Posts Tagged ‘London’
The Most Beautiful And Best Cities In Europe
July 16, 2011
What a person considers to be the best cities in Europe is debatable. It depends on several factors that include what type of atmosphere a person is looking for and how long they are going to be staying. For example, if an individual plans to stay for 1 or 2 weeks, places to go include Sofia, Paris, London, Florence, and Rome. If an individual is staying for less than a week, some great places to go include Amsterdam, Vienna, Venice, Goteborg, or Cambridge.
London, England is considered a favorite because it offers something for everyone. There are a number of museums, along with Big Ben, the London Eye, and the popular Tower of London. The London Eye gives a beautiful sky view of London.
Paris, France has been named the most romantic place to visit. About 42 million tourists flock to Paris every year, making it the world’s most visited city. Paris has around 3,700 monuments, and beautiful spring, summer, fall, and winter weather. Even in the winter, the temperature during the days usually stays above freezing.
Amsterdam (in the Netherlands) is a very important cultural place to visit. They host about 75 festivals every year. They also feature many historical monuments, beautiful canals, and several famous museums. Each district in and around Amsterdam has it’s own personality. Some districts have sophisticated, modern architecture, while others make a person feel like they are in a time warp.
Goteborg, Sweden, is a little town in the South of Sweden. It has large, unique botanical gardens with many varieties of plans. Other parts of Sweden can be expensive, but Goteborg has cheap accommodations and fares. There are many things to do in Goteborg, including visiting Scandinavia’s largest amusement park or some of the museums and heritage sites.
As stated before, the best cities in Europe to travel to should be based on how long a person is staying and what they are wanting to visit. There are beautiful and unique places that have something for everyone.
The Indie Travel Podcast has loads of Europe travel planning information, including this article on the Best Cities in Europe to travel in.
What Lonely Planet Says About Britain
May 28, 2011
Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book publisher in the world. Not only this but it has the distinctive reputation for being the ‘cool’ guide to places and people, often drawing the reader’s attention to things other publications would omit. Furthermore, people trust its verdict implicitly. That is why it is such a blow that Lonely Planet published an incredibly un-charitable view of Britain recently.
Among the things said in the verdict was a description of the country’s economy as “dicey”, along with a condemnation of the citizens as junk food guzzling celebrity addicts. It also used the term “eye-sore” to describe some of the architecture, and “uninspiring” to describe a certain place, while also making a point about the country’s fondness for an alcoholic drink.
This is very bad news for Britain, especially in such hard times, as tourists who think favourably of Britain are more likely to put up with high prices, and are likely to see negatives as ‘charmingly British’. Having the worst of its qualities brought into focus by Lonely Planet makes it quite unlikely that people will fork out for their overpriced Gastro pub meal, or buy tacky Blackpool merchandise.
There were some positives, though, and it’s important to focus on these. Manchester, for example, is said to contain “world-class museums and heavyweight art galleries”, while also drawing attention to its infamous nightlife. London is described as perhaps one of the great cities of the world, and the likes of Oxford and York have apparently maintained their English charm.
The worst part about the whole thing, though, is that many of the criticisms of the country will ring true with many readers. There are places in Britain that are poorly maintained, and there is a tendency among the citizens to prioritise new about celebrities, while eating a microwave meal, or worse some fast food. The country can still salvage some pride, however, in its unrivalled cities, and its unspoiled historic areas.
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Man With Van London Premier Removal Services
May 28, 2011
A London, UK based company, man with van London specializes in relocations, removals, and logistics. They have both residential and corporate offerings for the largest to the tiniest move. Featuring punctual and reliable service, Man Van is able to help with any and all relocation needs.
They offer complete transport solutions. On the corporate side, they can assist in office relocation, moving your business, planning your interior, IT relocation, logistics solutions, and business supply chain. They have low, competitive rates to fulfill whatever your business needs. Corporations are unique, and services are tailored to the individual company and its specific needs. Whatever your corporation needs, you can count on them to make it happen.
For their residential services, Man Van offers moves throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and London, as well as man with van services, packing materials, and international shipping. However large or small, they can accommodate any size move. Having years of experience behind them, you can trust them to move your belongings promptly and carefully, all for a competitive rate. Their superb customer service is what makes them industry leaders.
The Man Van team is punctual, polite, and professional at all times. They have many years of experience helping their customers pack and move their belongings, from studio flats to mansions, just down the street or across the continent. In addition to their already low rates, they offer a 15% student discount. From a simple student move to a whole house, their services are affordable and comprehensive.
They have built a reputation for a can-do attitude and wonderful customer service. Their employees can help you with all your moving necessities, and will do that punctually and politely. Having years of excellent service behind them, they are a leading removals company, providing top-notch services for affordable rates.
The company has a fleet of large cans that are fully insured and come with everything necessary to make for a simple move. The vans come with everything from ties, carts, boxes, and straps, along with other moving items, everything that you need to relocate. You can get a man with a van at very short notice, and men will assist you in everything you need to move.
Their employees can even help you to take apart and reassemble your furniture, as well as pack your things properly, and of course moving your stuff from one location to another and assembling the items. All service offerings come with a guarantee that you will be happy with the reliable, prompt services of Man Van and a smile. They can help you even if all you need is to get an item to your house from IKEA.
Man Van London is one of the leading removals services in London and has many years of experience in making moves simple and stress-free. They will assist in your relocation with ease and do it with a positive attitude and a smile. Their employees are highly trained and have a lot of experience, so they can make your relocation simple.
Man with van London is able and ready to take care of all your moving needs post-haste. Their reliable, cost-effective, punctual services will leave you smiling.
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New and Mostly Old in London City Breaks
December 6, 2010
Get away from the modern city and explore London city breaks. This city has a lot of history and its eventful culture is related by landmarks, buildings and palaces that are century’s old.
By virtue of age, a lot of buildings and monuments have become famous landmarks. Age aside, the architecture and craftsmanship is very detailed; you will want to get clear shots of these pieces in your camera.
Stop by the Big Ben and Palace of Westminster. These places have left memorable marks in the history of London. You can also stop by the front of the Houses of Parliament. You will love the torches, the towers and the medieval building complex. On the other hand, he Buckingham Palace can be visited by visitors so make sure you drop by this fascinating masterpiece. The state rooms are open to the public so you can see a lot of treasures in here. Masterpieces, sculptures, furniture and ornaments crafted by many masters can be found here. You can also view the Changing Guard; the event is as celebrated as the palace itself.
You can also travel to the Tower of London. This is a fortress, a palace and a prison, marking the event s of London’s eventful history. The defensive towers and walls are no joke. It also has a moat around it, providing security to its previous residents. This was once the home of William the Conqueror. Many high profile executions have been performed in its walls.
Get some solitude inside the St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in London. It construction lasted for 35 years after the London Fire. It is a very majestic and impressive structure.
You can also travel to the London Eye and get an amazing view from this tourist spot on the River Thames. You can also shop at the Millennium Dome and explore shops, exhibits and live entertainment venues.
travel on to Europe and get London city breaks. This city with its century old foundations will surely win you over.
Harvin Gulfill is the editor of Storby rejser. Here you can also read more about London.
I Saw The Queen From My Cheap Hotel Room
March 13, 2010
London is one of the most fashionable city break locations on the planet and each year hundreds of thousands of tourists visit UK’s capital city. The city of London has hundreds of years of history and culture, stunning historical buildings and of course lots of entertaining attractions, even the queen lives there.
One of the hardest things to discover in London is a good quality hotel at a low-cost price. If you want to be in the center of all the action then you would usually have to pay a lot more for than you would if you were staying five miles away. The secret is to try and find a hotel that strikes the right balance between the price and location.
There are many high-priced four and 5 star hotels all over the center of London that could cost you a fortune unless you shop around and take a few easy steps.
First thing to do is to make sure that your visit does not take place in the middle of any large events in London as the low cost hotels will in all likelihood be reserved for these dates well in advance. So avoid any dates where there is a cup final on at wembley stadium or any other big event. A quick look on the official London council inter net site will give you a list of yearly events.
It may be that you are going to London for a big event and are having problems getting lodgings at any property. There is a possible solution by utilizing the web site of Hotel Breaks as they have extra rooms to sell by many of the London hotels. Even when the hotel itself is full Hotel Breaks may still have availability.
If you have any friends or relatives in or near London as it may be a good idea to ask if they have any localized knowledge of a suitable hotel that you could stay at. The important thing is to look around and make sure you get accommodation that is not miles away. You do not want to be using your holiday time and money traveling to where you genuinely preferred to be in the first place.
Hotel breaks in a city such as London can cost you a lot of money unless to take a few essential steps. Find out what to do with tips from David Anderson travel writer from the travel web site Bargain Sun
Gatwick Airport : One Of The Busiest Airports In The World
March 12, 2010
Gatwick airport is London’s second biggest airport. It is the 8th largest (by passenger traffic) airport in Europe, and is one of the top 30 busiest airports in the world. It also has the single busiest runway in the world.
Gatwick recently announced plans to expand their infrastructure with a one billion pound investment aimed at improving the visitor experience in terms of everything from access to aesthetics. Those responsible for running the airport feel that this investment will allow them to match, or even surpass, Heathrow airport, whose shadow it is has constantly had to exist under, in terms of amenities and passenger accessibility.
Though Gatwick has always been considered a ‘lesser’ airport than Heathrow, this is due to the merits of the latter rather than any shortcomings in the former. Indeed, Gatwick airport has a history that warrants more attention than it is generally given…
#1 – Architectural Advances
Gatwick unveiled the world’s first circular airport terminal (named the ‘Beehive’) in 1936. It was an extraordinary achievement, as it was the first terminal to combine literally every necessary stage of air travel. There was a rail link directly to the terminal, and for the first time passengers could directly board their aircraft instead of having to travel across the runway on foot or by bus.
#2 – Private Flying Club
Gatwick was not originally build to be a public airport. In its early years, it was used as a home for a private flying club. The flying club that used it, which was the Surrey Aero Club, became so popular though, and brought so much attention to the airport, that it was soon granted a commercial flying license, which meant that members of the public could fly in and out of it.
#3 – The Queen Of England
Gatwick has been graced on two separate occasions with a Royal presence at important opening ceremonies. In 1956 the airport temporarily closed in order to undergo a major redevelopment, and it was Queen Elizabeth II who oversaw the ceremonies in 1958. Then, thirty years later, the Queen and Prince Phillip were also present for the opening of the new North Terminal as well.
#4 – World War II
The second World War saw Gatwick become primarily a military airport, to aid Britain with its air to air combat against the deadly German air-force. Gatwick participated when it was requisitioned by the RAF as a combat airfield, and provided service to a number of important operations necessary to keeping England’s skies clear of bombers.
If you’ll be arriving in the UK via Gatwick Airport, and need a Gatwick car hire company, then visit http://www.gatwickcarhire.org.uk
One Day To Spend In London
March 10, 2010
London is one of the biggest capitals in the world and touring it in one day might seem ridiculous but with an early start and a good pair of legs it can be done. Obviously you can’t see everything London has to offer in one day but to be honest you cant do that in a year either, but if you want to catch all the major cultural sights there is a way.
If you want to beat the rush Westminster Abbey should be first on you list, if you can get there before 9.30 you will be able to view it in peace. Most of the countries Kings and Queens have been crowned at The Abbey and it is a focal point of the nation’s royals.
Home to the country’s government since the 11th century, The Houses of Parliament are a truly astonishing landmark and has been the focal point of some of the political highs and lows of the last millennia. The houses are guarded over by ‘Big Ben’, the world’s most prominent timepiece; you could even set your watch to it.
Continuing along the political route you can walk down the road to Downing Street, unfortunately you can no longer walk down it but if you’re lucky you may see someone important getting past the hoards of policemen and security officials. Other than that it’s hardly palatial but at least you can say you were there.
Heading north you’ll reach the heart of London, Trafalgar Square. Home to Nelson’s tower it is the scene to many demonstrations. Previously overwhelmed by pigeons, each year masses of party goers descend on this square to celebrate the New Year.
At the edge of the square you will find the National Gallery, home to countless masterpieces by Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Rembrandt and many more. The galleries span across 8 centuries of some of the world’s most renowned art and this should occupy at least an hour of your day.
Just minutes from the square is England’s most historic market Covent Garden. It was built by Inigo Jones in 1633 and is the home of a variety of stalls and licensed street entertainers.
By this point you may very well be getting bit hungry so why not venture into the pride of Covent Garden; ‘Porters English Restaurant’. Here you can enjoy traditional English pub food. Owned and run by the Earl of Bradford it’s a perfect way to break up your day.
A quick ride on the tube, which is a must in its self, will get you to Charing Cross Station; from here you can take a short stroll to Buckingham Palace. This place doesn’t really need any explanation and depending on the time of year you may be able to go inside but beware that this will involve queuing and will take a lot of time out of your day. If you get the timing right you may be able to catch the changing of the guards but don’t plan your day around it as there is plenty more to see.
Another short journey on the tube will bring you to the Tower of London, for over 900 years it has been a palace, a royal mint and most famously, a prison. Hundreds of well known English traitors have been beheaded there and it’s the capital of British blood and gore. It is well worth taking one of the hour long guided tours by one of the classic Beefeaters and this will bring the tower to life.
If by now your feet are aching and your stomach is rumbling, drop by ‘The Salisbury’, a fashionable Art Nouveau Pub at the core of the theatre district. Here you can enjoy a wide range of drinks and some home cooked pies.
The best way to spend the evening is to enjoy one of the many shows on offer, whether it’s a big West-End musical or a classic Shakespeare production at the Globe you won’t be let down and it would be the perfect way to relax and take the weight of your feet.
If you need a central London hotel, then stop by Astor Court for affordable luxury single, double, triple and twinhotel rooms in the centre of the capital.
London – What To Do On Your First Visit
March 3, 2010
As the capital city of England, it is hardly surprising that there is much to see, do and experience in London. With millions of residents packed into this vibrant cultural melting pot, London is always bustling with activity, regardless of the day of the week or the month. Before you arrive there, it is worth making a list of the what you want to see and do, so that you don’t miss out on any of the highlights.
There is so much on offer in this vibrant city that you probably will not have time to take in everything; fortunately though, a lot of the most popular sights are located quite near to each other. Take the time to see Westminster Abbey, the Tower Of London, and the Houses Of Parliament. You can take guided tours of each of these, so you can learn about their colorful histories, which will give you an even better appreciation of what stands before you.
The House of Commons and the House of Lords are pretty impressive in themselves, but more popular among visitors is the landmark’s clock tower. You have probably seen the clock tower, called Big Ben, on TV, and it is even more impressive when you see it in person. Each of its four clock faces is 23 feet across, and it is big enough to see from all around central London. You really want to get up close to it though, especially at night time when it is lit up and looks particularly special.
There are lots of palaces and historic buildings to visit. The Queen of England lives in the most famous of all them, which is called Buckingham Palace. The changing of the guard outside is a sight to see. Tourists will gather long before the appointed time just to see the grand guards in their world famous red and black uniforms. The hat itself is legendary.
Depending on the time of year, catch a sporting event. London has some of best stadiums in the whole world, and five Premier League football (or soccer if you prefer) teams, including Arsenal and Chelsea, who have genuine football superstars in their teams. If English football is not your scene not to worry, check out a rugby game or world class tennis at Queens and Wimbledon during June and July.
No matter where you go and what you do in London, take plenty of photos. It’s only your first time once!
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Tax-Free Shopping For Non-EU Residents Is As Simple As Keeping Your Receipts
February 23, 2010
traveling abroad among countries a part of the European Union which includes a large number of countries from Belgium, to Ireland, to Sweden (check which countries are included in the EU when traveling abroad) has its temptations and perks in the shopping arena, such as purchasing from duty-free shops, or tax-free merchants within European Union (EU) airports.
Tax-free shopping allows customer to bypass any retail taxes including sales, consumption, or value added tax (VAT). EU shoppers contend with the latter value added tax that acts as a sales tax on all goods and varies by country in its value.
Claiming a refund requires that all consumers pay an items tax (EU-VAT) regardless of international status (this tax will vary in amount country to country), but by law, will be able to process a refund on their total EU-VAT amounts.
To utilize this refund system, initial payment of the sales tax (EU-VAT) is required and the amount will vary from country. Fortunately, and by law, non-EU resident shoppers can claim refund on all EU-VAT amounts.
Getting a refund on VAT for something as small as a pack of gum isn’t going to happen, there are minimum purchase requirements that must be adhered to, as well as different refund percentages for each EU nation.
Minus the purchase of books and clothes for children, which are exempt for VAT, any minute item cannot be claimed in search of a VAT-refund. Minimum purchase requirements must be met to obtain a proper refund and each EU country has its own VAT-refund percentage.
Finding a company with extensive retail ties is important and Premier Tax Free fits that requirement with its personal relationship with almost 100,000 retailers worldwide. Placing your refund recovery in the hands of a company will make receiving that refund hassle-free which tax free shopping for non-EU residents, surprisingly, is.
Find out all you want to know about tax free shopping by checking it out today. Take advantage of the chance to save cash by enjoying some tax free shopping. Jump online and learn all you want to know.
The Island of South Georgia
December 19, 2009
The island of South Georgia, an inhospitable frozen wasteland of glaciers, snow-capped mountains and freezing winds, lies in the southern Atlantic Ocean east of Tierra del Fuego.
This remote Antarctic island is part of the British territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The British claim to sovereignty of South Georgia dates from 1775 when Captain Cook landed here and dismissed the island as not worth discovering. Argentina also claimed the island in 1027, an unresolved dispute which contributed to the 1982 Falklands war when Argentine forces briefly occupied South Georgia.
In 1916 Ernest Shackleton became stranded on Elephant Island to the south-west, while on his Imperial Straits Antarctic Expedition, Shackleton and a small group of men left the rest of the party to summon help and ended up, after an arduous journey, at King Haakon Bay on the south coast of South Georgia.
They then managed to make it overland to reach help at Stromness whaling station, which led to the rescue of the remaining men. Daring a later expedition in 1922, Shackleton died on board a ship off South Georgia and he is buried on the island at Grytviken.
There is no permanent human population on South Georgia, only the British Government Officer, research scientists and museum staff at Grytviken, but there are enormous populations of penguins, the largest colonies anywhere on earth, with around 400,000 breeding pairs of king penguins, two million pairs of the macaroni penguins and large colonies of four other species.
Visitors come here to watch penguin couples overcome the extreme climatic conditions and nurture their precious eggs through hatching and the vulnerable chick stage into fully fledged members of the colony. The charming creatures work tirelessly together avoiding the seals that lurk in the shallows waiting to pounce and protecting their young from ferocious skua gulls who will snatch one and tear it to shreds.
When he landed here in the 18th century, Captain Cook noted the huge seal and whale populations around the island, but just two hundred years later both had been hunted nearly to extinction. South Georgia is, however, home to 95 per cent of the world’s southern fur seals, half the southern elephant seals, 250,000 Albatrosses, including the massive Wandering Albatross, and up to ten million other seabirds, making a trip here a totally unique experience.
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