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Thomas the Tank Engine steams into Drayton Manor Hotel

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Posted by trev on December 25, 2011 – 1:30 pm
Filed under Accommodation

A couple of years ago, fans of Thomas the Tank Engine were delighted when the world’s first Thomas Land opened at Drayton Manor Theme Park.

Now the kids (young and old) can extend their adventures with Thomas and Friends by staying in the new Thomas themed rooms within the Drayton Manor Hotel which even have a Thomas the Tank Engine frontage in the rooms! For any kid who is into Thomas and Friends, this has to be an absolute dream come true – 24 hours a day you can eat, play and sleep Thomas.

Of course any Thomas themed rooms wouldn’t be complete without the famous Fat Controller, and at Drayton you can not only meet the man himself but twice a day he’ll even read stories in the hotel’s lounge to the gathered, possibly slightly obsessed, fans.

Those visiting Drayton Manor who aren’t quite this obsessed will be pleased to know the majority of the hotel is simply luxury accommodation without a Thomas in sight (at least in the rooms), though you might have to walk past a few reminders on the walls around the themed rooms.

If your kids are looking for a short break and they are as obsessed with Thomas as all the kids I know are, why not treat them to a weekend away that they’ll never forget.

Useful links around Drayton Manor Theme Park:

More information on the Drayton Manor Hotel
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Could a proposal to light up Stonehenge ever be welcomed?

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Posted by trev on December 24, 2011 – 10:31 am
Filed under Attractions

Stonehenge is one of the few places left in Britain where we can look at the world through the same eyes as the Neolithic peoples who built the giant structure, but a recent proposal is suggesting that the ancient stones require more “mystique” than nature provides.

One Lady Mimi Pakenham of Warminster originally proposed this concept, and it then debated on Radio 4’s influential Today Programme, so we know middle-England is now aware of it. One could look at Stonehenge and compare it to say the many castles and other monuments around Britain which are flood-lit nightly – Edinburgh Castle being a classic example.

However, somehow Stonehenge sits apart from all other monuments perhaps because of the ongoing questions surrounding its original purpose, or maybe it is simply the sheer scale of the task of building such a structure.

We can probably assume that if such an idea were to gain momentum, English Heritage – under whom Stonehenge is governed – would be a little more subtle than to install giant floodlights. But still with all the talk of the need for dark sky areas of the world and English Heritages’ seeming desire to ensure no human hand can damage the stones, there is a real risk any artificial lighting could spoil the effect of the stones looming out of the darkness on a moon-lit night.

Lighting the stones has been tried previously back in the late 1970s to be precise, but the lights were removed not because of aesthetics and mystery, but the more practical problem of drivers on the nearby A303 looking at the stones and not keeping an eye on the road.

The chances of this ever getting past a letters page in the Times newspaper are very slim, but stranger decisions have been made so perhaps by stimulating this debate, Lady P is in her own little way helping to ensure the sanctity of Stonehenge for generations to come.

You can add your say at the bottom of this page (or click the speech bubble if on the front page). Should we ever even consider lighting up Stonehenge or leave nature to do that?

More Wiltshire Resources:
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2 for 1 at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

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Posted by admin on December 23, 2011 – 1:29 pm
Filed under Attractions, Events

If you’re looking for something special to do with friends and family over Christmas, why not visit ZSL Whipsnade Zoo? Between Christmas and the New Year, they are offering 2 for 1 entry, and they have a host of daily activities running throughout December, including Christmas Crafts at the Elves’ Workshop and the daily Reindeer Rumble, to keep all the family entertained. Click here for your 2 for 1 voucher.

Special offer – Premier Inn £19 room sale!

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Posted by trev on December 23, 2011 – 12:20 pm
Filed under Accommodation

There’s no need to queue up for our fantastic January Sale -starting today we have rooms right around the country from ana amazing £19 per room!

But remember, like all sales, the best reductions won’t hang around for long, so why not give yourself a little Christmas present and book your January escape rooms now?

The Premier Inn January SALE runs from 23rd December 2011 to the 30th December 2011, and applies to bookings from 1 January to 10th February 2012.

To book your Premier Inn break for just £19 per room click here!

For full terms & conditions – click here

Finding the origins of ‘Auld Lang Syne’

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Posted by trev on December 15, 2011 – 12:46 pm
Filed under Events

You’ve probably sung this classic at New Year or might even be this year, but where exactly does this classic song come from?

The phrase Auld Lang Syne appears in various folk tunes and even a few poems, although non of these bring together the rest of the words of this popular tune which hints at possibly that this might have developed from other folk songs.

Robert Burns is often credited with penning the classic. However he once admitted to having written it down from the words of an “old man”, so this wasn’t an original work by the poet.

The truth is, no one knows exactly where the song came from, but we do know that Robert Burns took a version which was passed down by word of mouth and was one of the first to actually write down a version to sing in 1778.

Therefore although it might not have originated from his hand, he can take part of the credit for one of the great rousing songs still found across Britain to this day.

The Royal Wedding – more interest than the iPhone 5

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Posted by admin on December 15, 2011 – 12:02 pm
Filed under Events, Miscellaneous

Google has released its annual Zeitgeist – a summary of the most popular searches around the world of the world’s leading search engine.  And top of the pile when it comes to the fastest rising searches of 2011, it’s the Royal Wedding. Interest in the event surpassed interest in the iPhone 5, apparently, and of course sparked interest not only in the UK, but also all across the globe.

The full list of the top 10 fastest rising searches in the UK during the 2011 is as follows:

Royal wedding
iPhone 5
FIFA 12
Groupon
iPad 2
Ryan Dunn
Adele
Minecraft
Rebecca Black
Ed Sheeran

Useful links:
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Absolutely fabulous England

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Posted by admin on December 15, 2011 – 11:39 am
Filed under Uncategorized

This Christmas the award-winning Absolutely Fabulous returns to BBC with three special episodes to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The Ab Fab story picks up in the present day – Eddy and Patsy are back, 20 years on, a little older, none the wiser but definitely still Absolutely Fabulous.  And, in celebration of everything ‘sweetie-darling’, VisitEngland has picked some of the country’s most lavish fads and frolics.

Is Champers alright with you, Patsy?

Eddy and Patsy were often found at the bottom of a Champagne glass and in 2012 The Cadogan is set to take luxury to a whole new level, offering its guests the ultimate indulgence: a Champagne bath. From Valentine’s Day, guests can bathe in 120 bottles of Champagne, prepared by their very own bath butler, whilst sipping vintage Champagne and nibbling on chocolate-coated strawberries in this prestigious Knightsbridge hotel. Divine. From £4,000 per bath.

Its ‘green’ darling!

Eddy is into every new fad imaginable and right now being ‘green’ is bang on trend. For the perfect combination of nature and nurture, look no further that the Ekopods campground near Bodmin Moor – an eco-friendly glamping heaven. Arriving, you might just think you’ve stumbled across an alien settlement. But take a peek inside the futuristic, dome-shaped tents and you’ll find reassuringly cosy touches like candle-lit lanterns, free-standing baths and (wait for it) an enormous king-sized bed. Set in three acres of wildflower meadow, Ekopod is the brainchild of former city-dweller, Simon Cathcart, and swaps soggy feet and pongy portaloos for low-carbon luxury. From £95 per night.

If you HAVE to eat, make sure its low-cal

Whether there’s a thin person inside you dying to get out or, like Patsy, you haven’t eaten since 1974 (apart from that rouge crisp) then perhaps Liverpool’s Sapporo Teppanyaki could tempt you. This restaurant offers everything from slimline sushi to sumptuous sashimi. However, Sapporo Teppanyaki is more than a great place to eat. Savour a Japanese cocktail or sample Eager Ninja, 18 year-aged Yamazaki whisky, and Saké. From cosmopolitans to Cristal Champagne, you can toast to the big night out ahead in style. Chin Chin. Dishes from £5 per person.

It’s La Croix sweetie, La Croix

If your idea of a perfect day out is a little mosey down Bond Street, a sniff around Gucci, a sampler of Ralph Lauren, a skip through Browns and then on to Quags for a light (liquid) lunch, then Katherine Elizabeth is right up your street. Katherine Elizabeth is well-renowned for hosting Mad Hatter’s Couture parties and now you can immerse yourself in the sumptuous world of millinery couture, insider hat etiquette, up-to-the minute fashion and seasonal trends with a chance to create your own couture. Have fun, share Katherine Elizabeth’s secrets and create your very own bespoke masterpiece to wear time and time again. No prior design experience is required. Hat-making experiences from £55 per person.

Just because it’s plain old fabulous

An invitation to stay at Cliveden, Berkshire was seldom refused in Lady Astor’s day and is the perfect place to have your very own Ab Fab moment – not least because the bedrooms are so luxuriously appointed and the staff so attentive. Each room is named after a prominent guest or figure from Cliveden’s past, and furnished accordingly. Whilst staying at Cliveden all residents can enjoy being pampered at The Pavilion Spa and the exploring National Trust grounds. There is even a chauffeur driven fleet, including Rolls-Royce, Porsche and Bentley, at your disposal both before and during your stay. 2-night stays from £695.

And one for all the Saffys out there…

If the thought of a wild night on the tiles leaves you cold, how about a spot of culture? From January 2012 the Royal Academy of Arts will showcase the first major exhibition of new landscape works by David Hockney RA. Featuring vivid paintings inspired by the East Yorkshire landscape, ‘David Hockney: A Bigger Picture’ will span a 50 year period to demonstrate Hockney’s long exploration and fascination with the depiction of landscape. The exhibition will include a display of his iPad drawings and a series of new films produced using 18 cameras, which will be displayed on multiple screens and which will provide a spellbinding visual journey through the eyes of David Hockney. Visit the exhibition, and then hot foot it to East Yorkshire to see the beautiful landscapes that inspired the artist. 21st January – 9th April 2012; adult ticket: £14 per person.

England’s top 10 Christmas markets

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Posted by admin on December 15, 2011 – 11:28 am
Filed under Events

If you still like to do a bit of your Christmas shopping offline, you’ll no doubt have ventured to a Christmas market or perhaps be planning to visit one very soon. So, without further ado, here’s Enjoy England’s  round-up of the top 10 Christmas markets in England this year:

1. Norwich: Frankincense and Fudge
2. Birmingham: Heart-shaped gingerbread and neon St Nicki
3. Leeds: Fröhliche Weihnachten!
4. Rochester: Roasted chesnuts and one or two Tiny Tims
5. Skipton: Tap dancing turkeys and brass bands
6. Ludlow:Battling knights and mince pies
7. Manchester: A little bit of Continental Europe up north
8. Bury St Edmunds: Sprinting Santas and exotic dishes
9. Blenheim Palace: Posh shopping in an elaborate palace
10. Bath: A gorgeous Georgian Christmas

Beautiful Berwick (and the chance to win a free break!)

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Posted by admin on December 15, 2011 – 11:09 am
Filed under Miscellaneous

Berwick-upon-Tweed has always been one of Northumberland’s most popular visitor destinations; in fact Nikolaus Pevsner called it one of the most exciting towns in England.

Where else, within just an hour, can you walk atop dramatic Elizabethan fortifications, see the county’s first purpose-built infantry barracks, view an iconic 28 arch railway viaduct designed by Robert Stephenson, a conglomeration of enchanting Georgian houses and cobbled lanes and archways? And it’s all within a stunning setting alongside one of Britain’s finest salmon rivers, and with views up the Tweed valley and out across the estuary as far as Holy Island and beyond.

If you’d like to go and experience Berwick for yourself, why not enter Visit Northumberland’s Berwick competition? Win a short break at The Walls Bed & Breakfast, an elegant 5 star silver period townhouse perched on the Edwardian Walls in the heart of Berwick’s historic old town.

Brrrr… Arundel Lido to open for festive swims

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Posted by admin on December 14, 2011 – 4:25 pm
Filed under Attractions, Events

Arundel Lido will be offering those who are up for a little festive swimming the opportunity to brave the elements and swim in the lido over the Christmas period. The main pool will be open 10am – 1pm on New Year’s Eve (Saturday 31st December 2011), New Year’s Day (Sunday 1st January 2012) and Bank Holiday Monday (2nd January 2012). Entry will be £4 for adults and £2 for Under 18s, but free for Under 5s and Over 80s! Entry will also be free for all swimmers who have paid for their 2012 Season Tickets by 31st December 2011.