The United Kingdom of Great Britain consists of four countries, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The capital city of each is London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast respectively. The UK is a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, and parliamentary democracy. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the British Empire seemed to span the globe but since the two world wars it's power has decreased dramatically. Most of the countries of the British Empire have gained their independence but remain part of the British Commonwealth (which includes Canada, Australia and New Zealand).

Today the United Kingdom is part of the European Union, though not fully integrated many of it's sovereign powers have been transferred to the European Parliament. However, if you are planning a vacation to Britain you should be aware that the Euro has not been yet been adopted and the national currency which remains the British Pound. The British Pound is fiercely defended by the British people who see it as a symbol of their nationality. Maybe this originates from the fact that the economy of the United Kingdom is somewhat dominated by service sector industries such as financial services, with a strong history in banking and insurance.

Tourism continues to be an important element of the British economy with nearly thirty million foreign visitors a year. The UK is ranked as one of the top tourist destinations in the world (about sixth) with a massive selection of varied tourist attractions. Many tourists are attracted to the historic attractions, such as the many castles, with the Royal Family providing much of the pomp and ceremony that remains in popular demand. Most of the most famous landmarks and attractions are to be found in London, such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and London Zoo.

Scotland is extremely popular with tourists who flock to Edinburgh to visit Edinburgh Castle or one of the many festivals which are held throughout the year. Other popular vacation destinations in Scotland include the city of Glasgow, Stirling (popular for the historically important Stirling Castle) Pitlochry and other towns of the Highlands such as Inverness (now a city) and Fort William. The more adventurous tourists take their vacation in the Highlands and Islands with the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland being some of the remotest parts of the United Kingdom.

Wales is a predominantly rural nation with a number of fine castles and other historic tourist attractions. The capital city, Cardiff, is both an ancient town and young city, thoroughly modern in it's outlook. Cardiff, a city for around 100 years, has a castle which is claimed to be about 2,000 years old which is well worth a visit. The modern Millennium Stadium and the Wales Millennium Centre are some of the most recent attractions and are venues for some spectacular events. The Doctor Who Exhibition is of great interest to fans of the BBC show (filmed mainly in the city) and they will please to hear that the center is the number one attraction at the moment.

Northern Ireland is recovering quickly from the 'troubles' and is very quickly growing in popularity as a vacation destination. For many years there was conflict between those who wanted the region to be returned to the Irish nation and those who wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Today it is peaceful and places such as Carrickfergus Castle, Ireland's finest Medieval castle, and numerous beaches such as Portrush Whiterocks Beach proving extremely popular with tourists.

Of all the vacation destinations in the United Kingdom England attracts most visitors. As mentioned London is the most popular tourist destination but places like Blackpool prove very popular with younger visitors. The Blackpool lights, Blackpool tower complex, the pleasure beach and fun fair make for a lively and enjoyable vacation and Blackpool hotels and bed and breakfasts seem to dominate the areas closest to the sea. Other seaside towns such as nearby Southport and Morecambe provide a quieter vacation destination while remaining within easy reach of many interesting tourist attractions.

Whatever your requirements for a vacation the United Kingdom of Great Britain can provide you with your ideal break. Look around online and discover Britain, you are guaranteed to have a most enjoyable time.

By: Andrew M Kelly
Andrew Kelly writes for a number of UK travel sites. As well as writing about his main interest of staying in hotels in Scotland (where he now lives) he also writes about hotels in England whenever he gets a chance to visit.

Malmesbury is a small town situated on the southern edge of the Cotswolds and in the north western corner of the county of Wiltshire, a county with its many historic monuments the most famous being Stonehenge.

Malmesbury is a hill top town almost surrounded by two branches of the river Avon. It has an Abbey which once boasted the tallest spire in England even taller than the one still standing 80 miles away in the opposite corner of the county on top of Salisbury Cathedral. The town also has one of the country's finest Market Crosses built for the poor folk of the town to shelter from the rain on market days.

Malmesbury today is very much as it was a thousand years ago, mainly stone built and tiled cottages set upon a street pattern that goes back probably another thousand years before that. The town is said to be one of, if not, the oldest Borough in England once having its own mint producing silver coins for King Stephen as well as being for a short period the Capital of all England.

King Athelstan was buried here and he granted to the free men of Malmesbury a charter gifting them 500 acres of land on the south side of the town as a reward for their assistance in his struggle against the Danes. This resulted in an institution know as the Warden and Freemen being formed to look after and control this land and they are still in existence to this day.

So as you can see Malmesbury is steeped in history and its character has been protected as far as is possible making it a very popular destination on the tourist trails amongst the natives and those from all corners of the world. There is an abundance of places to stay in and around the area from which to explore the town and all its history can be found in written form available from the towns Athelstan Museum and its Norman Abbey.

By: David Forward
Malmesbury Memories

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland. The city is the largest in Northern Ireland and the second largest on the island of Ireland. Located amongst stunning scenery, the city is surrounded by the Glens of Antrim, Castlereagh Hills, Divis Mountain, Cavehill and Black Mountain. The city has a mild, though occasionally rainy climate, and it boasts a population of 276,459 inhabitants.

Belfast has been a settlement since Bronze Age times and examples of Iron Age hill forts can be seen within the city. It was during the 18th century that Belfast began to become the bustling, industrial city that it is today. Between 1969 and the late 1990’s, the city suffered under ‘The Troubles’ - sectarian conflict between republicans and loyalists. However, following a ceasefire by both sides, Belfast has become a popular tourist destination.

Some notable attractions within the city include the impressive City Hall, which was opened in 1906 and is a stunning Classical Renaissance landmark. Resting close to City Hall is the equally impressive Saint Anne’s Cathedral and also the lovely Victorian-built, Belfast Central Library. Another Victorian-built landmark is the striking Queens University Belfast, which rests amongst beautiful gardens. Equally famed for its architecture is the Crown Liquor Saloon, which has remained unchanged since Victorian times and is charmingly gas-lit.

For those interested in nature, Belfast is home the lovely Botanical Gardens, featuring a mixture of local, rare and tropical plants. Another popular outdoor attraction within the city is Belfast Zoo, which is involved in world-wide breeding programmes. Many visitors to the city follow the Mural Tour of large-wall political paintings that can be seen throughout the city. While, for those less politically-minded, the city offers an abundance of cafes, pubs and shops – particularly in Smithfield Market, where one-of-a-kind items are sold by independent retailers.

By: Dara Ward
Dara Ward is an expert on all things Irish and is based in Wexford Ireland. He operates over 20 Irish travel websites including Hotels in Belfast and Hotels in Galway.

Norwich is the county city of Norfolk, which means that there is plenty to see and do when you pay a visit to the area.

Norwich can trace its roots back to Roman times and although it is some way from the coast, it played a large role in the times of the Norman Conquest, probably due to its importance for trade even in those days. Indeed at that time it is thought to have been one of the largest cities in the country.

Times have moved on and Norwich is now more famous for its shopping than its distant invaders.

Shoppers will be delighted to visit the ancient market place which has been thriving since the time of the Normans and is now the largest open air market in England, opening six days a week.

More modern shops can be found in The Mall (which recently changed its name from Castle Mall, so you may still find references to the old name in some guide books). This was built to blend in with the historic city and much of the building is built into the side of a hill.

Its main rival is the Chapelfield mall, which has been built on the site of an old chocolate factory.

As a university town, you can expect to find a wide range of other things to do, some cultural, some less so.

Make sure you book your Norwich hotel in advance if you visit at the same time as the annual Norfolk and Norwich Festival. This arts and music festival draws crowds in from across the county and from further afield and can trace its roots back to 1772. Recently, it has featured performers such as Ray Davies (of Kinks fame) and the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing a score from a Charlie Chaplin film. There are both indoor and outdoor performances during the festival, some of which are free events.

Norwich residents fortunately have a sense of humor: the fictitious radio DJ Alan Partridge, brainchild of actor Steve Coogan, broadcasts his shows from the city.

Sports fans will hope to take in a game by the Canaries, the nickname of Norwich City football club when they play at Carrow Road.

Unexpectedly for a mainly fenland area, there is a Norfolk Ski and Snowboarding club at nearby Trowse. So you may be able to practice your skills when you are in town.

Perhaps because of its excellent shopping, Norwich is a popular city break destination. The shopping features both the usual national chain retailers as well as many local stores where you can come across a variety of more unusual items. You can also investigate the history of the area and walk down its cobbled streets, maybe on your way to one of the several museums who make there home here.

Historical buildings include Norwich Cathedral, which can trace its roots back to the eleventh century and the castle (which is now actually a museum) which is about 100 years younger than the cathedral.

By: Frederick Hoymer
For a wide choice of Norwich hotels and other accommodation in the city of Norwich, visit http://www.4hotels.co.uk/uk/norwich.html

Edinburgh is one of the international tourist attractions of the world but most visitors tend to stay in the centre, especially walking through the Old Town and visiting the magnificent Castle.

There are however many equally fascinating places that should not be overlooked and premier among them is the Royal Botanic Garden in Inverleith Row, on the north side of the city, within a one mile bus ride of perpetually thronged Princes Street. Numbers 8, 17, 23, and 27 buses all stop at the gate as do the buses of City Tours. "The Botanics", as Edinburgh folk call the gardens, cover a spread of 78 acres and are visited by over 660,000 visitors a year who go there to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a magnificent oasis in the heart of a teeming city.

One of the major advantages for families of a trip to the Botanics is the fact that entry is free, though a charge of £3.50 a head for adults is levied for visitors to the awe inspiring glasshouses where Britain's tallest palm tree grows in the world famous tropical rainforest, as well as banana and rubber trees and a huge range of beautiful orchids. A large collection of rare rhododendrons from New Guinea and Borneo can also be seen in the Tropics House.

A recently opened - and free - Chinese Hillside rising above a beautiful pool is also very popular with visitors. Growing there are unusual specimens which were brought back to Edinburgh from China by plant collectors in the early 20th century. There is also an internationally renowned rock garden with rare Alpine plants, a Scottish heath garden and an arboretum that dazzles the eye during autumn. Altogether the Botanics is home to over 6 per cent of all known plants in the world and is a centre of scholarly research as well as a sojourn of delight for visitors.

The origin of Edinburgh's famous garden goes back to 1670 when two doctors, Andrew Balfour and Robert Sibbald, opened a physic garden beside Holyrood House and five years later established a second garden on the site of what is today Waverley Station. In 1763 the two combined gardens were re-located on Leith Walk where they stayed till 1820 when a horticulturist called Robert Graham moved them to the present site at Inverleith.

The two Palm Houses were built in 1834 and 1858 and have been maintained in their original form since then. Another range of exhibition plant houses was started in 1967 and today they provide a range of environments from tropical forests to arid deserts. There is a well stocked shop at the main gate and also a terrace café. A team of guides take visitors on garden walks at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. every day. The informative walks last an hour and tickets, costing £3, can be bought at the shop or at the Palm House reception desk. No pre booking is necessary.

The Botanics are open every day of the year except January 1st and December 25th. In summer, closing time is 7 p.m. From November till February the Garden closes at 4 p.m.

By: Mark Breed
Ecosse Unique - Holiday Cottages in Scotland

The City of Edinburgh, where the lively activity of Scotland's capital city sits in perfect contrast to the tranquility of the surrounding area.

Edinburgh has one of the most beautiful vistas in the world, making it a perfect base to explore the city and the surrounding countryside. With Scotland's most famous castle dominating the city skyline, there is plenty to see and do with the ideal balance between all things contemporary and traditional.

Every year during the month of August Edinburgh welcomes thousands of visitors to its world famous festival. It is in fact made up of a variety of festivals, exhibitions and events including The Fringe, Book Festival, the International Festival, Jazz & Blues Festival, Military Tattoo, Film Festival and Edinburgh Mela. Additionally, many head to Edinburgh for its month long festival at Christmas which culminates in the world famous Hogmanay celebrations.

Even if this is not your first visit to the city, an open-top bus tour of the city is a great way to get your bearings and work out what's where. Tours follow a circuit through the 18th century Georgian New Town and the medieval Old Town so you can always get back to where you started. The top of the Royal Mile is a great starting place to explore on foot. Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's number one attraction and definitely worth a visit. As well as the obvious visits to see the Stone of Destiny and the Crown Jewels of Scotland, it's worth trying to locate possibly the most touching aspect of Edinburgh Castle, the soldiers' dog cemetery. The cemetery is a small garden used as a burial place for officer's pet dogs and regimental mascots. Arguably the greatest view of Edinburgh is from the castle ramparts as nothing in the city is permitted to be built higher. The fifteenth century cannon at the castle called Mon's Meg is fired at 1pm every day.

The next most visited attraction is that of The Palace of Holyroodhouse. Built beside an Augustinian Abbey dating back to 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is The Queen's official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace is closely associated with Scotland's unruly past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who made her home here between 1561 and 1567. Successive kings and queens have made Holyrood Palace the premier Scottish royal residence. Today, the Palace is used for official entertaining and ceremonies of state

The ancient tales of grave robbing and murder buzz constantly around your head as you tour the city either on foot or on an Edinburgh open-topped bus. You can also choose from a number of nightly ghost tours available if you are brave enough to cope with the grisly truths of Edinburgh after dark.

After a session of shopping at Scotland’s most famous department store Jenners (opened in 1838 and now owned by House of Fraser) on Princes Street, why not head over to the huge and beautiful Princes Street Gardens. Built from a former loch, the gardens are the perfect place to get out a picnic whilst taking in the views of the castle, the Old Town and the park’s famed floral clock. A great place to watch the hectic world of Edinburgh fly by.

The city is at its most hectic during the summer months for this is the time of the major festivals. The immensely popular Edinburgh Fringe Festival offers a mixed batch of light entertainment from comedy to Shakespeare. To give you an idea of the sheer size of the Fringe, 2006's Festival saw hundreds of groups putting on 1,867 different shows with a total of 28,014 performances in 261 venues.

Although driving is not recommended inside the city itself due to restrictions of parking spaces and the convenience of an excellent public transport service, hiring a car in Edinburgh is recommended to take in the wonderful countryside that surround the city. A 15 minute drive takes you into the coastal, scenic town of Musselburgh. Life here is a lot more down to earth and less cosmopolitan than its neighbouring big brother. Expect to find a race track, possibly the oldest nine hole golf course in Scotland and some excellent opportunities for fine dining along your route.

Just south of Edinburgh is the mid-Lothian region particularly renowned for its diversity and places of interest to pursue. A short drive away presents you with the delights of several castles that are open to visitors, including one that has now been converted into a luxurious castle hotel. You will also find stately homes and old churches, including the Rosslyn Chapel (in the village of Roslin) featured in the Da Vinci Code novel by Dan Brown.

By: Terry Cod
This article on the city of Edinburgh was written by Terry Cod, a writer with great experience of the major European cities. He is the owner of http://www.edinburgh-hotel-bookings.co.uk offering Discounted Edinburgh hotels.

Featured by Resourcesforattorneys.com, a Legal Resources and Lifestyles portal.

Visit our Discount Travel Directory.

For travel jokes, humor and satire see Travel Jokes from Resources For Attorneys. For jokes on other subjects see the Jokes Index.

For articles about travel within the United States visit Travel America - Travel Blog, a Travel Destinations resource provided by USA City Directories.