Today’s picture of the day is of The Wallace Collection museum in London. It is situated just north of Oxford Street and near to Baker Street and Bond Street. It is easily accessible by tube and hosts many educational events for adults and children alike. On offer is a collection of paintings, furniture, porcelain and armoury from 1897 which belonged to Lady Wallace who was the widow of Sir Richard Wallace. There is also a gift shop and restaurant in the Sculpture Garden.
The international showcase for the very best photography of natural subjects will be coming to one of Yorkshire South’s leading attractions – Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham. See some of the most amazing wildlife photography from around the world during its UK tour. It will remain at this venue from 27th June to 2nd August 2009.
From July to September 2009 Buckingham Palace will be open for tours. As both the office and London residence of the Queen, it is one of the only working palaces. You can book tickets in advance to visit the Royal Mews and Buckingham Palace State Rooms via The Royal Collection website. The State Rooms are used extensively by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain their guests on state, ceremonial and official occasions.
Money is a major factor for people planning their summer this year but that doesn’t have to mean that a little luxury cannot be enjoyed. Whether you’re looking for peace and quiet from the kids, a break from work or just a change from the daily routine, a day of pampering is a great way to unwind and feel rejuvenated and Bath is the ideal place to enjoy some luxury at an affordable price. Here are some top tips from Bath Tourism Plus to make the most of a day of luxury in Bath.
The best things in life are free
Visitor surveys carried out by Bath Tourism Plus have revealed that one of the main things people love about Bath is its stunning architecture and relaxed atmosphere. What could be more enjoyable than starting the day by exploring Bath’s beautiful and unique buildings? Join a leisurely, free walking tour with a Mayor’s Honorary Guide and see all the major sights whilst listening to an interesting commentary along the way.
Pure relaxation
Next, visit Thermae Bath Spa and wallow in the natural thermal waters of this beautiful spa complex for a morning of pure relaxation. On a sunny day what could be better than relaxing in the rooftop pool gazing over the city and soaking up the sunshine, especially when a 2 hour spa session costs just £22? 4 hour or full-day sessions are also available and a wide range of wonderful treatments can be booked in advance.
Leisurely lunches
Deciding which café or restaurant to stop at for some food is a difficult decision in Bath with so many places to choose from. For the summer months alfresco dining in Bath is popular with wonderful courtyard restaurants such as the Parisien Café in Milsom Place where it’s difficult to resist the charm of the large outside dining area in the sheltered, cobbled courtyard. Delicious food is available from baguettes and omelettes to cooked pasta dishes, seafood and steaks. Other hotspots include French restaurant Casanis on Saville Row where a 2 course lunch costs just £11.50, and Il Tocco d’Italia, with its views across to Pulteney Weir, where diners can choose between an enclosed garden, pavement dining or summer terrace to enjoy Italian food in true continental style.
Maintain your manicure
Champneys on Bond Street is the perfect place to pop in for a quick treatment after lunch. The recently opened day spa offers pedicures and manicures as well as facials and a range of relaxing massages and treatments. Manicures start at £15 and body wraps and massages start at around £30, and with 25% off all treatments until the end of July 2009, luxury here comes at a good price!
Time for tea
Afternoon tea should be a feature on the menu of any leisurely day in Bath. The 18th Century magnificence of the Pump Room is the perfect place to enjoy a Bath Bun or scones with lashings of jam and cream, where tea-takers are entertained with background music from the Pump Room Trio. Fresh scones with jam and cream and a pot of tea or coffee cost £8.95.
Fresh air and countryside
Bath is positioned in a wonderful area with the Kennet and Avon Canal winding its way through the centre of the city. Work off some of that afternoon tea and stroll from Widcombe Lock in the centre of Bath along the peaceful towpath and reach picturesque Somerset countryside within minutes.
Night on the town
Begin the evening with an aperitif at Sub 13. Situated on George Street, this stylish bar is one of the few venues in the city that offers rare and premium spirits such as Ciroc vodka and Tuaca (an Italian brandy), as well as carefully selected Champagnes, wines and beers, and a new menu of exquisite cocktails developed by Sub 13’s bartender who recently won International Bartender of the Year award in 2008.
Bath has a great choice of nightlife. Choose between comedy and cabaret at Komedia, film from around the globe at the Little Theatre Cinema or opera, drama or dance at the Georgian Theatre Royal where all performances have 40 standby tickets available to purchase on the day for just £5 each.
A day out can make you feel just as good as a short break and in Bath there is plenty of opportunity to switch off from all the hustle and bustle of every day life. Bath is a city that was built around leisure and relaxation so where better to spoil yourself and indulge in some relaxation time than in the original Spa City? The official tourism website www.visitbath.co.uk has further information on what to see and do in Bath including information on spas and places to eat out.
Useful links:
Bath hotels
Bath B&Bs
Bath self-catering
Bath attractions
We have experience of both sides of the tourism business and appreciate that hoteliers, B&B properieters, self-caterers and tourist attraction managers are inundated with invitations to join websites. Although there are a number of tools available to assess a site’s merit, it’s a minefield working out which sites justify their renewal fee and which don’t. To help you make up your mind about UKseries, we’ve put together a list of reasons why we think we’re good at what we do:
Today’s picture of the day is of Mynydd Hiraethog. It is a beautiful moorland landscape situated between the Snowdonia National Park and the Vale of Clwyd. It offers beautiful reservoirs and a stunning forest where red squirrels can be seen. It is a popular destination for birdwatching and walking.
For those of you who missed it, here’s a full transcript of the ukseries/bmibaby_com ‘twinterview’ that took place on Twitter earlier this evening:
bmibaby_com: @ukseries Hi – thanks for joining us! We are looking forward to hearing your top #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com Hi, we’re looking forward to taking part and hope we can offer some useful insights. #UKtraveltips
bmibaby_com: @ukseries Great! Let’s kick off with our first question… #UKtraveltips
bmibaby_com: @ukseries How long has the UK Series business and blog been running for? #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com http://www.ukseries.com began in 1999 with http://www.ukhotel.com but is run by a company that started in 1993. #UKtraveltips
bmibaby_com: @ukseries There are some great camping spots in the UK. Which campsites are the best value for money? #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com Most UK campsites are pretty inexpensive. The National Trust campsites in the Lake District offer good value #UKtraveltips
bmibaby_com: @ukseries For those looking for somewhere different to stay – any recommendations on weird and wonderful accommodation? #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com The ‘House in the Clouds’ in Suffolk intrigues me, as does the Corsewall Lighthouse Hotel near Stranraer #UKtraveltips
bmibaby_com: @ukseries What about breaks with a difference (wine tasting, farm stays). Any recommendations? #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com Bluebell Croft in the Highlands – run special interest breaks where you can learn to smoke fish/meat. #UKtraveltips
bmibaby_com: @ukseries Any tips on ‘must see’ free attractions/events in the UK for July and August? #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com Oooh, 140 characters isn’t enough! End of July – RHS Show @ Tatton, Ambleside Sports & Bristol Harbour Festival #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com In August, there’s the Cardiff Big Weekend, Jersey’s Battle of the Flowers and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo #UKtraveltips
bmibaby_com: @ukseries Where are the best places to eat local food in Edinburgh, Belfast and Newquay? #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com Edinburgh: The Dogs – http://www.thedogsonline.co.uk – Michelin star food at very reasonable prices #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com Belfast: the Mourne Seafood Bar is a little gem: http://bit.ly/IyZYj (expand) – locally caught fish and lobster specials #UKtraveltips
ukseries: @bmibaby_com Newquay: hard to look beyond Jamie Oliver’s ‘Fifteen’ – http://bit.ly/ozxVU (expand) between Padstow and Newquay #UKtraveltips
bmibaby_com: @ukseries Fantastic great tips – thanks so much UK Series for tweeting with us about #UKtraveltips!
ukseries: @bmibaby_com It’s been a pleasure. Thank you for inviting us! #UKtraveltips
Just a quick ‘heads up’ to let you know that this evening @ukseries will be being interviewed via Twitter by @bmibaby_com (circa 8pm GMT). We’ll be answering any questions fired at us and hopefully will be able to provide one or two gems of UK travel information in the process. If you would like to follow the interview, you can do by following the hashtag #UKtraveltips. bmibaby flies to a variety of UK destinations including Newquay, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and Jersey.
Today’s picture of the day is of the Oxo Tower in London. It was built on the site of a power station in the 1920’s and features a beautiful art deco style. Today the tower is used as an art gallery and for residential housing. Guests can visit the rooftop and enjoy a delicious meal in the tower restaurant.
The Scotch Whisky Experience is this summer running day-long whisky schools, helping novices and enthusiasts alike to become immersed in the Scotch stuff. Situated at the top of the historic Royal Mile the short course puts students through their paces, with whisky experts on hand to tutor in how to best taste and serve Scotland’s national drink.
Originally aimed at Scotland’s “whisky sommeliers” and increasingly popular as an experience for whisky lovers, the Whisky Schools offer a tremendous experience for anyone looking for something totally different. Training includes a mixture of hands-on activities and different learning styles to make the day entertaining and fun, as well as highly educational and informative. The interactive monthly course gives participants the confidence to try new whiskies and talk knowledgably about them. Led by a charismatic and highly skilled team, it includes a fascinating insight into everything from history and production to tasting and serving. After a short examination, candidates receive a Certificate of Expertise recognised by the Scotch Whisky Industry.
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