Category Archives: Hip Guide to Great Britain

Welcome to the Hip Guide to Great Britain

The UK is one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world. It’s a country with a long history, a diverse population and economy chock full of fascinating sights for the visitor.
The cultural and economic capital of the UK, London, is the center of the action, but by no means the only place to visit. Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Brighton, the English countryside all make interesting trips. Small villages, lakes, rugged shorelines, castles, stone circles, even crop circles await your discovery.
This site will help you explore all the UK has to offer the visitor including 300 Hotels, restaurants, museums, and shopping.
Discuss the UK, get travel tips on our UK forums. Visit our UK bookstore for travel books and maps. Browse around our site and let us know what you think!
Don’t forget to check out our London Super Saver Hotels! Big discounts at quality hotels with online booking.

Buckingham Palace

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The tourists crowd to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.

One of the biggest attractions in London is Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II’s home when she’s in town. Tourists flock here to see the changing of the guard, to visit the palace (summer tours help pay for the maintenance), and to see special exhibitions.

The palace is open to the public in August and September. The Queen’s Gallery which displays many of the Royal Treasures including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey; French porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world is now open.

 

SUMMER OPENING OF THE STATE ROOMS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

 

Open 5 August – 29 September
A timed-ticket system is operated, with admission every 15 minutes.
Adult £11.50, Over 60 £9.50, Under 17 £6.00, Under 5 Free, Family £29.00

 

Info:
Email: buckinghampalace@royalcollection.org.uk

Address:
Buckingham Palace
SW1A 1AA
Phone: (+44) (0) 20 7321 2233

The Courhouse Hotel, London

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When I was planning for a trip to London and comparing hotels online I came across The Courthouse Hotel in Soho.  As I am a big history buff it got my attention as an ideal place to stay while exploring the city.

Everything is well done at this hotel.  The owners wisely incoperated the buildings previous life as a courthouse into a five star establishment.

One can now drink in the plush bar built in the space of the former holding cells, sleep in the former judges chambers, and relax and workout in the stylish spa and workout center.

Mick Jagger and John Lennon once slept here by necesity, today it feels like staying at a private club for lawyers in the middle of London´s hot Soho!

Royal Academy of Arts

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Since 1769, the Royal Academy has been putting on the Summer Exhibitions, which are one of the major tourist attractions in London.

Check their website for the exhibition schedule.

Admission: £7 adults, children 12-18 £2.50, children 8-11 £1.50

Info:
Open: 10am to 6pm, until 10pm on Fridays. Last admission to the galleries is thirty minutes before closing.

Underground: Piccadilly
Website: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

Address:
Burlington House, Picadilly
London WIJ OBD
Phone: 020 7300-8000

The Royal Pavilion Brighton

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The Royal Pavilion in Brighton was built by King George IV, and was constructed over a period of 35 years. The Indian style palace is filled with lavish furnishings typical of these dusty old royal palaces… fun to visit if touristing in Brighton however. There is a fee to enter.

Info:
OPENING HOURS

October to March 10.00am-5.15pm (last tickets at 4.30pm)

April to September 9.30am-5.45pm (last tickets at 5.00pm)

Closed 25 & 26 December

Totnes

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Totnes is a small market town nestled at the mouth of the beautiful river Dart surrounded by the green hills of the South Hams in Devon. New Age happened here before it hit most other places, and although time has taken its toll and the pace of the place has changed, it still remains a magnet for artists, musicians, healers, pagans, witches and searchers. If you want to pay a visit make sure you come on a Friday or Saturday – market days – when the whole place comes alive…and more so in spring and summer. Vegetarian restaurants galore, vintage/retro clothes shops, organic health food shops, colourful cafes to lose track of time in…..and from spring to the end of summer pay a visit to the castle at the top of the hill.

Totnes may be small, but its the magic of the place that counts, and I’m sure you’ll feel it. Walk along the river towards Dartington and you’ll arrive at Dartington Hall, a college for the arts set in a beautiful green valley, and where Ravi Shankar came to study dance as a boy. Further on you’ll get to the Dartington Cider Press, a centre selling local crafts such as hand-blown glass and pottery, with adjoining Crank’s cafe, serving great veggie food.