British Birthday Bashes Worthy of Olympic Champion Ryan Lochte!

NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the London 2012 Olympic Games' most watched (and admired!) athletes, Ryan Lochte, has more to celebrate in London than just winning gold – his 28^th birthday. With Brits having established quite the reputation for celebrating, VisitBritain, the national tourism agency for England, Scotland and Wales, has come up a list of some of the best and most exciting birthday celebrations for this adventure-seeking star.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120803/NY51625 )

Invented in Wales, coasteering mixes swimming, climbing, diving, rock jumping and traversing along the dramatic coastline at sea level to create an adrenaline rushing experience.  The Pembrokeshire Coast, Isle of Anglesey, Gower Peninsular and Llyn Peninsular provide some of the best spots to go coasteering in Wales. 

Seeking some water adventure but not quite ready to take the plunge off the seaside cliffs?  Britain's coastline offers excellent surfing options fit for beginners and professionals alike.  Devon and Cornwall, in the South West of England, are popular spots attracting surfers from across Britain and beyond.  Hitting the waves for the first time?  The Cornwall Surf Academy in Newquay offers fun-filled lessons for all ages and abilities.

Training for the Olympics and winning Gold takes a lot of practice, determination and skill. The Scottish Highland Games, a unique combination of culture, sport and social entertainment require the same. Competitions such as heavy weight contests like the caber toss, requiring competitors to lift a 175 pound log that is nearly 20 feet long and toss it as far as they can, coupled with the opportunity to see Scotsmen in their national dress, the Kilt, make this a must see tradition!

Taking cue from David Beckham jetting up the River Thames with the Olympic Torch and secret agent favorite James Bond escorting Her Majesty to the Opening Ceremony, visitors can experience London like never before with the ultimate James Bond experience.  The high-speed RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) zips up the Thames to the offices of the MI5 and MI6 then down to Tower Bridge.  Along the route, 007 agents-in-training will learn secrets and facts only known to a few and take in must-see London sights such as Tower of London and the London Eye.

A birthday dinner for an Olympic star during the London Games deserves something truly special. Perhaps a dinner with Olympic-themed acrobatic acts above the table would be fitting!  Circus, tucked away in Covent Garden, not only offers diners a delicious pan-Asian menu, but has sharp bursts of entertainment, designed to be inviting, intriguing, weird and wonderful.  To celebrate the Games, Circus is adding an Olympic twist to some of their entertainment, such as an incredible swimming inspired aerial silks routine - involving zero water but lots of muscle and perfect for Lochte and his fans!  

What do you get the guy who's already bringing home gold? London's the perfect city for finding that special something, from high-street fashion to trendy boutiques stocked with items by edgy new designers.  London's famous department stores such as Harrods and Liberty London offer a wide selection to find the perfect gift while London's East End, home of Olympic Park, is full of vibrant boutiques such as The Laden Showroom, which stocks cutting-edge styles from 50 emerging designers from Britain and around the world. 

For more ideas on how to celebrate in Britain visit www.VisitBritain.com.

About VisitBritain:

• Americans made 2.8 million visits to the UK in 2011 and spent $3.8 billion USD – placing them in the UK's top three most important markets for visitors. Britain remains Americans' favorite long-haul destination. The US remains top spot in terms of market value for inbound tourism.
  
• VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, is responsible for inspiring the world to explore Britain and for developing the UK's visitor economy.
  
• Visitors traveling to Britain can find out more information from visitbritain.us plus purchase money and time saving local transport, sightseeing, attraction, theater and tour tickets from visitbritainshop.us.
  
• Follow us on Twitter @VisitBritain and Facebook: LoveUK & LoveUK Film & TV

SOURCE VisitBritain