Photo via Flickr - welshgovernment 

With the 2012 games just around the corner, it’s not just London that is preparing for the August Olympics, but Britons everywhere are celebrating the return of the tetrannual summer event with perhaps the oldest ritual of all – following the route of the Olympic torch. As the iconic symbol is at the beginning of its tour around the country, which officially kicked off 19 May, we’ve rounded up the route for you briefly of where it’s been, and the upcoming cities where you can catch a glimpse of the famous flame.

Photo via Flickr - ashleycoates

Bristol (Day 4)

After running through Plymouth, Exeter and Taunton, the Olympic torch made its way to Bristol on day four of its 70-day journey around Britain, two weeks ago. If you missed out on a trip to Bristol that day, thousands of people lined the city centre as the badminton gold medallist Rebecca Pantaney, originally from Cheltenham, carried the flame across the Clifton Suspension Bridge overlooking the River Avon.

Photo via Flickr - Bernt Rostad

Scotland (Day 21-27) 

If you’re heading up north, the torch will be making its way across the Northern Irish border to Scotland later this week passing through destinations including Glasgow (Day 21), Inverness (Day 22), Aberdeen (Day 24) and Edinburgh (Day 26) before making its way back down south along the Geordie shore, stopping by Newcastle on Friday 15 June.

Photo via Flickr - Xavier de Jauréguiberry

Newcastle (Day 28) 

While in Newcastle, it will be taken on a 7-mile circuit of the city passing several iconic landmarks with the Tyne Bridge taking precedence, marking the final stint of its Geordie tour before ending up at Quayside where the evening festivities will take place. If you’re looking for places to stay in the area, click here and scan through loads of great deals on the Hotels4U website.

Photo via Flickr - jordanmerrick

Nottingham (Day 41) 

After Newcastle, the torch will go through Durham, York, Hull and Sheffield before passing Nottingham on Friday 29 June, which will be day 41 of the journey. The torch will pass by famous spots in the city like Newstead Abbey and the National Watersports Centre. It’s also said that part of the route will include Robin Hood’s Major Oak and the Sherwood Forest visitor centre in Nottinghamshire, making the event extra special with this historic rite of passage.

Photo via Flickr - southeasternstar

London Bound (Day 43-70) 

But if you miss it in Nottingham, don’t worry, you still have another 30 days left until it reaches its final destination in London’s Stratford Olympic Stadium. Whether it’s Birmingham (Day 43) you see it in, Norwich (Day 47), Cambridge (Day 50) or Oxford (Day 52), there’s plenty of chances to spot the torch before the games start in August.