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The leaning tower of Big Ben

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Posted by admin on January 23, 2012 – 1:59 pm
Filed under Attractions

Apparently surveyors have found that the Clock Tower at the Palace of Westminster is leaning.  A committee of MPs is meeting to discuss how it can be prevented from tilting further, and to examine cracks in the building. It’s not going to rival Pisa any time soon, though; Professor John Burland of Imperial College – who was himself a member of the Italian Prime Minister’s Commission for stabilising the Leaning Tower of Pisa – has said the lean should not be a big worry in the short term and it would be at least 10,000 years before it displayed the same amount of tilt as the Leaning Tower.

Big Ben was completed in 1859 and has been relatively stable since that time although it did experience some difficulties in 1979 when pendulum weights fell down a shaft and the clock mechanism exploded.  On that occasion, the clock was out of action for 9 months.  Now this new committee will have to decide on whether to the Palace of Westminster should locate to new offices to allow work to be done.

And… before someone comments… we know that Big Ben is actually the name of the bell, and not the tower.  A blog post with the title “The leaning tower of the Clock Tower” just didn’t have the same ring about it (to pardon the pun)…!

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Useful information regarding 2012 Olympic Games train tickets

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Posted by admin on January 20, 2012 – 10:25 am
Filed under Events, Transport

If you’re a 2012 Games event ticket holder, you can buy 2012 Games train tickets before everyone else. Train companies have assembled special fares from every station on the National Rail network to London and the co-Host Cities, helping you to get to your 2012 Games ticketed event, including the opening and closing ceremonies.

Flexible tickets

2012 Games Train Tickets have special terms and conditions that offer flexibility designed to suit travel to and from the Games.

Longer trains, more services

Over 100 extra train services will be added to the regular timetable each day across the National Rail network during the 2012 Games. Trains will run with more carriages to help provide additional capacity at busy times. 2012 Games train services will start earlier and finish later to help you to get to and from your Games event.

Don’t miss out on the great value train fares, exclusive to 2012 Games ticket holders

Train tickets are likely to get snapped up fast once they go on general sale, so make sure you buy now before they are available to the general public in April 2012. Railcard holders can get discounts too.

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Visit Bath where love is always in the air…

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Posted by admin on January 20, 2012 – 9:01 am
Filed under Accommodation, Eating & Drinking, Events, Miscellaneous

The most romantic time of the year is fast approaching with Valentine’s Day just around the corner.  Couples who are looking for somewhere extra special to spend some quality time together will find romantic experiences in abundance in Bath. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath has a winning combination of beautiful Georgian architecture, stunning scenery, luxurious accommodation and superb restaurants, earning a reputation as one of the world’s most romantic destinations.

Love staying in Bath

With three quarters of the hotels in Bath offering four poster beds, there is no shortage of romantic accommodation in and around the city, and with prior arrangement, many will lay on extras such as flowers, chocolates or champagne in the room on arrival for that special occasion. The Georgian Stables at Smallcombe House offers romantic and quirky accommodation with a double bedroom, a chic lounge in the former tack room and a state of the art shower room. This delightful suite is accessed via a horse ramp and charming cobbled yard, which is for the exclusive use of guests.  For a country retreat, the appropriately named Kissing Gate Cottage exudes romance, providing an idyllic setting for a special break. The charming cottage is tucked away on a quiet country lane and has open log fires – perfect for snuggling up together on a cold evening.

Love food and drink in Bath

Bath has a vibrant restaurant scene with a huge choice of eateries from Indian to Italian and Mediterranean to Moroccan. There is something for everyone, including a wealth of inviting restaurants perfect for an intimate candlelit meal for two.  For a special occasion where better than the Dower House at the 5 star Royal Crescent Hotel, the picturesque setting of the Lime Lounge in Margaret’s Buildings, or for a traditional Bath favourite, the popular Beaujolais Bistro. For somewhere to eat followed by a leisurely stroll in the country there are plenty of cosy country pubs nearby to choose from including The Northey Arms in Box and The Wheelwrights Arms in Monkton Combe, all within an easy drive of the city centre.

Love romantic experiences in Bath

Bath is brimming with things to do; seeing the iconic Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and Circus, or visiting the famous Roman Baths. For something different a stroll along the Kennet and Avon Canal couldn’t be more romantic, or the Skyline Walk with six miles of marked trails offering views of valleys, woodlands, patchwork meadows and beautiful Georgian cityscape.  The Thermae Bath Spa is a popular choice with couples who want to experience the country’s only natural thermal waters.  What could be more romantic that watching the sunset from the stunning roof top pool whilst overlooking the city below?

Love romantic locations in Bath

Being a leap year, 2012 may see many ladies who are looking for that perfect place to pop the question!  Bath has its fair share of locations that make it an ideal and very special place to propose. Take to the air from Royal Victoria Park in a Champagne hot air balloon flight; propose on the 18th Century Palladian Bridge at Prior Park Landscape Gardens; book a private tour to the very top of the church tower at Bath Abbey where arrangements can be made for a bottle of Champagne and chocolates to be waiting for the happy couple; or pop the question over afternoon tea at the Pump Room while being serenaded by the Pump Room Trio.

Love splashing out in Bath

For those lucky enough to have no limit to their budget and really wanting a treat, there are plenty of options for lavish accommodation in and around the city. Stay in one of the most luxurious suites in the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel and have your very own butler attending to your every need.  For those who prefer the feel of a country house hotel, stay at the delightful Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa situated just 6 miles from Bath and set amongst 500 acres of tranquil parkland and countryside.

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A Royally important year

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Posted by admin on January 18, 2012 – 10:30 pm
Filed under Attractions, Events

As details of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant – one of the largest public events ever held in London – are announced, VisitEngland looks at other Jubilee celebrations scheduled across the country. Marking 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will celebrate around an extended weekend on 2nd to 5th June 2012. Officially unveiled this morning, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3rd June will see a procession of 1,000 boats travel down the Thames, from Battersea to Tower Bridge, flanking the Royal Barge which will transport the Queen. The procession, which will include vessels of all shapes and sizes from around the world, including tall ships and square riggers, fishing and cargo boats, yachts, tugs, steamers and canoes, is expected to be the biggest televised event ever to take place. Here are just a few of VisitEngland’s highlights of the Jubilee year calendar:

Sixty Photographs for Sixty Years – The Drawings Gallery, Windsor Castle

Opening on 4th February 2012, an exhibition of 60 photographs of The Queen, including the work of leading press photographers of the past six decades, will go on display at Windsor. The exhibition presents a portrait of The Queen’s reign as captured in fleeting moments on both official occasions and at relaxed family gatherings. The exhibition includes pictures of Queen Elizabeth II on regional and international official visits, leading the nation on Remembrance Day, in the Garter Day procession at Windsor, hosting Heads of State and inspecting the graduating officer cadets at Sandhurst. It also records important personal and family milestones and her lifelong love of equestrianism and of her corgis. The exhibition will run until January 2013.

The Wild, the Beautiful and the Damned at Hampton Court Palace

Running 5th April – 30th September 2012, this royal-themed exhibition tells a story about the fascination of love, glamour, celebrity, lust and power and involves some of the key characters that lived, loved and died at Hampton Court Palace – Charles II, James II, William III & Queen Mary II and Queen Anne. Beauty was a good thing: it was a reflection of divine perfection, an indication of virtue. This temporary exhibition will contain magnificent artworks to reveal the stories and scandals, and will include items from the Royal Collection and other public and private collections, many of which are not currently on display.

The World Comes to Windsor Castle

Held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle on the evenings of 10th, 11th and 13th May 2012, the Diamond Jubilee Pageant will pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s 60-year reign in a performance that brings together over 500 horses and 800 international performers. Dance, music, military and equestrian displays from around the world will feature in this major show: Around the World in 60 Years and 90 minutes. Visitors will be taken on a journey around the world, reflective of the Queen’s State and Commonwealth visits during her rain: starting out from London and visiting the Americas, Australasia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and finally Great Britain. The seven acts draw from their respective continent, ensuring a colourful cultural display. Tickets available at

Bright, Shiny Diamond Jubilee Beacons – Various locations

England has a centuries-long history of beacon lighting to mark national events and the beacon is widely recognised as a symbol of united celebration. On 4th June 2012 beacons will be lit across the whole of the United Kingdom, as they were for the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilees. Locations already confirmed include the highest school in England, Flash Church of England school in Staffordshire (which has just 10 pupils); three of His Grace the Duke of Westminster’s estates in Sutherland, Cheshire and Lancashire; and 60 beacons along the length of Hadrian’s Wall – one for every year of the Queen’s reign.

Go Down to the (Diamond) Woods – Various locations

To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, the Woodland Trust is helping millions of people to come together with their communities to plant 6 million trees. The Jubilee Woods Project, fronted by Patron HRH The Princess Royal, aims to create hundreds of Jubilee Woods across the country, and 60 special Diamond Woods, of at least 60 acres – to transform our landscape in a generation and provide a lasting legacy for many years to come. This includes the Trust’s new Flagship Diamond Wood in the heart of The National Forest in Leicestershire, a haven for wildlife and a monument to Her Majesty.

Partake in a Big Jubilee Lunch – Countrywide

Building on the established Big Lunch initiative, the Big Jubilee Lunch will encourage friends and neighbours to share lunch in their local neighbourhoods on Sunday 3rd June 2012. Based on the premise that a connected community is a safe and happy community, the Big Lunch Initiative was founded by the Eden Project in 2009 and provides the tools and support needed for members of the public to organise and encourage shared neighbour lunches once a year, and as a result to build lasting and valuable connections. The initiative hopes to double participation numbers in 2012, and to create an annual Thanksgiving Day of sorts, all of our own.

A Capital Celebration – London’s Exhibitions

In addition to the river pageant, London will be host to several exhibitions on the Royal Family and the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Showing at the V&A from 8th February to 22nd April 2012, Cecil Beacon’s Royal Portraits will include 60 photographs depicting the Royal Family at home and on official occasions. A new permanent exhibition opening at Kensington Palace on 26th March 2012, Victoria Revealed, will look at the life and reign of Queen Victoria – England’s longest-reigning monarch – while Tower Bridge will be re-presenting the Crown Jewels exhibition for the Jubilee year, with new displays showing the jewels like never before.

For more information on Jubilee events around the country, visit www.enjoyengland.com/jubilee

Ascot seeks to restore formality with new dress code

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Posted by admin on January 18, 2012 – 10:58 am
Filed under Attractions, Events

Anyone entering the Royal Enclosure at 5-day Royal Ascot event in June this year will have to adhere to a new dress code.  So, if you’re planning to be there along with the 300,000 visitors that the event attracts, take note of the following if you want to be allowed into the Royal Enclosure.

For ladies:

- it will be compulsory to wear hats, not fascinators
- skirts or dresses must fall just beneath the knee or longer

For gentlemen:

- a waitcoat and a tie will become compulsory
- cravats will not be allowed

For a full dress code for Ascot and Royal Ascot, and for different areas within the racecourse (note that the above is just for the Royal Enclosure during Royal Ascot), click here.

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Does London need another airport?

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Posted by admin on January 18, 2012 – 8:31 am
Filed under Transport

Interest in a Thames estuary airport on the east side of London has been growing and it has been revealed that the government is to hold a formal consultation on the matter.  Dubbed ‘Boris Island’ because it has the backing of London mayor Boris Johnson – as well as seemingly having some support from Prime Minister David Cameron – the consultation is expected to be announced in March 2012.  Plans to expand at Heathrow were shelved when the coalition government took over, but does London really need another airport do you think?

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Happy New Year! (to the people of Gwaun Valley)

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Posted by admin on January 14, 2012 – 12:29 am
Filed under Events

Close to Fishguard, in the Gwaun Valley in the Pembrokeshire Hills, people have just welcomed in the New Year.

But no, they are not slow on the uptake.  They are merely celebrating Hen Galan, or old New Year, which is celebrated on 13th January and is based not on the Gregorian calendar that was adopted by most of Britain in the 16th and 18th centuries, but instead on the ancient Julian calendar.

Keeping with tradition, children from the Gwaun Valley still to this day walk from house to house and sing traditional Welsh songs that have changed little over the centuries.

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Coming soon to Glasgow: Celtic Connections 2012

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Posted by admin on January 6, 2012 – 5:16 pm
Filed under Events

The 19th Celtic Connections Festival (19th January 2012 – 5th February 2012) will see some of the biggest names in folk, roots, world, traditional, indie, blues and jazz performing at over 300 events at venues throughout Glasgow. Programme highlights include Béla Fleck and the original Flecktones, The Aaron Neville Band, Martha and the Vandellas, Bruce Hornsby and guests, Jack Bruce (Cream) with Lau, Orchestra Baobab, The Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band, a one-off reunion gig with Glasgow’s The Big Dish, and Floating Palace featuring KT Tunstall.

With an ambitious and adventurous programme which embraces Celtic music’s connections with musical genres and cultural traditions from across the globe, Celtic Connections 2012 will see 2,100 artists perform over 18 days in 20 venues across Glasgow.

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Britain’s 10 most expensive streets

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Posted by admin on January 6, 2012 – 2:03 pm
Filed under Miscellaneous

If you love the UK (or, more specifically, London) and money is no object, you might be interested in research by Lloyds TSB (yes, you could be forgiven for thinking they might have something else to do with their time!) which identifies the 10 most expensive streets in Britain, based on average house prices.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, they’re all in London and in fact 70% of them are in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

So, without further ado, here’s the list – click on the street to see it on Google StreetView so you can ogle at the properties and dream… (in the case of Cedar Park Gardens, we got as close as we could, but we’re assuming the Google StreetView car wasn’t granted access!)

Campden Hill Square, Kensington and Chelsea – £4,863,000
Parkside, Merton – £4,826,000
Drayton Gardens, Kensington and Chelsea – £4,428,000
Dawson Place, Kensington and Chelsea – £3,891,000
Duchess of Bedfords Walk, Kensington and Chelsea – £3,862,000
Cadogan Square, Kensington and Chelsea – £3,678,000
Hamilton Terrace, Westminster – £3,621,000
Cedar Park Gardens, Merton – £3,596,000
Bramerton Street, Kensington and Chelsea – £3,522,000
Hampstead Lane, Camden – £3,486,000

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London to become one giant free WiFi hotspot

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Posted by admin on January 6, 2012 – 1:35 pm
Filed under Miscellaneous

Visitors to central London soon won’t need to worry about roaming charges and hotels charging for WiFi. The centre of the capital will become Europe’s largest free WiFi zone thanks to a service being provided by the mobile operator O2. It will be rolled out across the boroughs of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea in 2012, apparently at no cost to the taxpayer – a great boost ahead of the Olympic Games if it can handle the usage that that event will no doubt bring.

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