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Home / TRIP IDEAS / A-List Travel Advisors / T+L's Destination of the Year for 2023: Why the U.K.

T+L's Destination of the Year for 2023: Why the U.K.

2022-11-18  Maliyah Mah

A trip across the pond has never been more advantageous to schedule.

For a country that takes itself in its stoicism, the United Kingdom has experienced a turbulent decade. Scottish independence once appeared to be the most important issue facing our time. After that came Brexit. For the first time in 70 years, we now have a new head of state: a king rather than a queen, a new image on our currency, and a brand-new set of postage stamps. There has been a lot of deep soul-searching. It may have jarred some people's nerves, but the effect has also been energizing. The United Kingdom currently offers the ideal balance of familiarity and mystery for travelers looking to explore new ground in established locales.

Most likely, you'll fly into London, a metropolis that genuinely spans the globe. The monk and historian St. Bede claimed that the island was home to five different ethnic groups, each with its own dialect, including English, Common Brittonic, Scottish Gaelic, Pictish, and Latin. There are currently over 300, and you may hear them all on the London Underground or in above-ground restaurants that serve the corresponding cuisines. In this city, thousands of years of art, architecture, and plunder are on display in its museums, galleries, and public spaces. This is a city where world history has merged, sometimes regrettably.

King’s Cross Station
 

But there is much more to the United Kingdom than its most well-known city, and much of it can be seen with the help of the country's finest invention: the railway. I say this as someone from the provinces.

When you board a train in London's King's Cross Station, the boroughs quickly give way to pasture and, in the mornings, a gentle mist. Less than two hours to the north is historic York. Romans called it Eboracum, Vikings Jorvik, and both civilizations are well represented in this town, which is also noted for its stunning medieval cathedrals, frequent ghost sightings, and plenty of bars.

The train will take you to Edinburgh, the city I now call home if you get back on it. Few cities blend stark natural beauty and startling architectural grandeur so perfectly as this city, which is spread across seven hills facing the North Sea and three of which were once volcanoes, do. Cobblestoned streets, castles, and churches, or "kirks," can all be found in the Old Town. The New Town has Georgian boulevards, eateries, cafés, and boutiques—new being a relative term. Edinburgh, which is constantly buzzing, transforms into the European cultural hub in August when it plays host to the Edinburgh International Festival and its irreverent sidekick, the Fringe.

The Grampian Mountains are to the north. These old hills have a special allure despite the fact that there are numerous ranges in the globe that are taller, longer, or more impressive. Before visiting the Hebrides, of which the Isle of Skye is the crown gem, you could take the train to Mallaig and cross the well-known Glenfinnan Viaduct. It's difficult to not but hum "The Skye Boat Song," a well-known Jacobite ballad that was recently revitalized as the Outlander series' opening music when you cross the bridge to this island.

Traveling south
 

The Lake District, which was made famous by the Lake District's twin poet laureates, William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, can be reached by traveling south along the western coast. Then there are the rival siblings from the northwest of England, Manchester, and Liverpool. The world-famous football teams are known to sports fanatics, whereas everyone is familiar with the Beatles. These cities, like London, are genuinely multicultural and open to the outside world. For an insight into Britain's ugly imperial past, head to Liverpool's Albert Dock, or visit Manchester's "Curry Mile" for our genuine national food.

Over the sea in Northern Ireland. Belfast is a popular film and television set since it has been revitalized and is hungry for visitors. There, a significant portion of Game of Thrones was filmed, and fans may tour the studios and sit on the Iron Throne. Wales is the location of magnificent Norman castles and stunning coastlines. From Dylan Thomas to Tom Jones, the nation has produced many poets and singers. Or you may take England's southern route. Jane Austen fans will be impressed by the spa resort of Bath, and Oxford and Cambridge have influenced university culture and intellectual curiosity around the globe. The Home Counties and the Cotswolds, however, offer the charming towns and gently undulating hills of "Old England."

Charles Dickens
 

A trip to the UK can be planned in a variety of ways. You may accomplish it geographically by traveling to the most attractive places. You might accomplish it through literature, planning your journey in accordance with its finest authors: William Shakespeare for everywhere, Daphne Du Maurier for the West Country, Robert Burns for Scotland, and Charles Dickens for London. How much is crammed into such a small, accessible country will astound you? What about its populace? We're still figuring things out. But many people, like myself, are adamant that this period of soul-searching must lead to a nation that is global, lively, and large. And we'll extend a warm welcome to you.


2022-11-18  Maliyah Mah