If you’re just about to book that last-minute break abroad, a word of advice.
Don’t.
The best place to be in early spring is right here in Britain. Is that a
murmur of dissent we hear at the back? Okay, we’ll prove it to you – 50
times over.
The point is, the British Isles are at their best in the spring, and it’s
plain daft to clear off just when the party is getting into full swing and
everything is opening up.
We’ve chosen 50 of our personal favourites: we may be wilfully subjective and
wildly opinionated, but we reckon they’re the best of their kind – and each
is another reason why the best break in Europe is here on your doorstep.
1 LONDON BY WATER You could take a river cruise, or the ever popular
Duck Tours. But did you know you can also see London from a Thames-eye view
in a high-speed rib boat or kayak? Watch the video above to find out more...
2 CUMBERLAND ALE KESWICK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL From May 14-18, the fun
includes more than 100 activities such as walking, climbing, mountain biking
and canoeing. If walking along a rope sounds a little too challenging you
can join diners for a lunch on top of one of England’s highest mountains,
learn to navigate using GPS technology, have a go at dry stone walling or do
some Nordic walking. This year the festival has a much bigger focus on
activities for families, including a treasure hunt on bikes, archery,
kayaking, orienteering and family climbing days. The festival has its own
website for details.
3 MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES MONTH runs throughout May with the theme 'Ideas
and Innovation'. Those taking part will be expected to offer something
unique and unexpected - that's the rule. The popular Museums at Night
weekend takes place over the weekend May 16-18. Nuit des Musees, the
European-wide celebration will be on Saturday 17 May, and International
Museums Day is on Sunday 18 May. Those opening late on May 17 include 20
museums and cultural venues in Newcastle
and Gateshead, which will open their doors from 7-11 pm - among them
an opportunity to tour the pitch at Newcastle United. Find out what's
happening in your area at www.mgm.org.uk
4 HUNTING OF THE EARL OF RONE North Devon An annual custom, unique to
the village of Combe Martin, takes place each year over the four days of the
Spring Bank Holiday weekend (May 23-26), and involves some 600 villagers.
Find out more about the pagan hobby horse festival on the village
website
5 WALKING FESTIVALS There are a lot of walking festivals about these
days and one newcomers this year is the South
and Heart of Suffolk Walking Festival from May 10-26
6 STEAM DAYS OUT Now in its ninth year, Steam
Dreams is gearing up for its busiest season ever. From Exeter to York,
Chester to Canterbury, the company runs steam trains from London to more
than 20 destinations, allowing time for a bit of shopping and sightseeing.
Bristol, Norwich, Stratford, Bath and York are the first departures in May,
with prices from £49.50 for a day out
7 LANDMARK BUILDINGS Every year the Landmark Trust opens a number of
buildings for Open Days to allow anyone to visit Landmarks and learn about
their history and restoration. Admission is free on these days and leaflets
are provided detailing the buildings' history. Dolbelydr, Denbighshire is
the latest to open, from May 13-16 - all Open Days are listed on the
LT website.
8 COVENT GARDEN, London The old flower hall and now prime tourist
attraction is going back to its green roots in a Spring
Renaissance series of events until May 18, to include honey tasting,
Beatrix Potter reading (with costume characters) to talks on Foraging and
Urban Gardening. There will also be a huge floral sculpture, urban garden,
mini allotment and a general bursting out of flowers everywhere.
I tried the topless drive (46) and was arrested - thanks a lot.
Jude, Liverpool,
i like london it has great things to offer and is an exciting day out. there are lots of restuarants, bars, theatres, shops and much more...my next trip is to go to madam tosaurds and the london eye
jess, rainham, england
Oh My Word..!
Isn't this forum about sharing more ideas and places to go?
It was actually rather shocking to read some of the aggressive comments here.
Why do so many of you feel the need to 'knock' each other?
It's about 'days out ' and yet some of you have turned it into a war Zone.
Jo, Suffolk, UK
Is that really the best that the British Isles have to offer. Glad I moved
Mathew , Perpignan, France
walks, flowers, zoos..... all great if you're an OAP. Where are the music festivals, and the raves :)
Alex, London,
What world is J Rose, Worcester, UK living in? It's currently April, not August. Perhaps there really is a parallel universal which is ahead of us; if so, perhaps we can find out who will be he Democratic candidate for president!
David Cunard, Los Angeles, United States
Paul Budgen of Salisbury,
I feel you have missed the point of Martin's comment. Whilst the Republic of Ireland is indeed politically independent, geographically it IS part of the British Isles. They have been called the British Isles for thousands of years and it is more a case of a land mass being laballed as something than a comment on political dominance. The group of islands that contain England, Scotland, Wales, Rep of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man etc all come under this title. The last three on the list are also independent; they are 'Crown dependencies' and are not part of the UK.
Ella, London,
Martin...You are mistaken...there is a clue in the name..."Replublic"...!!!!
Paul Budgen, Salisbury,
Cork is in the Republic of Ireland (if I am not mistaken) and the ROI is part of the British Isles, along with the UK. The article is about great days out in the British Isles, so what is all the fuss about?
The British Isles are a geographical, not a political, entity.
Martin, Newmarket, Suffolk
Oh I do love the tit for tat comments on here. Who cares if Cork was listed as a one of Britans best days out. Take it as a compliment that someone British would want to visit Cork, and not as an insult. A light hearted and intresting article turned into politics....only the Irish could do that. No where from Northern Ireland on here?? I feel a war brewing.
Anna-Marie, Tyrone, Ireland
Jack Beeby, The Garden of England - KENT
You are so right, there isn't that much traffic in the South East, in fact a lot less than in the lesser populated Cumbria & Northumbria.
My advice, take the word of Jack Beeby, there's nothing worth seeing up North, especially North of The Lake District...
(Chris Winn - do you want to spoil it for all of us? - in future, don't share the secret! - Having endured weekend driving in the South East - the least that know about or venture North the better...).
ChasNDave, Brampton, N. Cumbria, UK
Dear Chris Winn
Shortsighted remark re: South East i feel. The South East still has as much to offer as 'opp North' AND without the traffic!
Maybe your short-sightedness has been caused by all that fog on the Tyne???
Jack Beeby, The Garden of England - KENT,
The world is full of lovely places - unfortunately people get in the way and spoilt it!
Jim Currie, Glasgow,
'even if some continentals did eventually force most of you to the north and west of these islands. ' ... Andy B, I agree with what you said about taking into account 'whole history', but the whole false separatism between indigenous peoples of these islands really needs to be put to rest as there is now both academic opinion, archaeological, and genetic evidence that the english are just as (if not more) Celtic than their neighbours (I'm Scots/Irish myself)... Let's just get on in our uniquely tribal ways and agree that these islands offer some of the best experiences and landscapes on earth...
Mal, London,
You can forget the traffic jam that is the South of England. This is the only advice I'd give you:
Cumbria (Best mountains)
Northumberland (Best beaches and castles)
Durham (Best cathedral)
Yorkshire (Best combination of dales, moors, wolds and coast)
Go where you like - it's all beautiful and most of it's free.
Chris Winn, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
Rather than worring about Cork being in the list, Im more worried about it being the only Irish one on there, if the list is indeed to include Ireland.
Ed, Dublin,
To Aodhan, Cork. Whilst I understand your sensitivity to signs of English Imperialism, do calm down. You're blotting out one part of your history in an attempt to remember another. The greeks and romans were describing the people round your neck of the woods as British over 2000 years ago... these british tribes covered *all* the islands... and further still. The people of North West France don't have any such hangups, even though it's called Britain! (In french) You should be a little more proud to belong (if you do, that is!) to descendants of the british tribes who have inhabited the british isles for thousands of years, even if some continentals did eventually force most of you to the north and west of these islands. Don't forget that part of your history in a rush to remember the recent past.
Andy B, London,
It's such good fun winding up the Irish!
Michael, Carlisle,
You are all welcome to our beautiful country. As long as you don't stay another 700 years like the last time. The "British Isles" is not accepted by people in Ireland. Even as a "geographical" entity....it is an archaic entity much the same same as Rhodesia.
Aodhan, Cork, IRELAND
I'm from Cork, born and bred, and if visiting our beautiful county and going Kayaking is deemed to be one of Britain's 50 Best Day Outs, then I'm all for it. Come on over, the more the merrier, we love to see our British friends over here.
At least our English, Welsh and Scottish brothers and sisters speak the same language as us and spend money!
Joe McCarthy, Cork, Ireland
Having just spent a fab week there i'd have to recomend to readers the torch light procession and fireworks on Alderney.
See www.alderneyweek.net for details.
Edward King, Telford, Shropshire
Great to see that the UK and Ireland are still as parochial as ever (and maybe that is why it said in the title ..."in Britain (and a couple in Ireland)" ...........
get over it and enjoy the list for what it is.......some options on top of the normal, and at least not needing a flight to get to..............
Would love to have any of these on the doorstep out here in Singapore.
WH, Singapore, Singapore
Nothing in Lincolnshire? Tut tut tut.
Wolds, seaside and Fenland. History - the birthplace of Newton, John Smith, Tennyson and home to castles and all sorts.
Louth is beautiful - the tallest Parish Church Spire in the UK, Hubbard's Hills (this year having its centenary) and Westgate Fields provide excellent ice cream, picnic and paddling opportunitues, the cinema still has intermissions and the tea shops are top notch.
Cleethorpes has rather redeemed itself lately, too.
And Rutland, England's smallest county - well worth a visit.
There's also a lot more to say for Yorkshire and the North West. Trafalgar roof terrace is harldy a day out, and , come to think of it, neither are the accommodations mentioned either.
Vicky, Lincolnshire, UK
Journalists should get out more and venture a little further afield.
Can we do this again - with 50 more Up North and environs?
With all the technology we have there's no excuse for this partial list... but at least it's a start.
Nikky, Toronto, Canada
However, the British Isles is a geographical entity encompassing the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Great Britain and the UK are political constructs consisting of England,Wales and Scotland(Great Britain) and Eng.Scot,Wales plus Northern Ireland(UK) Hence the article is correct in its designation.
Julie, Wrentah, ma
Some of the places picked out can easily be replaced with more worthy and interesting attractions to visit.
My favourite (in Wales) which easily beats Oakwood by a mile,
Is Portmierion. The village is outstanding and the cult television series 'The Prisoner' was filmed there.
The architechture is outstanding and is a real 'jewel in the crown' unlike most of the places mentioned here.
J Hughes, Newport, Wales
Nothing in Wales? What map are you using? Pembroke, Llandudno, Snowdonia & Hay on Wye- all in Wales!
Jeraldine McMillan, Cardiff, Wales
You do realise that the Beara Peninsula and indeed all of County Cork is actually part of the Republic of Ireland now, don't you? The news may not have had time to get to your editors over the last eighty years but I assure you this is the case. Even if there'd been some mix-up and we found ourselves once again part of the UK then "Britain" would in no way apply. This is Ireland. It's a lovely place. We have our own flag and language and government and everything, just like a real country! And best of all, it's on a completely different island. Amazing, eh?
Ant Eireannach, Cork, Republic of Ireland
Nothing in Wales? The last time I checked my map Pembroke, Llandudno, Snowdonia and Hay on Wye seemed to cover the four corners!
Jeraldine McMillan, Cardiff,
Brilliant! The level of ignorance is astounding. CORK is, thank God, not in Britain.
Rebels abú, Cork,
Cornwall accoutns for nearly one third of this list! Of course it is beautiful, but I am sure there are a few more counties that could have made it on to this list. Somerset has some beautiful coast line and countryside!
steph, London,
Such idiocy. CORK, is not, thank God, in Britain.
Rebels abú, Cork, Ireland
What's the point of highlighting events that have already happened, it is now Aug18th, yet you have items for June, July and begining of Aug!!! Keep it updated to make it relevant.
J Rose, Worcester, UK
Agree with Mr Marshall ... how can any list of this type be complete without mantion of Rannock Moor or Glen Coe ... if you haven't got it on the list you must not have been - the most pictuesque area of the Britich Isles and locals with personalities to match ... and I'm English by the way!
John Purcell, Sunderland, UK
Nothing in Wales?
jamie, Pontypridd, Wales
hehe, thats what i was gonna say!! all the way over the other side of ireland!
kaley, london,
Co. Cork is in ireland!!!
Kath, London, England
formby- liverpool north of england. wow what can i say, the beach is long sandy with excellent sand dunes to play or sunbathe in. its excellent to stroll along and if you have a dog they will love it just as much as any kids. the sea is clean and shallow excellent for a paddle. once you get bored of that then have a stroll in the nearby woods and watch the red squirrels. an great day out and dont forget your swimsuit.
sarah joyce, halifax, weat yorkshire
The battle of camlann wesite is http://www.tintagel-show.com.
Kael, Leicester,
Here we go again, many places picked are both far AND wide of London. Suggest some people should get a map out and surprise themselves.
A Linden, Wrexham ( nowhere near London),
In the Midlands - this w/end (22 -24 June) a superb weekend of Jazz. in Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire.
Info from Jazz Festival Office Tel /fax: 01684 593254 - www.uptonjazz.co.uk
Anne Cooke, Tewkesbury, UK
Nothing in the New Forest either.
But what a great list - we have all heard of the usual Lake District and Stonehenge ones, this time there is something new. And for once there are no "attractions" that come with screaming kids, burgers and candyfloss. How refreshing.
Kate Collison, New Forest,
Nothing much in t'Midlands either. It looks like all these events are within a short drive of a London journalist's country retreat.
Adrian Bhagat, Nottingham, UK
You could substitute every one of those 50 with something in Yorkshire. However, as with most things, i guess it is dependent on which writers they choose to comment on what subject.
Is the view that there are no Times readers in God's own country?
Chris King, Leeds,
The safest, most middle-class list I have ever seen. where's the FUN?
Sandra Barber, Stoke on Trent,
Not much "up north" chaps .........
Alan Marshall, Edinburgh, Scotland
Not much "up north" chaps ... a cultural oasis or you just don't have many employees who venture north of the watford gap ?
MArk Holmes, Chicago, IL, USA