The United Kingdom is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain refers specifically to the island containing England, Scotland and Wales, while the full country is officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
My earliest trip to England was an extremely brief stop while I was serving in the military aboard an aircraft carrier. I had so little time that it barely felt like a proper visit, but I still had a great experience and knew I wanted to return someday with enough time to explore the country properly.
Between historic cities, castles, prehistoric monuments, mountains, coastlines and the nightlife of major cities, there is enough throughout the United Kingdom to keep me traveling for an entire summer. I’ve only scratched the surface so far.
Explore London
London is the capital and largest city in the United Kingdom and one of the world’s great historic cities. Centuries of history sit alongside an enormous modern metropolis, with landmarks such as the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster scattered throughout the city.
There is easily enough sightseeing to fill several days, while London’s restaurants, pubs, theaters and nightlife make the city just as active after dark.
Explore Stonehenge
Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments. Construction took place in several stages beginning roughly 5,000 years ago, while the enormous sarsen stones that form its most recognizable arrangement were erected around 2500 BC.
Some of those stones weigh around 25 tons, making their transportation, shaping and placement an extraordinary achievement for prehistoric builders. Exactly why Stonehenge was constructed remains uncertain, although its astronomical alignments and evidence of ceremonial and burial activity show that the site held enormous importance for the people who used it.
Visitors can also explore museum exhibits and reconstructed Neolithic houses that help explain the people, technology and landscape surrounding Stonehenge.
