London is a city two thousand years in the making. Back in AD61, the Romans made Londinium their capital, establishing a walled town, parts of which can still be seen today. Modern London is a vibrant, multi-cultural and cosmopolitan city with a diverse population who have come from all corners of the world to make London their home.  

The centre of London is where the tourists can be found. They come to see the main attractions like The Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. Then there are the Kensington museums, London Eye, Clink Prison Museum and the London Dungeon, all of which are popular with visitors.  

There are no shortage of restaurants either. With an array of international cuisines available at every price point. There is China Town which serves some of the best Chinese food outside China and Brick Lane for the best authentic Indian food outside of India. Coffee houses are as popular in London as they are in Mainland Europe, with the coffee culture more popular than ever, ideal for catching up with friends.  

Getting around London is simple too. Londoners all carry an Oyster Card, available from most underground stations. The best way to get around is on foot, that way you can explore the old backstreets and discover more of London. For longer journeys, bus or underground are the cheapest but the famous black taxis will take you anywhere you want to go. However these can work out expensive if used regularly unless traveling in a group. Why not try taking an Uber boat down the River Thames to Greenwich? The fare per person was £8.20 (based on July 2021 prices) when boarded at Waterloo (London Eye), simply tap in with your Oyster Card and jump on.  

Going to Greenwich makes for a great day out and so does Richmond and Kew. In fact, you could have a day out in any part of London as there is just so much to see, and a good restaurant or coffee house is never too far away. From the mainline railway stations you can take a train to a nearby town or city and explore a part of what England has to offer. Days out to Canterbury, Colchester, Oxford, Cambridge or Winchester are popular and so much history there also.  

Whether you are in London for a few days or longer you will have an amazing time in one of the world's most exciting cities. 

For me, some of the most enjoyable times I've had, is exploring other places within the British Isles. Every corner of the country has different scenery, varying in undulation, from the flat lands of the Fens, to the Welsh and Scottish mountains. The history of each region differs again from agricultural farmlands, industrial achievements in manufacturing and transport to urban spread. One area I enjoy visiting is south Wales, steeped in history and achievements in the areas mentioned.  

I've been fortunate enough to visit Swansea on several occasions in the last thirty years, but only ever for work reasons. I had only previously seen the city's industrial estates and office interiors. However, in July of 2020 I began to make numerous weekly trips to Swansea, again for work reasons, by driving the London to Swansea coach.  

Finally I had the time to start exploring the city centre, albeit one section at a time during my daily 90-minute lunch breaks. The town is steeped in history, with the remains of old castle dominating the city centre. I explored the main market, the largest covered market in the county, walked around the old docks discovering the city's maritime history. This was all during the covid months when travel for most people was difficult, but that in itself brought its own challenges. The city's museums were closed, but the Plantasia attraction was open and I did enjoy a brief visit, walking through the tropical pyramid greenhouse seeing the array of plants and wildlife on display. The museums I'm told are well worth a visit, so hopefully I'll get back for a longer visit in the near future and explore the treasures held within. One of the real assets of this part of Wales is the beach. Wide, deep and sandy, surrounded by beautiful scenery as you walk along the beach towards the Gower peninsula.  

Even though, Swansea is some 170 miles from central London, its easily reached by train from Paddington Station or by coach, either National Express or Flixbus, from Victoria Coach Station. Connections from other towns and cities are numerous, if connecting through Cardiff, the capital of Wales. I talk about visiting Swansea, but the whole area of the south of Wales contain numerous must visit locations, from Chepstow in the east through to Milford Haven in the west. A trip to south Wales can be so enjoyable for so many reasons.