All Blog Posts Tagged 'England' (72)

Let’s face it, the internet has created a whole new world of travel opportunities, and has made making new friends over a computer entirely possible. Social media has taken over the travel world, and meeting new travel friends has never been easier. Recently, on my annual trip to London, I was given a most…

Upon turning from apartment building to hotel back in 1971, the Athenaeum

instantly became the latest and greatest in upmarket if buttoned-down hostelry swank in Britain's capital, attracting top celebs of the day. Inevitably, plenty of other properties have …

The very name Cheltenham conjures up images of turf being thrown up by thundering hooves to a backdrop of shouts and cheers.  This elegant spa town in Gloucestershire in the heart of England is one of the country's most prominent horse racing venues, and each year in March the town's racecourse hosts a festival widely regarded as the "Oscars" of the horse-racing world.  The festival is commonly referred to as the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although strictly speaking it is the Cheltenham Festival,…

One is the loneliest number, or so the lyrics to a certain song tell us. In the past, the solo traveller has traditionally been an unusual sight, a rarity in a world of travelling couples and families.

However, these days, the so called ‘lonely’ solo traveller can…

The vast majority of visitors to Bath find themselves entranced by the city's elegant architecture and its charming setting, nestling among the hills of the southern edge of the Cotswolds.  Not so Jane Austen, who allegedly hated the city, and had to be dragged there against her will in 1801 when her father moved the family to Bath upon his retirement.  Jane's antipathy towards the city almost undoubtedly provided the inspiration for the main character of her novel Persuasion, Anne Elliott,…

Cornwall is located in the United Kingdom and it is a peninsula that is bordered in the east by the county of Devon, in the southern side by English Channel and it in the west and north by the Celtic Sea. The city also has many attractions for the tourists so that they can enjoy their holiday to a great extent.



There are many Cornwall Caravan parks in this city and they are created in such a way that pet owners can bring…

Anyone who thinks the British weather is getting wilder with each passing year should cast their mind back to this day 60 years ago.  On the night of 31st January to 1st February 1953 the east coast of Britain experienced one of the most catastrophic weather events in the nation's history when it was pummelled by violent storms which resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives.  Many of those whose lives were spared found themselves on rooftops awaiting rescue.

The trouble began…

Going to the pub is one of the pleasures of a visit to the English seaside, and at this time of year the pub comes into its own. Whether you have been for a bracing walk along the seafront with a fierce souwesterly hurling seaspray across your path, or have spent a pleasant interlude pottering around a harbourside, dodging the waves crashing over the harbour wall, there is only one place to head for to warm up: a cosy pub with a roaring fire, the heady aroma of hearty pub food and a clutch…

Fireworks in Madrid, Spain ring in the New Year

New Year's Eve…

Christmas in the UK, where I grew up, thrives on tradition. Although conventionally described as a Christian celebration, a British Christmas has roots in ancient pagan festivals, subsequently layered with influences from around the world. In today's cosmopolitan (and largely secular) Britain, December 25th concerns itself as much with the Eastenders Omnibus as it does the birth of Christ.



I wanted to know more about Christmas traditions in the rest of the world, so I…

Once again I can say that "I survived WTM London." World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry is held every year in November at London's Excel conference center. WTM is a vibrant must-attend four-day business-to-business event, presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to travel professionals from over 160 countries. By attending WTM, participants gain immediate competitive advantage for their business and stay abreast with the latest…

Imagine my surprise to discover I wanted to write a glowing article for my newest travel series “Best of London” about a department store!  (Just when did I fall and hit my head, anyways)?  But no, there were no mishaps involved.  If anything, our discovery was what I would term a “happy accident” as we wandered down Piccadilly Street, the atmosphere vibrant on this uncommonly sunny London day.  We paused to focus on the historic grandness all around us – and what should our eyes…

Hundreds of curry lovers, food experts and restaurant owners from across the world gathered in London for a gala ceremony to recognise the talents of chefs, the unsung heroes of the kitchen. The awards are the brainchild of Syed Nahas Pasha and his brother, Syed Belal Ahmed,…

Londoners suffered collective withdrawal symptoms when the Olympic Games ended on August 11 and are now hoping to recapture some of the drama and excitement when the Paralympics  begin  on 29 August. This is a good time to reflect on what the Games achieved and whether this fervour can be…

Cornwall has so much to offer that it's difficult to decide where to base yourself when visiting this beautiful South Western County, or rather the Duchy of Cornwall…

A television programme dealing with the some of the thousand-odd islands around the British Isles caught my attention. Brief visits were made to many of my favourite islands, including one to my very favourite, the little-known but fascinating Piel.

Piel lies off the Cumbrian coast, at the mouth of…

Before the Olympics started, I wondered here on tripatini if Londoners knew how lucky they are right now. Well, it seems having the torch relay in London the week before, then the spectacular opening ceremony, and finally landing in third place in the medals tally have brought some positivity to the masses. That and a break from the near continuous rain we had endured for…

The London Olympics 2012 got under way with a spectacular opening ceremony viewed by an estimated 27 million people in the UK and one billion world-wide. A commentator described the curtain-raiser master-minded by award-winning film director, Danny Boyle, as bold, British and bonkers. This probably sums up…

So the Olympic Games have finally begun! Friday’s opening ceremony was viewed by people all over the world, and countries are already starting to rack up medals in events like swimming, cycling, and judo.



Londoners have of course been anticipating the…