Devon Visitor - Travel Guide to Devon & Cornwall

Paddington Railway Station

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:45:49 PST

Paddington Railway Station, a.k.a. London Paddington, is a railway station in central London. This historic site has served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway since 1838. Most of the current station dates from 1854, and it was designed by the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Paddington Railway Station also has its place in literature as the character from children's books, Paddington Bear, was named after the station.

Paddington Railway Station has recently been renovated and now acts as the London terminal for the Heathrow Express airport service. Paddington Railway Station's most important long-distance destinations are Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham Spa, Cardiff, Exeter, Plymouth and Swansea.

Currently, Paddington Railway Station has 14 platforms. Platforms 6 and 7 are reserved for the Heathrow Express, and platforms 13 and 14 can be used only by smaller trains providing local services. Platforms 1 - 5 and 8 - 12 can be utilized by any of Paddington Railway Station's train services.

Paddington Railway Station was connected to the world's first underground railway in 1863. Today, Paddington station is served by four London Underground lines: the Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City.

Paddington Railway Station is located between Praed Street and Bishop's Bridge Road in London. Visitors to London may also want to view other London attractions such as the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey.

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Inverness Station

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:19:30 PST

Inverness Station is a gateway to the Scottish Highlands.

Inverness has trains to Edinburgh Waverley Station (between 3-4 hours depending on the service) from where there are intercity services to London King's Cross with East Coast via Newcastle and York, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport (TransPennine Express) and Birmingham New Street.

Local and mainline services from Inverness Station include trains to Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow (3 hours, 40 minutes), and Perth (2 hours) with ScotRail. There are local trains to Wick (approx. 4 hours), Thurso (approx. 3 hours, 45 minutes) and Kyle of Lochalsh (2 hours, 30 minutes).

Facilities within Inverness Station concourse include a branch of WH Smith, a waiting room, a bar (Berties bar), a cafe (Pumpkin Cafe) and a lost property office. The historic, 150-year-old Royal Highland Hotel is right next door to Inverness Station. Stagecoach buses run from the station to places in Inverness as well as other towns in the Highlands.

Inverness Station
Academy Street
Inverness
Highland
IV2 3PY
Tel: 0845 711 41 41

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Stockport Station

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:08:22 PST

Stockport Station is the main railway station serving the town of Stockport, south of Manchester.

Stockport Station is located on the A6 (Wellington Road) and first opened in 1843 after completion of the large brick viaduct just to the north over the River Mersey.

Local and mainline services from Stockport Station include trains to Manchester Piccadilly Station with some trains continuing onward to Manchester Oxford Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool, Liverpool, Preston, Southport and Wigan.

Other routes from Stockport include local services south to Davenport, Hazel Grove and Buxton.

There are First Transpenine Express trains to Sheffield, Cleethorpes, Nottingham and Norwich with an hourly service to Manchester Airport via Piccadilly.

There are Virgin train services to London Euston via Cheadle Hulme, Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham New Street and Euston. Another route to London Euston is via Wilmslow and Crewe. One train per hour runs to Birmingham New Street and onto Bristol Templemeads.

There are trains running west from Stockport Station to Altrincham, Knutsford, Northwich and Chester.

The once-hourly service from Stockport via Denton and Guide Bridge to Stalybridge has been reduced to one train a week in one direction only - a route now popular with rail buffs due to its scarcity.

Stockport County's and Sale Shark's Edgeley Park stadium is a brisk 20 minute walk away from the exit opposite to the booking office. From the main booking office entrance walk through or past Grand Central for buses to Manchester and Hazel Grove including the 192 service on Wellington Road South (A6).

Things to see in Stockport in Greater Manchester include Stockport Town Hall, Stockport Air Raid Shelters, St Mary's Church, Bramhall Hall, Woodbank Park, Vernon Park, Stockport Market, Fred Perry's birthplace, Woodbank Park, the Viaduct and Stockport Hat Museum.

Access

Stockport Station
Grand Central Way
Stockport
Cheshire
SK3 9HZ

Map of Stockport Station

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Talbot Square London

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:52:29 PST

Talbot Square in London is a small residential square in London whose impressive houses historically constituted an extension of the fashionable Tyburnia neighborhood. Tyburnia was referred to in 1884 as a "city of palaces north of the park".

Talbot Square is located just off the A4209 (Sussex Gardens) near Paddington Station and its numerous hotels. Visitors to London may also want to take in nearby Portobello Road or the Travel Bookshop.

Talbot Square map

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Christmas Services in the South West of England 2011

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:33:53 PST

Christmas 2011 falls on a Sunday this year and a number of the South West's churches and cathedrals will be offering Midnight Communion and Christmas services.

Wells Cathedral south of Bath.
Cathedral Carol Service, Dec 23 from 6pm
Crib Services, Dec 24 2.00pm & 3.15pm
Midnight Eucharist, 11.30pm

Bath Abbey
Carol Praise 4pm
Festival of Lessons and Carols with Abbey Boys and Men's Choirs 7pm
Midnight Communion with Abbey Girls and Men's Choir 11.15pm

Wells Cathedral. Wells, Somerset

Exeter Cathedral
12noon - Crib Service for Children sung by the Choristers
6pm - A Service of Lessons and Carols

Sunday 25th December
8am - Holy Communion
9.45am - Sung Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Choir (Setting: Schubert in G)
11.30am - Choral Mattins sung by the Cathedral Choir
4pm - Choral Evensong with carols from the Minstrels' Gallery sung by the Cathedral Choir

Bristol Cathedral
Saturday 24th December Christmas Eve
3.30pm Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
11.30pm Midnight Eucharist

Sunday 25th December Christmas Day
10.00am Festal Eucharist
3.30pm Evening Prayer at the Crib

Gloucester Cathedral
Friday 23 December 6pm Christmas Carol Service
Christmas Eve 3.00pm Family Crib Service; 6.00pm Christmas Carol Service

Salisbury Cathedral
Saturday 24 December
Morning Worship 7.30am
A Family Service for Christmas Eve 4.00pm
Choral Evensong 6.00pm
Midnight Mass 11.30pm

Sunday 25 December
Holy Communion 8.00am
Sung Eucharist 10.30am
Festal Evensong 3.00pm

St Paul's Cathedral
Christmas Eve Carol Service
Sung Eucharist
25 December 2011
Festal Evensong
25 December 2011

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Little Venice in London

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:27:11 PST

Little Venice is where the waters from the Grand Union and Regent’s Canals meet and form a scenic pool. There are a number of cafes and pubs along the waterside. The visitor to Little Venice can take a boat trip or walk on the tow path as it snakes its way through the heart of London.

One recommended walk involves following the canal route north-east for 2.5 miles until you reach Camden where you can see the Lock and the markets.

Little Venice lies a short walk (11 minutes or so) north from Paddington Station just off Blomfield Road. Alternatively, Little Venice is a 7 minute walk from Warwick Avenue tube station.

Map of Little Venice

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Manchester Metrolink

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:43:53 PST

The Manchester Metrolink is a light rail system that connects the center of Manchester from Piccadilly Station to outlying suburbs in the Greater Manchester area.

Metrolink has four lines running to Altrincham (Altrincham Line), Bury (Bury Line), Chorlton-cum-Hardy, (South Manchester Line) which opened in 2011 and Eccles (Eccles Line).

There are plans for extensions of the Metrolink to Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury, Oldham, Rochdale, Sportcity (the venue for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and now the home stadium of Manchester City FC), Stockport, the Trafford Centre, and out to Manchester Airport.

After over a decade in planning and construction the first Metrolink line opened in 1992. The driving force behind the system was to link Manchester's two main stations of Piccadilly and Victoria. Within Manchester city centre the Metrolink runs as continental-style street tram, whereas out towards the suburbs it runs on previous heavy rail tracks.

The following stations interchange with the rail system either within the same station or a short walk: Piccadilly, Deansgate-Castlefield, Victoria, Altrincham, Eccles and Navigation Road.

Metrolink tickets are issued from machines at each stop and include, single, return, all day and all weekend tickets as well as season tickets for commuters. Fares are calculated on fare zones travelled through as in the London Underground and are more expensive at peak times. Travelling without a ticket occurs a fine of £100. Presently the cheapest off peak ticket is £0.90. First trains from Piccadilly are at around 6pm with last trains on weekdays from around 11.30pm to just before midnight. Trains run later on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Metrolink is useful for getting to Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium and the adjacent Lancashire's Old Trafford Cricket Ground, The Lowry, The Imperial War Museum North, and MediaCityUK in Salford Quays. The Metrolink is also handy for King Street, the Arndale Center, Urbis, the Royal Exchange Theatre, the Wheel of Manchester and Manchester Cathedral.

Click on the Metrolink map to expand

Metrolink
Metrolink RATP Dev UK
Metrolink House
Queens Road
Manchester
M8 ORY
Tel: 0161 205 2000

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Hot Air Balloons at Royal Victoria Park in Bath

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:38:00 PST

As well as being a relaxing getaway location, Royal Victoria Park in Bath is a hotspot for watching hot air ballooning in the summer. Companies like Bath Balloons offer champagne rides for £115 per person if you buy online at http://www.bathballoons.co.uk/.

Royal Victoria Park is located in central Bath and visitors to the park may also want to check out the botanical garden located within the park as well as the nearby gravel walk of Jane Austen fame.

Parks and Green Spaces
Royal Victoria Park Nursery
Marlborough Lane
Bath, BA1 2LZ
Tel: 01225 394041

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UK Slideshow

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:06:13 PST

See a slideshow of images of the UK taken for the DevonVisitor blog. See images of the South West, the Cotswolds, Bristol, Dorchester, London, the North West and Scotland.

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Vernon Park Stockport

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:24:19 PST

Vernon Park, adjacent to Woodbank Park in Stockport is a Grade II listed Victorian public park that runs down from Turncroft Lane in Offerton to the Goyt Valley below.

Vernon Park Museum

Whereas Woodbank Park is an open-style expanse of woods and grass, Vernon Park is a more formal and carefully tended strolling park laid out in 1858 by Stockport Corporation on land donated to the town by George John Warren (Lord Vernon).

Local Stockport and Reddish mill workers helped in the construction of the park and to build some of the distinctive features of Vernon Park including the stone fountain made by the workers of Greg & Co at Albert Mill.

Vernon Park was given the early nickname of "Pinch Belly Park" due to this involvement of impoverished mill workers in its initial construction.

Vernon Park is Stockport's oldest public park and things to see in the park include the Vernon Park Museum, a rose garden, the renovated bandstand (a copy of the original Victorian/Edwardian original), a lily pond and two crown bowling greens.

Plants to be enjoyed in Vernon Park include pine trees, rhododendrons and a variety of ferns in the fernery. Fred Perry Way runs through the park, which is a short walk from the great tennis master's birthplace.

Other places of interest in and around Stockport in Greater Manchester include Stockport Town Hall, Stockport Air Raid Shelters, St Mary's Church, Bramhall Hall, Stockport Market, Fred Perry's birthplace, Woodbank Park, the Viaduct and Stockport Hat Museum.

Access

Vernon Park
Turncroft lane
Offerton
Stockport
SK1 4AR

Map of Vernon Park

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Edinburgh Waverley Station

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:03:19 PST

Edinburgh Waverley Station is Edinburgh's major railway station. Edinburgh Waverley Station has intercity services to London King's Cross with East Coast via Newcastle and York, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport (TransPennine Express), Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central.

Edinburgh Station

Local and mainline services from Edinburgh Waverley Station include trains to Aberdeen, Dunblane, Dundee, Falkirk, Inverness, Perth and Fort William with ScotRail. There is a CrossCountry service to Plymouth via Leeds and Birmingham.

Facilities within the Edinburgh Station concourse include branches of Boots and WH Smith ATMs, a bureau de change, car hire, wireless internet access and a lost property office. Edinburgh Station was completed in 1846 and renovated at the beginning of the 20th century with further refurbishments in 2006 and 2007.

Edinburgh attractions within easy reach of Waverley Station include Edinburgh Castle, the Scottish Parliament Building and Greyfriars Bobby.

Edinburgh Waverley Station
Edinburgh EH1 1BB
Monday to Saturday 4am - 12:45am
Sunday 6am - 12:45am
Tel: 0845 711 41 41

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London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:49:42 PST

The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will start from Lands End in Cornwall on 19 May 2012 and will crosscross the United Kingdom, reaching within 10 miles of 95% of the UK's inhabitants.

The first week of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will be in the south west of England.

Day 1 - 19 May 2012: Land's End to Plymouth passing through Penzance, Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, Liskeard, Saltash and Plymouth among other places.

Day 2 - 20 May 2012: Plymouth to Exeter including Brixton, Kingsbridge, Dartmouth, Totnes, Paignton, Torquay, Teignmouth and Exeter.

Day 3 - 21 May 2012: Exeter to Taunton passing through Okehampton, Bideford, Barnstaple, Ilfracombe, Dunster, Carhampton, Washford, Williton, and Taunton.

Day 4 - 22 May 2012: Taunton to Bristol visiting Street, Glastonbury, Wells, Shepton Mallet, Bradford on Avon, Bath, Hanham and Bristol.

Day 5 - 23 May 2012: Bristol to Cheltenham including Leigh Woods, Chippenham, Marlborough, Chiseldon, Wroughton, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Cirencester, Stroud, and Cheltenham.

Day 6 - 24 May 2012: Gloucester to Worcester passing through Ledbury, Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, Kidderminster, Droitwich Spa and Fernhill Heath.

Day 7 - 25 May 2012: Worcester to Cardiff through Powick, Malvern, Malvern Wells, Ross on Wye, Monmouth, Raglan, Abergavenny, Brynmawr, Blaenavon, Abersychan, Pontypool and Newport.

Day 8 - 26 May 2012: Cardiff to Swansea including Dinas Powys, Barry, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend and Neath.

Day 9 - 27 May 2012: Swansea to Aberystwyth with Llanelli, Fishguard, Newport, Cardigan, Llanrhystud and Aberystwyth on the route.

Day 10 - 28 May 2012: Aberystwyth to Bangor heading via Bow Street, Tal-y-bont, Tre Taliesin, Machynlleth, Dolgellau, Llan Ffestiniog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Porthmadog, Criccieth, Caernarfon, to Bangor.

Day 11 - 29 May 2012: Beaumaris to Chester taking in Beaumaris, Menai Bridge, Conwy, Llandudno, Rhos on Sea, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Queensferry, Hawarden and Saltney.

Day 12 - 30 May 2012: Chester to Stoke-on-Trent with Wrexham, Rhostyllen, Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Ironbridge, Telford, Newport, Stafford, Shelton, and Stoke-on-Trent on the way.

Day 13 - 31 May 2012: Stoke-on-Trent to Bolton passing Macclesfield, Knutsford, Runcorn, Widnes, Warrington, Wigan, Scholes, Ince to Bolton.

Day 14 - 1 June 2012: Bolton to Liverpool via Horwich, Ormskirk, Southport, Ainsdale, Formby, Crosby, St Helens, Huyton, Knotty Ash, Old Swan and Birkenhead.

Day 15 - 2 June 2012: Liverpool to Castletown, Isle of Man taking in Douglas, Laxey, Onchan, Ballasalla and Castletown.

Day 16 - 3 June 2012: Belfast to Portrush in Northern Ireland including Holywood, Bangor, Stormont, Carrickfergus, Glenariff, Cushendall, Ballycastle, Dervock and Bushmills.

Day 17 - 4 June 2012: River Bann to Londonderry passing via Coleraine, Castlerock, Downhill, Bellarena, Limavady, Ballykelly, Greysteel, Londonderry

Day 18 - 5 June 2012: Londonderry to Newry via Bready, Ballymagorry, Omagh, Dromore, Enniskillen, Armagh, Portadown, Gilford and Banbridge.

Day 19 - 6 June 2012: Newry to Belfast through Lisburn.

Day 20 - 7 June 2012: Newcastle to Moorfields passing through Crossgar, Templepatrick, Antrim, Ballyronan, Magherafelt and Ballymena.

Day 21 - 8 June 2012: Stranraer to Glasgow in Scotland passing Cairnryan, Ballantrae, Ayr, Kilmarnock, Lochwinnoch, Kilmacolm, Port, Glasgow, Rutherglen, Glasgow, Giffnock and back to Glasgow.

Day 22 - 9 June 2012: Glasgow to Inverness with the torch passing Dumbarton, Glencoe, Fort William, Lewiston and Drumnadrochit.

Day 23 - 10 June 2012: Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) to Lerwick (Shetland Islands).

Day 24 - 11 June 2012: Stornoway to Aberdeen with passes through Inverness, Aviemore, Carrbridge, Grantown-on-Spey, Tomintoul, Crathie, Ballater, Dinnet, Aboyne, Kincardine O'Neil, Banchory, Drumoak, Peterculter, Bieldside and Cults.

Day 25 - 12 June 2012: Aberdeen to Dundee through Stonehaven, Marykirk, Hillside, Montrose, Brechin, Forfar, Meigle, Coupar, Angus Woodside, Burrelton, Balbeggie, Scone, Scone Palace, Perth, Abernethy, Newburgh, Cupar, Dairsie, Guardbridge and Leuchars.

Day 26 - 13 June 2012: St Andrews to Edinburgh including Milnathort, Kinross, Crook of Devon, Alloa, Dunblane, Stirling, Cumbernauld, Larbert, Camelon, Falkirk, Skinflats, Cairneyhill, Crossford, Dunfermline, and Broxburn

Day 27 - 14 June 2012: Edinburgh to Alnwick past Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Lasswade, Peebles, Innerleithen, Walkerburn, Selkirk, Galashiels, Earlston, Gordon, Greenlaw, Duns, Chirnside, Foulden, Berwick-Upon-Tweed & Bamburgh

Day 28 - 15 June 2012: Alnwick to Newcastle upon Tyne via Hipsburn, Warkworth, Amble, Ashington, Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Ashington, Choppington, Morpeth, Hartford, Bedlington, Blyth, Whitley Bay, Cullercoats, Tynemouth, North Shields, Howdon, Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne

Day 29 - 16 June 2012: Gateshead to Durham with passes through South Shields, Whitburn, Sunderland, Stocksfield, Hexham, Riding Mill, Consett, Moorside, Castleside, Tow Law, and Langley Park.

Day 30 - 17 June 2012: Durham to Middlesbrough via Sherburn, Sherburn Hill, Haswell Plough, Peterlee, Horden, Blackhall Colliery, Hartlepool, Billingham, Sedgefield, Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Middridge, Newton Aycliffe, High Beaumont Hill, Harrogate Hill, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees.

Day 31 - 18 June 2012: Middlesbrough to Hull including Redcar, Marske-by-the-Sea, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Lythe, Sandsend, Whitby, Pickering, Scarborough, Filey, Bridlington and Beverley.

Day 32 - 19 June 2012: Hull to York passing Brough, Goole, Camblesforth, Selby, Monk Fryston, Barkston Ash, Tadcaster, Boston Spa, Wetherby, Harewood, Knaresborough, Harrogate and Ripon.

Day 33 - 20 June 2012: York to Carlisle taking in Thirsk, Northallerton, Aiskew, Bedale, Aysgarth, Leyburn, Richmond, Barnard Castle, Brough, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Penrith and Carlisle.

Day 34 - 21 June 2012: Dumfries to Bowness-on-Windermere thru Annan, Eastriggs, Gretna, Carlisle, Wigton, Workington, Whitehaven, Cockermouth, Keswick, Grasmere and Ambleside.

Day 35 - 22 June 2012: Kendal to Blackpool with Bolton-le-Sands, Hest Bank, Morecambe, Lancaster, Garstang, St Michael's On Wyre, Fleetwood and Cleveleys on the route.

Day 36 - 23 June 2012: Lytham St Anne's to Manchester via Preston, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Rochdale, Heywood, Bury, Whitefield, Prestwich, and Cheetham Hill.

Day 37 - 24 June 2012: Salford to Leeds via Trafford, Moss Side, Rusholme, Longsight, Levenshulme, Stockport, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Huddersfield, Brighouse, Halifax, Bradford, Keighley, Skipton, Ilkley, Headingley, and Richmond Hill.

Day 38 - 25 June 2012: Leeds to Sheffield through the towns and villages of Hunslet, Beeston, Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Wakefield, Castleford, Pontefract, Barnsley, Darton, Kexbrough, Chapeltown, Ecclesfield.

Day 39 - 26 June 2012: Sheffield to Cleethorpes through Rotherham, Templeborough, Dalton, Thrybergh, Conisbrough, Warmsworth, Doncaster, Armthorpe, Dunsville, Hatfield, Scunthorpe, Brigg, Wrawby, Immingham, Grimsby.

Day 40 - 27 June 2012: Grimsby to Lincoln with the torch going through Louth, Legbourne, Withern, Maltby Le Marsh, Mablethorpe, Trusthorpe, Sutton-on-Sea, Mumby, Hogsthorpe, Ingoldmells, Winthorpe, Skegness, Wainfleet All Saints, Wrangle, Boston, Sleaford and Bracebridge Heath.

Day 41 - 28 June 2012: Lincoln to Nottingham passing Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Kelham, Newark-on-Trent, Balderton, Grantham, Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Day 42 - 29 June 2012: Nottingham to Derby including Bolsover, Calow, Chesterfield, Matlock, Darley Dale, Bakewell, Buxton, Ashbourne.

Day 43 - 30 June 2012: Derby to Birmingham taking in Burton upon Trent, Streethay, Lichfield, Hopwas, Tamworth, Great Wyrley, Newtown, Bloxwich, Leamore, Birchills, Walsall, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Oldbury, West Bromwich and Smethwick.

Day 44 - 1 July 2012: Birmingham to Coventry with Solihull, Earlswood, Redditch, Astwood Bank, Alcester, Evesham, Wickhamford, Broadway, Chipping Campden, Newbold on Stour, Alderminster, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa, Kenilworth on the route.

Day 45 - 2 July 2012: Coventry to Leicester visiting Rugby, Dunchurch, Northampton, Wellingborough, Isham, Kettering, Geddington, Corby, Dingley, Market Harborough, Lubenham, Foxton, Kibworth Harcourt and Oadby.

Day 46 - 3 July 2012: Leicester to Peterborough including Loughborough, Hoton, Melton Mowbray, Langham, Oakham, Uppingham, Stamford.

Day 47 - 4 July 2012: Peterborough to Norwich via Spalding, Moulton, Whaplode, Holbeach, Long Sutton, King's Lynn, South Wootton, West Rudham, East Rudham, Fakenham, Holt, Cromer, Aylsham.

Day 48 - 5 July 2012: Norwich to Ipswich passing Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Wrentham, Reydon, Southwold, Kelsale, Saxmundham, Aldeburgh, Wickham Market, Ufford, Melton, Woodbridge, Felixstowe.

Day 49 - 6 July 2012: Ipswich to Chelmsford with the torch going through Colchester, Maldon, Rayleigh, Southend-on-Sea, Hadleigh, Basildon, Grays, Herongate, Brentwood.

Day 50 - 7 July 2012: Chelmsford to Cambridge via the towns and villages of Harlow, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, Hertford, Ware, Bishop's Stortford, Saffron Walden, Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket.

Day 51 - 8 July 2012: Cambridge to Luton including St Ives, Huntingdon, Bedford, Cotton End, Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, St Albans & Hemel Hempstead.

Day 52 - 9 July 2012: Luton to Oxford passing Dunstable, Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Buckingham, Winslow, Whitchurch, Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, Waddesdon, Bicester, Kirtlington, Woodstock, Kidlington.

Day 53 - 10 July 2012: Oxford to Reading via Abingdon, Wallingford, Crowmarsh Gifford, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, Bisham (Bisham Abbey), Maidenhead, Slough, Windsor, Egham, Ascot, Bracknell.

Day 54 - 11 July 2012: Reading to Salisbury through Theale, Thatcham, Newbury, Basingstoke, Kings Worthy, Winchester, Andover, Ludgershall, Tidworth, Amesbury.

Day 55 - 12 July 2012: Salisbury to Weymouth through Wilton, Barford St Martin, Fovant, Ludwell, Shaftesbury, Fontmell Magna, Iwerne Minster, Stourpaine, Blandford Forum, Winterborne Whitechurch, Milborne St Andrew, Puddletown, Dorchester, Winterbourne Abbas, Bridport, Chideock, Lyme Regis, Burton Bradstock, Abbotsbury, Portesham, Chickerell, Wyke Regis, Osprey Quay, Portland.

Day 56 - 13 July 2012: Portland Bill to Bournemouth including Southwell, Weston, Easton, Portland, Fortuneswell, Weymouth, Preston, Osmington, Corfe Castle, Swanage, Stoborough, Wareham, Sandford, Lytchett Minster, Upton, Poole, Ashley Cross, Branksome & Wallisdown.

Day 57 - 14 July 2012: Bournemouth to Southampton via Boscombe, Christchurch, Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Lymington, Totland, Yarmouth, Carisbrooke, Newport and East Cowes.

Day 58 - 15 July 2012: Southampton to Portsmouth including St Peter Port, St Helier, Fareham, Bridgemary, Gosport, before the torch arrives in Portsmouth.

Day 59 - 16 July 2012: Portsmouth to Brighton and Hove via Petersfield, Rogate, Midhurst, Tillington, Petworth, Duncton, Chichester, North Bersted, South Bersted, Bognor Regis, Woodgate, Westergate, Arundel, Worthing, Lancing, West Blatchington.

Day 60 - 17 July 2012: Brighton to Hastings through Crawley, Copthorne, Felbridge, East Grinstead, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough, Lewes, Eastbourne, Pevensey Bay, Pevensey, Bexhill-on-Sea, St Leonards-on-Sea.

Day 61 - 18 July 2012: Hastings to Dover including Rye, Hamstreet, Ashford, Hythe, Sandgate, Folkestone.

Day 62 - 19 July 2012: Deal to Maidstone taking in Sandwich, Great Stonar, Cliffsend, St, Lawrence, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, St Peters, Cliftonville, Margate, Westgate-On-Sea, Birchington-on-Sea, Upstreet, Sturry, Canterbury, Thanington, Faversham, Challock, Harrietsham.

Day 63 - 20 July 2012: Maidstone to Guildford thru Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester, Gravesend, Sevenoaks, Riverhead, Godstone, Reigate, Dorking, Westcott, Shere, Godalming.

Day 64 - 21 July 2012: Greenwich to Waltham Forest including the London Boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest

Day 65 - 22 July 2012: Redbridge to Bexley, Barking and Dagenham, Havering.

Day 66 - 23 July 2012: Lewisham to Wandsworth via Bromley, Croydon, Sutton, Merton, Wandsworth

Day 67 - 24 July 2012: Kingston to Ealing via Richmond, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Ealing.

Day 68 - 25 July 2012: Harrow to Haringey through the London Boroughs of Brent, Barnet, Enfield.

Day 69 - 26 July 2012: Camden to Westminster through Islington, City, Southwark, Lambeth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea.

Day 70 - 27 July 2012: Hampton Court Palace to Olympic Park

The torch makes its final journey, from Hampton Court Palace to the Olympic Park where it will light the cauldron at the opening ceremony.

Source BBC news for a complete list of towns and villages the Olympic Torch passes through.

The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games is Friday 27 July 2012

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Bushey Norwood

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:45:00 PST

Bushey Norwood is the local name for a large field which was planted with trees in the 19th century to form parkland. Bushey Norwood is accessible via the Bath Skyline walking trail. Bushey Norwood is owned and operated by the National Trust.

In recent times, Bushey Norwood (see below) has been the site of numerous equestrain events, and it may have been the site of an 18th century horse race course. Three stones on the property are believed to be connected with that race course, but there is also speculation that the stones are connected to an ancient stone circle.

Bushey Norwood is a wonderful spot to search for wildlife (particularly birds) as well as wild flowers.

Visitors to Bushey Norwood may also want to visit the nearby American Museum, Sham Castle or Prior Park.

Bushey Norwood Map

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Bath Skyline

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:25:00 PDT

Bath Skyline is composed of six miles of way-marked trails (see below). The Bath Skyline trail takes in a vast stretch of Bath's south-east skyline landscape and is famed for its wild flowers and elevated views.

The walker on the Bath Skyline can encounter hidden valleys, tranquil woodlands and patchworks of meadows. The Batyh Skyline is rich in wildlife and features rare plant species. The Bath Skyline is perfect for picnics, kite flying and escaping from the city. There is also an Iron Age hill-fort, Roman settlement, and Sham Castle to be seen along the trail.

500 Acres of the Bath Skyline are owned and managed by the National Trust.

Visitors to the Bath Skyline may also want to view nearby Prior Park or the Dundas Aqueduct.

Bath Skyline Map

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Bonfire Night Firework Displays 2011

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:41:20 PDT

Celebrations and Firework Displays marking Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Night will be taking place around Britain and in the south west on Saturday November 5th

Fireworks displays in the south west of England include:

Bath

Saturday 5th November
Bath Rec Fireworks Display (Bath Rugby Football Club)

Adults £5, children and students £2

Bristol

Friday 4th November
Dowend Fireworks Show
King George V Playing Fields
Downend
Bristol
Gates open at 6pm

Adults £5 on the gate (£3.50 in advance); children £4 on the gate (£3.50 in advance)

Downend is north east of Bristol city center between the M32 and the M4

Exeter

Exeter Round Table's annual charity fireworks display is the 31st so far.

Thursday November 3rd
Westpoint Arena
5.30 gates open
6.00 Heart roadshow & entertainment
7.30 Firework display

Adults £5, Children £3, Family (2 Adults & 2 Kids) £13

Special return fare of £1 per person from Exeter city centre to Westpoint Arena on Stagecoach buses 52B and X52. Present ticket for Westpoint fireworks display on the bus.

Plymouth

Saturday November 5th

Hoe Promenade

Bonfire lit at 7.30pm; Fireworks from 8pm set with musical soundtrack. Smeaton's Tower, the Citadel and the War Memorial floodlit with coloured lights.

November 5 also sees the annual Ottery St Mary tar barreling, when the local pubs sponsor a tar-soaked wooden barrel, which is then set alight and carried through the streets by men, women and even children.

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The Bridge Tea Rooms

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:18:00 PDT

The Bridge Tea Rooms (see below) in Bradford-on-Avon are housed in a former blacksmith's cottage dating from 1675. The Bridge Tea Rooms boast authentic Victorian surroundings, and the staff dresses in period costume.

The Bridge Tea Rooms have been recognized for their excellence by the prestigious UK Tea Guild for the past 15 years. The Bridge Tea Rooms serve 30 different teas from around the world and offer a variety of pastries made on the premises.

Visitors to the Bridge Tea Rooms may also want to take in some of Bradford-on-Avon's other fine attractions such as the Saxon Church or Barton Bridge.

The Bridge Tea Rooms & Restaurant
24a Bridge Street
Bradford on Avon
Wiltshire
BA15 1BY
Tel: 01225 865537

The Bridge Tea Rooms Map

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Wadworth Brewery Devizes

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:09:42 PDT

In 1875, Henry Wadworth purchased the old Northgate Brewery in Devizes and founded Wadworth & Co. The present Northgate Brewery (see below) was built in 1888.

Wadworths is famous for its 6X ale, but the company also produces other ales, including Henry's Original IPA, Horizon (a Golden Ale), Bishop's Tipple (a full-flavoured Golden Ale) and Strong In The Arm.

One remarkable fact about Wadworths is its continuing use of traditional shire horses to deliver their casked ales to local pubs in Devizes. Wadworths is one of only four breweries in the UK that still use horses to deliver ale. The sight of the shire horses is well known in Devizes, and nowadays the image is nearly synonymous with the town.

Wadworth recently opened an interactive Visitor Centre and gift shop at the brewery (see below). Visitors can tour the brewery as well as taste the Wadworth range of ales.

Visitors to the Wadworth Brewery may also want to visit some of the other Devizes attractions such as the Wiltshire Heritage Museum or Devizes Castle.

Wadworth Brewery Visitors Centre
New Park Street
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 1JW
Tel: 01380 732277

Wadworth Brewery Map

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Town Criers

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:55:51 PDT

People wandering around in period costume have become an increasingly frequent sight in tourists towns up and down the UK. Roman soldiers in Chester, Georgian ladies in Bath and this town crier pictured in Dorchester with an American tourist.

Town criers or bellmen were elaborately-dressed officials who read out pronouncements required by law courts as well as other general news to local townspeople such as market days, advertisements and news of the birth or deaths of royalty and important people. Town criers carried a bell and shouted out "Oyez! Oyez!" to grab people's attention. As most people in medieval times, when the practice is thought to have begun, were illiterate, a town crier was essential to pass on news to the townsfolk.

Over 140 towns in Britain now have a registered town crier including Chester and Kingston-upon-Thames.

Other places of interest in Dorchester include Hardy's Cottage in Higher Bockhampton, the Wessex author's birthplace, and Max Gate, where Hardy lived in later life.

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Albert Memorial

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:55:30 PDT

Opposite the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington stands the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park.

The Albert Memorial was completed in 1872 to honour Albert, the Prince Consort, and husband of Queen Victoria, who died of typhoid in 1861, aged only 42. Over £120,000 (worth around £10,000,000 today) was raised by public subscription to build the memorial and the gilt bronze statue of the prince (by John Henry Foley and Thomas Brock), which sits under the canopy.

The Albert Memorial is 54m tall and was designed by the prolific British architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, who also designed the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Scott also has a number of lunatic asylums, libraries, schools and workhouses on his CV of around 800 public buildings.

At the four corners of the outer area of the monument are four sculptures representing Europe, Asia, Africa and The Americas. At the base of the monument itself are four further sculptures depicting useful Victorian sciences (agriculture, commerce, engineering and manufacturing), each by a different sculptor. Extensive restoration was carried out on the Albert Memorial in the 1990s.

An earlier Albert Memorial was also built in Albert Square in Manchester in memory of the popular royal.

Other attractions in London near to the Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial include Hyde Park, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and Buckingham Palace.

The nearest underground stations to the Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial are South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Gloucester Road and High Street Kensington. London buses that stop near the Royal Albert Hall include the numbers 9, 10, 52, 360 and 452.

Albert Memorial Map

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House of Bears Bath

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:24:46 PDT

House of Bears in Bath (see below) is a shop specializing in limited edition bears for collectors. At the House of Bears, the visitor will find a wide variety of bears by famous makers such as Steiff, Merrythought and Teddy Hermann. House of Bears also has a unique selection of handmade bears by British Artists such as Christine Pike and Samantha Potter.

Visitors to the House of Bears Bath may also enjoy visiting some of Bath's other attractions such as Sally Lunn's or the William Herschel Museum.

House of Bears
22A Broad Street, Bath
BA1 5LN
Tel:01225 443091

House of Bears Map

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Map of the North West of England & Wales

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:04:00 PDT

Use this map of the north west of England to navigate to many of the attractions in the area.

Cities covered in this map of the north west of the UK include Manchester, Stockport and Chester as well as the Peak District in Derbyshire.

View Map of Manchester, Stockport and the North West of England in a larger map

Find such north west attractions as the Roman Amphitheater, Dewa Roman Experience, and Chester Cathedral in Chester, Stockport Town Hall, Stockport Air Raid Shelters, St Mary's Church, Bramhall Hall, Stockport Market, Fred Perry's birthplace and Woodbank Park in the Stockport area and The Lowry, Imperial War Museum North, Canal Street Gay Village, King Street, Chinatown, the Arndale Center, Urbis, the Royal Exchange Theatre, the Wheel of Manchester and Manchester Cathedral, all in and around the cities of Manchester and Salford.

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No.1 Royal Crescent

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 06:26:19 PDT

No.1 Royal Crescent (see below) is a beautifully restored Georgian town house which displays for the visitor a taste of life in Georgian Bath. No.1 Royal Crescent was the first house to be built in the Royal Crescent and provided luxury accommodation to the wealthy visitors who came to take the waters and enjoy the social season.

Built between 1767 – 1774 and designed by the architect John Wood the Younger, the Royal Crescent is considered to be one of the finest achievements in 18th century urban architecture. The Royal Crescent is widely viewed as the pinnacle of Palladian architecture in Bath.

Nowadays, No.1 Royal Crescent is a museum which provides visitors to the Royal Crescent with an opportunity to see what lies inside the famous façade and to see what life was like for the wealthy in 18th century Bath. Each room at No. 1 Royal Crescent highlights Georgian interior design and features authentic furniture, paintings, textiles and carpets.

Visitors to the Royal Crescent may also want to visit some of Bath's many other attractions such as the Roman Baths, Prior Park or Bath Abbey.

1 Royal Crescent
Bath
BA1 2LR
Tel: 01225 428 126

Royal Crescent Map

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St John the Baptist's Church Chester

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 06:34:08 PDT

St John the Baptist's Church, in Chester is a Grade I listed building on the north bank of the River Dee adjacent to the Roman Amphitheatre and Grosvenor Park.

St John the Baptist's Church consists of ruins of the former church building on the eastern side of the current church (see above photo) and the present Church of St John the Baptist built in red sandstone. St John's supposedly dates back originally to the 7th century and has been rebuilt on a number of occasions due to the frequent collapse of its structures in 1468 and 1572 and again in 1881 when the imposing Gothic tower fell in.

Much of the church's interior remains Norman while the stained glass windows (pictured) are from the mid-19th century.

The Parish Church of St John the Baptist Chester
Vicar's Lane/Little St John Street
Chester
CH1 1SN
Tel: 01244 403634

St John the Baptist's Church in Chester can be visited along with the very close Roman Amphitheater, Dewa Roman Experience, the Meadows, Grosvenor Park, Chester Cathedral, and the Cross.

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Bakewell

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:11:19 PDT

Bakewell is an historic market town located on the banks of the River Wye in the Peak District of Derbyshire.

Bakewell is known for its weekly Monday markets and as the home of the Bakewell Pudding (not to be confused with the Bakewell Tart).

Bakewell is the adminisitrative centre of the Peak District National Park - Britain's first national park established in 1951 and the National Park authority is a major employer in this town of less than 4,000 people.

Things to see and do in Bakewell including visiting the town's weekly Monday stall market in the centre of town. The livestock market is now housed in a modern building outside Bakewell itself. In the first week of August Bakewell also hosts its annual agricultural fair.

The Rutland Arms is where the Bakewell Pudding was created by accident and in 1811 is believed to have been visited by the novelist Jane Austen.

The Bakewell Pudding Shop is a must for fans of the pastry who can sample one on the premises.

Other Bakewell attractions include the Old House Museum, All Saints Church, original workers' cottages at Arkwright's Lumford Mill, the Old Bridge, dating from the 13th century and Holme Bridge.

Getting to Bakewell

Bakewell is close to Buxton on the A6 and is easily reached from Manchester, Stockport, Derby and Sheffield. Haddon Hall and Chatsworth House are both close to Bakewell.
Google map of Bakewell

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Scottish Parliament Building

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Stormer) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:03:18 PDT

The striking Scottish Parliament Building was designed by Spanish architect Enric Miralles (1955-2000) and built using oak, steel and granite.

The Scottish Parliament Building was built between 1999 and 2004 at huge cost and is located at the edge of the Old Town in Edinburgh near Palace of Holyroodhouse, Holyrood Park and Salisbury Crags.

The building is designed to represent the culture and identity of Scotland and its people and to blend in to the surrounding natural and physical environment.

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Access: The Scottish Parliament is 15 minutes walk from Edinburgh Station. Other places of interest nearby include the statue of Greyfriars' Bobby and Edinburgh Castle.

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