enjoyEngland.com

My day out in London

2009-12-01T12:05:54+00:00

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I, decided even though we live in the city, that we wanted to really see London in all its glory and learn something of its famous past. Friends advised us that the best way to do that was to take a trip on The Original Tour bus.

Covering many miles around a designated route in central London, The Original Tour is a combination of travelling on open top buses, stopping at points along the way to take walking tours and then rejoining another Original Tour bus,a constant stream of which flow at twenty minute intervals, leaving and returning to and from The Visitor Centre in Piccadilly Circus

We headed for Piccadilly Circus where we caught an Original Tour bus. Even though it was a little chilly we still decided to ride up top in the open air as that way we knew we would get the best views of the London scenery. Each bus we caught on the tour had a guide well versed in the geography and the history of London without forgetting the quintessential English sense of humour.

On our trip we also took two walking tours; The London Legends Tour and the Jack the Ripper Tour. These are two of a number of walking tours you can take by jumping off the bus at strategic points along the route, do a walk of a few miles around places of interest and then return to catch another bus at a number of designated stops on the route before continuing your journey.

The London Legends Tour was great and a real eye opener: the guide took us through short cuts and pointed out key spots where music related activities took place. This was a revelation to both of us as in all the years we have lived in London we never knew about these events.

The Jack the Ripper tour was the same. The guide led us around the streets once frequented by Jack the Ripper graphically relating the ghoulish goings on whilst showing us key spots associated with the story bringing the tragedies of Whitechapel in the 1880s to life and making the gruesome story seem so real. We were so enthralled by this that the tour which lasts nearly three hours just flew by.

Whilst the whole trip took approximately seven hours in total we were delighted we had done it regarding it as time well spent and agreed it was something we would recommend to friends, tourists and London residents alike.

Prices for the tour cost £22 for adults and £10 for children and the tickets are valid for 48 hours. So, you don’t need to wear yourself out in one session but can spread the experience over two days and in the process really get to know the architecture, the monuments and the history of London.

Find out more by visiting http://www.theoriginaltour.com/home/index.html
or buy your tickets here

Top 10 Days Out in England

2009-11-05T14:37:36+00:00

Whether you're looking to have a great time with your family, an action-packed adventure or just a relaxing day out, England has plenty to offer. Here are our top 10 things to do in England for great days out:

1. For thrill seekers, Alton Towers is the ultimate place to go. The best adult rides include Nemesis and Rita, which accelerates from 0-100 kmh in a jaw-dropping 2.5 seconds. It's great for kids too - there are lots of gentle attractions plus rides you can all enjoy together.

2. Drayton Manor in Staffordshire is another great day out if you want thrills, spills and lots of family fun. It's home to the world's first stand-up tower drop, Apocalypse, as well as kids' rides galore. It's even got its own zoo!

3. If animals are your thing, Chester Zoo is great for families. From elephants and apes to crocodiles and turtles, the marvellous animals are fascinating - whatever age you are. During school holidays, there's even a shuttle bus to take you straight from Chester train station to the zoo.

4. England has so much heritage to explore, and one of the best historical highlights has got to be Stonehenge in Salisbury. The world-famous pre-historic monument is an icon - you've seen it in pictures and on TV, now see it for yourself!

5. Bath's Roman baths are also great for a historical visit. Discover what everyday life was like in a Roman spa and see ancient treasures that were recovered from the city's sacred spring.

6. Nature lovers will adore a day out at Cornwall's Eden Project. Kids will be entertained for hours by the workshops, trails and sandpits, while adults can explore the global garden which has been deemed 'out of this world'.

7. Rother Valley Country Park in Sheffield is a great all-rounder for the sports enthusiast. Try your hand at sailing, windsurfing, rowing, canoeing, cycling and more! Wetsuits and equipment are stocked for all ages and sizes, so everyone can have a go.

8. The Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in England, and a day out in Windermere will not disappoint. Take a steamer cruise across the lake, travel on the steam railway, visit the Beatrix Potter attraction or simply sit back and enjoy the view!

9. If you're looking for an action-packed day out at the seaside, then Blackpool is the place to be. The lively coastal town has something for all ages and tastes - from Blackpool Tower to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which is home to the 235ft Pepsi Max Big One! The Pleasure Beach is great for kids too, with 27 special family rides that everyone can enjoy.

10. Last but definitely not least is a day out in London - England's capital city. The London Eye - the world's largest observation wheel - is probably the easiest and most spectacular way to see London's landmarks. You can also mingle with celebrities at Madame Tussaud's waxwork museum, re-live gory history in the London Dungeons, or sample royal life at Buckingham Palace.

Weekend Breaks in England

2009-10-01T10:26:00+01:00

Everybody loves a good weekend away - a chance to break from everyday routine and do something different. You might be looking for something cheap and cheerful, an action-packed weekend of fun or even something romantic to treat the other half. And just because you might only have 2 days to play with, there's still an amazing choice of things to do for weekend breaks in England.

City Breaks in England

There's a huge array of cities to choose from - you can't beat a good city break. With endless attractions, fabulous shopping and delicious dining, they have plenty to offer. How about Chester? Or Blackpool, the Las Vegas of England? Of course there's always the capital, London, to explore.

Sightseeing and City Tours

If you know where you want to go but aren't sure what to do when you get there, then sightseeing tours and touring passes are a great idea. You can take a guided tour of the city to make sure you don't miss any of the famous sights and landmarks, or invest in a tourist pass - they often include entry into many of the area's attractions, so you can see them all for one great price.

Outdoor Activities

If you fancy getting back to nature, then a weekend of outdoor activities is ideal. England's varied landscapes mean you are never far from a new activity, set in beautiful surroundings. Are you a keen golfer or horse-rider? Do you love the water, and fancy a bit of sailing? Then make the most of what England has to offer and book a weekend doing your favourite things or discovering something new. Go boating on the Norfolk Broads, go fishing somewhere along the 3200km of coastline, or ride a horse in the gorgeous Lake District.

Theme Parks in England

If you want something a little different for your weekend away, try a themed break. England is the ideal place to spend a scary couple of days out exploring ghostly goings-on - there are haunted mansions, castle ruins and spooky legends everywhere! Highlights include Berry Pomeroy Castle, one of the most haunted in Britain, and the eerie Rollright Stones in the Cotswolds. Warwick Castle even has a Ghosts Alive Exhibition. Perhaps the best place, however, is the East of England - there are more ghosts per square mile than anywhere else in the country! You can even meet the ghost of Anne Boleyn, who haunts Blickling Hall.

Spa Breaks in England

After a stressful week, you may however just want to relax. Or maybe it's a special occasion and you're looking for a bit of pampering. Whatever the reason, England is the perfect place to enjoy some luxury. You can spoil yourself at Harrogate's Turkish Baths and Spa, or indulge yourself at Sussex's Amberley Castle.

England has so many choices for great days out and weekends away, you won't know where to start - you'll just have to book a few!

Coast and castles in Northumberland

2009-09-19T23:35:07+01:00

A couple of weeks ago my family and I headed up to the Northumberland coast for a week away from it all. We stayed in Belford, which lies between the Northumberland coastline and the Northumberland National Park. Here are some of the highlights of our trip.

On entering Northumberland we decided to swap the fast but boring A1 for the slow but potentially stunning drive along the Coastal route. I strongly recommend this after six or seven hours between motorways and motorway service stations. The scenery is beautiful and made a perfect start to our holiday. Look out for the brown signs off the A1.

We couldn’t resist stopping at Druridge Bay so that the children and the dog could let off some steam. I have to say this is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited anywhere. The sea lapped gently onto clean white sand, which lay peacefully behind some grassy sand dunes a little walk away from the car park. Although there were lots of people on the beach, the open space meant it wasn’t crowded. The girls played in the clear shallow sea for a while and the dog ran around with a couple of whippets before we headed back to the car and completed our journey along the Coastal route to Belford.

After a good night’s sleep we visited Chillingham Castle, reputedly the most haunted castle in Britain. On entering the building we read letters from previous visitors who had stolen things from the various rooms only to have suffered bad luck and subsequently returned the items, apologising for their dishonesty. Ghosts or no ghosts, there are certainly some spooky sites at Chillingham Castle – particularly in the torture chambers, where you can peer down a trap door and see the genuine bones of a child in the vault below!

For some light relief, the next day we drove to the picturesque village of Alnmouth. Walking around the village doesn’t take long at all, so we were soon heading down toward the mouth of the River Aln on the beach, where the sand is perfect for making sand castles. After a couple of hours the girls had completed their fortress and the dog was whinging because we wouldn’t let her off the lead (she has a habit of wandering off and peeing on sand castles, which can be very embarrassing when people’s children are still making them!) we decided to drive to Bamburgh.

Bamburgh Castle makes for a spectacular site as you drive into the town. We knew we had to stop, so we parked across the road from it and made our way to the beach – accessed by walking around the castle, which sits high and mighty 150 feet above the coastline and watches protectively over the sea. We found a spot right in front of the castle, where once again the girls set to work on building a fortress in the sand. I remember sitting back and thinking to myself that there cannot be many places in the world where one can enjoy beautiful views of unspoilt coastline, and then turn around to find the shadow of such an awe inspiring piece of history creeping up on them in the other.

Our next destination, Alnwick Castle, is yet another spectacular piece of history. The castle is also the setting for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. As we walked around the castle and grounds, our eldest daughter, Ella pointed out where the various scenes in the Harry Potter movies had taken place. Being Potter mad, she had been looking forward to this more than anything else.

I have to say, the state rooms at Alnwick Castle are amazing. The library houses an impressive collection of over 16,000 books, and the dining room boasts an elegant Italian marble fireplace as well as many magnificent portraits, including those of the 1st Duke and Duchess. The children were occupied with the task of finding a fluffy owl in each room – so we were left to marvel at the surroundings in peace.

Alnwick Castle offers lots of activities for children, including archery, magical tours and the Knights Quest. My favourite (as a big kid) was the Dragon’s Quest, where you have to make your way past ghouls and ghosts, and pick your route through a hall of mirrors before coming face to face with a “Geordie dragon.” Our youngest daughter, Grace, who has just turned six, can be a bit of a scaredy pants, and found this a bit much – she started to cry pretty much as soon as we entered, so my wife picked her up, and they made their way to the exit as quickly as possible, whilst Grace kept her eyes firmly shut!

The walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle is well worth doing, especially if you like wide open spaces. Craster is an old fishing village, which is famous for its kippers, and you can smell them being smoked as you wander along the road between the old houses that are perched above the harbour. The walk to Dunstanburgh Castle takes you past some great rock pools, and if you choose to hobble along the rocky shoreline you’ll see crabs, shell fish and anemones galore.

Luckily we were not in a hurry, because the girls did not want to leave and could have quite happily spent the whole day exploring. Before leaving, we all bought “kippers in a bun” for lunch – absolutely delicious. L Robson and Sons Ltd, suppliers of original Craster kippers have apparently supplied the Royal Family. Their kippers and salmon are prepared in the traditional method of oak smoking, and can be delivered to all parts of the UK mainland. I think I’ll be putting an order in soon!

Away from the coastline and in the Northumberland National Park, are the Cheviot Hills, which we had time to explore, stopping in the Breamish Valley for a paddle in the river and a picnic. The Cheviots are on the borders of Scotland and the Cheviot summit is the highest point in Northumberland. We went for a more child friendly climb nearby.

There are lots more great places in Northumberland that we would have loved to visit. Unfortunately we ran out of time. I think next time we’ll go for two weeks. One place I would particularly like to visit is Kielder, which apparently has the darkest night skies in England and the largest man-made lake in Europe – two pretty good reasons for returning in my book.

For more information about Northumberland check out www.visitnorthumberland.com

What great smells remind you of England?

2009-08-21T15:29:41+01:00

We have launched our own unique scent, By George! to showcase the best of England during The Ashes.

To celebrate the launch we gave cricket fans at Lords the chance to sample this unique fragnance. But now, as the last Test match of the Ashes is underway, we want you to tell us what smells evoke great memories of England for you?

Short Break in South Shields: the resort at the mouth of the River Tyne

2009-07-30T11:20:51+01:00

So, you want ancient Rome in a seaside resort (for FREE!)? You want surfing the equal of Newquay? And you want a hotel room with close-up views of ocean liners and the romantic ruins of a Priory on the cliffs above? England has it – in Tyneside.

I took the metro service east from Newcastle to South Shields and the mouth of the Tyne. The high street area has some great old buildings. It’s quite edgy – what people in Camden call ‘real’. Walking down to the front, I came to Britain’s second oldest lifeboat (the oldest is in Redcar) proudly displayed as a sculpture of human achievement.

Then there are the seaside rides of Ocean Beach Pleasure Park (£15 for an unlimited ride wrist-band; try EXTREME 3 for mega g-force!) Or for something more sedate, the Lottery-restored Victorian public park (complete with miniature railway) is lovely and, on the beach, there’s really, really clean sand. I headed to my hotel – the Little Haven – passing through a set of sculptures called “The Conversation Piece” which look like weebles (wobble but they don’t fall down…). The view from the hotel up to Tynemouth Priory (English Heritage) will quickly tempt you onto the ferry over the Tyne.

What brilliant strategic views! No wonder the army took it over when the church was driven out…! Tynemouth itself is a pretty, café culture place. Longsands beach there is a surfing must. Even the derelict 1930s paddling pool is great for arty photos and, if you prefer things pristine, a little further north is lovely Cullercoats Bay. But I was intrigued to go back to South Shields and follow brown signs to “Roman Fort”. Bang in the middle of a Victorian housing estate I found it – Arbeia! A Gatehouse has been reconstructed. So has the Governor’s villa. And a barracks – and all of it on the original Roman foundations. Take the kids – it’s free entry and it’ll bring their history lessons to life! Oh, and take a bike – I wish I had! – the cycle network here will give you hours of superb exploration.

Let us know your favourite places to visit in Tyneside?

Blogger: Stuart Barrow

My visit to South Devon - Torbay, Dartmouth, Totnes

2009-07-23T16:45:48+01:00

“What do you expect to see through a Torquay hotel window? Sydney Opera House? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically…? It’s Torquay!” YES! AND I LOVED IT! Torre Abbey, Cockington Court, Torquay Pavilion, Babbacombe model village, Brixham Harbour… The immaculate gardens of Torquay…

Short drives out to the National Trust’s stunning garden at Greenway – holiday home of Agatha Christie… Pods of porpoises sweeping majestically through the Channel at Berry Head…you name it – it is all in the English Riviera; South Devon’s beautiful bay. Service standards are great: trust me, Basil Fawlty really is a joke – just visit today’s Gleneagles Hotel, the inspiration for 1970s comedy classic, to see how much Torquay – and the wider Torbay area – has changed.

I arrived by train, along Brunel’s coast-hugging masterpiece with dramatic views over the sea (this HAS to be one of the best scenic rail journeys in the world) and took the short walk to the really friendly seafront Premier Inn. Everything in Torquay is within walking distance – and a longer walk round to Paignton’s under-discovered harbour and popular pier was time well spent. Then a steam train to Kingswear and a short ferry ride to Dartmouth. An English Heritage card comes into its own round here – from Dartmouth Castle up to Bohemian Totnes with Berry Pomeroy Castle (“the most haunted castle in England!” watch out for the ghostly white and blue ladies!), and stunning views from Totnes Castle. I’m going to have to go back for another weekend away.

Let us know your favourite places to explore in Devon?

Blogger: Stuart Barrow

A weekend break in Winchcombe

2009-07-13T11:48:04+01:00

After a busy few weeks at work it was an absolute pleasure to escape the hustle and bustle and head for a couple of days in the Cotswolds. I studied at the University of Gloucestershire for 4 years and didn’t make it out of Cheltenham, so I was very excited to be jumping in the car and heading to Winchcombe…

After a pleasant 2 hour journey we arrived in the beautiful Cotswolds town of Winchcombe. We were staying at Wesley House www.wesleyhouse.co.uk situated on the High Street and we were greeted by friendly staff and enjoyed a lovely bottle of white by the fire whilst we waited for our room to be ready (we were a little bit early!). We stayed in a room called the "Almsbury", which has a private terrace overlooking the North Cotswold Edge, it was so peaceful that I didn’t want to leave the terrace, the sun was shining and the birds were tweeting, it was simply beautiful.

The following morning we visited Sudeley Castle www.sudeleycastle.co.uk set in the midst of the Cotswold Hills with stunning gardens and a castle full of history and with royal connections spanning a thousand years.

Sadly, we were then back on our way home, two days weren’t simply enough. Fortunately, friends are getting married in Tetbury this summer so I can’t wait to see what another part of the Cotswold’s has to offer!

Which are your favourite places to visit in the Cotswold's?

Blogger: Kate Ellwood

A welcoming pub, The Bat & Ball in Hambledon

2009-07-07T17:57:20+01:00

I have to visit a lot of pubs in my line of work. I know, it’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it. But it’s not all beer and roses, or even pub lunches. As the Managing Editor of The Publican magazine I’m often analysing pubs from top to bottom for different projects or judging them for awards.

Guest Blog by Daniel Pearce, Managing Editor, The Publican magazine

The pubs that stand out tend to be those which are run by wonderful people, in great locations and with great food and drink.

One pub I visited recently certainly ticked at least the first two of those boxes, and I strongly suspect it would have ticked the third if only I’d had time to find out. I aim to put that right with a visit with my family in the near future, despite the fact that it is over an hour from where I live.

The pub, the Bat & Ball in Hambledon, Hampshire, is also a fantastic example of what the Inn England campaign is all about – pubs which England can truly be proud of, attracting customers from home and abroad with a proposition that is truly unique to our country. I’m pleased to see it is already listed on the website.

What’s so special about the Bat & Ball?

The fact that I got lost driving to the pub through places such as the Meon Valley, the Buster Hills – amazing evocative names and places – tells you everything about its location. With views to die for, it as quintessentially English as the field opposite it.

And here lies the history that has truly put the pub on the map. The pub is adjacent to a cricket pitch – in fact it was once the clubhouse of the Hambledon Cricket Club, one of the first cricket clubs in England and the birthplace of many of the laws of the game.

Inside many artefacts and testaments to its fascinating past adorn the walls – a real attraction for cricket lovers. And yet…I suspect that most customers don’t go there after watching cricket nearby, or to take in the museum-like cricketing memorabilia. The genuine friendliness and classic ‘warm welcome’ of the licensees Jason and Sandra is surely what keeps them coming back.

The food also comes highly recommended, although I’d be lying if I said I’d experienced it firsthand.

If it’s one thing I’ve learnt from visiting a lot of pubs it is that however good the location, however good the food and drink…none of that counts for anything if you get a cold welcome when you enter the place, or if the barman fails to look you in the eye. And as much as any pub deserves their place on the Inn England site because their location wilI attract a customer for a first visit, it is the service and the friendly welcome that will keep them coming back again and again.

We run a campaign of our own called Proud of Pubs, which seeks to promote the positive face of the pub trade, both within the trade as a means of highlighting best practice, and outside the trade to show customers how proud of the nation’s pubs they should be. The Bat & Ball, once again, ticks all the boxes.

Why not give it a visit and see if it ticks yours?

Visit www.InnEngland.com/ and tell us about your favourite pub.

Guest Blog by Daniel Pearce, Managing Editor, The Publican magazine

Earning more fresh Air Miles

2009-05-27T11:41:02+01:00

Sunshine is promised for the spring Bank Holiday, so the Ordnance Survey one day Cycle Tours for Bristol, Somerset and Wiltshire (Nick Cotton) that was a Christmas gift, is brought off the bookshelf and there was a choice to be made from two “EASY” ride sections, one covering the Somerset Levels south of Wedmore and the other, River Valleys and canals near Marlborough.

Accommodation suitable for cyclists and car parking is a consideration and a youth hostel is always a good choice. YHA Street, which is a delightful turn of the 20th Century Swiss Alpine Style Lodge once owned by the John Lewis Group, was unfortunately unable to accommodate us, so the choice had to be The Wiltshire route and a B&B! Studying the cycle route closely, we googled B&B’s and found The Manor at Upavon http://www.themanorupavon.co.uk/ a charming, thatched 17th Century Manor House with pond (and fishing), a great store for our bikes and a beautifully cooked and served British breakfast.

Having set off in heavy rain and arrived with wet cycles, we were delighted to be greeted with a fine day for our adventurous 35 mile “easy” cycle ride. Having checked our tyre pressures, we set off for the start of our ride at Woodborough, a charming village overlooked in the distance by a delightful chalk white horse. Soon we were peddling through Pewsey and the route took us down onto the Kennet and Avon canal. Signs of spring were all around with ducklings paddling behind mother duck, fresh leaves bursting from sticky buds and creamy cow parsley along the banks. Recent rain made the tow path slippery so I was keen to push rather then end up wet for the rest of the day. Crofton pumping station was starting to fire up its Cornish beam engine to delight Bank Holiday week-end visitors and pump the water into the canal to keep the craft afloat. Lovely coffee and homemade cakes on offer here. From here we cycled on to Great Bedwyn and then decided that as there was an ominous bank holiday week-end dark cloud on the horizon and the breeze started to stiffen, that we would cut a corner off the prescribed route and take a short cut through Savernake Forest.

There were all sorts of lovely paths to follow and we thought that we were following the Wiltshire Cycle way path but I think the sign might have been turned around as we found ourselves in the beautiful grounds of Tottenham House, now empty with prancing deer leaping out of our path, probably rather alarmed by our high viz jackets. We tried to carry on our direct route but ended up being hemmed in by high security fencing and warning signs of 24 hour security! The wind started to blow a bit harder and I was reiterating the merits of sticking to the recommended route as we turned back on ourselves and retraced our steps heading nearer to the noise of passing vehicles!

It was one of the best days out and we still have the pleasure of doing the bit we missed out. We will be googling more B&B’s around Marlborough or book early at the Youth Hostel for another “easy” ride.

Anne Twitchett