The Olympic Torch has finally been lit in Greece as it begins its epic journey across the UK before settling in the East End of London in time for the opening of the Games in July.

It will kick around in the home of the greatest sporting event the world has ever known for a week before leaving for the UK on May 18th.

"We promise to protect the flame, to cherish its traditions and to stage an uplifting torch relay of which we can all be proud and which can inspire a generation," said Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

It seems that the kind of grub we like to eat on a short break or family holiday in the UK is of the traditional variety. The grub we are most likely to tuck into outside of the home includes, in order, a scrumptious beef or cheeseburger, a whole pizza – check us out with our insatiable appetite! – fish and chips, and a chicken burger.

This was the finding of a survey by Horizon's Menurama survey, which was revealed at an event hosted by Quorn Foods in London recently.

The lovely people at the British Hospitality Association (BHA) have given their backing to VisitEngland's new Holidays at Home are GREAT campaign.

Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive of BHA, said that he and his colleagues are "wholly" behind the effort to get people to take a family holiday or short break within the UK during this stupendously and stupefying year of wondrous wonders.

"We need to use every means to encourage more British people to stay at home and enjoy what Britain has to offer – and Olympics year is an ideal year to launch such a campaign," he said.

The first ever English Tourism Week launches next month in what is certain to be ten days of razzle-dazzle fun. Yes we realise we said ten days and that a week is made up of seven, but this is down to the organisers. They've decided to call it a week. Maybe they can't count. Maybe they were too busy planning a seven-day event but found that there was so much to celebrate that it wasn't enough. And maybe by that point they had already written it up as English Tourism Week and sent the promotional bumph off to the printers. Maybe English Tourism Ten Day Event doesn't have the same ring to it. Maybe we're over-analysing this a tad bit.

Orkney is to benefit from a mammoth £300,000 funding injection to help it promote its natural heritage to the rest of the world – it aims to establish itself as a worldwide tourist destination. This is Orkney's moment to shine.

The team behind the Enjoy Wild Orkney project wants to put Orkney on the map by celebrating its picturesque beauty and abundance of wildlife. A three-year initiative, it came about after the powers that be realised Orkney's natural heritage was not as well promoted as it should be. Given that it is a big feature of Orkney, it has come as a bit of a surprise.

Visitors to Holkham may want to book tickets for Much Ado About Nothing on August 10th.

Families on a boating holiday in the Norfolk Broads could anchor for the day and enjoy some time on dry land in Holkham.

Holkham Hall will be presenting the production of the William Shakespeare comedy in its courtyard.

Visitors will get the chance to enjoy a picnic before the play starts. They have also been advised to bring their own rugs or low-backed chairs suitable for all weather.

Visitors to the Norfolk Broads may want to head to Holkham Hall on June 29th as it will be hosting a Deer Discovery Tour.

Those enjoying boat holidays in the area can anchor in Holkham and find out more about red deer.

The deer keeper will be taking visitors on a guided tour of the estate and telling them about the fallow and red deer that can be found there.

"You will have the chance to see not only the deer but all the other flora and fauna too and discuss how the management of the parkland, both past and present, has made it the wonderful sanctuary for wildlife that it is today," states NorfolkBroads.com.

The annual North Norfolk Food and Drink festival will be taking place on September 3rd at Holkham.

This could be a perfect event for those on boating holidays in the Norfolk Broads, as they can anchor for the day and spend some time on dry land.

Visitors may want to attend the festival as around 60 of the county's finest food producers will be selling their goods and providing free samples.

The Norfolk Broads tourist board adds that one of this year's highlights will be live cookery demonstrations, talks and workshops held by local manufacturers.