Author Archive
Visiting The Edinburgh Festival
March 15, 2011
The Edinburgh Festival is called the largest cultural celebration in the entire world. Its origins are actually tracked back to the late 1940s when the Edinburgh international Festival was initially developed. Each year, the festival has exploded in size and reputation as more men and women coming from around the globe choose to pay a visit to the region and participate in the different festivals. The Edinburgh Festival is actually not just one single celebration but a series of independent festivals all taking place within a 3 to 4 week period of time.
One of the most discussed among these festivals could be the Edinburgh International Book Festival that takes place within the last 3 weeks of August on a yearly basis. It happens in Charlotte Square which is within the middle of Edinburgh. Boasting to be the largest festival of this kind worldwide, this book festival features many political and cultural discussions and debates along with the well-known kid’s program.
Yet another popular Edinburgh Festival is called the Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This specific festival has received superb reviews coming from many excellent news sources as a result of its good reputation for showcasing award-winning performers and events. The celebration centers around comedy, children’s performances, cabaret, opera plus much more.
The Edinburgh Comedy Festival is another popular choice. For those who enjoy a good laugh, this assortment of comedy performances is a must see.
For your music devotees around the world, the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival is the place to be. For ten days each and every year, people come from around the world to hear the music stylings of numerous prominent artists along the lines of Chick Corea and Wynton Marsalis amongst others. Annually, the music artists come from all corners of the globe to perform for a crowd of fired up travelers and locals. In addition, Scottish performers share their skills with the crowd as well. Not surprisingly, the blues is a major component to this event so other performers who have come in past times were names like BB King and Buddy Guy.
The largest jazz event in the UK also has “Jazz on a Summer’s Day” that takes place out in Princes Street Gardens just under the Edinburgh Castle’s shadow. This celebration is free of charge and showcases the top performers from the Festival.
There’s plenty to do and experience during the Edinburgh Festivals each year. Individuals come from across the world to experience these exhibits of culture and entertainment. There’s truly nothing like it in any other area of the planet, and it continues to grow even bigger every year.
If you are considering a vacation in Scotland and you are currently looking for guest houses and Edinburgh hotels then please consider taking a look at our listings of hotels in Edinburgh
Holidays In London And Hotels Close To The Millennium Wheel
February 26, 2011
The city of London is among the hottest vacation locations in the continent of Europe. A large number of elements work with each other to make the city appealing to a vast variety of holiday makers, the most important of which is the enormous number of first class tourist attractions found the city. London is the most expansive urban zone to be found in the whole of Europe and it is the capital of England. As such it is not surprising that there are numerous districts to stay with every one having their own unique attraction. Some other folks make a selection to stay right in the middle of the city whilst others make a selection to stay somewhere in the outskirts. Within the following article I will be taking a close look at a few of the accommodation near to the London Eye/Millennium Wheel.
The London Eye, or, more accurately, The Merlin Entertainments London Eye, is a big observation wheel located on the banks of the River Thames. Visited by over 3.5 million tourists every year it’s the most well liked attraction in Great Britain. When enjoying a flight passengers can see a selection of the finest visitor attractions to be found in the UK such as; Big Ben clock tower, Palace of Westminster, St Paul’s Cathedral, Houses of Parliament, the NatWest Tower and and more. Due to the fact that such an amazing collection of world class attractions within a short distance from The London Eye many visitors decide to stay in places near to the attraction itself.
Hotels And Accommodation Close To The Millennium Wheel
To help keep everything simple I will be focusing upon those hotels and accommodations which are nearest to the London Eye and those which can also take bookings online. The nearest two establishments are both Park Plaza hotels, the Park Plaza County Hall and the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Just a little further away you will find the accommodation; Citadines, London Marriott Hotel County Hall and Royal Horseguards and below I will introduce these fantastic places to stay in more detail.
County Hall (Park Plaza) The Park Plaza County Hall is situated at number 1 Addington Street at the South Bank of River Thames. It is within easy strolling distance of the Eye (it is just over Westminster Bridge) which is visible from some of the rooms in the hotel. Providing four star accommodation at an inexpensive cost the Park Plaza is an extremely popular place to stay so it is always worth seeking to reserve your room as early as you can. Amenities include; free WI-FI Internet, free laundry room, free admission to to the fitness center, sauna and steam room (spa therapies are available for an extra price). Rooms have kitchen amenities including microwave, crockery, cutlery and coffee and tea making facilities however it is well worth taking into account taking foods at their Spectrum Restaurant which renowned for its fine British Cuisine.
The Westminster Bridge(Park Plaza) The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is positioned at number two hundred Westminster Bridge Road that is on the southern side of Westminster Bridge. The hotel offers all the facilities you could be expecting of a 4 star rated establishment (for example free Wi-Fi web) but different facilities include two executive lounges, a business centre and a concierge service making it the very best choice for folk visiting London on business. The hotel additionally features a health club that’s open twenty four hrs a day as well as A sauna, spa, steam room and a 15-metre swimming pool.
The Royal Horseguards offers award winning five star-rated accommodation with rooms costing just a little greater than four star lodgings (if you be capable of locate a last-minute reservation discount. Positioned at number 2 Whitehall Court this hotel is very near to the business district. The London Marriott Hotel County Hall, on Westminster Bridge Road, is a 4 star rated hotel which additionally gives last minute booking discounts and which features a gym, a spa and an indoor pool. Citadines Trafalgar Square London gives 3 star lodging serviced apartment accommodation, on Northumberland Avenue, at an reasonably priced cost.
Other places to stay close to the London Eye include; Charing Cross (Strand), Wellington (81-83 Waterloo Road), LSE Northumberland House (8a Northumberland Avenue) and apartments at SACO London (75 York Rd), all of which are within half a mile of The Millennium Wheel. The Savoy (Strand), which has very recently gone through the biggest renovation in the United Kingdom and Europe, is half a mile from the Millennium Wheel and also The Trafalgar (in Trafalgar Square), The Royal Trafalgar (on Whitcomb Street) and The Strand Palace Hotel (in the Strand).
All together you will find in excess of 50 hotels near the London Eye (a mile or less away), the choice is amazing but it is very important be aware that these establishments are amazingly popular and it is best that you book your room as soon as is possible. It’s important to remember that hotels close to the London Eye are frequently fully booked but, if you wish to risk it, there is, sometimes, the potential of finding last-minute reservation reductions.
If you are considering a vacation in London and you are looking for hotels near the London Eye please take a look at our list at http://www.londonhotelhelper.com/categories/4/hotels-near-london-eye/
Visiting The Seaside Town Of Scarborough
February 13, 2011
While coming to the Yorkshire coastline, absolutely no getaway is complete without coming to the region of Scarborough. Generally known as the biggest and earliest resort town on this impressive coast, Scarborough is recognized for its massive curving sandy beach situated on the North Sea. There are 2 exquisite bays called the North Bay and South Bay with a headland between the two. There are many destinations to discover in Scarborough.
For a vacationer, Scarborough is surely a fantastic holiday destination because it features many of the varieties of attractions which visitors appreciate. You will find fish and chips shops, local tourist traps and other fun destinations including arcades. There are lots of cliffs and hillsides to discover and appreciate while you make your way around this beautiful area. Historically, Scarborough was known as a spa town where people visited drink the mineral waters and to swim in the sea. Even so, it isn’t a place that you visit if you want to bury your self in cultural pursuits. It’s popular with families considering that it’s a wonderful place to have a good time, spend time on the beach and breathe the clean sea air.
Scarborough is 56 km northeast of York and 407 km north of London. You can get there on local trains that operate throughout the day between York and Scarborough. There are also several great places to stay in this region. For example, one well-liked location is known as Beiderbecke’s Hotel. It is an 1835 building that is at the end of a Victorian crescent. Despite the fact that there are simply 27 guest rooms, they’re well furnished and incredibly comfortable with bigger tiled restrooms. The hotel additionally features its own cocktail bar with fashionable furnishings. It is by far the coolest hangout in the area.
For your dining enjoyment in Scarborough, there are various types of small cafes and dining establishments available. People can visit an Italian coffee bar or discover more international cuisine at Marmalade’s which is a vibrant and classy restaurant featuring all sorts of food options. One other popular spot to eat is termed Mother Hubbard’s. It’s more of a family-style fish restaurant which dishes up the best fish and chips in town.
If you’re searching for interesting attractions in Scarborough, there is no lack of activities to do. There is an upper town and lower area next to the beach. Despite the fact that there are points of interest, Scarborough has always been much more known as an area to enjoy the seaside area. On the other hand, vacations in Scarborough can also consist of things such as going to the nearby art gallery or the Rotunda Museum. Not surprisingly, you can also make your way over to Scarborough Castle that was constructed in the 12th century.
If you are looking for bed & breakfast in Scarborough please take a look at our listings of cheap Scarborough hotels
Bury St Edmunds vacations & 3 Visitor Attractions To Visit
December 29, 2010
Selecting a suitable place to take a vacation is commonly somewhat problematic particularly if you’re contemplating a vacation with friends and family. In fact a lot is dependant upon your likes or dislikes and when arranging a family vacation compromise is highly likely however many places supply a wide variety of points of interest able to satisfy just about all tastes and few destinations beat the United Kingdom for variety. With awe-inspiring sports locations, popular seaside resorts, busy cities and engaging rural places the United Kingdom of Great Britain can supply an incredible range of types of vacations. In the article below I study the English town called Bury St Edmunds within the East Anglia area of England.
The town of Bury St Edmunds is positioned in the county of Suffolk. The town can be traced back to the 7th century with the building of a monastery in 633. In 903 Edmund, the King of East Anglia, was buried within the monastery and inside of a small number of years it was widely reported that miracles had taken place at the shrine of the martyr. The shrine to the martyr very quickly became a centre of pilgrimage and a small settlement developed. In 925 the town was christened Bury St Edmunds and by the 14th century the settlement began to benefit from the growing trade in wool.
The Industrial Revolution seems to have bypassed East Anglia helping to create a stunning historic market town which has become an incredibly popular vacation destination in a part of the nation not traditionally associated with the tourist trade. The primary cause of the interest is that Bury St Edmunds is the prettiest to be found in the county. The town features many historic buildings which represent varied ages. Essentially the most distinguished points of interest are St Edmundsbury Cathedral, St. Mary’s Church and Bury St. Edmunds Abbey.
The abbey ruins may be found in the heart of the town centre in the town centre. It was a shrine dedicated to Saint Edmund but it was destroyed during the 14th century and was mainly dismantled with its Dissolution in the sixteenth century. Presently the ruined abbey is renowned for its stunning gardens.
St. Mary’s Church, which was a part of the abbey, is absolutely worth a visit. It was constructed as a Norman church within the 12th century and was comprehensively renovated throughout the centuries (fourteenth, sixteenth and nineteenth) and though not one of the unique building remains elements can be dated back to the 13th century. Of particular note is the west window which features superb stained glass.
St Edmundsbury Cathedral is to be discovered on an area of ground which has had a church constructed upon it since the year 1065 and possibly much earlier. The current construction is a much modified building with conciderable works being carried out since about 1503 and continuing up to today with the most recent addition of a tower in the Gothic revival style which was finished in the year 2005. Besides it additionally features numerous Cathedral Treasures and artwork exhibitions plus it also offers guided tours.
If you are planning a vacation in Bury St Edmunds please take a look at our listings of Bury St Edmunds bed & breakfast
Birmingham City Breaks & The Ikon Gallery
April 10, 2010
Birmingham is a cosmopolitan city in the West Midlands (a county in England), it is a really popular vacation destination. The city has a huge number of world class attractions including many listed churches and stately homes as well as many museums and galleries, including Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery.
The Ikon Gallery is an art gallery focusing on contemporary art which is situated in the former Oozells Street Board School in Brindleyplace, however it had not always has such a prestigious local.
The gallery was founded in the year nineteen sixty four by 4 artists and Angus Skene. The 4 artists were; David Prentice, Sylvani Merilion, Jesse Bruton and Robert Groves. Angus Skene had purchased and the two of them discussed the endless problems suffered by local artists, which included the lack of venues and support. The conversation formed the basic ideas for Ikon which was to be a “gallery without walls”.
Skene financed the project initially, which consisted of mobile exhibitions in such diverse venues as post offices and cinemas in a motorcycle sidecar, the idea being to make the public more aware of art. To keep the overheads down staffing was by the family, friends and the founding artists who did not charge for their time. In 1965 the Ikon Gallery obtained a glass kiosk in the Bull Ring shopping centre.
Over the 2 couple of decades the Ikon Gallery moved from place to place until 1997 when it purchased, with aid from the National Lottery, its current premises, the former Oozells Street Board School. In recent years the Ikon Gallery has put on a selection of exhibitions and its continuous ability to excel has led it to become surprisingly popular, to such an extent that in 2006 it opened a further gallery, the Ikon Eastside in Digbeth.
If you are considering a short break in Birmingham try to allow time to visit the Ikon Gallery. Also it is important to know that although there are many Birmingham hotels and guest houses finding bed and breakfast in Birmingham can sometimes be very difficult. Because of this it is vitally important to book your accommodation at the earliest opportunity. You should know that Birmingham Airport is approximately 8 miles from the center of the city just off the A45 and near the M42 (junction 6). You will will be able to find a respectable number of hotels and guest houses close to the airport.
If you are planning to stay in Birmingham bed and breakfast accommodation you may be interested in our listings of accommodation close to the Ikon Gallery
Pet Friendly Hotels And Accommodation In Birmingham, England
March 23, 2010
Birmingham, England’s second largest city by population, is becoming an incredibly popular vacation destination. With a wealth of industrial heritage, numerous museums, art galleries and the likes, together with countless top class visitor attractions and some of the best venues for live music, the arts and large scale meetings it is not surprising that so many folk take vacations and short city breaks here.
Do you have a pet? Have you ever considered taking your pet with you when you take a vacation? Well you might be pleased to learn that each year more and more of us are choosing to do just that. There are a multitude of reasons why you should consider taking a pet along with you when away on vacation. Primarily it can be heartbreaking to leave a much loved pet for even the shortest of breaks but anything over two weeks can be rather distressing for both you and your pet. Another excellent reason for taking along a pet is that you will have no need to pay for somebody to look after your pet while you are away (or boarding fees if you can afford them). Furthermore, don’t you think your pet deserves a break too?
You may not have previously considered either a vacation in Birmingham or taking your pet with you. Sadly, if you do decide to take your pet, then you will immediately notice that hardly any accommodation allows pets. It is a sad fact that often fewer than one in a hundred guest houses, hotels and other accommodation allow pets.
You will quickly discover what a thoroughly depressing task it is to find pet friendly Birmingham accommodation. Imagine finding the perfect hotel out of say, seventy only to scroll down to the hotel policies and discover those dreaded words, no pets allowed. Understanding this I wish to introduce a few places in Birmingham which specifically say “pets allowed”.
The Macdonald Burlington Hotel The huge Macdonald Burlington is a 4 star city centre establishment, which is a couple of minutes from New Street Rail Station, conveniently situated next door to a large NCP car park.
The Novotel Hotel The massive Novotel is a 4 star pet friendly hotel, on Edward Street only minutes away from the heart of the city.
The Malmaison Birmingham The Malmaison is a very large 3 star pet friendly hotel in the heart of Birmingham.
If you would rather book a room in a city centre pet friendly hotel with less than one hundred and fifty rooms then, unfortunately your choice is limited to just one establishment, the Ibis Holloway Circus, which has only 51 rooms.
If you want to choose from more pet friendly Birmingham hotels and pick up a lst minute bargain you will find the above mentioned hotels discounted at http://hotels.simplytop.com/.
Pet Friendly Places to Stay in Ayr, Scotland
February 26, 2010
If you are like me you will be looking forward to your summer vacation, maybe you will also be looking for somewhere different to visit this year. vacations are exciting and yet relaxing and there are many benefits for us and, as many people are discovering, it is also great for a pet to have a vacation. The city of Ayr in Scotland is a great place for visiting with a pet but like many other UK cities it can be a strain finding somewhere to stay. For this reason I have searched out, and listed below, a selection of pet friendly places to stay in Ayr, Scotland.
Situated on the beautiful south west coast of Scotland, the pretty town of Ayr attracts a great deal of visitors year after year. The majority of folk arrive in search of places to visit relating to the world renowned, and Scottish National Poet, Robert Burns. There are a multitude of places in Ayr in which the bard spent some time or to which there are strong associations with him and most are well worth a visit. The best way in which to gain an understanding of the man, his life and his poetry is to visit the surrounding area where you will find many more places relating to him and a host of statues and other monuments dedicated to him.
Ayr is the main administrative center for this part of Scotland, known as Ayrshire. All around you will notice that the scenery is much greener than many other parts of Scotland and this is due to the generally milder climate and lack of pollution, two of the reasons why Ayr is such a great place to visit with a pet. Imagine walking with your dog in astounding scenery or along an unspoiled, and clean, beach, both of you will love it. If you travel around Ayrshire you may begin to think that you have seen some places before and you may well have done, either on the big, or the small, screen as the area is popular with film makers. The cult classic “The Wicker Man” was shot around here and each year, just down the road from the town, is held an arts and music festival called the Wickerman Festival, well worth a visit and it is family friendly too.
The Wickerman Festival is held in the neighboring county of Dumfries and Galloway but for this article I am concentrating on Ayr and Ayrshire however, before I list the pet friendly accommodation I would like to request that you really take care to ensure that your chosen hotel or guest house does not regret allowing pets in their rooms. Some places make a charge for pets while other may only charge if there is damage or the room requires extra cleaning but if everyone’s pet behaves pet lovers will keep their excellent reputation.
Three Hotels Which Allow Pets
The Swallow Station Hotel
With seventy three rooms this is a large pet friendly hotel located in the very center of Ayr. Next to the train station the 3 star accommodation has it’s own bar and restaurant and is overlooking Burns Statue Square, about ten minutes from the airport. No extra charges for pets.
Horizon Hotel
The Horizon is another pet friendly hotel found in the center of the town but this establishment is considerably smaller with only twenty five rooms. This 3 star accommodation does not charge extra for pets.
The Savoy Park Hotel
Offering free broadband internet to every one of it’s 15 rooms the three star, family-run,Savoy Park Hotel is a great place to stay. Pets are allowed and they do not charge extra! Also features traditional home made food.
Pet Friendly Guest Houses In Ayr
Canter Holm
The 3 star, 6 roomed, Canter Home offers superb pet friendly Ayr accommodation in a lovely Victorian residence close to the center of town. Although there is free internet access throughout the guest house they may make a charge if you have your pet staying with you.
Grange View
The 3 star, 3 roomed, Grange View gives extremely friendly (the owners will make golf bookings etc. for you), pet friendly, accommodation which is just a couple of minutes from the very center of Ayr. No extra charges for pets.
Far, far too few guest houses and hotels in Ayr allow pets. This is such a great shame as fewer places rival the town as a suitable destination for a vacation with a pet. Obviously with so few pet friendly places it is important to make your booking at the first opportunity and, if you manage to book a room, please have a thoroughly enjoyable vacation.
If you are looking for pet friendly Ayr hotels or you want to pick up a last minute bargain you will find the above mentioned hotels discounted at http://hotels.simplytop.com/.