Lisbon to London

Lisbon has inspired explorers for centuries with its stunning setting at the Tagus River’s mouth. Its labyrinthine streets carry echoes of 16th-century navigators who sailed on the winds of the Age of Discovery. The city prospered greatly from its trade. And today’s streets are lined with the legacies of wealthy builders, including the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, stunning works that introduced Manueline architecture. Savoring local cuisine and port wine are favorite pastimes here. On any evening, the strains of fadospill from clubs in the historic Alfama District.

Dating from Roman times, the Galician city of Vigo has a fine natural harbour and is renowned as the biggest fishing port in the world. It is also full of history - it was in this fjord-like quay that the English and Dutch defeated the French and Spanish fleets in 1702. Today, the attractive marinas stand in contrast to the industrialised areas of the city, while further exploration will reveal the characteristic 17th-century architecture and attractive countryside beyond. The charming Old Town is a delight, with its labyrinth of winding narrow streets and shaded squares. Nearby is the Cathedral city of Tui, and further to the north is the pilgrimage centre of Santiago de Compostela, which can be reached by car in approximately 1¼ hours.

For many visitors Tresco is the most attractive of the Isles of Scilly. This is especially due to its Abbey Garden, which is home to thousands of exotic plant species from around 80 different countries. Plant collector Augustus Smith began the gardens in the 1830s on the site of an old Benedictine Abbey by channelling the weather up and over a network of walled enclosures built around the Priory ruins. He had three terraces carved from the rocky south slope and maximised Tresco’s mild Gulf Stream climate. Even in mid-winter there still are hundreds of plants flowering here. Another surprising attraction at the Abbey Garden is the collection of figureheads from ships that wrecked among the Isles of Scilly.

St Mary’s is the Isle of Scilly’s largest island with a population of 1800 residents and an area of 6.58 square Kilometres; this is the gateway to the rest of the magnificent islands. Hugh town -a beautiful Old town with its own beach, nature reserve and church is the main attractions of St Mary’s, with tiny streets brimming with shops to pick up the perfect souvenir. St Mary’s is a hidden gem, with long stretches of white sandy beaches and a breath-taking untouched landscape. The coastline holds many archaeological sites along with miles of splendid walks along the coastal and country paths.

Once a northern defense post against Irish raiders, Holyhead later became best known as a ferry port for Ireland. The dockside bustle is not matched by the town, however, which maintains just a small population. Nonetheless, thousands of years of settlement have given Holyhead rich historical ruins to explore, with more in the surrounding hiking friendly landscape.

The cliffs of small Skomer Island off the southwest coast of Wales are accessible only by boat. Skomer has a large population of breeding seabirds that include Manx Shearwaters, Razorbills, Great Cormorants, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Atlantic Puffins, European Storm Petrels, Common Shags, Eurasian Oystercatchers and gulls, as well as birds of prey including Short-eared Owls, Common Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons. The island’s slopes are covered with bluebells and a variety of wildflowers. Grey seals and harbour porpoises can sometimes be seen in the surrounding waters.

Located on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, Milford Haven is a small Welsh town with a beautiful marina. It’s a great place to discover the Welsh culture, and to do some diving and sailing.

Taking its name from the Norse word for puffin, Lundy is a secluded sanctuary for seabirds and the UK's marine wildlife. Just 12 miles off the coast of Devon, yet seemingly a world away, tiny Lundy Island rises where the River Severn meets the Bristol Channel and merges into the vast Atlantic waters. Its stark, soaring cliffs face out towards the next landmass - the distant Americas - while the eastern grasslands offer room to roam for goats, deer, and ponies. Designated as the UK's first Marine Nature Reserve, Lundy is a true haven for wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers. Puffins, Manx shearwaters, and peregrine falcons nest on Lundy during the spring and summer months, while the surrounding waters teem with grey seals, basking sharks, dolphins, and porpoises. Beneath the waves, divers relish an underwater world rich with soft corals, anemones, and a wide variety of fish species, as well as the intrigue of historic shipwrecks. You can explore the island on foot, following trails that offer sweeping coastal views. The towering cliffs offer breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding sea and dramatic landscapes. Humans have been intrigued by Lundy for over 4,000 years, but development remains minimal, restricted mostly to a small village and a scattering of scenic lighthouses, stout churches, castles and monuments, and, of course, a cozy pub - the Marisco Tavern.

Situated on the south-west coast of England, it seems that Dartmouth is a town that time forgot. Pretty pastel-painted houses dating from medieval times flank the idyllic port, while the enchanting jumble of streets only adds to the quiet authenticity of this, very English, seaside town. The surrounding 120 miles of stunning coastline and acres of rural countryside are any adventurer's dream, so if you enjoy beach combing, hiking, or simply just admiring the view, this sleepy little Devonshire village will not disappoint. Known for its cream teams (an absolute must), ice cream, as well as the obligatory fish'n'chips, Dartmouth's local specialty is fresh Devon crab. Best served with a pint of local beer and a bowl of homemade mayonnaise, this local specialty is simply delicious.

Succumb to the charming setting of the small town of Dartmouth in the county of Devon, South-East England. Set in the heart of lush scenery, on the banks of the River Dart’s estuary, the town’s magnificent landscapes are typical of English countryside. Its picturesque paved streets will let you discover sumptuous half-timbered houses dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries while, on the northern bank of the river, you will be able to admire former fishermen’s houses in their pastel colours. Now a popular tourist destination, this small port town has nonetheless managed to retain its relaxing and romantic atmosphere.

Located approximately 12 miles from the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy (France), and 100 miles from the south coast of Great Britain, the British Crown dependency of Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and shares a World War II German occupied history.

The crowning glory of the Channel Islands, Sark Island is an unbeatable place to escape modern life's busyness and slip into serenity. Nestled between Guernsey and Jersey, the island is just 24 miles from France's Normandy coast. The rhythm of life is dictated by foot, bicycle, or the gentle rumble of a traditional horse-drawn carriage. The crisp, beautiful sea is visible practically everywhere on the island. Explore sweeping trails across the emerald cliffs, finding hidden beaches, coves, and sea caves. Cars are forbidden on the island, which plunges into deep, undisturbed darkness at night, allowing the glorious strands of the Milky Way to shine brightly overhead. Sark Island has been designated as Europe's first International Dark Sky Community. Soak up the silence and stillness of this serene land in a blissful time warp of tranquility. It hasn't always been smooth sailing, and Sark's history reads like a fascinating tome. Regarded as one of the smallest semi-autonomous territories in the world, until recently, it was described as Europe's last feudal stronghold. Settled and occupied by many over the years, this two-square-mile island has seen it all. Nowadays, it is a semi-autonomous dependency of Guernsey. This colorful history has endowed Sark with a glorious independence and an idiosyncratic, quaint charm. With just 600 residents and a few content cows for company - Sark Island is a truly unique and rejuvenating place.

Cobblestone streets, blooming floral displays, and tiny churches welcome you to this wonderfully pretty harbour. The town of St Peter Port is as pretty as they come, with glowing flower displays painting practically every street corner and window-ledge with colour. As the capital, and main port of Guernsey, St Peter Port puts all of the island’s gorgeous beaches, wonderful history and inspiring stories at your fingertips. Feel the gut punch of the midday gun firing at Castle Cornet, which stands guard over one of the world's prettiest ports. This 800-year-old, Medieval castle offers staggering views of the harbour from its imposing, craggy island location, and you can look out across to the looming shorelines of the other Channel Islands from its weathered battlements. With four well-tended gardens, and five museums offering a rich overview of Guernsey's history, you’ll want to leave a few hours aside to explore the many treasures that lie within the castle’s walls.

The Isle of Portland is a tied island, 6 kilometres long by 2.7 kilometres wide, in the English Channel. The southern tip, Portland Bill lies 8 kilometres south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A barrier beach called Chesil Beach joins it to the mainland.

London is an ancient city whose history greets you at every turn. If the city contained only its famous landmarks—the Tower of London or Big Ben—it would still rank as one of the world's top cities. But London is so much more. The foundations of London's character and tradition endure. The British bobby is alive and well. The tall, red, double-decker buses (in an updated model) still lumber from stop to stop. Then there's that greatest living link with the past—the Royal Family with all its attendant pageantry. To ice the cake, swinging-again London is today one of the coolest cities on the planet. The city's art, style, and fashion make headlines around the world, and London's chefs have become superstars.