Let's go to England and Scotland ourselves: my recommendations. Experiences: traveling around England and Scotland Traveling to England on your own

I have been looking towards the UK for a long time. Without getting to know this country, the picture of the development of European civilization would be incomplete.

However, every time something stopped me: either the exchange rate of the ruble against the pound, or the difficulty of obtaining an English visa. Finally, I decided that I couldn’t put it off any longer, I had to go.

There was no goal to look at some cities in detail (say, London or Edinburgh). The goal was to get an idea of ​​the entire country.

At first I chose a tour of England, Scotland and Wales. And then she decided to capture neighboring Ireland.

The best option was found by the travel agency “Turtransvoyage”. The tour was called "Britain Gran Turismo" and covered the capitals of all parts of Great Britain: London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast, as well as the capital of the Republic of Ireland - Dublin.

The duration of the trip is 12 days, the cost is about 100 thousand rubles.

I booked it in January, received my visa in June, and in August I went on a long-awaited tour of the UK and Ireland.

Description of the trip

We took off from Sheremetyevo early in the morning and landed at Heathrow 4 hours later.

England

We spent the first two days in London.

Our hotel Royal National Hotel 3* located in Bloomsbury, a 5-minute walk from the British Museum.

Our acquaintance with London began with a sightseeing tour of the city. After a late lunch, we visited Tower Castle, and in the evening, after checking into the hotel, the two of us walked around evening London (Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, the Thames embankment, Parliament, Westminster Abbey).

Evening London. View of Parliament

The next day in the morning we went to Windsor. We walked around the town and saw Windsor Castle, the magnificent country residence of the British kings.

In my free time I took a walk along the Thames. The Thames in this place looks calm and rustic, its banks are covered with forest, and swans swim near the pier.

Opposite Windsor, on the other side of the Thames, is the city Eton– one might say that the cities smoothly flow into each other. Eton is famous for its college, studying at Eton College is very prestigious.

Eton

In August, the college was closed, but the security guard kindly allowed us to enter the courtyard (spacious and solemn).

From Windsor we returned to London. Those interested (including me) went to Westminster Abbey.

The events of this day were so busy (and I signed up for all the excursions) that I barely had time to have a snack before the boat trip on the Thames.

The water offers an enchanting view of London. Tower Bridge looks especially impressive against the backdrop of surrounding skyscrapers.

Tower Bridge

The ship took us to Greenwich. We looked at this famous area of ​​London, which was once a separate city. Now you can get to Greenwich by metro.

We returned to the center by bus.

It was Friday, and on Fridays many museums in London are open late. So in the evening I also went to the National Gallery.

I returned to the hotel through the Soho area. People were celebrating the end of the working week, the pubs were packed, musicians were playing in the streets.

Day 3. In the morning we left London and headed west towards Wales. Along the way we had a stop in a small, picturesque city.

Castle Combe

The village has a 15th century castle, now home to the Manor House Hotel.

20 km from Castle Combe is located, famous for its thermal springs, discovered by the Romans.

We spent about three hours in Bath. The city is beautiful, but, unfortunately, on this Saturday the center was packed with people. There was a crowd of people waiting to enter the thermal complex, there was a wedding going on in the cathedral, people were lying on the grass in the park, walking along the embankment.

Baht. Bridge over the River Avon

City Park in Bath

At the same time, as soon as you moved a little away from the center, quiet, deserted courtyards began to appear. Bathing pavilions alternated with residential buildings. Once upon a time, in one of these houses, surrounded by the care of Lady Hamilton, lived Admiral Nelson, who arrived in Bath to heal his battle wounds.

I went to the local art gallery. Someone from the group went to the Jane Austen house-museum (the writer, although she didn’t really like Bath, spent quite a lot of time there).

Wales

Having left Bath, we soon left England and found ourselves in Wales.

Interiors of Cardiff Castle

The castle is relatively recent (in some places it even reminded me of it), but it is located on the territory of a fortress founded by the Romans. Inside the fortress walls, on a hill stands a mighty tower, hollow inside. There are good views from the tower and the fortress walls.

We left Cardiff heading west. Outside the window stretched the wooded hills of the Brecon National Park.

Our next stop was near. It stands on the seashore, at the mouth of the Sient River. All that remains of the castle are actually the walls and towers, but it exudes such formidable strength and antiquity that you inevitably fall under the influence of this formidable severity and antiquity.

Caernarfon Castle

At Caernarfon Castle, the Crown Prince receives the title "Prince of Wales".

After Carnarvon, we drove for some time through the Snowdonia National Park, crossed the bridge to the island of Anglesey and, having reached the tip of the island - a place called Holyhead ("Holy Head"), took a ferry.

By ferry we crossed to the Irish coast in two and a half hours and arrived in the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, around midnight.

Ireland

We spent the next three nights in Dublin, on the student campus, which is used as a hotel for receiving guests in the summer. The room was not much different from the rooms in other hotels along our route, but we had to go across the street to the dining room.

5 day our trip was dedicated to Dublin. To be honest, I expected more. The city gives the impression of being provincial, much like Oslo.

Dublin at dusk. River Liffey

The city's main attractions are the Trinity College Library, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Guinness Brewery.

Dublin Castle is small and does not dominate the area, but is hidden in the courtyards. However, the castle is nice. And Trinity College is very worthy. There are several museums, including the National Gallery and the National Museum of Ireland. State museums are free – just like in the UK.

Dublin Castle

First we had a walking tour, then most of the group went to the coast to Cape Howth. I stayed in Dublin to get to know the city more closely.

The famous Dublin pub - Temple Bar

On Day 6 The day was a trip around provincial Ireland, and it was one of the best days of our tour.

First we visited the rock Cashel. This is an unusually powerful place with an ancient church, Celtic crosses and views of the endless plain.

Rock of Cashel

By lunchtime we arrived at Kilkenny. This city was once the capital of Ireland and has retained its medieval appearance to this day. Unfortunately, we were served for a long time at the pub, and we did not have time to devote enough time to the sights of Kilkenny.

To Kilkenny

The third stop on our way was near the lake Glendolough in the Wicklow mountains.

Wicklow Mountains

The place is absolutely magical. Among the mountain forest there are the ruins of a church and a cemetery, a narrow round tower rises nearby, and a little further - a chapel. In the 6th century, Saint Kevin, a follower of Saint Patrick, settled in this picturesque place. Subsequently, an abbey arose here.

We walked through the forest from one lake to another. Heather bloomed on the mountain slopes. The day was approaching evening, but the sun was very bright.

In the morning 7 days we saw the castle gardens Powerscourt. located in the outskirts of Dublin. The gardens are very beautiful.

After lunch we went to Belfast. From Dublin to Belfast – 140 kilometers. We didn’t even notice the border between the two countries: the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain (the region of Northern Ireland). From the zone where euros are used, we again found ourselves in the pound zone.

It is believed that Northern Ireland looks richer than its neighbor, but I did not notice this. And Belfast looks, perhaps, even simpler than Dublin.

On the streets of Belfast

Belfast Town Hall

Belfast has a spectacular town hall and some beautiful buildings and squares, but overall there are few attractions in Belfast.

One of them is the Titanic Museum. The ill-fated Titanic was built in Belfast shipyards. We looked at the shipyards, at the original museum building, but the museum itself was already closed by this time.

Titanic Museum

Day 8 was the pinnacle of our UK and Ireland tour. On this day we visited Giant's Causeway, one of the most stunning places in Ireland. We walked along the seashore and looked at the “paved” path going into the sea.

Then we climbed the rocks and walked along the edge of the rocks, enjoying the views.

Scotland

In the afternoon we took the ferry to Scotland.

We spent three nights near the city of Stirling.

Day 9 was dedicated Edinburgh. In August, Edinburgh hosts the Fringe Festival, which brings together numerous theater and music groups. On the one hand, this is interesting, on the other hand, there are too many people in the center.

After the city tour we went to Edinburgh Castle. What was left from visiting the castle was mostly a feeling of crowding.

In the afternoon there was an excursion to an ancient Scottish city St Andrews, famous for its university. By the way, Prince William and his future wife Kate studied at this university - that’s where they met. I thought that crown princes entered or by default. And here is some St. Andrews in the very north of the country, on the shores of the North Sea. It turns out that this is also a very prestigious university and, by the way, very expensive. St. Andrews is also the birthplace of golf, and all decisions regarding the rules and attributes of this game are made here.

In general, most of the group went to see the university and golf courses, but I stayed in. I went to the National Gallery, the Cathedral, and watched performances by musicians.

Then I met a girl from our group. Together we went up to the observation deck of the Walter Scott monument (this monument is a narrow and high Gothic tower). We walked along the Royal Mile, which runs from the castle to the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse.

View of Edinburgh from the Walter Scott Monument

Behind the Palace of Holyroodhouse rises a high hill, the top of which is called Arthur's Seat. We followed the path to the top.

Edinburgh residents are envious that they have such a place to walk right in the center of the city.

On 10 day watched Sterling. The city is good and the castle is wonderful.

Tapestries at Stirling Castle

In the afternoon we went to Loch Katrine. Previous tour organizers took previous groups to Loch Ness, in the very north of Scotland, but now they chose a closer lake.

Loch Katrine is a picturesque forest lake surrounded by mountains. To the right of the pier there is a walking path along the shore. You can climb the trail to the top of Mount Ben An. The forest is full of blueberries.

Loch Katrine and the ship "Walter Scott"

The historical ship "Walter Scott" sails on the lake. Many of the group took a boat ride. I went to the top of the mountain, but didn’t have time to get there. From the slope there were wonderful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

IN Day 11 there was a long drive from Stirling to London with a stop in the city York. York is a very interesting city, there are many museums, the Minster Cathedral, famous for its stained glass windows, the colorful Shambles street with half-timbered houses, a large piece of the city fortress wall has been preserved around the historical center. Unfortunately, there was only enough time for a superficial inspection, a walk along the fortress wall and a climb to the Clifford Tower.

On Shambles Street

Clifford Tower

After York we drove another 350 km south. Over the course of a day, the landscape changed dramatically. In the morning outside the window there were Scottish mountains covered with heather. A little to the south, emerald fields with lambs and cows began. Then the bushes appeared. The hills lowered, and in front of London they gave way to a plain. The forests have begun. That's it - from the harsh Scottish mountains and moors we moved to a wooded plain.

Views along the way:

It was about 10 pm in London.

And the next morning they flew to Moscow. However, a quarter of the group stayed in London after the tour to see the city and surrounding areas according to their program. I greatly regretted that when I ordered the tour, I did not foresee such an opportunity. However, since the English tourist visa is given for six months, many try to use it twice. A visa is expensive, and getting it is a chore, so once you’ve been given a visa, a second trip suggests itself.

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So, you have finally decided to visit the wonderful country of England or other countries of the commonwealth. In this regard, a huge number of questions arise about what should be done and how, and what should not be done. This article is intended for those who want to see all the beauties of England, Scotland or Wales, get acquainted with the historical heritage, or without spending a lot of money.

Let's look at what needs to be done to save in England.

1. Visa

Regardless of whether you are planning your trip on your own or want to go on an organized tour of England through a travel agency, you must apply for an English visa. You may ask, how can you save money on a UK visa? The recipe here is simple, after reading ours you can easily get a visa ON ONE'S OWN, without overpaying agencies several thousand.

Remember, that:

1. The agency does not guarantee a visa and does not provide any benefits.
2. Self-completed documents contain far fewer errors, if any at all.
3. Contacting the agency will not exempt you from visiting the British Consulate in person.

2. Type of trip (tour or independently)

Whether it is an organized tourist tour to England from an agency or an independent trip, it’s up to you to decide. The pros and cons of each option are obvious, let's look at them

PACKAGE TOUR

No need to spend a lot of time organizing

High degree of comfort (transfers, hotels, meals)

Does not require knowledge of English (there is a guide)

Easy cost forecasting

- Higher cost

— Little choice and low degree of freedom

— Imposing additional services

— Expenditure of time and effort on organizing the “crowd”

INDEPENDENT TRIP

Complete freedom of choice and movement and time

Select only the services you need

No overpayments to intermediaries and agencies

Savings at every planning stage

- Take time to plan

— Knowledge of English is desirable

If your choice is package tour, then we recommend buying a tour on Internet search engines - aggregators that offer all tours from all tour operators in Russia and neighboring countries and often give better prices than the tour operators themselves.

3. Insurance

Travel insurance to the UK is not only necessary for obtaining a visa, it is also a great way to save money when dealing with any unforeseen situations, such as lost luggage or emergency medical care. This should not be neglected. In order not to overpay for insurance, you need to buy it through online services. The purchasing process is simple, you need to select the country (in our case it is the UK), travel dates and number of people. As a rule, the system offers several options (tariffs) to choose from, after reading the descriptions of which you need to choose the optimal one. We recommend comparing insurance prices on several websites.

4. Air travel

Air travel to England or the UK will not be the most expensive item in the budget if you plan it in advance and avoid flying on holidays and weekends.

Everyone knows that it is more profitable to buy air tickets in advance. But in order to save money, you need to know when this “in advance” occurs for your route. There is no ideal time for booking across the country or from Russia to England: it all depends on the cities of departure and arrival.

For example, according to statistics from search portals, regardless of the month of flight, if you buy a ticket 5-6 months before the date of flight to London, you will save about 40% of the cost of the same ticket a week before departure

5. Accommodation

Accommodation in England, in London in particular, is one of the most expensive items in the budget of any traveler. There are a great many hotels in London, there are hotels where celebrities stay, hotels that are landmarks.

WE RECOMMEND:

However, our goal is to get the maximum return for the minimum money, we do not need pretentious and simply status hotels, we do not need a view of the MI-6 headquarters), we need a simple hotel in London that will allow us to visit all the attractions of the capital of England and the UK , feel the rhythm of English life and enjoy the atmosphere of history and one of the most interesting countries in the world.

1. We recommend using the aggregator service for all hotel booking systems HOTELLOOK , it shows the best prices that one or another booking system gives for a particular hotel; very often you can see that the vaunted booking is not cheaper at all.
2. After selecting the desired city and dates, and searching, you need to set a filter for the hotel cost per night in order to fit into your budget. Don't forget to mark the desired location: star hotels, hostels or regular apartments.
3. After that, you can click on the button and see all the hotels on the map, which greatly simplifies the whole process. You choose a hotel in London (or any other place) according to your parameters and as close as possible to the location you need.
4. Pay attention to the following points: is there free parking at the hotel (if required), is Wi-Fi available, are public transport stops close to the hotel, the metro, and the presence of additional surcharges. By the way, what is good about the above-mentioned HOTELLOOK service? , which shows the final cost of the reservation.

Summary of hotels in England:

1. If you are traveling with a small group of 1-2 people, then there is nothing more economical for you than hostels. As a rule, they are located in the best tourist places, close to public transport, hostels are always fun and interesting, you can meet new foreign friends and just have a good time.
2. If there are many of you, several people or a large family, then it is better to choose private apartments. You must be careful when choosing, since often in this type of accommodation there is no reception or reception desk; all contacts are made directly with the owner, who may not speak your native language. However, you get a full range of services, including a kitchen, washing machine, and other things necessary for a normal life. There is nothing more economical than a pack of oatmeal brought from Russia for your own breakfast!)))

Surely you are planning sightseeing in London or throughout England (Great Britain) for this you need:

You can organize the purchase of excursions in London in advance via the Internet.

Personal professional Russian-speaking guide, transfers. They come to pick you up at your hotel, what could be better and more comfortable? And of course, buying online is the most economical option.

Photo: flickr.com by Anthony White

What to take with you to England, how to save money on a trip and why you don’t need to take a first aid kit - the ZagraNitsa portal offers ten useful tips that will help you plan the perfect trip to Foggy Albion!

Take the most comfortable clothes

Perhaps there is no point in saying that it is better to leave smart clothes and high-heeled shoes at home (unless, of course, you are going to attend social events). In England they value comfortable things: the local rhythm of life does not suggest anything else. As for traveling across the English expanses, comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes that can be easily taken off and put on will be your faithful companions: it is worth remembering that the weather here is very changeable. Give preference to jackets and windbreakers that will not take up much space in your suitcase or backpack. If you plan to allocate time for shopping in the capital, it is better to take a minimum of things at all, otherwise, in addition to the clothes you brought, you will have to look for a place for the purchased ones.

Photo: shutterstock 2

Don't take a huge first aid kit

Many travelers mistakenly believe that they need to take their entire home first aid kit with them to Foggy Albion. But why fill space in your suitcase with something you can easily buy in England if necessary? Yes, you won’t find brilliant green here, but it can be replaced with any other antiseptic, which is abundant in pharmacies. In addition, any drug that you are used to in the CIS will be available.

Diana Korotkova:

It is not necessary to bring a first aid kit to England. If necessary, the NHS will make you a temporary registration - just call 111. In addition, there is a therapist in pharmacies: he can prescribe an antibiotic if necessary

Book online

Many of us are used to buying tickets on the spot, whether for a bus or a theater. On the one hand, it seems more convenient: come and buy a ticket at the box office, where, if necessary, you can consult with the cashier. But in fact, online booking has many advantages. Not only will you avoid having to queue, you could also save a pound or two. Many arts centers, museums, and even transportation companies offer significant discounts when purchasing advance tickets on their official websites.

Photo: shutterstock 4

Use useful resources

Don't forget about tax free

Travelers who plan to spend a significant amount of money on shopping should not forget about the tax free system. It provides for a refund of value added tax when a tourist leaves the country. Thus, you can save from 7 to 22% of the money spent within three months from the date of purchase.

Diana Korotkova:

Many people go to England for shopping, so tax free is a convenient thing. You can get back some of the money spent. And some tourists don’t even know about it. It's a pity that it doesn't apply to restaurants and hotels

Travel by bus

If, when traveling around the cities of England, your priority is to quickly get to your destination, the best option is to buy a train ticket. But if you're planning to save an extra pound, it's worth choosing the bus: the fare will cost you significantly less. For example, if a train ticket from London to Liverpool costs from 30 pounds, then a bus ticket costs from 6 pounds.

Evgeny Vorobyov:

Traveling around England by bus is cheaper than by train, so this is a better travel option if you want to save money. And if you are traveling with a group, you can take a group train ticket - this will also be very profitable. But the main thing is that the number of people boarding the train corresponds to what is indicated on the ticket, otherwise you may receive a fine. Well, to travel around London, of course, you need to purchase an Oyster card

Consider all housing options

It should be remembered that hotels are not always the best option for accommodation. Sometimes hostels can offer better conditions than many hotels with two or three stars. In addition, almost all hostels offer accommodation in single or double rooms, and you will not have to share a room with unfamiliar neighbors. Moreover, you can find completely free accommodation if you use hospitality networks. On Bewelcome or CouchSurfing you will find locals who will be happy to offer accommodation for the night.

Photo: shutterstock 8

Take with you only what you need

Many will tell you: you should take a lot of necessary things with you on a trip. But in reality, it turns out that all this will just lie in your suitcase. If you are not going to a desert island, you can buy everything you need in any city. To save yourself the hassle, bring a three-pin socket adapter with you. But even if you forget this seemingly important item, you can still purchase it in England.

Alexander:

The umbrella is available from Poundstretcher for £2.99. Rain jacket from Primark - less than £10. The adapter can be found for £1 at Poundworld. The most important thing to take is money and a good mood!

Rent a car

During a short trip, a great option for getting around the city and beyond is to rent a car. A day's rental in London will cost you from 35 pounds.

Alexander:

If I came to England for a few days, I would rent a car. It’s cheaper and you can see a lot of sights. Parking near supermarkets is usually free for 1.5 to 3 hours, even in large cities. When I need to find parking, I use JustPark and Parkopedia.

Connect mobile Internet

Since you will not always be able to find free or even paid Wi-Fi, it is worth taking care of such a necessary thing as mobile Internet. After all, you will probably need to look up the route on the Internet and add a photo to Instagram! You can choose the operator Giffgaff: for 10 pounds you will get 2 gigabytes of Internet, 100 minutes of calls and free SMS messages.

We wish you successful travels!

February 8, 2010 5:18 am Scotland, London, Brighton, Cardiff, Edinburgh + 2 cities - UK May 2008

Airplane Tallinn-London. Taking into account the time zone, the flight lasted only an hour; of course, three objective hours passed. From a bird's eye view, England looks unusually green as always (at least to the eyes blurred by Estonian landscapes). It’s also surprising every time that all visible land is divided into neat patches. Not an inch of ownerless land, it’s not like that with us.

We were met at the airport, taken home, given water, food and a walk along the Trafalgar Horse - Big Ben route. London at night is, of course, good, but my soul yearned for the confines of the bustling capital. However, my mortal body failed me, and I was sick the whole next day, but that’s a completely different story.

Bank Holiday is Monday, but no one is working. It seems that it is not an official holiday, but an official day off. Somewhere after lunch we left the house to the east, to the very blue sea. There was no specific purpose for the trip; I just wanted to look at the east coast. The weather did not disappoint and was simply beyond all praise. We made a stop when we reached the shore. Kingsgate Bay (Broadstairs, Kent) enchanted with its white cliffs and views of the castle of the same name.

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Kingsgate Castle

We stopped at a roadside cafe (Captain Digby pub), drank beer and looked around. Built in 1760, Kingsgate Castle looks simply luxurious, stingers are not allowed inside, the private territory is private. But you can walk along the shore as much as you like, and the shore with white cliffs looks no less breathtaking. In fact, it was for these rocks that England was called Foggy Albion. It seemed that the tide was low, because about two meters from the base of the rock were covered with a layer of bright green algae and every more or less suitable depression was densely populated with shells.

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Having walked around enough, we decided to drive further along the coast. Just a few kilometers later we stopped in the center of the town of Broadstairs.

A tiny town, only about 25 thousand inhabitants, but it has been known for about 700 years. The town is also famous for the fact that Charles Dickens lived here for quite a long time, in particular, “David Copperfield” was written here. We arrived in the city already at five o'clock, at that time there was just a fair going on here, or something else like that, but in the center of the city there were attractions, stalls and everything attached to it. True, it was noticeable that activities were beginning to be curtailed. After walking along the main street, which of course runs parallel to the coastline, we stopped for dinner at a local eatery overlooking the sea. After dinner, we decided to take a small lap of honor around the city and head back towards London. While walking around the city, I got the strong impression that the town was popular with local (read English) tourists - there were many houses that looked like boarding houses and advertisements for housing for rent. Another thing that caught my eye was the unusual decoration of the fences. An ordinary fence made of small stones, with large shells inserted in places - it looked very beautiful.

On the way home, I persuaded me to stop in Canterbury. I really wanted to see the famous cathedral, and it was on the way.
Canterbury is a relatively small town (45 thousand inhabitants), but one of the oldest in England. It is known throughout the world for the fact that it is here that the main residence of the head of the Anglican Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is located. And the cathedral itself, which is almost a thousand years old, and which is included in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

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Canterbury Cathedral

We arrived in Canterbury at eight o'clock, and the town was already empty, and the cathedral was already closed. We meandered through the narrow streets and admired the cathedral from the outside. A majestic building, what more can I say. It was here that I noticed the benches with signs: “In memory of so-and-so,” “So-and-so loved to sit in this place.” We later saw benches like this all over England, I liked this tradition.

It was quickly getting dark outside, and our English hosts had a working day the next day, so we set a direct course for London.

I chose the program for our first day of independent travel around England to be rich and the main word was “Castles”. Even before the trip, I pre-selected several castles near London, the look of which I liked. Indeed, castles in England are found at every step, you can find almost every taste, and in varying degrees of preservation. Therefore, I chose solely on the principle of “beautiful picture” and “more or less on the way.”

The first point was Leeds Castle.

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It is located just 70 km east of London. Having left early in the morning, we were already there at 10. The parking lot was still almost empty, but the employee was already standing in the parking lot and indicating where to park the car - it was immediately obvious that the place was not offended by tourists. A peacock was walking around the parking lot, well-fed, very confident and absolutely not scared. He came almost a meter closer to us, the more he scared me, the bird was still not small, it would still bite. But without expecting anything from us, the little peacock proudly and leisurely went about his business. Tickets to the castle and the surrounding area were quite expensive - 15 pounds per nose, but were valid for a year. Of course, we didn’t need it, but we could give the tickets to our English friends. With this thought in mind, we agreed to take the money from our hearts.

Leeds Castle was first mentioned in the ninth century, with the first stone castle being built in the 12th century. It is famous for being the residence of English queens for several centuries. The castle stands on an island in the middle of a small lake, surrounded by a well-kept garden with a pond where many different waterfowl live. The castle also has a large aviary where you can find many exotic birds.

The castle is in excellent condition, there are tours inside the castle (of course only in English). The excursion is included in the ticket price. Everything in the castle has been put in order, the interiors of the royal bedroom and bathroom have been restored, other rooms are decorated in the style of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. You can take photographs anywhere and as much as you like.

What is also noteworthy is that next to the castle there is a platform with a hot air balloon, which, if you have money and desire, you can ride. But the prices are steep, so we didn’t dare. We stayed on the castle grounds for about two hours, but to see everything we needed at least two more. In short, a very good place to relax, especially with children.

The next point on the plan was Bodiam Castle. From Leeds Castle it is approximately 60 km to the south and takes about an hour on the road.

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Bodiam Castle

A very picturesque castle. It is not surprising that the castle periodically serves as a setting in films on historical themes. It was built around the 19th century, surrounded on four sides by a moat filled with water, and a fairly narrow wooden bridge leading to the castle. Unfortunately, the interior of the castle has not been preserved. To get inside, you need to pay a “symbolic” fee of 5 pounds. We were greedy and admired the appearance for free. About half an hour was enough for us to walk around the castle and take photos. And then Brighton was waiting for us.

Brighton is a fairly large city on the south coast with half a million indigenous population. I was drawn to Brighton to see the Royal Pavilion.

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The palace was built at the beginning of the 19th century by Prince and future King George IV for his mistress. Queen Victoria once stayed in the palace, but later sold it to local authorities. The palace was built in the style of the Taj Mahal and is very unusual for England. A ticket inside cost 8.8 pounds. Visitors are provided with audio guides. Unfortunately, there was no audio guide in Russian, but there was a choice between “normal English” and “simplified English”. The interior of the palace is also made in Hindu style. Although the audio guide told us that the architects had never been to the east. Especially the luxurious banquet hall. By the way, the palace can be rented for celebrations and weddings. I don’t want to think about the price for this pleasure. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited inside. The inspection took about an hour.

It would be sacrilege to visit Brighton and not go to the beach.

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The beach in Brighton is not sandy, but made of pebbles, but the pebbles are very smooth and pleasant to the touch. There were a lot of people on the beach, but only a few optimists were swimming, because, despite the warm weather, the water in the English Channel at the beginning of May is rather cold. It was already evening and it was time to think about spending the night. And here shortcomings in preparation appeared. We had neither a map nor addresses of the campsites; we relied on the words of our English friends that there were campsites off the southern coast like mushrooms after the rain. But according to the law of meanness, we never found a single one, and we didn’t want to go far at night. Therefore, we decided to return and spend the night in London, fortunately it was not far, only about 100 kilometers, and then stock up on addresses and rush further west the next day.

We left home before nine, but made a huge mistake by driving west through the center. We made our way through traffic jams for three hours, tired as if we had been driving for ten hours. We escaped the traffic jams and rushed along the M3 southwest to the world-famous landmark Stonehenge.

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Stonehenge

Driving along the highway and climbing one of the hills, Stonehenge suddenly appeared in front of us and at the first moment seemed grandiose. As I got closer, this feeling dulled slightly, but Stonehenge is still one of the most unusual places I have ever seen. The entrance ticket cost 6.6 pounds, and in addition they give an audio guide, which - surprise surprise - included Russian.

The excursion, or rather listening to the audio guide, took about an hour. Afterwards we decided to go south, to the sea.
On the way to Salisbury we came across a sign for Old Sarum - the ruins of an ancient fortress, the remains of a rampart and a wall.

On the way to Salisbury

In principle, there is nothing seriously to do there, but you can stretch your legs and admire Salisbury, which lies in full view.
We drove further south through Salisbury and were too lazy to examine the cathedral, since there was already a problem with time. But they stopped at the grocery store.

Having passed through Poole, we decided to stop for lunch at the ruins of Corfe Castle.

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Corfe Castle

These are also very ancient ruins - more than a thousand years old. We didn’t get inside, since everything was already closed, but we wandered around, looked at the shaggy bulls and a herd of equally shaggy goats that grazed on the steep slopes.

It was time to think about spending the night, so we drove west along the coast in search of signs for campsites. About an hour later we were already in West Bay. A cozy little town on the very shore of the English Channel. The camping area was provided with all facilities, including a night bar and an indoor swimming pool. We dismantled the tent for the first time and spent almost two hours. By then it was already dark. We somehow especially liked West Bay and decided in advance that we would stay here for another day.

In the morning, leaving the tent in West Bay, we drove to Cornwall. But on the way, it was decided to stop at Dortmoor National Park, which served as the setting for Conan Doyle’s famous story The Hound of the Baskervilles. On my GPS, of course, there was no indication of a place called Grimpen Mire. But there was a place called Grimspoung - a Stone Age monument. Remembering that the story mentioned prehistoric caves, I decided that this was just what I needed.

We drove along the main roads quite quickly, and when we entered the national park, the speed of movement decreased significantly. Firstly, some of the roads were only one car wide; of course, there were occasional widenings where it was possible to let oncoming people pass. Then, when we drove a little further, the maximum permissible speed became 50 km per hour. And not for nothing, since the roads were not fenced, and the sheep, which can be found there at every step, wandered along the roads, lay on the road, and in general, with all their appearance, showed who was the boss here.

Dartmoor impressed me greatly, a huge bare expanse as far as the eye can see.

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Dartmoor National Park

Soon we reached Grimpound. This is not what I expected at all from these places; in the book it was all described as dull swampy places with eternal fog. And here the weather couldn’t be better, there was no swamp, no fog in the area, and the huge free spaces, personally, took my breath away, but with delight.

We decided to walk up the hill. Naturally, we were too lazy to look for the path. And they were punished for it. What from a distance looked like short, dry grass turned out to be dry, prickly heather, 30 centimeters in height. I was wearing shorts, and after this walk my legs looked as if they had been kicked by ten cats, all of whom I immediately stepped on their tails. We spent about an hour climbing the hills and looking at the prehistoric settlement, which was surprisingly well preserved. By the way, there were a lot of tourists there, but, of course, they were all locals. I think foreign tourists are not the most frequent guests in those places.

We made our way back to civilization along some goat paths, and it took two hours to cover a hundred kilometers. And we were going to the Eden Project. Eden Project is a remarkable place not only locally, but also on a global scale. This is a huge botanical garden, with the largest greenhouse in the world (1.5 hectares).

The territory is huge; a bus runs from the parking lot to the main building. We spent about three hours walking around, and this was at a fairly brisk pace, but I think in my mind, we should set aside a whole day for this place and walk around there slowly. On the street, the flower beds were divided according to the periods of development of the plant world, from the oldest to the youngest, but the most interesting of course were the greenhouses, one with a tropical forest climate, the second with a Mediterranean climate. As a northern person, tropical forests turned me on more. Inside the tropical greenhouse, the natural conditions for plants are simulated as much as possible, the paths are located on three levels, there is even a quite decent-sized waterfall. The Mediterranean is cooler and more cultured. We were still at the end of the tulip season, so we had time to admire the sea of ​​tulip beds, although some had already bloomed.

At about five we headed back to our tent site. Having arrived at the place, we realized that we had made another mistake by placing the tent on the top of the hill. The view is of course amazing, but the wind. In a word, our tent was a little tattered, something even came off, but not fatally. What was worse was that it rained here during the day, and since we wanted to move out tomorrow, we raised a prayer to heaven that everything would dry by morning.

The sky responded, and in the morning, in the local wind, we already folded a dry tent. The next points on my map were two places: Cheddar, and on the way to it Glastonbury Abbey.

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Glastonbury Abbey

The abbey is a very picturesque ruin, so the place attracts many tourists. In addition, according to legend, the same King Arthur and his wife are buried here. And the place itself has 2,000 years of history.

About half an hour's drive from Glastenbury is a small town, or rather a large village, Cheddar, famous throughout the world for its cheese.

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Cheddar

Cheddar Caves are also famous, and that’s where I was drawn. Cheddar Caves are located in the gorge of the same name, the largest in all of England. The place has been popular since very ancient times (Late Paleolithic 12-13 thousand years BC). A museum dedicated to primitive people, three caves and an observation deck on the top of the mountain are open to the public. The best thing is the caves. Moreover, I am not at all an experienced cave visitor. The largest cave available for visiting is Gough's Cave (depth 90 m, length more than 2 km).

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Cheddar Caves

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Cheddar Caves

About 800 meters are open to tourists: stalagmites, stalactites, small lakes, entire stone waterfalls illuminated by electricity. The farther from the entrance, the heavier the air; in the farthest cave there is a local worker-guide, apparently in case someone becomes ill. Thank God, I didn’t feel bad, but the man seemed quite sad and we communicated as best we could in broken English. The peasant showed us their “famous” cat - it’s a shadow from a stone on the wall. To be honest, it seemed to me that the cat could only be seen there after inhaling local fumes and with great melancholy.

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Cheddar Caves

The second cave is small, only 18 m deep and 100 m long, but even there you can admire the bizarre natural architecture. The third cave is an attraction for tourists - they tell some kind of fairy tale about a crystal ball that someone evil stole and needs to be saved. You’re walking along, and suddenly red eyes flash in the corner, or mechanical skeletons move, or even non-mechanical ones. In general, it's funny.

We also climbed to the top of the hill, the gorge itself, in which the village is located, is up to 140m deep, so the climb is quite steep. This sucked all the last strength out of me, so after lunch and shopping for local sweets and cheese, we headed back to London.

We planned to spend the next week in Scotland with our English friend. We were supposed to leave on Sunday, so there was one free day left. But our friends decided to spend this day eventfully and suggested we go to south Wales for a day, or rather to Cardiff. The matter did not arise for us and in the morning we headed west.

Cardiff is the capital of Wales, a port and industrial city with a population of approximately 300,000 inhabitants. But, looking ahead, I was somewhat disappointed in the tourist value of the city. We visited Cardiff Castle, but it didn’t make much of an impression on me, and to my taste it looks much more interesting from the outside than from the inside. The interior decoration is essentially a sloppy mixture of different styles, which seemed to me, although rich, but tasteless.

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Cardiff Castle

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Cardiff Castle

A small river or canal flows in the park next to the castle. Pleasure boats for tourists ply along this waterway. A return ticket cost 5 pounds, one way 3 pounds. Plus, you still have to get on the boat, it was a Saturday, the weather was excellent and there were quite a few sucker tourists eager for river walks in the park. Ahhh, those were the most pointlessly spent pounds I've ever spent. The one-way trip lasts approximately half an hour. The boat travels along a narrow and nondescript canal, under some dirty bridges. The banks are high and nothing is visible. Even with a manic passion for photographing everything, you won’t find a more worthy subject besides each other along the way. As a result, they took us to some locks and said that everyone could take a photo as a souvenir. There were very few lock fans and the boat turned back, landing us at the Cardiff Bay pier. We decided to walk back to the center, and along the way we came across a couple of interesting buildings, for example, the building of the Welsh National Opera (The Wales Millennium Center) and the adjacent square.

Wales Millennium Center

On the way back home, we turned off the main highway following the “Ancient Roman Landmark” sign. The sign led us to the small village of Caerleon. Here at the dawn of our era there was a Roman fortification. Nowadays you can find a well-preserved Roman amphitheater here, but it is quite small and did not make much of an impression. Well, to console myself, I also took a photo of a local picturesque church with an adjacent cemetery.

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Caerleon

From London to Edinburgh 650 km, a decent distance. Along with the stops, take 8 hours for the road. We drove into Edinburgh, parked the car, got out and…. experienced temperature shock. It was about 20 degrees in London, and we were in shorts and T-shirts, but here it was 8 degrees and a cold wind from the Arctic. The picture was still the same, there were people around in warm jackets, and here we were in shorts, sunglasses and panama hats were just missing. We put on what we had (and there wasn’t much), bought whiskey to warm us up and went to look for a campsite. About 20 kilometers from Edinburgh we turned into the small town of Linlithgow to stop there for the night. The wind blowing at the reception was extremely severe, but upon entering the territory, my worst assumptions were not justified. The clearing for tents was closed on all sides by a dense forest of crookedly growing fir trees (apparently due to constant winds), at the level of the tree tops a thick fog was rushing at high speed, and below there was peace and grace, but the temperature was, of course, not tent-like. But otherwise the place is very good - a toilet, a shower with hot water, a barbecue grill, and benches. Surprisingly, we were not the only tourists; there was another tent next to us.

The capital of Great Britain attracts thousands of people from all over the world every year, and for good reason. London has something to surprise its guest: incredibly beautiful parks, museums that have collected outlandish objects of art, a rich history and infrastructure of a modern metropolis. Who didn’t dream as a child, while rereading the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle, to visit Baker Street? Who hasn't admired images of Buckingham Palace or Tower Bridge in their first English textbook?

But many are stopped from traveling to London by the fear that getting a visa to England on their own is difficult, it is often denied, and tickets and accommodation are too expensive. We will try to dispel this myth in this article, explaining in detail how to travel to London on your own, and why the trip is not at all difficult to organize.

Visa to London on your own

To obtain a visa to the UK, you need to fill out an application form, pay the consular fee, collect the necessary documents and take it all to the British visa center. There are five UK visa centers in Russia: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don.

You can fill out an online application for a British visa, make an appointment at a visa center at a time convenient for you, and also view the list of documents required for a visa on the official website of the British Embassy in Russia (https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa ) or on the website (https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk). There are three types of tourist visas to choose from: for children under 18 years of age, for visiting relatives and the so-called general visa, which is suitable for all other cases, be it a trip to visit friends or just a desire to explore the city. The questionnaire is filled out in English, but those who do not know English have nothing to be afraid of - the Internet is full of volunteers who have posted a translation of the questionnaire with comments and advice for free access. Also, for convenience, a Google Translate translation immediately appears next to each question in the questionnaire.

Immediately after filling out the application form, you can pay the visa fee online in the amount of 83 pounds for a six-month visa, 300 pounds for an annual or two-year visa. After which all that remains is:

• print the form,
• To make a photo,
• collect documents about your solvency (account statement, work certificate - the more evidence of having funds for the trip, the higher the chances of getting a visa),
• obtain travel insurance and you are ready to go to the visa application center.

We must remember that when receiving an account statement or a certificate from work from a bank, you must ask for a document in English.
The official period for obtaining a visa is 3 weeks, but it is valid more for the tourist season. The rest of the time, the visa can be issued much faster, and you will be notified by email.

How to buy a plane ticket to London

When purchasing air tickets to London, the same rules apply as for other destinations: the cost of tickets will be cheaper if you buy them a few months before the trip, if there is a transfer or if you fly on weekdays. Many airlines fly from Russia to London, and some have several scheduled flights per day. Surprisingly, London is one of the cheapest destinations. The best deals can be found with EasyJet and Transaero airlines, and also for non-stop flights.

For example, if you look for tickets to London from Moscow using the website for the summer of 2015, then prices for round-trip flights start at just 6,150 rubles. Of course, the price may change due to the dates of purchase of tickets, exchange rate increases and other factors, but sites like this help you adapt your trip to external conditions and choose the most profitable option for purchasing tickets. If travel dates are not important, then you can select the +-3 days option to compare prices for upcoming dates.
You can try to find flights to London right now using this form below, just select your departure city and dates.

If you have never bought air tickets online on your own, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the step-by-step process of buying air tickets online.

How to choose and book a hotel in London

At first glance, housing in London is not cheap at all. But acceptable options for any budget can always be found. To do this, it is most convenient to use hotel search sites such as, for example, or. Using the filters on the left side of the window, you can select the price category of housing, distance from the city center and other living conditions. It is also important to check: were the previous residents of the hotel satisfied, does the declared level of quality correspond to the real state of affairs? To do this, on each of these sites there is a system of reviews by which you can determine whether it is worth booking this or that accommodation.
For convenience, you can use this search form, just enter the dates you need and the system will select for you the best hotel options in London.

The most budget option in London are hostels - hotels where you will share a room with one or more roommates. This is not only a great way to save money that would be better spent on a trip out of town or shopping, but also a unique experience of communicating with people from other countries, because anyone can be in the same room with you - a student from China or a young couple from Canada.

For greater immersion in the atmosphere of the city, it is more convenient to book an apartment or apartment. In addition, it is significantly cheaper than a hotel when booking for a long period, for example, a month. For this purpose, there is a website where you can choose an apartment in a cozy residential area of ​​London or an attic floor in the city center with a view of Big Ben.

UK currency

The official currency of Great Britain is the pound sterling GBP, which at the exchange rate at the end of December 2014 is equal to 81 rubles. The pound is divided into 100 pence or, as they are also called, pennies.

It is best to exchange rubles for pounds in Russia, since here you have the opportunity to choose a bank with the most favorable exchange rate for buying and selling currency. But if you already have euros or dollars, then you can change them in London, the main thing is to avoid exchange offices in the most tourist places, for example, next to the tourist information office or at the airport and train station - the rate there may differ significantly from the rate in banks cities.

Having a credit or debit card can solve many problems. London is one of the most modern and advanced cities in the world, so you can pay with a card in almost any store. If you have a plastic card, then you may only need cash to go to the local market or just in case.

When is the best time to go to London?

Let me start with the fact that Foggy Albion is actually not that foggy. And the stereotype about incessant rain and eternal bad weather is just a stereotype. Due to the slight fluctuation in air temperature between seasons, London is a great holiday destination at almost any time of the year, but there are still some nuances to consider.

In July and August, temperatures can exceed 35 degrees, which is not very comfortable for long walks in a large metropolis. And the number of tourists in summer increases significantly compared to other times of the year. In the spring, a trip to London can be overshadowed by an allergy that unexpectedly manifests itself in response to the blooming beauty of the city’s parks and boulevards. The city is home to so many different plant species from all over the world that during their flowering period - April and May - even Londoners themselves suffer.

Otherwise, London will delight tourists with its beauty and diversity at any time. At the end of October you can also catch the Halloween celebration, at the end of December you can take part in the farewell of the old year, and at the end of January you can celebrate the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated annually in London's Chinatown. You can plunge into sports life in mid-May by watching the FA Cup Final in a pub with local residents. Well, on the last weekend of August, residents and guests of the capital come with pleasure to the Notting Hill district of London to watch a real carnival, which is second in scale only to the famous carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

Public transport in London

In London you can find a means of transportation for every taste: the subway, the famous double-decker buses, ferries and motor ships for river trips along the Thames, electric trains, taxis and bicycles. Public transport in England is not cheap, but the price is offset by convenience - one or another type of transport is available anywhere in London, so no matter where you are, there will be no problem getting to the center. Plus, there's no need to run to the last bus or rush to the tube before it closes - there are many night bus routes in London every day.

The fare depends on the zone you are in and the one you need to get to. The London Underground is divided into six zones, and the bus route map is divided into four zones. For example, one metro trip within zones 1-3 costs 3 GBP. To save money, you can buy an Oyster card at the metro ticket office, an analogue of the Moscow Troika card; it will reduce the cost of the ticket by almost half. In London, public transport route maps are available at all stops and stations - this is a necessity, because, at first glance, it is a very large city with rather confusing transport links. Fortunately, workers or ordinary passers-by are ready to help the lost tourist and show the way. To plan your route in advance, it is very convenient to use the official website of London Transport www.tfl.gov.uk, where you just need to set the starting and ending points, after which the system will offer you all travel options.

There are as many as six airports within London and its suburbs. Flights from Russia most often land at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. There are several ways to get from them:

1. Metro. Heathrow Airport is located within the city, and there is even a blue metro line to it. So from the airport you can get a direct ride to King’s Cross Station or Piccadilly Circus. The cost of travel to the city center one way is 3.8 GBP.
2. By express. This method is more expensive than the previous one (and in the case of Gatwick Airport you can’t get there by metro at all), but the express is definitely the fastest method to get to London. Trains run every 15-30 minutes, and by comparison, the express train from Heathrow to the city takes just 15 minutes, and the tube takes almost an hour. You can buy a ticket at special terminals at the airport or in advance online at www.heathrowexpress.com and www.gatwickexpress.com.
   Heathrow: express ticket price – 21 GBP, destination station – Paddington.
   Gatwick: express ticket price – 17.7 GBP, destination station – Victoria.


3. By taxi. A taxi is the most comfortable, but also the most expensive way to get to London from the airport. The cost of a one-way trip can range from 40-70 GBP. It is better, as in other countries, to use the services of an official taxi, whose stands can be found in the airport arrivals hall. But what you should understand is that there are traffic jams in London, so a taxi is not the fastest way to get to the city. But all the inconveniences are compensated by the fact that a taxi is the only way to get your suitcases from the airport directly to the hotel door, with a minimum of effort.
4. By bus. It is easy to spot bus stands near the terminals of Heathrow and Gatwick airports. From here you can get to London for a reasonable price (from 3 GBP with an Oyster card), but from Heathrow Airport and to other cities in the UK there are even more intercity bus routes than local ones. Tickets, just like express tickets, can be purchased in advance at www.easybus.co.uk/london-gatwick and www.nationalexpress.com.
5. By rented car. At all London airports there are counters of companies offering car rental services. This is the most convenient option for those who are going to travel a lot outside the city or move around the country, but it is worth considering that in England, driving is on the left, so the driver renting a car in London must not only be confident in his abilities, but also have sufficient experience and skills.

London's main attractions

London is very rich in attractions and entertainment. During the day it’s nice to walk around the city, go to one of the many museums, and in the evening sit in a pub somewhere in the Soho area. You can fall in love with London instantly, but it won't take you a week to explore all the interesting things it has to offer. Organized excursions will only help if you need to “gallop across Europe,” superficially and selectively. But you can truly get to know the capital of England and enjoy every moment in a park or museum only by traveling on your own.
The most recognizable symbol of London is undoubtedly Big Ben. The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, or the Palace of Parliament, is a symbol of England, its calling card. Here you can see where the House of Lords sits and where all the official ceremonies of the kingdom take place. Or you can admire Westminster and Big Ben while walking along the Thames embankment, or sailing past on a boat.

Tower of London and Tower Bridge

The Tower holds a special place in British history. The centuries-old former prison still stands eerily on the banks of the Thames, although it is not something to be feared now. There is a museum, an armory, and royal regalia stored here. Entrance costs 22 GBP, but this is a fair price, because you can spend more than an hour here. During the summer, the Tower of London is open from 9 to 17:30 from Tuesday to Saturday and from 10 to 17:30 from Sunday to Monday. In winter, the Tower's opening hours are reduced to 16:30.

Opposite this iconic landmark of London is another building recognizable throughout the world - Tower Bridge. You can walk along it completely free of charge, but if you are interested in its structure (this is one of the first drawbridges!), then you can go up to the museum located in one of the bridge towers. From here, by the way, one of the best views of London opens.
St. Paul's Cathedral is not only a religious building, but also an important architectural monument of London, which is definitely worth a look, at least from the outside. Entrance fee is 15 GBP, the cathedral is open all days of the week except Sunday.

Undoubtedly, the cathedral will impress you with its size - in size it is second only to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, which, by the way, the architects took as an example.
Even those who are not very fond of museums will appreciate the British Museum, one of the largest in the world. It houses countless interesting things, for example, the collection of Egyptian Halls in many ways surpasses in importance even the collection of the Cairo Museum. And the best part is that, like most public institutions in London, entry is completely free. You can visit the world-famous museum from 10 to 17:30 every day, and on Friday the British Museum has an extended day - it is open until 20:30.


Fans of panoramic photography and viewing the city from above should definitely take a ride on the now legendary London Eye - the largest Ferris wheel in Europe. It offers unparalleled views of London and its surroundings, and the enclosed cabins are not scary at all! The ticket costs 18.85 GBP, and the trip lasts a full half hour.

Of course, this is just the beginning of a long list of London attractions. Believe me, it is much more interesting to choose places to visit yourself, plan your day in advance, or, on the contrary, spontaneously visit what you meet along the way of a walk around London, rather than become a slave to the strict time frame of a travel agency, which will most likely show you only a small part of the beauties of the city.

If you have doubts that you will be able to book a hotel or buy a ticket on your own, then I advise you to read articles on this topic in the section - Independent travel. In fact, everything is much simpler than it seems, and most importantly, more interesting.