee(read tea), getting lunch at the local pub, students gathering for an evening drink and just the general sense of cheer around the summer months is what constitutes such a great part of my memory, when I reminisce. Not to mention the multitude of other experiences that London promises for pretty much every type of traveller. There is more to see and do than anyone can manage in one trip to London. London is a big city but it is EXTREMELY well connected. Tubes and buses run rampant connecting everything that you might want to see across London. Watching a production of The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre was thrilling! Covent Garden was a major attraction for me during my stay. It is a little city unto itself with small stores, a market, musicians putting on live shows and tiny cafes serving everything everything from local pie to paella. Notting Hill is every bit as charming and colourful as anyone who has watched the movie has ever imagined. St. Paul's Cathedral is awe- inspiring. Having visited 10 too many cathedrals and churches in Europe this year, St. Paul's is one that still has a special hold over me. The energy was uplifting in a way I rarely ever experience at a place of worship. Every turn, every circus and structure in London is dreamy. The city could send a first-timer reeling into a frenzy of museums, art galleries, FOOD, theatres, parks and stores.If you go during summer, be sure to pack light; the summer sales can break the most strong willed.
Stay at Holiday Inn Express: Central, cost effective and good breakfast. Belfast is a small and terribly slow paced town situated in Northern Ireland. We were warned of the general lassitude that governs the town BUT we could visit it on our very tediously procured visas. And we weren't about to say no to that. Apart from visiting the Giant's Causeway which is THE thing to do when visiting Belfast, the town is also known for being the construction site of the ill-fated Titanic. Cozy pubs and sweeping views of hills and vales no matter where you wander in Belfast, are among the few things to look forward to when in Belfast.
Stay at Travel Lodge: Rooms were slightly claustrophobic and the breakfast was below average. It was pretty far away from the city centre too. However, for the traveller on a budget, it is an appealing option. Edinburgh is beautiful! My friends and I did a Scottish Highland tour(picked from one of the many many tour operators that do tours in the Scottish Highlands) which was a trip down the history of brave and gritty Scots who once occupied these regions. One of the main stop-overs of the tour was Loch Ness: A gorgeous lake and birth place of the myth of the Nessie monster. The city of Edinburgh is ethereal. The people are warm and the sunsets against the old Gothic landscape in the city is something I would return to Edinbrugh for. After London, Edinburgh has a sobering effect on you but still leaves you with the heady feeling of having met a new city. Edinburgh will hit a soft spot for Scotch enthusiasts. Scotland is home of the world's finest Scotch. A visit to one of the many distilleries is fun for drinkers and non-drinkers alike! There is a lot to see in the Castle itself and if you find yourself tired or simply bored, make you way to the open space right on the outer, upper fortifications of the Castle. The Edinburgh Castle offers a stellar view of the city from atop. Edinburgh is a city that most travel agents sell too short. I would've loved to spend more time there than the cursory two nights. I could've used some more time.
