GREAT THINGS TO DO IN BRITAIN
After her recent trip to the UK, Stephanie Holmes has many recommendations for things to see and do. Here are three for starters.
THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM, CAMBRIDGE
There are so many museums I could include in this spot, but The Fitz wins out, simply because it is small enough to tackle in a couple of hours if you’re pressed for time, but bursting at the seams with treasures that will blow your mind. As the University of Cambridge’s art and antiquities museum, it houses more than half a million works of art, masterpiece paintings and historical artefacts in a beautiful neo-classical building dating back to the 1840s. You’ll find everything from Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, to modern art. Best of all, it’s free to visit. fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
HOP-ON, HOP-OFF BUS TOUR, YORK
I was sceptical about the need for a bus tour in York as it’s such a compact, walkable city and we’d already spent two
days exploring. But Mum’s legs were tired and the weather was good so we sat on an open-top double decker bus on a route that went both within and out the ancient city walls. I’m glad we did. A live guide gave a fascinating and engaging commentary and we learnt far more than if we’d simply relied on our guide book. Our ticket also gave us discounts on entry to a number of other attractions, so was well worth the price. yorkcitysightseeing.com
BROADWAY MARKET, LONDON
The South Bank’s Borough Market gets a lot of attention and quite rightly, too, it’s wonderful. But if you venture to Hackney’s Broadway Market on a Saturday morning, you’ll find a worthy alternative. From 9am-5pm, the street is full of stalls buckling under the weight of gourmet delights, arts and crafts. Cafes and restaurants flank the market so after stocking up on cheese, charcuterie, artisan breads and more, you can rest your feet and watch the world go by over a coffee . . . although, I’m sorry to say, you still can’t get one as good as you’ll find in NZ. broadwaymarket.co.uk