We’ve got another big announcement for today, we’ve written a guidebook!

We know that Britain can be an expensive place to travel. After nearly 10 trips to Britain in the past decade, we’ve seen it all. That said, we’ve gathered quite a bit of knowledge over the past few years on how to travel on a Budget.

We’ve taken than knowledge and packaged it into a new guidebook called 101 Budget Britain Travel Tips.

It’s an instant download that you can take with you anywhere. It features some knowledge that we haven’t seen in the guidebooks to help you plan and enjoy a trip to Britain on a budget.

For a limited time you can get it for just $10 but act fast – the price will be going to to $20 in the near future!

Interested?

Find out more here!

We’ve Written a Guidebook! 101 Budget Britain Travel Tips – Download Now! is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Great news for our loyal readers. We’ve partnered with Virgin Vacations to offer a sweepstakes to our US audience. The prize is a 4 night London getaway!

Here are the prize details:

We’ve partnered with Virgin Vacations to provide an excellent prize package.

• Two (2) roundtrip economy class tickets for the Winner and one (1) adult companion on Virgin Atlantic from one of the a Virgin Atlantic’s gateway cities in the United States of America to London, United Kingdom.
• Transfer from the Airport to Central London Hotel
• 4 Nights Stay in a Central London Hotel (to be determined by Virgin Vacations).
• 1 copy of Rick Steves’ London Guide; and
• 2 Oyster cards

The contest we ran last year was such a success that we’re really excited to be able to partner with Virgin Vacations on this. Unfortunately, due to the terms of the prize, we can only offer the prize to US residents of the lower 48 states. I know we have a lot of Canadian readers so we’re very sorry about this – we tried to find a solution but we could not.

Click here to enter!

Anglophile Alert: Win a London Getaway from Virgin Vacations! is a post from: Anglotopia.net

I am an Aussie and have been a dedicated and devoted Anglophile from the moment I set foot on British soil for the first time way back on 24 August 1994. I immediately felt that I’d arrived home. And that was even before I’d left Heathrow airport! In a black cab – was so excited – that took me to my B&B in beautiful Kensington. And adding delight on my first day there, two Bobbies were patrolling a nearby street, just like a scene out of The Bill and countless movies.

I have since been back nine times and realised a dream when I lived and worked in London for six months in 2007. While my devotion to the place was then occasionally tested, albeit only fractionally, my love for Britain and all things British remains immovable.

It’s quite hard to describe just what it is about Britain, London in particular, that has inspired my ardour, apart from the obvious – its countryside, history, culture, food (yes! the very unfairly maligned British cuisine), the architecture and the reserved, but essentially kind and tolerant natives. I’m still trying to work it out so that can explain to those not so enamoured of the place…and you may not believe it, there are one or two people of my acquaintance who’ve visited the UK and don’t actually like it….tsk! Tragic souls they are, but they think I’m the tragic one! How could anyone not feel the same way as we devotees who come over all misty-eyed whenever we think of England.

I guess my growing up years watching a steady diet of British television started it all, especially their wonderful comedies and outstanding dramas. They truly excel at both, don’t they? I am especially fond of low-brow British comedy – the Carry On movies, the Benny Hill Show and Little Britain are my favourites. Yes, they’re corny in that old-fashioned, kiss-me-quick, naff way, but they’re just very entertaining and flag bearers of a great bawdy tradition practiced by the likes of Shakespeare and Chaucer. I’m really fond of Austen Powers, too.

Am from English stock. My father’s mother grew up in Grantham and his father’s family originated from beautiful Dorset. Plus, I am very proud to tell you that my father flew Wellington bombers in the war and spent nearly four years in the UK doing his bit to keep the country and empire safe for the next generations. I regret not asking my father much more about his time and experiences in England, but he passed away several years before my first visit there.

Being an Anglophile certainly makes it a breeze for family and friends when it comes buying gifts for me. Only last Christmas I received a London taxi-themed cushion, a double decker red bus ceramic money box, red bus salt and pepper shakers and a little leather Union Jack coin purse. Am so easy to please. They’ve joined all of the other British-themed paraphernalia here in my study – the big poster of the Houses of Parliament over my desk; a white ‘England’ baseball cap with it’s three lion embroidered logo; numerous Union Jack-themed badges, socks and cups; a load of UK travel guides in a row in my bookcase; and the latest London souvenir calendar. And of course, the home web page on my computer is the BBC news page. Actually, it was the BBC, now it’s Anglotopia….

I wonder if it ever crosses the minds of my nearest and dearest that I might one day fall out of love with the UK; they’d be in a right pickle present-wise, wouldn’t they, to use a favourite English expression? Although, they’re pretty confident that sad day will never come.

While he was on book tour of Australia some years ago, I was lucky enough to meet the lovely US writer, Bill Bryson, an out and proud Anglophile if ever there was one. He writes about the UK with such affection and insight and deftly highlights its many wonderful aspects, while poking gentle fun at its many peculiarities and foibles.

He sums up his feelings beautifully in his acclaimed 1995 book about Britain, ‘Notes from a Small Island’:

“Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain – which is to say, all of it. Every last bit of it, good and bad…….I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I like it here. I like it more than I can tell you.”

Me too.

________________________________________________________________________________
Hope you don’t mind if I share some excerpts from the various emails I’ve sent home to Australia in recent years describing some of my UK experiences……

11 June 2007

Seems as if I’ve been living here forever, but it’s only been just over three months. Still rapt in London and now that summer has (more or less) arrived, it’s been lovely getting about and the sun isn’t setting until well after 9pm. Mind you, the weather has been erratic lately – last weekend and this one have been fabulous, hot even (in summer, who’d have thought?), but last Monday dawned cold and wet, so it was back to the overcoats and scarves.

I travel to work everyday on the Tube, which is amazing, but is a nightmare when things go wrong. Back in March, the Underground broke the record and carried a mind-boggling one million passengers in just one morning. Londoners moan endlessly about it, with good reason at times, but if ever they find themselves living in some other part of the world, they list the Tube as one of the things they truly miss. It has a life of its own and an unwritten protocol that more or less forbids you from chatting with your fellow passengers; it’s just not the done thing. But people will instantly give up their seats to oldies, pregnant ladies and mums with prams and offer to help in any way they can.

And it’s a goldmine if you’re into people-watching. I really enjoy speculating about the lives of my fellow passengers. Apparently, lots of celebs travel on the Tube all of the time, but I’ve yet to spot one, but that’s another unwritten rule – it’s cool to pretend not to recognise famous people if they happen to be sitting near you on the train or bus.

London just never stops and summer’s arrival will mean loads more visitors, although because their dollar is currently worth only half the English pound, plus the terrorist threat, fewer US tourists are anticipated this year. Thank heavens! You can only tolerate so many American accents in your ear asking “excuse me ma’am, can you tell me which bus or Toob train will get me to Harrods?” Am being really unkind, aren’t I, as Britain’s US visitors are always unfailingly polite and enthusiastic.

Work’s going okay, just don’t have enough to fill my day, which is really frustrating and everything to do with planning is as dull as dishwater. I’ve learnt more about the Hazardous Waste Act than I seriously care to know about. One thing, though, when I first started they would talk about the G & T Act – I thought how incredible, only in the UK would they have official legislation to preserve that great British institution, the gin and tonic! But it’s all about gypsies and travellers, who are a big problem/issue that no pollie at any level wants to deal with, like the homeless.

Another fact I learnt (and wished I hadn’t!) is that London’s water is recycled from the Thames – there’s a massive circular pipe beneath the city that sloshes water around four times through a series of filters before it’s effectively purified….well, that’s their story. Was told this after I’d been drinking the stuff straight from the tap for weeks. No wonder my immunity’s dodgy! But am sure the water is perfectly okay and gone are the days when falling into its once-toxic depths meant a sure death, but just one look at the Thames isn’t very reassuring. And the Water Police pull all sorts of horrid detritus from its murky bottom – I learnt that too when I was unwise enough to watch a BBC television documentary about their role.

Went on a picnic last weekend with a bunch of girls to Primrose Hill in north London, which is quite high up and has wonderful views over the entire city. It was a beautiful summer’s day and so relaxing.

13 July 2007

Here I go again and don’t mean to whinge or complain (me? complain?) but I’ve seen more water here in the last month than in my entire life. June was the coolest, wettest in the UK in 150 years, which I don’t doubt at all and the poor flood victims in some parts of the Midlands haven’t touched solid ground for weeks. Think we were all on the verge of developing footrot.

But last weekend was great, the sun re-appeared, which was some consolation as it seemed that summer was going to pass us by completely. It’s as well because there was lots on over here as you probably know, such as the UK leg of the Tour de France, the Live Earth concert, the Wimbledon finals, the British Grand Prix and most importantly, the summer sales.

Then there was the Concert for Diana and the Gay Pride March the previous weekend, so London is really abuzz. It’s also abuzz with tension due to the terrorist threat. Am a bit of a Nervous Nelly myself, but Londoners just carry on and act as if it’s just more of an inconvenience than anything to as profound as life and death.

Was on my way to the Selfridges sale the Sat before last and got caught up in the crowds cheering the Gay Pride March as it made its way down Oxford Street while the rain fell and did some serious damage to the trannies’ make-up. But they and the passing parade of out Bobbies, young gay Muslims (all three of them), the Peace float and the rest of eye-opening sprectrum of London’s gay community got plenty of encouraging hoots and whistles.

After I’d finished at my usual Internet lounge later that day, took a short cut through Soho, which was alive with anticipation of the night’s debauchery….and that was just at 6pm! It was really crowded and I had to dodge and weave to avoid flying bottles and, er, other flying stuff. But rest assured I made it safely to my bus stop without being propositioned by anyone, gay or straight…..which is a bit sad; if you can’t get propositioned by at least one drunk celebrating Gay Pride night in London then there’s no hope for you!

And nearly ended up outside the latest ‘Harry Potter’ film premiere in Leicester Square. A large limo pulled up in front of me in a nearby street while on my way to my usual sushi restaurant in The Haymarket (yes, The Haymarket, where THAT car bomb was parked) and out popped the actress who plays Hermione, with a very bossy publicist leading the way. Was really torn – should I stay and join the screaming 12 year-olds in the Square and await Daniel Radcliffe’s arrival or carry on my way? It was the biggest dilemma I’ve faced since I’ve been here, but after a moment’s thought decided to go on my way. You have to get in early to snaffle those fresh California Rolls where I was headed!

Have another picnic with the girls coming up on Saturday and really looking forward to it. The venue this time is Hampstead Heath in north west London, my favourite of all the London’s parks – it’s wild in parts, quite different to it’s more manicured cousins, Regents and Hyde Parks. But they’re all really beautiful, especially at this time of year.

20 August 2007

On the subject of rain (yes, yes, here I go with my customary moan…), as is the norm now, the UK’s been deluged with the stuff just lately on top of last month’s floods, with some rare respite at times. Generally it’s been a pathetic summer (and I use the word ‘summer’ loosely) and the best sellers in the shops all season have been hot water bottles and takeaway soup. Seriously! The loads of summer gear that’ve been on display weren’t shifted at all and now overcoats, scarves etc are starting to re-appear on the shelves.

I explore London at every opportunity and am entranced by it more than ever. The other night I met a friend for dinner and we ended up wandering around St Paul’s, then found a wonderful old pub called ‘The Old Cheshire Cheese’ on Fleet Street. It was built in about 1697 and was the local for famous writers such as Dickens and Thackeray and numerous journalists. It’s a traditional ‘spit and sawdust’ pub, but thankfully without the spit these days and serves the best steak ‘n kidney pie in London. It was particularly atmospheric at that time of the evening, a real gem.

And I continue to be engrossed by my fellow Tube passengers. The daily goings on in the Underground and it’s range of humanity are the source of much indignant correspondence to the newspapers, particularly the tales about people who use their commuting time to carry out some especially gross grooming practices that they don’t have time to do before they leave home of a morning. Luckily, I haven’t witnessed anything too repugnant on my regular Tube journeys on the Jubilee line, or even experienced the odd grope that’s the scourge of females on the really crowded trains.

I love working in Westminster – my almost daily walks (weather permitting!) around its beautiful backstreets and there are a number of gorgeous little pubs around the area and Buckingham Palace is just up the road. I often go past it and on through Green Park if I decide to walk to my Tube station of an afternoon; it’s a very pleasant way to end the working day. If I go the other way on the bus up Whitehall there’s one point of the journey where you can see Big Ben, the London Eye and Westminster Abbey in one frame – it never fails to bring out the wide-eyed tourist in me. It’s a brilliant sight and I always make a point of taking it in.

I’m actually finishing up at the end of this month to go travelling with a friend around Europe and am feeling pretty happy to be liberated from the dry, tedious world of government planning. My job’s boring enough, so I have genuine compassion the Civil Servants who’ve been in the dept for years and do the policy stuff around peat, graveyard/cemetery regulations (te, he…the ultimate dead-end job, hey?), blight(??) and high hedges. I know these matters are important in that they directly impact on people lives…..but, goodness me.

I’ll miss the staff cafeteria, though and my chats with the friendly, young, gay bloke who doles out the nosh while bitching about his bosses, as well as asking me all about Australia as he’s heading Down Under in December for a couple of weeks. He’s so excited about the trip, a 21st birthday present and “gets goose bumps with the anticipation”, to use his favourite expression. Suspect that he gets goose bumps about a lot in his life – what a character.

22 Sept 2007

My last full day here and at this Internet cafe after a morning mooching around some much-loved London spots and feeling very sad and misty-eyed, but true to form it’s cool, windy and overcast just to remind me that there are one or two aspects about the place that I won’t miss at all. There’s loads that I will miss, though – the kindness and tolerance of Londoners, the solidity of the buildings, the Tube and the fantastic public transport in general, the great nosh, the free newspapers, Selfridges and just London itself…in my opinion the most marvellous city in the world. 

There were no regrets at all about finishing my job here with the Dept for Communities, although I was sorry to say goodbye to my workmates who very kindly gave me a lovely send-off gift and some nice (if untrue) words were spoken….they were tactful enough not to mention that I never did grasp even the simplest intricacies of government planning! To be honest, I would have been worried if I did – it was very tedious and not having enough to do each day (while trying to look gainfully employed!) was taxing enough on my tiny brain. But was very grateful to have stayed working in the one spot for the six months that I did, which handily coincided with the six-month lease on my little flat in Willesden Green. 

8 June 2009
Just thought I’d send an update while I have a spare hour or so between gadding about London, eating, shopping, eating, checking out the culture and er, eating.

The UK summer has been mostly wet and cool. But we’ve just had about a week of the most glorious sunny weather and last Monday, the newspaper medical columnists were telling people how to treat the sunburn they suffered after exposing their snowy-white bods to the previous day’s ‘heatwave’ conditions (26 degrees tee, hee). Shouldn’t laugh, the Poms need as much colour and vitamin D as they can get. But this weekend has been rainy and chilly.

The past couple of weeks have been pretty busy with our travels down to Cornwall and up to the Lake District and giving ourselves a couple of weeks off here sightseeing here in London until we head off to Paris in mid-June. My sister and I have traversed most of the inner London area, from Chelsea, Fulham and Putney in the south, north-west to the lovely Hamstead Heath, east to Wapping and ultra-modern Canary Wharf and the tourist spots in between. So we’re getting more than our value from the wonderful Oyster card that allows us to trip around on the Tube and red buses as often as we like. 

Cornwall was lovely and the Lake District is so beautiful, one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever seen. We didn’t get very good weather in either spot, but not to worry the rain and mist made the local vistas seem all the more dramatic and rugged. We did a steam boat ride on Coniston Water (very, very stunning) and also visited an owl sanctuary at one of the local castles. I wasn’t aware they’re such big critters or that there are so many varieties of them, plus they live in all corners of the world, including parts of Africa. Not that I stayed around when a couple of them were bought out for their afternoon feed on account of my feather phobia and their creepy unblinking gaze. 

Our Windermere B&B was very nice and cosy and we tucked into hearty, full English breakfasts every morning. The quality of the food over here is excellent….

Unfortunately, I managed to badly burn my left hand with scalding water on my third day here….gosh, the pain! I didn’t get medical attention for it straightaway and when I did up in Windermere, the nurse was appalled, equally at my crappy bandage job as for leaving it so long.

When she told me how “brave” I’d been, I merely shrugged, with the implication that as an Aussie……but was feeling too faint and nauseous to utter a single word. Anyway, she put on a proper burn dressing, which resembles Glad Wrap and gives everyone a clear view of the yucky damage. It’s been very handy to scare off pesky kids venturing too near me in public places, plus perfect strangers have been very kind and concerned about it and on one occasion, even offered me a seat on a crowded bus. The English are so caring in that way.

Have been avidly reading the papers here each day; what with the huge build-up to ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and the politicians’ perks scandal, the headlines and columns have been a joy. British journalists have such a great turn of phrase and so scathingly accurate; I would hate to be a public figure over here. 

See the Aussie cricket team has arrived here for the Ashes…..the hapless Poms were beaten by the Dutch in their first Twenty20 game so don’t think there’s any doubt about who’ll win the Ashes.

23 November 2011

It has been foggy and getting seriously chilly here in London, plus it gets dark very early very quickly. But when it is light, we’ve had sunny days more often than not and apparently the UK has experienced the “warmest” autumn in 350 years. The trees have shed their foliage on a big scale and the local streets are awash with massive brown leaves. It’s all quite beautiful. I’ve not experienced a northern winter before and really love my regular walks around Hampstead Heath here in north-west London and seeing the seasonal changes there. The Heath is probably my favourite London place (after Selfridges department store!) and I especially enjoy watching the many dogs running around there. They tear around at great speed and with such unalloyed joy – guess they’re stuck indoors most of the time so they make the most of their outings.

Speaking of dogs, we made the acquaintance of Dolce (a cute teacup Pomeranian) down in Chelsea while purchasing our favourite handmade pies at the King’s Road food market. His owner informed us that despite his name, Dolce eschews accessories and wasn’t even wearing a collar. And the other day on my way back from the Heath I got to pat a local dog, Paddington, a gorgeous Golden Retriever who didn’t mind being made a fuss of at all. Haven’t been able to get a cat fix though, apart from spotting the odd moggie sitting on a windowsill basking in the sun.

Love staying here in this beautiful flat and its great location halfway down the hill between genteel, very wealthy Hampstead and the more bohemian West Hampstead, where a lot of famous actors and theatre people live, although we’ve not spied any celebrities so far.

We took ourselves into Oxford Street for the the turning on of the Christmas lights, which was all good fun. Apart from one tosser, who, all the while holding his infant daughter, picked fights left, right and centre in his quest to get to the front of the crowd. That was almost as entertaining as the acts on stage, none of whom we’d heard of. ‘The Saturdays’ was one of them, a girl group in the mould of the ‘Spice Girls’, but with talent.

We ventured down on the train to Sussex to visit Brighton the other week, where we had a good day. The highlight was having lunch at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant located in a fashionable part of Brighton called The Lanes. We also carefully picked our away along the pebbly beach, visited the Royal Pavilion and took loads more photos.

Yesterday, we travelled over to Cardiff and spent most of the day down on the regenerated docks area wandering around the Millenium Center with its spectacular copper facade and had a yummy fish and chip lunch at a cafe overlooking Cardiff Bay. Had never been to Cardiff before – it wasn’t as grand as I expected, although not sure why I thought it would be. But the locals were friendly (apart from a very unhelpful taxi driver) and we got around on a Big Bus tour, which consisted of 12 highlights, one of which was a multi-story, award-winning carpark(!?).

Anyway, it was a day out of London and the train journeys there and back were pretty relaxing….apart from the two very chatty German girls who yacked for the entire 40 minutes between Swindon to Cardiff. And we copped some extremely garrulous young blokes on the way back, who didn’t shut up all the way to London. Tortuous, especially if you’re a captive passenger on a very fast train and didn’t have the forethought to book seats in a ‘quiet’ carriage.

As always, love being here in London despite its many foibles and frustrations. Not to mention the sometimes grey weather, crowds and its relentless pace. You may have heard about the anti-capitalist camp set up outside St Paul’s Cathedral – it has managed to completely polarise opinion here and set up a big ethical and moral dilemma for the church, particularly those running the cathedral as they rely on massive tourist income to maintain the place. Not sure how it’s all going to end, but shows no sign of being resolved any time soon. The fortitude and sincerity of the camp inmates is questionable though – most of them head home at night to their warm beds, then return in the mornings to resume their objections. Sounds like my sort of protest camp!

Guest Post: An Aussie’s Love Letter to the UK by Kathryn Martin is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Our friends at British Airways have launched a new commercial – hot off the heals of their last commercial. This on is geared towards London 2012.

From their description:

This year, the eyes of the world will be on us. We’re proud to be ready to use our experience and expertise to fly customers from all over the world to London. Watch our new film to see how our team is in place and ready to serve.

Book your trip to Britain with British Airways!

British Airways: Airline Releases new Advert for London 2012 is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Thinking of holidaying in the UK this year, but unsure where to visit?  Or are you from overseas and looking for the ideal holiday destination?  Here are several reasons why you should choose to stay in the English county of Devon:

Outstanding Natural Beauty:

Devon boasts some of the finest scenery in England, and has designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  It really is the ideal destination for anyone wishing to take a holiday and ‘get away from it all’.

War Horse, the heart rendering drama about a boy’s special friendship with his stallion in the outbreak of World War One, directed by Steven Spielberg, was filmed on Dartmoor National Park in Devon.  Indeed, Spielberg was reported as saying “I hardly scratched the surface of the visual opportunities that were offered to me.”  This statement says it all really!   If you’ve seen the film it’s likely you noticed Devon’s specular landscapes, however, I can promise it’s better to experience the sheer drama of the area in person.

Where to stay in Devon:

Whether you’re going on holiday on your own or as a couple, or perhaps enjoying a break with all the family, there are many great places to stay.  Choose to stay inland or holiday on one of the county’s coasts. Devon promises some of the finest holiday spots in the country.

Not sure where to start looking?  The following are very popular holiday towns and villages:

• Woolacombe
• Barnstaple
• Exetor
• Exmouth
• Okehampton
• Tiverton

Devon’s landscape and wildlife:

Devon boasts unspoilt landscapes full of wildlife and cultural heritage just begging to be explored.  The official ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ do not fail to please: these range from steep sandstone cliffs overlooking the English Channel providing views of the sea (and on closer inspection miles of fossils where dinosaurs used to tread at the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site), ancient woodlands, rolling pastures, miles of sandy beaches, shingle coves and sand dunes.

Devon is truly a place of wonders with plenty of activities to choose from, even if you do not want a holiday filled with strenuous activities.  However, even adrenalin junkies can get their thrills from the fantastic surf, and surfers come from all over the world to sample the high-quality surfing delights that the North Devon coast has to offer!

Weather:

Devon’s temperate climate means this county is one of the UK’s most sunny and dry holidaying spots. Of course, there is no guarantee it will not to rain on your holiday  (this is Great Britain afterall!)

Whatever the weather, you’ll find there is plenty to see and do in the region.  You can visit the quaint fishing villages, enjoy the beaches and explore hidden coves on the sunnier days, or just relax in one of the many quintessentially English pubs if it starts to rain.

Eating out in Devon:

Eating out on holiday is a treat and Devon has many varied sumptuous eating establishments that cater for all palettes.  These range from beachside cafes to bistros, restaurants to gastro pubs, seafood restaurants to ethnic dining, fusion cuisine and more!  Devon has some of finest dining experiences to offer the most intrepid gastronomic fan, whether that applies to the reliable chip butty, authentic Devon cream tea or a select seafood restaurant serving freshly caught fish straight from the ocean that morning, you won’t be disappointed!

This is a guest post by Carly, who has spent most of her life holidaying in the south of England.  She’s written this post on behalf of Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks, a company who offer holiday lodges in Devon.

Getting away from it all: Why you should holiday in Devon is a post from: Anglotopia.net

There’s nothing more enjoyable than a really good afternoon tea. There’s nothing worse than a bad one. I’ve had both kinds in the past.
In central London you are spoilt for choice when it comes to full-on English afternoon teas, while in the rest of England afternoon tea is less ceremonial and more functional i.e. mainly about the sandwiches and cakes.  Guildford (a charming market town located less than 30 minutes from London) – and specifically one of the newest luxury hotels in Guildford – seems to be have mastered the art of a London-style glam afternoon tea without the pretence.

Steve White, Head Chef at the Radisson Edwardian Guildford, should be getting good at afternoon teas. He told me that when he worked at the group’s Heathrow hotel, customers wanting afternoon tea were rare birds – they only served eight or nine a day. Guildford on the other hand does a roaring tea-time trade, with 60 served on Saturday afternoons alone.

First impressions count. This was a traditional tea, served on three layers – sandwich fingers at the bottom, then cakes, and scones, jam and cream at the top. Nicely put together and the standard of a top London hotel without being frighteningly contemporary. A nice touch was the fact that the scones and cakes came with fresh raspberries and strawberries scattered among them. It not only looked good but also gave a welcome freshness and acidity to offset the sweetness of the cakes.

The sandwiches were traditional; egg and cress, salmon, cheese. They were very well presented and tasty. But it was the cakes that really showed mastery. I took along a well-trained Frenchman who has seen the inside of more embassies than I’ve had hot dinners and he munched his way studiously through a portion of each cake before giving them the thumbs up.

The selection was well chosen for texture (cream against sponge, flaky against smooth) and for different tastes (fruit, chocolate). And this was a cup-cake-free zone too (hurrah!).

I am usually a tough nut to crack. The sandwiches were good, the cakes were better than good but I was more than happy to share them. But the scones, I’m afraid, turned me into a selfish beast. If I’d been a dragon I think I would have curled up around the cakes and breathed fire at anyone who dared to threaten to take my scones away!

Now you have to understand that a lot of scones are quite soft. They tend to fall apart when you eat them, and you don’t really get much bite. And then some scones are nasty hard little things – they’re the ones that really should have been eaten yesterday, the nul points scones.  These weren’t in either category. They were crisp and nicely browned on top and delightfully soft inside. You could really bite into them and they were impressively dense without being heavy.

And there was none of that rubbish whipped cream squirted out of an aerosol. There was clotted cream of impressive thickness and just enough of it (and I do like to go heavy on the clotted cream!).

All in all, that was quite a decent tea. In fact, I rated this rather higher than tea in Fortnum & Mason – mainly because of the scones. Not quite such an extensive list of teas, perhaps – but is tea the real reason why anyone has afternoon tea?  My experience was certainly in keeping with what I’d expected at one of the best restaurants in Guildford.

Andrea Kirkby is a travel writer and globetrotter based in the UK. She loves to write about restaurants, hotels and travel as well as ice cream, cakes and beer.

Guest Post: The art of top-notch afternoon tea – and not even in London! is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Londonist Out Loud a podcast for London news, views, and oddities from London, UK. Presented by N Quentin Woolf. (free on iTunes/www.londonist.com)

Welcome to the latest episode of Londonist Out Loud, a podcast about London.

News and Views
Londonist Out Loud is presented and produced by N Quentin Woolf. This week’s show comes from the unusual environment of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park near Mile End tube station.

His guests this week are:

Londonist Out Loud: A Podcast For London, 31 January 2012 is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Bingo has been played in the United Kingdom for centuries. Traditionally, bingo was exclusively played in halls all over the country, where huge numbers of people would shout and laugh and spend time with their friends and family. However in recent years, the numbers of people playing in bingo halls has declined rapidly. The proliferation of online bingo companies, the smoking ban and the increase in taxes to UK bingo companies has caused over 130 bingo halls – 20 per cent – to close down. In 2007 Brighton’s Hippodrome, one of the most successful and prestigious bingo halls in the United Kingdom closed its doors and recently the Doncaster Odeon and Lancaster’s Regal Cinema both suffered the same fate.

However, although not as popular as they once were, there are nearly 300 bingo halls left in the country and they are still found in most major towns and cities. Below is just a small sample of the best places to travel in the United Kingdom to play bingo;

London

With nearly over a dozen bingo clubs, London is arguably the best city in the United Kingdom for bingo players. From Hackney Downs to Shepherds Bush to Wandsworth, bingo lovers can “Ask for More” and go “Straight On Through” at a variety of London venues, including Mecca, Gala and independent halls. Bingo visitors to London should not miss the chance to play a round at the London Palace at the top of the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre. Reportedly the same size as Wembley Stadium’s football pitch, the seating area can contain over 2,000 patrons and is one of the largest bingo halls in the United Kingdom. Additionally, the Tooting Gala Bingo Hall, housed in the former Granada Cinema, has one of the most beautiful interiors of any bingo hall in the United Kingdom.

Ilkeston

The small town of Ilkeston, near Nottingham, Derbyshire, possesses a couple of fine bingo halls. The most notable example is the Ritz Cinema and Bingo Hall. Designed by Reginald Cooper and opened in 1938, the Ritz is a grade 2 listed building and is one of the most important Art-Deco designed buildings in the country.

Manchester

Manchester is another good location that offers a number of possibilities for bingo players, ranging from old traditional halls such as the Theatre Royal compared to the giant Club 3000 at Arndale Shopping Centre.

Brighton

While many of the city’s old seaside venues have closed down in recent years, Brighton is still a favourite destination for many bingo players and has some of the United Kingdom’s most successful bingo halls. The Beacon Bingo is a rare example of an independent bingo hall that has survived the recession and is one of the most popular and exciting bingo halls in the country. Additionally, the modern Gala Bingo hall is a favourite among bingo players and consistently draws large crowds.

Edinburgh

As well as possessing castles, ancient volcanoes, haggis and the occasional hen-party, Edinburgh also has a number of impressive bingo halls, including a couple of Mecca clubs, three Gala clubs and a handful of independent retailers. Perhaps the most famous is the Premier Bingo hall tucked away inconspicuously on Nicholson Street. Be careful walking down the street, the entrance is so small you can easily miss it.

Guest Post: Top Five UK Cities to Play Bingo is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Londonist Out Loud a podcast for London news, views, and oddities from London, UK. Presented by N Quentin Woolf. (free on iTunes/www.londonist.com)

Welcome to the latest episode of Londonist Out Loud, a podcast about London.

News and Views
Londonist Out Loud is presented and produced by N Quentin Woolf. This week’s show comes from The Star cafe in Soho.

His guests this week are:

• Peter Berthoud, Westminster tour guide and blogger at Discovering London
• Jo Moncrieff, Westminster tour guide
• Julia Forte, proprietor of The Star, and owner of the London Peculiar website

The guests discuss recent London news and features including Crossrail developments, the noses of Soho, London’s worst Tube stations, police spending on the Speaking Clock, the ‘Boris Island’ Thames airport proposals, new libraries for London, trouble with the English Defence League, as well as far more London trivia than is probably good for you.

What’s On In London
NQW rounds up the best new exhibitions and shows opening over the coming week.

Remember, you can subscribe to Londonist Out Loud via iTunes or RSS.

Sponsored by Open Pen. Interested in sponsoring this podcast? Contact us on hello@londonist.com for more details.

Londonist Out Loud: A Podcast For London, 23 January 2012 is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Around 30 million tourists flock to the UK every year to embark on sightseeing, taking in British culture and the local lifestyle. The country’s varied nightlife is one thing that entices tourists to holiday there. If you’re intent on holidaying in the UK in the near future, here is a list of what you can do on a great night out:

Bingo

Loved by people young and old nationwide, it’s either played at their local bingo hall or on the internet. Not only is it a great way to spend a night, you can meet many friendly locals and there’s a chance to win some money, even if playing online bingo. It’s very easy to play, and at some bingo halls, there’s the chance to play slots as well.

Cinema

Most towns and cities in the UK have at least one multi-screen cinema, showing everything from Hollywood blockbusters to local independent films. The local film industry is in great shape, and people are going to cinemas in great numbers.

Gig

The UK’s live music scene is buzzing, particularly in big cities like Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and London. Many famous bands play venues large and small nationwide, while lesser-known groups starting out can be seen playing every night in most places.

Greyhounds

Going down the dogs is, like bingo, great fun when with friends or family. Seen as a cheaper but no less entertaining alternative to horse racing, you can still place bets on the runners and win some good money. However, win or lose, it’s a fantastic night out. Other live sports such as football or rugby are also hugely entertaining.

Pub crawl

Drinking in a variety of British pubs is something many locals enjoy, especially on a weekend. Many cities and regions have their own special pub crawl route, including the Monopoly Pub Crawl, which involves drinking in pubs based in the 26 spaces of the Monopoly board, the Otley Run in Leeds and the Transpennine Real Ale Trail, which takes in pubs near eight train stations between Leeds and Manchester. While pub crawls are fun, you should remember to act and drink responsibly.

Guest Post: Fun Nights Out in the UK is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Ever wanted to explore the rainforest or travel back in time and try your fists at a joust? Well, now you can do both thanks to London’s themed restaurants designed to fill your family’s stomachs and your dreams!

The Rainforest Café is a tropical hideaway in London’s West End and the capitals largest family restaurant. The spectacular restaurant recreates the sights and sounds of the rainforest with the help of stunning special effects such as thunder and lightening storms, tropical rain showers and cascading waterfalls. The Rainforest Cafe is also home to a cast of astounding, lifelike, animated inhabitants including chattering gorillas, a menacing tree-bound jaguar, trumpeting elephants, a life-like crocodile and fluttering butterflies. So Dad’s be prepared for some competition, you may be sharing your table with the King of the jungle!

The menu is wild and wonderful, with all of its dishes inspired by critters. Kids can get suck into a Flying Dragon Pizza or Snappy Salmon Fishcakes and Mum’s, the Lava Nachos are for you! And when you’ve finished, why not try a Sparkling Volcano? A mountain of ice cream and brownies and sauce – it’s a feeding frenzy!

As you leave the forest you’ll pass through the retail village where you’ll discover life-size snakes hanging from the canopy’s branches and hear Tracy Tree telling stories about the world’s rainforests. By the time you leave you will have discovered a new found love for creepy crawlies but more importantly, a greater understanding of how to protect them (Rainforest Café cannot accept responsibility for children leaving with a long list of pets they’d like to bring home!) .

If a mouthful of marshmallow maggots doesn’t fill the kids up, head down to St. Katherines Dock and Join Henry VIII and his court of knights, troubadours, contortionists, magicians, jugglers, minstrels and medieval tumblers at Medieval Banquet, where you can enjoy a four course feast with ale and wine brought to your table throughout the meal by dancing wenches.

Designed for families with slightly older children, this is the true meaning of a dining experience, and you don’t need to be a history buff to benefit from the scene. The restaurant is designed so that everyone can enjoy the magical medieval atmosphere!

The banquet is freshly prepared, serving cold and warm meats, vegetables and a seasonal fruit tart. Music is drawn from the Medieval and Renaissance courts and will be played into the early hours so when you’ve stuffed your stomach you are welcome to get up and dance the night away!

So whether your little ones love to explore or are want to get hands on with history, both of these restaurants offer a night to remember, and you won’t need to cook for a week!

Themed Restaurants in London For Adventurous Appetites is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Do something different this Valentine’s Day and surprise your sweetheart in style by taking them on a dream date. Whether you’re celebrating in the sky, embarking on a rural retreat or sipping champagne in the city, we’ve got some imaginative gift ideas for some memorable together time.

1. Hot Air Ballooning

Let the sparks fly from 3,000 feet on a hot-air balloon ride. You and your other half can watch the sun rise as you gently glide through the clean, country air. A complimentary glass of bubbly will make for a lavish landing, and don’t forget to pick up your commemorative certificate upon completion.

2. Camel Riding

Think outside the box and celebrate your love on camelback in Stratford-upon-Avon. With refreshments upon arrival, you’ll then get a chance to bond with the friendly creatures before trekking through the Warwickshire woods. Finish off your romantic ride with some champagne and strawberries provided.

3. Sunday Jazz Cruise on the Thames

Jazz up your day with a cruise along the River Thames. Wine and dine your special someone as you listen to a live band’s brassy beats, while enjoying stunning riverside-views of the capital’s most famous landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament and the Tate Modern.

4. Star Gazing

Bring a twinkle to your partner’s eye by spending your evening staring up at the night sky. Scope out a secluded spot away from the bright lights of the city and enjoy the starry sights while gazing at the clusters of constellations. If the weather’s not in your favour, visit the South Downs Planetarium in Sussex instead and brush up on your astrology.

5. Cocktail Mixology

Ideal for the unattached as well as couples, stir up your evening by learning the art of cocktail making at three of London’s chicest cocktail clubs. With four free beverages and top tips on how to make a delicious drink, singles will also have plenty of opportunities to mingle.

6. Birds of Prey Experience

Swoop your Valentine off their feet by taking them on a fun-filled falconry experience. Perfect for love birds, this unique day out will allow you to get up close and personal with a wide variety of feathered friends, from falcons and owls to eagles and hawks.

7. Scenic Stroll

Hike up to the top of Hampstead Heath for a heart-melting view of the city from Parliament Hill. One of London’s highest points, you can spot some of the capital’s most renowned architecture including the Shard London Bridge, the Gherkin and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Experiences are ideal if you’re on the hunt for an original Valentine’s Day present or need a relaxing February escape. Giving unforgettable experiences as gifts is something Red Letter Days pioneered back in 1989. You’ll be able to find unique romantic experiences and more on the Red Letter Days website – which is currently running a Valentine’s Day prize draw, where you can win a Thames Dinner Cruise for Two.

Revamp your Valentine’s Day Plans with a Memorable Experience in the UK is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Home to one of the largest university populations in the UK, Leeds is one city that will never be short on nightlife. But it’s not all student bars, skinny jeans and pints of snakebite. Visit Leeds after dark and prepare to be rewarded with a diverse music scene covering everything from indie rock to 80’s pop. So let’s have a look at some of the top nightspots that keep visitors to this West Yorkshire metropolis on their feet until the early hours:

The Cockpit

Often hailed as the city’s best live music venue, The Cockpit is an easy two minute walk from the train station and close to a lot of centrally based Leeds hotels. This intimate venue hosts live gigs most nights of the week, and has an impressive history of bands that played before they were famous, with the likes of The White Stripes and even Amy Winehouse gracing the stage over the years. While those after a dance will find club nights playing anything from indie, ska, metal to hip hop.

Mission

Nestled under six railway arches, Mission is the house music mecca of the North. The big name DJs play here fresh from Ibiza, and the regular club nights attracts a glamourous but music-savvy crowd who come to rave. A good looking venue with an underground feel, Mission also boasts the city’s only licenced outdoor terrace. The main club is open until 5am, but those who want to stay up even later can nip next door to Mission 2 on a Saturday night, where the party continues until nine in the morning. With opening hours like that, who needs hotels?

Call Lane

Those looking to bar-hop the night away should have their appetite satiated on Leed’s lively Call Lane. There’s the buzzing Oporto, where crowds flock each Monday for the weekly Gaslight night, showcasing local acts, and of course the perfectly mixed cocktails.

And for those who don’t consider eating cheating, there’s the Brooklyn Bar and First Floor Grill. Also on Call Lane, this little gem is tucked away from view. Once inside, the locally sourced meat, homemade food and carefully mixed cocktails are well worth sticking around for. After polishing off your steak, there’s just a few stairs to negotiate before you reach the cosy cocktail bar downstairs, where resident DJs playing r’n’b, soul and disco will keep you occupied until 3am.

Three places for a lively night out in Leeds is a post from: Anglotopia.net

As holidays in the UK go, equestrian holidays are amongst the most quintessentially British. Imagine you and your beloved horse riding through the lush, green hills of the Yorkshire Dales, the forests of Dartmoor or the understated beauty of rural Cheshire. For the horse enthusiast, the UK is full of great holiday destinations, but where are the best places to go, and what do you need to take with you?

The Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales is one of the country’s largest national parks, and the county as a whole has a great equine tradition. Swaledale and Skipton both have hotels which cater for horse riders, and offer activities such as riding, cycling and walking.

Shropshire

Another great destination for equestrian holidays is Shropshire.
Like other counties in the West Midlands, it’s not particularly renowned as a tourist destination. However, by being undiscovered, it means that Shropshire’s natural beauty is untarnished by development, unlike other parts of the country.
Ride Shropshire offer deals specifically for riders who want to treat themselves without having to spend too much.

Somewhere Different

You might not think of this place as being a hotspot for equestrian holidays, but London and the surrounding area has plenty to offer on that front. On the fringes of the capital, sites in Royal Berkshire, Essex and leafy Surrey offer both short breaks and week-long packages, each tailored to riders of all abilities.

Once you’ve found the right place to go on holiday, you need to take the right riding equipment with you to make sure you can do what you went away for: riding. Buying items such as chaps, riding boots and musto jackets are all important in ensuring that you can ride your horse safely, securely and freely without getting injured. Once you’ve done that, you and your horse are ready to go.

Guest Post: An Equestrian Themed Holiday in the UK is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Free Events

1. Olympic and Paralympic Cycling Road Races
July 28 – August 1, 2012
There are lots of ways to enjoy the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games without a ticket. Some of the most iconic events will be able to be viewed from great vantage points at no cost. The men’s and women’s Road Races will begin on The Mall, a popular backdrop for formal ceremonies and major sporting events throughout the year. From The Mall, the riders will head southwest through London, cross the famous River Thames at Putney Bridge and continue out through Richmond Park past Hampton Court Palace. Before the riders make it back to The Mall for a dramatic finish, they will head to Surrey, travel north through Leatherhead, Esher and Kingston.
(www.london2012.com/cycling-road) And LOCOG have just announced that they are increasing the capacity for spectators at one of the best viewpoint – Box Hill – from 3,500 to up to 15,000 http://www.london2012.com/news/2012/01/more-spectators-will-enjoy-best-views-of-olympic-cycling-road-race.php

2. Olympic Marathons
July 5 and 12, 2012
The Olympic and Paralympic marathons will start and finish at The Mall, an iconic location in central London most recently famous as part of the wedding route for the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Each race will have around 80 athletes taking part, making it a heart-pumping spectacle worth watching.
(www.london2012.com/athletics)

3. Olympic Sailing
July 29 – August 11, 2012
The deep sapphire blue waters of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour will play host to 10 sailing events over the course of 14 days during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These free events will offer fans excitement and drama as they watch teams race in the beautiful but testing waters on the southern coast of England.
(www.london2012.com/sailing)

4. Olympic Race Walks
August 4 and 11, 2012
Known for its regal beauty and nature, visitors can watch the Race Walks which begin and finish at The Mall in St James’s Park. Along the 2 kilometre race loop, visitors can take in the sites of Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen, and the Commonwealth Memorial Gates.
(www.royalparks.org.uk/London2012.cfm)

5. Olympic Live Sites
With large screens carrying live broadcasts of the Olympic events, visitors in at least 20 locations around the UK will have the best seat in the house to watch their favourite event. Screens will feature a broad range of UK-wide and local content in partnership with community, arts and media organizations.
(www.london2012.com/get-involved/live-sites/index.php)

Affordable Attractions

6. Museum of London Docklands
Occupying a Georgian warehouse on the banks of the West India Quay in trendy East London, home to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Museum of London Docklands is a great place to take the kids and entry is free. Visitors can explore 12 galleries of artefacts, paintings, engravings and photographs that chart the history of the area from the Romans to present day.
(www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands)

7. Mudchute Farm and Park
Europe’s largest urban farm is overlooked by Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers in East London. With 34 acres of open parkland, in the heart of the Isle of Dogs, visitors can easily be in the British
countryside just miles away from central London. The farm and park offers visitors the experience to ride horses and pet sheep, pigs, ducks, geese and llamas. Picnics are welcomed and entry is free.
(http://mudchute.org)

8. The London Pass
The London Pass is a great way to experience London like never before. Travellers who purchase this pass at VisitBritain’s online shop prior to going overseas can save on the retail price. The pass allows visitors free entry into over 50 top attractions in London, which can save those on a budget up to £500 on entrance fees. Top attractions include Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, London Zoo, St Paul’s Cathedral, Wembley Stadium and Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.
(www.visitbritainshop.com/usa)

Affordable Accommodation

9. 3 star accommodation is available during the Games at St Giles Hotel in the heart of the West End / Bloomsbury for only £199 per room per night including breakfast and VAT for up to two persons sharing, while studio accommodation is available atCitadines Barbican from just £150 per night on a self catering basis.
http://www.stgiles.com/
http://www.citadines.com/uk/london/barbican.html

10. citizenM, Glasgow, Scotland
Recently opened in 2010, citizenM offers travellers on a budget an affordable luxury hotel in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre. This high-technology accommodation allows guests self check-in on touch screen terminals and has a food and beverage outlet, canteenM, that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Guestrooms are outfitted with a light and sound system that can be controlled with the touch of a button.
(www.citizenmglasgow.com)

11. Cambridge Colleges – Bed and Breakfast, Cambridge, England
Cambridge, a city of all seasons, may be a small city but it still packs a punch and offers
affordable accommodations just 45 minutes from London via rail. Trace the footsteps of college
graduates such as Newton and Darwin and stay in a room at one of the Cambridge colleges.
Staying in an historic Cambridge college accommodation during the London 2012 Games is a
unique opportunity that offers bed and breakfast service.
(http://www.cambridgerooms.co.uk/

12. Camping
There are lots of camp sites being set up in and around London specially for the Olympic Games. For example Camp In London, set in a lovely, 19-hectare green field in Walthamstow, East London is being transformed into one of the largest campsites that London has seen. It is just 4 miles from the heart of the city of London and less than a 10 minute free shuttle bus ride from the Olympic Park. It has great facilities and its own international festival running throughout the duration of the Games. You can stay in a pre-erected tent for just £40 pppn or pitch your own tent for just £15 pppn.
(http://www.campinlondon.com/)

For other great ways to experience the magic of the Olympic Games on a budget go to www.visitbritain.com

12 winning ways to enjoy the Olympic Games on a budget is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Scotland’s National Museum of Costume’s exhibition for 2012 will be Off the Peg: Fashion from the ’40s and ’50s.

The exhibition will centre around designs produced by Horrockses Fashions Ltd, one of the most well-respected off-the-peg labels of the 1940s and 1950s. Horrockses gained a reputation for practicality and glamour combined with easy-care fabrics. They produced evening gowns, day dresses, beach clothes and housecoats in bold innovative prints.

Horrockses Fashions were sold in most of the cities and towns in Britain. They were backed by successful advertising campaigns and it is said that the young Queen Elizabeth was a fan of the designs. The garments in the exhibition are on loan from private lenders and the exhibition is organised by the Fashion and Textile Museum, London.

Scotland’s National Museum of Costume showcases fashion trends from the 1850s to the 1950s. The museum is in a Victorian country house 11km (7 miles) south of Dumfries on the A710, on route 7 of the National Cycle Network.
It is open daily 10am–5pm Apr–Oct (closed Nov–Mar), admission £4.50 adults, £3.50 concessions, £2 children (under-5s free), £11 family ticket. Off the Peg: Fashion from the ’40s and ‘50s runs from 1 April to 31 October.

National Museum of Costume. Shambellie House New Abbey, Dumfries DG2 8HQ Scotland
Tel: +44 300 123 6789
Website: www.nms.ac.uk
Facebook: National Museums Scotland
Twitter: @NtlMuseumsScot
Flickr: National Museum of Costume
Blog: The Feast Bowl

Forties and Fifties fashions on show at Scotland’s National Museum of Costume in April is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Always a hotspot for the trendy kids, Shoreditch has come over all grown up. onefinestay, the unique company who allow guests to stay in Central London home rentals as an alternative to hotels, explores three of the hottest places to visit in the city’s trendiest neighbourhood – and not a sticky floor in sight.

Shoreditch House

A mecca for media types, this members-only club brings a touch of New York to the east end. There’s a reason celebrities are often papped tottering out of the side entrance of this club – it’s got five glorious levels on which you’ll find an eclectic mix of bars, relaxed upmarket dining, private party rooms and even a bowling alley. On the rooftop is where the magic really happens – if the rumours about Tracy Emin doing laps in the outdoor pool at cocktail hour don’t get you up there, the amazing views will. Not only does the deck offer some of the finest vistas over east London, the white cabanas where you can sit and people-watch while waiters bring you mouth-watering cocktails are an absolute treat.

The Boundary

Conran comes to the east in this fabulous combination of a mini hotel, three restaurants and bars, including the divine Albion where you can brunch like a king before picking up your organic groceries. Head through the lobby and hop in the lift to the top floor and you’ll find the real highlight though – the gorgeous Boundary Rooftop Bar, thoughtfully equipped with an outdoor open fire, chic triangular heaters for chilly evenings and glossy wicker seats with blankets. Whether for a date or a meet-up with friends, this little-known haven is sure to impress – the delicious nibbles and excellent wine list are just the icing on the cake.

Shoreditch Box Park

A totally new concept, it could only happen in Shoreditch. Boxpark is the world’s first pop-up mall, a five-year project set over two levels, overlooking Shoreditch High Street station on the London Overground. But of course, it’s not just any shops – these box-size mini-stores have been carefully curated to ensure only the coolest brands feature. There’s a definite inner-city urban flavour, with brands like Evisu, Levi’s and Abuze and Hop-namo, while on the top level, you’ll find an awesome decked area with outdoor tables where you can slurp authentic Vietnamese noodles, treat yourself to a frozen yoghurt or grab an all-American burger while you check out the outfits of people milling by on the streets below.

Fancy trying out Shoreditch’s hottest hangouts? Check out onefinestay’s range of short term vacation rentals and live in London like a local.

Guest Post: Some Cool New Things to Do in London is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Regent Street, London W1 will bring back its breathtaking display of union flags to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee from Monday 28 May – Friday 8 June.

The gigantic flags were hugely popular when first displayed to celebrate the Royal Wedding of William and Katherine in 2011.  Popular with Londoners, UK and international visitors alike, the flags are a fitting and patriotic tribute to one of London’s most iconic shopping streets – and to British Culture – in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

While London sleeps, the flags will be suspended from red, white and blue bunting and will hang from 22 crossings.   Commencing at the BBC building, north of Oxford Circus, a sky of flags will lead down to Piccadilly Circus in the south.   Each flag measures 4 x 2.5 metres in size and will create a striking backdrop to one of the world’s most famous historical shopping thoroughfares.

Annie Walker, Director of the Regent Street Association, says: “We are so delighted the flags are returning, especially when the world will focus on London during the Olympic year”.

Many of the shops and restaurants on Regent Street are preparing for a record number of visitors arriving into London’s West End in the lead up to the Olympics and for the Royal Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Harold Tillman, Chairman of Jaeger says:

“Following The Crown Estate’s great success in celebrating last summer’s Royal Wedding celebrations, we are delighted that the flags are returning to London’s Mile of Style to commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The stunning display of flags will truly welcome visitors from around the world to the heart of London’s West End, and to one of the most historic and vibrant shopping destinations in the world.”

Diamond Jubilee: Union flags Return on Regent Street to Celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 2012 is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Our friends at Visit Britain are running a Facebook contest giving away plane tickets to Britain as well as a Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet.

This trip is for airfare only.

Here are the prize details:

The prize will consist of:

Return economy flights for the winner plus one guest, subject to availability*;

Samsung Galaxy Tablet 16GB**.

The contest is open to anyone in the world, 18 years or older. This is a Facebook only contest, so you have to be willing to like the LoveUK page on Facebook. If you want nothing to do with Facebook this contest is not for you.

You have until March 31st 2012 to enter.

Anglotopia Contest Disclaimer – PLEASE READ – before you email us and complain about the contest please understand that we are NOT running this contest NOR are we affiliated with it in anyway. We are merely providing the information that this contest exists. Please do not complain to us that the contest is on Facebook.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO ENTER.

Anglophile Alert: Win a Trip to Britain from Visit Britain / LoveUK and Samsung is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The New York Times has a great article on one of London’s suburbs – Richmond.

Here’s an excerpt:

A scheduling quirk had handed me 36 hours to kill in London while en route from Oxford, England, to Portugal — a happy proposition for anyone with deep pockets. Perhaps the braised rabbit at Michelin-starred St. John and an orchestra stall seat at the Royal Opera House before retiring to a suite at the Covent Garden?

For me, alas, such luxuries are well out of reach. I also had little time to waste on leisure, with several deadlines to meet before catching my flight.

The path of least resistance would be to one of the lower-end hotels near Paddington Station, and a day of nursing a pricey latte while defending a table in a crowded cafe. Instead, I set out to find a nearby spot that might have a sight or two to see, a cheapish place to stay and a calm spot to work in.

Richmond, a town about 30 minutes from downtown London (though still officially within the city limits) – a £4 (about $6) train ride — with a reputation for being quiet and lovely seemed to fit the bill. It also had two nearby attractions that appealed to me: the deer-filled 2,360-acre Richmond Park, and Henry VIII’s former home, the Hampton Court Palace. (The palace is in the borough of Richmond, a bit outside town.)

Read the rest here.

The New York Times Explores Richmond is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Artistic Director of the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Danny Boyle, says the Isles of Wonder show will reflect British wit and weather. Report by Adam Sich.

2012 Olympics: Danny Boyle promises excitement at the Opening Ceremonies is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Check out this stunning timelapse video of Bridport Dorset at night. Definitely going to add a visit to Bridport on our itinerary for May.

From the video description:

A labour of love, four months in the making. I moved to Bridport just over a year ago and immediately fell in love with the place. What better way to show my affection for such a place than to make a movie about it?

Shot on a Nikon D7000 camera, producing 16MP stills for a 25fps video. Some shots in this were 30 second exposures, meaning I had to stay with the camera for an hour and a half just to get six seconds of footage.

I see far too many touristy video features about the West Dorset coastline. Too many quaint holiday cottages and clichéd shots of people eating ice cream on the beach. This video was shot in the winter and, for a growing number of people interested in stargazing, shows that Bridport is a fantastic location for seeing the night sky. It is also beautiful at night.

Dorset: Bridport by Night is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The annual Battle of Flowers on the Channel Island of Jersey is the biggest floral event of its kind in Europe, and sometimes described as Europe’s own Rio Carnival.

On the afternoon of 9 August many flower-covered floats up to 14 metres (45ft) long will parade though the small island’s capital of St Helier with local and overseas music bands joining the parade. The following night, a moonlight parade of floats with flowers and millions of lights takes place, followed by a display of fireworks. The floats come from the different parishes on the island and compete for the major award, the Prix d’Honneur.

In the weeks leading up to the event Jersey islanders work millions of dried flowers and grasses into intricate designs and patterns. On the eve of the carnival they work through the night to add many thousands of fresh flowers to the designs and decorate the floats. Last year 27 floral floats took part in the procession.

The Battle of Flowers first took place in 1902 to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward VII. The event’s name comes from the days when those on the floats would hurl flowers into the crowd, who would throw them back.

The island of Jersey, near the coast of France, is a British Crown Dependency, a self-governing island with its own sterling banknotes and coins. It is not part of the European Union, or part of the United Kingdom. Its official language is English but the streets are named in French. There are fast ferry services (under four hours) from the south coast of England and regular scheduled flights from over 25 UK regional airports.

The island will be the most southerly stop on the London 2012 Olympic torch relay around the British Isles. The flame will travel along Jersey’s south coast on 15 July.

The Battle of Flowers Grand Day Parade takes place on Thursday 9 August 2.30pm–5pm approx, and the Moonlight Parade on10 August 9pm–10.45pm approx. Tickets will be on sale from February.

Jersey Battle of Flowers, St Helier
Tel: +44 1534 730178
Website: www.jersey.com
www.battleofflowers.com
YouTube: Jersey Battle of Flowers

Millions of flowers on parade on the Isle of Jersey is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Credit: chrisdb1

The United Kingdom is gearing up for some spectacular events this summer. The Olympic Games is considered the biggest sporting and tourism event on the planet, but there are other events happening across the UK that will be taking centre stage that have a global reach and are set to attract thousands of visitors.

100 Years Since The Maiden Voyage Of The Titanic

The ill-fated Titanic set sail from Southampton on the 10th of April 1912. Four days later the ship sank after colliding with an iceberg in the freezing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The story of the Titanic has been immortalised in books, films and even music, and the centenary commemoration is set to bring thousands of people to Belfast in Northern Ireland where the Titanic was built and Cobh (Queenstown) in County Cork in the Republic of Ireland. Queenstown was the last port of call for the ship before heading across the ocean.

The link between the Titanic and Ireland will always be particularly strong with hundreds of Irish passengers perishing when the ship went down. The Centenary celebrations in County Cork have taken on Olympic proportions with many people suggesting that the numbers of visitors to Queenstown and County Cork will exceed that of visitors to the Olympic Games in London.

Queenstown harbour in Cobh, County Cork – source: Wikipedia

Over 35,000 tickets were sold in 2011, for tours to the Titanic Centre, and County Cork has gone all out with tours, trips and a Titanic experience for the thousands of people expected. Irish websites devoted to the events number dozens and have been attracting hundreds of thousands of hits in the lead up to the centenary date in April 2012. The BBC and the Irish Telegraph have both reported on the enduring pull of this tragic story.

Events in Ireland began on the very first day of 2012 with LE Emer gliding into port in Cobh in County Cork. The yearlong programme by the Cobh Town Council includes shows, walking tours, interactive museums and even an international film festival.

Several commentators and travel writers have predicted that the Titanic centenary will be even bigger than the Olympics taking place across the Irish channel to the south. In terms of global reach, this is nearly impossible, however many of The Olympic events are reportedly downsizing while Ireland and County Cork are preparing for a massive influx of tourists.

The Olympics Could Be The Iceberg That Sinks London

Despite all of the pageantry, pomp and circumstance of the Olympics in London, the numbers of visitors to the city is not likely to rise during the summer months and particularly over the duration of the Olympic Games. The biggest issue with the Olympics is the fact that regular tourists are put off by the rumours of higher prices, overcrowding and even a lack of public services. Has London done enough to ensure that their regular summer visitors are going to visit in 2012?

Travel agencies and journalists say ìNot enough…î In 2008 the city of Beijing prepared for and expected nearly half a million foreign visitors to the city during the summer Olympics; just under 250 000 visitors entered the city during the entire month of August.

If the London Olympics is true to form, and follows the way of Beijing and Sydney, then there could be even less people visiting the city for the Olympics, which puts Ireland and the Titanic Centenary very much on top of the tourist numbers game this summer.

Article produced by GoIreland.com. If youíre favouring the centenary of the Titanic, then GoIreland have a range of hotels in Cork available for anyone looking to celebrate this once in a lifetime occasion.

Guest Post: The Titanic vs. The Olympics: Which Event Will Get The Most Spectators in 2012? is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Liam Fisher has produced this article on behalf of vroomvroomvroom.co.uk, a car hire service operating in the UK.

Whether it’s the chance to gawp at supercars, marvel at automobiles from days gone by, or just enjoy a fun auto festival for the whole family, there is sure to be something that will meet your needs when visiting the UK. Car shows are a popular pastime in Britain and attending one is an excellent way to see some incredible cars and displays whilst on vacation.

Starting off with Silverstone, the home of British Motor Racing, there is of course the British Formula One GP, taking place every July. There are also several other events at the track throughout the year, such as TRAX, a performance car event taking place in September, featuring both a Live Action and Motorsport Zone, incredible stunt driving performances, and racing displays from a number of different teams.

Other performance car shows worth checking out include; Japfest, Europe’s largest Japanese supercar festival, held every May at the Castle Combe Circuit, and the huge Autosport International Racing Car Show held every January at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham. There are also many great shows put on at the Santapod Raceway, the most popular drag racing track in Europe. There are some really fun events being run here this year, including Big Bang, a festival for Volkswagen enthusiasts taking place over the last weekend of April. The event will feature music, racing and lots of VW Camper Vans. There are many other events taking place at Santapod, including festivals based around Japanese cars, street cars and stunt shows. You may also be interested in Shakespeare, York, and Rockingham Raceways as they also put on fun events year round.

If all this is a bit too racy, there are a huge number of vintage car shows taking place in the UK this year. There are some excellent ones run in the spectacular grounds of Blenheim Palace. In July there will be a Mini and VW show, as well as a pre 1950s American car show, and in August the Oxfordshire Classic Car Show takes place there. If you are in London in June, you should attend The Bromley Pageant. It is the world’s biggest one day classic car show, with 3,000 exhibitors. There are also several vintage car/air shows over the course of the year, such as the Waddington Airshow (July) and the Little Granden Show (August). Also worth attending is the Classic Motor Show at the NEC, the biggest classic car expo in the UK (mid-November).

There are a few interesting festivals being run at Brands Hatch, such as the Lotus Festival, in August, with lots of races and demonstrations from Lotus racing teams. However, the biggest car festival of the summer is without a doubt The Goodwood Festival of Speed, a three day festival from 28th June-1st July. Managing to attract a huge 181,000 people last year, it is billed as the world’s largest motoring garden party, featuring a moving motor show, forest rally stage and a 1.2 mile hill climb, graced by a whole host of breathtaking automobiles. The Kop Hill Climb, taking place in September, is another hill climbing car meet with a big following.

Last but not least, the National Motor Museum, near Southampton, has some great events lined up, including, The Custom Hot Rod Festival in June. At the festival there will be music stands, demonstrations, camping facilities and a very reasonable entry price.

Given the wealth of options available, the only question left is, how are you going to fit it all in?

Resources:

Silverstone: http://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/2012-Formula-1-Santander-British-Grand-Prix

http://www.traxshows.co.uk/

Japfest: http://www.japfest.co.uk/

Autosport International: http://www.autosportinternational.com/

Big Bang: http://www.big-bang.co.uk/index.htm

Santapod: http://www.santapod.co.uk/

Stuntfest: http://www.stuntfest.co.uk/index.htm

Blenheim Palace: http://www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events

Bromley Pageant: http://www.bromleypageant.co.uk/

Waddington: http://www.waddingtonairshow.co.uk/classic-car-exhibition

Little Granden: http://www.littlegransdenshow.co.uk/

Goodwood Festival of Speed: http://www.goodwood.co.uk/festival-of-speed/welcome.aspx

NEC Classic Car Show: http://www.necclassicmotorshow.com/

National Motor Museum: http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/national-motor-museum

Kop Hill Climb: http://www.kophillclimb.org.uk/

Guest Post: Car Festivals in the UK is a post from: Anglotopia.net