10 great driving cars – and how you can take them for a spin

This article offers information about 10 of the best driving cars on the road. Read about cars that will inspire you to have a go at driving one for yourself. Cars include Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Lotus and Lamborghini.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of driving a powerful and stylish car. You can drive some of the best cars on the market today by taking them for a spin on specially designed circuits, or on test drives at specialist car dealers. This guide picks 10 of the best driving cars on the road today.

Pretend to be 007 in an Aston Martin

Anyone who fancies spending the day as James Bond has to try out an Aston Martin. You could have a go in the classic DB6, or go for a bit more technology in the latest DB9 and V8 Vantage.

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Sample Italian luxury in a Lamborghini

You can experience the finest Italian engineering in a Lamborghini Gallardo or Murcielago. A great way to try these awesome vehicles is on supercar driving days.

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Look good in a Lotus Elise

Can you handle the power and controls of a Lotus Elise? Have a go in this British-made sports car, one of the finest of its kind in the world.

Quite possibly the best-known and best-loved supercar of them all. Jump behind the wheel of the legendary Ferrari 355 or super-fast Ferrari 599 on a driving experience.

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Race along in an Audi R8

The Audi R8 has been referred to as the new everyday supercar. It’s really comfortable to drive, has impressive performance, and to top it all off you’ll look really cool in it! 

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Push the pedal in a Porsche

Push the pedal to the metal in a Porsche Carrera 911 or GT3. You’ll love the feeling of this top-of-the-range German sports car. They are good for speed and amazing for handling.

Feel the speed of a Subaru Impreza

If you enjoy a white-knuckle ride, you should try a track day in a Subaru Impreza. They’re great on the road, but even better when they can be truly unleashed at the track.

Cruise in the classic D Type Jaguar

This is a must-drive for any classic-car enthusiast. Feel the wind in your hair as you cruise along in this beauty.

Experience the power and handling of a Mitsubishi Evo

Another car for speed junkies, the Mitsubishi Evo combines the handling of a rally car with the practicalities of an everyday car.

Mini Cooper fun

This one’s a bit of a curveball, but if you’d like to feel like Michael Caine in the Italian Job, take a Mini Cooper for a whirl.

The best way of trying one of these fantastic cars is to book in for a test drive at a dealership or try out a fun-filled driving experience. Whether you want to try a Lamborghini, Mini Cooper, Porsche or Aston Martin driving experience, you can do it all over the UK, so why not give it a go!.

Resource box

Top Gear

The famous TV show’s website has reviews of all the best on-road cars.

Which Car?

Which’s advice on how to pick the right car.

How to drive a supercar

Jeremy Clarkson takes you through the experience of driving a super-fast car.

Moving to a warmer climate

Many people find that living in a country with bad weather can have a negative impact on their lives. When the days start to shorten and you find you are commuting to and from work in the dark, it's tempting to daydream about a place where it's sunny and bright all year around.

 

Sunny skies

In many parts of northern Europe the summers can be mild, and even if it's lighter for more hours of the day, it's still not warm enough to sunbathe at the weekends and wear less during the day.

Since the early 1970s when BJ Thomas sang Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head, scientists have researched the link between weather and temperament. Many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and find their attitude to be more negative during periods of high humidity and low temperatures.

The good news is that there are parts of the world where sunny weather is predominant. People who live in these areas are generally happier and more positive about life. The Quality of Life index has placed Malta at the top of the list of countries with the best weather in the world. Its inhabitants enjoy an average of 5.2 hours of sunshine a day, even in December!

Benefits of warm weather

Spain is also a destination for people who want to escape bad weather. When the coats come out of storage in September, people feel the need to spend a fortnight in a country where it's still warm and sunny for up to 12 hours a day and the locals have a more laid back lifestyle. Many of us return from our holiday revitalised, the sun having done us good. But some people consider the possibility of relocating permanently to a place with a better climate.

This can be complicated for younger people, especially those with families, but do not be put off. There’s no need to wait until you retire to move to Spain or Italy and enjoy the sun. A by-product of the weather is that the tourism industry is extremely developed and there are many jobs available for people who speak fluent English.

Most areas also have international schools so expat children can continue their education in their native language.

Learn the lingo

A basic knowledge of the language is essential if you are thinking of moving abroad. To learn Spanish you can sign up to a course near you or buy a basic pack and try to teach yourself. This is not as difficult as it may seem if you have the time and the dedication. If you choose to go to a language class a local college is a good place to start. For Spanish courses Liverpool schools and colleges can offer evening classes. The same goes for most cities in the UK. 

If you do not want to learn another language, countries such as Australia and the southern parts of the United States also enjoy warmer weather. However, the tropical climate in such places can be more extreme than in the Mediterranean, so it's worth researching the downsides of the high temperatures in summer, and winters can include blizzards and flooding.

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World climate and food safety

World Climate Information

Seasonal Affective Disorder Association

Speaking to locals: Tips for students learning English in London

Here are some tips on how to practise English language skills by talking to locals while studying in London. From joining a club and volunteering to shopping and speed dating, this guide gives advice on how to improve your ability to speak English.

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Learning English in London gives students the perfect opportunity to try out their new language skills with locals. This can seem difficult, as life in any capital city can be a bit anonymous. Meeting new people can appear tricky when everyone’s in such a rush. That’s where this guide comes in.

Here are five tips on how to get chatting with locals and practise your language skills:

Join a club

Joining a club is a great way to meet like-minded individuals. By signing up to a sports club, craft group or music appreciation society, you’ll not only get to enjoy your hobby, you’ll also get to try out your English language skills in an informal setting.

There are also online clubs that enable groups with similar interests to arrange to meet up in person in London. Sites like City Socialising give Londoners the chance to find others with shared interests. By hanging out with locals who already have something in common with you, you will find conversation flows more easily.

Volunteer

Another way to meet locals in a casual way is to volunteer. This can be a few hours a week at a homeless shelter helping out in the soup kitchen, or assisting at a week-long music festival.

From planting trees to cleaning up public areas, volunteering gives you the opportunity to spend time with locals, give something back and practise your language skills.

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Go shopping

Chatting with sales assistants in shops will help you expand your vocabulary. This also goes for eating in cafes and restaurants. Whenever you get an opening to chat to someone, take it!

You can make these often short exchanges into much longer, more detailed conversations if you take advantage of the personal shopper service available in various stores such as Topshop.

This service is usually free of charge. It will not only enable you to improve your English language ability, it will also give you the option of expanding your wardrobe to look like a local too!

Try speed dating

If you want to chat with a lot of people in a short amount of time, speed dating is an option! As the conversations are brief, you will get to improve your ability to speak about subjects like your hobbies and interests with many locals.

Take a friend along to a reputable event and you might even meet someone special. Even if you don’t improve your love life, you will have improved your English language skills!

Smile!

Whatever situation you find yourself in, if you smile you will find locals are much more likely to chat with you. Whether you’re looking for English classes or French, Spanish or Portuguese classes, London has a wealth of courses.

When you study at an English language school in London, you will make friends and get the chance to enjoy all of the capital’s delights.

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Resource Box

Visit London

London’s official promotional site with tourist information about what to do in the capital.

Team London

The Mayor of London’s programme for volunteering opportunities in the city.

Time Out London

Information for tourists and locals about the arts, culture and entertainment scene in London.