This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on December 30, 2015.
Ah, Britain. The mere thought of it brings up images of London and the Tower Bridge, Harry Potter, football, Queen Elizabeth and the Big Ben. Although all these iconic images of Great Britain are memorable and significant in their own right, 2016 sees exciting events taking place in the country — events that should not be missed if you are planning a vacation to what was once the biggest empire in the world, with dominions, protectorates and territories that spanned the globe.
Queen Elizabeth II turns 90 in 2016, a milestone in British history, as since her accession in 1952, she has been the longest reigning queen since her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. She is also the oldest reigning monarch in the world, and The Royal Collection Trust will be celebrating this huge milestone with special exhibitions (www.royalcollection.org.uk). Three exhibitions entitled Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen’s Wardrobe will be staged across each of Her Majesty’s official residences throughout the year.
Constituting the largest display of The Queen’s dress ever mounted, these exhibitions will open at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh during her birthday on April 21, followed by the Summer Opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace in August and at Windsor Castle in September. The Queen’s life and Great Britain’s history will be highlighted through this collection of dress, jewellery and accessories. More than 150 outfits will be showcased, covering a period of 10 decades, from the 1920s to the 2010s.
Wales has declared 2016 as the Year of Adventure, and VisitWales has put together a list of unique things to do there throughout the year. There are over 600 castles in Wales — more per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Among their most popular castles include the 19th century Castell Coch, Historic Harlech Castle, and Penrhyn Castle. In addition to man-made marvels, Wales is also home to some of the most astoundingly beautiful views in the United Kingdom. The Gower Peninsula was the very first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK, and is well-known for its coastline featuring aquamarine-coloured seas, caves and for its great waves the surfers adore.
Nature lovers on the other hand, will appreciate Wales’ Skomer Island’s incredible night-time symphony of thousands of Manx shearwater birds returning to the island after hunting, which happens in July. In autumn, watch Atlantic grey seals make their way to the coastal beaches to give birth. Puffins also call the beaches of Pembrokeshire their home during the summer months, making Skomer Island the perfect destination for wildlife photographers.
The Brits invented a whole host of sports, including badminton, football, cricket, croquet, field hockey, netball, rugby and lawn tennis, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a visit to Britain is a great opportunity to participate in any sporting experience. Adventure lovers can climb England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike, which is located at the Lake District, in prime walking country. At 978m high, you can see incredible views from the top, and legend has it that these views were responsible for sparking the imaginations of countless poets, painters and climbers.
Daredevils, on the other hand, can have a go around the Silverstone racing track, home of British motor racing since 1948. The Formula Silverstone Racing Car single seater experience puts you in the driving seat, so you can go from 0 to 100kph in under five seconds. For more info, visit www.silverstone.co.uk.
Are you a fan of Game of Thrones? Then a custom-designed bike excursion by Winterfell Tours (www.gameofthrones-winterfelltours.com) is not to be missed. One of the best ways to see key Game of Thrones filming locations around Winterfell (real-life Castle Ward in County Down, Northern Ireland) is on two wheels. Check out the world of Westeros and try your hand at archery in a replica of the Winterfell Archery Range — the exact spot where filming took place.
Instead of camping out in the woods or hiking, why not discover the forest on horseback? The New Forest National park’s ponies have lived in the area since before the last Ice Age, and still roams around the park freely. The Ford Farm Stables (www.nfed.co.uk/fordfarm) in Brockenhurst offers serene rides in the heart of the forest.
Learn to surf in Newquay, a rugged spot on the north coast of Cornwall. Here, there are 10 surf beaches and a vibrant surf community — perfect for getting on that board for the very first time. The Fistral Beach Surf School (www.fistralbeach.co.uk) offers group and private lessons as well as board hires. They can also arrange accommodation at Tolcarne Beach, which is known for its consistent surf conditions in surf shacks, beach cabins, and even luxury apartments.
Doctor Who, the beloved UK television series that has been running since 1963 is one of Britain’s national treasures, aside from Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. At the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff (www.doctorwho.tv/events/doctor-who-experience) you will be able to personally enjoy Tardis, Daleks, Sonic devices, as well as the various incarnations of the Doctor. Costumes and props that were featured on the show are also on display, and can be used during photo sessions that are done in front of a green screen.
If you haven’t started planning your holidays to Great Britain yet, this should really give you the jones to hit the road come 2016.