{mosimage}Set in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the river Avon, Stratford Upon Avon is one of the most important tourist destinations in the UK.
 
This is Shakespeare country – you can visit five houses in or near Stratford-upon-Avon connected with William Shakespeare and his family. Open all year round, these sixteenth-century houses feature rare period furnishings and domestic items. Tudor life is displayed in attractive gardens and grounds the properties offer a unique experience of the Stratford world in which the famous dramatist and poet was

The half-timbered house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 is Stratford's most cherished and most frequently visited of all the tourist places. New Place, Shakespeare's home from 1597 until his death in 1616,was pulled down in the eighteenth century but its foundations and grounds can be seen, including a beautiful Elizabethan-style knot garden created eighty years ago.
 
The site is approached through Nash’s House, which contains furnishings of Shakespeare's period. Upstairs is an exhibition dealing with the history of Stratford-upon-Avon before and after Shakespeare
 
Halls Croft is where Shakespeare's eldest daughter lived with her husband. It is near to Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried. On display are outstanding sixteenth and seventeenth-century furniture and paintings, and an exhibition about Dr Hall and the medicine of his time.
 
Anne Hathaway’s cottage, where Anne lived before marrying William Shakespeare in 1582 is extremely picturesque and the second favourite Shakespearian property. Part of the building dates from the mid-fifteenth century, and some of the furniture belonged to the Hathaways and their descendants.
 
Mary Arden's house is three and a half miles outside Stratford, A timbered Tudor farmhouse this is the house that Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden, grew up in. It’s also home to the Shakespeare countryside museum, two farms, displays of farm implements, daily demonstrations by the Heart of England falconry, a blacksmith's forge and a duck pond.
 
Once you’ve had enough of Shakespeare, or if you decide on a longer stay, you could visit the Teddy Bear Museum, which holds the largest collection of teddies in the country.
 
Or there’s Europe's largest Butterfly Farm where you can enjoy some of the world's most spectacular and colourful butterflies flying around you. You can walk amongst hundreds of exotic butterflies in the rainforest environment, with tropical plants and waterfalls.
 
The Falstaffs Experience offers a glimpse into the pages of history, from the glorious to the ghastly, from the hilarious to the haunting, from the plague to the English Civil War. And, of course, there’s always the river Avon itself. You can take a trip on the old ferry, which takes you across the river to a waterside walk where you can visit the Butterfly Farm. You can also hire boats and go rowing on the Avon. Stratford also has much to offer in the way of food, with a wide variety of well-priced restaurants offering local and international cuisine. There’s also a good selection of bars and pubs. Plenty of local accommodation is available to suit all budgets.
 
 
Indicative websites
Stratford Upon Avon http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/
Teddy Bear Museum http://www.theteddybearmuseum.com/
The Falstaffs Experience http://www.falstaffsexperience.co.uk/index2.htm
Butterfly Farm http://www.butterflyfarm.co.uk/attraction/index.php
Something for all the family, but special appeal to Shakespeare buffs.

The combination of ancient fishing villages, cliff-top walks, sub-tropical vegetation combined with early history and Celtic legend make the district a fascinating area.
There is a huge variety of sandy beaches and the sea is clean and clear. Many of the beaches are ideal for families and children, with the sands gently shelving into water. If you’re into water sports there are excellent opportunities for surfing and wind-surfing. Because of its sheltered position, Penzance enjoys the most temperate climate in Britain.
The cliffs and moorland provide plenty of opportunity to escape with well marked footpaths. Scattered over the Peninsula are many pre-historic sites where stone circles, standing stones and settlement sites can be found.
The town is set back from the harbour. Chapel Street leads from the harbour to the town, and lining the street are most of the town's buildings of historical interest. The Union Hotel was where the news of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar was first announced. The Nautical Museum on Chapel Street contains fascinating relics recovered from shipwrecks along the coast.
 
Penzance is a haven for gardeners. Morrah Garden, set in an attractive area of Regency and Georgian townhouses near the town centre, boasts lovely displays of flowers mixed with palm trees.
 

With a huge variety of restaurants, Penzance claims to have more eating places per resident than New York City. Whatever your taste there’ll be something to delight. A popular location is the Cornish Meadery, there are three in Penzance, which offers a good value family meal.

Outside Penzance harbour the romantic island of Saint Michael’s Mount rises from the waters of Mount's Bay. The island is topped with a stately home built from a medieval castle, which was built from the remains of a twelfth century priory. Its accessible via a causeway at low tide, or by boat at other times. {mosimage}
 
Penzance is extremely close to Land’s End. Although there isn’t much to do here, this most westerly point of mainland England is visited by hordes of tourists each year. In recent years exhibitions and play areas have been added. Land's End is at the centre of Cornish legend. Some tales tell that the lost land of Lyonesse – a British version of Atlantis – lies beneath the sea, and that the spires of churches can be seen poking up from the ocean floor if conditions are right. Lyonesse was said to be the lost Camelot of King Arthur legend.
 
Also close by is what is commonly believed to be the prettiest village in Cornwall – Mousehole. It is a maze of narrow, winding streets lined by cottages built of local dark grey stone and has two small beaches within its harbour.
 
Although there’s plenty to visit in Penzance and the surrounding area, many tourists spend most of their time on the beach, retiring to the town only for refreshments. But it does take a strong will to miss the traditional photo opportunity offered at Land’s End! Penzance is at its best in the summer months, at other times of year the many ancient monuments in the area make it worth a visit.
 
Who should I take?
Penzance is ideal for small children but has enough to entertain any visitor.
 

Indicative websites

Tourism in Penzance and West Cornwall http://www.penzance.co.uk/tourism/index.htm

http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/cornwall/az/penzance.htm

{mosimage}Oxford, The City of Dreaming Spires, is famous throughout the world over for its University and place in history. It is now a bustling cosmopolitan town. With a mix of ancient and modern, there is plenty to do. You can visit one of the many historic buildings, colleges or museums, go out for a drink or meal or even shop. If you love books, Oxford is the place for you, however there are many other attractions.

Indicative websites

{mosimage}The city of Cambridge is small and you should expect to walk for most of your visit as the area is heavily pedestrianised. Be constantly on the alert for bicycles, as almost everyone seems to cycle. Captivatingly beautiful, Cambridge has magnificent courtyards, the bridges and ‘Backs’ along the River Cam. The wealth of architectural

{mosimage}Glastonbury sits on a former island in the Somerset Levels – the Isle of Avalon. It has been a magnetic pilgrimage place since ancient times, a Druidic centre and one of Europe's greatest medieval abbeys. It is also an easy journey from airfields like Wycombe Air Park and West London Aero Club. An aerial view is another way to appreciate just why this site is so special. It is also an easy trip to combine with Avebury – perhaps as an Arthurian themed tour.  

 Chalice Well is an essential call for all who come to explore the mysteries and ancient lore of the Isle of Avalon. The waters of both the Red Spring at Chalice Well and the adjoining White Spring still have a reputation for their cleansing, healing and transformative qualities and people collect the waters from each spring.
 
The Glastonbury Story is a modern exhibition, telling the story of Glastonbury. For centuries Glastonbury has fascinated artists, travellers and poets alike. It's been a place of pilgrimage for thousands of years. Now you can step into another dimension in an exciting exhibition spanning time itself.
Nearby are other places which are held to be sacred sites; these include the two ancient oaks of Gog and Magog, believed to be the last remains of a Druidical avenue leading up to the Tor. The Glastonbury Conservation Society has recently replanted a line of oak trees to commemorate this ancient tradition.
It’s easy to eat out in Glastonbury and the area is especially good for vegetarian, vegan and organic meals. Glastonbury’s spiritual reputation doesn’t prevent it from having more than its fair share of pubs, ranging from small and intimate to the large and extremely noisy.
Should you decide to extend your visit there are numerous places to stay, although there are no large luxury hotels in Glastonbury. However, there is a campsite within walking distance to town – and several others a little further out – perhaps staying a little closer to nature will enable you to better experience Glastonbury’s spiritual atmosphere!
Who should I take?
Glastonbury is best suited to adults, especially those with an interest in the mystical or spiritual. It can also provide a number of romantic moments, standing alone on the Tor with your loved one will be an image you’ll never forget.

{mosimage}Enjoy a friendly atmosphere of Inverness and bask in highland hospitality at its finest. You can choose to stay at a bed and breakfast, an economy hotel or live
in the lap of luxury at one of the four star establishments. There are also many guest cottages that you can rent for a day, a few days or even longer.

Immerse yourself in the diverse landscapes, art and music of Scotland’s Western Isles, also called the Hebrides. This 150 mile long chain of islands stands majestically at the northwest edge of Europe. The beaches and the wilds provide ample opportunities for you to engage in all kinds of outdoor activities. There are idyllic spots where you can sit and relax all by yourselves in the most romantic setting in the world. If you like to fish, there are many sea lochs and fresh water areas that cannot be outdone by the supply of fish and the natural beauty of the region. You can take whale watching boat tours and see seals, puffins and dolphins along the way. There are guided walks where you will mix with otters, deer and other wild creatures. Surfing, boating, diving and climbing activities are available to satisfy any adventurous spirit. You may even return home with a new hobby. With 22 hours of daylight in the summer months, you will have plenty of time to enjoy everything that the Isles have to offer.