City Breaks in the UK: London, Manchester and Birmingham  

London: home of great Britannia

London has so much to offer, it's a year-round popular destination and one of the greatest cities in the world to visit. Its historical streets and buildings will take you to another world. Modern day London is so culturally diverse it makes a magical place to visit. Visit the traditional London with ceremony and royalty, enjoy a show at the theatre or shop till you drop. There is always something more to do in London.

Transport: how to get there and around:

London has 3 airports based in and around the city. Ferries are a popular way to travel from mainland Europe and Ireland, although the Channel Tunnel cuts travel time to 30 minutes from France. Once you are in London you will be spoilt for choice, there are excellent bus, coach, rail and underground train systems to get you around.

Weather

British weather is unpredictable and is often the topic of conversation. It is better to be prepared for anything, although generally the climate is temperate. Summer temperatures range from 14-30 degrees Celsius, winter can plunge to 1-5 deg C. Winter days are shorter and darker, frost and snow are also common occurrences.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays

The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in London.

Attractions & Events

London has something to offer all year round, you are spoilt for choice with the regular plays and shows, concerts and sporting events. There are a few special events you may want to see. For classic music buffs you can visit to the Royal Albert Hall in August for the proms, for sporty tennis fans there is the Wimbledon Tournament in May,

For those that enjoy pageantry you can enjoy the trooping of the colour in April to celebrate the Queens birthday. All year round you can see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace at 11.30am, this happens everyday in the summer time and in winter every other day.

Birmingham: the heart of England

Historically Birmingham is a 'city of a thousand trades', today it is a lively hub of attractions. The heart of England has an array of music, theatre and performing arts to offer such as the famous Birmingham Royal Ballet and Symphony Orchestra.

Transport: how to get there and around:

Birmingham is just 2 and a half hours drive from London and connected by the M40 motorway. Being in the centre of the country, Birmingham is well connected by rail and coach networks with most major UK cities. The International Airport also offers direct flights to destinations such as New York, Dubai and Chicago. Local buses can be boarded around the Bull Ring Centre and service the town well.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Birmingham.

Attractions & Events

Birmingham holds a number of regular events including comedy shows, live concerts and art exhibitions. If you are in the city during March you may want to join the large Irish population for the St Patrick's Day Parade which is always a fun festival. If you are an art lover, during September you can visit the ArtsFest. With over 100,000 visitors annually it's the largest UK free festival for arts.

Manchester: city of football and more

Manchester has more to offer than just the famous football teams. Manchester is a fashionable and lively city where you can enjoy shopping, clubs and restaurants. If history is more your taste you can discover the part of Manchester that dates back to Roman times.

Transport: how to get there and around:

You can reach Manchester in 3 hours by train from London Euston station. The coach is a more affordable alternative to the train, Manchester is served from a number of UK cities with the reliable National Express service. Domestic and International flights connect with Manchester International Airport. Once in Greater Manchester you can hop on a local bus, metro or train to get around.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Manchester.

Attractions & Events

There are events to enjoy all year round in Manchester. We have highlighted just a few for you to look out for. Music fans can enjoy the citywide Jazz festival in July, which specializes in contemporary Jazz from the north of England. For the flamboyant, the Gay Pride festival is an annual event taking place during 17-27 August. To enjoy the taste of the Manchester, there is a Food and Drink event in October. If you happen to be in the city in November and want to get into the Christmas sp irit, head to Albert Square for the switching on of the Christmas Lights.

About the Author

Alistair White has been in the travel industry for over 20 years and is the founder and CEO of Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Cheap hotels in London.