Vacations Blog

When I was 16, I got to take a trip to London, England. I can’t even begin to explain how amazing it was. Luckily, I was armed with a camera and a little bit of money, so I was able to walk away not only with some of the greatest memories I have, but also some souvenirs and lots of pictures. I’ve spent years figuring out how I can make my way back there. Even though I had to deal with a missing passport and finding the right kind of electrical adapters, getting to go to London proved to be one of the most inspiring and unforgettable moments of my life.

One of my favorite locations was the Tower of London. I spent a whole day reading about it’s history and seeing first hand what it was like. Probably most well known as a royal prison and place of torture, the Tower of London also served many other uses, from menagerie to stellar observatory. One of the most interesting parts of the Tower of London was seeing it’s famous ravens. The ravens that walk around the Tower have been occupants there for generations. A very old superstition keeps them there, one that says if the ravens leave, the kingdom will fall. The ravens have some of the most royal treatment of the Tower’s inhabitants, with their own personal handler and living quarters.

Big Ben is probably one of the most recognizable monuments in London. As the third largest clock tower in the world, this huge and incredibly beautiful tower is even more breathtaking in real life. It is readily apparent why Big Ben has been represented for generations in films, TV, and books. Standing at the base of the clock tower is a really neat experience. I’ll be the first to admit that I’d rather not get into inner-workings of the government, getting to visit Parliament was really pretty inspiring. Getting to see first-hand how the government of the United Kingdom runs taught me a lot, and I left feeling happy that I decided to go.

Although it’s a little cliche, seeing the Changing of the Guard was a really cool experience as well. I didn’t pick a guard’s nose or try to make him laugh anything, they are armed after all, but I did get pretty close to have my picture taken. There are numerous locations where you can see the guards, including the Tower of London. The various parks and gardens in London make walking anywhere as adventure in itself. Huge ponds full of all kinds of birds, from swans to some funny looking ducks, walk around parks full of beautiful sculptures and breathtaking gardens. Seriously, the gardens are beautiful.

Being a woman, I of course have to mention the London shopping. I visited Camden Market was blown away by the selection. From designer bags to fishnets, Camden Market has something for absolutely everyone. So get a little bit of money, your passport, and your good walking shoes, and get ready to walk away with bags and bags of stuff.

London holds something exciting for everyone in your family. I walked away from the week-long London trip with some amazing memories, and I still dream of getting to go back there someday. If you’ve never been to London, I very highly recommend it. I promise it’s even worth having to locate that missing passport.

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There are such a lot of different places to see and visit in Cornwall that it can be tricky to know where to begin.  Each city you visit has the normal Cornish feel but provides different attractions and things to do.  These are some of the most well liked places to remain in Cornwall along with why you must consider choosing them as a destination for your next holiday. 

St Ives is without doubt one of the most widely recognized areas of Cornwall and is also one of the most pretty.  If you like walking along cobbled streets and glimpsing what life would have been like in a time gone by that point St Ives is a destination you need to consider.  The great thing about visiting St Ives is that there are numerous different hostels and places to stay catering for a large range of different price brackets.  There’s also has a sandy beach which is ideal for people who need to enjoy a calming holiday. 

All of Cornwall has a massive quantity of history to discover but Tintagel is one of the most famous for its association with the King Arthur legend.  If you want to study some of the history of Cornwall as well as experiencing the miracle of the legends that surround it then Tintagel is the place to go.  There are numerous guest homes, hotels and cottages to remain as well as several different attractions to see including the Arthurian Centre if you’d like to learn more about the famous King. 

if you need to go for a more exciting holiday that includes surfing and night clubs then Newquay is one option you need to consider.  Recently Newquay has developed a bad reputation due to the enormous number of young scholars that visit it in the summertime.  If you like lively nightlife though then it shouldn’t be overlooked.  To get the best of both worlds look for holiday cottage in Cornwall that are close to Newquay though not in the city itself.  This means you may use the beaches for surfing and the town during the day without needing to worry about the nightlife. 

There are several other towns to visit in Cornwall each with their own features and characteristics.  The most important thing is choosing a location that provides everything you need for a good holiday.  For a few individuals that may mean beaches that face onto the Atlantic for surfing while for others it’d mean conventional streets and buildings to view.  Try to think about exactly what you want from your holiday and then find a town that caters for your wishes. 

You shouldn’t try and do everything in Cornwall in one holiday because there is far too much to see.  Instead, attempt to think about the attractions and locations you’d like to visit most and then base your location on where they are .  This will minimize the amount of travelling you have got to do.  Cornwall is a larger county than many people realise so you won’t want to travel the full length of it for a single short break.

Birmingham is a vibrant city in the English county of the West Midlands and it is a really popular vacation destination and  day trips. The city has an incredible selection of superb attractions including many churches which have Grade I status and other important buildings as well as many museums and galleries, including Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery.

Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery is an art gallery focusing on contemporary art which is situated in the building which was once the Oozells Street Board School in Brindleyplace, but it was not always in such surroundings.

The gallery was founded in nineteen sixty four by Angus Skene and 4 artists.  The 4 artists were; Sylvani Merilion, Jesse Bruton, David Prentice and Robert Groves. Angus Skene had acquired and the two of them talked about the numerous problems suffered by local artists, which included the extreme lack of venues and support for local artists.  The discussion resulted in the basic concepts for Ikon which was to be a “gallery without walls”.

Skene initially funded the project, which consisted of exhibitions in such varied venues as cinemas and post offices in a motorcycle sidecar. The idea was to allow the general public more access to art.  In order to keep the overheads down staffing duties was by the family, friends and the founding artists who did not charge. In 1965 the Gallery established itself in a glass walled stall in the Bull Ring shopping centre.

During the next couple of decades the Ikon Gallery moved from location to location until 1997 when it bought, with help from the National Lottery Fund, the current premises, the former Oozells Street Board School. recently the Gallery has held a selection of exhibitions and its continuous ability to excel has led to it becoming surprisingly popular, to such an extent that it opened another gallery in 2006, Ikon Eastside in  Digbeth.

If you are thinking about taking a Birmingham vacation we hope that you would think about visiting the Ikon Gallery. Also it is important to know that although there are many guest houses and hotels in Birmingham finding Birmingham bed and breakfast can sometimes be rather difficult. Because of this it is vitally important to book your accommodation at the earliest opportunity. You should be aware that Birmingham’s international airport is about eight miles east of the center of the city just off the A45, near the M42. You will discover that there is a number of guest houses near to the airport.

There are lots of fine traveller destinations in the United Kingdom and none are far more honored than the city of Bath England.  The hot springs established the city as a fashionable place to be for the well to do, keen to cure their illnesses with the spa waters.  The Romans had built their baths and church to take advantage of the springs.  Today, visitors can see the baths and learn about them in the museum. 

From the time of Elizabeth I, tourism came to Bath England and truly took hold in the 18th century.  The town is noted for its Georgian design with its most notable example being the Royal Crescent, a residential road that sweeps gracefully with its classy homes.  The crescent is close to Royal Victoria Park, where hot air balloons are launched each summer, filling the sky with a blaze of color.  The park contains a botanical garden, youngsters’s play area, crazy golf course, bowling green and lawn tennis courts. 

The artistic life of the town is thriving with 5 theatres of global reputation.  The Bath global Music holiday is respected and presents traditional and contemporary classical music, jazz concerts and world music.  The 17 day event includes some outside performances with free admission.  The Bath Literature holiday is another favourite on the Bath Britain annual events calendar.  It has attracted top selling authors, for example Terry Pratchett, Joanna Trollope and Margaret Atwood. 

Museums are plentiful and sundry and include the Bath Postal Museum, on the location of the Post Office that operated from 1822 - 1854.  It tells the story of the post office and the UK post box.  There are displays about the famous Penny Black stamp and there is a copy post office from the Victorian era.  The Museum of Costume presents exhibitions and has an everlasting collection of costumes, dating back to the 18th century.  The museum is within the historic Assembly Rooms, where the city’s society gathered for balls and conferences.  The building contains provoking pieces of art and a beautiful set of 9 candelabrums. 

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy honors the work of William Herschel, who discovered the planet Uranus and was a resident of the town.  Bath’s most noted resident {however ,} is author Jane Austin and she is remembered at the Jane Austen Centre and by an Austin themed city walk.  Bath Britain inspired the novelist to write two of her books, including scenes from the town in them.

How many wonders have you visit during your lifetime? Visit famouswonders.com and see the top wonders of the world and also have a look at places in England.

Vacations in England seem to be increasingly popular at the moment, probably due to the present depression and the weak pound. The United Kingdom has large selection of top class vacation destinations including London (the capital of England) and other interesting cities plus a fine collection of seaside resorts such as; Blackpool, Bognor Regis, Great Yarmouth and Margate. One city commonly overlooked is Plymouth in the south of England.

At first glance Plymouth appears a little plain and principally modern, but looking a little bit deeper and you will soon discover that the city of Plymouth has a rich history and a long association with the sea. As far back as the sixteenth century there has been a port in the town. In 1588 Sir Francis Drake set sail from the town’s port to attack and defeat the Spanish Armada. Another moment in history occurred in 1620 when the port served as the last embarkation point for the Pilgrim Fathers on their journey to North America.

It is possible to take inexpensive weekend city breaks in Plymouth by booking rooms in Plymouth bed and breakfast rather than booking rooms in a posh hotel. A quick search on Google will reveal that rooms are available from as little as £29 a night and some places offer dinners at a very reasonable cost, commonly equal to, or cheaper than local restaurants.

Tourist Attractions In Plymouth

There are many interesting places in the town which are worth a visit. Popular visitor attractions include; the old quay at Sutton Harbour, the National Marine Aquarium, the Barbican district and Merchant’s House Museum. A boat cruise around the naval base is an excellent way to spend some time and if you have more time why not take a day trip to other places close to Plymouth, for example; Buckland Abbey, Mount Edgcumbe or Saltram House.

Saltram House is a lovely Tudor Mansion which is found 2m from the town of Plymouth, Mount Edgcumbe is another fine example of a Tudor house with parklands, coastal paths and landscaped gardens, and Buckland Abbey, about 6 miles away from Plymouth, is a Cistercian abbey which was at one time by Francis Drake and was at a later date converted into a family home.

If you are in the process of deciding upon taking a vacation in Plymouth it is incredibly important that you book your  accommodation as early as possible as, unfortunately Plymouth hotels tend to be alarmingly busy and are often fully booked months in advance. If you are a large group you might find that apartment accommodation in Plymouth prove to be reasonable alternative to bed & breakfast in Plymouth. If you are visiting the UK from overseas then why not consider making a reservation for a room in hotels in London to take in the attractions of the capital city of England also.

The capital city of England and Great Britain, London, has vast variety of fascinating visitor attractions, from the very ancient to very recent additions. The majority of the visitor attractions are recognised all over the globe (for instance, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament). Amongst the youngest are the Millennium Bridge, London Aquarium, Millenium Dome and the London Eye.

The Merlin Entertainments London Eye (to give it its full name), is more commonly named, just, the London Eye or,occasionally, the Millenium Wheel (because of the fact that it was constructed for part of the Millenium celebrations). The London Eye was officially opened by the then English PM, Tony Blair, in the evening of December 31 unfortunately there were technical safety problems leading to the public not gaining access until March. At that time it was the world’s largest Ferris wheel having a height of 443 feet.

The enormous wheel is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames in Jubilee Gardens looking down upon the Houses of Parliament below. From within one of the thirty two pods towering over the whole of London you can view a large number of London landmarks, the already mentioned Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s, Westminster Abbey and Hampton Court Palace are just a few, what a fantastically unique way to see nearly all of London and, more thank likely, one of the reasons it is one of the most popular paid for tourist attraction in London.

The London Eye’s first flight is at 10am but the ticket office opens half an hour earlier.  The Eye closes at 9.30 pm between July and August, 8 ‘o clock at night between April and October and at 9 pm for the other months of the year.

Visitors arriving in a car will be pleased to discover that there are three close by car parks. For coach parties there are parking facilities very close to the Eye (Telephone:) +44 (0)870 990 8886) for info.

The best method to get to the London Eye is via the London Underground, just get off at one of the following tube stations; Embankment, Westminster, Charing Cross, or the closest Waterloo. You can also travel by boat, get off at Waterloo Millennium Pier.

Finding bed and breakfast accommodation in London is as simple as popping over to Bing, Google or Yahoo (or any other popular search engine of your choice. Whichever you prefer you are guaranteed to find the perfect accommodation in London because the city must have the most guest houses, hotels and bed and breakfasts than any other. Luxurious accommodation to the cheerful and cheap, huge corporate hotels to the smaller boutique hotels and lots more.

When most people debate having a UK vacation they mostly just mention resorts close to the sea such as Blackpool, Margate, Bognor Regis and Great Yarmouth. Occasionally people may discuss having a short break in a specific English county for example the county of Devon in the south of England but not very often do they consider taking a short break in the city of Exeter. The following article discusses various reasons why an Exeter vacation is a wise idea.

The most important reasons for having a holiday in Exeter is that there is budget accommodation available with Exeter bed and breakfast accommodation available for approximately twenty five pounds a night and many rooms around the £40-50 ballpark.

Obviously there should be more than a minimal price to attract you to visit a city and Exeter certainly has lots to offer the possible tourist. You will find that there are a great many top class visitor attractions in the center of the city and even more not too far away and if this is not enough then the city of Plymouth is but a short distance and you will discover that there is also low cost bed and breakfast in Plymouth and even more fantastic visitor attractions. Also you will discover plenty of astounding sites to visit all along the nearby coast.

Where To Stay In Exeter

The Drewe Arms
This accommodation is superb, the rooms are budget but the building is a picturesque seventeenth century thatched inn situated on the famous Two Moors Way (a walkers route). Please take notice that it is about fifteen miles away from Exeter city center. If you need more luxury the inn also offers four-poster rooms.

The Crawford Hotel
This hotel accommodation is much closer to Exeter’s city center, about 1.6 km. It is a 2 star hotel with comfortable en suite accommodation and, crucially, you can access your room twenty four hours a day, which is superb if you are going to be getting back very late or if you may need to access the room at various times through the day. You will find there is Free wireless internet access in the public places of the hotel.

Visitor Attractions

In the city of Exeter there are just a few of tourist attractions worth visiting including; Rougemont Castle, St Peter’s Cathedral and the Royal Albert Museum. As I said earlier there is a small collection of nearby seaside resorts to see the most beautiful being the pretty villages of Sidmouth, Seaton and Beer.

Further away, between Exeter and Plymouth is the sparsely populated moorland of the Dartmoor National Park with the general area having several visitor attractions to visit including A La Ronde, Buckland Abbey and Buckfast Abbey on the main road, to Plymouth. Along the way you will pass the Torbay area, which is made up of Brixham, Torquay and Paignton and is often referred to as the English Riviera.

Exeter really is a excellent place in which to take a vacation however why not have a think about having a twin destination vacation and spend a few of nights/days in a luxurious hotel in Plymouth and tour the gorgeous countryside and coast in between the two cities?