United Kingdom
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A Day in Hull: Explore Maritime History and the Iconic Humber Bridge
It was yet another bright, sunny morning as we enjoyed a final relaxing breakfast overlooking Hull’s marina, if only each day could start like this! Having set ourselves up for the day with freshly prepared smoothies and full English breakfasts we gathered our things together and checked out of our room, leaving our bags to…
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Visiting The Deep in Hull
We woke to some lovely spring sunshine and started our day with a hearty breakfast at a window table of the hotel’s restaurant overlooking the marina. As we tucked into our delicious breakfasts we watched the crew of one yacht preparing to set sail. The buffet had an excellent choice of hot and cold dishes…
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Why you should visit Hull – the complete guide
Hull is a port city in East Yorkshire, northern England, located on the north bank of the Humber estuary. It was awarded the title of UK City of Culture in 2017 and I was interested to visit the city to take a look at its cultural attractions for myself and discover if the accolade was…
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Complete Guide to Visiting Nostell Priory, Wakefield
Setting off early one weekend we decided to visit Nostell Priory on the outskirts of Wakefield in West Yorkshire. Approaching Wakefield we stopped off for breakfast rolls and coffee at the Union Rooms in Batley which is just around the corner from a Mill Outlet so we had a quick look in there before moving…
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The National Coal Mining Museum: Complete Travel Guide
When researching my family history I discovered that I had numerous ancestors who had spent their working lives as coal miners so I thought it would be interesting to visit the National Coal Mining Museum for England and learn what it was like to work down a coal mine. The museum opened in 1988 and…
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The Holiday Inn Castle Marina, Nottingham Review
Hotel Review Location We chose the Holiday Inn for our weekend stay in Nottingham as it is conveniently located a few minutes drive from the city centre, close to the Castle Marina Business Park. We had travelled to Nottingham by train and taking the tram from outside the station, it was just one stop to…
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Explore Nottingham by tram: Nottingham University and Arboretum
The sun was shining through the windows as we drew back the curtains which was a good start to the day. After a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant we wrapped up warm and walked along the now familiar route to the Meadows Way West tram stop. Instead of taking a tram into the city…
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Exploring Nottingham: the city of Caves and National Justice Museum
Our day started with a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant and a glance at the morning newspapers. We then wrapped up warm before setting off for a walk along the canal towpath. The Nottingham and Beeston canal runs through the city centre and was just a few minutes walk from the Holiday Inn. Before…
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Nottingham – a perfect weekend break
Nottingham is often referred to as the ‘Queen of the East Midlands’ because the English kings held court there when they went hunting in its surrounding forests. It’s also famous for the legendary Robin Hood so we thought it was about time that we explored the city for ourselves. Nottingham is easily accessible from all…
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The New Inn, Clapham, North Yorkshire Review
Hotel Review Location The New Inn is located in the village of Clapham, six miles north west of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. As a conservation village, many features of modern life do not exist. In Clapham you will not find any street lamps, overhead wires or modern architecture. The New Inn began…
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The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Bolton Abbey Review
Hotel Review After a hectic festive period, my friend and I decided to unwind with a short break at the Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa. This luxurious, country house hotel has been a landmark of the village of Bolton Abbey since the early 17th century. The former coaching inn came into the ownership of the…
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Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience: Magical Festivities for the Whole Family
The weather may have been dull and dreary but what better way to get into the spirit of Christmas than to attend a festive event. When an invitation dropped into my inbox to preview the Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience, I was excited to find out more. The Lotherton Estate is situated in the north of…
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A walk from Cambridge to Grantchester
It was our final day in Cambridge but as our train home wasn’t until 5.00 p.m. we still had ample time to explore. After gathering our belongings together we left our bags at the hotel for safekeeping and then wandered down the now familiar Hills Road into the city centre for some breakfast. As it…
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Cambridge to Ely by Train: A Perfect Day Out in East Anglia
We planned to spend the day in Ely which is one of the smallest cathedral cities in England. Located just 15 miles from Cambridge, trains are frequent taking only 15 minutes with fares as low as £2.30 for an adult off-peak return. Ely’s imposing cathedral dominates the city’s skyline and it took us around 10…
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The Ultimate Guide to Spending a Weekend in Cambridge
We had arrived in Cambridge by train the previous evening and checked into the nearby Cambridge Central Travelodge a short stroll away. The hotel overlooks the central plaza of the Cambridge Leisure Park where there are several places to eat, plus two small supermarkets meaning that we didn’t need to venture into the centre that…
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Leeds Light Night: What to See, Do and Expect at the City’s Biggest Light Festival
One of the cultural highlights of the year in West Yorkshire is Leeds Light Night when, on two evenings in October, the city is transformed by spectacular light projections, interactive artworks and live music performances. This was the first time that I had an opportunity to attend the event, which has now become one of…
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The 160th Great Yorkshire Show
The Great Yorkshire Show is one of England’s premier agricultural events and takes place over three days in July each year celebrating the best of food, farming and rural life. I hadn’t had an opportunity to visit for several years so I was excited to be heading back to spend the day there. The showground…
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Halifax in One Day: Discover The Piece Hall and Yorkshire’s Heritage
It was a long time since I last visited Halifax and hearing about the re-opening of its Piece Hall, I decided to take a look. The town is located in the South Pennines of West Yorkshire, four miles from the M62 motorway. It’s easily accessible by train, my preferred mode of transport, and lies on…
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A Day in Andover: Visiting the Mottisfont Rose Garden & Local Attractions
I’d seen an article in a magazine about the Mottisfont Rose Garden and how beautiful it was in mid-summer so one sunny day we decided to visit. The garden is in Hampshire and on our way we stopped in Andover for an early lunch and a little look around the market town. Andover is located…
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Stoke-on-Trent Ceramics Trail Guide: Potteries, Museums & Heritage
It was slightly overcast as we checked out of the Trentham Travelodge which had been an excellent base for touring The Potteries. We drove into nearby Hanley for breakfast which we enjoyed in the Reginald Mitchell pub named after the inventor of the Spitfire. The building was once a meat market and its glass roof…
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Exploring World of Wedgwood & Biddulph Grange Gardens
After a good night’s sleep, we set off after breakfast for a visit to the World of Wedgwood in nearby Barlaston. The Wedgwood group of companies is owned by Fiskars, the Finnish gardening and homeward group so it was interesting to visit as I have visited their showroom in Helsinki. The Wedgwood estate stretches for…
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Exploring The Potteries, Trentham Monkey Forest & Gardens
Stoke-on-Trent doesn’t always spring to mind for a short break in the U.K. but reading about its industrial heritage as the world capital of ceramics tempted us to spend a few days exploring the city. Stoke is located midway between Manchester and Birmingham and has direct rail services to London taking only 90 minutes. In…
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Visiting Thorp Perrow Arboretum in the Yorkshire Dales
I’ve always enjoyed woodland walks and when it was suggested that we visit an arboretum I was eager to explore Thorp Perrow Arboretum, which boasts one of the largest collections of trees and shrubs in the north of England. These include the national collection of Ash, Lime, Laburnum, Walnut and Cotinus. The Arboretum is located…
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A walk along the Kennet & Avon canal in Newbury
What could be nicer on a warm, sunny spring day than to enjoy a leisurely wander along a canal towpath. With this in mind, we jumped in the car and drove to Newbury, a market town in West Berkshire. The town is approximately 30 minutes drive from Oxford and about an hour by train from…