United Kingdom travel guide

Well, London hardly needs any introduction. It is world famous for a long list of iconic tourist attractions that make London a very popular destination. Its reputation as a shopper's paradise and the never-ending offerings of entertainment (think musicals) and great eatings from all over the world only increase London's appeal. That said, it can be hard to enjoy all the splendour in high season, when you have to kick your way through the hordes of ice cream eating tourists and foreign school classes, but then you can always explore the lesser-known parts of London. Have a look at our London guide and get some inspiration for both the iconic places and hidden corners.

Mt Great Orme (207 m) rises above the seaside town of Llandudno. During winter the slopes are used for skiing with several ski lifts. In summer the many visitors reach the summit by either the scenic tram or simply just drive up here in their car. But the proper way to explore the Walsh coutryside is of course on foot. The walk from Llandudno town to the summit doesn't take more than 2 hours and there are plenty of side trips to add, like to the ancient church of St. Tudno. If you are coming down on the other side (southwest), you will get panoramic views over the bay.

Elegant Oxford is one of the finest university towns in the world. The old part of town is dominated by the many exquisite colleges. No matter where you look towers, spires and graceful buildings come into sight. Every place has a long history and are not afraid of subtly boast of all the famous people, who have attended just their college. Though the whole area is fairly small, there are many narrow lanes, inner courtyards and hidden corners to get lost in. For those long philosophical walks head down to the River Thames, one of the deer parks or near the rugby fields, where the medieval skyline of Oxford can be taken in from the distant. The wonderful part, which is also the downside, is that Oxford is a functional university town. Students live and study here, so while some college, or at least parts of, are open to the public, many are off limits or charge a fee.

Before you venture into the Scottish Highlands for the first time, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. But then you get there... and man, it's pretty. Staggering mountains, cold rivers, dark lakes with perfect reflection, heathered ranges and fields with fury Scottish highland cattle. It's wild, untamed and raw - a bit like the Scots themselves. It is possible to take in a fair bit from the comfort of a car or a bus, but as with most places you need to get out there to really experience the Scottish Highlands. There are plenty of walks, from short hikes to weeklong treks, while cycling, mountain biking, kayaking and skiing are other options. But no matter where you choose to go, you will be rewarded with some splendid scenery.

Snowdon means Snow Mountain, therefor the lack of Mt infront of the name. It's the highest mountain in Wales and the highest mountain in UK south of the Scottish Highlands. There are two ways to scale Snowdon; either take the scenic train from Llaberis all the way to the summit (who says cheating?) or hiking along one of the six trails leading to the summit. The most popular trail is the Llaberis, starting from the train station in Llaberis. It normally takes 3-4 hours one way, but can be done in 2.5 hours (one way) if you set a good pace.

York could be yet another medieval English town, if it wasn't for its gothic cathedral. York Minster is quite frankly jaw-dropping. Firstly, it is massive. It is so big that it is hard to photograph the entire building unless you have an ultra-wide angle lens. Secondly, it is packed with wonderful stuff, like the giant (23.7 m x 9.4 m) stained-glass window (Great East Window) depicting Genesis and the Book of Revelations, that it will take days to see it all. So it's natural that you will keep circling around the cathedral, but York has more to offer. Cute old houses along curvy streets, ancient city walls and the lazy river of Ouse, not to mention Jorvik, a viking museum slash theme park.