London is a true world city with great sights, excellent shopping and dining, and exciting nightlife options. London's attraction is its cosmopolitanism, rivalling that of New York. An imperial capital in the 19th century, it has become a vibrant world city that is home to a fascinating mix of peoples, many of which are immigrants from former colonies bringing with them a multi-ethnic character, embracing Caribbean, Asian and African influences.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, has an intriguing city skyline that includes a dramatic castle perched on a high crag. The Royal Mile runs down from the castle, through the high tenements of the old town, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, official residence of British royalty when in Scotland. The elegance of the new town contrasts with the historic ambience of the old town, but Edinburgh is most famous for the annual Edinburgh Festival in late August.

Cardiff, recent capital of Wales, has a wonderful Civic Centre, a group of dignified buildings built in the early 20th century in classical style amid tree-lined squares and boulevards. You will find the NationalMuseum of Wales here, one of Britain's finest.
Other top cities in Britain include Oxford, with its dreamy spires and colleges; the industrial powerhouse of Birmingham in the Midlands; the culturally-rich north England city of Manchester with its excellent libraries, museums and galleries; and nearby Liverpool famed for the Beatles and football.

Britain also has some fine national parks such as the Lake District in northwest England; Trossachs National Park in the Scottish Highlands; the Yorkshire Dales; Peak District; Brecon Beacons in Wales; and Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks in the southwest. For coastal scenery, head for the south of Wales around the Swansea area and the coasts of Devon and Cornwall.