Located in the West Midlands region of England in the United Kingdom, Warwickshire comprises some famous towns and popular tourist destinations. Its worldwide fame as the birthplace of William Shakespeare gives it its nickname “Shakespeare’s county” though of course it has much more to offer, such as Warwick Castle, located in the county town of Warwick, a Norman castle built on the foundations of a former Anglo-Saxon burg. The county also boasts a famous spa town in the form of Leamington Spa, known to the Romans but mostly developed much later, in the 19th century. One of the counties largest towns, located in the heart of coal mining country, Nuneaton was actually better known for its textiles, it too goes back to Saxon times but grew mostly later around a Benedictine nunnery. The town with which William Shakespeare is inextricably linked is, of course, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and life in this pretty town seems to revolve around the Bard and everything connected to him.
March 25, 2011
March 17, 2011
Upwey Weymouth Dorset
A charming little village which is close to Weymouth in Dorset, Upwey is well known for its Upwey Wishing Well, which is at the source of the River Wey in the South Dorset Downs. The Wishing Well which has been a tourist attraction in Upwey since Victorian times, it now actually a tea room, set amongst some delightful water gardens. Close by is a water mill, originally built in the eighteenth century it was remodelled in 1802. The water mill even featured in a book by the famous author Thomas Hardy. Upwey’s parish church of Saint Lawrence dates from the thirteenth century. Upwey is a good spot for your stay in Dorset and there are a number of self-catering cottages available in the village. Just a short way (5 miles) from Upway is the ever popular seaside resort of Weymouth, well loved and well visited even in these awkward times for the British coastal resort. Weymouth has plenty of sandy beaches, perfect for a family trip when the weather is fine. Easily accessible is the Jurassic Coast a beautiful world heritage site.
March 15, 2011
Northamptonshire England
A county of spires and squires located in the East Midlands region of England, Northamptonshire or Northants, is a landlocked county bordering Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Lincolnshire, and Cambridgeshire. Taking its name form the town of Northampton, the county has a population of over 600,000 and an area of some 2,364 square kilometres. The county town as you would expect is Northampton itself, and it has several largish towns namely Kettering, Daventry, Wellingborough, Corby and Rushden, to name but a few. Kettering is a market town dating back to Roman times when it was taken from a tribe called the Belgics. Daventry is another market town with Anglo-Saxon roots, it now has a population of over 20,000. Wellingborough another market town received its charter from King John, and is surrounded by five wells.
March 4, 2011
A Stroll Around Alicante
Located in a natural bay and sitting against the backdrop of the Monte Benacatil peak, the city of Alicante is a modern city with a chequered history leading it to where it lies today. Its strategic position has meant it has long been a major port but also a tourism centre, providing the city with much of its income. The 2nd largest city in Comunidad de Valencia, Alicante enjoys a booming economy, though this has declined somewhat due to the current financial constraints. The main shopping centre for the region Alicante attracts plenty of visitors just due to this one feature, with many of the surrounding, and popular, coastal resorts, having little in the way of retail outlets. It also has some great attractions and one of its most famous, the Santa Barbara Castle, looks proudly down on Alicante from its lofty position on Mount Benacatil. On the seafront you will find the beautiful Paseo de la Esplanada, a popular place to take an evening or weekend stroll. The Spanish just love to walk along the promenade, and Alicante is no exception, with thousands taking in the sea air, and enjoying the cooler evening weather conditions. Rows of palm trees line the promenade making this an attractive spot to sit and enjoy some lunch in one of the seafront restaurants. Easy to reach from the airport, which is just outside the city at El Altet, Alicante should be on your list of places to visit if you are heading to the Costa Blanca this year, or in fact any year. Alicante Map.
March 3, 2011
La Marina Costa Blanca
An extremely popular area for relocation and holidays on the Costa Blanca, especially with the Brits, La Marina is basically split into two distinct parts, the old coastal town and beach area, and the purpose built residential development, a short distance inland on the other side of the main coastal road the N-332. The coastal part of the town has some fantastic sandy beaches, which even in the peak season are so big that they never get packed, and you can always find a spot away from the crowds, to enjoy the sunny weather. The town itself has the usual rows of shops, banks, bars and restaurants, just a run of the mill coastal town. The residential development across the road has one of the largest concentrations of expats in Spain, it’s a bit like little Britain here, with a smattering of Germans and others, and even the odd Spanish person! The La Marina urbanization has all its own amenities, making it pretty much self sufficient, and of course there are a glut of rental properties in the area, though if you are thinking of renting there, you will certainly need a car to get to the beach. A good option is to rent a villa with pool, so that most day you can simply laze by the pool, cook on the barbeque and make the most of the superb weather conditions that are enjoyed here throughout the year. With a car you will be able to get out and about and visit the numerous coastal resorts, as well as attractions like the Rio Safari park, between Santa Pola and Elche, you can also get to local golf courses, of which there are plenty in the area. Don’t forget a trip into the city of Alicante, where the best shopping area can be found, and for culture maybe a visit to the Santa Barbara Castle. La Marina is surrounded by some charming little towns and villages such as Daya Vieja, Daya Nueva, Almoradi, Algorfa, Rojales, Formentera del Segura, San Fulgencio and Catral. All have been developed to a degree and if you are looking to buy property, there are plenty of villas and apartments for sale. Certainly worth a look if you are touring the Costa Blanca, La Marina will be waiting for your visit.
February 19, 2011
Cala Dor Majorca
A large, rather touristy resort built around a number of small coves and bays, Cala D’Or is situated on the east coast of Majorca, and developed as a holiday destination somewhat earlier than many of its counterparts. This former fishing village, is now barely recognisable as such, and styles itself as a rather upmarket resort, based around its chic marina. A quick look at the boats in the harbour at Cala D’Or, will tell you that this is a resort favoured by the well-heeled, though don’t let this put you off, if you are planning a visit, as there is plenty of affordable accommodation to be had in Cala D’or, with a choice of hotels and plenty of self-catering villas and apartments to rent. When the weather is good, the place to head is the beach, though in July and August, get there early to get a decent spot, when the weather is not so good, try visiting one of the local street markets, such as at Porto Colom or Felanitx.
January 24, 2011
Holiday Inn Garden Court Hotel Aylesbury
Aylesbury Hotels - Garden Court
For your accommodation in Aylesbury you should certainly consider the conveniently placed Holiday Inn, Garden Court, in its attractive suburban location on the Watermead estate on the outskirts of the town. A modern 40 room hotel the Garden Court is one of the more popular Aylesbury hotels and attracts both business and leisure clients. The hotel is handy for visiting the town of Aylesbury and ideal for accessing local attractions such as Waddesdon Manor, Whipsnade Zoo, the Roald Dahl Museum and the Silverstone Racing Circuit, to name but a few. There is internet access both in guest rooms and as a public space service so you can keep up with your business commitments or simply check on your e-mails during your stay. Rooms are available in the Holiday Inn Garden Court, Aylesbury from around 68 per night, so get your hotel room booked and visit this popular Buckinghamshire town soon.
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December 29, 2010
Geevor Mine Pendeen St Just
A museum and heritage centre located in a former tin mine in western Cornwall, the Geevor Tin Mine is a great place to visit if you are in the Penzance, St Just area. Learn a little about the historic tin mining industry, you can take the underground tour, visit the Hard Rock Museum, take a look down the Victory Shaft, visit The Dry, left as it was when the mine was operational, or try your hand at mineral panning an see what you can find. Located near to the village of Pendeen, north of St Just, the Geevor Mine is open Sunday to Friday.
December 8, 2010
Chesham Buckinghamshire
The largest town in the Chiltern District of Buckinghamshire, lying in the south-east of the county, Chesham is a market town situated in a steep sided valley at the source of the River Chess. A progressive town with a population of around 20,000, Chesham is a popular commuter town which is on the London Underground line (Metropolitan), giving good access to the capital. Chesham holds a market twice a week, much as it has done for centuries, and a more recent addition, the Elgiva Theatre attracts thousands of visitors to the town, providing much needed entertainment for both its residents and those living nearby. Surrounded by wide expanses of beautiful countryside, Chesham offers plenty of opportunity for walking and cycling, while providing a relaxed and friendly shopping experience for those choosing to stay in the town centre. Places of interest nearby include the Hertfordshire village of Bovingdon, which holds a well known Saturday market on its disused airport, on the same airport you can try out paintballing or watch banger racing, should you wish, and also the pretty village of Ashley Green, a charming place to spend an hour or two.
December 6, 2010
Abbotsbury Dorset
A picturesque, and peaceful rural village located inland of Chesil Bank, in the county of Dorset, England, Abbotsbury attracts many thousands of visitors each year, who not only arrive to enjoy the charm of the place but also to see the famous Abbotsbury Swannery and also the nearby Subtropical Gardens. The Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks, hundreds of years ago, and now visitors can feed over 600 friendly mute swans and walk amongst these extraordinary birds. The Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens were established by the Countess of Ilchester in 1765 and contain many rare and exotic plants over an area of 20 acres of Dorset countryside.
December 3, 2010
Gulliver’s Land Milton Keynes
To entertain the kids on a visit to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, pay a visit to Gulliver’s Land, a children’s theme park, located at Newlands, just outside the town. Perfect for a day out especially when the weather is fine, Gulliver’s land boasts 7 distinct sections, Toy Land, Lilliput Land, Junior Discovery Cove, Adventure Land, Discovery Bay, Lilliput Land Castle and Main Street, and offers lots to keep the kids amused for a few hours. Standard entry prices fro 2010 are £13.50 for both adults and children, and a daily passport is £49.99. To find Gulliver’s Land, head for the Willen Lake area of Milton Keynes, and follow the brown Gulliver’s Land signposts.
November 25, 2010
Boroughbridge and Aldborough Yorkshire
For many centuries, an important river crossing over the River Ure in North Yorkshire, the small town of Boroughbridge is worth a visit if only to view the standing stones which are located on the edge of the town, and are known as the Devil’s Arrows. Dating from the Bronze Age, the Devil’s Arrows are 3 millstone grit menhirs reaching a height of 22 feet. The nearby village of Aldborough was previously more important than Boroughbridge, and has a Roman history, being the former settlement of Isurium Brigantum. The river crossing around which Boroughbridge grew, was moved from Aldborough by the Normans in the 11th century, reversing the importance of the two Yorkshire places.
November 23, 2010
Keswick Lake District Cumbria
A popular tourist destination standing beside Derwent Water in the Lake District, Cumbria, north-west England, Keswick is in an area of great natural beauty, and attracts thousands of visitors each year, as it has done for many decades. Formerly attractive to the Romantic poets of the Victorian era, Keswick attracted the likes of Wordsworth and Coleridge, who visited for the inspiration that the beautiful Lake District scenery provided. Close to Keswick, you can visit the Castlerigg Stone Circle, an ancient monument probably dating from the Bronze Age, and over one hundred feet in diameter, when the weather is pleasant head along to Derwent Water and maybe take a boat trip on the lake, or visit the Theatre on the Lake and watch one of their fine performances.
November 22, 2010
Appleby in Westmoreland Cumbria
Situated in the beautiful valley of the River Eden in Cumbria, the town of Appleby is the location of a famous Horse Fair, which is held in June every year, this colourful event attracts many thousands of visitors, especially gypsies, who descend on the town from all over Britain. Appleby Castle was formerly the home of Lady Anne Clifford, and was restored to its former glory by her, after being damaged during the English Civil War. The St Lawrence church in Appleby contains the tomb of Lady Anne Clifford who died in 1678. The River Eden flows through the town and when the weather is fine is a terrific place to do some walking. Appleby is located to the east of the Lake District and the areas around the town are peppered with tiny hamlets such as Reagill, Sleagill, Burrells and Murton.