…but did you know it’s also Shakespeare’s birthday? The English poet and playwright was born on 23rd April 1616 and to this day the occasion is still celebrated, most notably in Stratford-upon-Avon. Festivities in Stratford continue into the weekend and you can find full details of what’s on at the Visit Stratford-upon-Avon website.
Monthly Archives: April 2009
Not only is it St. George’s Day today…
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Filed under Events
Family-friendly walking breaks in the Lake District
Filed under Accommodation, Events, Miscellaneous
Why not opt for a five-night UK family-friendly walking break starting 25th May 2009? Based at Monk Coniston – HF Holidays’ Country House set in extensive landscaped grounds in the Southern Lake District, the accommodation is set aside for the sole use of families.
There’s a choice of interesting guided walks during the day (easier for younger kids, harder for active teenagers) and various entertainment for the evenings such as pool, giant Jenga, table tennis or Wii competitions. Other facilities include croquet, badminton and putting, plus water cruises and kayaking are available on Lake Coniston.
Based on an en suite family room, the cost is £429 per adult and £214.50 per child (aged 4-17 years and sharing with two adults). Under four years of age are free of charge. Includes full board, the programme of organised walks and social activities, transport to and from the walks, plus the services of an HF Holidays’ walks leader.
Meccano mania in Ironbridge
Filed under Attractions, Events
An amazing Meccano show created by Telford and Ironbridge Meccano Society, Shropshire will be an extra bonus for anyone visiting Enginuity, the Ironbridge Gorge hands-on design and technology museum, during the early May Bank Holiday weekend. From Saturday 2nd to Monday 4th May 2009, the ‘Meccanuity’ exhibition will feature an impressive array of large and small working Meccano models in Enginuity’s unique event space, formerly the dramatic Engine Shop of the Coalbrookdale ironworks.
Among the intricate working models will be a wide selection of Meccano creations ranging from huge working tower cranes, a scale model of the Royal Scot Locomotive and a truck and trailer measuring almost three metres long, to a clockwork worm, a Ferris wheel, a Spitfire, Concorde and Stevenson’s rocket.
A Passport, to all ten of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums valid for twelve months and multiple return visits, costs £19.95 per adult, £15.95 for the 60 plus, £12.95 for students and children and £54.95 for a family of two adults and three children aged up to 18 years in full time education; under 5s free. Individual museum entry tickets are also available.
What does the future hold for Morecambe?
Filed under Accommodation, Attractions
Morecambe, once a thriving seaside resort, has had a troubled tourism history in more recent decades. Whilst Blackpool has continued to flourish, Morecambe on the other hand has been in decline. 10 years ago, Frontierland – the town’s equivalent to Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach – closed. Last year, though, Morecambe’s iconic Midland Hotel re-opened for business after a £7m facelift. But surely it takes more than just the transformation of one hotel to transform Morecambe as a whole? What does the future hold for tourism in Morecambe, do you think? Perhaps it’s somewhere you plan to visit soon. Let us know your views by posting a comment.
Picture of the day: Brighton Marina
Filed under Attractions, Eating & Drinking
Today’s picture of the day is of Brighton Marina in Brighton, East Sussex. Hundreds of boats and yachts are housed here and the marina, being just a stone’s throw from the busy Brighton seafront, is also home to a small shopping centre, restaurants and bars, a cinema and a bowling complex.
Meet Peter Rabbit at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway!
Families bobbing along to the idyllic Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway in the Lake District on 9th and 10th May 2009 will find it well worth the hop. Loveable Beatrix Potter™ character, Peter Rabbit™, will be meeting and greeting children disembarking from steam trains travelling to the terminus at Dalegarth – at the foot of England’s highest mountains – after a seven-mile, stunning and scenic journey.
Every child travelling on these special Peter Rabbit excursions will be given a very special Peter Rabbit shaped ticket to retain as a memento. This ticket will also provide access to one of several 20-minute shows being staged in the picnic area at Dalegarth, featuring a top children’s entertainer.
Children can experience the excitement of shaking paws, take part in a great colouring competition and watch a Peter Rabbit DVD playing at the station. They can have their picture taken with their blue-jacketed bunny hero and will receive a Peter Rabbit badge. Face painting will be available along with craft stalls featuring locally produced goods and food items.
The first train will depart from Ravenglass at 10.20am and the last will return from Dalegarth at 4.40pm. Tickets, inclusive of entertainment at Dalegarth, badge, voucher and special ticket as relevant, cost £12.50 for an adult and £6.30 for children aged three and over.
A Victorian St George’s weekend
Filed under Attractions, Events
Make way for the pageant of St George in the presence of her majesty – Queen Victoria!
Join the Redcoat soldiers and musicians as they celebrate St George’s day with military drill, rifle firing and a pageant in his honour. See the mysterious knight himself, mounted in shining armour as he faces his famous foe, the dragon in a play to entertain the Queen.
This Victorian St. George’s weekend takes place at Brodsworth Hall & Gardens on 26th and 27th April 2009. There are also Victorian Garden Games and children’s have-a-go activities and a series of Victorian music performances throughout the day, plus a chance to meet Queen Victoria herself.
May Day Bank Holiday: Hastings traditional Jack In The Green
Filed under Events
The May Day bank holiday weekend once again sees the Hastings traditional Jack in the Green. Jack in the Green is an old May Day custom, where a ‘dancing bush’ is paraded around the town. It has grown to be one of the largest gatherings of morris dancers in southern England and is one of the south east’s most popular and colourful annual events, known for its feel good factor. The festivities run from 1st to 4th May 2009 – see www.visit1066country.com/hastings/events/default.aspx for further information.
International Festival Of Worm Charming
Filed under Events
Yes, you read that right. The 28th International Festival Of Worm Charming is upon us! The unusual activity of worm charming has become an annual event in the picturesque village of Blackawton, near Dartmouth in South Devon. This year the festival will be held over the early spring Bank Holiday weekend on Sunday 3rd May 2009 from around 11am, attracting hundreds of visitors keen to try their hand at enticing earthworms from the ground.
All manner of methods are used by competitors to attract as many worms as possible to the surface, from bouncing balls and sticking garden forks into the ground then vibrating or ‘twanging’ them by hand, to sprinkling beer, tea or water on to the turf and playing musical instruments. With two categories, under 11s and over, the Worm Charming Festival is great fun for all ages. Teams of three comprise a worm charmer, catcher and counter; the winning team is whichever can charm the most worms out of a 3 x 4ft piece of ground in fifteen minutes. All worms must be returned to the soil after the contest, preferably to their original holes.
Shouldn’t we celebrate St. George’s Day?
Filed under Events
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has been quite outspoken about how we really ought to celebrate St. George’s Day. In a quest to achieve this, a free concert will be taking place on 25th April 2009. It will include musical performances from West Country singer and guitarist Seth Lakeman, Eliza Carthy and Jim Moray. If you’re in the capital, get yourself along and celebrate the day!
