What's New in Great Britain and Ireland for 2016
At Durham Cathedral -- England's greatest Norman church -- the new "Open Treasure" exhibit will display a number of treasures, including a copy of the Magna Carta from 1216 and items from the Norman/medieval period (when the monks of Durham busily copied manuscripts), the Reformation, and the 17th century.
Over in Wales, at Caernarfon Castle, the Eagle Tower now houses the "Princes of Wales" exhibit -- featuring a chessboard of Welsh and English princes as life-size chess pieces -- and a skimpy exhibit on the life of Eleanor of Castile, wife of King Edward I.
In Ireland, Dublin is preparing for the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Uprising -- so this year expect higher lodging prices, longer lines and more traffic snarls. Among events planned, the General Post Office -- the rebel's headquarters -- will host a "GPO: Witness History" exhibition, and the National Library and Kilmainham Gaol will host temporary exhibits. (For a good prep, be sure to watch the documentary, "1916 The Irish Rebellion," which debuts on American Public Television in March.)
Also in Dublin, look for a new Museum of Tenement Life to open sometime in 2016 (though it may be called the 14 Henrietta Street Townhouse Museum instead). And at the Book of Kells exhibit in the Trinity Old Library, purchasing an online ticket in advance allows you to skip the line at the entrance. In another sign of changing times, ferries no longer run from Dun Laoghaire (near Dublin) to the UK.
In Belfast, a new Discovery Tour, part of the Titanic Belfast museum, explains the striking design and architecture of the new building and the adjacent slipways where the ship was built. In Derry, the Museum of Free Derry is closed for renovations but should reopen in May with multimedia exhibits.
And for foodies filling their tanks to enjoy all this sightseeing fun, Britain and Ireland continue to reshape their culinary images and astound travelers with new restaurants and gastropubs serving delicious food.
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(Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.)
(c)2016 RICK STEVES DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
