![]() The untamed green county of Northumberland is packed with medieval castles, Iron Age hillforts, and the largest Dark Sky Park in the UK, where there’s plenty of scope for awe-inspiring stargazing. Scotland has its very own way of celebrating: Hogmanay marks the turn of the new year with traditional dancing, processions lit by flaming torches, and a whole host of fireworks. An annual championship brings two weeks of tennis frenzy to London from late June, while there’s a distinctly festive feel in the lead-up to Christmas and New Year, with streets lined with strings of fairy lights and decorated trees taking pride of place in town squares. The Edinburgh Festival and its sister Fringe festival fill the streets with open-access shows, comedy performances, and live music throughout August. Rain or shine, major music festivals in Glastonbury, Reading, and London are cultural landmarks on the calendar. If you’re keen to spend a lot of time outdoors, be prepared for rapid changes in weather conditions. ![]() Outside of peak summer, rain is always a possibility, so bring your umbrella. London can be uncomfortably hot and humid at the height of summer, whereas the north of Scotland rarely experiences hot weather and can see heavy snowfall in the colder months. The Gulf Stream means that the southwest of the country experiences milder and warmer conditions than much of the UK, while the North Sea cools the northeastern coast. London’s mix of centuries-old buildings and cutting-edge architecture - from the 16th-century St James’s Palace and countless Victorian pubs to the vertiginous Shard skyscraper - contrasts with the thatched cottages and tiny pretty villages of the Cotswolds. ![]() Outdoors enthusiasts are drawn to the surf at Cornish beaches, smooth sailing in the Lake District, and the mountains of Snowdonia National Park - the views can be enjoyed as you climb them, or from a seat on the Snowdon Mountain Railway - while lovers of architecture can admire the spa towns of Harrogate in Yorkshire and Bath in Somerset. Take a scenic steam train ride through Scotland’s majestic landscape, hop on a boat to enjoy the peace and solitude of the Isles of Iona and Skye off the coast of Western Scotland, and follow the Wild Atlantic Way around the rugged Northern Irish coast, stopping off to explore the famous geometric rocks of Giant’s Causeway. (Keep in mind: The park charges a per-vehicle entrance fee.The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland may be geographically small, but this diverse collection of islands have rich, intertwined histories that stretch back thousands of years, taking in the Neolithic standing stones of Stonehenge, the 11th-century Warwick Castle, and spectacular Georgian architecture in Edinburgh and Bath. In the summer, you can stay in your car to drive along Trail Ridge Road, high above the treeline, or hike up to the alpine meadows where elk graze. More than 300 miles of trails wind through, and up, the mountains and around the shores of more than a hundred lakes. Just 90 minutes from downtown Denver is one of the country’s most spectacular wilderness areas. ![]() ![]() The art scene here has attracted cafes, food halls, restaurants, and bars, which keep the neighborhood lively well into the night. You can spend hours wandering outside admiring the multistory murals, or popping into art galleries and boutiques. Once a swath of crumbling warehouses, RiNo has become the most colorful neighborhood in Denver - literally. And kids can explore the wonders of the Earth as well as outer space at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Families with school-age children can easily spend an entire day in this 330-acre park, which offers wide expanses for picnics and running. ![]()
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