The U.K. was voted the No. 1 vacation spot for American travelers, and VisitBritain provides five reasons why Americans should keep it at the top of the list:
- Value for money – The U.K./U.S. exchange rate is at its best; average exchange rates nowadays are 25 percent cheaper than they were two years ago.
- Food and drink – Celebrity chefs, including Gordan Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, have raised the profile of British cuisine. Also, an English sparkling wine recently won the top spot in a major international competition, the first time the trophy was awarded to a win outside of France.
- Cutting-edge culture – The cultural home to The Beatles, Stella McCartney, James Bond and Harry Potter, the U.K. has always been cool.
- Four in one – Nowhere else can you visit four distinct nations (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) that share the same language and currency, but have such distinct national identities and cultures.
- Golden decade of sport – Upcoming major sporting events include the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
