If you’re planning on holidaying at home in 2010, then you’re in for a treat. There’s plenty happening all over the UK, and we’ve picked out destinations that are offering special reasons to visit. From anniversaries and festivals to new openings and filming locations, these are our great British locations for 2010.
Glasgow
London may have the big name museums, Edinburgh the big name festivals and Liverpool the lingering glow of being European Capital of Culture in 2008. But, whisper it quietly, Glasgow is really the UK’s cultural hotbed.
The city has a buzzing arts scene, which has been complemented by the recently opened Trongate 103. A six storey, one block giant of a building has been converted from a disused warehouse into a purpose-designed home for eight very varied arts organisations.
These include the Glasgow Print Studio and Street Level Photoworks, but the most exciting of the eight is the brilliant Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre. This is something genuinely unique – the Russian creator has made some amazing mechanical contraptions that move and chunter along to light shows and music.
The arts scene hums year round in Glasgow, but if you need to pick one time of year to visit in 2010, it should be between April 16th and May 3rd. This is when the Glasgow International Festival will take place, and by all accounts, the biennial event is going to be bigger, better and more full-on than ever before.
During the festival, Glasgow should turn into one big party zone, and before the drinks start flowing there are plenty of intriguing projects to take a look at across the city. The organisers are planning to put on a series of exhibitions in unlikely places – shops, old warehouses and even the River Clyde are going to be turned into temporary galleries.
Artists from around the world have had two years to prepare their works, so the quality on display should be sky high.
Celtic Manor Resort, Wales
This luxury spa resort near Newport is a great place to get away from it all at the best of times, but from October 1st to October 3rd you’ve got no chance of getting a room. Celtic Manor’s purpose-built golf course is playing host to the 2010 Ryder Cup then – but there’s nothing to stop you booking in beforehand to see what all the fuss is about and get on the greens before Tiger Woods and co do.
Isle of Wight
It is long been written off as holiday destination for the elderly, but the Isle of Wight has suddenly become cool again. This is partly due to Bestival, which has arguably cemented a reputation as Britain’s coolest music festival. The 2010 instalment takes place in September.
But exciting things are happening elsewhere too. Retro-chic airstream caravans are taking over the island, with a new park Vintage Vacations park opening in Cowes this year.
LEGOLAND, Windsor
Budding Johnny Depps will be in their element at LEGOLAND’s new attraction. Pirates Landing promises to be a world full of swashbuckling, treasure and mouthy parrots. Aimed at younger children, the highlights include the rather wet Pirate Falls Dynamite Drench.
Nottinghamshire
The Robin Hood legend will get another lease of life in 2010, with a new Gladiator-style Ridley Scott film about the mythical hero. Russell Crowe stars in the title role, but destinations linked to Robin Hood are likely to be the winners. Nottinghamshire has plenty of Robin Hood attractions, including Nottingham castle and Sherwood Forest.
The city itself is planning a special Robin Hood Month in May.
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
Another destination hoping to get a timely boost from movie stardom is Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace. It’ll be a bit smaller than usual, however. The palace is due to become the royal palace of pocket-sized Lilliput in the new adaptation of Gulliver’s Travels starring Jack Black, Billy Connolly and Catherine Tate.
Snowdonia, Wales
The north-west corner of Wales has always been spectacular, but there’s a new reason to visit this year as the Welsh Highland Railway is finally completed and linked to the famous Ffestiniog railway. This will provide 40 miles worth of scenery, and open up Snowdonia to cyclists, walkers and those without their own cars.
Perth, Scotland
In 2010, it’ll be 800 years since Perth was dubbed a Royal Burgh by King William, and it is having a year-long celebration of the fact. Over 100 events are included in the programme, including music and dance extravaganzas, an urban orienteering ‘World Cup’ and the Tay Descent. The latter is a new mass participation canoeing and kayaking event.
Winchester
Also celebrating an important anniversary is Winchester. It’s the 900th anniversary of Hyde Abbey, which was constructed to house the bones of Alfred the Great.
The city has used this as an excuse to kick off Hyde900, which to all intents and purposes is a seven month-long Alfred The Great festival. This includes a special lottery-funded display called The Treasures of Hyde Abbey. It’ll feature some of the most impressive trinkets, carvings, books and manuscripts in British history.
Stratford-upon-Avon
2010 sees the 800th anniversary of the construction of the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford – this is where Shakespeare is buried. More importantly, this year sees the reopening of the new Royal Shakespeare Company building. The new RSC Theatre hosts its first performances in autumn, and it promises to be one of the best performance venues in the world.
This article was originally written for AOL UK.
Copyright David Whitley
