myguideBritain Blog

My Top Ten Places in Britain in 2007

November 29th, 2007

I often get asked for a list of my top places to visit in Britain, both from guests and colleagues in myguideBritain. It’s a difficult question to answer as there are so many great places to list and more often than not I try and deflect it by suggesting some safe bets such as Stonehenge, Bath and Edinburgh. These are places that I know everyone will love. Also, you see, I’m never sure if people will like the same things as me. And of course, it depends very much on my current mood! If I’m a bit stressed my list includes remote out of the way places such as the Brecon Beacons, just a few miles from the office, here in South Wales where I can sit in solitude. If I’m on top of my game it’ll include dynamic buzzing places such as London………. I’m sure you get the drift.

Anyway, last week I was pinned down by our marketing team to come up with a list of specific locations that I would class as my real honest favourites for some clever project on which they were working. Go and ask Darryl, I say……… No, they say! ***$£&% ***! , I say………. No, they repeat! They were very determined to get their list. So we came to a compromise. I’d list places that I’d visited this year that had impressed me. Their smiles suggested they’d got what they wanted.

So here’s my list with some comments.

1. Snowdonia, North Wales: I’ve travelled the world extensively and have yet to find a place that compares to it. Confession: I was born here, visit regularly, and this will always be #1 (and justifiably so).

2. North Norfolk coast: Wide open sandy beaches; Fantastic bird life; Sandringham, the Queen’s country home (open to public); Mix with the English country set in the village of Burnham Market.

3. London’s Soho district: Great pubs, Restaurants, Theatres and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz club in Frith Street.

4. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: Big boys’ toys. Play pirates on real ships.

5. St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales: Wild surf, Whitesands beach and coasteering in the smallest city (read big village) in Britain.

6. Bath, Thermae: Took long enough to build but now a great Spa. Pretend you’re Roman for the day -but don’t forget your swimming trunks.

7. Clovelly, Devon : Just a cool, cobbled street fishing village. Note: It’s perched on a 400ft cliff and narrow streets are steep. A Land Rover will take you up/down if your knees are not what they were!

8. Islay, Scotland: Malt whisky mecca. See my previous blog

9. Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland: Lose yourself here on deserted windswept white sandy beaches. Callanish standing stones rank up there with Stonehenge and what’s more - you can touch them.

10. Wembley stadium: If you’re a sports fan this place has the “Wow” factor.

Next year’s list will be totally different of course (apart from Snowdonia!). You see how clever these marketing bods are. It looks as if I’ve agreed to a list for 2008 without them having to ask!

If anyone out there has some 2007 favorites that they wish to share then feel free to post me as I’m already in the planning stages for next year’s travels.

Entry Filed under: All of Britain, England, Scotland, Wales