Don't Let the Rain Ruin Your Great British Summer

What with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee already behind us, the Cultural Olympiad ongoing and the London 2012 Olympic Games ahead of us, this truly is a great British summer. Unfortunately, the weather couldn’t be much worse if it tried! But don’t let that get you down.

There are plenty of quintessentially British activities you can indulge in regardless of the weather.

Golf

“Golf? In the rain?” I hear you say. Don’t fret. You can play the sport indoors, making sure your golfing garments stay clean and dry. It may not be ideal for pros but it’s great for practice, beginners and as a bit of fun.

Some indoor golfing centres offer basic, artificial turf putting greens while others are equipped with the latest golf simulators.

Check out the three Urban Golf centres in London, Golf Central in Bournemouth, Glasgow Golf Centre, and more venues throughout the UK.

Afternoon Tea

What a splendid tradition afternoon tea is! And what greater excuse to indulge in it than the wet and miserable weather outdoors.

Those willing to splurge should head to the country’s best known hotels like The Ritz in London, the Cedar Court Grand in York, and Gleneagles in Scotland for an expensive treat that will include cakes made by top pastry chefs, and sandwiches cut only from the finest bread.

Cheaper alternatives are, however, readily available as afternoon tea has once again become a popular trend. Many cafes and cocktail bars now offer the full experience complete with vintage cake stands and teapots. Some will even include a cheeky glass of bubbly in the price.

Try places like The Tea Rooms in Stoke Newington, Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow, and Flannels in Leeds.

Curry

There’s nothing better to warm yourself up with than a good old curry, Britain’s unofficial national dish. Did you know many people claim chicken Tikka Masala was invented in Glasgow?

There are a few places particularly well-known for serving up the famed ethnic dish. One is Birmingham’s Balti Triangle, and another is Manchester’s Curry Mile.

The stretch of restaurants and takeaways on Manchester’s Wilmslow Road is said to boast the largest concentration of South Asian restaurants outside the Indian subcontinent!

Locals have their clear favourite restaurants so the best advice is to follow the crowds. If a restaurant is busy and bustling, take it as a good side and venture in. If, however, an establishment is quiet at peak time, steer clear.

Accept that it’s going to be hard to settle for just one meal at the Curry Mile. You will want to go back. So the best idea is to book yourself a city hotel Manchester for the weekend, and return to the culinary corner as many times as your belly can handle the hot and spicy food.