Cambridge, England

Cambridge is a vibrant city that fuses together history and modern day life. It is a living city that is still continuing to influence history today. If you go to Cambridge you will be inspired by its historical buildings and surprised by the bustling cafe culture and nightlife. It is a city of contrast.

You can imagine medieval monks writing illuminated texts by the light of a flickering candle. Draughty corridors and high vaulted ceilings depicting stories from the Old Testament where echoes of Gregorian chants can still be heard. Cambridge is steeped in scholastic history dating back to the thirteenth century. Today, the unspoiled beauty offers a refreshing change from traffic chocked cities. The gentle whirr of bicycles passing by or the splashes of oars on the river depict a slice of historic England. Many famous names have passed through these colleges from Oliver Cromwell and Isaac Newton to Prince Charles and Stephen Hawking. The course of history was laid down in this most inspirational of places - a must-see in anybody’s books.

A walk into history…

Kings College

Established by Henry V1 boasts fine examples of fan vaulted ceilings and Renaissance windows showing pictures of the New Testament. The highlight being awe inspiring painting by Rubens - Adoration of the Magi.

Queens College

So called because it was founded by two Queens; that of HenryV1 and Edward1V. Look out for the ‘Mathematical Bridge’. This bridge was originally constructed entirely without nails using geometric principles. The story goes that it was deconstructed by an inquisitive person during the Victorian period who was unable to reconstruct it without the use of bolts.

Trinity College

Sir Christopher Wren built the magnificent library housed within the college. This is home to a collection of many rare books including Isaac Newton’s first edition of Principia Mathematica and an eighth
Century copy of the Epistles of St Paul. The majestic fountain dates to 1602.


St Mary’s church

Climb to the top of this tower to experience fantastic views of the colleges and market. This is the official university church of St Mary the Great. The chimes mirror those of Big Ben composed in 1793.

The Round Church

Dating from 1130 this is one example of only four round churches found in Britain. Churches were traditionally built in a cruciform and some believe that round churches were the work of the ‘Templars’. As the church’s name suggests ‘The Church of the Holy Sepulchre’ was probably modelled on the church in Palestine.

The Fitzwilliam Museum

This is the largest museum in Cambridge and is owned by the university. It houses a spectacular range of Roman, Greek and Egyptian antiquities as well as collections of paintings and objects of art covering key periods in history.

Cambridge and Country Folk Museum

This museum will appeal to all ages and interests showing how family life has developed over the last six hundred years.

The Scott Polar Institute

Founded to commemorate the explorer Captain Scott the institute houses relics of the South Pole Expedition through to today’s modern exploration and research.

The River Cam

Walk along the tow paths or go for a ride in a punt. The river is intrinsically linked with life in Cambridge now and in the past. ‘The Backs’ passes behind the colleges and proves popular for rowing and canoeing.

Step Back To Today…

Bars, Cafes and Nightlife

Cambridge has some of the best bars and pubs to unwind kick back and leave the day behind. There are cosy historic pubs, chic bars and sultry clubs. Try the Anchor for a traditional setting and views over the river. If you’re looking entertainment The Boat Race offers live music everyday of the week. If you’re looking for a few cocktails and a dance head down to the very chic HaHa and Coco nightclub. For something a little bit more up tempo try Po Na Na a trendy basement bar that plays club, salsa and house music. If you are looking for something a little bit more quirky you can hire out the Riverboat Georgina for parties and functions. You’ll be sailing down the historic river Cam with drink in hand taking in the sights and sounds of this vibrant city.

Shopping

Cambridge boasts some of the best shopping in the UK. High street shops stand alongside designer shops, independent boutiques and second hand shops. But what makes shopping special in Cambridge has to be the markets. The market place has been here for centuries. From Monday to Saturday the stall holders sell fresh produce, cut flowers, second-hand books, clothing, soap and souvenirs.

…Be Inspired

If you are at all interested in history then you will not be disappointed in the awe inspiring city of Cambridge. Walk in the footsteps of some of the greatest thinkers of the modern world.

Manchester As A Great Place to Visit

A city’s tourist appeal is directly linked to the number of entertainment and recreational opportunities available. After all, people travel to other places to have fun and relax and enjoy new experiences. Manchester is a vibrant city that is filled with entertainment options and it is sheer joy to be in this city. There is simply too much diversity of entertainment in Manchester from art, dance, cinema, music, museums, theater, performing arts, and sports.

A prime example is the Lowry at Salford Quays that opened in 2000. It is located close to the Old Trafford football stadium and the Imperial War Museum North. The Lowry is most famous for the largest collection of original paintings by L. S. Lowry. While art is certainly prominent, there is much more available. The Lowry also includes two theaters that regularly show touring plays and also comedians and musicians. The Lyric is known as having the biggest stage in English and the second theater is called the Quay.

Manchester United is the famous football club. It has the usual history of a club playing an unpredictable game and there have been decades where they were unsurpassed heroes and also decades when they were hard remembered by anyone. The admirable thing is that they always stopped short of disbanding. It is a club that has been blessed with one savior after another that appeared just when there seemed no hope for the club’s future.

The music in Manchester is as diverse as everything else and you can enjoy classical, opera, rock, pop, and jazz.

Manchester Academy, Band on the Wall, Labatt’s Apollo, and Roadhouse are the favorite gathering spots for leading proponents of rock, pop, and jazz.

Manchester Academy is the place to go and enjoy the famous Indie and dance bands. Labatt’s is better known for hosting several popular British and American singers and also Asian superstars. Nightly blues and jazz jam sessions are conducted at the Band on the Wall. The Roadhouse is a place where upcoming stars go to practice their musical skills. Then there are the countless pubs, bars, and nightclubs scattered throughout the city and all of them have their own live bands.

The history of Manchester is well told through its several museums as well as the critical milestones and landmarks of English. The University of Manchester owns the Manchester Museum and it has more than 6 million items from 7 continents that include artifacts from India, Egypt, Africa, Mediterranean, Australia, and Americas.

If you are one those partying crowd,be sure to have a wild time in the dazzling clubs and nightspots of Manchester. The most popular ones include Rock World, Phoenix, South, Paradise Factory. The Prague V is frequented by gays. The Ritz, Club Underground, 5th Avenue, and The Brickhouse are favored by students.

The larger theaters in Manchester include the Royal Exchange Theater, the Palace Theater, and the Manchester Opera House that often features West End touring shows. The smaller theaters include the Contact Theater, the Green Room, and Dancehouse.

The Royal Northern College of Music has 4 theaters for opera and classical music.

Thus you see, Manchester is indeed a great place to visit. So, ready to book your tickets to Manchester for your next holiday?

Benefits Of Online Hotel Booking Sites

Online booking for hotels is the greater convenience that you get. Sitting at home on your computer, you can make the total booking with a few clicks of the mouse. You also get to select from a great catalog of hotels and finally choose what you actually want. This truly beats having to go to your vacation destination on a limb and then to scour the place for a hotel you like and also within your budget. With online booking, you can get everything completing from your home itself, even before you begin your holiday.

But you must be careful when you are booking your hotel online. You must always go through a popular website, or there remains the danger of getting swindled. For starters, these popular hotel booking websites have booked hotels for millions of customers in their careers, and that does give them the professional edge. They know how to conduct bookings so that mistakes do not happen and you land up exactly where you want to go, and sometimes even in the room you have decided in advance.

The prices mentioned on them are the perfect price you want to pay. Some websites do put fascinating prices, but sans some taxes, and when you actually add the taxes, the total sum becomes a gigantic figure. But with online booking hotel, the price mentioned is inclusive of all applicable taxes. So, you know in advance how much you are going to end up paying.

You will also know exactly what you are getting. Popular hotel booking websites will show you all the available alternatives for your hotel requirements, and even show you some pictures of the hotel you would be staying in. There will be a description of the hotel also, telling what all additional things you will be getting at the hotel.

Booking with online booking hotel sites also provides you with the security that your hotel room is certainly booked and waiting for you when you arrive at your destination. You have the proof in your hands. No sooner is your transaction completed than you will get an email confirming your reservation, and even a voucher that you will have to show at the hotel when you check in.

There are many benefits of online hotel booking sites apart from the convenience of the whole thing. That is the cause why the number of vacationers booking online today clearly outweighs all other kinds of reservation modes.

European Travel Tips

Because the US once mighty dollar has suffered in worth against many currencies around the world, US citizens traveling for their vacation to Europe has become more expensive than in the past. I have written very practical tips on European travel so you may have a much easier time while traveling within Europe.

1) You can exchange money in Europe the easiest and the most affordable way by using an automated teller machine. To be very safe, at your bank learn what type of charges it records for using your bank card for currency exchange; some banks will impose amazingly high charges. Let your bank know that you will be traveling in Europe so that their detection equipment doesn’t block your activities.

2) Make photocopies of your passport and plane tickets and place them in your carry-on bag, just in case you lose something.

3) If you must drive during your travel in Europe, you will need a decent detailed map for the regions you will visit. Do not waste time shopping for a regional map at the last minute; get it as soon as possible before leaving home.

4) Buy a new guidebook: A new guidebook of the countries you will be visiting will be very useful. You’ll practical information such as when certain sights are open and close, phone numbers. Dot not buy an outdated guidebook; you’ll be frustrated and lose precious time.

5) Don’t try to see & do too much: Try to concentrate on experiencing only a few countries instead of every country in Europe. If you are on a tour, consider staying no less than two nights in certain destinations.

6) Transportation: Decide on how you want to travel within Europe. Driving offers more flexibility; it can become impractical at certain times, depending where you are in Europe. If you are flying, you can hire a car. You can use budget airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet.

7) Security of possession awareness: to maintain peace of mind, use a money belt or a hotel safe. Never put all of your cash and credit cards in only one wallet or purse. Because if you happen to lose either one, you are in big trouble.

8) Speak the language: If it’s within your grasp, make a fair attempt to learn a few practical words of the language spoken in one of the European countries you’ll be visiting.

9) Be flexible in your traveling schedule: For a more pleasant traveling experience with no frustrations, try to allow time to roam around and to relish a carefree lunch. It’s a great idea to develop an itinerary in order to experience more of Europe. On the other hand, you can still be flexible.

10) Book your accommodation in advance: why? You will avoid wasting a lot of time searching from one hotel to another for an available room.

Lichfield in the Heart of England

Lichfield, Staffordshire is a Premier Heritage City. Situated right in the heart of England,it has easy access to Birmingham and the rich country side of the Peak District.

The City Centre is pedestrianised so that you can wander round at your own pace. Dam Street is a typical narrow street with its quaint old shops, looking back towards the Cathedral. The Three Spires Shopping Centre features popular high street retailers in a pedestrianised and friendly environment.

This city is also well known for its array of festivities and events from Proms in the Park and Lichfield Mysteries to the Christmas Fetes.

The surrounding villages and parks in Lichfield District provide the ideal location for country walks and cycle rides and Lichfield is on the door step to the National Forest.

Beacon Park the formal gardens in the oldest part of the park nearest Bird Street, Beacon Park extends over 78 acres out to the Western Bypass and includes a 18 hole golf course pitch and Putt Course, nine football pitches, tennis courts, bowling greens, crazy golf and a large children’s play area.

Drayton Manor Theme Park is a British theme park in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, near Lichfield. Drayton Manor opened to the public on October 16, 1949 as an inland pleasure resort and has since grown substantially in size. It is the UK’s leading family run theme park and the fourth most popular theme park in Britain in terms of visitor numbers.

Lichfield Cathedral, is one of the oldest places of worship in Britain and the burial place of the Anglo Saxon missionary, St Chad. The Cathedral is unique with its 3 magnificent spires and is referred to as Maids of the Vale or Ladies of the Vale. Its beautiful gothic architecture makes it as awe inspiring on the out side as it is the inside.

Samuel Johnson, one of the most famous figures of the 18th century, was born in the city on the 18th September 1709. His house in Breadmarket Street facing the market square, is now a museum to his life, work and personality.

There is a Roman wall site in Lichfield, the remains of a staging post, including foundations of public baths and lodging house, alongside Watling Street. A small museum is located here showing items found on the site. The site was an important staging post on the Roman military road to North Wales.

West Midlands.

Wolverhampton is located in the West Midlands. The city is a university city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. It is one of Britain’s newest cities.

People from Wolverhampton are known as Wulfrunians. Within the city are also many miles of canal network, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, Birmingham Main Line Canal, the Shropshire Union Canal and the Wyrley and Essington Canal.

The Wulfrun and Mander Centres provide an excellent choice of local and national shops. The lively out door and indoor markets have been trading since the 13th century and offer a huge range of produce. Much of the city centre has been pedestrian.

Wolverhampton is renowned for its thriving nightlife. The atmosphere of the town as a whole is vibrant and exciting with a string of bars and clubs in the town centre. The rock groups Slade, Neon Hearts, The Mighty Lemon Drops, and Babylon Zoo all came from Wolverhampton. The biggest indoor venue is Wolverhampton Civic Hall, with a standing capacity of 3,000 people.

The football team is called Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club and The team was founded in 1877 by John Baynton and Jack Brodie after a group of pupils at St Luke’s school in Blakenhall. The Wolverhampton-based football club plays at the Molineux. Molineux Stadium is situated on Waterloo Road and has four stands all named after players who have become legendary at the club Steve Bull Billy Wright, Stan Cullis and Jack Harris. It is one of the oldest English football clubs

The Prince Albert’s Statue in his full military uniform mounted on a horse was unveiled in 1866 on High Green, renamed Queen’s Square after this illustrious occasion it was the first public appearance of the monarch since her consorts death. The statue replaced a Russian cannon captured from Sebastopol in the Crimea in 1855.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery has become renowned for its innovative programme of temporary exhibitions, backed up by a lively programme of workshops and events. The contemporary art collection is the finest in the region, the Gallery also houses an outstanding collection of British and American Pop Art along with traditional 18th and 19th century paintings by artists such as Turner, Gainsborough and Landseer.

The Bantock House was Restored in 1999, to its stunning Edwardian glory. The house is a hidden treasure set deep within Bantock Park. It has 44 acres of peaceful parkland. You can explore the delightful home of the Bantock family and discover the secrets of Wolverhamptons history. You can also admire the exquisite Decorative Arts collection that includes Enamels, Steel Jewellery and Japanned ware.

The Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight has no cities. Newport, is located in the centre of the island and is the second largest town The largest industry on the Isle of Wight is tourism, but the Island has a strong agricultural heritage, including dairy farming and sheep and the growing of arable crops.

The beautiful and historic town of Newport is situated in the centre of the Island and is its principal town, centre of commerce and most has the popular shopping centre. Cowes is the biggest town on the island, and the major port to the main land. Shanklyn and Sandown are situated in the south of the island. The village of Shanklyn itself is also very pretty with lots of tourist shops, craft shops and tea rooms.

Many events take place each year on the island The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place annually and was originally held from 1968 to 1970, the venues being Ford Farm.

Cowes Week known as Skandia Cowes Week it is the longest-running regular regatta in the world. It started in 1826, the event is held on the Solent the water between southern England and the Isle of Wight, and is run by Cowes Combined Clubs in the small town of Cowes on the Isle of Wight.It is an annual sailing regatta which is held in August.

The Needles are a group of three jagged chalk rocks protruding out of the sea at Alum Bay, at the western most point of the island and at the end there is a light house. Alum Bay is also the spot where Marconi made his first radio transmission. The Needles proved to be a major hazard for ships that sailed up the Solent on their way to Portsmouth and Southampton, a lighthouse was built in 1786 on the cliffs above. The most photographed aspect of the Isle of Wight. The 80 foot light house was automated in 1994. This area of the island is notorious for ship wrecks and being a dangerous shipping area.

International Air Travel Tips And Tricks

When it comes to air travel, many Americans do not just stay inside the United Sates, many leave the country. In fact, international travel is rapidly increasing in popularity. Many individuals are now taking honeymoons overseas, as well as attending business meetings or scheduling family vacations. If you are planning on being one of those individuals, there are a number of important things that you need to remember. Perhaps, the most important thing that you need to keep in mind is that you will be in another country; another country that may have a whole other set of laws and regulations.

While it is a given that different countries have different laws, many air travelers are unaware that different countries also have different air travel rules. Unfortunately, many believe that the rules enforced in the United States are worldly. It is true that many of the same rules are enforced, all around the world, but there are some differences. For that reason, you will want to take the time to learn those rules. You can easily learn these rules by contacting the United States Embassy or by requesting more information from the international airport that you plan on flying in or out of.

Although it is advised that you and all other foreign air travelers research the laws and air travel rules of another country, particularly the one you will be visiting, not everyone does. Whether you choose not to research these rules or you can’t, you are advised to proceed with caution and use your common sense. This not only includes packing your bags, but how you handle yourself in a foreign airport. Perhaps, when it doubt it is always best the follow the air travel rules enforced in the United States. If you are questioned on your behavior or actions that you took, it is best to state that you were unaware of the rules that were you breaking, if any.

See how much you can learn about international air travel when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don’t miss out on the rest of this great information.

As previously mentioned, it is best that you use your common sense, when it comes to preparing for international travel. This begins by having all of the necessary documents, which are needed for international air travel. Even if you are not required to bring it along, you may want to think about carrying your passport with you at all times. In the event that you are detained by airport security or by local officials, this piece of identification could come in handy.

It is also important that you pack your bags the correct way. If you are flying out of the United States, no matter where you are traveling to, you will be required to follow all American air travel rules. This includes the carryon luggage ban of liquids and sharp objects. Since the United States tends to have more air travel rules and security procedures than other countries, you may not have to worry about your luggage violating a ban in another country. However, you should be worried about what you try and bring home with you. The United States has numerous restrictions on items being imported from other countries, including gifts. In most cases, you will find these gifts are not sold in airports, even international ones, but it is still advised that you refrain from purchasing exotic gifts, such as alcohol or live animals.

In addition to the points mentioned above, it is extremely important that your follow any requests given to you by international airport security officials. Unlike in the United States, where you may just receive a warning for your inappropriate behavior or actions, you may be subject to additional consequences. Those additional consequences, which may include being arrested by local authorities, will vary from country to country. Regardless of what the consequences are, it is still advised that you follow any instructions given to you, by international flight crews or by airport security.

By keeping the above mentioned information in mind, you should have nothing to worry about. The truth is that as long as you think before you speak or act, you should be okay, even in an international airport or a foreign country.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of international air travel. Share your new understanding about international air travel with others. They’ll thank you for it.

Travel U K Cities

Many travelers will follow the travel advice of a travel agent to travel UK cities in a very affordable manner. The advice they receive might recommend the best cities to stop in that offer low priced lodging locations that could put them up in a bed breakfast overnight or in a five star hotel that looks over the River Thames. After a good night’s sleep and a good meal under their belt, a traveler will be very thankful to the travel agent for giving such good advice.

The travel agent will also advise on the best travel routes to take to get to the United Kingdom. These routes might take them through the northern parts of Scotland where the traveler will really enjoy the short layovers for a change. While at that location they can enjoy duty free shopping and have a pint of Scottish lager too. The travel agent might have advised to limit quantities of ale consumed to low quantities until they are safely at their final destination.

Some travel agents can offer advice about holiday travel in the United Kingdom that could save a traveler a lot of time. They can tell them when the banks will be closed and where they can get currency exchanged. Banks of Scotland, England and Wales close for holidays and with some good advice about the hours of operation a traveler is assured of never running out of cash that they need for lodging and miscellaneous living expenses.

Many cities post advice to travelers at major travel ports all over the city. A traveler might not have to rely on the advice of strangers to find their way through a city that they have never been to before. Many cities post maps at the entrance to subway stations that tell travelers what the names of all of the stops are along the routes that any smart traveler might take. Families can ensure that they stay together while they use these trains for shopping and can arrange a meeting point if they get separated at some point in the day.

A travel agent might provide good advice that travelers can use throughout the United Kingdom. The British telecom systems can be difficult to manage if a traveler does not have a good understanding about how country codes are used and what countries they are used for. A traveler is certainly going to want to make calls back to the United States and with some good advice, they will have plenty of British telecom phone cards that they can use to call home and tell friends and family members the sights that they have been seeing.
Article source: ContentLog.com