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Vibrant Britain earns rave reviews
TOURIST bosses in the UK have breathed a collective sigh of relief after Britain earned a rousing review from Lonely Planet in its latest guide book.
Describing Britain as a “feast of delights”, the guide dismisses any notion of a north-south divide and attempts to eradicate any lasting impression that it’s “grim up north”.
Virtually every city is lauded in some capacity with many declared as unmissable as many of Europe’s iconic city-break hotspots. The book is expected to boost domestic and international tourism.
Author David Else said: “When it comes to great destinations the north-south divide is a myth. Great Britain is now comparable to fine countries such as Italy which boasts an array of unmissable cities like Rome, Venice, Florence, Turin and Milan.”
The book goes on to say the “beauty, diversity of attractions and hospitality” have made Britain into “one of the world’s most popular destinations.”
The praise is a far cry from previous edition of the guide which has dubbed our shores “horrifically expensive” and filled with “liquored-up lager louts”. Service at hotels meanwhile was so awful it made “Fawlty Towers look like a documentary”.
Nowadays, Leeds is a “perfect example of the contemporary British zeitgeist”, Glasgow has “style, chic and contagious energy”, Cardiff is “slick” and Brighton a “highlight of any visit”.
Manchester, meanwhile, is “exciting and interesting” while Newcastle is “elegant” and proof of the “miraculous powers of urban regeneration”.
The capital also fares well although some key attractions – Buckingham Palace and Madame Tussauds among them – come under fire.
A VisitBritain spokesman welcomed Lonely Planet’s report.
“We’ve always known it’s a great destination and it’s good to see Lonely Planet has recognised this,” he said. “Guide books have a reputation for impartiality and objectiveness so what they say does have an impact.”
Report by Steve Jones
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