England is wonderful and exciting country in which to spend a vacation. England has a great many visitor attractions to visit enough to satisfy all tastes. There is the historic city of York which is known to have been inhabited since the days of the Roman Empire, Liverpool (which won the title of European City of Culture in 2008), and Torquay (which is widely known as the English Riviera). If visiting England you really must make an effort to visit London the capital city of the U. K.

photo credit: J.Salmoral

London is an amazing location to visit, possibly just for a weekend or, hopefully for a longer period. You may be surprised at how many folk who live in England who have not yet visited London, even more surprising when you are mindful of the fact it is commonly top of most visitors lists (of the most enjoyable places they went to).

There literarily so many things to see and do in London that it is quite impossible to list them all at once. Surprisingly one of the newest attractions in London also happens to be one of the most popular – The London Eye. Another popular attraction nearby to the London Eye is the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. However, one place which must not be missed is Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace is England’s most famous Royal residence, maybe because it is home to Queen Elizabeth. The Palace is to be found in the heart of London which makes it the perfect focus for visitors. The daily pageant of ‘Changing of the Guard’ is fascinating to witness and ever so English.

Buckingham Palace was originally known as Buckingham House. It was originally a large town house, constructed in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. It is actually the townhouse that forms the main core of the palace as we know it today.

Over the next three quarters of a century Buckingham House was made larger with the building of an additional 3 wings creating a central courtyard. The main architects responsible for these additions were John Nash and Edward Blore. John Nash was also responsible for the interior design of the monumental staterooms.

The famous architect Aston Webb was responsible for the building of the principal facade of Buckingham Palace which he re-designed in 1912. Webb in association with the sculptor Sir Thomas Brock were the winners of a competition to design a memorial to Queen Victoria. This memorial is still standing today.

The Queen has many other royal residences other than Buckingham Palace. Each and every year the Queen spends the Christmas period at Sandringham House in Norfolk. Sandringham House is one of the Queen’s private royal residences.

A further private residence is Balmoral Castle, situated in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. Queen Elizabeth was at Balmoral Castle when she heard of the heartbreaking accident involving Diana, Princess of Wales.

If you would like to take a break in England then you may be pleased to hear that it is possible to find cheap hotels in London without any great difficulty, on the other hand you may want to reside in more luxurious accommodation and the small selection of boutique hotels in London should be more than satisfactory.

When it comes to booking yourself Cambridge vacations, you can visit this very historic town at just about any time of year you want. Certainly, there is plenty for one to do and see why visiting this University town. Actually, getting to Cambridge could not be any easier, you have the choice of either getting there by car or bus, by train or by plane, (Stansted Airport is just 20 minutes away).

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photo credit: juandesant (on Flickr absence…)

That said, don’t think that you will manage to take in all the different things of interest in as short as one day. Allow yourself several days for a full exploration of the city. If you’ve seen everything you want to in Cambridge city, then you can always start to explore the myriad of places that are within easy reach.

The minds of people such as Charles Darwin and, more recently, Stephen Hawking, have been inspired by the city of Cambridge. If possible, you should endeavor to make the time to visit one of England’s oldest universities. In fact, in 2009, this University will have been established for 800 years and so celebrations will take through out the year.

Along with wandering around the grounds of the various seats of learning in the city, there are plenty of other things that one can do. There is a top class shopping centre together with a wide range of bars, cafes and restaurants. There is accommodation available to suit all budgets. Cambridge is home to everything from luxury 5 star hotels right the way through to welcoming guest houses and bed and breakfasts. Plus if your budget is really limited, there are hostels and campsites also.

As well as many historic buildings to view, there are plenty of festivals and events taking place in the city, throughout the year. From Shakespeare Season that is held in the gardens of the College during the summer to recitals and concerts which take place in the churches in the city and also in the College chapels.

This is a city for those who are looking for a little more culture during their weekend or weeks vacation. However, if you want a little more activity there are plenty of leisure facilities available in the city as well. Plus close to Cambridge, there are a couple of good quality golf courses you may want to try. There is Cambridge Lakes Golf Course (9-hole par 3) and the much more well established Gog Magog Golf Club.

Don’t worry about taking children into the city with you – there are lots of things that they can enjoy too. One such place is the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey, which is located a short drive from Cambridge. You can have a great day out no matter how young or old you are. You’ll discover how our farming has developed over the years and how farming has changed with it.

Above we have looked at few attractions and things that one can do when you stay in Cambridge. If you only stay for a weekend, you’ll likely find that you won’t have time to visit all the different historic places that Cambridge has to offer.

Check out a wide range of Cambridge hotels here.

The port and town of Falmouth, Cornwall sits on the River Fal and is located on Cornwall’s south coast. The actual harbour in the town is the third deepest natural one in the world and holds the title of being the deepest in Western Europe. If you’re thinking about a vacation in Falmouth, there are lots of different things to see and do in the town itself and nearby.

photo credit: twoblueday

When it comes to finding accommodation in Falmouth, you have plenty to choose from. Quite a few of the Georgian townhouses found in it have been converted either into hotels or into guesthouses. Quite a lot of these establishments boast tremendous views of one of Falmouth’s 5 beaches. The first of these being next to the Pendennis Castle, then you have Castle Tunnel, Gyllyngvase, Swanpool and finally Maenporth.

As well as Falmouth’s beaches on which you can spend summer days soaking up the sun as this part of the UK gets more sunshine than many other parts. You can if you want learn more about this part of England’s maritime history through a visit to the National Maritime Museum. The building that the museum is housed in was designed by M J Long and has only been open since February 2003.

The town’s port is still in regular use as a cargo port where goods are brought onto the mainland. The port also features on the itinerary of a number of different cruise lines. In 2007, the port was expecting 64 cruise ships to actually stop in at Falmouth port as one of their ports of call. The port is still a vital part of the town and is responsible for much of the local economy.

That said, because of both its location, favorable weather and easy access to the rest of Cornwall, the town is also popular as film and TV makers. The actor Will Hay stayed in the town as far back as 1935 whilst he took part in the filming of “Windbag the Sailor”. Later, the town saw Sir John Mills star when Scott of the Antarctic was being filmed. Additionally, Disney used the town as part of its filming of Treasure Island.

If you’re a fan of this era of movies you will soon be able to recognise some of the places in the town as you stroll around that featured in it. Tourists from the world over still come to visit and the town has tried to retain as much of its original character as it possibly can.

For those who are looking for somewhere to go that offers peace and tranquillity then Falmouth vacations may be the ideal choice.

You can find a Falmouth hotel or guest house here.

There is a wide variety of accommodation available to visitors when they visit Derby. Where you choose to stay when you visit Derby will obviously depend on your budget. Derby not only has lots of hotels but is also home to some excellent guest houses and family run B&B’s. Larger groups of travelers may also want to consider booking into a self-catering establishment.

photo credit: orangeacid

But whatever accommodation you do select you are going to be surprised at the warm welcome you receive. In this article, we take a look at some of the hotels that offer you good quality affordable accommodation in Derby.

1. Heritage Hotel – This is an independently run hotel with 92 bedrooms, eight of which are suites so they come with their own sitting rooms. Unlike some of the other rooms, these luxurious suites have top quality bathrooms. The sitting room area also features a large television. All 84 rooms in the hotel are en-suite and you’ll find all the usual facilities that you’ve come to expect from modern hotels.

2. Legacy Aston Court Hotel – This is situated in the heart of the city and is extremely modern offering free Wi-Fi Internet connection to its guests. If you want to use this facility, you’ll need a computer that works with their Legacy network.

However, this hotel only has 55 rooms but each have been well decorated and is the perfect place to stay when coming to Derby for the weekend. It is situated only a few minutes walk from the city’s amenities and shopping centre. You’re close to attractions such as Alton Towers, Nottingham’s Lace Market and the historic Chatsworth House.

3. The Stuart Hotel – This is a very contemporary modern hotel where only bespoke furniture and designer fabrics have been used. You can choose from the various types of room this hotel has to offer: anything from a standard room through to a full suite. But whichever you choose you will be able to relax and unwind because they are all extremely comfortable.

Plus if you are not in the mood for wandering too far from the hotel to enjoy some beautiful food then the XS Restaurant is worth a visit. It offers you beautiful English cuisine that has a slight international twist to it. Plus along with great food, they have a great selection of wines to complement it as well.

4. Cathedral Quarter Hotel – this is Derby’s first boutique hotel which means that it’s slightly different from most of the other local hotels. This hotel is housed in what was originally a Police Station and all 38 rooms within the hotel have been lovingly and beautifully decorated. Also for those who want a little more relaxation during their stay this hotel offers its guests a mini spa as well.

Above we have offered a number of places to stay in Derby, but a quick search of the internet and you will see there are plenty of others that one can consider. Certainly, where you stay on your visit to this delightful town in the North of England will depend on just how much you are willing to spend on it.

Check this comprehensive list of Derby hotels and guest houses.

London, the capital of England in the UK, has a massive selection of world class visitor attractions many of which are the most popular in Britain. For generations London has been a popular vacation destination and much of this interest is due to the immensity of the historical buildings and the unique culture. While many of the visitor attractions found in London have a historic interest, such as the Houses of Parliament, The Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, there are many that are only recent additions, such as the London Aquarium, and the youngest of these is the London Eye.

photo credit: tarotastic

The London Eye is often referred to as the Millennium Wheel as it was built in 1999 to commemorate the arrival of the new millennium. It was officially opened by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in the evening of December 31 but, sadly, there were technical issues and it was not opened to the public until March 2000. Standing 135m above London it has become an unmistakable, and highly visible, landmark.

The Great Wheel of London was an enormous Ferris wheel, capable of carrying up to 1600 people, which appeared in Earl’s Court in 1895. Unfortunately it was demolished in 1907 but today London has a replacement in the London Eye. Although it is not the largest Ferris wheel in the world it can legitimately claim to be the worlds largest cantilever observation tower!

Although the London Eye cannot carry as many people as the Great Wheel of London could it can manage to carry 25 people in each of its 32 capsules. It takes about 30 minutes for the wheel to make a complete revolution during which time you can choose to remain seated or you can stand up and walk about.

Around 3.5 million people take a flight on the London Eye each year making it the most popular paid visitor attraction in London and the UK. The main reason people take the trip is to enjoy the most amazing views of London. At the very top you are able to see for about 4 miles which takes in some of the best London landmarks which include St Paul’s and Westminster Abbey. During your flight you will be able to enjoy one of the finest views of the Houses of Parliament possible.

Although there are many ways to enjoy the London Eye some choose to make a marriage proposal while at the top and it is also possible to purchase a wedding package. When booking a flight it is also possible to book other things such as educational trips for small groups of students of all ages.

Taking a flight on this amazing visitor attraction should be top of your list of things to do if you are about to take a weekend break or vacation in London. If your time in London is limited it is a real time saver as you are able to take in nearly all of the most important London landmarks during the 30 minute trip which is impossible to do any other way (excluding a helicopter or balloon ride).

If you are looking for accommodation in London you may appreciate the listings of hotels near the London Eye or the cheap London hotels listed on http://www.londonhotelhelper.com/

The capital city of England is London, which is as famous for its shopping as it is for its history and culture. People from all over the world flock to London to sample the wonderful stores and markets on offer.

Covent Garden has become known for its unusual and specialist shops, and has become a very hip place to be seen. There are a number of excellent restaurants in Covent Garden not just excellent shops. The original Covent Garden market dates back to the middle ages, and up until 1980 was famous for its stalls of fresh fruit, vegatables and flowers.

Camden Market is now one of the most popular places to visit in London. There has been a markets here in Camden for a long time, but in its present status only since 1974. The market is actually a group of adjoining markets selling wares of most things one can imagine.

The Kings Road is known as Chelsea’s high street, and one of the most chic and stylish streets to shop in London. Back in the 1970s the Kings Road was closely associated with ‘Punks’, who proved to be an attraction in London themselves. However, the Kings Road is more subdued these days and no longer just a haunt of the followers of the anti-fashion era.

Sloane Street is a street in London which runs north to south, and takes its name from Sir Hans Sloane, who purchased the surrounding area in 1712. Sloane Street has has, for a long time, been a fashionable shopping district, but is probably just as well known for lending it name to the ‘Sloane Rangers’ in the 1990s. The name Sloane Ranger was applied to the stereotypical young upper class English ladies seen in the area during this time. (One famous woman often referred to as a Sloane Ranger was Lady Diana Spencer)

Harrods department store in Knightsbridge is the worlds largest department store standing on 18,000 m2. The Harrods motto is ‘Omnia Omnibus Ubique’  meaning all things for all people, everywhere’. A very exclusive and luxurious department store, Harrods is famous the world over for its food hall and its toy department.

Another famous London department store is Selfridges in Oxford Street. Selfridges opened its doors to the public in 1909, and was built was the entrepreneur Gordon Selfridge. When it opened Selfridges set new standards for the retailing business. The reason being that each of the floors were designed so that the shopper was able to access the goods on sale more easily.

The shops in London offer as much diversity as its culture and no matter how bizarre ones shopping requirements, it can be found in London. Whether you like to shop in department stores or prefer to rummage through the markets, London has it all.

If you are planning a shopping trip to London you will find plently of cheap London hotels listed at www.londonhotelhelper.com