1. Visit Stonehenge: History buffs will love visiting Stonehenge, a Neolithic site, located close to Amesbury in England. Feel thrilled as you visit yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to 3000 BC and is known to be the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world.
The magnificent site consists of standing and lying stones, some of which have been transported from South Wales. Take a walk around the place and learn more about different aspects of Stonehenge from free audio guides.
Location: Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE, UK
Timings: 9:30 am to 5 pm
2. Stroll at Tower of London: Visit the iconic and most recognisable landmark of London, the Tower of London, a 900-year-old castle and UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the magnificent place and do not miss out on visiting the White Tower, the Jewel House – home of the priceless Crown Jewels, The Royal Mint, The Medieval Palace, the ‘Bloody Tower’ and Tower Green.
You may also get a chance to watch the ‘Ceremony of the Keys’ – the 700-year-old traditional ‘locking up’ of the Tower gates each evening.
Location: London EC3N 4AB, UK
Timing: 10:30 to 16:30
3. Marvel at Big Ben: A star attraction of London is the famous clock tower, Big Ben, now named Elizabeth Tower, and located near Westminster Abbey in central London. Visit this hundred meter tall UNESCO World Heritage Site which was designed by Augustus Pugin and feel awe-struck looking at its grandeur.
Big Ben is actually the nickname given to the Great Bell of the clock which is the second largest four-faced chiming clock in the world. It is a part of the Houses of Parliament and has been the iconic symbol of London for several centuries.
Location: Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, UK
Timings: Monday to Thursday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm; Friday to Sunday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
4. Explore the British Museum: If you are interested in taking a look at ancient exhibits from around the world, visit the British Museum. Feel awe-struck as you stroll across the museum and take a look at more than 13 million artefacts from China, Egypt, Assyria, the Roman Empire, Babylonia, Greece, and Europe. Delight at spotting the most famous ancient artefacts of the museum, the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon in Athens, and also the famous Rosetta Stone.
Location: Great Russell Street, London
Timings: 10.00 am – 5.00 am
5. Spot wildlife at Chester Zoo: Spend a day with around 11,000 animals belonging to 400 different species at Chester Zoo, spread across 125-acres of land. Located in Upton, a mile north of Chester city centre, this zoo is the largest and most popular zoo in the United Kingdom.
Take a trip inside the place in the zoo’s very own monorail system. Feel excited as you see the various animal attractions such as Chimpanzee Island, a penguin pool, the Realm of the Red Ape, Tsavo Black Rhino reserve, the impressive Asian Elephant house, Fruit Bat Forest and the newly opened Islands at Chester Zoo.
Location: Chester CH2 1EU, UK
Timings: Monday – Sunday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
6. Pay a Visit to Canterbury Cathedral: Pay a visit to the Canterbury Cathedral, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is known as the cradle of English Christianity. Feel enchanted as you visit this stunning cathedral with its tradition to welcome visitors as per the days of medieval pilgrimage.
Observe the intricately carved masonry on the exterior as you go on a guided tour. You may also opt to go on the 40 minutes audio tour if you wish to explore the place by yourself.
Location: 11 The Precincts, Canterbury, England
Timings: Monday to Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday: 12:30 pm to 5 pm.
7. Meet celebrities at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum: Feel excited seeing famous faces in their wax form at the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. Delight in watching more than 250 lifelike wax figures on display, portraying famous musicians, Hollywood actors, and even the members of the royal family.
Feel exhilarated as you take your picture with Kate Winslet, Madonna, Ed Sheeran, and Benedict Cumberbatch and take a look at David Beckham and Usain Bolt. Children will be super excited to get the opportunity to meet their favourite Marvel Super Heroes and heroes and villains from Star Wars movies.
Location: Madame Tussauds, Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR
Timings: 10 am to 4 pm
8. Relax at Holkham Beach: Go on a picnic on the magical Holkham Beach, which is destined to take your breath away. Located on the north of Norfolk Coast, the renowned beach is the star attraction of Norfolk and is a part of the Holkham Nature Reserve.
Spend some time on this most unspoilt beach with a vast stretch of golden sand and open landscapes merging with the skyline. Feel excited to explore the semi-circular basin, which, at very high tides, rapidly fills to form a stunning shallow lagoon.
Location: Holkham, North Norfolk
Timings: 10 am-4 pm
9. Wander at Durham Castle: The magnificent Durham Castle is a World Heritage site that you must visit to experience over 1000 years of history of the place. Built in the Norman period as an imposing fortress, the castle has been often affected by major historical events and was transformed in the Victorian period into a place of learning, as the founding college of Durham University.
Visit the 18th-century castle and take a 45 minutes tour of the place to understand how a castle has evolved to modern-day life while retaining its ancient beauty.
Location: Durham Castle, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RW
Timings: Tours start at 1.15pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm and 4.15pm. During vacations, tours start at 10.15 am, 11.15 am and 12.15 noon.
10. Enjoy Chinatown: Spend some time at China Town, located in London’s West End and get the essence of Chinese culture as you enter the place and find a distinct melange of paper lanterns, shops, restaurants and cafes, that has been bounded by four ornate and imposing gates.
Embark on a shopping expedition and purchase interesting trinkets and wares along with ornate paper lanterns and authentic Maneki-Neko. You can also go for a Karaoke experience in one of the joints or admire the Chinese art at Chinese Art Now. You must not leave this place until you have tried out some Chinese street food and desserts.
Location: 55-57 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0BL, UK, United Kingdom
Timing: 12 pm - 12 am