The British Isles are a great travel destination: culture, history and nature are present to make our days there a wonder. It is true that it is a more expensive destination than the rest of Europe and that one must do the numbers well, but that does not stop travelers so it is only a matter of organizing.
The front door is usually London but today we propose a route linking London with Edinburgh, two of the most touristic cities in the UK. If you are thinking of going to this part of the world, this information is sure to be very practical.
London
London is a very cosmopolitan city and the one that offers the most tourist attractions. The best thing you can do is program in advance what you want to visit because it all depends on your tastes. There are always the tourism offices to ask for information, buy tickets, ask for maps or get a hotel or find out how you can get around the city and the rest of the country.
You can pre-download apps that facilitate the visit or free maps of the transport system. Among the first stand out Visit London (the official guide with offline maps), City Mapper London (free), Street Art London Map, Santander Cycles App (free bike app that shows you bike stops and routes), Regent Street App, Riverside London App and some others.
We have spoken several times about what it is like to get around London, the tube and buses basically, and the cards (Oyster or London Pass), which you can buy. Here we leave you top ten most popular London attractions:
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: It is a walk through the world of Harry Potter so it is in position 1 of the list.
- Coca Cola London Eye: it is the London Ferris wheel with 32 modern capsules that each carry 25 people. Tickets can be purchased online from £ 22 per adult.
- Madame Tussauds Museum: Usain Bolt, William and Kate, Lady Gaga and many world celebrities…. in its wax version. Admission is £ 15.
- Hop on Hop off bus tour: Is it sooo touristy for you? Sometimes this kind of walk is worth doing. The ticket lasts 24 hours and gives you a glimpse of the most popular with its four routes and more than 60 stops. Many languages and a boat ride on the Thames is included in the price.
- Tower of London: one of the oldest buildings in the city, nine long centuries, and one of the most iconic. Contains the Crown Jewels as well. admission costs £ 22.
- The Shard: It is a modern building that symbolizes London on 244st century postcards. It is the tallest building in Western Europe and is 30 meters high. The views from its observation deck are spectacular. The ticket costs 95 pounds and if you buy it online 5 pounds less.
- Westminster Abbey: an elegant seven-century abbey where English monarchs are crowned. Audio guides are available and the tour costs £ 20.
- London dungeon: is a show with actors and special effects. Something to have fun 90 minutes walking in spooky places. The ticket costs 23 pounds.
- San Pablo's cathedral: it was built in the seventeenth century and its interior is beautiful and very valuable for its art and its delicate mosaics. You can climb the tower by a spiral staircase and see the city. The ticket costs 16 pounds.
- SEA LIFE Aquarium: the truth is that it is a good place to know the underwater life. There are more than 500 species, including sharks and corals. The ticket costs from 19 pounds.
Of course, London offers us much more but with little time or money we would say that among these 10 attractions you have to know how to choose.
Edinburgh
Our second destination is Edinburgh, an extraordinary city and very varied because it has medieval sectors and a part of Georgian style that is fantastic. It is undoubtedly a beautiful city.
Knowing that you will follow this route (London, Edinburgh) it is advisable to buy transport tickets in advance to save money. Many times you can buy them for up to three months. The offers are always round trip to London, something to take advantage of if you plan to go and return, but since they are in the United Kingdom you can continue traveling.
The cheapest option to go from London to Edinburgh is by bus. Fares start at £ 26 but you must be willing to spend around nine hours on the route. National Express or Megabus are joint ventures. Another option is to take a low cost flight from Ryanair but you should consider luggage and transfer from the airport to the city. As well there are trains that leave every half hour and they do the journey in four hours and 20 minutes.
Virgin trains It is a company with which you can book up to three months in advance and trains leave from Kings Cross from 7 am to 7 pm. Also there are night trains with sleeper cars. If you book in advance the ticket can cost from 15 pounds to 40 pounds but if you buy the ticket the same day it can cost you around 140 pounds.
Now these are Edinburgh's most popular tourist attractions:
- Edinburgh Castle: It is at the top of Castle Rock, an extinct volcano, and is the icon of the city and the oldest building. Inside the National War Memorial works, there are the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the well-known Stone of Destiny. Admission is £ 16.
- The Real Mary King's Close: is a tour that takes us to the 15th century in the city with stories of murders, ghosts and devastating plagues. It is seven days a week, every 10 minutes starting at 14 am. It costs 50 pounds and you can visit the website and buy it online.
- The Edinburgh Dungeon: another fun visit but this time with actors and special effects that recreate somewhat macabre characters from the city. There are different versions, with different characters, and prices start at 13 pounds.
- The Scotch Whiskey Experience: Scotland is known for its whiskey so being here you can learn about its production process. There are several possible tours and prices start at £ 16 for a 50 minute visit.
- Yatch Royal Britannia: It is the ship of the British royal family for forty years and is anchored in the Ocean Termial in Leith. There is an audio tour inside and if you like boats it is great. Admission is £ 15.
- Palace of Holyroodhouse: speaking of kings is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland. It comes every year in June, but outside of that season it is open to the public and you can see the room where Mary, Queen of Scots, was living when she returned from France in 1561. Admission is £ 12.
- The Scott Monument: It is the monument built to the greatest writer in the world and honors the memory of Sir Walter Scott. It dates from the 287th century and you can climb the XNUMX steps to the top. The views, superb.
We have talked about the best known tourist attractions in London and Edinburgh, but of course both cities cannot be reduced to them. There are restaurants, museums, bars and a very rich cultural life in both. But if you do not have much time and not much money, the pound is very expensive! Among these options you will be forced to choose and make your own list of attractions to visit.