British Tourism

To tell you honestly, I am still confused as to whom Isle of Man really belongs. Some travel agencies include it in Britain, some contend that it belongs to the union of European countries. Well, to satisfy my curiosity, I endeavored and managed to buy a plain ticket to the Isle.

You bet, I rented a yellow Volvo S40 to be able to blend to the roads in the Isle. Anyway, according to some traffic officers (whom I referred to for road signs, and thanks to them, I did not get lost) Isle is an independent state. That meant, the tax laws, immigration laws, labor laws, and all other European or British laws have no effect in Isle. Does that mean that we have absolute freedom here? The answer is a big no.

Isle adapted the Democratic (Parliament) type of government. According to the historical Tynwald monument in the city, this type of administration has been existing since the year 976. You might be wondering just who rules in Isle. Well, it is Queen Elizabeth, but that is for the sake of having a 'ruler'. On the other hand, it has a Governor that represents her majesty. If you ask me, the country is really British, and I am convinced that it must belong to UK.

The Isle is a hilly mass of floating land that lies beside England and Wales. It is dominated by Castles that portray Celtic settlements, add to that the huge crosses. This must be the most becoming spot in the city. According to the famous myth, the country is actually a kingdom composed of seven monarchs, while its name symbolizes the place of man on earth.

North York Moors is arguably the most panoramic landscape in Britain. I am a photography student and I must say that this place is picturesque. The park comprises a high plateau bounded on the north by the Plain of Cleveland and on the south by the vales of Pickering and York. Springtime daffodil displays bring people flocking to the walk between Low Mill and Church houses.

You can saunter through small picturesque places of honey sandstone, wander through woods, throw pebbles in a stream, or build sandcastles on the beach. One thing I enjoyed very much during my short sojourn in North York was the bird watching experience. The peaceful and tranquil environment
will give you marvelous freedom. The people are very welcoming and the lifestyle is wholesome and refreshing. You have to visit a local pub to experience the people's hospitality.

The beauty and serenity of the park will awaken the poet in you. Dialect, local menus, traditional practices and celebrations, even artistic reactions to the area, are all important to one's experience and appreciation of this special spot. Poet, author and preacher Aelred, Abbot of Rievaulx Abbey (1142-1167) summed up best the reason why North York is special:
"Everywhere peace, everywhere serenity, and a marvellous freedom from the tumult of the world".

Traveling around Britain is a wonderful experience. You will see astonishing castles as beautiful as those in fairytale books. When you see one of the great castles of the Royal Family, you will remember the stories of kings and queens. The Buckingham Palace is official and primary home of The Queen in London. Palaces and castles are the Royal Family's official residences.

One of the wonderful castles of the Royal Family is the Windsor Castle. It is one of the official homes of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and it is the largest inhabited castle in the world that is occupying 13 hectares land. It is the world's oldest existing castle, and was built in 1080 by William the Conqueror. It is one of the great fortresses for more than 900 years now.

Guests can visit some main places in the castle, and enter the State Apartments; where visiting important people and government officials are entertained. Other attractions in the castle include the Drawings Gallery, the Albert Memorial Chapel, the Lower Ward, Queen Mary's Doll's House, and St. George's Chapel, a 14th century old church.

Britain is one of Europe's countries which is located in the western part. Like other countries, Britain is also rich in historical and natural heritage. There are many places you could explore, natural or man made spots. There are castles, gardens, palaces, parks, forests, historic houses and towns. This country is also famous in the arts. You can see various museums, historic monuments, sporting arenas, galleries, and exciting architectural structures.

London belongs to the greatest cities all over the world. This place is perfect for travelers because it has many different shopping centers. There are many places to explore and fun is never ending. This city also has a rich cultural heritage. Among the pride of London is the "observation wheel," which is the biggest in the world. This wheel gives the travelers a chance to look at London and appreciate its beauty for thirty minutes. It reflects four elements such as, water, air, time and earth. Every element can accommodate not more than 25 people and the whole wheel can hold 1,500 people in each hour. The said wheel is popularly known as the "Eye of London."

Britain just screams rock and roll literally! There are tours in every country of course, but Britain is the only country who offers a Rock and Roll tour! If you're going to visit Britain, and you're into the Beatles, and every other legendary musicians around, you have to, no, let me rephrase that, you must join the half-day tour, the rock and roll half day tour!

In this tour, you'll get to see the houses of Elton John, Van Morrison, Tina Turner, Jimmy Page live, and the place where Jimi Hendriz died. You'll also get to visit the famous music spots like the Marquee, the 100 club, UFO, Ronnie Scotts, and you'll even see the studio where the Sex Pistols started their fame, and where Bob Marley popularized reggae! There are modern gossips too, on blur, oasis, and pulp, just hearing these legends make me want to fly to Britain, now!

In England, a person might find the castle of his or her dreams. I am talking about the magnificent Leeds Castle located in the countryside.

Also known as Ladies' Castle, this grandiose abode was once home to the famous kings, including Edward I, Henry V, and Richard II. The final owner, Lady Baillie, brought it upon herself to improve the castle and the grounds. Hence, today, the public can now enjoy exploring the castle's maze, aviary, dog museum, the culpeper garden, and restaurant.

Nature lovers and environment preservation advocates may be glad to know that United Kingdom is making an effort to join their cause in preserving the wetlands. Conservation efforts are being made to restore the London Wetland Centre and to improve the population of wetland species there. In 2002, the center was named a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The wetland center is a stretch of about forty hectares near the city of London. It is ideal for field trips, family bonding, adventures with your friends and relatives and other group gatherings that desire to explore and learn more about wild life, bird watching, and other animal and natural activities. The best thing about this center is it is open the whole year, and during school breaks, it closes late to accommodate children and adults.

When I think of Notting hill, the first thing that comes to mind is the perfect love story of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant that was shot in Notting hill, London. Of course, Notting hill in itself is a unique and surreal, well, hill. If you want to know where the real action is, visit Notting hill, lovely and bustling at daytime, energetic and still bustling at night. Notting hill has pubs, clubs, and everything else imagineable. It has those nice, cute little pads, colorful houses, and local boutiques lined up along the hill. It's hard not to fall in love with this place.

The Channel Islands in Britain are composed of three major islands, Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney. These islands are packed with sights and interesting places, there's the Channel Islands Military Museum, and there's the Flying Flowers Jersey Flower Centre. You can also visit the luscious strawberry farm and craft centre, and the German Military Underground Hospital. I can't wait for the Floral Festival Week in Guernsey every month of June. I would like to see the most beautiful flowers from Channel Islands.