Southampton is a bustling port city bursting with history as well as shopping opportunities, great restaurants and superb pubs. Nearby you’ll find the quaint town of Windsor, where you can visit the many boutiques of High Street or enjoy a tour of historic Windsor Castle.

Although historically a working class city, Glasgow is now home to a thriving arts and cultural community. There are many museums and galleries to choose from, including the recently reopened Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. These, combined with beautifully restored Victorian architecture and the revived River Clyde (which is a nod to the city’s maritime heritage) have set the pace for Glasgow’s heady cultural evolution. Today, the friendly city boasts chic state-of-the-art bars set against down-to-earth pubs, a notoriously brilliant live music scene, and one of the best club scenes in the UK. You will undoubtedly enjoy your time spent in down-to-earth Glasgow… The Glaswegians will make sure of it.

Iceland’s capital and largest city is located on the country’s southwest coast at the head of Faxafloi Bay. Settled in 877 AD, Reykjavik has grown into an important seaport and center of government and education with theatres, museums and observatories. Interestingly, this modern city still chooses to use water from nearby hot springs to heat all of its buildings.

Ísafjörður is a town in the Westfjords region of northwest Iceland. It’s known for its dramatic landscapes. The old town has wooden houses with corrugated tin roofs built by fishing merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Westfjords Heritage Museum has exhibits on the town’s maritime history, including a collection of old fishing boats. The old hospital, now a cultural center, contains archives and photography.

Akureyi, Iceland’s second largest city—affectionately known as the Capital of North Iceland—is one of the country’s most important ports and fishing centers. Today, Akureyi is creating something of a buzz for its cool café scene, growing gourmet movement and bustling nightlife. But don’t let that fool you. The atmosphere here is always laidback. From a fabulous summer festival program (energized by the near 24-hour daylight), to some of the best winter skiing you could wish for, Akureyi is a great base for exploring Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord, all year round.

Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. Kirkwall’s most outstanding feature is perhaps its sandstone St. Magnus Cathedral, widely considered the finest medieval building in the north of Scotland. The original town is one of the best-preserved examples of an ancient Norse town. Other sites of historical interest in the town include the Bishop’s Palace and Earl’s Palace. Kirkwall was once a quiet place of contemplation but is now a bustling market town, a lively center for shopping and eating out.

Southampton is a bustling port city bursting with history as well as shopping opportunities, great restaurants and superb pubs. Nearby you’ll find the quaint town of Windsor, where you can visit the many boutiques of High Street or enjoy a tour of historic Windsor Castle.