Some of those lucky enough to be reading this will be going to the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
Played in England and Wales, it’s going to be a feast of rugby, with the best nations going at it at some of the best rugby venues on the planet, with the final to be played at the incomparable Twickenham.
But this article won’t talk about the rugby. No, it’s the guide for those lucky enough to get to the motherland.
The United Kingdom’s biggest city, its capital, its cultural centre, and one of the greatest cities in the world, there’s not much about London that doesn’t make the jaw drop.
There’s so much to see and do that it can be overwhelming – and that’s before you go into the sport that is played there
Sporting history
You’ll be walking into it if you’re attending any of the Rugby World Cup games in London. Whether it’s Twickenham, the Olympic Stadium or Wembley, it’s the sporting capital of the country too.
A tour of any of the stadia of the English Premier League clubs would certainly be worth the visit, with perhaps the biggest on offer a tour of Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s home ground.
That’s not even getting to Lord’s, where the museum shares an unrivalled reputation among sports lovers, or The Oval, or Wimbledon.
The Thames hosts the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge every year, so think about that as you’re walking past the Globe Theatre or Westminster or London Bridge.
It’s a feast for sports lovers.
See
Well, where do you start?
We’ve already mentioned the Globe Theatre, and that is one of many, many, many great theatres in the town.
Buckingham Palace is situated right near Regent’s Park, which is close to Mayfair, the popular Monopoly suburb, which is by Oxford Street, a couple of tube stops away from Camden, or near Trafalgar Square.
Piccadilly Circus is just around the corner from there, and you might walk across the bridge to Borough Market or to the Tower of London.
Steeped in history, just start walking and keep going. You’ll find something to do within a few minutes.
Eat
Again, if it’s worth eating, you can probably find it in London. Borough is one of the world’s finest markets, and is worth the trip.
Multi-cultural is the name of the game, with London home to people from all backgrounds and cultures. They’ve probably invented a few new ones in there too.
London, as the home of porter, is also home to some great pubs. There are apps that can find them for you, but failing that just walk around and find a full one. The likelihood is the food will be good and the cask ales will be better, so long as you can stomach beer that isn’t 0 degrees.
A quick search of ‘gastropub’ will bring up a host of options that are slightly above that pricerange, serving nice beer and food, if a little more expensive and fancy.
Or, if your price range is even higher than that, there are three 2-Michelin-starred restaurants operating in London, with Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse serving some of the finest food you’re likely to find anywhere in the world.
England’s second most populous city will host two games at the Rugby World Cup, including the might of Australia and South Africa. Sure, they might be against some second-tier opposition, but it might be worth getting there, even just to get out of London.
Sporting history
Once again (outside of Edgbaston, the venue of the Ashes Test just played), EPL clubs dominate the sporting life of Birmingham.
Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City are all based in the city, with Villa probably the best-supported club. They’ve been in the top flight since 1988, and have won seven titles in their 140-year history.
While perhaps not as glamorous as the Emirates and Lord’s, you can tour Villa Park and Edgbaston, the ground where Warwickshire play their County cricket and England play Tests.
You could probably check out Edgbaston Golf Club while you’re there, if you brought your clubs and made an appointment.
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It’s not known as the most attractive city in the UK. It doesn’t have the sandstone of Oxford, the canals of Cambridge, or the sheer majesty of some of the things you’ll find in London, but you can still walk the streets and see interesting things.
For those musically inclined, there is a well-regarded symphony hall in Birmingham, where you can see all sorts of concerts in a beautiful space.
Or, or, you could go to the Pen Museum. Yes, it’s a museum of pens. It’s surprisingly interesting.
Eat
This is probably the place to tuck into some delicious curries. And we’re not just talking Pakistani and Indian curries, but West Indian ones too.
Curry Goat is known as one of the region’s best eats, with a large Caribbean population in the city (around 30,000 people). You should probably check out a reggae bar too.
Otherwise, go nuts on Pakistani and Indian food. With the big populations in the city, you’re bound to find the good stuff there.
One of the true rugby cities of the world, Cardiff is set to host eight matches at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, including a quarter and semi-final.
A rectangular stadium built for the spectators, Millennium is known as one of the most hostile places to visit, with the Welsh fiercely proud of their nation’s rugby history.
Australia won’t be playing Wales at Millennium, but if you want to see the Welsh run out in a sea of red in Cardiff, you’ll have the chance for their matches against Fiji and Uruguay in the pool stages.
It will be loud, but don’t bring earmuffs.
Sporting history
Millennium Stadium.
Go there, watch a match, maybe do a tour. It’s open all week, and is located in the very heart of the city.
See the place where Neil Jenkins kicked all those points, and where Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs delivered those corners, as well as the ground that hosted Olympic events in 2012.
Cardiff Arms Park is a curious ground also worth mentioning, as it holds a lot of Wales’ rugby history and is home to the Cardiff Blues.
Sophia Gardens is another venue to have hosted an Ashes Test this year, and has been a staple in the English Test cricket summer for the last half a decade after hosting its first Test in 2009.
See
Aside from the footy stadium, the castle is probably the other big attraction in Cardiff. A monumental fort just outside the centre, it’s worth checking out the near-1000-year-old structure.
If Welsh culture is your thing, the National History Museum (or perhaps a language course?) would be worth your time.
It’s also an attractive place to walk around, but rug up in the winter.
Eat
Cardiff is home to one of the most famous markets in the UK – Cardiff Central Market is right in the middle of town and has just about everything you would ever want to eat.
In terms of local delicacies, you want to lean towards Welsh cawl and rarebit. Cawl is a lamb soup adored by locals, while rarebit is an intriguing mix of cheesey sauce and toast. It’s a toasty on steroids. Get into it.
Whichever places you’re going for the World Cup, it’ll be great. Enjoy the rugby and all the cities have to offer.
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