There are few cities in the UK that can even come close to matching the Scottish city of Edinburgh in terms of culture, scenery and atmosphere. Offering a mixture of modern and archaic architecture, not to mention a vibrant social and cultural scene, Edinburgh really is one of the most vibrant and popular cities in the whole of Europe.
Culture
Perhaps Edinburgh’s most famous attraction is the Edinburgh Fringe festival, which is the world’s largest annual arts festival. Established in 1947, the festival offers visitors more than three weeks’ worth of live musical acts, comedy acts, dance acts, art exhibitions and much more. In fact, in 2011, over 2,500 international shows in more than 60 different locations were featured at the festival. The festival takes place every summer and attracts visitors from every corner of the globe. During the winter, or to be precise, New Year’s Eve, Edinburgh is the home of Hogmanay celebrations. During the event, the entire city of Edinburgh comes out to celebrate and partake in the city-wide street festivals and parties. It really is one of the biggest New Year’s parties you will find anywhere in the world and there is nothing like singing Robert Burn’s Auld Lang Syne in the home country of the great poet himself.
Attractions
In addition to the young and vibrant cultural scene, Edinburgh is also famous for its beautiful architecture and surrounding scenery. Perhaps the most iconic building in the city is Edinburgh castle, which overlooks the city from its position on Castle Rock. The castle dates back as far as the 12th century and is a defining feature of the city’s skyline. The castle isn’t the only archaic building in the city; Edinburgh’s “Old Town” area of the city is full of pristinely kept medieval buildings. The whole area is a UNESCO world heritage site and is perfectly in keeping with the city’s cultural and love of tradition.
This Picture: Andreas Stix – Fotolia
The Glastonbury Festival is one of the biggest, and certainly the most popular, annual music festival in the whole of the UK. Staged in Pilton, Somerset, the festival has existed on and off since 1970 and has seen some of the biggest names in music, theatre, dance, comedy and culture grace its stages. Traditionally held over the last weekend in June and lasting for 3 days, the festival is synonymous with the alternative music scene and an active youth scene.
There are 15 official national Parks in Britain and each one offers its visitors beautiful landscapes filled with lakes, moors, meadows, mountains, woodlands and wetlands. From the Cairngorms National Park in the north of Scotland, right down to Dartmoor in the south of England, each of Britain’s national parks is carefully preserved and taken care of by Association of National Park Authorities (ANPA) so tourists, ramblers and adventurers can be sure that the scenery and beauty is as untarnished as possible. 
It is pretty much well established that London is a city that pretty much has a bit of everything for everyone. In fact, with so much to offer, it can sometimes be hard knowing where to start in London. There are sights on almost every corner and a cultural hot spot down every street. Plus, with the Olympics soon arriving in the city, the attention on London is even more intense than usual. 
Located in the south west county of Wiltshire, Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments. Believed to have been constructed between 3,000 B.C. and 2,000 B.C., Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing rocks and is located at the centre of a dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, which include several hundred burial grounds. In addition to its unique beauty and historical significance, the site is a matter of hot dispute amongst modern day archaeologists who have long speculated about Stonehenge’s construction and purpose.
If you are looking for a day out in the UK, then why not spoil yourself and your loved ones with a trip to the tranquil and picturesque New Forest. The New Forest is situated in Lyndhurst, only 1 hour 45 minutes from London’s city centre. Sometimes a break from the hectic London city life is essential, and you are sure to find all the peace and quiet you need amongst the extensive grounds of the New Forest National Park.
Located in the North West of England, Blackpool is without doubt Britain’s most famous and most popular seaside resort. Offering all the family friendly activities you would expect from a seaside resort, Blackpool has everything from amusement parks, long stretches of sandy beaches, museums, clubs and, of course, its iconic tower. 
“Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot”…at least that is how the rhyme goes. Bonfire night in the UK (celebrated every November 5th) is a night of firework displays, toffee apples and the traditional “burning of the Guy.” Although that may sound a little grizzly, the event is one of Britain’s best loved traditions and definitely not one to be missed.
Located in the picturesque town of Windsor, Berkshire, Legoland is one of the UK’s most popular child-orientated theme parks. However, don’t just think that it is an adventure land of fun and games solely for children to enjoy; it is also an interesting and entertaining option for adults too. 
Over three and a half million visitors visit Warwickshire each year and many of them go there to witness the wonderful town of Stratford-upon-Avon, which was the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The town itself is a very beautiful and historic place, full of great architecture and natural beauty spots. The river Avon runs right through the centre of the town and the banks of the river offer some lovely places to sit and relax during the day, which is why it is a great place to visit when wanting a day trip out of London.