Non-Flash Guide to UK Attractions

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ARUNDEL CASTLE
Arundel is an ancient and picturesque town on the River Arun. It is dominated by a huge castle, which stands in 1000 acres of grounds. Inside the castle are many pieces of 15th-century furniture, a collection of armour, and pictures by Gainsborough and Van Dyck.

AVEBURY
The village of Avebury lies within a circle of massive Neolithic standing stones, weighing up to 60 tons. Also here are an Elizabethan Manor and museum. Nearby are the ancient Silbury Hill, the largest man-made earth structure in Europe, and West Kennet Barrow burial chamber.

BATH
An elegant city of well-preserved Georgian buildings, Bath originated as a Roman Spa in the 1st-century. Attractions include the Roman Baths, the ornately carved Bath Abbey, 18th-century Royal Crescent, and Pulteney Bridge, whose arches support a wide street lined with shops.

BLENHEIM PALACE
Blenheim Palace was built for John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough as the gift from a grateful nation for his victories over the French at Blenheim in 1704. Sir Winston Churchill, grandson of the 7th Duke, was born at Blenheim in 1874. Churchill was buried on the edge of the Blenheim estate in Bladon church.

BRIGHTON
Brighton took off as a seaside resort when the Prince Regent built his exotic Royal Pavilion here in 1852. The town is full of elegant Regency squares and terraces, interesting shops, and maze-like little streets. The Victorian pier forms the focal point of the promenade.

CAERNARFON
The name Caernarfon is Welsh for 'Fort on the Shore'. The magnificent castle, built by King Edward I in the 13th- to 14th-centuries, was the scene of the Investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales in 1969.

CAMBRIDGE
The first college, Peterhouse, was founded at Cambridge in 1281. Over the next few hundred years, most of the other colleges were established. The town, too, is very ancient, and has its origins in Celtic settlements around the River Cam.

CANTERBURY
The cathedral dominates the narrow, ancient streets of Canterbury. The city became the centre of the Anglican Church when St Augustine founded his cathedral here in AD 602. It was the scene of the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170, and his shrine drew many pilgrims, such as those in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

CARDIFF
Cardiff, capital city of Wales, dates back to AD75. The castle contains a Norman keep and ornate Victorian interiors. The National Museum of Wales features many great works of art, including Rodin's The Kiss. Cardiff's other attractions include its redeveloped waterfront area, and the new Millennium Stadium.

CHARTWELL
Home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924 until the end of his life, this Victorian house and terraced gardens possess stunning views over the Weald. Inside, the rooms remain much as the great statesman left them, with pictures, papers and mementoes on display.

CORNWALL
The county of Cornwall is famous for its spectacular coastline, sculpted headlands and picturesque fishing villages. There is a great deal of folklore and mythology surrounding the area, and many bronze- and iron-age ruins remain.

COTSWOLDS
The Cotswolds in central England cover an area bounded by Oxford, Stratford, Cheltenham and Bath. Famed for its pretty villages of honey-coloured stone, rolling hills and a cultivated upland landscape, the Cotswolds offer a complete cross section, from stone circles to stately homes, and formal gardens to informal arboretums.

DOVER
Dover, with its famous white cliffs, is Britain's main passenger port. Dover castle dates back to Roman times, and beneath it lies a tunnel system, dug during the Napoleonic Wars, and used as an air-raid shelter during WWII.

DURHAM
Durham is best known for its magnificent Cathedral, which is the last resting place of many of the early English saints. It was for centuries home for a com-munity of Benedictine monks. The cathedral, a large part of which dates back some 900 years, is regarded as one of the most complete examples of Romanesque architecture in existence.

EDINBURGH
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. The present castle, which dates back to 1109, stands dominating the city. The old town is a cluster of narrow, winding streets, in contrast to the city's many Georgian crescents and squares. Every year the city hosts the famous Edinburgh Festival of culture and arts.

GATWICK AIRPORT
Located about 25 miles south of London, Gatwick is Britain's second international airport. Why not take advantage of Guidelines to Britain's Transfer Tours? A car and guide will meet your flight, transfer you to your hotel, and give you a personal introduction to the Capital.

GLASGOW
Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, and has previously been named as European City of Culture. It is well known for the Glasgow School of Art, which was founded by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and for the Hunterian Art Gallery, containing works by Rubens and Whistler.

GLASTONBURY
The dramatic Tor and 15th-century tower dominate the landscape and offer spectacular views over Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. A place of legend, the Holy Grail is said to lie here, and some believe it to be the final resting place of King Arthur.

THE GOWER PENINSULA
The Gower Peninsula juts into the Bristol Channel to the West of Swansea. It consists of spectacular headlands, sweeping bays and windswept grassland, and is home to many rare species of plants and birds.

HAMPTON COURT
Hampton Court Palace has stood on the banks of the River Thames for over 500 years. It was one of the favourite residences of King Henry VIII, and two of his wives are said to haunt the Palace. Among the attractions here are the ornate State Apartments, Tudor kitchens and famous maze.

HEATHROW AIRPORT
Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport, is located about 10 miles west of London. Why not take advantage of Guidelines to Britain's Transfer Tours? A car and guide will meet your flight, transfer you to your hotel, and give you a personal introduction to the Capital.

HEVER CASTLE
The impressive Hever Castle was the home of Anne Boleyn, and dates back to 1270. Its award winning gardens were created by the Astor family at the turn of the last century. Other attractions at Hever include exhibitions, costumes, a lake and a Yew Maze.

HIDCOTE MANOR GARDENS
One of England's great gardens, consisting of a series of outdoor 'rooms', each with a different character. The garden is famous for its rare and unusual plant species, and has been designed to ensure a spectacular display of colour throughout the seasons.

INVERNESS
Dubbed the 'capital of the Scottish Highlands', Inverness is the site of Macbeth's castle in Shakespeare's play. At nearby Culloden Moor, Bonnie Prince Charlie's troops were finally defeated by the English in 1746. Loch Ness, with its famous monster, lies a few miles away.

KEW GARDENS
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is made up of 300 acres of magnificent gardens. There are formal gardens and wild areas, shady walks and a lake, giant glasshouses with jungles of palm, tropical fruits and water-lilies. In addition to the amazing plants, Kew has a pagoda and several temples.

LAKE DISTRICT
Covering 880 square miles, the Lake District National Park is the largest of Britain's National Parks. The imposing landscape consists of fells and mountains, valleys and woodlands, open water and wetlands. It is the location of Lake Windermere, which is the largest expanse of fresh water in England.

LEEDS CASTLE
A romantic castle built in the middle of a lake, Leeds Castle features many superb furnishings. It was once the home of the Governor of Virginia. Within the 500 acre park are an aviary, a maze, a vineyard, greenhouses and restaurants.

LONDON
London is the UK's capital city, and was founded in the 1st century AD when the invading Roman army swept across south-east Britain to the River Thames. It is a city of full of history, culture and life, ranging from the ceremony of the Trooping of the Colour, to the bustle of Camden Lock, from its royal palaces, to the new London Eye ferris wheel.

LONGLEAT
Longleat House, one of Britain's most popular stately homes, has stunning Venetian ceilings and Italian decor, and contains many fine paintings. It is also famed for the Safari Park set in the grounds of the estate, which includes lions, tigers and elephants.

OXFORD
Oxford's streets are dominated by the stone-built quadrangles and 'dreaming spires' of its ancient University colleges. Amongst the oldest foundations are Merton College, which was founded in 1264. Oxford is home to the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in the world.

PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth was founded by Richard the Lionheart, who ordered the naval docks to be be built there in 1194. It has remained Britain's premier naval base ever since. Henry VIII's warship, the Mary Rose, is on display, along with Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory.

RYE
Rye is a pretty town with cobbled streets and many 15th- to 17th-century timber houses. It was once notorious for its smuggling, which centered on the Mermaid Inn (rebuilt in 1420).

SALISBURY
At 404 feet, Salisbury Cathedral's spire is the tallest in England, and it can be seen for miles, rising above the water meadows of the River Avon. The cathedral was begun in 1220, and its library houses an original copy of the Magna Carta.

SISSINGHURST GARDEN
One of the world's most celebrated gardens, created by Vita Sackville-West, and developed around the surviving parts of an Elizabethan mansion. The study, where Vita worked, and Long Library are also open to visitors.

SNOWDONIA
Snowdonia National Park is dominated by Mount Snowdon, which at 3560ft is the highest mountain in England and Wales. The park is a mixture of mountains, lakes and deep valleys, and covers an area of 845 square miles.

SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton has its origins deep in history. From here, in 1620, the Pilgrim Fathers set sail on the first leg of their epic journey to America. If you are travelling to or from Southampton, why not take advantage of one of our Transfer Tours?

STONEHENGE
Dating back to the Stone Age, Stonehenge is the most celebrated of Britain's megalithic monuments. It comprises of four concentric ranges of massive stones, some of which were brought from as far away as Wales.

STOURHEAD
One of the finest landscaped gardens in the world, featuring several temples and breathtaking views. The mansion, originally built in 1721, contains many pieces of Chippendale furniture.

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
On the banks of the River Avon stands this pleasant town made famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Attractions include the timbered house where Shakespeare was born, his wife, Anne Hathaway's cottage, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and Harvard House.

WADDESDON MANOR
A huge chateau in French 16th-century style, containing fantastic collections of furniture, paintings, china and tapestries. The manor is set in 160 acres of wooded parkland and lawns, and even has its own well-stocked aviary.

WARWICK
Warwick lies at the 'heart of England', standing on a hill above the River Avon. The town was originally founded in about AD 914, and is dominated by its great medievel castle. The castle's parkland was landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th century.

WELLS
This beautiful cathedral city lies at the foot of the Mendip Hills. The Cathedral has a superbly ornate west front, and a 600 year-old clock, with moving figures that strike the hours. Swans on the moat at the Bishop's Palace have been trained to ring a bell for food.

WINDSOR
Second only to Buckingham Palace as a royal residence, Windsor Castle dates back to Norman times. The State Apartments are stunning, as is St George's Chapel, the resting place of eight kings. The town itself is comprised of a number of fine, old buildings and shops.

WOBURN
18th-century Woburn Abbey, the seat of the Dukes of Bedford, is one of Britain's most famous stately home. The palatial house contains ornate State Apartments and an art collection that includes works by Reynolds, Rembrandt and Van Dyck.

YORK
York was one of the most important English towns in Roman times, and 1000 years later the Vikings created the settlement of Jorvik there. The present day York is a compact city, surrounded by ancient stone walls, and watched over by York Minster, which is the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe.