answer:For a 7-day trip across the UK, focusing on historic sites and famous universities in England, I recommend starting in London. Begin by visiting iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and Westminster Abbey. Take a stroll along the South Bank of the Thames and visit the British Museum, which houses a vast collection of historical artifacts. On the second day, head to Oxford, home to the prestigious University of Oxford. Take a guided tour of the university, which includes Christ Church College and the Ashmolean Museum. Explore the charming streets of Oxford and visit the iconic Bodleian Library. Consider taking a stroll along the High Street, lined with quaint shops and tea rooms. From Oxford, travel to Cambridge on the third day, where you can visit the University of Cambridge. Take a punt down the River Cam, admiring the picturesque college buildings, including King's College Chapel. Visit the Fitzwilliam Museum, which houses a vast collection of art and antiquities. On the fourth day, head to York, a historic city in northeast England. Visit York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe, and explore the narrow streets of the city, lined with medieval buildings. Visit the Jorvik Viking Centre, a museum that recreates life in Viking-age York. The next day, travel to Stratford-upon-Avon, a charming town in the English countryside famous for its connections to William Shakespeare. Visit Shakespeare's Birthplace, a half-timbered house where the playwright was born, and the Royal Shakespeare Company, which performs his plays. On the sixth day, head to Bath, a picturesque town in southwest England known for its Roman Baths and Georgian architecture. Visit the Roman Baths, a remarkably preserved ancient Roman site, and explore the Royal Crescent, a sweeping arc of Georgian houses. Take a stroll along the River Avon and visit the Pulteney Bridge, lined with quaint shops. Finally, on the seventh day, return to London and visit any sites you missed on the first day, or take a day trip to nearby historic sites such as Stonehenge or Windsor Castle. This itinerary should give you a good balance of history, culture, and academic institutions, and is a great starting point for your trip.

answer:To make travel arrangements for this 7-day trip across the UK, I recommend booking transportation and accommodations in advance to ensure availability and the best prices. Here's a suggested approach: Start by booking your flights to and from London, as this will be your starting and ending point. Consider flying into Heathrow Airport (LHR), which is a major hub and has good connections to the rest of the country. For transportation between cities, the UK has a well-developed rail network, and trains are a convenient and relatively affordable way to travel. You can book train tickets in advance through National Rail or Trainline, which often offer discounts for early bookings. Consider purchasing a BritRail Pass, which allows unlimited travel on trains across the UK for a fixed period. For shorter journeys, such as between Oxford and Cambridge, you can also use buses or coaches, which are often cheaper than trains. Companies like National Express operate bus services across the UK. For accommodations, consider booking hotels or B&Bs in each city, which can be done through online booking platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, or Airbnb. Look for places that are centrally located and within walking distance to main attractions. In Oxford and Cambridge, consider staying in college-owned accommodations, which offer a unique experience and are often located in historic buildings. Once you have booked your transportation and accommodations, consider purchasing a Visitor Oyster Card, which is a pay-as-you-go card that can be used on London's public transportation system, including the Tube and buses. This can be purchased online before your trip. Finally, consider purchasing travel insurance, which can provide protection against unexpected events such as trip cancellations or medical emergencies. In terms of specific routes and schedules, here is a rough outline: - Day 1: Arrive in London, travel to your hotel - Day 2: Train from London Paddington to Oxford Station (approx. 1 hour) - Day 3: Train from Oxford to Cambridge (approx. 2 hours, changing trains in London) - Day 4: Train from Cambridge to York (approx. 2.5 hours) - Day 5: Train from York to Stratford-upon-Avon (approx. 3.5 hours, changing trains in Birmingham) - Day 6: Train from Stratford-upon-Avon to Bath (approx. 2.5 hours, changing trains in Bristol) - Day 7: Train from Bath back to London Paddington (approx. 1.5 hours) Note that this is just a rough outline, and you should check schedules and book tickets in advance to ensure availability.

answer:For meals during your 7-day trip across the UK, I recommend exploring local cuisine and trying traditional British dishes. You can arrange meals in a variety of ways, including: 1. Hotel breakfasts: Many hotels offer a full English breakfast, which typically includes bacon, eggs, sausages, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast. 2. Pub lunches: Pubs are a great place to grab a casual lunch, and many serve traditional British dishes like fish and chips, sandwiches, and salads. 3. Restaurant dinners: Book tables at recommended restaurants in each city to try local specialties. 4. Food markets: Visit local food markets, such as Borough Market in London or the Cambridge Market, to sample artisanal foods and street food. Here are some recommended restaurants and cafes for each city on your itinerary: London: * The Delaunay (Austrian-inspired cafe serving breakfast and lunch) * The Wolseley (grand cafe serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner) * Rules (London's oldest restaurant, serving traditional British cuisine) * Dishoom (Indian restaurant with several locations in London) Oxford: * The Grand Cafe ( historic cafe serving breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea) * The Ashmolean Rooftop Restaurant (museum restaurant serving lunch and dinner with great views) * The Old Bookbinders Alehouse (pub serving traditional British dishes) * Quod Brasserie (modern British cuisine with a focus on local ingredients) Cambridge: * The Eagle ( historic pub serving traditional British dishes) * The Pint Shop (gastropub serving creative British cuisine) * Teri-Aki (Japanese restaurant with a focus on local ingredients) * Fitzbillies (cafe serving breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea) York: * The House of the Trembling Madness (unique cafe serving coffee and cake) * The Blue Bicycle (bistro serving modern British cuisine) * The Black Swan (historic pub serving traditional British dishes) * Skeldergate (restaurant serving seasonal British cuisine) Stratford-upon-Avon: * The Old Swan (historic pub serving traditional British dishes) * The Opposition (bistro serving modern British cuisine) * The Town Hall (restaurant serving seasonal British cuisine) * The Fleece Inn (historic pub serving traditional British dishes) Bath: * The Pulteney Arms (gastropub serving creative British cuisine) * The Green Rocket Cafe (cafe serving breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea) * The Bath Priory ( Michelin-starred restaurant serving modern British cuisine) * The Salamander (restaurant serving seasonal British cuisine) Reservations are recommended for popular restaurants, especially on weekends or during peak travel seasons. Be sure to try local specialties, such as fish and chips, bangers and mash, and full English breakfasts, to get a true taste of British cuisine.

answer:To implement the required function `left_shift`, you can follow these steps: 1. Check if the `shift_amount` is greater than or equal to the length of the list, in which case the list can simply be returned as is. 2. Otherwise, split the list into two parts: the first `shift_amount` elements and the remaining elements. 3. Concatenate these two parts to create a new list with the elements shifted to the left by `shift_amount` positions. Here is how you could implement a function `left_shift`: ```python def left_shift(lst: list, shift_amount: int) -> list: if shift_amount >= len(lst): return lst.copy() first_part = lst[:shift_amount] second_part = lst[shift_amount:] return second_part + first_part ``` The function checks if `shift_amount` is greater than or equal to the length of the list. If it is, the original list is simply returned. Otherwise, the list is split into two parts, and the two parts are concatenated to create a new list with the elements shifted to the left by `shift_amount` positions.