When wanderlust hits us, most people set their sights on Asia, Africa, or even America to get a taste of faraway and exotic land, but they rarely stop to consider the sights in their own country. It’s all well and good to rediscover local treasures, but there are just as many things in the rest of the UK, both modern and historic, that capture our attention and make unforgettable memories. You could go and visit the well-known tourist traps, but if you want to create unique experiences, here are a few weird and wonderful places in the UK to add to your bucket list.
Fingal’s Cave
Nature loves patterns, and you can clearly see this when you visit Fingal’s Cave in the Isle of Staffa in Scotland. Fingal’s Cave is visually stunning, thanks to the hexagonal columns of basalt, shaped in neat six-sided pillars, that make up its interior walls. It’s a geometric, natural wonder, and it features greatly in ancient Irish and Scottish Celtic legends. More recently, it has inspired many visitors, such as Jules Verne, Queen Victoria, and even Pink Floyd, who named one of their early, unreleased songs for the cave after their visit. It’s not a sight you’ll easily forget, and definitely worth checking out.
Cirque le Soir
It might have a circus theme, but Cirque le Soir has the vibe of downtown New York that balances out any of the weird occurances that would make Lady Gaga proud. In fact, she might have been here herself. Celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, and Leonardo Di Caprio have made it onto the Cirque Le Soir guestlist, just to name a few. Entertainment includes some outrageous acts such as dancing dwarfs wearing baby masks, fire-eaters and burlesque dancer, but there are some low-key attractions such as arcade games, and fairground attractions. It’s definitely edgy, and it will be a night worth remembering.
Ruins of Whitby Abbey
All book lovers dream of visiting famous literary landmarks; Holmes fans trek to 221B Baker Street when they’re in London, Harry Potter fans enjoy a Potter tour of London and Scotland, and Shakespeare scholars can choose to visit either Stratford upon Avon, or The Globe Theatre. However, Bram Stoker fans should consider adding the ruins of Whitby Abbey to their list of literary destinations; these ruins inspired Stoker to bring Dracula to life. The gothic structure met its end in 1540 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries which followed Henry VIII’s separation from the Catholic Church. Additional damage was done by German battleships in WWI, aiming for a nearby signal station. But Stoker visited the Abbey in 1890, and it is here when he first discovered the real Vlad Dracul in the pages of a book he checked out from the local library. Whitby Abbey has since become a sort of Goth pilgrimage site, and touristy Dracula-related locations of dubious literary or historical significance have followed in their wake.
With so many amazing places right on our doorstep, where will you go next?
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