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Team USA Winners step off the podium into GREAT Britain!
NEW YORK, August 10, 2012 – As the London 2012 Olympic Games draw to a close, Team USA is looking strong with having won 90 plus medals – quite an accomplishment that is worthy of some well-deserved time off enjoying the best of Britain. VisitBritain, the national tourism agency for England, Scotland and Wales, has come up with suggestions of treasured places to see and things to do in Britain.
Team USA’s women’s soccer team is taking home the gold for the third straight summer Olympic Games, so these winning women certainly have reason to celebrate! Alex Morgan may find that 2013 may just be her lucky year as it’s the Year of Natural Scotland, celebrating Scotland’s outstanding natural beauty and built heritage. Alex can put her motorcycle license to good use as she explores the beautiful countryside of Scotland from its many islands such as the Isle of Arran and Orkney Islands to the rugged Scottish Highlands. Of course, soccer players and fans alike will want to visit the new National Football Museum in Manchester. Recently opened, the museum boasts the world’s greatest soccer collection of over 140,000 items, including the FIFA Collection.
America’s golden boy Michael Phelps certainly has cause to relax. As a self-confessed arcade fan, he can enjoy hours of fun at the Grand Pier in Weston-Super-Mare, which is home to over 500 arcade machines and has every game imaginable. While there, Phelps can try his hand at go-karting, as the pier is also home to a 300m electric floor pick-up go-kart track, which is the only one of its kind in the UK. Phelps has been dedicated to his healthy eating regime throughout his Olympic career, but now that he has swam his last competitive race, indulging in fish and chips while in the seaside town is a must. Nowhere does thisbetter than a true English seaside town eatery such as the popular Papa’s.
Gabby Douglas, America’s newest sweetheart, can take some time to relax and explore Britain. An avid knitter, we thought she may want to contribute to one of Knit the City’s current projects. Knit the City, a secret underground group, has been collectively sneaking stitching and leaving their knitted art in public throughout the city of London since February 2009. Another hobby she enjoys is reading and what better place to explore literature than Britain, birthplace to many literary legends. Douglas can take a trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon and discover Shakespeare’s birthplace for herself or she can take a trip to Bath, just an hour away from London, to visit the Jane Austen Centre. She can also visit the exhibition aMAZEme at the Southbank Centre London, an installation built from thousands of books, forming a large maze of more than 500 square meters!
For three consecutive Olympiads, Misty May Treanor and her partner Kerri Walsh have dominated Olympic beach volleyball. Misty has now announced her retirement to spend more time with her husband and beloved dogs. Britain has the perfect locations for her to do just that! The volleyball champ can walk for hours with her dogs along the Wales Coastal Path, the only place in the world where it is possible to walk the entire coastline of a country on one path. Here she can relax, recharge and reflect on her triumph while marveling at the stunning panoramic views of the Welsh coast. Bournemouth Beach is a must visit for its miles of pristine golden sand. The TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Awards ranked it as one of the top five beaches in Europe. Alum Chine, Middle Chine and Fisherman's Walk are just some of the beaches along the beautiful stretch that are dog friendly!
Britain invites Kobe Bryant to discover the host nation alongside his daughters and family post-Olympics. Legoland, Windsor and The Making of Harry Potter studio tour both make for ideal family-fun filled days. The Science Museum in the heart of London is a great option for families looking for fun while learning something, too. The Bryants can enjoy the stunning 3D adventures like ‘Deep Sea 3D' and engage in some of the hands-on interactive galleries. For a family day out with a different edge, they can head to Alnwick Castle. This glorious medieval castle has been the setting for many great films such as Harry Potter and Elizabeth. And if having a whole castle to explore isn't enough, kids love Knights' Quest, where they can dress up in clothes of medieval times, learn the art of swordsmanship and even have a go at jousting!
For more itinerary ideas for your next gold medal worthy trip to Britain, please visit www.visitbritain.com.
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About VisitBritain
- VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, is responsible for inspiring the world to explore Britain and for developing the UK’s visitor economy.
- Americans made 2.8 million visits to Britain in 2012 and spent $3.7 billion USD (£2.4 billion). The US remains in the top spot in terms of market value for inbound tourism and is one of the top three most important markets in terms of visitor numbers.
- Visitors traveling to Britain can find out more information from visitbritain.us plus purchase money and time saving local transport, sightseeing, attraction, theatre and tour tickets from visitbritainshop.us
- Follow us on Twitter @VisitBritain, Pinterest (VisitBritain) and Facebook: LoveUK & LoveUK Film & TV