The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and British Museum are all fascinating places that you definitely should see when you get a chance. However, if you want to make your holiday in the UK truly unforgettable, you’ll need to get off the beaten path. And that doesn’t mean simply going to explore the gorgeous Devon beaches, though that’s a good plan for the next time.
Here are five unusual things to do on a holiday in the UK:
1. Spot the puffin: Puffins are adorable and nothing more needs be said about these amazing little birds. You can make sure of it yourself by going on the so-called ‘UK safari’ that will take you puffin spotting. The season for this adventure is the summer as puffins come to the British cliffs in late April-May and remain there until the middle of August. Discover Wildlife lists the hottest puffin spotting places in the UK so you can find which are best for your planned route. But be sure to remain respectful and stay a bit away from the birds. Modern cameras will allow you to document the adventure without disrupting the lives of these tough little creatures that face hardship every day.
2. Visit all the best pubs: Any holiday in the UK must have a few pub visits in the itinerary. The British have all the best pubs with delicious food, great beer, better company, and lots of traditions and atmosphere. Every city, town, and village in the UK has at least one special pub with some fascinating stories, so you should be on the lookout for those wherever you go. Some of them are historic places with decades of history, like The Crooked Pub near Birmingham. London has the greatest number of interesting places that are both traditional and modern. To explore the most fascinating of those you should go on a Camden pub crawl. That neighborhood houses some of the best pubs and bars in the UK. It definitely is the most fun to explore if you are looking for a place to party. This is a great experience for students and everyone who is looking for an evening of drinks and meeting new people.
3. Visit the Mental Health Museum: Mental Health Museum stands out from your regular museum list for a holiday in the UK. However, it’s a good thing because the place is most fascinating and will provide you with many stories to tell. As the matter of mental health garners more attention from in the modern society, it will be fascinating to see how people suffering from depression, delusions, psychoses, and other mental conditions used to be treated years ago. Note that some of those stories and exhibits are worryingly reminiscent of horror shows. However, seeing this bit of history will help you understand why the stigma of mental illness is so hard to shake even in the progressive world of today.
4. Stay the night at the zoo: Visiting the renowned London Zoo doesn’t seem like an unusual thing to do. However, did you know that you can actually spend the night there? You can stay at the Gir Lion Lodge and even witness the after-dark feeding. Going through the zoo at night is a totally different experience to a day tour. The memories of this adventure are sure to be some of the brightest from your holiday in the UK.
5. Take a look at the greatest collection of neon signs: God’s Own Junkyard is an apt name for a place that makes the streets of Las Vegas seem dull. This is a piece of an actual salvage yard littered with handmade neon signs. There’s also a café where you can get a much-needed drink after witnessing the kaleidoscope of neon colors.
