Landlocked city home to one of Europe's warmest beaches hotter than Tenerife
A landlocked city in Spain is home to one of the warmest beaches.
Think of Córdoba, and it's probably images of historical buildings and art galleries that come to mind. The Spanish city is one of Europe's culture capitals - home to the most UNESCO sites in the world including the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Medina Azahara, the city's historic centre, and the Courtyards Festival of Córdoba.
The city has now become an even more compelling destination after a new study by Saga Holidays revealed it's also home to one of Europe's warmest beaches.
Although not a coastal destination, Valdearenas Beach in Córdoba sits by a stunning lake with sandy shores and promises tourists average temperatures of 31°C in the high season. It outperforms two coastal competitors in Badajoz; Playa de Cheles and Playa de Orellana, by just 1°C.
The beach is something to behold. In the summer months watersports enthusiasts and sunbathers descend on it in great numbers, thronging over sand that is a brilliant orange colour and into bright blue water.
A recent visitor to the beach said they were "incredulous" when they heard that there was a beach near Córdoba, given the settlements' setting more than 100 miles from the coastline. They had not heard that around 40 years ago the lake was dug out of the hillside to serve as a reservoir, with sand artificially piled up on one corner to provide a public place to splash and sunbathe.
"I come early morning to walk my dog. The views are incredible. Some mornings it is just so quiet, you feel like the only person on earth. After the walk, and the dogs swim! It;s off up the track for breakfast. Come here in the afternoon and sit with a drink and watch everyone enjoying the lake and the facilities. On an evening, watch the sun go down," one enthusiastic fan of Valdearenas Beach wrote on Tripadvisor.
There are plenty of reasons to plan a trip to Córdoba, not least that the area, enjoys over 300 days of sunshine throughout the year. The multiple religions, cultures, and civilizations that have lived in this fascinating city are reflected in its fascinating architecture and food.
READ MORE: Holidaymakers stuck on Greek island thanks to little-known rule
Founded by the Romans, the city was later ruled by the Visigoths and then became the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate and Europe's second-largest city by the 10th century. The city was then taken by Christian forces in 1236 and integrated into the Kingdom of Castile.
Other notable attractions include the Roman Bridge, built in the 1st century BC and reconstructed multiple times, and the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, a medieval fortress and former residence of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, which also served as a seat for the Spanish Inquisition.
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Bodleian Library, Oxford First opened in 1602, the Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and houses more than 13million printed items. The Weston Library is free to enter, however if you want to see the Old Library or Radcliffe Camera - Britain's first circular library - you will need to book onto a guided tour. Tours of the library costs from £10 per person. 3. Highgate Cemetery, London Third on the list is a rather unusual choice for a day out, but still fascinating to explore. Highgate Cemetery in North London is a burial site for around 170,000 people. Many travellers head to the Grade I listed cemetery to explore the unique architecture by Stephen Geary but for most it is the famous names laid to rest that are the reason for a visit. Historic figures buried in the cemetery include philosopher and father of modern communism, Karl Marx, as well as the founder of Crufts dog show Charles Cruft. Also buried in elaborate graves are the wife of author Charles Dickens, Catherine Dickens and novelist George Eliot. It is also the last resting place for the legendary singer-songwriter George Michael. Tickets to visit Highgate Cemetery cost £10 per adult and £5 per child. 10 4. The British Museum, London Another free spot on the list is the British Museum in London. The museum is home to a permanent collection of eight million works - making it the largest in the world. Across the entire museum, it tells the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present. The museum also hosts many free additional exhibitions and events throughout the year. 5. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Up in Scotland again, Edinburgh Castle makes up the final spot in the top five UK attractions. Edinburgh Castle sits high above the city, with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. And even the rock it stands on has a grand history. 10 Castle Rock dates back to the Iron Age and there has been a castle on the rock since the reign of Malcolm III in the 11th century. It then continued to be a royal residence until 1633. Tickets to the castle cost from £21.50 per adult and £13 per child. 6. Tower Bridge, London One of the capital's iconic landmarks also makes the list - Tower Bridge. Spanning the River Thames in the centre of London, travellers can wander across the bridge for free. But for a sky high view, climb the North Tower to stroll across the high-level walkways 137ft above the Thames or brave the glass floor that allows a thrilling view of the traffic passing on the bridge below. Tickets to Tower Bridge, including access to climb the towers, discover the Victorian Engine Rooms and cross the glass floors cost from £16 per adult and £8 per child. 7. The Roman Baths, Bath Heading to Somerset, the Roman Baths are home to "one of the great religious spas of the ancient world", according to Tripadvisor. 10 The baths feature natural thermal springs which were used by the people of Roman Britain to worship the goddess Sulis Minerva. Tickets cost from £28 per adult and £21 per child. 8. National Maritime Museum, London Back in the capital, the National Maritime Museum is the largest museum of its kind in the world. Across different galleries and displays, visitors can discover ships and boats, relics from the Titanic and even the uniform Nelson was wearing when he was shot at the Battle of Trafalgar. Running until January is also a great exhibition for kids who love pirates. The Pirates exhibition explores piracy in popular cultures including fictional characters such as Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow to real pirates from historical events. Admission to the museum is free, but if you want to head to the Pirates exhibition it will cost £15 per adult and £7.50 per child. 9. Natural History Museum, London Another of London's free museums to feature on the list is the Natural History Museum. in South Kensington. Hope the blue whale soars over mighty dinosaur skeletons and Darwin's personal collection. See priceless gems, ancient meteorites, and the first bird fossil, revealing Earth's incredible history. Right now, the museum is hosting 'Our Story with David Attenborough' - a 360-degree cinematic experience. Tickets to the experience cost from £20 per adult and The Sun recently visited to see if it is worth the money. 10. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Jumping back to Edinburgh again, this time to a free museum with the National Museum of Scotland securing the tenth spot on the list. The museum documents Scottish history and culture with thousands of objects across numerous galleries. The unique architecture of the museum is just as fascinating, make sure to check out the expansive hall at its heart with a glass ceiling. 11. Stonehenge, Wiltshire Heading to Wiltshire, Stonehenge is one of the world's most famous places, according to Historic England. The mysterious stone circle is believed to have been created thousands of years ago by prehistoric people. At the site, there is also a Neolithic village to explore with houses and historical information on the area. Tickets cost from £30.90 per adult and from £20 per child. 10 12. York Minster, York York Minster in York is a masterpiece of medieval Gothic architecture and stunning stained glass. The cathedral dates back to 627 and features an ornately decorated Gothic nave and The Great East Window is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world. One of the largest cathedrals of its kind in Northern Europe, the Central Tower soars up 325ft and visitors who climb the 275 steps to the top are rewarded with fabulous views across the city. Children under 17 are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets for adults cost £20. 10 13. National Railway Museum, York Also in York is the National Railway Museum which celebrates its 50th birthday this year - and the 200th anniversary of the railway. Completely free to enter, visitors can marvel at record-breaking locomotive legends like Mallard and Japan's Bullet Train. Explore opulent royal carriages and Stephenson's Rocket, a working replica of the 1829 loco that set the template for steam engines. For children, there are also a number of interactive exhibits to discover bringing the science and stories of the railway to life. 14. Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth Soaring over the coastal city of Portsmouth, the Spinnaker Tower is a 170metre architectural marvel close to the harbour. The tower has three viewing decks, including a glass Sky Walk, with panoramic views. There are also a number of interactive displays and a cafe. Tickets cost from £18.95 per adult and £14.95 per child. 15. Eden Project, Cornwall Securing the final spot on the list is the Eden Project in Cornwall. Set in a reclaimed china clay pit, this spectacular global garden features two giant domes housing the world's largest indoor rain forest and a fragrant Mediterranean landscape with thousands of plants. Tickets cost from £38 per adult and £12 per child. Full list of top UK experiences according to Tripadvisor THE top UK experiences have been named by Tripadvisor, including walking and taxi tours. London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket The Manchester City Stadium Tour Canoe Aqueduct tours Llangollen Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh : Guided Tour Air Raid Shelter and St. Nicholas Market Walking Tour in Bristol Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath Day Trip from London The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience in Edinburgh Chelsea FC Stadium Tours and Museum Full-Day Trip: Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands from Edinburgh Tennent's Brewery Tours Ticket in Glasgow Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from Inverness The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour Guided Celtic Park Stadium Tour, Scotland Cab Tours Belfast Famous Black Taxi Tours London Jack The Ripper Guided Walking Tour Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Urquhart Castle Tour from Inverness The Deathly Dark Tour of York A History of Terror - Belfast City Centre Walking Tour Tripadvisor has also revealed the top UK experience - and it is a pub crawl. Plus, The Sun's Alice Penwill tried out the new Race Across the World experience – fans of the BBC TV show will love it. 10
