British Isles cruises often touch on Ireland, France and Spain, These cruises are incredibly popular with UK cruise customers, as you get to see your home from another perspective, the sea.
Great Britain & Northern Ireland
The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and is one of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU).
Although an island in its own right, it counts Ireland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands as its closest neighbours, whilst also being surrounded by the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
The most popular cities to visit are:
London, the vibrant capital city of England, and also the largest city in Western Europe, with tourist attractions including Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Marble Arch, Piccadilly Circus, St. Pauls Cathedral, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Big Ben. You may also wish to visit one of its many Museums or Parks;
Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland;
Birmingham, famous for its shopping;
Bristol, with its historical Georgian architecture;
Cardiff, host to a variety of cultural events as well as other modern and historical attractions;
Edinburgh, home to the largest arts festival in the World;
Glasgow; Liverpool; Manchester, with its thriving sports and music scenes;
Newcastle, with a rejuvenated cultural scene and Hadrian's Wall.
Other destinations worth a visit are: the Lake District National Park, Loch Ness, the Peak District, Snowdonia National Park, the Giant's Causeway near Belfast, Edinburgh Castle - a magnificently situated fortress, the Georgian architecture and the Roman Baths in Bath, the historic city of York, Canterbury Cathedral, Stratford-upon-Avon - Shakespeare's birthplace, and Stonehenge - an ancient stone circle located near the city of Salisbury.
You may also wish to visit one of the many National Parks scattered around the whole of the United Kingdom.
Ireland
known as the Emerald Isle, Ireland has many wonderful regions.
The East Coast and the Midlands (including the capital city of Dublin) is the Irish heartland; the Shannon Region is often visited for its castles and the incredible Cliffs of Moher; Southwest Ireland is the scenic and rainy section of Ireland with its beautiful coast and Blarney Castle.
In West Ireland you will find the beautiful Aran Islands; and in Southeast Ireland you will find the famous Waterford crystal. Cities to visit are Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland with fine architecture and excellent shopping; Cork; Galway, famous for its festivals and beautiful landscape; the medieval town of Kilkenny; and Waterford, Ireland's oldest city.
Other destinations worth a visit are the Aran Islands, The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, the Marble Arch Caves and West Cork - with its beautiful mountains, coves, islands and beaches.
