Best Holiday Destinations – London, UK

Top 10 London Attractions

London's top 10 most popular attractions, according to visitor numbers.

From London Eye, the National Gallery and Tower of London, below are London's most visited tourist attractions. Many of the attractions in the top 10 are free: there's no better place to soak up some culture. Whether you prefer history or modern art, you'll find it here. You can book to visit others via the buttons below.
The list below is in order of popularity based on visitor numbers in 2010 or latest available numbers in the case of the London Eye and Madame Tussauds.
For accessibility information see Top 10 London Attractions Accessibility

British Museum

The world-famous British Museum exhibits the works of man from prehistoric to modern times from around the world. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, and the mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection. Entry is free but special exhibitions require tickets.

Tate Modern

Sitting grandly on the banks of the Thames is Tate Modern, Britain's national museum of modern and contemporary art. Its unique shape is due to it previously being a power station. Inside you'll find temporary exhibitions by top artists from Damien Hirst to Gauguin. The gallery's restaurants offer fabulous views across the city. Entry is free.

National Gallery

The crowning glory of Trafalgar Square, London's National Gallery is a vast space, filled with Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. In this iconic art gallery you can find works by masters such as Van Gogh, da Vinci, Botticelli, Constable, Renoir, Titian and Stubbs. Entry is free.

Natural History Museum

As well as the permanent (and permanently fascinating!) dinosaur exhibition, the Natural History Museum boasts a collection of the biggest, tallest and rarest animals in the world. See a life-sized Blue Whale, a 40-million-year-old spider, and the beautiful Central Hall. Entry is free but special exhibitions require tickets.

London Eye

The EDF Energy London Eye is a major feature of London's skyline. It is the world's highest observation wheel, with 32 capsules, each weighing 10 tonnes, and holding up to 25 people. Climb aboard for a breathtaking experience, with unforgettable views of more than 55 of London's most famous landmarks – all in just 30 minutes!

Science Museum

From the future of space travel to asking that difficult question, "Who am I?", the Science Museum makes your brain perform Olympic-standard mental gymnastics. See, touch and experience the major scientific advances of the last 300 years; don't forget the awesome Imax cinema. Entry is free but some exhibitions require tickets.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The V&A celebrates art and design with 3,000 years worth of amazing artefacts from around the world. A real treasure trove of goodies, you never know what you'll discover next: furniture, paintings, sculpture, metalwork, and textiles, the list goes on and on… Entry is free but special exhibitions require tickets. 

Madame Tussauds

At Madame Tussauds, you'll come face-to-face with some of the world's most famous faces. From Shakespeare to Lady Gaga you'll meet influential figures from showbiz, sport, politics and even Royalty. Strike a pose with Usain Bolt, kiss Brad Pitt or receive a once-in-a-lifetime audience with Her Majesty the Queen.

Royal Museums Greenwich

Visit the world's largest maritime museum, the historic Queen's House, and the Royal Observatory Greenwich: all now part of the Royal Museums Greenwich. Stand astride the Prime Meridian, touch a meteorite, and see the stars in the planetarium. Some are free to enter; some charges apply

Tower of London

Take a tour with one of the Yeoman Warders around the Tower of London, one of the world's most famous buildings. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace, prison and place of execution, arsenal, jewel house and zoo! Gaze up at the White Tower, tiptoe through a medieval king's bedchamber and marvel at the Crown Jewels.

Best Holiday Destinations – New York, USA

Nowhere says Christmas more than New York. So when debating where to go on holiday this December for a wintery city break, New York was the first destination to come to mind. And eight hours after jetting off from Heathrow, we were touching down at JFK for five days of sights, culture, food, drink and tinsel at surely one of the best holiday destinations in the World.

We stayed at Hotel 17 – a cheap hotel in Manhattan’s East Village with shared bathrooms, small but comfortable rooms, and above all an excellent location just minutes from East Village’s bars, cafes and restaurants and also really close to New York’s subway system. Our first stop was Wendy’s burger joint for a taste of NY’s fast food scene. Pulp Fiction’s Big Kahuna Burger scene sprang to mind. We then proceeded to hit the East Village bar scene – in our first bar a round of Jaegarbombs was greeted with an “Oh my God you’re from England” from the barwoman, and a generous 30% off the tab to ensure we had “the best introduction to NY possible”. This kind of friendliness was encountered throughout the trip, dispelling the myth of mardy, arrogant and impatient New Yorkers (towards British tourists at least). The highlight from the 1st night was Old McSorley’s Ale House, one of the oldest pubs in New York boasting some tasty ales. The constant buy one get one free policy and sawdust on the floors help create a great atmosphere in a historic pub.

New York Cab

Day two saw us travel south on the subways to Wall Street, with a wander round the financial district in the Southern tip of Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty is visible from the riverside if you don’t fancy a ferry over – it’s current renovation works make it visible from the outside only so no climbing to the top of the head for the time being. A trip to the sombre Ground Zero site is a must – you need a free ticket in advance to gain access to the site itself, which is now home to two huge waterfalls where the Twin Towers once stood. Otherwise the visitors centre is just off-site which again is an emotional experience. One World Trade Centre, the new flagship tower in the rebuilding project, is growing quickly (see below) and is beginning to command the Downtown skyline.

One World Trade Centre

Our evening took us north to Broadway, for a stand-up comedy show. We were sold the tickets at Wall Street, with Chris Rock on the lineup and plenty of free drinks included in the measly $15 price tag. Unfortunately, upon arrival we discovered Chris rock was NOT on the lineup and only one free drink per person was provided. We had fallen for a classic tourist sales scam. After complaining to the manager we were given plenty of free drink and had a really good night but it is something to watch out for, street vendors are everywhere touristy in NY and many are out to make a quick sale.

 

Day two took us up to Central Park – a huge 843 acre public park in the heart of Manhattan. It occupies roughly 60 blocks (streets) in length so to walk the entire length from top to bottom would take almost an hour. We explored the southern half of the park, which was a hive of activity. A range of sports were being played round the park, one of several lakes was scattered with rowing boats, while kids played on the rock formations which were originally imported from a tectonic field in Canada.

Central Park Boating Lake

Several pedestrianised roads run through the park which helps it gain its reputation as one of the roller blading capitals of the world. Joggers and walkers of all ages also occupy these lanes. There’s also a range of interesting architecture around the park including Cleopatra’s Needle, a castle, fountains and such like. The scale meant we didn’t even see the Zoo or the famous ice rink. One of the highlights was a DJ playing funky house in a clearing, with dancers of literally all ages form 4-90 dancing away to the beats. Something we certainly wouldn’t get here in England.

Autumn in Central Park

Times Square, a few blocks down from the park, was our next stop. A major intersection in the city, the square boasts enormous neon advertising boards on all sides, and its aesthetics combined with its situation in the midst of the theatre district, has helped make it the worlds most visited tourist attraction with 39 million visitors annually. It’s scale really helps it s**t on Piccadilly Circus, London’s only “comparable” neon advertising tourist attraction. There’s hundreds of theatre/comedy salesmen loitering while there’s a range of shops and sights that link around the square itself. Its also host to one of the most famous New Years Eve parties in the world, featuring the Ball Drop at midnight. One thing to note is many of the bars, clubs and restaurants nearby are of course tourist traps offering average food or drink at expensive prices. We avoided the area for our night out and instead headed back to East Village for some exceptional BBQ ribs and chicken (with the whole caboodle of classic sides, coleslaw, fries etc) washed down with some tasty US lager.

Times Square, New York

One thing to note when visiting New York, or most of the US for that matter, is that tipping is essentially compulsory. Due to low minimum wage, waitresses are relying on tips to make up the bulk of their income. 15% is standard anywhere where you are served, including when buying a beer in a pub. Failure to tip will result in 1)being called a cheapskate or more likely 2) being thrown out of the establishment and told never ever to return. Something to note when budgeting for your trip.
 

Best Winter Holiday Destinations

  – Canary Islands

At this time of year, when the mercury drops to its yearly lows, there's nothing more appealing than a getting away from the UK for a spell of sunshine. We’ve just passed officially the most depressing day of the year but for many the January blues still hang over our heads like a dark cloud. With much of mainland Europe being even chillier than the UK at this time of year (thanks to its lack of Gulf Stream warming) it makes sense to look elsewhere for a spot of winter sun.

And the Canary Islands, off the Western coast of North Africa, are an excellent choice for those seeking a break from the miserable dark days of England. They boast a subtropical climate, with warm winters and warmer summers although the variation between the seasons isn’t massively pronounced. Holidaymakers jetting off in January-March can expect temperatures of around 19-21°C and plenty of sunshine. Below we take a look at a few of the most popular islands in the Canaries.

Lanzarote – The Easternmost Island of the Canaries, Lanzarote boasts a dramatic landscape which has formed as a result of millions of years of volcanic activity. While much of the island is fairly baron, many of the scenery is spectacular, and the beaches are a huge draw, with the warm Atlantic Ocean making it great for a splash about. The capital Arrecife is the main hub for tourism,  and is also home to the islands airport. The name originates from the reefs offshore which are a treat for snorkelers and scuba divers.

Scuba diving in Lanzarote

Tenerife – the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is popular with a range of holidaymakers. The South and North are separated by Mount Teide, a volcano and national park which, on a clear day, gives excellent views from the top which can be reached by cable car. The island offers a few good lovely beaches including the largely artificial Playa las Teresitas to the East. The island also offers plenty to do in terms of activities and days out. Loro Parque zoo and Siam Park water park are both must-dos and combo tickets can be purchased for these to save money. Flights to Tenerife can be found at great prices which adds to the draw of this island.

Siam Park, Tenerife

Gran Canaria – another island of volcanic origin, emerging from the sea millions of years ago as a result of tectonic activity. The island has an array of microclimates but generally temperatures are warm in winter. Las Palmas, the capital, is the focal point for tourism and plenty of good value package deals can be found here. It is the scene of much of the islands nightlife and plays host to Carnival every January-February. Due to the differing microclimates certain areas of the island are extremely arid which makes for some lovely sandy beaches and breathtaking landscapes.

Gran Canaria Beach

Overall the Canary Islands offer some of the best holiday destinations for some winter sun and each present their own unique sights and attractions, making them well worth a visit.

 

Best Summer Holiday Destinations

 Europe

The last week or so has brought with it an extremely healthy dose of optimism. It’s been the first week of gorgeous sunny weather since last year, even for myself up in sunny Leeds. I even dusted off my old friend the aviators for a few happy spells spent outside of the office soaking up the suns rays. Which can only mean one thing - summer is here. Well, there’s cloud and rain forecast for the next week but we're at that point where BBQs are a very real possibility. And with summer, comes summer holidays. Many of us have planned and booked our holidays already but if you're stuck for ideas, fear not. Hopefully Best Holiday Destinations can help out.

Spain and Turkey look set to remain top of the list of most popular holiday destinations in Europe this year – choices that thoroughly deserve to be at the top. The Costa Del Sol, Costa Blanca, Istanbul and Bodrum are all excellent choices that are sure to offer up plenty more than just sandy beaches and roasting hot sun.  For more info on these countries, check out my past posts. I’ve mentioned in the past how Turkey took the top spot due to the availability of cheaper package holidays, and this theme looks set to continue as VAT rises, NI rises, petrol rises and salaries freeze. Cameron’s token gesture 1p off petrol certainly won’t see me upgrade my seat from economy to business. We're in dark times when a 30p a week saving on petrol is the highlight of the budget. If, like me, you’re after cheap holidays this summer, check out Airtours – a package holiday site with plenty of great deals that I’ve found extremely use friendly. Browse holidays in Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Tenerife, Ibiza, Greece and more to find the hotel, flights and destination that’s right for you.  

Ever-Popular Package Destination Benidorm, Spain

Also something to consider – last minute bookings can help save you money – although perhaps not in quite the same way they used to. But if you’re flexible on destination and departure airport then this could be for you, although could be risky if you have a family with specific wants or needs. Happy hunting – planning and booking your holidays can be an exciting and potentially stressful time so get thinking about it and keep checking back here for more info and advice on the best holiday destinations in Europe.