Opportunistic plug since the article mentions Northumberland: anyone wanting to visit the UK as a tourist who doesn't relish spending the whole time in London, you would do well to travel north to York (fantastic medieval city), then onwards to Durham (another ancient cathedral city) and the surrounding area, which is Northumberland. One of the most beautiful parts of England. From there, it is a short journey further north to Edinburgh, which is IMO the best city in the whole of the UK.