Britain, Ireland investing to boost tourism
England, Scotland and Ireland are earnestly improving tourism infrastructures, adding worthwhile exhibits to well-known sights and investing in new experiences for travelers.
Major changes are taking place at some of London’s most visited sights. At Westminster Abbey, a medieval balcony that’s been closed off for 700 years will open this summer as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, featuring a collection of artifacts from the Abbey’s rich history, as well as breathtaking views of the Abbey interior (expect timed-entry tickets).
In the Mayfair neighborhood of London’s West End, the museum formerly called the Handel House — where composer George Frideric Handel lived for decades — has been renamed “Handel & Hendrix in London,” as the museum now includes the recently restored former apartments of rocker Jimi Hendrix, who once lived next door to Handel’s old digs. The exhibit juxtaposes the lives and lifestyles of these two long-haired musicians with a flair for decadence.
London’s Courtauld Gallery, renowned for its Impressionist paintings, will close this summer for renovation until 2020. The Tate Modern’s new Switch House (a 10-story brick twisted-pyramid annex) is in full swing with rotating exhibitions, performance art, cafes and a terrace with stunning views. Across
Host of CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront,” Burnett has reported from Cuba, Afghanistan and Israel. Traveling is a big part of her life, and the journalist says she is close to reaching her goal of exploring 100 countries.
“I’ve visited 90, and I know I’ll always want to see more,” says Burnett, who is based out of New York. “I have a folder where I save articles about places I want to go. It’s full of years of clippings that I enjoy reading through every few months and imagining destinations.”
An edited version of our conversation follows.
A: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Philippines. I want to hike in New Zealand and see the land of the Hobbit.
A: There are several! Of the accessible places, I’d suggest Malta and Japan. Malta is an intoxicating mix of Christian and Muslim history — all this on a Mediterranean island. I cannot wait to return to Japan. I can still have a moment of true peace remembering visiting temples there. A few other places that come to mind that were transformational are Pakistan and Yemen. town, the Victoria and Albert Museum has added 11,840 square feet of gallery space, along with a new entrance and welcoming courtyard.
Outside of the city center at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, visitors can descend the futuristic Orbit tower via a thrill added in 2016: the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide, a tube measuring 580 feet with corkscrew turns.
London’s transportation scene continues to change. Uber is in the midst of a legal challenge after Transport for London decided not to renew the ride-sharing service’s license; it could cease operation at any time. Meanwhile, starting in December, a new train line, the uncle who traveled the world and returned with photos and stories to share. I would listen to him for hours. When he died, I received his father’s sword. He was in the Navy. I treasure it as a symbol of exploring. My first trips were with my parents and my two sisters: We traveled across the country and to Europe, because my father had spent part of his childhood in France while my grandfather was in the Navy.
A: Almost every destination has romance. One place I’ll always remember is Tahiti. My now-husband and I traveled there together, arriving at something like 4 a.m. We were able to rent our car, and we drove straight to Teahupo’o, the famous surfing beach. We arrived as the sun was rising and, in addition to a couple of surfers from New Zealand, we noticed a few people with professional telescopes. It turned out we’d arrived on the day of a total solar eclipse. Someone had extra pairs of viewing glasses, and we watched from the shore and from a boat with a local family Elizabeth line, will run right through the city center — with stops at several Tube stations — and zip travelers from Heathrow Airport to Paddington Station in just 25 minutes.
Across Britain, new museums highlight the diversity of its history. In Stratfordupon-Avon, Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall showcases a circa-1420 guild headquarters and the very classroom where Shakespeare was a student, where visitors can try a quill pen. Liverpool’s British Music Experience tells an immersive story of British music from 1945 until today. And at Durham’s impressive cathedral, the new Open Treasure exhibit displays rare artifacts from the cathedral treasury that took us out amidst the massive waves.
A: My family and I spent Christmas at Smoke Tree Ranch in California one year when one of my sisters lived on the West Coast. It was a totally different experience for us and fun to roast marshmallows on Christmas Eve. I also spent my honeymoon in the Seychelles for a warm-weather Christmas. It was a wonderful reminder that holidays are about where the heart is.
A: Too hard to pick! New York is home. It’s energizing. It’s a crossroads of the world. Dubai is my most visited city outside the U.S., and I will never tire of sitting below the Burj Khalifa at night and watching the lights sparkle. Lisbon is old and cozy, but full of energy. London. I spent a semester in England for college, and returning always brings back that feeling of excitement and possibility. and monks’ library.
In Portsmouth, on England’s south coast, the 16thcentury warship Mary Rose is completely dried out, preserved and on display after 35 years of conservation work. The town’s DDay Museum is slated to reopen this spring with exhibits incorporating firstperson stories from D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. The museum also plans to restore the last surviving D-Day landing craft in time for the 75th anniversary in 2019.
In Scotland, Edinburgh’s Scottish National Gallery is undergoing a major renovation, with plans for expanded gallery space and a grand entrance from Princes Street Gardens. Certain exhibits and paintings may be out of view.
In Glasgow, the original Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street — the only surviving tearooms designed inside and out by art nouveau architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh — will reopen this year with a new visitors center, a restored interior based on Mackintosh’s original design and exhibits marking the 150th anniversary of his birthdate. Across town, however, the star attraction at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Museum, Salvador Dali’s Christ of St. John of the Cross, is on the road until 2020.
The Isle of Skye, just off Scotland’s west coast, is bursting with tourism,
Qwhich means hotel rooms are booking up six or more months in advance, and restaurants are turning away diners without reservations. Travelers should book early.
In Ireland, Dublin is sprucing up its museum lineup with new high-tech sights. Epic: The Irish Emigration Museum tells the story of the Irish diaspora using interactive displays. The museum also houses the Irish Family History Centre, which helps visitors research their Irish roots. The new exhibit at GPO Witness History offers an immersive look at the 1916 Easter Uprising from underneath the General Post Office, which served as the rebel headquarters.
Travelers heading up to Northern Ireland should note that along the Antrim Coast, timed tickets are now required to cross the rickety Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. But they’re only available in person on the same day, so arrive early before they sell out. Nearby, at the striking basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway, the new Clifftop Experience is a three-hour guided trek exploring 5 miles of the Causeway coast. And in Belfast, the Titanic museum now offers a halfprice ticket sold one hour before closing. But at such an impressive attraction, it’s worth the full-price ticket (about $25) to spend more time here.
Britain and Ireland are a work in progress for travelers, and those equipped with the latest information enjoy a better experience.