by Roy -

This article is written by Debarpita Mohapatra. Debarpita is originally from Orissa, moves between London & New Delhi and is an avid photographer, traveler & travel blogger.

If I remember correctly, some 4+ hours and we were back to Slough at my sister’s place from a 150 mile ride and having lunch at Brighton. This particular place is called ‘London on Sea’, as it resembles the feel and culture of capital city. Brighton was never in my place-to-travel list, but on a lazy day when we were getting bored, then just decided to go out for lunch and ended in Brighton.

This particular place emerged as a health resort in 18th century and became a popular tourist destination with a densified population along with the coast. Being only 50+ miles down South from London, it has the advantage to be on the sea.

The sea-front is definitely a place to be enjoyed. Unlike some other sea fronts in the country, Brighton is quite wide with proper public amenities. If you want to see a sea-front development then this seems to be the place. I personally have not explored the place, neither do have many clicks as I was there for an hour or two.

The pebble beach is the most unique feature of the place and it is natural.

Here is Brighton Pier, originally built in 1823 for easy landing of passengers from ships and later converted to a commercial entertainment hub.


Did you know, Brighton is the nudist beach of United Kingdom 😉

Debarpita Mohapatra

Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 based on 167 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

Ireland’s colourful history has led to a rich tapestry of architectural styles, with Norman castles and neo-classical mansions sitting side by side with cosy farmhouses and contemporary wonders. All around the island, these interesting, charming accommodations are packed with character — and characters! So in the spirit of turning your Ireland trip into a real journey, here are some of the most memorable places to stay along the way.

Cullintra House, Inistiogue, County Kilkenny


The Cullintra House, a cosy, 19th-century home in the Kilkenny heritage village of Inistiogue, offers a warm welcome – but you will soon discover you are not the house’s most important guest. Here cats are king, and the owner’s feline friends quite literally have the run of the place. You will find cat memorabilia galore and little furries in the bedrooms, in the dining room where guests eat communally and rambling the gorgeous grounds, like they – quite rightly – own the place.

Grouse Lodge, Roesmount, County Westmeath


Grouse Lodge, the rambling stone farmhouse and beautiful outbuildings that act as a residential recording studio for Irish and visiting bands, became Michael Jackson’s secret hideout for six weeks in 2006. REM, Shirley Bassey, Manic Street Preachers and Sinead O’Connor have all recorded in this reasonably-priced midlands village property, complete with an indoor heated pool, jacuzzi, nine double bedrooms and an on-site organic chef. Come for the rock ‘n’ roll stories, retold in the small hours at the on-site pub.

Average Rating: 4.9 out of 5 based on 262 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

The emptiness of the Falklands’ landscape is deceptive. Its shores are home to remarkable wildlife, and the islands are as welcoming to visitors as they are remote. In this extract from an article by Rory Goulding, first published in Lonely Planet Magazine, we show you how to unlock the beauty of the Falkland Islands.

1. See the sights in Stanley

Stanley’s Scandinavian-style houses

Stanley, the islands’ capital, may be no bigger than a large village, but it feels like a metropolis compared with ‘camp’ – the term for anywhere outside the capital. The sights of Stanley include Christ Church Cathedral, with its whalebone arch built in 1933, and the Falkland Islands Museum (FKP3; falklands-museum.com).

Make it happen: from RAF Mount Pleasant Airport (MPA), take a bus transfer into Stanley (FKP17, book before flying to the Falklands). Car hire is available in Stanley. Find transport details and contacts at falklandislands.com. Rest your head at the Malvina House Hotel, Stanley’s most upmarket place to stay, which also has a popular restaurant (from FKP132 in peak season; malvinahousehotel.com). Local B&Bs and homestays cost around FKP40-FKP100.

Average Rating: 5 out of 5 based on 286 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

The Routemaster design adds a hop-on hop-off platform at the rear, in addition to front and side passenger doors.

London’s iconic double-decker buses have gotten an update that looks uncannily like the past.

Seven buses with an open hop-on hop-off platform at the rear hit downtown streets on 20 February, running on route 38, between Victoria Station and Hackney, an east London neighbourhood.

Between the 1950s and 2000s, royal red double deckers sported distinctive open platforms in the rear. But in 2005, authorities took that Routemaster model out of service, replacing it with versions that only have an entrance at the front.

The city also added so-called “bendy”, or articulated, buses, because they could carry more passengers, thanks to hinged midsections. But locals loathed the replacement vehicles. A common complaint was that the extended length of the buses snarled traffic on many narrow, twisting streets. So the city pulled that design off the streets in 2011, leaving regular double-decker buses in service and shipping the bendys off to other cities in the United Kingdom that have more spacious streets. Officials then ran a design competition to see if a better bus could be invented. The design that won, by Thomas Heatherwick and Wrightbus, restored the open rear platform.

The revived Routemaster design adds a second staircase to speed up passenger movement. It also claims to get a low 12 miles to gallon thanks to energy efficient engines and interior-heating systems. That efficiency means it produces 40% fewer emissions than the current double deckers, which run on diesel.

The success of this design depends on the outcome of this spring’s mayoral election. If candidate Ken Livingstone defeats current mayor Boris Johnson, he may kill the new Routemasters, which are Johnson’s pet project and cost about £1.3 million each, significantly higher than more prosaic models. A Johnson victory, on the other hand, may mean that hundreds of the buses are put into services within the next few years.

In the meantime, original 1950s buses with the open platform in the rear are still in service on parts of route 9, running between Trafalgar Square and Kensington, and route 15, running between Trafalgar Square and Tower Hill. Check the Transport for London website for route maps and schedules that say “heritage”.

21 Feb 2012

http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120217-londons-iconic-buses-are-back

Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 278 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

Spinnaker Tower – England

Spinnaker Tower is a 170-metre (560 ft)–high landmark tower in Portsmouth, England. It is the centrepiece of the redevelopment of Portsmouth Harbour, which was supported by a National Lottery grant. Its shape was chosen by Portsmouth residents from a selection of concepts. The tower, designed by local firm HGP Architects and the engineering consultants Scott Wilson and built by Mowlem, reflects Portsmouth’s maritime history by being modelled after a sail. After several years of delays and cost overruns, it was opened on 18 October 2005.

Structure

The tower, at a height of 170 m above sea level, is 2 1?2 times as high as Nelson’s Column, making it the tallest accessible structure in the United Kingdom outside London. The tower is visible for miles around Portsmouth, changing the horizon of the area. It can be seen from the Isle of Wight, and even the Manhood Peninsula.

The tower represents sails billowing in the wind, a design accomplished using two large, white, sweeping steel arcs, which give the tower its spinnaker sail design. The steelwork was fabricated by Butterley Engineering. At the top is a triple observation deck, providing a 350° view of the city of Portsmouth, the Langstone and Portsmouth harbours, and a viewing distance of 37 kilometres (23 mi). The highest of the three observation platforms, the crow’s nest, has a wire mesh roof, allowing visitors to be in the elements. Windows extend to above head height, so it is not possible to get a view unobstructed by glass. The glass floor is the largest in Europe. The tower has a design lifetime of 80 years.
The design is similar to the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, whose structure is a little less than twice as tall at 323 metres (1, 060 ft).

Source: Wikipedia

Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 based on 175 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

Through the colder months, the British landscape can be at its dramatic, blustery best. Enjoy it on one of these six walks – and warm up by the fire in a cosy pub at the end.

Scottish Highlands: Through frosty glens to warming whisky

The Great Valley of Glen Coe

Along with Ben Nevis and Loch Lomond, the great valley of Glen Coe is one of Scotland’s best-loved locations, home to some of the country’s most admired scenery. Carved out by giant glaciers back in the Ice Age, the glen’s sheer size is immediately impressive. The steep-sided valley walls on either side appear almost vertical, topped on the northern side by the serrations of the Aonach Eagach ridge and on the south by the trio of peaks known as the Three Sisters. Nearby is the conical summit of Buachaille Etive Mòr. It is the type of classic Highland scenery that decorates a million tins of souvenir shortbread, and it’s all the more dramatic in winter, when the mountains are covered in a layer of snow. Unlike much of Scotland’s wilder landscapes, which often require long journeys or serious hikes to appreciate, Glen Coe is splendidly accessible and can be enjoyed by the most casual of weekend walkers.

The walk

Start at the An Torr car park, just off the A82 which runs through the glen. A clear path heads eastwards between the River Coe and the A82, leading to a bridge carrying the main road over the river, just west of Loch Achtriochtan. From here, you simply keep heading up the glen. Sometimes you can follow the old road that runs roughly parallel to the A82, while other times you have to walk beside the main road itself. This is an ‘out-and-back’ route, so continue walking for as long as you like, but a great spot to aim for is the viewpoint over Glen Coe near Allt-na-ruigh, about 2½ miles along the route.

The pub

After walking back down the glen, top off your day in the Clachaig Inn, a spot long favoured by hikers and climbers. The bar offers more than 200 whiskies, while the menu includes local venison, haggis and wild boar burgers, so make your order and warm up by the fire – no-one here will worry about a little snow tracked in onto the flagstones. The convivial atmosphere is further enhanced by the long tables and benches in the main bar, so you’ll find yourself forced – in a positive way – to eat and have a good chat with other walkers.

Make it happen

At the northwestern end of the valley of Glen Coe is the village of Glencoe. The nearest train station is about 16 miles away at Fort William. Scottish Citylink coaches run between Glasgow and Fort William via Glen Coe.

An Torr car park is 2½ miles east of Glencoe village on the A82. Much of Glencoe is under the protection of the National Trust for Scotland – see glencoe-nts.org.uk for more details .

The Clachaig Inn is 2½ miles east of Glencoe village on the old road which runs parallel to the A82. Food is served between 12pm and 9pm, and there are also rooms available (mains from £8; rooms from £44).

For more walks in the Scottish Highlands, see walkhighlands.co.uk.

Average Rating: 4.9 out of 5 based on 228 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

This article is written by Meena Venkataraman, who is one of India’s leading travel writers with extensive travel experience.

An early flight to Shetlands saw us land in this beautiful cluster of islands with three entire days of exploring at our disposal. The sight of the mighty blue ocean encircling the cliffs, vast expanse of blue skies , sun splashed grassy hilltops ; We drive through all of them and our cab driver tells us, The weather isn’t this good all the time, you guys are lucky.. I love the Scottish accent. It is ever so cute.

Puffin’s Heaven, Shetland islands

We check in and explore the town a bit. We’ve read so much about this place and yet every step surpasses any expectations we might have had from hours of armchair travel. Its beautiful.

Our morning is to plan how we would make best use of the next three days. We are not lucky enough to get on the ferry to Samburgh head, but the afternoon ferry to Mousa is available. Thrilled to bits. The sounds of seagulls squeaking over food is a constant, as numerous as crows they seem to perfectly glide over the smooth blue skies wiping away any clouds that might have been in sight…

Average Rating: 4.9 out of 5 based on 230 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -


A man runs in Phoenix Park, Dublin October 25, 2011 

When the wind comes from the West, the smell of hops drifts across the city from the Guinness brewery, tempting Dubliners to stop for a pint of Ireland’s favourite tipple.

A typical Irish pub

It’s famously difficult to resist the lure of Dublin’s cosy pubs, which dot every corner of its winding, rust-red streets.

Yet there’s much more to Dublin than that. Surrounded by countryside of outstanding beauty, Ireland’s capital curves around a wide natural bay split through the middle by the peaty waters of the River Liffey as it flows down from the Wicklow mountains.

The River Liffey at night

The Liffey has been called ‘the Ganges of the literary world’, owing to the capital’s outsized literary clout. The city of 500, 000 residents has produced James Joyce, Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde, none of whom are among the four other Dubliners who have won the Nobel Prize for literature.

Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5 based on 218 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

‘Tis the season to wrap up warm and celebrate the festive season through the ages.

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Find out how families pulled together during the war years to celebrate the festive season with this 1940s thrifty Christmas. The dining room, drawing room and bedrooms will be dressed as they would have been on a 1940s Christmas morning, with relevant music. Activities include make do and mend workshops. Christmas at Hardwick, 3 to 4 December, 11 to 3 pm.

Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire

The ruins of Kenilworth are best known as the home Elizabeth I’s great love Robert Dudley, who transformed the castle into a Renaissance palace to impress his queen. In true Elizabethan style, Kenilworth is hosting a Tudor Christmas with historical re-enactment group Heuristics, who will give interactive presentations about Tudor Christmas traditions, games, decorations and food. A Tudor Christmas, 17 to 18 December, 10 am to 4 pm.

Alfriston Clergy House, Sussex

For an authentic medieval Christmas, head to the 14th-century Alfriston Clergy House, the first house to be acquired by the National Trust. There won’t be a Christmas tree (that came later) but you’ll see how a country house was decorated in the Middle Ages, with lots of holly, ivy, mistletoe and garlands of apples and nuts festooning the walls. Medieval Christmas, 3 to 18 December, 11 am to 4pm.

Osborne House, Isle of Wight

Every year, the ground floor of the Osborne House on the Isle of Wight is decorated with the traditions of a Victorian Christmas.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought this Italianate palace in 1845, and the queen spent almost every Christmas there after Albert’s death in 1861, until her own death in 1900. So every year, in her honour, the ground floor is decorated with the traditions of a Victorian Christmas. Visitors can enjoy singing chimney sweeps, Victorian fairground stalls, street games and A Christmas Carol pantomime. A Victorian Christmas, 19 to 20 November, 10 am to 4 pm.

Upton House, Warwickshire

Witness how the “downstairs” inhabitants celebrated Christmas in the 1930s at the Servants Christmas Ball. Based on oral testimony and house records from the era, Upton House will be hosting a party traditionally held for its staff, and guests can marvel at the long gallery, decorated with paper chains, and take part in 1930s dancing demonstrations. Servants’ Christmas Ball, 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 December, 12 to 3:30 pm

Abigail Whyte

2 Dec 2011

http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20111202-english-country-houses-to-visit-this-christmas

Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 based on 151 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

by Roy -

This article is written by Kavya S.

Thanks to a badly planned transit, recently I got a chance to spend a day in London. While 24 hours is not enough time to understand or know a city by any stretch of imagination, it is ample time to form some ill-informed first impressions. Here is my list of empirical observations about London and Londoners.

  1. English are awfully polite. Even when they almost push you under the bus. In my first hour in London, I narrowly escaped an English death. Not once, but twice. First I managed to jump out of the way of a speeding man only to end up in front of a speeding bus. But both the man and the bus were very polite and made sure that the experience did not bruise my ego.
  2. Indians are now avenging the years of colonialism. By my rough estimation, there is one Singh or Kaur in BA ground staff for every two true blue British employees. The ratio gets better (for the Indians) when the sample under study is made up of immigration officials.
  3. Innit is the wassup of London. It is used to fill the silences and as punctuation. And generally as a sign of Britishness.
  4. London is a decompression zone between the west and the fareast. It is exactly midway between India and US and I don’t mean just geographically. Londoners drive on the left side of the road but calculate distances in miles. Kids wear uniforms to schools. People in London drink tea but don’t get it sugared already. On the road, they honk; they flash lights and give the driver in the next lane the bird. But when a pedestrian steps on to the road, they stop and become the epitome of virtue, patience and a crusader upholding the right of way. (See observation 1)
  5. Cambridge needs to offer more faucetology courses and degrees. I used a lot of restrooms while I was there (All that tea I drank had to find a way out). But never once did I find a faucet that did not flash freeze my hands or boil them raw. Dear Brits, you can mix the hot and cold water before you it spews out of the tap, innit?
  6. Londoners take their politeness to the shower. Bath tubs and showers have folding glass doors that only go half way across. I suppose they don’t splash around much water.
  7. Beer is for schmucks. If you want to get drunk, you have to order wine.
  8. Day ends at five. After that there isn’t much to do other than drink wine.
  9. Five is the lucky charm. Shops close at five and legal age for drinking at home is 5!!! I bet London has the politest drunk 5 year olds in the whole world.
  10. They love their brick buildings, wrought iron gates, ferris wheels and big clocks.

If you agree with my observations, pat me on my back and leave a comment. If you have more to add, leave a comment. If you disagree, send me a ticket to London so that I can go a verify your claims

Kavya S.

4 May 2011

http://www.kettik.com/go/europe/uk/stories/77

Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 231 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]