Best of British

Our latest travel news, reports and photos of holiday destinations in the British Isles

Highclere Castle: Behind the scenes of Downton Abbey

Since the debut of Downton Abbey, the thrilling turn-of-the-century TV drama that follows the trials and tribulations of the aristocratic Crawley family has transformed its venue into...

Paradise found: The world's most beautiful beaches are calling

From the South Bank to Portobello Road: London's best freebies

Quiz time: Wise up for the Games with our fun facts

The best of Britain's beaches

Beaches might not be the first thing that spring to mind when you think of Britain, but our coastline is worth exploring. You don't have to venture far from home to find long stretches of sandy beach....

Best of the fests: The UK's top summer festivals

The UK is renowned for its music festivals and this year there is more choice than ever. It's time to check your wellies for leaks, pack a tent and get ready to party! From opulent opera at Glyndebourne...

London 2012 Festival, the hottest ticket in town

Alongside the Olympic Games, London is hosting its biggest ever cultural festival from June 21 until September 9, the London 2012 Festival. As the Olympic torch races along the home straight...

And they're off! Royal Ascot 2012 gets off to a flying start

We're in the midst of the five day event that marks the beginning of British Summer Time, Royal Ascot. Over the past 300 years Royal Ascot has established itself as one of the highlights of the British...

Hike the new coastal path around Wales

The newly opened path now stretches along the coast of Wales for 870 miles and allows you to discover the countryside from the outskirts of Chester in the north, almost at the border with England, to the...

Lands of a Scottish legend

"Wallace made Scotland; he is Scotland: he is the symbol of all that is best and purest and truest and most heroic in our national life." with these words, R.B. Cunninghame Graham, the...

The 'Titanic' legend lives on in Belfast

Even before the official opening, this awe-inspiring six-storey building located in the Titanic Quarter district has become the pride of the city. Shaped like the bows of four great ocean-going vessels...

St Patrick's Day: all the craic in Dublin

St Patrick's Day is an excuse to celebrate all things Irish, and Dublin is all set with music, dancing and street performances, fun fairs and walking tours, and, of course, the highlight, the grand St...

Discover the wizardry behind 'Harry Potter'

If you thought the magic was over, you were wrong: from the end of March 2012, the Warner Bros. behind-the-scenes tour invites visitors see first-hand some of the most memorable sets from the beloved eight-film...

Time for tea - and cakes, too!

Quite simply, tea is our national drink, classless and timeless, and every day we drink 165 million cups of it. But 'tea' isn't just a drink: even the cricket commentators appreciate a slice of cake with...

Capital eating around London

Of the list of the world's 50 best restaurants, three are to be found in the British capital: The Ledbury, St. John and Hibiscus should be a clear indication to anyone who doubts the culinary calibre in...

Inspirational Dublin pubs  

It is impossible not to be inspired by Dublin. Whether it's the worn cobblestones of the Temple Bar district or the aroma of Guinness along the River Liffey, there's something about the Irish capital that...

Super ideas for Valentine's getaways

A touch of nostalgia  On the Devon coast, the privately owned Burgh Island – actually only separated from the mainland at high tide – is the site of Burgh Island Hotel. This fine art-deco...

'The Quiet Man' movie trail

For the film, the American director of Irish descent created the now mythical town of Innisfree as a setting for the love story between the former boxer Sean Thornton, portrayed with a gentle warmth...

What the Dickens is going on?

The name of Dickens evokes a very specific historical period, and the great writer's cultural influence extends far beyond the literary with his stories being inseparable from the topic of social reform....

The world's best toy shops

Hamleys, London Established in 1760, the seven-storey toy shop on Regents Street is a treat for any family shopping day in the capital. Rocking horses, dolls and other traditional toys, educational toys,...