Top 6 London Tourist Attractions

London is known for its numerous tourist attractions. This is a city with popular destinations like Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Gherkin, Millennium Bridge, Lords Cricket Ground, London Aquarium, Kensington Palace, Royal Opera House and many more, butit is always exciting to buy theatre thickets, and watch the world premieres of some blockbuster international movies in this city.

Some of the many tourist attractions in London are:

1. Big Ben: Big Ben is the identity of London. This thirdtallest free-standing clock tower is more than 150 years old, and is located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. Big Ben is actually referred to the great bell of the clock. The Clock Tower is recently renamed as the Elizabeth Tower as a tribute to the Queen. Clock Tower, the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Bridge are located along side  each other, and visiting this place allows the travellers to visit all these spectacular places.

2. Harrod’s: One of the most acclaimed departmental stores is in London. Harrod’s is located at Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, and it has become a status symbol to shop from this glorious and glamorous store. The memorial of Dodi and Diana and the wonderful food market are the prime attractions inthis place.

3. Buckingham Palace: It is always great to see the changing of guards outside Buckingham Palace. This is the place of emperors and royals, and the tourists cannot afford to miss this historical palace. Summer is the ideal time to visit this place as people are allowed to enter the palace usually on weekends.

4. London Eye: This 443 feet tall huge observation wheel provides a perfect view of the London city. Built in 1999, London Eye is on the Western end of Jubilee Gardens. More than 3.5 million visitors come to this place every year, and that certainly makes it one of the most visited locations in entire UK. 

5. Piccadilly Circus & Leicester Square: The West End region of London is very famous among the travellers, and the reason is the presence of so many exciting attractions. Places like Hamleys, Marble Arch, Speakers Corner Hyde park, Wellington Arch, Trocadero Centre and Covent Garden are all situated in this area. The Piccadilly Circus & Leicester Square are always crowded with the tourists due to the presence of number of theatres, cinemas like Odeon and Empire, and some excellent shopping and entertainment areas. This place is located in thecenter of Box Office London, and one can always find people searching for theatre tickets here.

6. Madame Tussauds: This wax museum has made possible the impossible. There are wax figures of the celebrities from all corners of the world. The museum was founded in 1884, and since then it has become a major source of attractions for people from all around the globe.

Continue

Make your holiday an unforgettable experience with self catering accommodation in Sussex

Sussex, the land of astounding natural beauty has been drawing the tourists from destinations worldwide. While planning your travel to this enchanting land, the self catering accommodation in Sussex will ensure you a lavish and luxurious stay in the lap of nature. The cottages in Chichester, Sussex are designed catering to the need of the travelers.

On your next holiday, plan a trip to Sussex and enjoy this beautiful land with its amazing attractions. This beautiful land is known as the sunshine coast and enjoys the best sunshine in the United Kingdom. From new South Downs National Park, to Sussex coastal towns, blue flag beaches, historic city of Chichester, the towns like, Arundel and Lewes, Sussex will overwhelm you with its diverse beauty. The lovely villages of Lurgashall and Burwash are delights to wander. For the foodies, Sussex has an array of rural pubs and restaurants offering a variety of lip-smacking drinks and foods which are some of the bests in the country.

One of the most visited places in Sussex is The South Downs, the latest National Park from where you can enjoy an incredible view of the surroundings with white chalk cliffs. For the sea lovers too, Sussex has an array of spectacular beaches. While planning a trip to Sussex you can be least bothered about the accommodation facilities because the self catering accommodation in Sussex most probably offers one of the best stays on a holiday.

Since Sussex is a highly favored tourist destination and the number of tourists visiting this place is increasing to a considerable extent, the need of holiday accommodation is also very high. Many house owners, who own a second house in Sussex is letting their homes on rent to the travelers on a regular basis. This is a good option for making the most from one's property. Suppose you own a second home in anywhere in Sussex, be it around the South Downs National Park or the beautiful city of Chichester, you can easily think of giving it on a rent to earn the most from your property all year round.

In fact a wide range of self catering cottages and homes are on rent which include city apartments to gorgeous country holiday cottages and provide easy access to the remarkable places of this land. Booking such cottages is very easy and can be done online. The holiday property dealers help the owners to market their property and in this way assure you of a professional and personal service so that you can choose the best cottage according to your choice from the Self catering accommodation in Sussex.

Continue

Guest Post: Why tourists are flocking to Manchester

Everybody knows that with it’s unique mix of heritage and modern culture Britain is a tourists paradise. As you’d expect the two most visited cities are London and Edinburgh. But what might surprise you is that the third most visited city is Manchester.And it’s not hard to see why.

Located in North West England, Manchester can date its history back to Roman times and the locals are rightly proud of the city’s heritage. The city’s stunning architecture and numerous museums and galleries vie for tourists’ attention, alongside the city’s more modern attractions such as the city’s world class nightlife and shopping. The only problem facing visitors will be to decide what to do and see during their stay.

Culture

Culture-vultures won’t be disappointed by Manchester, as it has plenty to offer.As well it’s Roman historic roots, the city has also played an important role in British history, including women’s suffrage, the Industrial Revolution, and the Trade Union movement. Several museums celebrate Manchester’s rich past, including the Museum of Science and Industry and the Imperial War Museum North.Manchester has a thriving art scene too, so there are several galleries worth visiting. Manchester boasts two fantastic art galleries: Manchester Art Gallery houses one of the U.K.’s most important collections of pre-Raphaelite works. The other gallery, The Lowry,is based in an amazing glass and metallic building on Salford Quays. The building is a must see in it’s own right.

Architecture

Architecture buffs will be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding magnificent buildings in Manchester. As well as the aforementioned Lowry the city’s architecture ranges from the Gothic flourishes of the medieval Manchester Cathedral, to the Victorian splendour of Manchester Town Hall, to the imposing skyscrapers built in the 1960s and 1970s. Mixing modern icons with historical gems, Manchester really does have it all.

Sport

The 2002 Commonwealth Games were heldin Manchester, and the legacy lives on as the city now features first class stadiums and sports facilities. Therefore big sporting events are never far away, including various world championships, ranging from cycling to lacrosse. But for millions of people around the world Manchester is most known for its two Premier League teams; Manchester United and Manchester City. And for many a trip to see one of these two teams play is a must-do on any trip to Manchester.

Shopping

The BBC has describes Manchester as the “retail capital of the North West”. From high street stores to designer boutiques, shoppers will find plenty of stores to cater to their budgets. The Northern Quarter is jam-packed with quirky, independent stores and second-hand shops for those who prefer to lead rather than follow fashion trends. But for those with cash to burn, a trip to Exchange Square to browse Selfridges and Harvey Nichols should do the trick.

Nightlife

Aside from football, Manchester is probably best known for its lively nightlife. The film “24 Hour Party People” was set in Manchester in the 1980s, when the city was experiencing a musical boom with bands such as the Stone Roses, the Charlatans, and the Happy Mondays. The area also gave birth to the ‘BritPop’ phenomenon of the 1990’s.

Always a known as a party city, the night scene received a boost in the early 1990s when breweries and the city’s council invested millions in the area’s pubs and clubs. Today, there are more than 500 venues licensed to serve alcohol in the centre of the city, and they have a combined capacity to cater for about a quarter of a million people. This is just as well, because tourists are flocking to visit Manchester. And with so much to enjoy in the city, who can blame them?

This was a guest article from One UK, specialists in apartments in Manchester.

Continue

Leeds – a great option for a city break

In this guest article from One UK who specialise in apartments in Leeds, we examine why tourists should head to the thriving city of Leeds in the heart of Yorkshire for a city break.

What to do?

Leeds is perfectly situated for trips to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, and all the attractions that has to offer such as Bolton Castle and Malham Tarnbut there are plenty of attractions within the city centre itself. Leeds is a party city, with plenty of bars and clubs which have attracted attract superstar DJs including David Guetta and The Swedish House Mafia. But other popular clubs include Gatecrasher, Mission, Space, Oceania . Some of the more unique nightspots include Halo, a converted church or Dry Dock a converted boat – nowhere near any water. There also Flares for fans of the 1970’s or FAB CAFE is the world’s first television and movie theme bar. For those who prefer their music a little rockier there is The Nation of Shopkeepers, The Northern Monkey, Carpe Diem or The Cockpit all of which host regular live music. And that is not even taking into account the various music festivals that happen in and around the city.

One of the most popular tourist attractions is Temple Newsam, is one of the great historic estates in England, set within 1500 acres of stunning parkland. As well as the historic mansion house itself, amongst the parkland is the walled garden which renowned for its Rhododendron and Azalea walk and features the National Plant Collections of Delphinium, Phlox and Aster novi–belgii. Although for many people the main attraction is Europe's largest working Rare Breeds Farm, with over 400 animals, a great day out no matter how old you are. And adrenaline junkies can get there fix with mountain-biking at Dalby Forest or indoor skiing at Xscape Castleford.

For art lovers there The Henry Moore Institute and The Leeds Art Gallery, which houses a fantastic collection of 20th century British art, both conveniently located on The Headrow. The UK’s latest Art Gallery The Hepworth is a short journey away in nearby Wakefield. If that’s not enough a short walk on away is the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, which bills itself as “an oasis of calm and inspiration - just minutes from Leeds city centre!”.This hidden gem, which is often overlooked in favour of it’s city centre counterparts shows both innovative temporary exhibitions and display treasures from the University Art Collection. The collection includes wonderful examples of European and British art dating back from the 17th century right up to modern day pieces.

For history buffs there is Leeds City Museum is perfect for those rainy days. Some of the post popular attractions include the ‘Leeds Tiger’ and Nesyamun, the Leeds mummy. Visitors also have the chance to dig for fossils in the Life on Earth gallery.Down at the redeveloped Clarence Docks is The Royal Armouries, which is again free admission, although there is a fee for car parking. The Royal Armouries is home to the national collection of arms and armour. The collection is spread over theme-galleries: War, Tournament, Self-Defence, Hunting, and arms and armour of the Orient. Over the other side of the city is Kirkstall Abbey, one of the best and most complete examples of a medieval Cistercian abbey in the Britain. As well as Kirkstall Abbey there is the fantastic Abbey House Museum, where you can experience the life in the Victorian era.

Where to Shop?

Leeds City Centre is full of great shops. The Victoria Quarter is a must for all those after the latest designer look with Louis Vuitton, Karen Millen, Ted Baker and of course Harvey Nichols just some of the shops there. Plus there are plenty of unique boutiques such as Each To Their Own to guarantee you a unique style.Just outside the city is The White Rose shopping centre for those rainy days or Junction 32 Outlet Village for a bargain.

Where to eat?

Leeds boasts a number of fantastic restaurants to cater for every budget. Celebrity chefs Raymond Blanc, James Martin and the world famous Jamie Oliver all have restaurant’s in the city. And it doesn’t just stop there, in the nearby scenic town of Ilkley is the Michelin Stared restaurant The Box Tree where Marco Pierre White is a partner. There is also the popular Bibis Italianissimo, the fantastic Sous Le Nez or eclectic Anthony’s Restaurant. Diners who fancy a bit of everything could head to The Red Hot World Buffet or Spice Quarter, and pub grub fans could check out any of the many great locals such as The Greyhound in Tong or The Cross Keys.

Continue