Be a part of UK sporting traditions
When you plan a trip to the UK, the usual things you focus on are perhaps the cities you’ll visit and the historical sights you’ll see whilst you’re there. And there is so much to see in the UK that it would be simply impossible to fit it all into just one trip.
London usually features on everyone’s list as a must-see attraction, and here you’ll get a great cross-section of art galleries, museums, Royal palaces such as Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court, and you can visit these alongside catching a West End theatre show or musical.
But to get a real slice of life in Britain, it’s worth trying to get along to a sporting fixture or two as well. Here are just a few ideas regarding precisely how you might do that.
Go to the football
Many of the biggest international names in football play in the UK and the Premier League clubs draw thousands of spectators every week to watch the matches in person. If you can book tickets for a game at one of the big clubs, it’s a real experience. Even if you can’t manage to get tickets for a match during your trip, you could always book a stadium tour.
Go to the races
There are lots of race courses across the UK, with many race days throughout the year as well as the big events like the Grand National, Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Coming up this weekend is the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Paddy Power has Telescope tipped as the 2/1 favourite for the race that takes place in the last Saturday of July, but there are plenty of other runners that might offer a better value punt. Even if you don’t get to attend a big racing event, any race day always has a great atmosphere, with plenty of opportunities for people-watching as well as watching the horses.
Try your hand at bowls
There are plenty of ten-pin bowling alleys in the UK, but we’re talking about traditional British bowling here. The British have played bowls for centuries – in fact the oldest bowling green is near Southampton and dates back to the 13th century. Even if you don’t actually get a game yourself, it’s worth stopping to watch a game if you’re passing. If you’re anywhere near the seaside, there always seem to be plenty of bowls games going on there.
These are just a few of the different British sporting traditions you can enjoy in the UK. You may not have time to do everything, but it’ll add a different layer of interest to your trip.