England Travel and Tourism

Posts Tagged ‘traveling’

Are you an American who is interested in traveling overseas? If so, have you decided on a destination yet? Although you have a number of great destinations to choose from, one that you should closely examine is that of London, England.
As nice as it is to hear that London, England is the perfect destination for your next overseas trip, you may be wondering why. What it is that sets London apart from the rest? Continue reading on to find out.
1 – It Is Perfect for Individuals of All Ages
Many people automatically make the mistake of believing that overseas vacations are best left for the adults. Yes, this can be true in some instances, but not in London. In London, you will find that individuals of all ages are welcomed and will have a memorable trip.
So, even if you are the parent of a pre-schooler or a teenager, or perhaps you’re a senior citizen enjoying your retirement, a trip to London is not out of your reach.
2 – It Is Perfect for All Types of Travel
Not only is London perfect for individuals of all ages, but it is also perfect for all types of travel. Popular reasons for travel to London include romantic getaways, family vacations, solo explorations, honeymoons, anniversaries, and business trips. Regardless of why you are traveling to London or what you hope to get out of your trip, you will have the time of your life!
3 – Its Attractions
As for why London is perfect for individuals of all ages and all types of travel, it has to do with attractions. In London, you have hundreds of noteworthy attractions to choose from. There are must-visits that all are encouraged to see, including Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, the London Eye and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Then there are attractions that appeal to those with special interests and specific age groups. Families are encouraged to visit the Imperial War Museum and the London Aquarium and perhaps one of the many Royal Parks (such as Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and Green Park) or maybe if you’re seeking adventure with a touch of horror you should visit the London Dudgeon. Adults, meanwhile, can indulge themselves with a trip to one of London’s many theaters or perhaps a visit to a pub.
It cannot be stressed enough that there is something for everyone in London.
4 – Its Activities
In addition to visiting the attractions already mentioned, there are many activities that you can participate in while visiting London. These activities include dining, shopping (all budgets and tastes are catered for) and sightseeing. In terms of sightseeing, a guided tour is recommended. Double-decker buses make the experience exciting and memorable. Due to the beautiful atmosphere and friendly residents, something as simple as an afternoon relaxing in Hyde Park can be a moment to remember and treasure forever.
5 – Affordability
Yes, overseas vacations can be costly. The biggest cost of traveling to London will be your airline tickets. As for your hotel, there are hundreds of hotels near and in London. Price-compare to find the best rates. If traveling on a budget, you do not have to stay at a high-end hotel. As with restaurants and shopping in London, the city provides accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes.
As for attractions, you may be surprised how many offer free admission. For example, you can visit the Houses of Parliament and watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace free of charge. Also, the superb museums in London, such as the Victoria & Albert, the Natural History museum and the Science Museum are also free to get in.
As highlighted above, there are a number of reasons why London should be your next overseas destination. If you opt to travel to England, it will not be a decision you regret. Before you make your travel arrangements, however, make sure you have a valid passport. A passport is required for admittance into the United Kingdom from the United States. Also, if you’re reading this and you do not live in the US, you’ll need to check to see if you need to apply for a visa.
For more information about applying for a visa in order to visit London, England (including just finding out if you need one at all) and for London tips, hints and suggestions you won’t find anywhere else on the internet, please click on the link below and sign up for our free newsletter to keep you informed without you even having to lift a finger.

A good holiday doesn’t have to be expensive. Airline tickets, if booked early enough, cost lest than car parking charges at the airports.
Budgeting is the most difficult part of the holiday. Set a budget for that weekend break and stick to it. Patricia and I did and we nearly succeeded.
‘I never get the credit,’ said Patricia when she read my most recent holiday review in the News Letter. True, she plans the holiday, calculates the budget and makes the arrangements. She claims that all I do is tag along, write up the holiday afterwards and get the by-line in the paper. So I challenged her for full credit, a weekend break in England for two, with a budget of £200. ‘Easy,’ she said, and surfaced from the internet an hour later with airline tickets for two to Bristol, cost £75, and an arrangement to blow the balance of the budget at Colleys in exchange for free accommodation and transport from her sister. On the flight with us was a party of Bath University students. Apparently they chose different regions for weekends away, and this was their first trip to Ireland. They were impressed with the pub life.
Colleys in Lechlade-on-Thames is a Victorian style Dining Room, where the waiters dress in period costume. You sit down to dinner at seven forty five exactly and the carriage is called at eleven fifteen. Colleys has to be booked weeks in advance to be sure of a table. The chef had briefed every waiter as to my dietary needs and even made tomato soup specially so that I could enjoy all seven courses. He told us that a lactose free diet is quite common. The house wine is the one supplied to Her Majesty the Queen Mother.
Bristol is two hours from London and one hour from Cardiff. We stayed in Shrivenham, near Oxford. Our route from the airport took us past Swindon and the McArthur Glen Designer Outlets, 106 designer label shops under the one roof. Everything sold there has to be at least 30% off normal retail price but unfortunately we were between seasons and the choice of clothes was disappointing.
On the Friday we went to see Oxford of the dreaming spires. We spent two hours wandering round the old city. In an alleyway under Oxford’s copy of the famous Venetian “Bridge of Sighs” we found The Turf, arguably the oldest pub in England. Watch out for the low beams. The Covered Market is worth a visit for small local craft shops and the food is value for money.
In keeping with our budget weekend I chose a walking tour of Oxford as opposed to the open-top bus tour. There is a ghost in the library of St John’s College and things that go bump in the night in the adjoining study. Meanwhile Patricia and her sister, Margaret, had gone to check out Bicester Village Shopping Centre on Junction 9 of the M40. It got a five star rating for value shopping. The outlets there were even better than McArthur Glen.
On Saturday we went to explore Burford, a traditional and totally authentic town in the Cotswolds, with one long main street full of nooks and crannies and old houses of yellow stone. The craft shops there were expensive but good. Cirencester, where we went next, is a more traditional shopping town with all the usual outlets. Nice but fairly soulless. It set us up nicely for dinner in The French Horn, a traditional pub in Pewsey, Wiltshire. The food was superb and the table was ours for the evening.
On Sunday morning we were offered a chance to watch the parachuting at Netheravon. Arthur, our host, said that, statistically, the journey was more dangerous than jumping, but we opted instead for a drive through Lambourne, past Jenny Pitman’s house and stables. Then it was time to head back to Bristol and the airport.
Unfortunately for Patricia, she fell for two china pugs, Hooray and Henry, in Burford, and the budget was blown so she doesn’t get her by-line.