September 30th, 2009 at 09:51pm
Under Travel and Leisure
Vacations in the UK appear to be increasingly popular at the moment, most likely due to the economic downturn and the low value of the pound. The UK has many first class vacation destinations including London (the English capital city) and other fascinating cities plus a fine collection of seaside resorts such as; Blackpool, Bognor Regis, Great Yarmouth and Margate. One city often overlooked is Plymouth in the south of England.
First appearances are that Plymouth appears a little plain and fairly modern, but looking a little bit deeper and you will soon discover that the city of Plymouth has a fascinating history and a long relationship with the sea. As long ago as the sixteenth century Plymouth has had a busy port. In 1588 Francis Drake set sail from the town’s port to successfully defend England by defeating the Spanish Armada. Another moment in history occurred in sixteen twenty when the Pilgrim Fathers embarked from the port.
It is possible to enjoy cheap short breaks in Plymouth by staying in bed and breakfast in Plymouth rather than booking a plush hotel. A quick look online will show that you can book a room for as little as £29 a night and many establishments have other meals at a reasonable price, often equal to, or less expensive than local restaurants.
Visitors Attractions In Plymouth
There are numerous places of interest in Plymouth that are well worth visiting. Popular visitor attractions include; the old quay at Sutton Harbour, Merchant’s House Museum, the National Marine Aquarium and the Barbican district. A boat cruise around the naval base is an interesting way to spend some time and if you discover that you have more time to spare why not take a day trip to other places near to Plymouth, such as; Mount Edgcumbe, Saltram House or Buckland Abbey.
Saltram House is a lovely Tudor Mansion which is situated 2 miles from the town of Plymouth, Mount Edgcumbe is a further Tudor house with parklands, coastal paths and landscaped gardens, and Buckland Abbey, roughly six miles from Plymouth, is a Cistercian abbey which was once owned by Sir Francis Drake and was at a later date renovated as a family home.
If you and your family are in the process of considering spending some time in Plymouth it is immensely important that you book your room at the earliest opportunity because, unfortunately hotels and guest houses in Plymouth tend to be alarmingly busy and are commonly fully booked for weeks or even months in advance. If you have a large family you may find that Plymouth serviced apartments are a cheaper option to bed & breakfast in Plymouth. If you are visiting Britain from abroad then you should consider making a reservation for a room in hotels in London to take in the sights of the capital city of England too.
By writer
November 3rd, 2008 at 07:50pm
Under Travel and Leisure
England is a most beautiful and wonderful country in which to take a vacation. There are a great many visitor attractions well worth a visit perfectly suited for all tastes. For instance|One such place is the historic city of York which has been inhabited since the days of the Roman Empire, Torquay (which is widely known as the English Riviera) and Liverpool (which won the title of European City of Culture in 2008). One place, in England that you really must visit is London the capital city of the UK
London is a most incredible destination to visit, maybe for just a weekend or, possibly for a full vacation. You would be surprised at how many people who reside in the U. K. who have not visited London, this is especially surprising when you are mindful of the fact it is usually top of the majority of visitors lists (of places they enjoyed most).
There simply so many things to see and do in London that it is not possible to list them all at once. Surprisingly one of the newest attractions in London also happens to be one of the most popular – The London Eye. Another popular attraction nearby to the London Eye is Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. However, one place which must not be missed is Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace is England’s most well known Royal residence, being home to the Queen of England. Buckingham Palace is is placed right in the heart of London which makes it a natural focus for visitors. The daily pageant of ‘Changing of the Guard’ is very interesting to watch and quintessentially English.
Buckingham Palace was originally named Buckingham House. It was originally a large townhouse, constructed in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. It is actually the townhouse which forms the main core of the palace as we are familiar with today.
Throughout the next 3 quarters of a century Buckingham House was enlarged by the construction of an additional three wings creating a central courtyard. The primary architects responsible for these additions were John Nash and Edward Blore. It was also John Nash who was responsible for the interior design of the monumental staterooms.
The famous architect Aston Webb was responsible for the creation of the principal facade of Buckingham Palace which, in 1912, he re-designed. Webb together with the sculptor Sir Thomas Brock were the winners of a competition to design a memorial to Queen Victoria. This memorial can still be today.
The Queen has various other royal residences besides Buckingham Palace. Each and every year the Queen spends the Christmas period at Sandringham House in Norfolk. Sandringham House is one of the Queen’s private royal residences.
Another private residence is Balmoral Castle, in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. Queen Elizabeth was staying in Balmoral Castle when she was informed about the heartbreaking accident involving Diana, Princess of Wales.
If you would like to take a break in England then you might be pleased to learn that it is possible to find cheap hotels in London without any great difficulty, on the other hand you may want to reside in more luxurious accommodation and the small number of boutique hotels in London should more than satisfy.
By writer