Park Holidays UK operates 25 parks in Britain and is offering to transfer ownership of its oldest static caravans to Britons who are looking for a holiday home. Each caravan will be safety checked and will be fully equipped with original furniture, carpets, kitchen appliances and beds. They are estimated to be valued at between £2,000 and £4,000 each. The only cost to you would be a pitch fee each year of between £1,800 and £4,000 and a £400 connection charge for water and electricity. There are caravans available at Dymchurch in Kent, Winchelsea Sands and Rye in East Sussex and St Osyn Beach in Essex. Remember to act quickly – this deal will not last long!
Monthly Archives: April 2009
Picture of the day: Marble Arch, London
Filed under Attractions
Today’s picture of the day is of Marble Arch on Oxford Street, London. This famous landmark was designed by John Nash and built in 1828. It was originally an entrance to Buckingham Palace but moved to its current site to serve as an entrance to Hyde Park when the Palace was extended in 1851.
Pubs in Britain scoop tourist award
Filed under Eating & Drinking
Actor Neil Morrissey, proprietor of the restored Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn Pub in Yorkshire has picked up the award for ‘outstanding contribution to tourism’ at this year’s Enjoy England Awards for Excellence. The event was organised by VisitEngland and sponsored by The Caravan Club. The award is given to pubs for the integral part they play in the fabric of English way of life and the opportunities they provide for domestic and international visitors to meet local people and enjoy local food and drink. Neil Morrissey said “I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of everyone who loves their local pub and loves visiting pubs as they travel around the country”.
A great family day out at the Big Sheep
Filed under Attractions
Every day at the Big Sheep – North Devon’s famous family attraction – guests will see some of the region’s top show jumping sheep. There are also dog and duck trials, pony rides, horse whispering, lamb feeding and a sheepy shop. It is a fun and exciting day out for the whole family and children will enjoy the array of friendly animals. Nearby is the Fig Tree Cottage, an ideal place to stay. It is a gorgeous converted and spacious property with a delightful walled garden. Prices start from £78 per person for a 4 night break.
Closing bids for Gatwick airport
Filed under Transport
Final offers for Gatwick airport have been taken amid growing speculation that bidders will seek to develop a second runway at the site. The bidding process closed on 27th April 2009. The three main bidders are Manchester Airport Group, Global Infrastructure Partners and Lysander Group. Any potential scheme for a new runway is likely to be vigorously opposed by local residents and environmentalists. Labour stated in the 2003 Air Transport White Paper the case for a second runway at Gatwick was insufficient ruling out any development until 2019. Conservatives are also skeptical about the idea. It is estimated that the airport will sell for around £1.4 billion.
£9 rooms at Travelodge
Filed under Accommodation
Travelodge is offering rooms for as little as £9 per night in an effort to keep Britons travelling during the economic turndown. On 24th April 2009 prices for 50,000 rooms across the UK were reduced to £9 per night and a further 100,000 were reduced to £19. A Travelodge spokesperson said ‘our research shows that more than half of Britons are planning on taking a domestic break this year. We want to make hotels accessible to everyone.’ She said that the company’s performance has remained strong during the economic downturn and predicted that the luxury hotel sector would be hit hardest. The sale is available for stays between 27th August 2009 and 30th November 2009.
Surfing with a difference
Filed under Attractions
Harlyn Surf School in Padstow is one of the first places in the UK to offer the latest Hollywood exercise craze; stand up paddleboarding. It is an ancient form of surfing which originated in Hawaii and involves standing on a long, wide surfboard and propelling your way through the water with a paddle. According to the school owner Chris Rea it is much easier to accomplish than traditional surfing and he guarantees that you will be standing up by the end of your first lesson. Lessons start from £45 pp for a 2 hour introductory session.
Picture of the day: Choristers Green, Salisbury
Filed under Attractions
Today’s picture of the day is of Choristers Green in Salisbury, Wiltshire. This tranquil green space gets its name from the former school for cathedral choristers, now known as Wren Hall. It leads to an even larger green area that surrounds Salisbury Cathedral.
2,000 Years of UK History Brought To Life
Filed under Events
This May, history fans will be able to enjoy a taste of what life was like in Roman times, thanks to a series of re-enactments which will be taking place along the length of Hadrian’s Wall.
The festivities will begin on the 26th May, and will run until the 31st May.
The event will begin with a costume ball in Maryport, followed by series of marches, and three days of living history which will be running at several different points along the wall. On May 30th there will be a pageant taking place in Corbridge, where the reenactors will come together to celebrate and share their stories of life on the frontier.
The full calendar can be seen on LivingFrontier.com
Shaken, not stirred… tremor felt in Kendal
Filed under Events, Miscellaneous
It would appear that our office in Kendal (aka the auld grey town) was shaken by an earth tremor around 20 minutes ago. At first we thought someone had just reversed their car into the building (again!) but we’ve since been able to confirm (via Twitter) that other nearby places such as Lancaster, Heysham and Ulverston also felt it, and it’s also been felt as far away as Sheffield and Newcastle. Reports are coming through that it measured 3.7 on the Richter scale.
