Best of British will entice tourists

By MONIKA FRY

Siteseein

While few people here still call Britain "home," the British Isles remains a magnet for tourists from New Zealand. It is easy to see why.

The airfares do not seem to be getting any more expensive, Britain is small and compact, and there is evidence of its long history and culture around every corner. Frequent buses and trains take you almost everywhere and the locals speak English. Another advantage is the enormous number of Internet sites to research which cover every aspect of tourist information.

One of the best Websites to start with is www.visitbritain.com. The official home of the British Tourism Authority is like all their literature - well organised, easy to read and well written. Their extensive accommodation section lists a multitude of guesthouses, hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments as well as a fascinating section on how to locate and book into castles and ancestral homes.

Another site for those who prefer castles to guesthouses is the Celtic Castle site at www.celticcastles.com. It offers a range of mainly Scottish castle accommodation, some with a surprisingly low price tag.

A site that is less slick is the official tourist site for London is www.londontown.com. The quantity of useful information found here would fill several sizeable books and includes gems such as the most efficient method of transport into the city from the various airports or the comprehensive section on fun stuff to do around London for kids.

I didn't find a London baby-sitting agency which detailed its services on their Website but for those who do manage to find somewhere to park their children for the evening, the theatre guide at www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk provides a comprehensive list of what's on. In addition to previews and reviews of the theatre, it is possible to download a map of the theatre district and subscribe to their e-mail service of new plays and cheap deals.