Middle eastern Tourism in UK on the UP

Middle Eastern tourist numbers smashed all records in 2011 and that record looks like it is going to be smashed again in 2012.
Good news for all British businesses that rely on tourism.
The 2012 Olympics or the greatest show on earth as the bold Boris Johnson put it! will have a big influence in attracting more [...]

middle east middle east

One of the UKs top city break destinations – Leeds

Leeds is one of the most popular city break destinations in the UK amount UK citizens and international tourists.
Like most big UK cities, Leeds has some great shopping destinations, an abundance of different themed restaurants, cafes, bars and a thriving nightlife.
Amazingly, Leeds is the only UK city outside the capital to have its own repertory [...]

Leeds Leeds

A quick peek at Leeds

Located in the very heart of the UK, in the county of West Yorkshire, Leeds is one of the most accessible cities in the country. The city is the UK’s largest centre for business, legal and financial services behind London and is seen as a regional shopping centre for the whole Yorkshire and Humber region.
 
Leeds [...]

Leeds City Museum Leeds City Museum

Cambridge – The University Town

Cambridge is the definition of a university town. The simple mention of the word instantly makes people think of Cambridge University, a world famous institution which is widely regarded as one of the finest universities in the world. It’s the 7th oldest university in the world and graduates of Cambridge have amassed a total of 61 Nobel [...]

cambridge_university cambridge_university

A Quick Look At York

York is a place with the kind of rich history that almost every city in England, with the possible exception of London, would envy. With one of the world’s great cathedrals at the heart of the city and some of the best preserved medieval buildings in the country it’s an incredible place to visit. Even ignoring York [...]

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Daventry

A guide to Daventry

March 20th, 2012 The UK Tourist

Daventry is set amongst the rolling hills of the Northamptonshire countryside in the heart of England. Daventry has an interesting history, having developed and grown over many many years. There is evidence that Daventry was once home to a Roman settlement on Borough Hill and had also been inhabited by people from the Iron Age before that as well.

Daventry is known as a market town and a street market is held every Tuesday and Friday on the High Street. On the first Saturday of the month, a farmer’s market is also held on the high street to showcase produce from the local area. Daventry also offers a variety of independent boutiques and well known chains stores on its high street.

The town has an array of places that offer food and drink to cater for all taste buds from traditional pubs to international restaurants such as Chinese and Indian foods. There are also a few of the big high street fast food outlets if you are in a rush.

Places of Interest

Borough Hill

The hill is capped with a layer of Jurassic sandstone and owes its shape to the shifting of glaciers during the last Ice Age. Borough Hill is still one of the largest ancient hill forts in the country. There is evidence of the Romans and Saxons using the area found on the hill. Some of these discoveries have made their way into the British Museum in London. The hill is also a great place for outdoor enthusiasts, with open grassland, wooded areas and fantastic views; it is a great place to enjoy a long walk.

Daventry Country Park

This nature reserve offers a great day out for the whole family. At the country park you can enjoy a host of activities. There are many guided walks and activity days held throughout the year. Angling is also available on the man-made reservoir at the centre of the park. Refreshments can be purchased at the visitor centre and kids can enjoy the children’s play area.

Places to Stay

Hotels in Daventry

Hellidon Lakes Golf & Spa Hotel from QHotels is an ideal place to stay when visiting the area. The hotel is set in 220 acres of beautiful, peaceful grounds. In the surrounding grounds you can find eight lakes (where the hotel gets its name), an 18 hole championship golf course and additional Valley 9 hole course, ten pin bowling alley and many more.

 

 

 

middle east

Middle eastern Tourism in UK on the UP

February 22nd, 2012 The UK Tourist

Middle Eastern tourist numbers smashed all records in 2011 and that record looks like it is going to be smashed again in 2012.

Good news for all British businesses that rely on tourism.

The 2012 Olympics or the greatest show on earth as the bold Boris Johnson put it! will have a big influence in attracting more visitors than ever before from the middle east.

London is also hosting the aptly named London 2012 Festival and the Queen will be celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in style with a big birthday bash.

These are just a couple of the big events that will be happening in the UK this year.

When the Olympics kicks off on the 27th of July big screens are to be placed at various locations throughout the UK so everyone can sample the atmosphere from the greatest show the earth.

London and the Olympics are not the only reason as to why many more Middle Eastern tourists are flocking to sample the delights the UK has to offer and in fact all tourists are spoiled for choice when visiting the UK. The hardest part about visiting the UK is deciding where to visit. From historical Edinburgh Castle in the North to surfing the waves in Bournemouth in the South, the UK has something for all tastes.

If all stat counters are correct it should be a year to remember for all tourism driven businesses in the UK.

Loch Lomond Scotland

The Majestic Loch Lomond in Scotland

January 17th, 2012 The UK Tourist

Loch lomond is one of many tourist hotspots in Scotland. The loch attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with its majestic scenery, water sports and many hillwalking trails.

The area is also popular with coach trips. people come from all over the world to witness the spectacular views first hand. There are many beautiful places in this world of ours and Loch Lomond is up there with the best of them.

Although Loch Lomond is surrounded by beautiful countryside, gorgeous hills and towering mountains the Loch is only a 25 minute drive from Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow!

The Loch is part of Scotland’s first ever national park (The Trossachs National Park). Some people who come to visit the loch simply jump on a train, bus or drive from Glasgow to the loch however, coach tours are the best way to explore the stunning scenery that Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park has to offer.

Another top tourist attraction in Scotland, in fact! the world is scotlands capital city Edinburgh. Edinburgh is located 54 miles away from Loch Lomond however, most tourists visiting Loch Lomond prefer to stay in Edinburgh and take the coach tours that start in the capital, head north through some picture post card towns like Sterling and Calander, before hitting the Trossachs National park.

Touring through the deep country side travelling up and down the hills and mountain sides is sheer jaw dropping stuff.

Touring Loch Lomond can be one of those live changing experiences that lasts far longer than the usual week or two.

A must for people who appreciate the beauty in this world.

If you are thinking of staying in the Loch Lomond area there are many beautiful Loch Lomond Hotels for visitors to choose from.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leeds

One of the UKs top city break destinations – Leeds

October 12th, 2011 The UK Tourist

Leeds is one of the most popular city break destinations in the UK amount UK citizens and international tourists.

Like most big UK cities, Leeds has some great shopping destinations, an abundance of different themed restaurants, cafes, bars and a thriving nightlife.

Amazingly, Leeds is the only UK city outside the capital to have its own repertory theatre, ballet and opera house.

Unique to Leeds is the Royal Armouries, where visitors can admire the best of British military arms and armour from yesteryear.

The cities shopping district is famous for its 5 miles of shopping streets and by having one of the UKs largest pedestrianised areas for shoppers to shop pollution free.

Making Leeds one of the best shopping districts in the UK, so much so, shopping in Leeds made it into one of the top thirty things to do in the United Kingdom by the Rough Guide to Britain group.

Leeds is world renowned for its Football team Leeds United who play at the 40,000 seater stadium Elland Road.

Leeds Carnegie, Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire County Cricket Club all play their home matches at the impressive Headingly Stadium and sports complex.

Other popular sporting activities in the area include mountain biking and golf.

The Queens City Centre Hotel in Leeds

According to Tripadvisor reviews Leeds is the fourteenth most popular hotel in the city.

The hotel has received 445 customer reviews in Tripadvisor and has an average rating of 4 out of 5.

Traveller Ratings state – out of the 445 reviews

  • 175 guests thought the city centre hotel was excellent
  • 162 guests thought the Leeds hotel was very good
  • 53 guests thought the city centre hotel was average
  • 32 reviews rated the hotel as poor
  • 23 guests thought the city centre hotel was terrible

The ratings show positive reviews have the majority over the minority of guests who had a bad experience.

Tripadvisor shows there are 13 other hotels favoured more by guests who leave reviews on Tripadvisor however, The Queens hotels in Leeds city centre location, 4 star opulence and competitive rates make this hotel a serious contender for any tourist visiting Leeds.

Depending on availability, double or twin rooms can go for as little as £50 per room.

The formal Queens Grill Restaurant is very popular among tourists and locals alike as is the more mellow Queens Bar.The hotels fine dining options in the Queens Grill Restaurant and the Queens bar make the Queens popular with locals as well as tourists.

The hotel also boasts one of the more popular Leeds conference venues and can cater for up to 600 delegates over 16 rooms.

Leeds has so much to offer it is now a must visit destination for any city break tourist.

Leeds City Museum

A quick peek at Leeds

September 27th, 2011 The UK Tourist

Located in the very heart of the UK, in the county of West Yorkshire, Leeds is one of the most accessible cities in the country. The city is the UK’s largest centre for business, legal and financial services behind London and is seen as a regional shopping centre for the whole Yorkshire and Humber region.

 

Leeds offers a very unique shopping experience with many indoor shopping centres and over 1000 shops in total, including many of the major high street names. The city has its fair share of independent retailers and regular farmers markets too.

The city of Leeds offers a range of popular attractions whether it is from the city’s medieval roots to its more recent industrial background, and best of all, many are absolutely free. There are a number of galleries and museums in Leeds with the Leeds Art Gallery, the Royal Armouries Museum and the newer Leeds City Museum particular highlights and all have free admission. While exploring the city of Leeds, you will also discover a rich variety of historical buildings. An example of this is Temple Newsam, an estate that was once owned by Henry VIII, located around 4 miles from Leeds city centre.

If you are looking for a break from shopping or sight-seeing, you are never far away from a café or restaurant in Leeds. These places to eat offer a diverse range of food and dining from Italian style cafés to 50’s style diners. The landmark Tiled Hall Cafe next to Leeds Art Gallery is not only a place to get food but also worth a look itself, decorated with beautiful mosaic tiles.

Leeds has a lot to offer in terms of nightlife opportunities, with just about every type of bar and genre imaginable. You won’t have to travel far to find what you are looking for, whether it’s an old fashioned pub, trendy bar or late-night club, Leeds has it covered.

Leeds has plenty of accommodation on offer if you decide to plan a weekend break or longer stay. There are over 65 B&B’s and a fantastic range of hotels to choose from too, whatever your budget.

cambridge_university

Cambridge – The University Town

August 8th, 2011 The UK Tourist

Cambridge is the definition of a university town. The simple mention of the word instantly makes people think of Cambridge University, a world famous institution which is widely regarded as one of the finest universities in the world. It’s the 7th oldest university in the world and graduates of Cambridge have amassed a total of 61 Nobel Prizes, more than any other university in the world.

The city itself as a fantastic heritage and has a fantastic range of historic architecture and some of the most stunning buildings in England.  Obviously the university is always the focal point in the city, with the university’s 31 college buildings dominating the city centre, but there is plenty more to see and do. The amazing (but strange) Grasshopper Clock on the corner of the Corpus Taylor Library is a mix of both new technology and centuries old watch making, with a huge 24-carat gold face and the scary walking grasshopper time keeper.

There are a number of theatres and university playhouses which feature performances from the University Amateur Dramatic Society, who can count Sir Derek Jacobi, Griff Rhys Jones and Stephen Fry among their former members.

Cambridge is a green city, and there are numerous parks and gardens around for those looking to get closer to nature. Again the majority are based around the university but the majority, in particular the University Botanic Garden, are well worth visiting.

As you would expect Cambridge also has a fantastic selection of museums and galleries, with almost every area of art, science and history comprehensively covered somewhere in the city.

For those visiting it’s wise to have a look at the University schedule before booking. There are a number of hotels in Cambridge but they fill up fast around graduation time, with the families of students heading down to visit. It’s a fascinating place with the kind of history most places can only dream of, and for those looking for a break with a little culture Cambridge might be the ideal fit.

5002328-The_Merchant_Adventurers_Hall_York

A Quick Look At York

July 28th, 2011 The UK Tourist

York is a place with the kind of rich history that almost every city in England, with the possible exception of London, would envy. With one of the world’s great cathedrals at the heart of the city and some of the best preserved medieval buildings in the country it’s an incredible place to visit. Even ignoring York Minster, which isn’t easy to do, there is a stunning amount of history to be explored in a place which sometimes seems as if it has been plucked out of a story book.

 

The Merchant Adventurers Hall is a genuine medieval guild hall, still operated by the York Company of Merchant Adventurers who opened it more than 650 years ago. The building has been incredibly well preserved and there are a number of exhibits which detail the history of this important structure. There are 3 main rooms in the hall, including the Great Hall where traders would gather, the Undercroft which was used to assist and heal the sick, and the old Chapel which was used for religious ceremonies.

 

Fairfax house holds the claim of being one of the finest Georgian town houses in the country, and is widely regarded and architectural masterpiece. Named after the original owner of the property, the house acted as the winter residence of Viscount Fairfax in the 18th century. Today it is open as a museum, and offers visitors a window into high society life in the late 1700′s.

Obviously this is just a small sample of the attractions in the city, the Visit York website has a great deal more of the city covered and is well worth a visit. We’re better placed to recommend accommodation however, and if you’re looking for hotels in York we’d recommend treating yourself to a bit of luxury at the 4 star Aldwark Manor. It’s close enough to the city for convenience but far enough away that there’s near constant tranquillity.

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Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem – Nottingham

June 22nd, 2011 The UK Tourist

Nottingham is famed for Sherwood Forest, Maid Marian and Robin Hood but this spectacular city has so much more to offer, no matter what walk of life one comes from or what type of short break one wants. This city has it all. Obviously with Nottingham’s rich history most tourists come to see the castle, museums, cathedrals and churches.

Today’s post is about a historical building in the city that does not get as much coverage as the other great historical buildings in Nottingham. A pub! Nottingham has the oldest pub in England (fact!) in the “Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem”. This pub dates back to 1189 AD with the now bricks and mortar building dating back 300 years.

Legend has it the crusaders of the 12th century used to use the pub as a watering hole before marching away on crusades to Jerusalem. Amazing!

What makes this pub so unique despite the obvious is the way the pub is set against the rocks of the castle, were caves have been dug into the soft sandstone rock. The larger cavities on the ground floor of the pub are now used as rear drinking rooms or little snugs as I prefer to call them.

Underneath the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem there is a network of caves that date back to around 1068 AD. This is when the castle was first built. They also pour a good pint however  one would expect this with the 900 odd years of experience they have.

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea when visiting a city with so much history and heritage but for me it was a no brainer, no better way to experience a piece of history than to recreate what they were doing all those years ago. Having a pint!

Hotels in Nottingham are plentiful, small bed and breakfasts to luxury hotels. If you are looking for a budget hotel then I would recommend somewhere like the Clarence Hotel. 66% of customers who have stayed here would come back. Not the highest of margins but for a measly budget of £23 per night one can’t complain.

At the other end of the spectrum I would recommend the Nottingham Belfry from QHotels. Experience a piece of luxury for as little as £109 per night.

Dr Dee Damon Albarn Rufus Norris Programme

Manchester International Festival

June 16th, 2011 The UK Tourist

June 30th sees the start of the Manchester International Festival, which markets itself as ‘the world’s first festival of original, new work and special events’ and the biannual festival is taking place for the 3rd time since 2007. The programme includes a huge range of work created specifically for the Festival and includes such diverse areas as music, visual arts, theatre, dance, food and both indoor and outdoor family events which are all presented by internationally acclaimed artists.
The aim of the Festival is to become a major international cultural event, inspiring artists to create new work to be presented to the local, national and international visitor it hopes to attract to the city and to give local communities access to some of the world’s finest art and music. The festival will take place in a number of established venues throughout the city, with the Palace Theatre, The Bridgewater Hall, the Opera House, The Lowry, Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth Art Gallery all hosting a variety of events. The Manchester Peace Gardens, Town Hall and Deansgate will all be staging free events and some non traditional venues will also be used, such as the Manchester Velodrome and an office building in Spinningfields.

It has attracted a high calibre of artist this year, with internationally known musicians Bjork, Damon Albarn and Sinead O’Connor performing, and Sir Mark Elder and the Halle will be performing a concert version of Wagner’s Die Walkure over two nights. Outside of the performing arts, the festival plans to create the UK’s first multi-story vertical farm inside a disused tower block in the centre of Manchester.
There’s a huge variety of events, far too many to cover completely here, and it looks well worth a visit. In previous years the majority of shows have toured following the festival, so if you can’t make it down to Manchester there should be a chance for you to catch some of the performances a little closer to home.

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