Last month saw the opening of ‘The Tide’ on London’s Greenwich Peninsula – a riverside linear park that has been dubbed London’s latest answer to New York’s High Line. Whether or not you agree that the new elevated green space is a match for its New York counterpart, it’s certainly the closest some of us strapped for cash Brits will get to visiting the Big Apple this summer. With that in mind, here are some of Britain’s best landmarks that are similar to tourist meccas around the world for the fraction of the airfare. Read on to construct your perfect last minute #staycation.
1. The Tide, Greenwich, London
The tides are turning in Greenwich with London’s latest urban regeneration project. The first kilometre of this verdant linear park officially opened on July 10th and it’s designed to connect different parts of Greenwich peninsula with riverside walkways that slope upwards of nine metres above street-level. The greenery is mingled with art pieces by notable names including Damien Hirst and Allen Jones, and there are loose plans to start wellness classes along the boardwalk. Whilst views of the Thames aren’t quite the same as those of New York City, if you squint a little and arm yourself with a bagel and a coffee, you can almost pretend you’re in the Big Apple…
2. Hadrian’s Wall, Scotland
Stretching 73 miles from coast to coast on the border between England and Scotland, a big-shot Roman geezer named Hadrian built this mega frontier to keep out the Scots. Once a major defensive barrier, now a UNESCO world heritage site, it’s Britain’s (admittedly much smaller) answer to the 13,170 mile-long Great Wall of China. Highlights along the route include Corbridge, a time-capsule-like ancient Roman town, and Chester’s Roman fort, the latter of which features that most English of homing points: the humble tea room. Bet you couldn’t get that in China.
3. Tyne Bridge, Newcastle
It’s a common myth among the Geordies that Sydney Harbour Bridge was modelled on their beloved Newcastle Tyne Bridge. This has since been debunked, but the similarities between the two steel arches are striking. Whilst Sydney’s summery weather can be lacking in the North of England, there’s an abundance of bars scattered on either side of the Tyne that serve up bridge-view bevs for a fraction of Aussie prices. There’s even a Spoons on the river’s north bank: Newcastle 1-0 Sydney.
4. Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln
Earlier this year, the world was shocked by the collapse of Notre Dame’s iconic spire, leading to a flurry of investors leaping over each other to donate billions of dollars to rebuild it. Whilst it’s being redesigned, why not head to one of Britain’s most impressive cathedrals instead? Set atop of a hill looking out over surrounding Lincolnshire and encased in a quaint olde-worlde town, the spires of the cathedral have been part of the Lincolnshire skyline since the 11th century. It even has Lincoln’s answer to Quasimodo: local legend, Little Saint Hugh.
5. Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn, Wales
Wishing you were watching rainbows form over Niagara Falls in Canada? Head to the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. Here, you’ll find not one but four naturally-occurring waterfalls on the ‘Four Waterfalls Walk’. My choice is Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn. Freshwater dramatically pours from a 30-metre height over five ledges, sending up an eerie mist before swirling among moss-covered rocks and tree roots. With a little imagination, the spray from the falls could transport you to the world-famous waterfall in Ontario… Just don’t ask me how its Welsh counterpart is pronounced.
6. Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
Another British landmark that’s hit the news recently is this stronghold of Arthurian legacy set on Cornwall’s rugged North coast. Tintagel Castle was originally constructed over two clifftops, but August 2019 saw the opening of a brand-new footpath connecting its separated halves. Nearby’s 4000-year old labyrinthine rock carvings have mystified historians for generations and transform this ancient fort into the Cornish version of Macchu Pichu. However, instead of dazzling visitors with the mysteries of the Inca people (and the occasional llama), Tintagel is the purported birth place of King Arthur, uniting magic and history in a family-friendly day out.
7. The Angel of the North, Gateshead
Towering over Rio de Janeiro is the legendary 98-metre tall statue of Christ the Redeemer. Originally built to ‘reclaim’ Rio for Christianity, it can supposedly be seen from anywhere within the Brazilian capital. Gateshead’s Angel of the North is a similar bastion. The bronze-coloured monument to the coal mining industry that once powered the North-East of England is reportedly the largest angel statue in the world. Although half the height of Rio’s Mr Christ, it’s only a quick jaunt up the A1 rather than a hike up a 700m mountain… I know which one my legs would prefer!
8. The Sky Garden, London
The floor-to ceiling glass windows of London’s highest garden are like a smaller version of the rounded conservatories in Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. Although the London edition features significantly less plants and is set in one of the city’s most questionably designed buildings, fondly referred to as the Walkie-Talkie, it’s free to get up there and is a favourite spot among Londoners to sip on a cocktail and watch the sunset.
9. Stonehenge, Wiltshire
The existence of the mysterious Maori heads on Easter Island have mystified archaeologists and tourists for centuries, but us Brits have got our own version down in Wiltshire. Nobody is really sure why the stone circle was erected, but as one of the Ancient Wonders of the World, it’s inspired writers and tourists for thousands of years. Plus, every year it hosts the Summer Solstice celebrations, with pagans, hippies, and the curious all coming together to watch the sun rising between the ancient stones. Easter what now?
Georgie's Wanderlust 