Sights and sounds

The British Isles have a deeply embedded musical tradition and a long list of world-famous musicians: Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, U2, The Beatles, Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Snow Patrol are but a few. All of the British Isles have active local music scenes; spend an evening in a pub and listen to live music in a wonderfully small venue.

Stages abound for all types of theatre and music festivals. One of the premier performing arts events is the International Edinburgh Festival. It spawned the wildly popular Fringe Festival, which attracts scores of amateur and professional artists who perform in halls, pubs, and churches. There’s opera at Glyndebourne and rock at Glastonbury, summer classical at London’s Proms and Celtic groups in Wales at Llangollen, and much more.

Interested in general sightseeing? How long do you have? The wealth of museums and galleries, gardens, stately homes, ancient monolithic sites, castles, abbeys and cathedrals, lovely landscapes and interesting cities in the British Isles is almost inexhaustible.


Discover Northern Ireland
  
Imagine that in Northern Ireland, Britain’s smallest country, you can see the footprint of the Titanic at the shipyard where the great vessel was built, or stride the ramparts of the Derry (Londonderry), the only completely walled city in the British Isles. See the Book of Kells in Dublin when you travel the rainbow roads of Ireland, and wind around the stunning Ring of Kerry, enjoying local music every night. Fall under the enchantment of Wales, a country with its own language, mesmerizing legends of King Arthur and Merlin, craggy mountains and over 400 castles. Scotland, in addition to a castle above vibrant Edinburgh, romantic highlands, bewitching islands and fantastic music, has absolutely adorable livestock. Can you resist the charm of a Shetland pony or long-haired Highland cattle?


Sports and outdoors

Cricket, tennis, and rugby are signature sports in the British Isles and the important games and matches for each one make a great centerpiece for a vacation – just be sure to plan early!

Scotland is known as the “Home of Golf” because the game was invented there about 600 years ago. In addition to renowned courses such as St. Andrews and Gleneagles, there are about 548 other courses to choose from! On England’s Golf Coast take advantage of the greatest concentration of championship courses just about anywhere. Compact and mountainous Wales alone has over 200 golf courses, including the first purpose-built course to host the Ryder Cup. Tee off in Northern Ireland on the grounds of former country estates, in sight of ancient castle ruins. Golf courses are one reason that green is a good color for Ireland, where you’ll find one third of the world’s natural links courses.

Walking and rambling are hugely popular in the British Isles, which has miles of trails along breathtaking coastline and beautiful lakes, dales, and highlands, not to mention remote and wild outer islands. In Ireland you can join a walking festival! If you want to get off your feet, take in the scenery from a longboat on an English canal or discover inland Ireland on a cruise.

Equestrian sports are beloved in the British Isles, both for spectators and riders. If you want to travel under genuine horsepower, take your pick of trail rides in choice British countryside or Ireland’s horse-drawn caravans. Horse racing is a world unto itself in the British Isles, with equally important sporting and social aspects. The Aintree Grand National, the Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival are at the pinnacle of horse racing; experiencing the thrill in the crowds and on the track is something you’ll remember with a smile for a long, long time.
 
Natural attractions in the British Isles are legion; why would so many landscape painters love the place if there weren’t? National parks and Areas of Outstanding Beauty protect dales, lakes, moors, highlands, mountains, forests, beaches and river landscapes. Don’t forget the attractions of the Channel Islands, their remote beauty, small towns, and gorgeous seascapes. Be sure to include some of the idyllic or dramatic countryside – whatever you like the best! - in your exploration of the British Isles.


Food and fun

Food in the British Isles is simply yummy. How many British celebrity chefs have risen to worldwide fame? Consider Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, and Gordon Ramsey, for a start. Throughout the British Isles you’ll find great support for locally produced, organic fare, including fall-in-love farmhouse cheeses, and excellent beef, lamb, and seafood. Taste the traditional “pie and a pint” at a pub, or try a gastropub, with the friendly informality of a pub but cuisine more in line with a trendy restaurant. Eating in Scotland doesn’t mean just haggis – what about the subtleties of Scotch whisky (without an “e”), beautiful salmon, and a Clootie Dumpling? Have you had your seaweed laver bread and fresh cockles in Wales yet? Ireland is also gastro-happy, just take a look at how many oyster festivals you can attend! Strolling through a farmer’s market is great fun, and of course while you’re here, you must try a Guinness in its natural habitat and a drop of Irish whiskey (with an “e”).

Prepare to go just a little crazy when you start shopping in the British Isles, particularly in London. Between the many shopping streets and the museum shops you’re likely to wander into, you cannot possibly avoid temptation, so don’t bother trying. Elsewhere throughout the islands, look for beautiful woolens, china and crystal, handmade jewelry and crafts, antiques, cheeses, preserves, and tea (be sure to check the airline and customs rules before you buy foodstuffs so you’re not offloading before you intend to).


Discover your roots

Millions of people worldwide have ancestry in the British Isles as a result of epic levels of emigration from the islands, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. Excellent genealogical resources in Ireland and Britain are available to help you discover your roots in the British Isles.