Globe Trekker travellers Ian Wright, Megan McCormick,
Jonathan Atherton, and Justine Shapiro travel
the length and breadth of England, Wales, Scotland,
and Northern Ireland  to experience the best of
the countries' heritage, history, nature, festivals,
food and drink and eccentric traditions! Our team start off by looking at the monarchy in different
periods of England's history; Ian visits Windsor
Castle whilst Jonathan learns about the bloody and
gory past of the Tower of London. Next Ian learns
about aristocratic schooling at Eton - England's
poshest school and Princes William and Harry's alma
mater - while Justine meets the eccentric Marquis of
Bath at his grand residence, Longleat House.
Justine then travels to one of the oldest and most
remarkable landmarks in England, Stonehenge.
Dating back 5,000 years no-one knows how or why this
giant stone formation was created. What is indisputable
is that it is awe inspiring! She also visits a re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, one of the most defining moments of English
history when the French were victorious over the English.
Meanwhile, Ian takes part in a re-enactment of a different
sort -  medieval jousting - before checking out Canterbury
Cathedral, the site of the bloody murder of Thomas
Beckett.
Megan and Justine catch one of England's most celebrated
festivals, Bonfire Night, when Guy Fawkes' unsuccessful
gunpowder plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament is
remembered. Ian witnesses spectacular fireworks and
a flotilla of ships in Portsmouth on England's
south coast as a celebration of Nelson's victory over
the French at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
England's expansion of the Empire during the reign
of Queen Victoria in the 19th century opened the way
for a Multicultural Britain. Our travellers explore
the diverse ethnicity of Britain today - Jonathan visits
the East End of London known for its Bengali
community and Brixton's  bustling Caribbean-influenced
streets whilst Megan checks out a Hindu temple in the
North of the capital and joins in the fun at the world
famous Notting Hill Carnival in London before
heading up to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival.
Meanwhile Ian parties in the mud at the biggest music
festival in England - Glastonbury.
Ian thinks he has stumbled across the perfect picture-postcard
village when he arrives in Chipping Campden in
the Cotswolds. He takes part in one of the oldest
and strangest sporting events in the English calendar,
the Cotswolds Olympics, and discovers that he's
never going to be a champion 'shin kicker'!
Ian dresses up in 15th century garb when he attends
a jousting festival at Berkeley Castle.
Donning chain mail, helmet, lance and shield, he gingerly
mounts his horse to pitch battle against the Black Knight.
 Our travellers give tips on the best ways of getting
around; from London's black cabs and underground tube
to cycling in Northern Ireland and riding aboard an
historic steam train in Scotland. Although the United Kingdom doesn't hold the best reputation
for food, our travellers tuck in to all manner of delightful
and doubtful food, from the cooked English breakfast
to deep fried chocolate bars, jellied eels and Cornish
pasties.
Strange sports are sampled, from dog racing in East
London to grand horse racing at Ascot, bizarre
road bowling in Northern Ireland and the Highland
Games in Scotland.
Our travellers complete their journeys by taking in
some of the UK's most stunning vistas, from atop the Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland's Giants
Causeway and Wales' Snowdonia. |
