Five magical things to do in Britain
With popular movies and books as inspiration, American travelers can take a magical trip
to Britain to be spellbound by a country full of myths and legends, stories of witches and wizards, and ghostly
goings on. VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales, suggests five magical things
to do for would-be wizards and witches!
In the north of England, visitors will not want to miss Alnwick Castle, which has featured as Hogwarts in
recent Harry Potter movies. It is the second largest inhabited castle in England, with magnificent interiors
and art treasures, surrounded by grounds landscaped by designer Capability Brown. Adjacent to the castle is another
popular attraction – The Alnwick Garden – renowned for its powerful water cascade, the largest of its kind
in Britain. A new Serpent Garden is the latest addition, home to a giant holly serpent that holds interactive water
sculptures by leading sculptor William Pye. Would-be wizards and witches will also be impressed by the Poison Garden
where they can see some of the most deadly plants in the world and learn about the dangers from experts.
In the Harry Potter series of books, young wizards and witches send messages using owls; so another 'not to be
missed' attraction in the north of England is Muncaster Castle, Gardens and Owl Centre. The center is the
headquarters of th e World Owl Trust and houses more than 180 birds, working to preserve endangered
species. The castle itself boasts an elegant Great Hall, Dining Room and Octagonal Library, but this 13th century
stately home also has a wild history; those who have stayed in the castle say that it is haunted by ghosts including
the legendary Tom Fool.
In Scotland, visitors will be enchanted by Fingal's Cave on Staffa Island. Reached by boat in a half-day
visit from the nearby island of Mull, the spectacular sea cave is famous for its hexagonal basalt columns. Fingal's
Cave is one of three great caverns on the island, and is easily accessible at low tide with a walkway leading deep
inside. Legend has it that the impressive columns are the remains of a bridge connecting Scotland with Ireland,
built by the giant, Finn McCool.
Visitors to Wales can ride on the Ffestiniog Railway, enjoying magical views across the  Snowdonia
National Park. The narrow gauge railway is home to the world's oldest steam locomotive still working on its original
line, and will host a 'Victorian Vintage Weekend' on October 15 – 16, 2005. Nearby at the foot of Mount Snowdon
is Dinas Emrys – the ruins of a fortress which, according to legend, was built by a Celtic king on the suggestion
of magician Merlin. When the fortress was being constructed, two sleeping dragons awoke – one a red dragon representing
Wales, and the other a white dragon representing the Saxons; the dragons fought, with the Welsh dragon winning
and becoming the emblem of Wales to this day.
In London, visitors to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, can see a special exhibition of glass sculptures
and installations by world-renowned American artist, Dale Chihuly. 'Gardens of Glass' is the first exhibition of
its kind to be held in Europe, and features organically shaped and vibrantly colored glass sculptures set throughout
the 300-acre garden landscape and within the great glasshouses, creating a magical journey.
Visitors can find more information about magical vacations in Britain by visiting the website www.visitbritain.com/usa, by e-mailing travelinfo@visitbritain.org
and by calling 1-800-462-2748 to request free brochures including two guides 'Time to Explore Britain' and 'Inside
Britain'.
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