Posts Tagged england

Blackpool (UK) - A Look At Its Attractions

Posted by SEO SERVICES in Travel on February 27th, 2011

In Lancashire, located in North West England, lies Blackpool. This borough is situated on England?s western coast along the Irish Sea, 30 miles from Liverpool. A railway was constructed in Blackpool in the 1840?s, and the resulting traffic led to a rise in tourism. Residents of the northern parts of England and beyond now had access to Blackpool, and once the visitors began traveling there, they never stopped. It remains one of the most important centers of tourism in all of England, and guests of the sea town will find many things to do and sights to see.

The world renowned Blackpool Dance Festival is one of the premier events that occurs in Blackpool. The festival is a yearly competition for ballroom dancers and gained even more exposure than it already enjoyed in the Jennifer Lopez movie Shall We Dance? The dance festival found a home in the Winter Gardens in 1920 and takes place each May. Visitors come from all corners of the world, and this audience encouraged the recent entry of 1539 couples from 54 countries into the competition. Two of the most popular events are the Professional Team Match and the Exhibition Competition. The Junior Dance Festival also maintains a home in Blackpool.

The Winter Gardens itself is a complex that houses more than just the dance festival. Among its 12 component buildings is the Opera House Theatre, a 3000-seat hall and has seen shows such as Royal Variety Performance. It is also the home of the final new Wurlitzer organ installed in the United Kingdom. Also found in Winter Gardens is the Pavilion Theatre, a 600-seat venue, and Olympia. Olympia is an exhibition hall that has served as a funfair and as an indoor playground for children.

One of Blackpool?s most enticing annual events is Blackpool Illuminations, a happening that is truly awe-inspiring. For about seven miles along the coast, lighted collages and other illuminated objects decorate the shore. It begins in late August and runs until early November, a time when most other festivals have ended. As it is one of the only attractions occurring, people travel there in droves. More than one million twinkling light bulbs adorn buildings, gates, street cars, and anything else to which lights can be attached. The festivities begin with The Big Switch On at which a celebrity guest throws the switch to light up the night.

Blackpool has had plenty of practice entertaining people from all over the world and it shows. Dance competitions, plays, movies, and sightseeing activities all share a home in this town by the sea. Travelers couldn?t ask for a more eclectic getaway.

Now Try - Blackpool Hotels

, , ,

No Comments

Lancashire, UK Has Much To Offer Tourists

Posted by SEO SERVICES in Travel on October 29th, 2010

Lancashire is an historic county in the north west of England. Amongst its beautiful countryside lays the lively seaside town of Blackpool. Over six million tourists visit Blackpool every year, making it Britain’s busiest and liveliest tourist resort. Gambling fans may like to visit the Golden Mile ? a mile-long stretch of casino hotels set in the Las Vegas style. Other famous attractions include the Blackpool Illuminations in the fall and the Blackpool Tower and Pleasure Beach ? perhaps the two most famous landmarks in the town.

If you’re a fan of natural beauty, you’ll already know that Britain has hundreds of miles of beautiful rolling countryside on offer. The historic villages of Arnside and Silverdale, sat snugly on the coastline of Morecambe Bay, offer a range of woodlands, grasslands and salt marshes to explore and admire. Arnside has a number of gorgeous Victorian stores and traditional pubs where you can sample some English ales while looking out at the stunning scenery.

Pendle Hill, located in the north east of Lancashire, is an isolated hill with a long and fascinating history. In 1612, the Pendle witch trials took place, with twelve people being accused of the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. Only one was found not guilty and ten people were hanged. The claimed visitation to George Fox took place here in 1652, leading to the foundation of the Quaker movement. Even today, the hill is still very closely associated with the Quaker movement.

If architecture and castles are more your thing, you may like to visit Hoghton Tower, to the east of the town of Preston. Hoghton dates back to the 12th century since the De Hoghton family began living at the house at the time of William the Conqueror. It is rumored that the sirloin steak was so named at Hoghton, when a visiting King James I was so impressed with a loin of steak that he had been served, he whipped out his sword and knighted it ‘Sir Loin’.

Rounding off our selection of fantastic Lancashire attractions is the stunning Forest of Bowland. The three hundred and twelve square miles of ‘Outstanding Beauty’ (yes, that’s an official designation!) is home to a selection of rare birds and plants and is almost untouched since medieval times. The area is a complete contrast to the bustling seaside resort of Blackpool and just goes to show that Lancashire is an extremely diverse county which offers absolutely everything you could want from a British vacation.

Now Try - Holiday Cottages In Lancashire

, , , ,

No Comments

London’s Most Popular Areas

Posted by SEO SERVICES in Travel on July 26th, 2010

The best way to visit London is to pick an area that is near the sites you want to visit, then find a nearby hotel. Some of the most popular areas include:

The West End - Staying in the West End puts you in a position to catch many awesome shows and visit some of London’s most famous attractions such as the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London Zoo, Leicester Square, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The West End is a popular tourist destination with load of vacationers frequenting it. With so much tourist attention the West End is consequently full of hotels to meet your needs and budget. The boundaries of the West End are set by four important London roads - The Strand along the southern end, Oxford Street along the north, Regent Street to the west and Kingsway to the east.

Bayswater / Paddington - Another popular spot for tourists is the Bayswater / Paddington area. Bayswater is comprised of mostly residential places and Paddington is a district right next to it. A lot of the hotels here are converted from older houses and can give a genuine homely atmosphere. The underground in the Bayswater area includes several connecting lines, so you will have quick and easy access to most of London, including the city centre. An upscale neighborhood to visit in Bayswater is Notting Hill, which received a lot of fame due to the film of the same name starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. If you choose to stay there, you can easily traipse over to the Portobello Road Antique Market and find some great treasures. This is usually held every week on Saturday.

Kensington - The place to stay if you do not want to pay for the high cost of a hotel in the city centre, but still want access to all the sites. Kensington is a sub-section of London and is known for its great transportation options. From here you will be able to visit many different gardens, parks and other nature features. Fans of Princess Diana will also find Kensington Palace, her one-time home, in this area. This is a sophisticated and cultured piece of London, and the hotels in this area will provide you with an equally civilized place to stay. If you are looking to be spoiled, this is definitely the spot for you.

Westminster - You could also stay in the most historic district in central London, Westminster. Westminster is home to the Palace of Westminster, the building in which parliament sits. The Palace of Westminster is located in Westminster Square. Also located there is the House of Commons, the House of Lords and a tourist favorite, Big Ben. Near Westminster is the wondrous Buckingham Palace, home of Queen Elizabeth the Second. You can watch the world famous ‘Changing of the Guard’ there every day just before noon. You can also find Downing Street in this District. Westminster is very connected with the London subway known as the ‘tube’ and has many hotels that you could book a stay in!

Now Try - London Hotels

, , , ,

No Comments

Brighton (England) : A Guide For Tourists

Posted by SEO SERVICES in Travel on June 28th, 2010

When looking for some fun in England head to Brighton! With its fabulous beaches, multitude of shopping experiences, and its offerings in the arts, Brighton is the place to be during any season. Its biggest attraction is, of course, the beach. All types of beach activities abound: surfing, sailing, volleyball, skateboarding or just working on a tan. The Lanes offers a great variety of shops in a lovely setting.

Brighton, like every respectable British seaside town, has a pier. There are, in fact, two piers, but one is awaiting renovation for damage due to centuries of ocean storms. The remaining pier is called, simply, The Brighton Pier and is the home of arcades, cafes, restaurants, a roller-coaster, and dodgems. It is singularly British. During the summer months it is the venue for fireworks on the beachfront. Visitors delight to see these fabulous displays.

When visiting Brighton, one must pay a visit to The Royal Pavilion. Built for The Prince Regent, the future King George the IV, it was in use by The Royal Family until Victorian times. It boasts an Indian style and reflects other Asian cultures as well, principally Chinese. The building and decoration of The Royal Pavilion was a ?no expense spared? project. To appreciate the building in all its splendor, plan a visit to walk around and enjoy it in person on your trip to Brighton.

If you have lots of energy and would like to get out into the bracing English seaside air, consider a walking tour. Seeing Brighton by foot is a great learning experience and you will undoubtedly find the history of Brighton and its nearby sister city, Hove, to be fascinating. Walking tours are guided and you will be treated to all sorts of interesting information about the history and landmarks of the towns. The guides can also share information about other things to see and do while in Brighton. If a more leisurely trip around Brighton is more appealing to you, then you’ll be pleased to know that there are bus tours running throughout the day in the summer months. These buses will, of course, make getting from A to B very convenient, but they do more than just that. They follow routes that take in the best that Brighton has to offer, and they operate on a hop-on, hop-off basis, so you can buy yourself a daily ticket and explore the town’s lesser known parts as well as the major tourist attractions, monuments and landmarks. If it’s your first time in Brighton, they’re an ideal way to get your bearings before setting off on foot.

Now Try - Cheap Brighton Hotels

, , , ,

No Comments