Slimbridge, 12 mi. southwest of Gloucester off the A38, is a dull village with two draws: a pleasant hostel (YHA Slimbridge, p. 203) and the largest of seven Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust centers in Britain. Sir Peter Scott has developed the world’s biggest collection of wildfowl here, with over 180 different species, including all six varieties of flamingos. To avoid a 3 mi. walk from Slimbridge Crossroads, take the Stagecoach #91A service from Gloucester on Sundays, which goes directly there. (☎01453 891 900; www.wwt.org.uk. Open daily Apr.-Oct. 9:30am-5:30pm; Nov.-Mar. 9:30am-5pm. £8, concessions £6.15.) Six miles southwest of Slimbridge, off the A38 between Bristol and Gloucester, lies massive Berkeley Castle (BARK-lay). The stone fortress boasts impressive towers, a dungeon, the cell where King Edward II was murdered, Queen Elizabeth I’s bowling green, and the Great Hall, where West Country barons met before forcing King John to sign the Magna Carta. (☎01453 810 332; www.berkeley-castle.com. Open July-Aug. daily 11am-5:30pm; Sept.-Oct. and Mar.-June Su and bank holidays 11am-5:30pm. £7.50, students £6. Gardens only £4. Tours free.)
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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