For the best in United Kingdom accommodation, enjoy luxury from USD$71.00 at the five-star The Berkeley Hotel, located at 3 Lascelles Terrace Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4BJ.

International standard rooms with four-star service is available from USD$33.00 at the YHA Hostel Liverpool, which can be found at 25 Tabley Street, off Wapping, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 8EE.

For travellers seeking a balance of comfort and value for money, three-star accommodation starts at USD$33.00 for a room at the YHA St Pauls Hostel London, conveniently situated at 36 Carter Lane, London EC4V 5AB; .

And for just USD$20.00, discerning visitors looking for budget accommodation can base themselves at the two-star Brodies Backpackers Hostel which is located at Brodies Hostels 93 High St Royal Mile Edinburgh EH1 1SG.

United Kingdom in review

From an island off northwest Europe they came to conquer one-quarter of the world. The United Kingdom gave rise to the largest empire in history. It became the cradle of the industrial revolution and still wields a cultural influence vastly disproportionate to its size.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the countries that make up the UK, have emerged reinvigorated from years of conservatism and economic hardship, their cities and towns reinventing themselves as vibrant, modern and cosmopolitan cultural centres.

Yet those visitors yearning for the traditional need not travel far for the historical comfort of ancient castles, stone circles, magnificent cathedrals or just a good old pub in which to wet the whistle. From the windswept beauty of the Scottish highlands to the serenity of the Lakes District, from the clash of ages in the Welsh capital to the all-consuming vitality of London, there is incredible variety to be found in a small geographic space. For every curious citizen of the former colonies, a United Kingdom hotel bed awaits.

- From our editor T. Ireland – Sydney