Sailing is an activity that you should try at least once in your life - and there is a good chance that once you have done so you will be desperate to hit the waves plenty more times.
Sailor John MacKay has been speaking about the pursuit and just how enjoyable can be. If he is to be believed, it seems you might be best booking a holiday in Scotland, as he suggested the west coast of the country is the finest place of all for the sport.
In particular, he picked out the Hebrides and Malin regions as the best of all, noting it is not difficult to charter a boat in either of these spots. All that you need is one person who has some sailing experience in order to take control and ensure safety regulations are met.
That alone is enough for at least half a dozen others to be able to enjoy themselves on board a yacht on the ocean.
"You will have the time of your life. Sailing is just a fantastic thing to do. On the west coast there is so much happening - fabulous foods, castles, scenery - it is indescribable. It is just so beautiful," Mr MacKay stated.
Sailing has shot to prominence in the UK in recent days as Ben Ainslie won a gold medal in the sport at the Olympic Games. His success, making him the country's most successful sailor of all time, could persuade many of you to give it a try.
And if you decide to do just that, heading for holidays in Scotland is a great idea, as Mr MacKay suggested the area is one of the country's "hidden gems". Even if you find sailing is not to your liking there will be so much more on offer.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Showing posts with label Fabthings2do. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fabthings2do. Show all posts
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Friday, 3 August 2012
Explore England's Horrible Histories
England is a country world-renowned for its history. Our ancient lineage of Kings and Queens, revered historic architecture and deep-seated traditions bring visitors from near and far. But the country’s history is also peppered with tales of smuggling and witchcraft, piracy and ghostly hauntings, which lend a more sinister side to many of England’s popular destinations.
Have a look at some of the country’s darker tourist attractions:
On the trail of witches
2012 marks the 400th anniversary of the Lancashire Witch trials.In August 1612 ten people were executed on the moors above Lancaster, having been found guilty of witchcraft at Lancaster Castle. Today, visitors can take a guided tour of the imposing castle, the setting for the imprisonment and the trial. See the dungeons and the grand Jury Room and Courts and learn of the witches’ plight before making up your own mind. Were the Pendle Witches malevolent people possessed by supernatural powers, or innocent victims of a time obsessed with the pursuit and punishment of witchcraft?
Legend has it that during the Dark Ages, an old woman lived alone deep in the caverns of the Wookey caves in Somerset. She was branded a witch and all local mishaps and problems were blamed on her. Eventually, a Holy Clerk of Glastonbury exorcised the witch and turned her to stone. Her frozen figure remains in this cavern – known as The Witch’s Kitchen – to this day. Visit the Witch’s Castle and Kitchen in the Wookey Hole Caves and take your chances in the Magical Mirror Maze. You can also visit Wookey witch’s original skeleton, on display at Somerset’s Wells & Mendip Museum.
Down in the dungeons
The newly-opened Blackpool Tower Dungeons bring an interactive experience that tells some of the more gruesome tales from 1,000 years of Blackpool history. Discover the torture instruments of forgotten times, escape the mirror maze of horrors and get sentenced to death on the Extremis drop ride. The Blackpool Tower Dungeons are the latest to open of a dungeons series that includes York, Warwick Castle and London.
Nottingham’s Galleries of Justice tell some of the sinister stories behind the city’s own outlaws, which are brought to life in the very building where they were judged, imprisoned and executed. The setting for this historic visitor attraction is Nottingham’s old courthouse and gaol, voted ‘the most haunted building in the UK’ by paranormal investigators Fright Nights. Take a Ghost Tour to hear tales of the Shire Hall’s dark and sinister past and be led around the haunted corridors, cells and dungeons.
Who dunnit?
2013 marks 125 years since the streets of East London were at the mercy of Jack the Ripper, the unidentified serial killer whose legend remains a subject of fascination. Visitors with a brave disposition can try a Jack the Ripper walking tour of Spitalfields and Petticoat Lane in East London. Inspect the murder sites, sift through the gory evidence and get to grips with the main suspects. After the tour, you can steady your nerves in The Ten Bells, the pub where the victims themselves - perhaps under the threatening gaze of the Ripper himself – sought solace from the waking nightmare.
Step back in time on a journey from London on a Murder Mystery tour aboard the impeccably restored carriages of the British Pullman. The year is 1933 and there has been a murder on the train. Love and intrigue are in the air as you meet a series of suspicious characters all embroiled in the plot. Travel through the beautiful Kent countryside and indulge in a five course lunch as you pull together clues to solve the murder.
Do you believe in ghosts?
The historic city of Chester is a ghosthunter's heaven. Join a night-time ghost hunt around the eerie haunts of the city’s mysterious and murky past. Tour the ancient, walled city after dark, visit well-known spooky and scary places, and hear spine-chilling tales of ghosts, spectres, and things that go bump in the night.
The renowned York Ghost Walk Experience tour winds through the city’s honeycomb maze of ancient buildings, narrow cobbled streets and dark alleyways. The after-dark experience combines storytelling from those in the know with authentic re-enactments of characters such as York’s Headless Earl and The Gray Lady. The latter is the much-seen ghost of a nun buried alive in the old Hospital of St Leonard – now part of the Georgian Theatre Royal. But beware – the city of York is a ghostly one. Even if you don’t meet the city’s spectres, they will almost certainly be watching you.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Have a look at some of the country’s darker tourist attractions:
On the trail of witches
2012 marks the 400th anniversary of the Lancashire Witch trials.In August 1612 ten people were executed on the moors above Lancaster, having been found guilty of witchcraft at Lancaster Castle. Today, visitors can take a guided tour of the imposing castle, the setting for the imprisonment and the trial. See the dungeons and the grand Jury Room and Courts and learn of the witches’ plight before making up your own mind. Were the Pendle Witches malevolent people possessed by supernatural powers, or innocent victims of a time obsessed with the pursuit and punishment of witchcraft?
Legend has it that during the Dark Ages, an old woman lived alone deep in the caverns of the Wookey caves in Somerset. She was branded a witch and all local mishaps and problems were blamed on her. Eventually, a Holy Clerk of Glastonbury exorcised the witch and turned her to stone. Her frozen figure remains in this cavern – known as The Witch’s Kitchen – to this day. Visit the Witch’s Castle and Kitchen in the Wookey Hole Caves and take your chances in the Magical Mirror Maze. You can also visit Wookey witch’s original skeleton, on display at Somerset’s Wells & Mendip Museum.
Down in the dungeons
The newly-opened Blackpool Tower Dungeons bring an interactive experience that tells some of the more gruesome tales from 1,000 years of Blackpool history. Discover the torture instruments of forgotten times, escape the mirror maze of horrors and get sentenced to death on the Extremis drop ride. The Blackpool Tower Dungeons are the latest to open of a dungeons series that includes York, Warwick Castle and London.
Nottingham’s Galleries of Justice tell some of the sinister stories behind the city’s own outlaws, which are brought to life in the very building where they were judged, imprisoned and executed. The setting for this historic visitor attraction is Nottingham’s old courthouse and gaol, voted ‘the most haunted building in the UK’ by paranormal investigators Fright Nights. Take a Ghost Tour to hear tales of the Shire Hall’s dark and sinister past and be led around the haunted corridors, cells and dungeons.
Who dunnit?
2013 marks 125 years since the streets of East London were at the mercy of Jack the Ripper, the unidentified serial killer whose legend remains a subject of fascination. Visitors with a brave disposition can try a Jack the Ripper walking tour of Spitalfields and Petticoat Lane in East London. Inspect the murder sites, sift through the gory evidence and get to grips with the main suspects. After the tour, you can steady your nerves in The Ten Bells, the pub where the victims themselves - perhaps under the threatening gaze of the Ripper himself – sought solace from the waking nightmare.
Step back in time on a journey from London on a Murder Mystery tour aboard the impeccably restored carriages of the British Pullman. The year is 1933 and there has been a murder on the train. Love and intrigue are in the air as you meet a series of suspicious characters all embroiled in the plot. Travel through the beautiful Kent countryside and indulge in a five course lunch as you pull together clues to solve the murder.
Do you believe in ghosts?
The historic city of Chester is a ghosthunter's heaven. Join a night-time ghost hunt around the eerie haunts of the city’s mysterious and murky past. Tour the ancient, walled city after dark, visit well-known spooky and scary places, and hear spine-chilling tales of ghosts, spectres, and things that go bump in the night.
The renowned York Ghost Walk Experience tour winds through the city’s honeycomb maze of ancient buildings, narrow cobbled streets and dark alleyways. The after-dark experience combines storytelling from those in the know with authentic re-enactments of characters such as York’s Headless Earl and The Gray Lady. The latter is the much-seen ghost of a nun buried alive in the old Hospital of St Leonard – now part of the Georgian Theatre Royal. But beware – the city of York is a ghostly one. Even if you don’t meet the city’s spectres, they will almost certainly be watching you.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Monday, 30 July 2012
Schools Out For Summer - Witches and Wizards Academy
Need to brush up on your broom making skills? Pot some medicinal plants for your potions? Or just learn more about how to look after and handle owls, then this is the place for you.
Witches and Wizards Academy - Scarborough Art Gallery, Scarborough
Each day children can learn a new skill that will help them to become the perfect witch or wizard. Regularly throughout the School Summer Holidays - Daily 11am - 4pm - see the web-site for more information www.scarboroughartgallery.org.uk
Cost
FREE to Under 18's
Adults £2.00
Concession £1.80
Scarborough Art Gallery, situated in Scarborough's Regency Crescent just off the town centre, houses the Borough's fine art collection. Our Gallery spaces tell the story of the town and its various influences over the years through the wonderful paintings which feature seascapes and views of Scarborough. Learn about the influence of the sea, Scarborough's early history as a holiday resort and how fashion spoke volumes about your status and position in society.
The Gallery has a lively temporary exhibition programme that features contemporary work by professional artists. Events for all the family are featured throughout the year and especially over the school holiday period.
Fears, Foes & Faeries is the 2012 feature exhibition running from 23 March to 30 Sept.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Witches and Wizards Academy - Scarborough Art Gallery, Scarborough
Each day children can learn a new skill that will help them to become the perfect witch or wizard. Regularly throughout the School Summer Holidays - Daily 11am - 4pm - see the web-site for more information www.scarboroughartgallery.org.uk
Cost
FREE to Under 18's
Adults £2.00
Concession £1.80
Scarborough Art Gallery, situated in Scarborough's Regency Crescent just off the town centre, houses the Borough's fine art collection. Our Gallery spaces tell the story of the town and its various influences over the years through the wonderful paintings which feature seascapes and views of Scarborough. Learn about the influence of the sea, Scarborough's early history as a holiday resort and how fashion spoke volumes about your status and position in society.
The Gallery has a lively temporary exhibition programme that features contemporary work by professional artists. Events for all the family are featured throughout the year and especially over the school holiday period.
Fears, Foes & Faeries is the 2012 feature exhibition running from 23 March to 30 Sept.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Thursday, 19 July 2012
England's longest zip wire to open at the Eden Project
The longest zip wire in England – measuring 660 metres – has been unveiled at the Eden Project.
Visitors to the popular Cornish attraction, which is best known for its giant “biomes” that house a variety of exotic plants, will be able to ride the zip wire from Saturday.
They must pay £5 in addition to their general admission ticket, while those not wishing to explore the rest of the site must pay £10 to ride the zip wire, which crosses the entire 35-acre site. The ride lasts around a minute.
Gaynor Coley, the Eden Project’s chief executive, was one of the first to use it during an inauguration ceremony today. She was joined by circus performer Marco Fiera, who took to the zip wire on a Penny Farthing bicycle.
Riders must weigh between 40kg and 120kg, and must be at least 1m20 in height. Those under the age of 14 must be accompanied by someone over the age of 16, and those under the age of 18 require parental permission. See www.edenproject.com for more information.
The longest zip wire in Britain was previously found at Adrenaline Quarry, also in Cornwall, and measures 490m in length.
Meanwhile, a temporary zip wire is due to open at Wembley Stadium next month. The 200-metre wire will be open from August 16-22. See www.wembleystadium.com/tours
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Visitors to the popular Cornish attraction, which is best known for its giant “biomes” that house a variety of exotic plants, will be able to ride the zip wire from Saturday.
They must pay £5 in addition to their general admission ticket, while those not wishing to explore the rest of the site must pay £10 to ride the zip wire, which crosses the entire 35-acre site. The ride lasts around a minute.
Gaynor Coley, the Eden Project’s chief executive, was one of the first to use it during an inauguration ceremony today. She was joined by circus performer Marco Fiera, who took to the zip wire on a Penny Farthing bicycle.
Riders must weigh between 40kg and 120kg, and must be at least 1m20 in height. Those under the age of 14 must be accompanied by someone over the age of 16, and those under the age of 18 require parental permission. See www.edenproject.com for more information.
The longest zip wire in Britain was previously found at Adrenaline Quarry, also in Cornwall, and measures 490m in length.
Meanwhile, a temporary zip wire is due to open at Wembley Stadium next month. The 200-metre wire will be open from August 16-22. See www.wembleystadium.com/tours
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Monday, 16 July 2012
London 2012 Olympics journey planner
Transport for London will operate a range of new social media platforms to assist and inform commuters before and during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
With approximately one million more people than usual expected to be in the capital during the forthcoming Olympic Games, London commuters and incoming visitors are being warned that the city’s transport network will be under unprecedented strain. Today TfL has announced the full list of social media platforms and planning tools it is making available to those who will be travelling through the city during Games time.
In addition to TfL’s permanent Twitter account (@TfLOfficial) a number of Transport for London Twitter accounts will be providing additional advice on how services and roads are operating during the Games period. They are @TfLTrafficNews, @TfLTraveAlerts and @GAOTG. Individual Twitter accounts also exist for each of London Underground’s Tube lines, the DLR, London Overground and the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme. You can find a complete list of TfL’s Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts here.
Transport for London is warning commuters that each day of the Games will be different, with certain stations and interchanges set to be exceptionally busy when important events are held nearby. The website www.getaheadofthegames.com has been set up to give commuters notice of how busy their journeys are likely to be and is recommended reading for travellers looking to plan their journeys through London in advance of their arrival. Already the service has been used by 1.5 million people. Londoners will also be able to sign up for email alerts to help them plan their commute during the Games at www.tfl.gov.uk/gamesemails while ticket holders are advised to use the Spectator Journey Planner to plan their journey to Olympics venues. Wi-Fi is now available in a number of London Tube stations and will be complimentary during the Games period so commuters will be able to access updates on the move.
The social media accounts and travel mailing lists introduced by TfL are supplemented by a number of other online travel platforms. This week Concentra launched an interactive graphic detailing which Tube stations are likely to face the most severe disruptions on any given day of the Olympics; Google maps, meanwhile, is now offering cycling directions which should be of use to Londoners who are planning on cycling to work during the Games.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
With approximately one million more people than usual expected to be in the capital during the forthcoming Olympic Games, London commuters and incoming visitors are being warned that the city’s transport network will be under unprecedented strain. Today TfL has announced the full list of social media platforms and planning tools it is making available to those who will be travelling through the city during Games time.
In addition to TfL’s permanent Twitter account (@TfLOfficial) a number of Transport for London Twitter accounts will be providing additional advice on how services and roads are operating during the Games period. They are @TfLTrafficNews, @TfLTraveAlerts and @GAOTG. Individual Twitter accounts also exist for each of London Underground’s Tube lines, the DLR, London Overground and the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme. You can find a complete list of TfL’s Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts here.
Transport for London is warning commuters that each day of the Games will be different, with certain stations and interchanges set to be exceptionally busy when important events are held nearby. The website www.getaheadofthegames.com has been set up to give commuters notice of how busy their journeys are likely to be and is recommended reading for travellers looking to plan their journeys through London in advance of their arrival. Already the service has been used by 1.5 million people. Londoners will also be able to sign up for email alerts to help them plan their commute during the Games at www.tfl.gov.uk/gamesemails while ticket holders are advised to use the Spectator Journey Planner to plan their journey to Olympics venues. Wi-Fi is now available in a number of London Tube stations and will be complimentary during the Games period so commuters will be able to access updates on the move.
The social media accounts and travel mailing lists introduced by TfL are supplemented by a number of other online travel platforms. This week Concentra launched an interactive graphic detailing which Tube stations are likely to face the most severe disruptions on any given day of the Olympics; Google maps, meanwhile, is now offering cycling directions which should be of use to Londoners who are planning on cycling to work during the Games.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Friday, 6 July 2012
Sun Holidays from £9.50 are back.
GET away for less, with over 290 parks across the UK and Europe to choose from.
Sun Holidays from £9.50 are back.
The Sun have got holidays in September, October and November at hundreds of fabulous parks in the UK, Ireland, France (inc. Corsica), Spain, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria.
They've even a couple of late summer breaks in early September from just £15 per person.
TO book your holiday, simply Collect TEN differently-numbered tokens from those that are being printing in The Sun.
Check out the park listings and some top tips and deals, complete the booking form. Then attach your tokens and you’ll soon be enjoying the holiday bargain of a lifetime.
WHEN TO GO:
These are the starting dates for Sun holidays from £9.50:
Monday-Friday (4 night breaks): September 10, 17, 24 October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 November 5, 12, 19, 26
Friday-Monday (3 night breaks): September 14, 21, 28 October 5, 12, 19, 26 November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
These are the starting dates for Sun holidays from £15:
Monday-Friday (4 night breaks): September 3
Friday-Monday (3 night breaks): September 7
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Sun Holidays from £9.50 are back.
The Sun have got holidays in September, October and November at hundreds of fabulous parks in the UK, Ireland, France (inc. Corsica), Spain, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria.
They've even a couple of late summer breaks in early September from just £15 per person.
TO book your holiday, simply Collect TEN differently-numbered tokens from those that are being printing in The Sun.
Check out the park listings and some top tips and deals, complete the booking form. Then attach your tokens and you’ll soon be enjoying the holiday bargain of a lifetime.
WHEN TO GO:
These are the starting dates for Sun holidays from £9.50:
Monday-Friday (4 night breaks): September 10, 17, 24 October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 November 5, 12, 19, 26
Friday-Monday (3 night breaks): September 14, 21, 28 October 5, 12, 19, 26 November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
These are the starting dates for Sun holidays from £15:
Monday-Friday (4 night breaks): September 3
Friday-Monday (3 night breaks): September 7
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Take a break where the spa's the star
From taking the waters in Bath and Cheltenham to diamond facials, hot tubs and manicures for men, the art of pampering in the UK has come a long way.
British spas have come a long way since "taking the waters" came into fashion in towns such as Bath and Cheltenham. Now every hotel worth its Dead Sea salts has a treatment room, if not a full-blown Roman tepidarium. Many treatments are tailored to our busy lives. Champneys (0843 316 2222; champneys. com) offers a Bamboo Massage for people who slouch at their desk all day (£65), while the Blue Harbour Spa at Wyndham Grand London (020-7823 3000; wyndhamgrandlondon.co.uk) has a VOYA Environmental Defence facial (£75), to combat pollution. Specialist booking agents include Health and Fitness Travel (0845 544 1936; healthandfitnesstravel.com) and spabreaks.com (0800 043 6600).
Of course don't just take our word for it have a look at the following famous quotes:
"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." Buddha
"If the body be feeble, the mind will not be strong." Thomas Jefferson, US President
"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." Ovid, Roman Poet
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
British spas have come a long way since "taking the waters" came into fashion in towns such as Bath and Cheltenham. Now every hotel worth its Dead Sea salts has a treatment room, if not a full-blown Roman tepidarium. Many treatments are tailored to our busy lives. Champneys (0843 316 2222; champneys. com) offers a Bamboo Massage for people who slouch at their desk all day (£65), while the Blue Harbour Spa at Wyndham Grand London (020-7823 3000; wyndhamgrandlondon.co.uk) has a VOYA Environmental Defence facial (£75), to combat pollution. Specialist booking agents include Health and Fitness Travel (0845 544 1936; healthandfitnesstravel.com) and spabreaks.com (0800 043 6600).
Of course don't just take our word for it have a look at the following famous quotes:
"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." Buddha
"If the body be feeble, the mind will not be strong." Thomas Jefferson, US President
"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." Ovid, Roman Poet
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Weymouth, Dorset: the jewel of the south for the 2012 Olympics
Visitors to Weymouth for the sailing at the 2012 Olympics will be won over by its wonderful beaches, wild coastal walks and rich history.
When it comes to seaside holidays it is location that counts; and Weymouth, wrapped around by Dorset’s Jurassic Coast – England’s first and only natural World Heritage Site – basks in a setting unmatched by any other south coast resort.
Visitors have been flocking to its golden sands ever since 1789, when Mad King George III took his first royal dip in the briny, using a newfangled bathing machine – a kind of beach hut on wheels. Although he didn’t know it, as he emerged from the waves while a band played God Save the King he had put Weymouth on the map, and turned sea bathing into a national pastime.
With its elegant Georgian seafront, best sandcastle beach ever and a harbour deep enough for Channel Island ferries, Weymouth is no run-of-the-mill seaside resort. Radipole Lake – an RSPB reserve of whispering reeds and flights of wildfowl – reaches into the heart of the town, and at Portland Harbour is the National Sailing Academy, where the main Olympic events will be staged.
All 4,600 tickets for the main viewpoint at the Nothe Gardens were snapped up long ago. You could watch from the Smugglers’ Inn at Osmington Mills or Furzy Cliffs at Bowleaze Cove, but all you will see are small white triangles.
Far better to head for the two giant screens on the beach, which have an accompanying commentary so you will know exactly what is going on. There’s enough room for 15,000 people and it is free, although you will be clicked in through the turnstiles to avoid overcrowding.
Rising behind the Olympic village is England’s Gibraltar – the Isle of Portland. An island in name only, this four-mile slab of solid limestone is joined to the mainland by Chesil Beach. It’s a weird place, bleak and windswept, with a prison at one end and a lighthouse at the other. Half of London, including St Paul’s Cathedral and the Banqueting House in Whitehall, was dug from its quarries.
Peregrine falcons patrol its cliffs and the tidal race streaming south from Portland Bill is one of the most powerful in Europe, flinging up steep, confused waves that come at you from every direction. From the New Ground car park near the Portland Heights Hotel you can follow an eight-mile coastal walk right around the island with glorious views.
Westward lies Chesil Beach, one of the geological wonders of the world, a giant bank of sea-heaped pebbles connecting Portland to the mainland at Wyke Regis and then sweeping away in an unbroken curve with hardly so much as a beach hut to spoil its tawny symmetry.
Events
Olympic torch relay in Dorset: July 12-14
Olympic sailing: July 29-Aug 11
Paralympic sailing: September 1-6
Spirit of the Sea: Weymouth & Portland Maritime Festival, June 30 to July 15. Two weeks of sport, cultural events and a spectacular carnival procession coinciding with the Dorset Seafood Festival (01305 208714; spiritofthesea.org.uk).
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
When it comes to seaside holidays it is location that counts; and Weymouth, wrapped around by Dorset’s Jurassic Coast – England’s first and only natural World Heritage Site – basks in a setting unmatched by any other south coast resort.
Visitors have been flocking to its golden sands ever since 1789, when Mad King George III took his first royal dip in the briny, using a newfangled bathing machine – a kind of beach hut on wheels. Although he didn’t know it, as he emerged from the waves while a band played God Save the King he had put Weymouth on the map, and turned sea bathing into a national pastime.
With its elegant Georgian seafront, best sandcastle beach ever and a harbour deep enough for Channel Island ferries, Weymouth is no run-of-the-mill seaside resort. Radipole Lake – an RSPB reserve of whispering reeds and flights of wildfowl – reaches into the heart of the town, and at Portland Harbour is the National Sailing Academy, where the main Olympic events will be staged.
All 4,600 tickets for the main viewpoint at the Nothe Gardens were snapped up long ago. You could watch from the Smugglers’ Inn at Osmington Mills or Furzy Cliffs at Bowleaze Cove, but all you will see are small white triangles.
Far better to head for the two giant screens on the beach, which have an accompanying commentary so you will know exactly what is going on. There’s enough room for 15,000 people and it is free, although you will be clicked in through the turnstiles to avoid overcrowding.
Rising behind the Olympic village is England’s Gibraltar – the Isle of Portland. An island in name only, this four-mile slab of solid limestone is joined to the mainland by Chesil Beach. It’s a weird place, bleak and windswept, with a prison at one end and a lighthouse at the other. Half of London, including St Paul’s Cathedral and the Banqueting House in Whitehall, was dug from its quarries.
Peregrine falcons patrol its cliffs and the tidal race streaming south from Portland Bill is one of the most powerful in Europe, flinging up steep, confused waves that come at you from every direction. From the New Ground car park near the Portland Heights Hotel you can follow an eight-mile coastal walk right around the island with glorious views.
Westward lies Chesil Beach, one of the geological wonders of the world, a giant bank of sea-heaped pebbles connecting Portland to the mainland at Wyke Regis and then sweeping away in an unbroken curve with hardly so much as a beach hut to spoil its tawny symmetry.
Events
Olympic torch relay in Dorset: July 12-14
Olympic sailing: July 29-Aug 11
Paralympic sailing: September 1-6
Spirit of the Sea: Weymouth & Portland Maritime Festival, June 30 to July 15. Two weeks of sport, cultural events and a spectacular carnival procession coinciding with the Dorset Seafood Festival (01305 208714; spiritofthesea.org.uk).
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Monday, 4 June 2012
UK Holidays Are A Great Idea
According to a recent article by Direct Travel Insurance, the UK is a great place to take a holiday if you want a relaxing break without the hassle of jumping on a plan abroad.
Has there ever been so much to see and do in Britain as this year? Probably not! Britons don’t only have the fantastic occasions of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics to give them a reason to explore our beautiful country, but a host of other events too.
They go on to give 5 great reasons to take a ‘staycation’ and make the most of brilliant Britain. Taking out a UK travel insurance policy will provide peace of mind to the Britons that they are covered in the event of a problem.
So instead of flying abroad, why not:
1. Book a country break or city stay to make the most of the four-day-weekend giving Britons a Diamond Jubilee double bank holiday from 2 – 5 June. It’s too good an opportunity to miss.
2. Catch the Olympic buzz early by seeing the Torch Relay as it winds throughout the country from Land’s End on 18 May to London on 27 July. During the Games event will be taking place as far afield as Weymouth (sailing), Broxbourne (canoeing) and Hadleigh (mountain biking.)
3. Enjoy movie mania at the new Making of Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour near Watford, with iconic film sets ranging from Dumbledore’s office to the Weasleys’ kitchen and the Great Hall. Or head to Scotland for the spectacular scenery featured in the epic battles and mystical legends of the new Disney Pixar film Brave, out in June.
4. Mark the centenary of the Titanic in Belfast with a trip to the new multi-million pound visitor attraction recounting the tragedy of the ill-fated liner. Visitors can relive the story of the doomed ship with full-scale reconstructions, dark rides and special effects.
5. Pull on your hiking boots and head to Wales, where 850 miles of coastline have just opened up to walkers. This makes Wales one of the only countries on earth where visitors can walk along the entire length of the coastline on marked trails.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Has there ever been so much to see and do in Britain as this year? Probably not! Britons don’t only have the fantastic occasions of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics to give them a reason to explore our beautiful country, but a host of other events too.
They go on to give 5 great reasons to take a ‘staycation’ and make the most of brilliant Britain. Taking out a UK travel insurance policy will provide peace of mind to the Britons that they are covered in the event of a problem.
So instead of flying abroad, why not:
1. Book a country break or city stay to make the most of the four-day-weekend giving Britons a Diamond Jubilee double bank holiday from 2 – 5 June. It’s too good an opportunity to miss.
2. Catch the Olympic buzz early by seeing the Torch Relay as it winds throughout the country from Land’s End on 18 May to London on 27 July. During the Games event will be taking place as far afield as Weymouth (sailing), Broxbourne (canoeing) and Hadleigh (mountain biking.)
3. Enjoy movie mania at the new Making of Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour near Watford, with iconic film sets ranging from Dumbledore’s office to the Weasleys’ kitchen and the Great Hall. Or head to Scotland for the spectacular scenery featured in the epic battles and mystical legends of the new Disney Pixar film Brave, out in June.
4. Mark the centenary of the Titanic in Belfast with a trip to the new multi-million pound visitor attraction recounting the tragedy of the ill-fated liner. Visitors can relive the story of the doomed ship with full-scale reconstructions, dark rides and special effects.
5. Pull on your hiking boots and head to Wales, where 850 miles of coastline have just opened up to walkers. This makes Wales one of the only countries on earth where visitors can walk along the entire length of the coastline on marked trails.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Save Over £40 on Food & Drink with Park Holidays
With many quality holiday parks around the country, Park Holidays UK offers great value to people holidaying throughout England’s south coast. Now, they are providing their guests with an additional bonus – more than £40 worth of savings on food and drink when you stay with them!
Right now, you can sign up to receive a special welcome pack when you arrive at one of their parks, with any break booked for between the 25th May and the end of June, excluding school holiday dates.
You will enjoy free drinks and snacks on particular nominated days throughout your stay, such as a pint of lager or bitter on the Monday and a glass of wine on the Thursday. There will also be days on which guests can have either two free starters or desserts when ordering two main courses.
All you need to do is present the voucher that you will find in your welcome pack when you get to the park to our onsite restaurant when you place your order.
Whether you are interested in one of Park Holidays UK’s static caravans for sale or just want to enjoy a short break, get in touch today. With Park Holidays cheap getaways made even cheaper with promotions like this one, you’ll find it hard to match them in terms of both value and quality.
Park Holidays offer a range of facilities designed to give you the best value for money holidays you are likely to find in the UK. With 25 fully equipped parks stretching across south England’s coasts, from Devon to Suffolk, Park Holidays are the perfect choice for family breaks.
From traditional caravan holidays to camping and even static caravans for sale, Park Holidays have everything you need for a great value getaway.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Right now, you can sign up to receive a special welcome pack when you arrive at one of their parks, with any break booked for between the 25th May and the end of June, excluding school holiday dates.
You will enjoy free drinks and snacks on particular nominated days throughout your stay, such as a pint of lager or bitter on the Monday and a glass of wine on the Thursday. There will also be days on which guests can have either two free starters or desserts when ordering two main courses.
All you need to do is present the voucher that you will find in your welcome pack when you get to the park to our onsite restaurant when you place your order.
Whether you are interested in one of Park Holidays UK’s static caravans for sale or just want to enjoy a short break, get in touch today. With Park Holidays cheap getaways made even cheaper with promotions like this one, you’ll find it hard to match them in terms of both value and quality.
Park Holidays offer a range of facilities designed to give you the best value for money holidays you are likely to find in the UK. With 25 fully equipped parks stretching across south England’s coasts, from Devon to Suffolk, Park Holidays are the perfect choice for family breaks.
From traditional caravan holidays to camping and even static caravans for sale, Park Holidays have everything you need for a great value getaway.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Is Cornwall Greenest Holiday Destination?
Cornwall remains high on the list of favourite UK holiday destinations. Three Cornish resorts featured in the top 10 British resorts in the TripAdvisor Awards, a Which? holiday survey put two Cornish resorts amongst Britain's top ten favourite seaside towns, the British Travel Awards recently voted Cornwall the best UK Holiday County or Region and Sunday Times readers voted Cornwall their Favourite UK Country Escape.
Little surprise then that two of the most popular of Haven Holidays' 35 UK family holiday parks are Riviere Sands near Hayle and Perran Sands near Perranporth. Riviere Sands enjoys an enviable position with direct access to the South West Path and stunning views across the Hayle estuary to St Ives whilst some 26 miles further north along the coast path, Perran Sands is set amidst Cornwall's largest dune system overlooking the long stretch of Perran Beach and perfect for surfing.
Families and couples travel from all over the UK to holiday here each year, many returning time after time drawn by the gorgeous scenery, beaches and local attractions as well the wide choice of facilities, sports, activities and entertainment on the parks. There's always something to do - whether it's introducing the kids to fencing, getting involved in 'Messy Mornings' with your toddler, a round of Adventure Golf, a swim in an heated leisure pool or just sitting back and enjoying the entertainment.
But for General Manager June Donnery, who looks after both parks, one of the most important aspects of running park holidays is to ensure that it operates with minimal impact on the environment.
'So many people have voted for Cornwall in so many different holiday surveys and awards we truly believe it's our duty to make sure we can welcome visitors without damaging what it is they come here to enjoy.' June is passionate about ensuring that the eco-credentials of both parks are an integral part of everything she does.
Both parks have held a David Bellamy Conservation Award Perran Sands ten years Riviere Sands 5 years and both hold the prestigious 'Gold' Green Tourism Business Scheme award. For larger businesses this means meeting significant standards across a wide range of criteria from recycling waste and minimising utilities to working alongside local communities and keeping visitors informed about local flora and fauna.
A self-confessed sustainability geek, June is keen to encourage her team to get involved in green projects too. Before the current holiday season started Team Members at Riviere Sands carried out a litter pick on the Gwithian Towns and collected a staggering 45 bags of rubbish from this are and the beachfront.
And everyone is expected to get involved in the annual Big Green Weekend that provides a real show-case for their eco-endeavours, with all sorts of 'green' activities that involve holidaymakers and the local community as well as team members. From green fancy dress and recycled sculpture competitions to guided walks across the dunes led by Park Ranger Sarah Taylor a combination of fun activities and more serious events highlight the parks' ethos when it comes to the environment.
Continuing investment in both parks ensures that the product remains fresh and exciting for visitors - but June insists that the environment should be taken into consideration with any new building projects.
This year GBP 1.5million has been spent on a new touring facility. 'Camping and caravanning holidays have such a low carbon footprint,' says June. 'It's a fantastic way to get really close to nature and spend time outdoors and we wanted to make it as convenient and comfortable as possible for our touring guests.'
The new shower and washroom blocks have been designed to blend in with the sand dunes so the visual impact is as modest as their environmental footprint. Curved roofs are covered in grass and designed to harvest rainwater to make them self-watering. Water for the showers is solar heated and the exterior is clad in cedar which will fade over time to a silvery-grey to blend in with the natural environment.
Energy efficient under-floor heating, rooflights to maximise the natural light and high efficiency condenser boilers ensure that the buildings work to best environmental standards as well as looking attractive. Inside, the interior has been quirkily designed to make one block redolent of the camper vans much loved by local surfers whilst the other captures a 'beach hut' feel with lots of seaside brightly coloured beach hut cubicles.
What's more, Perran will be the first Cornwall Holiday Park to feature geo-domes as an alternative accommodation for touring guests. Following the success of their yurts (they have four) and a new village of safari tents, June commissioned a handful of geo-dome tents, complete with separate sleeping pods for children. Similar in shape to the famous domes of the Eden Project, the new tents will be fully furnished in 'shabby chic' style with a corner sofa and comfortable beds.
The 'seaside' theme continues at Riviere Sands where the new Cornish Cafe is decorated in natural timber cladding with mural of St.Ives bay- and stocks plenty of local produce, with Cornish cream teas and Cornish ice cream. It even features hand carved Cornish pasties as door handles - with a local artist commissioned for the job.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Little surprise then that two of the most popular of Haven Holidays' 35 UK family holiday parks are Riviere Sands near Hayle and Perran Sands near Perranporth. Riviere Sands enjoys an enviable position with direct access to the South West Path and stunning views across the Hayle estuary to St Ives whilst some 26 miles further north along the coast path, Perran Sands is set amidst Cornwall's largest dune system overlooking the long stretch of Perran Beach and perfect for surfing.
Families and couples travel from all over the UK to holiday here each year, many returning time after time drawn by the gorgeous scenery, beaches and local attractions as well the wide choice of facilities, sports, activities and entertainment on the parks. There's always something to do - whether it's introducing the kids to fencing, getting involved in 'Messy Mornings' with your toddler, a round of Adventure Golf, a swim in an heated leisure pool or just sitting back and enjoying the entertainment.
But for General Manager June Donnery, who looks after both parks, one of the most important aspects of running park holidays is to ensure that it operates with minimal impact on the environment.
'So many people have voted for Cornwall in so many different holiday surveys and awards we truly believe it's our duty to make sure we can welcome visitors without damaging what it is they come here to enjoy.' June is passionate about ensuring that the eco-credentials of both parks are an integral part of everything she does.
Both parks have held a David Bellamy Conservation Award Perran Sands ten years Riviere Sands 5 years and both hold the prestigious 'Gold' Green Tourism Business Scheme award. For larger businesses this means meeting significant standards across a wide range of criteria from recycling waste and minimising utilities to working alongside local communities and keeping visitors informed about local flora and fauna.
A self-confessed sustainability geek, June is keen to encourage her team to get involved in green projects too. Before the current holiday season started Team Members at Riviere Sands carried out a litter pick on the Gwithian Towns and collected a staggering 45 bags of rubbish from this are and the beachfront.
And everyone is expected to get involved in the annual Big Green Weekend that provides a real show-case for their eco-endeavours, with all sorts of 'green' activities that involve holidaymakers and the local community as well as team members. From green fancy dress and recycled sculpture competitions to guided walks across the dunes led by Park Ranger Sarah Taylor a combination of fun activities and more serious events highlight the parks' ethos when it comes to the environment.
Continuing investment in both parks ensures that the product remains fresh and exciting for visitors - but June insists that the environment should be taken into consideration with any new building projects.
This year GBP 1.5million has been spent on a new touring facility. 'Camping and caravanning holidays have such a low carbon footprint,' says June. 'It's a fantastic way to get really close to nature and spend time outdoors and we wanted to make it as convenient and comfortable as possible for our touring guests.'
The new shower and washroom blocks have been designed to blend in with the sand dunes so the visual impact is as modest as their environmental footprint. Curved roofs are covered in grass and designed to harvest rainwater to make them self-watering. Water for the showers is solar heated and the exterior is clad in cedar which will fade over time to a silvery-grey to blend in with the natural environment.
Energy efficient under-floor heating, rooflights to maximise the natural light and high efficiency condenser boilers ensure that the buildings work to best environmental standards as well as looking attractive. Inside, the interior has been quirkily designed to make one block redolent of the camper vans much loved by local surfers whilst the other captures a 'beach hut' feel with lots of seaside brightly coloured beach hut cubicles.
What's more, Perran will be the first Cornwall Holiday Park to feature geo-domes as an alternative accommodation for touring guests. Following the success of their yurts (they have four) and a new village of safari tents, June commissioned a handful of geo-dome tents, complete with separate sleeping pods for children. Similar in shape to the famous domes of the Eden Project, the new tents will be fully furnished in 'shabby chic' style with a corner sofa and comfortable beds.
The 'seaside' theme continues at Riviere Sands where the new Cornish Cafe is decorated in natural timber cladding with mural of St.Ives bay- and stocks plenty of local produce, with Cornish cream teas and Cornish ice cream. It even features hand carved Cornish pasties as door handles - with a local artist commissioned for the job.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Monday, 21 May 2012
London Underground: Tube map unveiled
Tracey Emin is the latest artist to decorate the pocket Tube map; her picture will be printed 18 million times.
Notable artists have long decorated the cover pages of Tube maps distributed to tourists and locals in London Underground stations. Emin’s map is the sixteenth in a series of such specially commissioned covers, all of which form part of the Art on the Underground initiative that integrates contemporary art into Tube passengers’ journeys.
The first artist to have their work promoted on a Tube map was Emma Kay in 2004, with subsequent designs coming from artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Michael Landy, Eva Rothschild and David Shrigley.
Some 18 million maps will be printed with Emin’s design, making it the most prolific edition of the map to date, and it will be available from June and over the duration of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The design shows a scrawled bird at rest on a branch that stands in place of the Northern line and features the names of the Central line and east London stations that form the basis of the artist’s commute. Speaking about the reaction she hopes her work evokes, Emin said: “When people look at the Tube map I want them to smile and feel reassured.”
TfL has commended Emin’s creation for adapting “the iconography of the original map to reflect her personal experience of the network and her ideas and experience of place.” Tamsin Dillon, head of Art on the Underground praised the piece as “a moving and unique interpretation of the capital”. Emin was also one of the artists who contributed a design to the official series of 12 Olympic and Paralympic posters.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Notable artists have long decorated the cover pages of Tube maps distributed to tourists and locals in London Underground stations. Emin’s map is the sixteenth in a series of such specially commissioned covers, all of which form part of the Art on the Underground initiative that integrates contemporary art into Tube passengers’ journeys.
The first artist to have their work promoted on a Tube map was Emma Kay in 2004, with subsequent designs coming from artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Michael Landy, Eva Rothschild and David Shrigley.
Some 18 million maps will be printed with Emin’s design, making it the most prolific edition of the map to date, and it will be available from June and over the duration of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The design shows a scrawled bird at rest on a branch that stands in place of the Northern line and features the names of the Central line and east London stations that form the basis of the artist’s commute. Speaking about the reaction she hopes her work evokes, Emin said: “When people look at the Tube map I want them to smile and feel reassured.”
TfL has commended Emin’s creation for adapting “the iconography of the original map to reflect her personal experience of the network and her ideas and experience of place.” Tamsin Dillon, head of Art on the Underground praised the piece as “a moving and unique interpretation of the capital”. Emin was also one of the artists who contributed a design to the official series of 12 Olympic and Paralympic posters.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Where to spend your 4-day Jubilee weekend?
With the Diamond Jubilee Bank Holidays leading into the half-term break, holidaymakers are rubbing their hands at the prospect of a four-day weekend from Saturday, June 2, to Tuesday, June 5.
That means you can get away with nine days off work while only using up three days of annual leave.
So if you’re planning a regal British getaway to celebrate, our list of the top deals around might help.
TEA-RIFFIC: Butlins are getting busy with the bunting this June to commemorate the Queen and Prince Philip’s 1963 visit.
Jubilee afternoon teas, Best Of British garden parties, souvenir mugs and mini hampers are being served up at all three Butlins resorts — Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.
And why not check out the new £25million Wave Hotel opening at the Bognor Regis resort this summer, with 29 apartments and 215 family bedrooms. Prices for Jubilee and half-term breaks include three nights for a family of four at Skegness from June 1 from £413, four nights from June 4 at Minehead from £743, and three nights at Minehead from June 8 from £312.
BUCKING’S THE TREND: Try a little luxury a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.
Three nights’ B&B at the three-star Royal National Hotel in central London — including three-course dinners, welcome cocktail, celebration BBQ and packed lunch on Sunday June 3 — will help you make the most of the Jubilee weekend.
Monday, June 4, is free for you to soak up the atmosphere in the capital and on Tuesday, June 5, you can enjoy the Queen’s carriage procession through London.
Price is from £193 per person, based on two sharing, arriving Saturday, June 2. via superbreak.com.
Or toast the Queen in true British style with the new Jubilee martini at the Dukes St James’ Hotel.
Nightly rates start from £308 plus VAT, including champagne afternoon tea and a Jubilee martini. Call 020 7491 4840 or visit dukeshotel.com.
ROYAL INDULGENCE: Champneys health resort is offering four nights for the price of two to mark the occasion. Their Diamond Jubilee Weekend Package — available at all Champneys locations — includes all meals, one massage, one facial and one “thalassotherapy” pool session.
There will be a Friday drinks reception followed by an evening of British films, a Saturday screening of the Epsom Derby and a lavish garden party on the Monday.
The Queen’s Jubilee concert will be screened live from Buckingham Palace and guests will have use of the croquet lawns, tennis courts and spa facilities. Plus there will be a small Diamond Jubilee souvenir to take home.
The Diamond Jubilee Weekend Package starts from £369.95 per person. via champneys.com.
ROYAL FOREST: Oakdene Forest Park in Hampshire is set in 55 acres bordering the Avon Forest and off-site activities include jet-skiing, flying lessons and snowboarding.
A three-night break for a family of four over the Jubilee weekend (from Friday, June 1) is from £261.75 for a self-catering Wimborne Caravan.
Jubilee-themed fun for kids includes a royal decoration session creating crowns and tiaras, flags and posters.
There will also be races and challenges and a Brit Pop Show family disco in the evening. visit shorefield.co.uk or call 01590 648 331.
SANDRINGHAM ESCAPE: Inglethorpe Hall in Norfolk, a refurbished Georgian country house set in 30 acres, sleeps 15 people, and even hosted three real queens in the 1920s.
Queen Mary (George V’s wife), Queen Alexandra (wife of Edward VII) and Queen Maud of Norway (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter) all sipped Earl Grey while on visits from the neighbouring Sandringham Estate.
This June, royal pursuits will include croquet, horse riding and clay pigeon shooting.
The price is from £227 per person for three nights’ self-catering over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend — June 1-4. Visit statelyescapes.co.uk or call 0845 389 9582.
A RIGHT ROYAL HOO-HA: The Queen and Prince Philip spent part of their honeymoon, and subsequent wedding anniversaries, at Luton Hoo hotel in Bedfordshire.
The rooms in which they stayed now form part of the Queen Elizabeth State Suite.
A Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Weekend package at Luton Hoo is from £410 per person for four nights — June 1 to June 5 — including celebration dinners.
Children stay free when sharing with adults. visit lutonhoo.co.uk or call 01582 734437.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
That means you can get away with nine days off work while only using up three days of annual leave.
So if you’re planning a regal British getaway to celebrate, our list of the top deals around might help.
TEA-RIFFIC: Butlins are getting busy with the bunting this June to commemorate the Queen and Prince Philip’s 1963 visit.
Jubilee afternoon teas, Best Of British garden parties, souvenir mugs and mini hampers are being served up at all three Butlins resorts — Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.
And why not check out the new £25million Wave Hotel opening at the Bognor Regis resort this summer, with 29 apartments and 215 family bedrooms. Prices for Jubilee and half-term breaks include three nights for a family of four at Skegness from June 1 from £413, four nights from June 4 at Minehead from £743, and three nights at Minehead from June 8 from £312.
BUCKING’S THE TREND: Try a little luxury a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.
Three nights’ B&B at the three-star Royal National Hotel in central London — including three-course dinners, welcome cocktail, celebration BBQ and packed lunch on Sunday June 3 — will help you make the most of the Jubilee weekend.
Monday, June 4, is free for you to soak up the atmosphere in the capital and on Tuesday, June 5, you can enjoy the Queen’s carriage procession through London.
Price is from £193 per person, based on two sharing, arriving Saturday, June 2. via superbreak.com.
Or toast the Queen in true British style with the new Jubilee martini at the Dukes St James’ Hotel.
Nightly rates start from £308 plus VAT, including champagne afternoon tea and a Jubilee martini. Call 020 7491 4840 or visit dukeshotel.com.
ROYAL INDULGENCE: Champneys health resort is offering four nights for the price of two to mark the occasion. Their Diamond Jubilee Weekend Package — available at all Champneys locations — includes all meals, one massage, one facial and one “thalassotherapy” pool session.
There will be a Friday drinks reception followed by an evening of British films, a Saturday screening of the Epsom Derby and a lavish garden party on the Monday.
The Queen’s Jubilee concert will be screened live from Buckingham Palace and guests will have use of the croquet lawns, tennis courts and spa facilities. Plus there will be a small Diamond Jubilee souvenir to take home.
The Diamond Jubilee Weekend Package starts from £369.95 per person. via champneys.com.
ROYAL FOREST: Oakdene Forest Park in Hampshire is set in 55 acres bordering the Avon Forest and off-site activities include jet-skiing, flying lessons and snowboarding.
A three-night break for a family of four over the Jubilee weekend (from Friday, June 1) is from £261.75 for a self-catering Wimborne Caravan.
Jubilee-themed fun for kids includes a royal decoration session creating crowns and tiaras, flags and posters.
There will also be races and challenges and a Brit Pop Show family disco in the evening. visit shorefield.co.uk or call 01590 648 331.
SANDRINGHAM ESCAPE: Inglethorpe Hall in Norfolk, a refurbished Georgian country house set in 30 acres, sleeps 15 people, and even hosted three real queens in the 1920s.
Queen Mary (George V’s wife), Queen Alexandra (wife of Edward VII) and Queen Maud of Norway (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter) all sipped Earl Grey while on visits from the neighbouring Sandringham Estate.
This June, royal pursuits will include croquet, horse riding and clay pigeon shooting.
The price is from £227 per person for three nights’ self-catering over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend — June 1-4. Visit statelyescapes.co.uk or call 0845 389 9582.
A RIGHT ROYAL HOO-HA: The Queen and Prince Philip spent part of their honeymoon, and subsequent wedding anniversaries, at Luton Hoo hotel in Bedfordshire.
The rooms in which they stayed now form part of the Queen Elizabeth State Suite.
A Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Weekend package at Luton Hoo is from £410 per person for four nights — June 1 to June 5 — including celebration dinners.
Children stay free when sharing with adults. visit lutonhoo.co.uk or call 01582 734437.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Friday, 18 May 2012
Britain’s first ‘Wiki-town’
Tourism boost for Wales as Britain’s first ‘Wiki-town’ is launched in historic Monmouth.
The small Welsh town where King Henry V was born in 1387 is about to make history again by becoming the world's first ‘Wikipedia town.’
From tomorrow, visitors to Monmouth, in south-east Wales, will be able to scan barcodes at points of interest, instantly bringing up a Wikipedia page about the landmark on their phones. Hundreds of articles about the life and history of Monmouth will be available online in more than 26 languages, from Hindi to Hungarian.
Around 1,000 different barcodes, plaques and stickers are now displayed on the town’s schools, museums, historical sites and even pubs have signed up, highlighting the history of their establishments.
And while the project is geared at capturing ‘every notable place, person, artefact, flora and fauna’ in the town, some less-historically notable - but equally welcome - articles have been added.
Local businesses such as bakeries have been involved, placing barcodes in their windows linked to articles about the history of baking.
The project - dubbed ‘Monmouthpedia’ - has been developed by Wikimedia UK over the last six months, helped by the local council's installation of town-wide free Wi-Fi.
Local residents and businesses have created and edited articles about the town, while other volunteers have been translating them.
More than 450 new articles about Monmouth have been added to Wikipedia and nearly 150 existing articles have been improved in the past six months.
Czech speakers can now learn about Monmouth Castle in their native tongue, while Fijian Hindi speakers can check out articles on the Monmouth Cricket Club, Methodist Church or the local Kings Head Hotel.
Scholars of lesser-known languages such as Esperanto or Latin will also have their pick of Monmouth-related articles.
Monmouthshire County Council's chief officer for regeneration and culture, Kellie Beirne, said the project had already boosted tourism.
The town was chosen for its rich cultural history, says Wikimedia UK's communications organiser Stevie Benton.
He said: ‘It's really captured people's imaginations in ways we hadn't expected.'
‘If everyone shares the stories of their local area, we'll have a much clearer understanding of the world we live in and that's a powerful thing.'
Roger Bamkin, a director of Wikimedia UK, said, 'We're delighted that Monmouth is becoming the world's first Wikipedia town.
‘Both the quality and quantity of the new Monmouth Wikipedia content is outstanding, reflecting the rich cultural, historical and natural heritage of the town.
'At last foreign visitors can not only read information in their own language, but they can edit it too.’
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales said he was looking forward to seeing other towns following suit.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
The small Welsh town where King Henry V was born in 1387 is about to make history again by becoming the world's first ‘Wikipedia town.’
From tomorrow, visitors to Monmouth, in south-east Wales, will be able to scan barcodes at points of interest, instantly bringing up a Wikipedia page about the landmark on their phones. Hundreds of articles about the life and history of Monmouth will be available online in more than 26 languages, from Hindi to Hungarian.
Around 1,000 different barcodes, plaques and stickers are now displayed on the town’s schools, museums, historical sites and even pubs have signed up, highlighting the history of their establishments.
And while the project is geared at capturing ‘every notable place, person, artefact, flora and fauna’ in the town, some less-historically notable - but equally welcome - articles have been added.
Local businesses such as bakeries have been involved, placing barcodes in their windows linked to articles about the history of baking.
The project - dubbed ‘Monmouthpedia’ - has been developed by Wikimedia UK over the last six months, helped by the local council's installation of town-wide free Wi-Fi.
Local residents and businesses have created and edited articles about the town, while other volunteers have been translating them.
More than 450 new articles about Monmouth have been added to Wikipedia and nearly 150 existing articles have been improved in the past six months.
Czech speakers can now learn about Monmouth Castle in their native tongue, while Fijian Hindi speakers can check out articles on the Monmouth Cricket Club, Methodist Church or the local Kings Head Hotel.
Scholars of lesser-known languages such as Esperanto or Latin will also have their pick of Monmouth-related articles.
Monmouthshire County Council's chief officer for regeneration and culture, Kellie Beirne, said the project had already boosted tourism.
The town was chosen for its rich cultural history, says Wikimedia UK's communications organiser Stevie Benton.
He said: ‘It's really captured people's imaginations in ways we hadn't expected.'
‘If everyone shares the stories of their local area, we'll have a much clearer understanding of the world we live in and that's a powerful thing.'
Roger Bamkin, a director of Wikimedia UK, said, 'We're delighted that Monmouth is becoming the world's first Wikipedia town.
‘Both the quality and quantity of the new Monmouth Wikipedia content is outstanding, reflecting the rich cultural, historical and natural heritage of the town.
'At last foreign visitors can not only read information in their own language, but they can edit it too.’
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales said he was looking forward to seeing other towns following suit.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
England in top ten for world’s best beaches
Keep Britain Tidy today announced the results of the annual Blue Flag awards, with 79 English beaches receiving the globally-recognised award this year – that’s nine more Blue Flags than 2011, guaranteeing more visitors peace of mind that their trip to the seaside will be clean and litter-free.
From Tyne and Wear to Torbay, beaches around our country’s coastline have been rewarded for their top-notch facilities and high standard of water quality. The results mean England is ranked in the world’s top 10 countries for having the most Blue Flag beaches out of the 46 countries taking part in the Blue Flag scheme.
Flying the flag for England’s seaside resorts in 2012 is Thanet in Kent with nine Blue Flags, followed by Torbay and Cornwall with five each. But the awards aren’t confined to the south of the country – beaches in Northumbria, Yorkshire and along the East of England coastline will be flying the Blue Flag this year.
In addition to the 79 beaches awarded a Blue Flag, 99 beaches around England have received Keep Britain Tidy’s Quality Coast Award, with the Isle of Wight leading the way with 11 awards, followed by Torbay with 10 awards and Scarborough with eight awards.
In total, England will boast an impressive 142 award-winning beaches in 2012 (with 36 beaches flying both the Blue Flag and Quality Coast Award).
Phil Barton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, which is responsible for the Blue Flag scheme in England and the Quality Coast Awards, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that England has more Blue Flag’s this year and with a total of 142 beaches around England receiving Blue Flags and Quality Coast Awards, what better way to holiday in this country than to visit one of the award-winning beaches.
“Winning beaches along our coastline ensure high standards of excellence for visitors. These high standards are testament to the hard work carried out by beach managers throughout the year in order to provide clean and safe beaches for everyone to enjoy, whether you live on the coast or are a visitor.”
The number of beaches receiving a Blue Flag or Quality Coast Award in 2012 proves that our shores continue to shine, offering residents, day-trippers and tourists alike well-maintained and well-managed places to visit.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
From Tyne and Wear to Torbay, beaches around our country’s coastline have been rewarded for their top-notch facilities and high standard of water quality. The results mean England is ranked in the world’s top 10 countries for having the most Blue Flag beaches out of the 46 countries taking part in the Blue Flag scheme.
Flying the flag for England’s seaside resorts in 2012 is Thanet in Kent with nine Blue Flags, followed by Torbay and Cornwall with five each. But the awards aren’t confined to the south of the country – beaches in Northumbria, Yorkshire and along the East of England coastline will be flying the Blue Flag this year.
In addition to the 79 beaches awarded a Blue Flag, 99 beaches around England have received Keep Britain Tidy’s Quality Coast Award, with the Isle of Wight leading the way with 11 awards, followed by Torbay with 10 awards and Scarborough with eight awards.
In total, England will boast an impressive 142 award-winning beaches in 2012 (with 36 beaches flying both the Blue Flag and Quality Coast Award).
Phil Barton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, which is responsible for the Blue Flag scheme in England and the Quality Coast Awards, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that England has more Blue Flag’s this year and with a total of 142 beaches around England receiving Blue Flags and Quality Coast Awards, what better way to holiday in this country than to visit one of the award-winning beaches.
“Winning beaches along our coastline ensure high standards of excellence for visitors. These high standards are testament to the hard work carried out by beach managers throughout the year in order to provide clean and safe beaches for everyone to enjoy, whether you live on the coast or are a visitor.”
The number of beaches receiving a Blue Flag or Quality Coast Award in 2012 proves that our shores continue to shine, offering residents, day-trippers and tourists alike well-maintained and well-managed places to visit.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Enjoy the Diamond Jubilee with a Garden Party
Leading country house and castle rental specialist Stately Escapes has announced that three of its featured properties will be offering unique ‘garden party’ packages for those looking to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in style.
Over the Jubilee double bank holiday weekend (1 to 5 June) the three properties – Inglethorpe Hall in Norfolk, Carlton Manor House in Yorkshire and a stunning 14th Century castle in the Scottish Borders near Berwick will all be dusting off the red, white and blue bunting and royal memorabilia so that guests can mark the royal occasion amidst their own stately splendour.
Be it the quintessentially English garden affair, a Scottish hog roast or full on Yorkshire country fair at the seat of the Duke of Norfolk, each one will surely provide a truly memorable Jubilee weekend getaway for friends and family.
Inglethorpe Hall is set in 30 acres of glorious gardens and parkland near Sandringham in north Norfolk and is a quintessential English country house. Sleeping 15 in comfort within its grand and recently refurbished Georgian interiors it is the perfect location for a quintessentially English Jubilee garden party.
A Jubilee afternoon tea will be served amidst royal bunting under trees in the gardens, or on the grand York stone formal terrace looking out over The Wash to sea or if you really want to soak up the royal atmosphere on a picnic rug in the grounds of Sandringham just next door.
The house really is fit for a royal celebration having hosted three real queens for afternoon tea back in the 1920’s – Queen Mary (George V’s wife), Queen Alexandra (widow of Edward VII) and Queen Maud of Norway (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter) all sipped Earl Grey whilst on a visit to The Hall from neighbouring Sandringham Estate.
Carlton Manor House is a spectacular 17th Century gothic Victorian stately home near Selby in Yorkshire. It is set in 250 acres of parkland and is the home of Lord and Lady Gerald Fitzalan Howard – and the Yorkshire seat of Lord Gerald’s brother the Duke of Norfolk. The Nursery Wing, Bachelor Wing, Baroness Tower and Clock Tower were all refurbished in 2009 as self contained accommodation, lavishly appointed with three grand state rooms and 16 luxurious bedrooms to sleep up to 30 people.
To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee the estate is throwing a traditional country fair over the dual bank holiday. The family event featuring side shows, pop tribute acts and traditional country events such as the Queen’s challenge clay shoot, Jubilee lurcher race and Diamond Geezer competition will run from 9.30am to 9pm on Monday 4th and from 9.30am till 5pm on Tuesday 5th June. Guests staying at the house will gain free access to the fair and be a stones’ throw from all the activities.
If you’re a Laird rather than a Lord at heart then head to the beautiful Scottish Borders to celebrate the Jubilee at a secluded 14th Century castle near Berwick-upon-Tweed. Sleeping 25 within its grand baronial interiors its Jubilee weekend package offers a fully catered option for those looking to kick back and fully enjoy the celebrations.
For more information about all of these Diamond Jubilee exclusive getaways visit www.statelyescapes.co.uk or call 0845 389 9582.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Over the Jubilee double bank holiday weekend (1 to 5 June) the three properties – Inglethorpe Hall in Norfolk, Carlton Manor House in Yorkshire and a stunning 14th Century castle in the Scottish Borders near Berwick will all be dusting off the red, white and blue bunting and royal memorabilia so that guests can mark the royal occasion amidst their own stately splendour.
Be it the quintessentially English garden affair, a Scottish hog roast or full on Yorkshire country fair at the seat of the Duke of Norfolk, each one will surely provide a truly memorable Jubilee weekend getaway for friends and family.
Inglethorpe Hall is set in 30 acres of glorious gardens and parkland near Sandringham in north Norfolk and is a quintessential English country house. Sleeping 15 in comfort within its grand and recently refurbished Georgian interiors it is the perfect location for a quintessentially English Jubilee garden party.
A Jubilee afternoon tea will be served amidst royal bunting under trees in the gardens, or on the grand York stone formal terrace looking out over The Wash to sea or if you really want to soak up the royal atmosphere on a picnic rug in the grounds of Sandringham just next door.
The house really is fit for a royal celebration having hosted three real queens for afternoon tea back in the 1920’s – Queen Mary (George V’s wife), Queen Alexandra (widow of Edward VII) and Queen Maud of Norway (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter) all sipped Earl Grey whilst on a visit to The Hall from neighbouring Sandringham Estate.
Carlton Manor House is a spectacular 17th Century gothic Victorian stately home near Selby in Yorkshire. It is set in 250 acres of parkland and is the home of Lord and Lady Gerald Fitzalan Howard – and the Yorkshire seat of Lord Gerald’s brother the Duke of Norfolk. The Nursery Wing, Bachelor Wing, Baroness Tower and Clock Tower were all refurbished in 2009 as self contained accommodation, lavishly appointed with three grand state rooms and 16 luxurious bedrooms to sleep up to 30 people.
To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee the estate is throwing a traditional country fair over the dual bank holiday. The family event featuring side shows, pop tribute acts and traditional country events such as the Queen’s challenge clay shoot, Jubilee lurcher race and Diamond Geezer competition will run from 9.30am to 9pm on Monday 4th and from 9.30am till 5pm on Tuesday 5th June. Guests staying at the house will gain free access to the fair and be a stones’ throw from all the activities.
If you’re a Laird rather than a Lord at heart then head to the beautiful Scottish Borders to celebrate the Jubilee at a secluded 14th Century castle near Berwick-upon-Tweed. Sleeping 25 within its grand baronial interiors its Jubilee weekend package offers a fully catered option for those looking to kick back and fully enjoy the celebrations.
For more information about all of these Diamond Jubilee exclusive getaways visit www.statelyescapes.co.uk or call 0845 389 9582.
Looking for the latest FABUKBreaks offers on a wide range of UK Holiday ideas let FABTHINGS2do help you.
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