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From sampling whisky at the distillery where it’s made to kayaking to castle ruins, visiting prehistoric forts, and learning about Belfast’s troubled history on a black cab tour, the UK offers a myriad of engaging experiences.

History is writ large across the landscape. Ancient stone circles, royal palaces, stately homes, and medieval villages all await. You can zip around London on a Mini Cooper tour, follow the course of literary legends on an Oxford walking tour, or TV giants on a Game of Thrones tour in Northern Ireland.

If your interests lie more in nature, you could go fly fishing with a local guide in the Scottish Highlands, hike along ancient paths, or explore the rolling hills and rose-clad cottages of the northern Cotswolds. You’ll be spoiled for choice.

The choice of places to stay in the UK is wide and varied with everything from historic castles, Georgian townhouses, quaint cottages, and romantic manors to choose from. Experience historic grandeur and modern design at The Kensington, a Victorian townhouse in London, or at the Gainsborough Bath Spa hotel in Bath’s genteel Georgian terraces.

Follow in Oscar Wilde’s footsteps at The Old Parsonage in Oxford, or enjoy world-class golf, Michelin-starred fine dining, as well as fishing, shooting and riding at Gleneagles in Scotland. Your specialist will offer advice on where to stay in the UK and help find the right hotel for you.

The diversity of the landscapes and attractions around the UK can make it difficult to choose where to go, but the short distances involved make travel easy. Whether you want to see Buckingham Palace and Big Ben in London, take a guided walking tour in Edinburgh, or golf the hallowed greens at St Andrews, it’s all possible.

Outside the cities, you’ll find glorious mountains and scenic walking in the Lake District or Scottish Highlands. You can wander down cobbled lanes past honey-stone colleges and hushed quads in Cambridge, visit Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon, discover the haunting beauty and rich distilling history on the Isle of Skye, or learn about feuds among rival giants at the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

The flight time from Toronto, Canada to the UK is around seven hours. It’s around eight and a half hours from Calgary to London, and nine and a half hours from Vancouver to London. Flying to other cities in the UK from the prairies or west coast often requires a layover, which will increase your journey time.

The time zone in the UK is UTC+1 hour. Daylight Savings Time is observed from late-March to late-October.

For complete freedom and easy access to remote areas, renting a car is one of the best ways to get around the UK. Cars drive on the left, however, so this can take a little getting used to. You may also want to consider rail or bus travel, and most locations can be reached by the public transportation system. We can also arrange a private driver if you prefer.

The British rail network is extensive and will get you to all major destinations. For the best fares, book your tickets online in advance and avoid peak travel times. If you’re planning to travel exclusively by train, a rail card, which offers discounted travel, might be worth the investment. It’s also worth checking the price of first-class tickets because the carriages are quieter and more comfortable.

You can collect your tickets from machines in the train station, just check which station your train is departing from in bigger cities. Also, check platform displays carefully as trains to different destinations can depart from the same platform just minutes apart. Although most trains have some kind of food service, choices are limited, so it’s a good idea to bring your own snacks and drinks. Finally, leave extra time if you’re making onward connections, delays and cancellations are always a possibility.

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for UK. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

• Entry requirements travel tool

Your doctor is best placed to offer up-to-date vaccination advice for the UK. Also check you’re up to date on all vaccinations recommended at home. You can check recommended vaccinations by country by visiting the .