Archive for April, 2009

Dundee has been the site of a settlement for as far back as the time of the Picts. The city, the fourth largest city too be found in Scotland, has a long association with trade and commerce. The 3 main trades, in the city, were “journalism, jam and jute”. Though dundee could be described as city which is post-industrial it has something of a mixed economy and has a large percentage of its inhabitants employed in manufacturing industries (compared to the rest of the country), about thirteen and a half percent. Over recent years the tourist industry has begun to become an important element of the economy of the city and there are a fair number of establishments providing bed and breakfast in Dundee and in the following article I introduce readers to 3 tourist attractions in Dundee; Discover Point Visitor Centre, Verdant Works and Sensation Science Centre:

The Discover Point Visitor Centre

Discovery Point is a immensely interesting and award-winning Dundee visitor attraction that explains the events of the most heroic voyages of exploration in history, the tale of the world famous explorer of the Antarctic, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, and his first ship, RRS Discovery. On the twenty first of March, nineteen hundred and one, the Discovery was launched at the Panmure Shipyard in the town. Captain Scott and his crew set off for Antarctica on 6th August nineteen hundred and one, reaching their destination in January nineteen hundred and two. The RRS Discovery is the most important part of the centre having been fully restored outside and in. Narrow passageways and steep stairs can make it difficult getting about for those with mobility problems, fortunately, you will discover there is an audio visual presentation at the dockside.

The Sensation Science Centre

If you are looking for an attraction that is suitable for the whole family, then Sensation Science Centre in Dundee is the perfect solution. Sensation Dundee is the United Kingdom’s only science centre that is focused upon the body’s five senses. Visitors can explore the wonders of sciences through the senses of the body through over eighty interactive hands-on exhibits. There are live scientific experiments and demonstrations, demonstrating how ordinary ingredients found around the home can be utilised to incredible effect. People interested in surgery are even able to have an attempt at keyhole surgery. Sensation brings science to life in lots of incredibly fascinating ways.

Verdant Works

Verdant Works was, at one time, a fully working jute mill. At it’s peak, in the 1860’s and ’70’s, the industry in Dundee employed approximately 50 thousand people in excess of 60 factories dispersed across the city. Today, Verdant Works brings the industry to life, through a range of displays including, film shows, original machinery and interactive computers. This incredible museum was once home to 3 enormous steam engines which powered 70 looms and two thousand eight hundred spindles. There was also 500 workers working there, spinning and preparing jute then weaving it over the road in a different factory. Renovation of the building commenced in nineteen ninety two and it opened its doors to the public for the very first time 16 September 1996.

If you are planning a short break in Dundee you will discover a large amount of online hotels and guest houses providing bed and breakfast accommodation in Dundee. You will discover a massive range of Dundee guest houses and hotels at http://www.dundeehotelscotland.com/

The town of Perth, in Scotland, is also often referred to as being the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Built on the banks of the River Tay, the town of Perth was the capital of Scotland and back in medieval times the bustling little town was known by local folk as St. John’s Toun (St. John’s Town). The town of Perth’s name, or Peairt in the Gaelic, is derived from the word of the Picts meaning a wood or copse. Today this beautiful little market town is the perfect place as a base for a Scottish touring vacation with a large number of bed and breakfasts in Perth to choose from.

Whether you stay for just a single day or for longer you will find that there very many things to keep you busy in and around Perth. attractions include; historical attractions, sport and leisure pursuits, restaurants and shopping and various other entertainments. Once upon a time the town was a very busy port mainly dealing in the export of linen, bleached products, whisky and leather. In more modern times the tourism trade generates much needed cash and many jobs for the young folk who are happy to take jobs in the increasing number of Perth hotels and other enterprises.

One of the most visited tourist attractions, which is not a great distance from Perth, is Scone Palace, one of the finest historical country homes in Scotland. Here folk are able to study the very interesting history of the palace, where the early Scottish kings were crowned such as, Robert The Bruce who was crowned here in 1306.

Around 3m away, from the town of Perth, one will discover the sixteenth century Elcho Castle, which features the most breathtaking views over the River Tay. Elcho Castle dates back to about 1570 when the Wemyss family commissioned it’s construction who remained in possession until 1929. The Castle is now in the capable hands of Historic Scotland.

Just a little distance west of Perth you will find the medieval Huntingtower Castle. Constructed in stunningly beautiful Huntingtower Castle has, over the centuries, undergone many minor redevelopments and alterations. Huntingtower started out as 2 separate towers however constructed very close together.

Besides the tourist attractions mentioned earlier the town of Perth has many more, which makes it a perfect town for a vacation for you and your family. Tourist attractions and places, to see, found in Perthshire include the following; Perth Ice Rink, Perthshire Visitor Centre, Kinnoull Hill, the Museum of the Black Watch at Balhousie Castle and Perth Art Gallery & Museum

If you are considering having a vacation in Perth you will find a large selection of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will find a huge listing at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

The city of Cardiff is not just the Welsh capital city, but also the most popular tourist destination in Wales outside London, the capital of England. The city is also the biggest city in Wales, however it was only only a pretty small town until the beginning of the nineteenth century. It was during the early 19th century when the small Welsh town of Cardiff became a busy port involved in the transportation of coal, together with other various local industry. The town of Cardiff eventually received city status, from King Edward VII of England, on the twenty eighth of October 1905, however, strangely, Cardiff only became the capital city of Wales on 20th December 1955. After this Cardiff very soon became the home of most national institutions, including the Welsh National War Memorial, and the National Museum of Wales and the University of Wales Registry Building. Through the last few decades the Cardiff companies involved in I.T. have seen superb expansion and also with, , to a lesser degree various other sectors of business, most noticeably in service industries. The tourism industry has also increased dramatically and there are now surprising numbers of hotels providing Cardiff bed and breakfast.

Cardiff Visitor Attractions

Though Cardiff has been a city for only 100 years, surprisingly there has actually been a castle there for 2 thousand years, or thereabouts. The Cardiff Castle currently standing is, most likely, the city’s most popular tourist attraction which can be found right in the very heart of the city centre. It is possible for people to partake in a guided tour exploring the castle interior, or, take a leisurely wander around the amazingly picturesque gardens of the castle. You will also find a fairly new Interpretation Centre at the castle which displays the various stages of development, of the castle, across the ages from the period of the Romans right up to today.

Cardiff also has a fair number of modern tourist attractions including the highly interesting Techniquest, one of Britain’s finest Science Discovery centres. At the centre one will discover in excess of 100 hands on exhibits, designed especially to both educate and entertain groups of all ages. The centre has a laboratory, a planetarium, a Discovery Room and a hi-tech Science Theatre.

There are a great many more visitor attractions to see in the city of Cardiff, so, if you and your family are currently thinking about taking a trip there it is vital that you reserve your accommodation at your first opportunity because, unfortunately Cardiff guest houses and hotels tend to be surprisingly busy and are commonly fully booked for months in advance. If you are a large group you might find that Cardiff apartment accommodation turns out to be a more affordable option by comparison with bed and breakfast accommodation.

Lanzarote, the popular Canary Island holiday destination, expects to welcome well over a million foreign tourists this year. The majority from the UK. Despite the recent depreciation of sterling against the euro and the confidence sapping effects of the credit crunch.

The Canarian archipelago, comprising a total of seven islands, is four hours away from the UK by plane. And some of the best known low cost airlines fly there, such as Jet 2 and Thomas Cook. Which means it is usually fairly easy to get a flight to the island for as little as

Bournemouth is a vibrant, thriving and incredibly exciting city, despite the unfortunate fact that it is known as ‘God’s waiting Room’. Bournemouth is called this because many old people choose to live here during retirement. However, the city has an amazing youth culture, with a a high number of language and other students. Of course a place such as this would be a excellent place to spend some time however, there is a great deal more to entertain you. In actual fact Bournemouth is incredibly popular with people of all ages, the most probable reason why there are so many establishments offering bed and breakfast in Bournemouth to choose from.

Bournemouth is situated on the English South coast, roughly one hundred miles away from of the capital city of England, London. The largest town on the south coast, Bournemouth, is renowned for having 7 miles of stupendous golden beaches of sand and glistening rich blue sea. It is the city’s mind blowing location that made it become an amazingly popular destination for tourist since the early 19th century. It is nearly impossible to imagine that the Bournemouth area was, in eighteen hundred, largely a remote and barren moorland mainly consisting of common grazing with the exception of the estate of Sir George Ivison Tapps. In the year 1809 a public house appeared on the heath, the Tapps Arms, a few of years after this, in the year eighteen twelve, the first folk, a retired army officer and wife, moved in.

Lewis Tregonwell and his wife acquired some land, off Sir George Ivison Tapps, upon which the couple built a series of villas overlooking the sea with the idea being to let them out to visitors in the summer for vacations. Lewis Tregonwell also built a nearby summerhouse. and also began planting countless pine trees, making a gorgeously sheltered walkway to the beach, which later became known as the Invalid’s walk.

Ever since those early days the popularity of Bournemouth, as a UK tourist destination, has ceaselessly increased, and today, it is widely known as a tourist haven for entertainment, culture, leisure, fun and recreation. Places which prove incredibly popular to visit include; Bournemouth Pier, the award winning Central Gardens, St. Peters Church Graveyard and the Russel-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum.

If you are in the process of deciding upon taking a break in the city of Bournemouth it is crucial that you book your accommodation at the earliest moment as, sadly hotels and guest houses in Bournemouth tend to be amazingly busy and are frequently fully booked months in advance. If you have a large family you might find that apartment accommodation in Bournemouth are a less expensive alternative to Bournemouth bed & breakfast.

Cambridge is widely known all over the globe for being home to the University of Cambridge, one of the most prestigious learning centres in Britain. The University has a total of 31 colleges including; St John’s College, Selwyn College, Sidney Sussex College and Trinity College which dominate the city. Even though large numbers of people arrive in Cambridge with their main aim being to view the University, Cambridge has so many more places to visit other than the college buildings of the University. Luckily there is a large selection of Cambridge bed and breakfast to choose from (Important: more about this in the last paragraph).

Cambridge is an ancient town dating back to the medieval period and because of this there there are countless examples of exquisite architecture. One can walk amongst the medieval streets, relax one of the various gardens or parks or you could take a punt along the river. If the idea of a days punting is appealing, then it is possible to hire a punt or for something a little different one could take a chauffeured punt. There are numerous organisations offering this facility along the river. As a further alternative a trip down the river in a narrowboat.

The city of Cambridge is also well known for its churches, with thirteen of them being located within Cambridge’s confines. Of all the 13 churches located in the centre of Cambridge it is All Saints Church which is usually accepted as one of the finest examples of Gothic revival architecture in England. A further interesting church is Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is one of only 4 Norman circular churches found in the country. The tiniest of Cambridge’s churches is St Peter’s, which hides in a tranquil part of the city centre. Some of the finest panoramic views of the city and University colleges can be experienced from the viewpoint of the University church, the Great St Mary’s Church.

Because there is a vast collection of visitor attractions to visit in Cambridge, it would be impossible to view all of them in just one day. Therefore we advise that you spend at least two days in Cambridge. If you and your family are currently considering taking a vacation in the city of Cambridge it is vital that you reserve your accommodation at the earliest opportunity because, sadly hotel and guest house accommodation in Cambridge tend to be alarmingly busy and are often fully booked for a long period in advance. If your group is large you may find that Cambridge serviced apartments are a reasonable alternative.

Hayling Island may only be a tiny place, but it has a wondeful charm to offer you. There are also a variety of great hayling island hotel to choose from.

Hayling Island has a regular station from the university of Portsmouth. Their students come to Hayling to explore the amazing biodiversity that Hayling offers.

Hayling Island also has over 3 miles of beaches right on the doorstep of the Solent as well as the Harbours of Langstone and Chichester. With its safe open spaces, fresh air and sheltered waters, Hayling Island has much to offer those that enjoy sports of all kinds, whether on land or at sea.

Whilst Hayling Island is best known for its miles of undeveloped coastline, there is more to do on Hayling than simply walking on the beach.

Try your hand at golf - Hayling has two “pay and play” golf courses: One on the seafront and one at the edge of Tournerbury woods. Both offer a challenging game mixed with great scenery.

Walk or cycle the Hayling Billy coastal path - The Hayling coastal path runs most of the length of Hayling along the original route of the “Hayling Billy” train line.

Hit the boot sale - The Island’s biggest car boot sale is held every Wednesday close to the funfair at beachlands. Good weather usually leads to more sellers, but the regulars can be found there rain or shine from early in the morning.

Bristol has an immensely rich and superbly varied history, making it the ideal city for a weekend city break. In the past Bristol City was one of the country’s top 3 medieval towns after London. Bristol was one of the busiest trading ports in the country, and during the 14C, it handled the majority of the trade with Ireland. In the year 1373 Bristol was declared a county in it’s own right, and it was during this period that Bristol developed into the centre of manufacturing and shipbuilding. It is Bristol’s diverse cultural history that makes it one of the most exciting cities in England of this present day. Luckily, those people wanting to have a weekend break in Bristol will quickly discover that there is a plentiful amount of bed and breakfast in Bristol available online, making it very easy to make reservations.

The city of Bristol has an amazingly diverse arts scene and Bristol giving us some immensely talented and widely known artists over time. Not too many folk know that Wallace & Grommit were first brought to life in Bristol, and that Cary Grant also came from the city of Bristol. The well known graffiti artist named Banksy sprayed some of his most famous works of art around the city of Bristol. Bristol’s City Museum & Art Gallery is a entry free visitor attraction well worth visiting which features an incredible collection of superb art works, archaeology, natural history, ancient artefacts as well as a continually changing selection of exhibitions and events. For a truly unique arts centre experience take the time to visit Spike Island. This centre focuses on the exhibition and production of contemporary visual arts, which include various aspects of painting, multimedia projects, printmaking, working with moving images and more. If you prefer a slightly more traditional art gallery, then The Royal West of England Academy should meet your requirements. The Royal West of England Academy was Bristol’s very first art gallery and has over one thousand two hundred works of art dating from the nineteenth century up to the present day.

You will find a respectable collection of visitor attractions in Bristol City. Why not spend some time in Bristol Zoo which is home to more than 450 different types of animal. Bristol Zoo is also helping in the conservation of rare amphibians, insects and mammals, from around the globe.

If you get excited about all things equine then a visit to Horseworld could prove perfect for you and your family. A day out at Horseworld will allow you to meet rescued horses, ponies and donkeys. If you want to it is also possible take part in the hand feeding of the animals. Another 2 visitor attractions of interest in this genre are Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm and Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park, both of which provide all of the essentials you will require for an excellent day out for your family.

If you and your family are currently deciding upon spending a few days in the city of Bristol it is crucial that you reserve your lodgings at the earliest opportunity as, sadly Bristol hotel and guest house accommodation tend to be amazingly busy and are commonly fully booked well in advance. If you are travelling in a group you might find that serviced apartments in Bristol are a cheap option.

If you’re not a native Castilian or Catalan speaker then going to the cinema might have been something you might have stroked off the to-do list while in Barcelona. Fortunately the city has several options to offer its international cinema goers which are sure to be near your barcelona hotels.

Barcelona has several “VO cinemas”. These show films in their original language and usually come with subtitles (so you may even pick up some new Castilian phrases while you’re there!).

One of the most popular of these cinemas can be found at Ciutadella-Vila Ol

It’s that time of the year again and Easter is coming. Every year the commemoration of the death and rising of Jesus is something special and captivates the habitants of the capital of Germany.
There are many opportunities how to spend your long weekend on Easter. Either you can celebrate it traditionally at home with the whole family painting and/or searching Easter eggs, or you can call on the different offers Berlin is making for Easter.
One beautiful alternative is the Easter-Lunch at Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin. Parents can enjoy a classy lunch with lots of viands whereas the children can enjoy an eventful day with fun games and coloured ostrich eggs.
On this celebration you can expect classic lamb dishes and live cooking in a wok. Besides an awesome lunch buffet you can also enjoy breathtaking scenery in front of the German Cathedral, premium service, a champagne reception and dewy juices. Let Leander Roerdink- Veldboom & Team surprise you… Here you can feast and enjoy the whole afternoon for only 48€ per person.
On Easter Sunday, which this year falls on 12th April, there is the big Easter Fire in the Kulturbrauerei. The most beautiful and biggest Easter Fire in Berlin-Brandenburg will be lit at 2 pm. Also planned for that day at 2 pm, the entertaining programme for kids and their families is going to start including fun, action, artists, theatre, mission games and much more. And what can be more exciting for your children than the fascinating crackling noise of the fire? Nothing… And that is why they are also allowed to satisfy their hunger on separate fireplaces with bread on a stick.
On this day a programme for the whole family will be offered. At 7pm the Star FM concert in Kesselhaus is going to start including WIRTZ, 5Blugs and the Disco Ensemble. Afterwards, when it is the time for the kids to go to bed, the night is going to start for adults. At 10 pm the Easter Fire Party will begin in the Kulturbrauerei in Soda Club & Club 23, Kesselhaus, Maschinenhaus and Alte Kantine.
Those of you who prefer a quieter Easter holiday can visit the Easter-Knigt-Spectaculum in the Zitadelle Spandau. From 10 am to 8 pm you can enjoy a Night Knights Tournament and medieval festivals also aged craftsmanship as well as jugglers, who entertain the crowds.
As you can see Berlin is really ready for the holidays. Now it’s only a few days until Easter and you should hurry to find a suitable Unterkunft Berlin. Normally the city offers a lot of Hotels in Barcelona, but you should allow for the fact that on Easter everybody in Germany is going to have the time off to visit Berlin – so quickly… Get going and reserve your accommodation now!