How to get Your Downton Abbey Travel Fix as its “Grand Finale” Hits Theaters
“Set-jetting” to locations in Britain means that you don’t have to say goodbye to the beloved characters of Downton Abbey even if the final film has been released. The clever play on words has been coined by Visit Britain to reflect how popular visiting film and TV set locations is for visitors to the U.K. They say 87% of travelers to Britain are interested in walking in the footsteps of their favorite on-screen characters, and no wonder! The U.K. is the...
How to Get the UK's Mandatory, New Electronic Entry Permit for Your Next Trip to Britain
Beginning January 8, 2025, American and Canadian travelers to the United Kingdom will be required to apply - in advance of your trip - for the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The digital application process opens November 27, 2024 for anyone planning to arrive in Britain from January 8, 2025 and onwards. The British government has been introducing the new digital entry permits in a phased approach to a goal of fully digitizing entry into its borders by 2025. Americans...
The Best New Bridgerton Filming Locations for Your Next Trip to Britain
Regency romance has returned to our screens and reminded us to plan trips to Britain to fulfill our own Bridgerton-inspired fantasies. Season 3 of the wildly-popular and genre-bending Netflix series has introduced yet another romantic relationship among a member of the tight-knit family of Georgian-era aristocrats – and more real-life historic locations around England. The country’s quintessential Regency period location is the spa town of Bath, which has had a starring role in Bridgerton since Season 1. But the actors get...
St. Patrick's Way: How to Follow in the Footsteps of Ireland's Patron Saint
There’s a real man behind the legend that gets us wearing green every March 17th. And you can go beyond modern St. Patrick's Day ‘shenanigans’ to revisit the life of St. Patrick on a journey connecting places in Northern Ireland where his story became a legend that thrives to this day among the Irish and millions of people around the world with ancestral links to the Emerald Isle. Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick, roamed the Emerald Isle over 1500 years ago. Amazingly,...
Why January is the Best Month to Plan a Trip to Scotland
Ireland has St. Patrick’s Day, Scotland has…Robbie Burns Day. Scotland’s most celebratory day is in honor of its national poet. If everyone’s a little bit Irish on March 17th, then on January 25th, the date of Robert Burns’ birthday in 1759, everyone’s a little bit of a Scot. Throughout Scotland and among Scottish communities dispersed around the world, January 25 - Robbie Burns Day, or Rabbie Burns Day, or just Burns Night – is the occasion of the year to pull out all...
Be a Part of Royal Coronation History with a Visit to Great Britain
The British know how to put on a show for their monarchy’s milestones, and the Coronation of King Charles III is a once-in-a-generation chance to be personally steeped in pageantry, traditions dating back a millennium and quintessentially English experiences you may never see again.Travelers to Britain during the Coronation will create a lifetime of memories and an endless collection of stories that begin: “I was there when…”Tap into the romance of British period dramatic films and TV series and the...
Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter Films in these British Locations
The most famous teen wizard of all time has magicked his way into the hearts and book collections of a generation of kids and their parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.And it’s been 20 years since the first film - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – filled theaters and gave us another way to immerse ourselves in the Harry Potter universe. In addition to anniversary specials airing this holiday season, you can revisit the life of the young wizard and...
Drink Like the Queen with the First Official Buckingham Palace Gin
In the times of COVID, even Her Majesty needs a side-gig. Why not in the tasty world of spirits?In a Royal first, official Buckingham Palace gin has gone on sale to the public – and the first batch sold out online in only 8 hours!The premium, small-batch, London dry is an initiative of the Royal Collection Trust. It is infused with citrus and herbal notes that are derived from 12 botanicals, including some collected from the Buckingham Palace garden itself, like lemon...
Superhost Katy’s bright apartment is the perfect place to recharge between explorations
Superhost Katy’s bright apartment is the perfect place to recharge between explorations. Climb nearby Calton Hill to get your bearings, and then dive in—the whole city center is within walking distance. At night, check out Bedlam Theatre, a student-run playhouse inside an appropriately dramatic neo-Gothic church. Photo: @melchiorskingdom
The Real Downton Abbey and 3 Other Majestic English Manor Houses That Star in Films
If the Downton Abbey movie and TV series has you fantasizing about life in the elegant and storied surroundings of England’s stately homes, you are not alone. The stories and history made in these estates are legendary.At one time, there were tens of thousands of country houses owned by Britain’s noble families. The English countryside is still dotted with breathtaking architectural marvels punctuating sweeping landscapes, as well as smaller, more humble versions. Some are still homes to lords and ladies of the...