It’s always nice to shed a few extra pounds on your vacation – unless you’re in the Great Britain, that is. In that case, saving pounds is a good idea. Magellans.com, your trusted source of travel supplies, has ideas for free, fun things to do in England and Scotland, and tips for staying safe and organized in the process.
Chances are your trip to Britannia will start in London. That simply makes sense with Heathrow Airport being the main point of entry. The British capital is famous for its castles and kings and offers plenty for visitors to see without having to dig into their pockets.
Start with a stroll along the banks of the Thames beginning at the Tower Bridge. From there you can easily walk to the London Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, or take a free tour of the Tate Modern art museum on the south bank. From there it’s a short walk to the Southbank Centre and its shops, including an open-air book market tucked under the Waterloo Bridge. After a rest stop, stroll across the bridge and see St. Clement Danes, “The RAF Church,” rebuilt in 1681 by Sir Christopher Wren and restored again after it was gutted by bombs in 1941. Today it stands as a tribute to the Royal Air Force and its role in British history.
Many of London’s museums and galleries are free, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Several are in South Kensington, just south of Hyde Park, just a short stroll from Buckingham Palace. The daytime tour of Westminster Abbey costs about $20 US, but the Evensong service every day at 5:30 is free and includes songs by the abbey’s choir. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are just around the block.
Head north to Scotland and you’ll discover a wealth of museums on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, all free for your enjoyment. They include The People’s Story, The Museum of Childhood, and the Writers’ Museum, where you can see rare books, portraits and personal effects of Scottish writers Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Edinburgh Castle is almost next door, and a stroll along the Leith Walk toward the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre will afford you a glimpse of the Royal Yacht Britannia berthed nearby. Tours cost £12, but looks are free.
Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art in Royal Exchange Square is free with constantly-changing exhibits as well as a permanent collection that features works by Scottish natives. The award-winning Riverside Museum on the banks of the River Clyde has more than 3,000 items on display showing the history of transportation, and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has a variety of holdings from Renaissance art and works of renowned Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh to a Spitfire fighter from the Glasgow Squadron and an Asian elephant.
Shopaholics can wile away hours touring Glasgow’s Style Mile, packed with malls, boutiques, and specialty shops. It’s the UK’s largest retail concentration outside London.
Before you cross the pond, a visit to Magellans.com will go a long way toward keeping your touring supplies in order and your valuables safe. Our Safe Passage Tote is the perfect way to keep your laptop and other essentials secure and easy to reach en route. Its steel mesh fabric and slash-proof cable-reinforced shoulder straps are designed to deter theft and tampering. There’s a padded computer compartment along with mesh accessory pockets and loads of room for other necessities. A back pocket is ideal for frequently accessed items. A Magellans exclusive design, the Large Safe Passage Tote is currently on sale at 25% off its regular price.
Take your security to an even higher level in a smaller handbag with Magellan’s exclusive VaultPro RFID Easy Pack II. It has the same slash-proof, cut-proof features as the Safe Passage Tote and a back panel with 2 RFID-shielding card slots to keep cyber thieves from snagging your identity and credit card detail. It has a roomy main compartment and two zippered sections for electronics and eyeglasses. It even has a snap-in key fob and an LED light.
For the ultimate in compactness and security, take along our RFID Blocking Passport and Ticket Wallet. US passports issued after October 2006 have RFID chips with your personal data, and this wallet makes sure that information is inaccessible except when you take it out for use. There are also spots for a boarding pass, ID cards, and 3 credit cards. It has a neck cord and a belt loop, so it can be worn wherever is most convenient. It even comes with a pen.
These are only a few of products Magellan’s offers to keep your travels safe and comfortable. Starting as a kitchen-table operation in 1989, Magellan’s has grown into one of the world’s leading travel accessory companies. With thousands of specialized travel products and a staff of nearly 100, Magellan’s remains committed to making your travel safer, more comfortable and richly rewarding.
Shop at one of our Southern California retail locations or order safely through our online catalog secure in the knowledge that we stand behind our products 100%. If you’re not completely happy with your purchase, we’ll make it right or cheerfully refund your full purchase price.
We welcome you to visit us in person and invite you to browse our online catalog for all your travel accessory needs. While you’re there, be sure to check out our Deal of the Week and other great sales and specials, too.
