and Ireland reshape their culinary reputations with gusto.

London seems intent on building itself out of any economic recession - ask a local to point out one of the many distinct skyscrapers decorating the skyline and you'll find that Londoners have given them clever descriptive nicknames ("the Gherkin," "the Cheese Grater" and "the Walkie-Talkie," to name a few). Most new buildings come with a viewing deck that's open to the public. The One New Change shopping center, just east of St. Paul's Cathedral, has a public area on the roof terrace that features great views of the church. And the towering London Hilton on Park Lane skyscraper has an unforgettable viewpoint lounge on the 28th floor.

London's Tate Modern art museum is expanding with a new wing that will doublethe exhibition space when it officially opens in June (parts of it are open before then). At the Orbit, London's Eiffel Tower-like landmark built for the 2012 Olympics, workers are constructing the world's longest, tallest tunnel slide - slated to open this spring. But visitors should expect some closures, too: The wine-tasting experience Vinopolis has poured its last glass, and at the British Library, the Magna Carta, which celebrated its 800th birthday last year, may be off display for parts of 2016.

Advance booking remains a good move for Britain's most popular sights. And you can now avoid ticket lines at Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral by booking online; Stonehenge visitors are now required to book a timed-entry ticket before arriving.

In Brighton - a beach resort town directly