TRAVEL TIPS
Visitor Information
Online Travel Tools
All About England
All of England's regions, along with most major towns and cities, have their own dedicated tourism websites providing information. VisitBritain (www.visitbritain.com), the official visitor website, focuses on information most helpful to England-bound U.S. travelers, from practical information to money-saving deals; you can even find out about movie locations. The London visitor website (www.visitlondon.com) can help you book your accommodations.
Gardens
The National Gardens Scheme opens exceptional gardens attached to private houses and private garden squares to the public on selected weekends.
Contact
National Gardens Scheme. National Gardens Scheme 01483/211535; www.ngs.org.uk.
Historic Sites
The British monarchy has an official website with information about visiting royal homes and more. English Heritage, the National Trust, and VisitBritain all offer discount passes.
Contacts
The British Monarchy. 0207/930–4832; www.royal.gov.uk.
English Heritage. English Heritage 0870/333–1181; www.english-heritage.org.uk.
National Trust. National Trust 0844/800–1895; www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Museums and the Arts
The London Theatre Guide, created by the Society of London Theatre, presents what's on and sells tickets. Their half-price ticket booths, tkts, located in London's Leicester Square and Brent Cross Shopping Centre, offer same-day bargains. Culture 24 is a nonprofit site with information about publicly funded museums, art galleries, and historic sights. Theatre Tokens sells gift vouchers for theater tickets.
Contacts
Culture 24. Culture 24 01273/623266; www.culture24.org.uk.
London Theatre Guide. London Theatre Guide 0207/557–6700; www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk.
Theatre Tokens. Theatre Tokens 0203/011–0755; www.theatretokens.com.
tkts. tkts 0207/557–6700; www.tkts.co.uk.
Visitor Information Offices
In some towns there are local and regional tourist information centers; many have websites. Offices offer services from discounts for local attractions to visitor guides, maps, parking information, and accommodation advice.
London Travel Information Centres. Eight visitor information centers in London can be found at travel hubs like King's Cross-St. Pancras International, Victoria station, Euston, Heathrow, Liverpool Street station, and Piccadilly Circus, plus Greenwich and the City of London. They offer guides, advice, and tickets for tours and attractions, as well as Oyster cards and other public transportation passes. London, 0207/234–5800; www.visitlondon.com.
In the U.S.
VisitBritain. VisitBritain 212/850–0336; www.visitbritain.com.
Health
You can relax with yoga- and spa-based holidays throughout the United Kingdom. Lotus Journeys and Free Spirit Travel offers some good options.
Contact
Free Spirit Travel. Free Spirit Travel 01273/564230; www.freespirityoga.co.uk.
Lotus Journeys. Lotus Journeys 0845/170–1747; www.lotusjourneys.com.
