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With more bicycles than permanent residents, the Dutch capital is both charming and quirky. Aesthetically little has changed in the centre since its 17th century Golden Age. Beautiful gabled houses and merchants’ mansions line serene, tree-lined canals, which are laid out in five concentric circles and crossed by numerous bridges. The Royal Palace, originally built as a Town Hall in the 17th century, stands on a large square in the centre of the city. Considered one of Europe’s major art capitals, Amsterdam is home to a number of superb galleries and museums including the famous Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum.

The capital of the amazing Orkney archipelago, the Royal Burgh of Kirkwall sits almost exactly in the centre of Mainland, dividing the island into East and West. The magnificent St. Magnus Cathedral, a legacy of the town’s rich Viking heritage, dominates Kirkwall’s skyline. In its shadow, the town is a cluster of grey stone buildings lining narrow, flagstone streets. Excursions explore these beautiful islands whose history can be traced back some 6,000 years through Neolithic standing stones and the magnificent archaeological site of Skara Brae. Modern day Orkney is a hive of creative activity and its craft workshops are perfect for a special souvenir.

Samson and Goliath are much-loved landmarks soaring above Belfast’s skyline. The two great, yellow-painted, gantry cranes are a reminder of the shipbuilding industry that put Northern Ireland’s capital firmly on the map. Housed in an iconic, state-of-the-art, 6-storey building, Titanic Belfast relives the city’s golden era and traces the story of the ill-fated liner built in the shipyards of Harland & Wolff. At the heart of today’s cosmopolitan city is Belfast’s elegant City Hall, which stands in Donegal Square. The extraordinary Giant’s Causeway is a popular excursion from this city with omnipresent Irish charm.

Britain’s only island archipelago, the magical Isles of Scilly lie just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall. St Mary’s, the largest of the five inhabited islands, is a delight with white sand beaches, tranquil waters and stunning seascapes. The attractive village of Hugh Town, considered the ‘capital’, is the hub of the islands’ activity. The second largest and the only privately-owned island is Tresco, where, in the glorious Abbey Gardens, some 20,000 exotic species thrive in the sub-tropical climate. Optional excursions explore both St. Mary’s and Tresco, two of the beautiful cluster of islands that are worlds apart from everyday life.

Over the years many renowned painters and writers have been attracted to pretty Honfleur, which with its narrow, half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets and charming old harbour set in a sheltered cove off the Seine’s tidal estuary, is simply enchanting. Unlike many of its Normandy neighbours, Honfleur was spared during the bombing of World War Two and nestled in its tidy, picturesque streets historic buildings house art galleries, artists’ studios, boutiques, restaurants, cafes and fine souvenir shops.