A few weeks ago the British tourism minister cautioned that the island nation would have to redouble its efforts to ensure that the London 2012 Olympics had a lasting impact on UK Tourism. But as seems to be common in the UK at the moment, the money to actually act on this call to action simply isn’t there. And the consequence is that VisitBritain, the main agency for promoting British tourism outside of the UK, is drastically reducing its operations. VisitBritain is to pull out from 14 overseas markets, including South Africa, New Zealand, Korea and Mexico. Job losses of 30% are expected, with promotion left to 21 markets. With their budget already cut by 34% in autumn, it seems that the losses were inevitable.

The strategy (if there is one) relies heavily on tourists seeking UK holidays because of the big three events: the Diamond Jubilee, Royal Wedding and London Olympics. By maybe people will head on Holidays to Barbados instead. The remaining 21 offices are, after all, in countries responsible for 80% of foreign tourist income. But focusing on the events in 2011 and 2012 is in complete contradiction to the government’s supposed priorities. Honestly, nothing much is happening in the UK after 2012. Meanwhile, the UK is having to face up to the fact that more and more people head on Dubai Holidays and other new locations opened up by both tourist infrastructure and maturing tastes.

Overseas arms of VisitBritain aren’t the only limbs being lopped off: the Regent Street visitor centre is going to be axed as well. To fill the vacuum, VisitBritain hopes to focus more on online services, especially mobile and ‘smartphone’ experiences. What a bandwaggon to jump on. Have VisitBritain never used a smartphone in a foreign country before? Even before you consider that many do not have these devices, (or use them well enough to have them) the data roaming charges and available coverage on these devices are just ludicrous and pitiful, in that order. VisitBritain’s goals are unrealistic. But there is hope: perhaps a world full of people are just waiting to move their Tropical Sky Weddings Abroad in Britain in imitation of the worlds most prominent History of Art graduates.

The city of Brighton and Hove has always been one of the UK’s leading cultural destinations. Renowned for its bohemian vibe, eclectic music scene and independent shops, it’s perhaps no surprise that in recent decades, the city has also become a popular hub for a number of major festivals. From the Pride carnival in August, when the weather in Brighton is at its very best, to the ritualistic Burning the Clocks festival in December, there’s always something happening in this lively city. Read on to find out more about some of the best festivals in Brighton and Hove.

Brighton and Hove Festivals: A Guide

The culture vulture in Brighton and Hove should free up some time in May to get the most from two of the city’s best attended festivals, the Brighton Festival and the Festival Fringe, which run concurrently for three weeks during that month.

The Brighton Festival has become synonymous with Artists Open Houses, where local artists can open their doors to the public and showcase their work with the local community. Founded in 1966, the festival can see as many as 200 events take place in the space of 21 days. The Festival Fringe has emerged from ramshackle beginnings in the late Sixties to become the biggest open access arts festival in the UK, attracting over £500,000 in pre-event ticket sales.

Music fans will also find Brighton has plenty of events of interest during this month, with The Great Escape establishing itself as one of the most successful new festivals on the circuit since it first took place in 2006. Artists from several different genres perform across the city on three consecutive days, with high profile acts such as Kasabian, The Maccabees, The XX, Ellie Goulding and Tinie Tempah making an appearance at the festival over the last few years.

The height of summer in Brighton and Hove has become synonymous with Pride, an annual festival set up to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by the LGBT community. A carnival atmosphere descends on the city, ending up with a mass celebration and funfair in Preston Park. Another summer festival that warrants a mention is Paddle Round the Pier, one of Europe’s leading beach festivals. All for charity, PRTP boasts a mix of live music, shopping stalls, live sports demonstrations and delicious gourmet food.

Finally, in the second half of the year, when the weather starts to turn for the worse and everyone is in need of some hearty laughs, the Brighton Comedy Festival rolls into town in October, boasting some of the best known faces from the world of British comedy, whilst the darker nights are a cue for some of Brighton’s most engaging winter festivals, White Night and Burning the Clocks.

If you’re contemplating a visit to the UK for your next holiday and the idea of a city break to the likes of London or Edinburgh doesn’t appeal, a trip to one of the UK’s many islands could provide a vacation with a difference. If joining the masses along Oxford Street or the Royal Mile is your idea of hell, a UK island break may be just the ticket. Read on to discover more about some of the UK’s island treasures.

Isle of Man

Technically, the Isle of Man is not officially a part of the United Kingdom, and is run as a self-governing British Crown Dependency. Still, it deserves to be included in this list for the simple reason that this 32 mile long island has so much to offer for anyone planning a short break.

The Isle of Man positively revels in its myths and legends, so kids and big kids alike will be captivated here by stories of ghostly black dogs, fairies and King Arthur. The island also hosts a number of yearly festivals of note, including the world famous motorbike racing event, the Isle of Man TT.

Isle of Wight

The largest island of England, the Isle of Wight is associated with the glitz and glamour of sailing, due to its proximity to the Solent, offering some of the best sailing stretches in Europe. And yachting enthusiasts capitalise on this fact, with thousands of people descending on the town of Cowes here every year for the annual Cowes Week regatta. Aside from its sailing credentials, the Isle of Wight is famed for its long, golden beaches, perfect for a relaxed family holiday. It’s worth checking Isle of Wight ads away from peak times for attractive rental deals.

Isles of Scilly

The Cornish Peninsula is a hotbed of tourism every year, but only a surprisingly small number take the boat ride far west to these versatile islands. The trip far west will be worth your while, particularly during the summer months, as these laid-back islands will feel a million miles away from all the stresses and strains of work. Birdwatchers tend to make regular visits to the Isles as they are often the first natural landing venue for many rare bird species from as far as North America and Siberia.

Isle of Skye

A trip to the Isle of Skye is perhaps not for the faint-hearted, as the rugged, exposed climate of the island, mixed with high rainfall, can be somewhat off-putting. However, the sole objective of a Inner Hebrides holiday is arguably to get away from it, and Skye ticks all the boxes on that front. The quaint town of Portree and the tranquillity of Loch Alsh are undoubtedly the highlights here.

Anglesey

Anglesey is the largest island of Wales, and a significant proportion of locals can demonstrate fluency in the Welsh language. The island is rich with possibilities for the history enthusiast, as Anglesey has a long association with druids, and became subject to invasion at one time or another from the Romans, Vikings, Saxons and Normans.