Explore the United Kingdom

General Information
Besides the specifics such as what attractions to visit, activities and where to eat there are a number of things any visitor to London and the UK in general should know in order to properly plan their trip.

UK Weather
The UK has a reputation for rainy weather, however though it has its fair share of damp days that cannot be avoided there are still plenty of sunny days and during the summer months especially in southern England you will experience warm temperatures and sunshine. Even winter temperatures are mild, rarely falling below freezing, however winds and rain can make you feel the cold.

The warmest months are obviously the summer and in particular July and August. The down side is that July and August are also the busiest tourist times and you will no doubt experience crowds at every popular attraction and town. The best time of year to visit would be during the months just before or just after the peak times, between April and June or in September. At these times of year tourist attractions are open but there will be fewer people.

It is a good idea to be prepared for the weather conditions. Even in the summer you should bring along a warm sweater in case of some rainy, chilly days or evenings. An umbrella is definitely a good idea.

UK History
The United Kingdom has a long, rich, bloody and interesting history. It would be impossible to learn it all in a short period of time. Though before any trip to London or other parts of the country will certainly be enriched by some general history knowledge, so it might a good idea to do a little reading before you arrive. It will certainly make popular London sites such as the Tower of London more interesting to visit. Or if you are visiting the great country houses knowing a little about the culture and people of the time will no doubt make the houses more alive and fascinating.

One of the UK's most famous family's is the Tudors. They were at the peak of their power during the 1500's. Some of the most well-known and interesting historical figures were part of this family, such as Henry VIII who was famous for his six wives and bringing the Reformation to England. A well organised an interesting account of Tudor history has been put together by Lara E. Eakins. Her website Tudor History includes calendars of events, genealogical trees, biographical information on those that lived during the time, maps, how the Tudors history is still relevant today and much more great information about the period. You can even find out about each of Henry VIII's wives and the food people ate at the time.