London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It is a 21st-century city with the history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stands the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames River, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex and the entire city.    

Sr Christopher Wren’s 17th-century St. Paul’s Cathedral towers above ‘The City’, where London’s global Stock Exchange conducts its business. Royal sites include Buckingham Palace, housing the monarch's main residence and offices. The Tower of London is a former prison that’s home to the Crown Jewels. The British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern explore the local and international history and art. West End theatres present classic and cutting-edge drama. Covent Garden, Soho and Spitalfields markets are popular dining and shopping areas. Major public spaces include Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath.

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BEST TIME TO VISIT LONDON:

London is a year-round destination. It gets busiest Jun-Sep and in the run-up to Christmas and New Year (Dec). Jul–Aug is when many Europeans take holidays, so visitors may face more crowds and limited availability of hotel rooms. Key events include the London Marathon (Apr), Notting Hill Carnival (Aug) and Frieze London art fair (Oct). Sep-May is the city's primary season for theatre, opera, ballet and classical music. Summer’s warmer weather brings many free outdoor music and theatre festivals.

Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland's western Lowlands. It's famed for its Victorian art and  nouveau architecture. It carries a rich legacy of the city's 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it's a national cultural hub. It is home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland. It also hosts acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene.      

Glasgow's grand Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum fills a red-sandstone Victorian castle. The Burrell Collection located in Pollok Country Park exhibits art and antiquities donated to the city by a local shipping magnate. Art nouveau buildings by local architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh include Sauchiehall Street’s Willow Tearooms, Bellahouston Park’s House for an Art Lover and the Glasgow School of Art.

The Clyde Waterfront incorporates the futuristic Glasgow Science Centre with interactive displays. Pedestrianized Buchanan Street has upmarket boutiques. The East End is home to the sprawling ‘Barras’ weekend flea market.

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BEST TIME TO VISIT GLASGOW:

Peak season is from May-Dec. Weather is moderate, and rain is possible, year-round. Burns Night (Jan) is celebrated with Scotch whiskey and helpings of haggis (a traditional dish of cooked sheep organs). Other key events include the Celtic Connections festival (Jan–Feb), a celebration of traditional music; the Glasgow Art Fair (Mar), featuring contemporary work from around the world; and the World Pipe Band Championships (Aug).

Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and an elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials.     The Royal Mile, lined with shops selling souvenirs, clan tartans and whisky, leads from the castle to 16th-century Holyrood Palace, an official royal residence.

The Scottish National Galleries display Scottish and European art, including portraits of many famous Scots. Princes Street, the main shopping area, is home to 19th-century Jenners Department Store and its skylit grand hall. The summer art festival season, a city institution, includes the internationally renowned Edinburgh International Festival and its quirkier sibling, Fringe. Restaurants in waterside Leith serve high-end local seafood to traditional fish and chips.

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