1,000 Places to See in Your Lifetime

Online Hotel Booking

2012-10-08T13:12:00.000+08:00

The Art of Cheap Accommodation

2012-03-22T23:29:00.001+08:00

The Art of Cheap Accommodation

Everyone has their own travel style, but all I really need is a bed with no bed bugs and a bathroom that flushes. Here are my best tips for finding good, cheap accommodation.

Secret Travel Discounts

2012-03-21T12:57:00.001+08:00

Secret Travel Discounts

"Before making your final purchase, google the hotel/airline name with the words discounts coupon code. "

Hostel Accommodation

2012-03-19T00:08:00.001+08:00

Hostel Accommodation
Consider hostels accommodation if you are taking a week-long trip to Europe. Or even to a big city in the United States

Touts Are Not All Bad

2012-03-16T23:17:00.001+08:00

Touts Are Not All Bad

I used to think that touts were all about tricking me into spending more money than I needed to, but I have learned that they can actually save me money and get me what I need. We often land in a place and have not yet found a place to stay. It can be difficult to trek around, with our packs on, to place after place to find a bed. Touts solve this problem by surrounding me with pictures of their hotel, offers of discounted rooms and transport too. They answer all our questions and, if they can’t give us what we’re looking for, they usually know someone who can. This approach has worked for us countless times and is how we currently find ourselves in a beautiful resort on a white sand beach on Koh Pha-Ngan, Thailand for a price we thought we’d have to pay for a hut within walking distance from the beach. - Monica, A Pair of Panties and Boxers

Live with Host Families

2012-03-15T00:24:00.001+08:00

Live with Host Families

Glyndebourne Festival

2011-05-22T17:24:00.003+08:00

Glyndebourne Festival, Lewes, East Sussex, England

Glyndebourne Festival, is truly unique in the world of opera. Glyndebourne is recognised globally as one of the great opera in a country-house. Its productions travel worldwide, are performed live in other opera houses and screened in cinemas from New York to Tokyo.

Glyndebourne remains very English institution. It opened in 1994 to everyone's delight and tickets are somewhat less difficult to come by. The Glyndebourne Festival presents six productions each year in a 1,200-seat opera house. Glyndebourne on Tour, founded in 1968, takes three productions around the UK each autumn. Together, Festival and Tour present about 120 performances a year to an audience of around 150,000. Glyndebourne’s widely respected Education programme, established in 1986, hosts over 230 community and outreach events a year.

Each year,Glyndebourne festival runs from May to August, it offers a programme of six operas. Around 76 performances attract a total audience of over 85,000. For others it is the social season's highlight; there is the ritual evening picnic enjoyed on the garden-framed lawn. Sheep and cows graze within sight while musicians can be heard tuning up.

Although the Festival runs only through the summer, the opera house is busy year-round. At the end of the summer it hosts the opening weeks of the Tour, providing a less-formal alternative to the Festival at lower ticket prices. And through the rest of the year it is used for education projects, concerts, rehearsals and scenery fit-ups.

The Glyndebourne 2011 Festival opens on 21 May with a new production of Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.Other productions include a new production of Handel's Rinaldo and revivals of Don Giovanni, L'elisir d'amore, Rusalka and The Turn of the Screw, and do refer to the brochure for more information of Glyndebourne Festival.

Location: 1.5 miles / 2KM east of Lewes, 55 miles / 88KM south of London.

Lynmouth : Where Exmoor Kissing with the Rising Sun

2011-05-01T22:38:00.004+08:00

Lynmouth, Devon, England

Lynmouth Harbour

Lynmouth is a village in Devon, England, located at the northern edge of Exmoor National Park. Once a fishing village, today it is a busy tourist area due to its proximity to the Park, in addition to the novel tram that connects it to Lynton, a quaint Victorian village whose tea-rooms all sit atop the cliffs near the Valley of the Rocks.

Lynmouth is located near the sea, the River Lyn running through it; while Lynton sits on the cliffs above, near the renowned valleys and heather topped hills. The Victorians dubbed this entire area "Little Switzerland" due to its incomparable beauty, the rapid change from beach and bay to the upper cliff village ambience, with rivers and waterfalls flowing through wooded valleys to the sea and the river gorge home of Lynmouth with its own quaint qualities and Rhenish Tower at the end of the quay.

Lynmouth was described by Thomas Gainsborough, who honeymooned there with his bride Margaret Burr, as "the most delightful place for a landscape painter this country can boast". -Wikipedia-

Lynmouth is famous on its unique holiday experience, it is a perfect place to access the scenic inner moor, visit historic houses, inspiring gardens, catch glimpses of the majestic red deer and the wild Exmoor ponies.

Things to do in Lynmouth
Horse Riding
Horse Riding is the most enjoyable ways of seeing part of Exmoor, and the coast of Lynmouth.

Walking
There are plenty of short walks, medium length walks, on the South West Coast Path and the gateway to Exmoor for the most adventurous. For the short stroll, Hollerday Hill can hardly be bettered offering views of both the North Devon and Welsh coasts. You will appreciate the unique herd of wild but docile goats and the buzzards hovering in the sea breezes. The Valley of Rocks is a truly magical place with its strange rock formations. For a medium length walk take the path from Lydiate Lane (ancient road to Barnstaple) out over South Cleave. The land falls away sharply to reveal the Valley of Rocks in all its glory. Continue down through the bluebell woods to Lee Abbey and return via the coast path.

Fishing Around Lynmouth and within Exmoor National Park
You can find game fishing for salmon and sea trout but good coarse fishing and, on the coast, excellent sea fishing. To fish on the rivers of Exmoor, National Rod Licences must be obtained from the Environment Agency as well as permits from the owners of fishing rights.

A lady fishing at Lynmouth Harbour

SurfingLynmouth is popular with locals and keen outsiders but is perhaps not as agreeable as some of the other beaches which have sand and facilities for surfers. Westward Ho! falls into a similar category. The most popular are Woolacombe, Putsborough, Saunton and Croyde.

Surfing at Lynmouth

Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
Offering narrow gauge train rides in Exmoor National Park at Woody Bay.
The tram was built to transport passengers and freight between the Lynmouth and Lynton, opening in 1890 with a simple cable system operating the tram. The railway is now a Listed Monument, insuring that tourists will continue to enjoy this marvelous, however brief journey to the top of the cliff where one can find wild goats among the rocky outcrops with spectacular rock formations created during the Ice Age.

Lyn and Exmoor Museum
A charming small museum with collections of agricultural and domestic tools from Lynton and Exmoor. Also maritime, railway, and natural history. Unique pictures of the Lynmouth Flood, and a Victorian dolls' house.
Housed in Lynton's oldest surviving domestic dwelling, it even includes its own ghost!

Lynmouth (and Lynton)Location: 205 miles / 330 KM southwest of London

Location Map of Lynmouth and Lynton

Arundell Arms - Where The Fishing Life Born

2011-04-28T23:44:00.004+08:00

Arundell Arms Hotel, Lifton, Devon, England

This old coach inn has been one of England's premier fishing hotels for more than half a century, with 20 miles of its own fish-rich water on the Tamar Ricer and five of its tributaries that are home to wild brown trout, sea trout, and salmon. With the gorgeous natural surroundings, excellent cuisine, and top-notch accommodations in an area of Old England where timeless rhythms rule and country customs are honored, the Arundell Arms is a standout among a vanishing breed of well-heeled sporting hotel.

Within a mile or so of the hotel, all these rivers join the Tamar, one of the best salmon rivers in England. Do book in advance and fish alone all day, where salmon average 10 pounds and your day's catch will be tonight's dinner. Those who does not have any experience on fishing, beginners' courses are available and those who are interested for advance skills in fishing, advanced courses are available as well by a former Welsh Open Fly-fishing Champion. This is where the Arundell Arms is famous as a real fisherman's hotel.

David Pilkinton at Arundell Arms

For those of you are interested to have your fishing trip in the recent month at Arudell Arm, the following are the events' time table.

Time Table Of Events
Fri 20th May
10.30am to 12.30pm
Demo: Dry fly techniques
A demonstration on dry fly fishing for wild brown trout on rain-fed rivers. Tackle, technique and river craft.
Location: River Thrushel

Sat 21st May
10.30am to 12.30pm
Casting Workshop
A demonstration on casting fundamentals, presentation and drag-free drifts will be followed by individual instruction to help improve your technique.
Location: River Lyd

Sun 22nd May
10.30am to 12.30pm
Demo: Tying Mayflies
How to tie the flies that catch fish. Featuring classic and modern patterns to imitate nymph, dun and spinner.
Location: The Arundell Arms Hotel

Mon 23rd May
10.30am to 12.30pm
Demo: Nymph and Wet fly techniques
Sub-surface fishing on West Country rivers; indicators, the New Zealand method, upstream wet flies and more.
Location: River Tamar

Arundell Arms location: 250 miles/ 402 KM southwest of London.

Gidleigh Park: A Poetic and Peaceful beyond Imagination Park

2011-04-28T21:52:00.005+08:00

GIDLEIGH PARK, Chagford, Devon, England

Gidleigh Park - stunning Tudor-type country house

Gidleigh Park is located in the South-west corner of England in Devon, within Dartmoor, the wildest area of open country in the south of England and Britain's second largest park . Gidleigh Park, whose 45 magnificent acres of gardens, pastures, and woodland get lot within the untamed natural beauty of the encircling national preserve. From the terraced patio, guests hear only the rushing waters of the North Teigh River, the music of nature that will lull them to sleep at night and invite them for excellent trout fishing in the morning.

View of Garden from balcony

View of Gidleigh Park country house

Gidleigh Park, where you can find one of the UK’s finest small country house hotels.The stunning Tudor-type country house is also home to one of the most divine dining experiences in Devon. While visiting Gidleigh Park country house, remember to dine in at the restaurant, renowned for innovative European cuisine, is considered one of the finest in Britain, holds 2 Michelin stars and features one of the most extensive wine lists. Gidleigh Park voted Number One in the Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants, as the Best Restaurant, Best Place to Stay and Best Wine List, a Triple Win!

The Restaurant at Gidleigh Park

The Best Restaurant, best place to stay, and best wine list Awards in Britain

Food at Gidleigh Park Restaurant

Gidleigh Park’s location is simply breathtaking, where you will immediately unwind and relax. There are numerous walks and leisure facilities, and a large range of activities in the vicinity: archery, horse riding, 4 x 4 on the moors, fly-fishing, golf, canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, cycling, shooting, falconry... You can also explore Devon’s World Heritage Sites, Bronze Age settlements, stone circles, varied coastlines and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of England’s greenest county.

Location: 222 miles / 354 KM southwest of London.
Details of Gidleigh Park country house.

Chatsworth house - The Greatest of All Great House

2011-04-25T12:54:00.019+08:00

CHATSWORTH HOUSE - Bakewell, Derbyshire, England

The Greatest of All Great House - Chatsworth House

A visit to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is an experience that you will never forget and a place to which its many visitors return time and again. Chatsworth House, the centuries-old home of the Duchess and the late Duke of Devonshire, is one of the most impressive among the dozens of historic "Great Houses" in England's countryside. It has more than 30 rooms open to the public, including a large library, lavish state apartments decorated with a wealth of art treasures,and magnificent collection of paintings.

Chatsworth House during Winter Season

Chatsworth House is a living and working testament to how a major country house can become so much more than just a crumbling pile in which an aristocratic family live. Chatsworth House has been livingly cared for, restored and kept in wonderful condition and is quite rightly one of the most popular historic houses in the country and any trip to England would not be complete without a visit.

Magnificent Art Work inside Chatsworth House

Hyme Hall, Chatsworth House

Statue Room, Chatsworth House

Chatsworth House a 105-acre garden, a beautiful sight in summer, and a public part on the banks of the river Derwent. The garden reveals a selection of fine sights and puzzling curiosities, which include a sculture gallery, four royal thrones, memorable illusionist painting of a violin hanging on a door, and paintings by the likes of Rembrandt and Van Dyck. The gardens are a treat, and the surrounding park is a superb area of open space with fine scenery, woods and views of the house and surrounding area - an excellent place for relatively gentle walks.


Chatsworth House Map

The Garden - Chatsworth House

It is also possible to visit the farmyard behind the house, where typical farm animals can be seen in context; with milking demonstrations and other insights into life on a farm for both the people and the animals. Next to the farmyard there is a small adventure playground, plenty for kids to enjoy too. Beside the house, garden, farmyard and adventure playground, you can also find shops, farm shop and restaurants are opens all year round.

The Garden

Lover Sculpture at Chatsworth House

Rabbit Sculpture at Chatsworth House

For visiting Chatsworth house, opening times
House : 11.00am to 5.30pm, last admission 4.30pm
Garden : 11.00am to 6.00pm, last admission 5.00pm

Ticket Prices
House and Gardens: Adult             £11.25
                                Adult             £12.50 (winter season)
                                Student          £9.25
                                Student          £10.50 (winter season)
                                Child              £6.00
Child            £6.50 (winter season)
                                Family(2+3) £28.00
                                Family(2+3)   £33.00 (winter season)

You can well plan your visit to Chatsworth House by referring to http://www.chatsworth.org/planvisit/alltimesprices.htm

Penzance and Land's End - Where England comes to an End

2011-04-23T20:54:00.008+08:00

Penzance, Cornwall, England

The last town before Land's End, Penzance is famous for its pirates and for a climate of the Gulf Stream that palm trees and subtropical plants are commonplace. The name Penzance is derived from the Cornish Pan Sans, meaning holy headland, as a chapel once stood on the point to the west of the harbour more than millennium ago. The town received varies Royal Charters from 1512 onwards, and has long been the commercial centre for the Land's End Peninsula. The anceitn Cornish called it "Pen Von Laz" meaning "end of the earth".

Land's End

Land's End, approximately 9 miles west of Penzance, is the most westerly point of the English mainland and the closest to the North American continent. Looking out to sea from here allows the mind to appreciate the scale of the Atlantic Ocean, seeming to stretch beyond the horizon for ever. The granite cliffs, which make up the coastline of West Cornwall, are seen at their best here where the combination of the power of the sea and the strength of the cliffs reduce man to a mere spectator of nature. On a clear day, the Isles of Scilly can be seen lying just on that horizon - a group of small, yet very beautiful, islands of which five are inhabited while the remainder of nearly 100 are given over to sea birds! Closer to shore is the Longships Lighthouse, just over a mile out to sea, while in the distance, about six miles to the south-west, can be seen the Wolf Rock lighthouse.

Lands End Sign Post

Location: 280 mils / 451 km southwest of London.

Walled City and Architectural Feast

2011-04-23T17:39:00.005+08:00

Chester, Cheshire, England

Chester is one of England's beautiful historic cities, located in the North West of England in the county of Cheshire.Chester, beautiful walled city, built during the Roman period, and rebuilt at different times after that, it is topped by a lovely 2-mile footpath. Parts of the wall bypass the city's important red sandstone cathedral on both sides and lead to the 19th century Eastgate, where Chester's famous wrought-iron clock tower proudly stand. The city of Chester has been defended with the city since the Roman over 2000 years ago ... The walls are now mostly medieval and Victorian.

Roman Solders, marching through the streets of Chester

Chester city itself attracts thousands of visitors each year, who come to walk the walls, visit the Cathedral, wrought-iron clock tower, and find out about its amazing Roman origins, shop 'till you drop' in the historic setting of Chester Rows. Visitors real experience and appreciate the city's unique atmosphere and sense of history.

Selected Attractions in and around Chester

The Roman Amphitheatre
The amphitheatre is the largest so far uncovered in Britain, and dates from the 1st century. The amphitheatre would have been primarily for military training and drill, but would also have been used for cock fighting, bull baiting and combat sports, including classical boxing, wrestling and gladiatorial combat. In use through much of the Roman occupation of Britain, the amphitheatre fell into disuse around the year 350. The amphitheatre was only rediscovered in 1929, and now known as English heritage.

Chester Cathedral

The Chester Cathedral is one of the most complete medieval monastic complexes in the UK. Originally a Saxon Minster, then rebuilt as a Benedictine Abbey, the present building was begun in 1092 but not finished until 1535, although the site itself may have been used for Christian worship since Roman times.

Chester Cathedral during Spring

The Look of Chester Cathedral

Chester Rows & Timber Framed Buildings
Chester is one of the most beautiful historic cities in England, famous for its galleried rows, Roman remains, shops & boutiques, the town crier, ghost walks and complete city walls. Chester is remembered best by visitors for the black & white timbered buildings that are Tudor style. "It's like walking back in time through Old England".

It's Like Walking Back in Time Through Old England

Walk at Chester Rows

The Eastgate Clock
Erected on top of the stone archway over Eastgate Street in 1899. The Eastgate Clock was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee of 1897.


Close look on the Eastgate Clock at Chester

Eastgate Street and the Eastgate Clock

The River Dee at Chester
During the summer months, the River Dee is where you can sit on the banks and listen to brass bands play in the old band stand, or take a leisurely cruise on the showboats, hire a rowing boat or motor boat, take a walk along the path on the banks to the Earls Eye, watch out for Cormorants or feed the Swans, buy a Cheshire ice cream, watch the river boats from the beer gardens.

Grosvenor Park, Chester
Grosvenor Park is a public park and an ideal place to relax on hot summer days. There is also a miniature steam railway for children! For details of miniature stream railway you can visit http://www.gpmr.co.uk/

Best Time to Visit Chester
The classical Chester Summer Music Festival, last 2 weeks of July. The Chaster Finge Festival takes place simultaneously, offering every other kind of music from Jazz to Cajun

England's Most Visited Historic Site

2011-04-22T19:13:00.000+08:00

WINDSOR CASTLE, Berkshire, England.

Standing at the very heart of the British national identity, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world (with 1,000 rooms) and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years. The Castle covers an area of about 5 hectares (13 acres) and contains.

It has been lived in by eight successive royal houses since 900 years ago. In 1916, King George V, assumed the name of the place out of fondness - and disassociate the royal family from its Germanic origins. Queen Elizaberth II spent much of her childhood here, so it is not surprising that her public felt her pain when a devastating fire partially destroyed 100 rooms in the state and private apartments in 1992.

The Magnificent State Apartments furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection. Highlight of Windsor Castle included:

St George's Chapel the 16th century architectural jewel (one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England and the burial place of 10 monarchs)
Queen Mary's Dolls House, a masterpiece in miniature designed in 1923 by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens
The Drawings Gallery featuring an exhibition
Changing of the Guard
The flat tomb in the center contains the vault of Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour

Windsor Castleaerial view

Windsor Castle at sunset

Windsor Castle East Terrance

Ticket Information

Ticket Type	Ticket Tariff
2011 Adult	£16.50 per ticket
2011 Adult (during closure of State Apartments)	£9.00 per ticket
2011 Family: 2 adults & 3 under 17s	£43.50 per ticket
2011 Family: 2 adults & 3 under 17s (during closure of State Apartments)	£24.50 per ticket
2011 Senior/Student	£15.00 per ticket
2011 Senior/Student (during closure of State Apartments)	£8.00 per ticket
2011 Under 17	£9.90 per ticket
2011 Under 17 (during closure of the State Apartments)	£6.00 per ticket
2011 Under 5s	Free

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.

Opening Times: Monday to Sunday 9:45 - 16.00
Open to public are restricted in April, June and December and on certain occasions when royal or state events takes place.

What : Site
Where: 21 miles / 34km west of London.
www.royalresidences.com

A Guests of the Astors

2011-04-22T17:07:00.001+08:00

CLIVEDEN, Taplow, Berkshire, England.

Cliveden Hotel

Spectacular, Magnificent and Awesomely, comfortable as it is overwhelming grand, England's most majestic country-house hotel. Cliveden. House is set amid 376 acres of magnificent National Trust formal gardens and woodlands. Standing upon chalk cliffs that give the estate its name, the house commands panoramic views over beautiful countryside and an idyllic bend in the river Thames.

Owned and managed by the National Trust, the beautiful gardens feature the celebrated parterre, season long floral displays, distinctive topiary and an outstanding sculpture collection.

The famous parterre was laid out in 1855 by John Fleming and his colorful planting schemes set a precedent for gardens the world over. The triangular shaped beds have been beautifully restored with seasonal bedding displays using Fleming’s original design and complete the breathtaking views from the house.

The sculpture collection, amassed largely by the Sutherland and Astor families, is evident throughout the garden and includes Thomas Waldo Story’s impressive Fountain of Love at the end of the Grand Avenue. Other features not to miss are the octagonal temple, perched on the cliff edge and built by Giacomo Leoni in 1735, the pavilion built to commemorate the battle of Blenheim, and an amphitheater where the first recital of “Rule Britannia” was played.

For younger visitors, the storybook themed play area encourages imaginations to run wild and from May 2011 the newly recreated Cliveden Maze will challenge all ages!

With snow drops and daffodils, bluebells in the woodlands, changing bedding displays and stunning autumn color in the Water Garden there is always something new to discover in Cliveden’s gardens.

A dinner in the excellent restaurant Waldo's is reason enough to drive from London, though as an overnight guest you'll have the luxury of working it off on the hotel's 376 acres of riding paths or jogging trails. Over look the River Thames, 15-foot-high windows offered views of hotel's antique boats, including Nancy Astor's silent electric canoe. Piloted by uniformed boatmen, these are available for pre-dinner Champagne cruises or picnics with large hampers of food furnished by the hotel. Take the pleasure in the formal gardens, drawing-room fires, tail-coated footmen, chandeliered dining room and palpable air of exclusivity, but what you may enjoy most is the royal treatment extended even to title-less guests.

build in 1666 by the Second Duke

View looking north from the Ring in the Parterre showing Terrace Pavilion and Clock Tower to the left with Lower Terrace and Borghese Balustrade below


Buckinghamshire mansion and estate famous scandal, sex and beautiful gardens.

the Great Hall

beautiful room filled with exquisite furnishings and priceless antiques

courteous and attentive service, excellent food and palate-tingling wines, delivered in the most beautiful surroundings

Hotel, Restaurant
10 miles / 16km northwest of Winsor

Cost: Double for $320GBP

Dinner at Waldo's $75GBP

1,000 Places to See in Your Lifetime

Online Hotel Booking

The Art of Cheap Accommodation

Secret Travel Discounts

Hostel Accommodation

Touts Are Not All Bad

Live with Host Families

Glyndebourne Festival

Lynmouth : Where Exmoor Kissing with the Rising Sun

Arundell Arms - Where The Fishing Life Born

Gidleigh Park: A Poetic and Peaceful beyond Imagination Park

Chatsworth house - The Greatest of All Great House

Penzance and Land's End - Where England comes to an End

Walled City and Architectural Feast

The Eastgate ClockErected on top of the stone archway over Eastgate Street in 1899. The Eastgate Clock was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee of 1897.

Grosvenor Park, Chester Grosvenor Park is a public park and an ideal place to relax on hot summer days. There is also a miniature steam railway for children! For details of miniature stream railway you can visit http://www.gpmr.co.uk/

England's Most Visited Historic Site

Ticket Information

A Guests of the Astors

The Eastgate Clock
Erected on top of the stone archway over Eastgate Street in 1899. The Eastgate Clock was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee of 1897.

Grosvenor Park, Chester
Grosvenor Park is a public park and an ideal place to relax on hot summer days. There is also a miniature steam railway for children! For details of miniature stream railway you can visit http://www.gpmr.co.uk/