Posted by Jennifer on March 31, 2009 – 8:00 pm
Holiday cottage companies report that demand for accommodation where pets are welcome is booming. As more families plan to holiday in the UK in 2009 they are choosing to take their dogs too and at the same time saving an expensive kennel bill. Here are some dog friendly getaways to inspire you;
Glendorgal, Newquay – comfortable accommodation sleeping up to six people and enjoys wonderful views over Porth Beach. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool. Dogs will love the excellent coastal walk.
Holbeck Ghyll, Cumbria – this luxurious hotel offers self catering options in its grounds and welcomes dogs. It enjoys views of the stunning lake and some units offer a sauna and outdoor hot tub. the hotel offers a designer package for dogs which provides a Michelin-star dog food menu, a tailor made doggy bag with treats and chews, a special bowl for meal times, a blanket for bedtime and a gift to take home! I kid you not!
Boxtree Barn, Devon – this is a new conversion in a beautiful rural setting in five acres of farmland and woodland. It sleeps up to four people and welcomes dogs. There is a heated outdoor swimming pool and Internet access available. The dogs will love the excellent walks and array of fields. The owners offer a dog-sitting service allowing you to explore local attractions and restaurants.
Posted by Jennifer on March 31, 2009 – 7:30 pm
According to Hotel.com’s latest Hotel Price Index (HPI), London hotel prices were down by 12% to £111 per room on average in the final three months of 2008. UK hotel prices were down by an average of 12% at the end of 2008 with hotels in the North West seeing some of the biggest price drops. Prices in Blackpool fell by 22% to an average of £79 per room per night and in Manchester by 19% to £73. The price drop has been attractive to European and US travellers due to the weakness of the pound meaning the prices they pay were down as much as 24%. The Hotel.com HPI tracks the real prices paid per hotel room, not the advertised rates. It looks at 68,000 hotels accross 12,500 worldwide locations. The latest HPI measured prices from Oct 2008-Dec 2008 in comparison to those the year before.
Posted by Jennifer on March 31, 2009 – 6:00 pm
With an opening night every ten days and often three full scale productions at once, The Royal Opera House is always a hive of activity. For just £9.00 you can enjoy a 90 minute behind the scenes tour, starting with a history lesson and an introduction to the recent expansion. You are then taken to the back of house through the staff cafe where the stars of the productions can often be found sipping a coffee. As you walk along the never ending corridors catch a glimpse of the amazing costumes, which are expected to last 30-40 years. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of backstage and see the huge mechanical floor works like a sliding puzzle, moving sets for up to three productions from backstage to front stage and back again quickly and easily. The top floor is the best bit, where you will find a rehearsal room where principal dancers go through their moves – you might be lucky enough to see them practice! It is a fascinating tour at a very reasonable price.
Posted by Jennifer on March 31, 2009 – 4:00 pm
Number Ten in Skye has recently been awarded Visit Scotland’s highest five star rating. It boasts stylish self catering accommodation with luxurious decor. In the bedroom there is a black chandelier, stained glass windows and a unique whiskey barrel bedhead. In the living area is a cosy wood-burning stove. The owners supply wine, eggs, bacon, bread, butter and fruit on arrival. If you choose to dine out then visit the award winning Three Chimneys Restaurant nearby. Number Ten enjoys spectacular views of Loch Dunvegan in a tranquil and picturesque location. Prices start from £900 per week and £450 for three days.
Posted by Jennifer on March 31, 2009 – 1:00 pm
A picturesque Hampshire B&B, Vinegar Hill is attached to a quaint pottery. David Rogers who owns the pottery runs pottery courses in April, May and June. The courses accommodate four people per holiday. Served on homemade pottery is a delicious breakfast in the B&B before the course begins at 9.00am. The comfortable accommodation offers 2 double bedrooms and two further singles. The beautiful sandy beach is a short walk away and Lymington and the New Forest are just a short drive away. Courses run 24th-26th April, 22nd-24th May and 7th-13th June 2009 with more dates to be confirmed. Prices start from £315 per person for two nights and includes one evening meal, breakfast, lunch and materials.
Posted by Jennifer on March 31, 2009 – 9:00 am
A new one and a half mile long canal has been built in the centre of Liverpool. It re-establishes the connection between the city’s South Docks and the Leeds and Liverpool canal. The £22 million project brings hopes of a huge boost in tourism for the city. It is estimated that the new link will generate approximately 200,000 extra visitors a year to the city’s docks and is worth an estimated £1.9 million to the local economy. The 127 mile canal will now allow thousands of boats to travel to the centre of Liverpool passing historic buildings including the Liver Building, Cunard and Port of Liverpool.
Posted by Paul on March 31, 2009 – 8:17 am
Today’s picture of the day is of Cottenham Park in Wimbledon, London. Cottenham Park is a tranquil, open piece of public parkland that can be found at the western end of the suburb. It is popular with walkers, joggers and locals living in nearby homes, and is used for a variety of sports.
Posted by Jennifer on March 30, 2009 – 8:00 pm
Thorpe Park Theme Park has introduced a new 100 degree freefall rollercoaster. The thrilling ride is named Saw and is based on the horror movie of the same name. It is arguably the scariest rollercoaster to date and features the steepest freefall rollercoaster drop in the world and an opening section that is in complete darkness. The launch has not been without problems, on its second run it faltered leaving riders including TV presenter Jenni Falconer stuck for 10 minutes and later that evening, after a rider suffered a panic attack it was shut down. After engineers worked on the ride’s programming Saw was successfully launched to the public on 14th March 2009 nd has since had excellent reviews.
Posted by Jennifer on March 30, 2009 – 5:36 pm
Stay at St Deiniol’s in Wales which is the UK’s finest residential library and an excellent base for small conferences. It was founded by William Ewart Gladstone in 1889 and is conveniently situated just 10 minutes from Chester and the M56 motorway. Visit the amazing library which contains in excess of 250,000 works, enjoy home cooked cuisine and unwind in the luxurious accommodation. Spring breaks start from £120 per person for 4 nights.
Posted by Paul on March 30, 2009 – 8:06 am
Today’s picture of the day is of Bishops House Museum in the grounds of Meersbrook Park in Sheffield. This wonderfully-preserved 16th Century building is as beautiful on the inside as it looks from the outside. It retains many of its original features and is well worth a visit.
