Results tagged “England” from Intelligent Travel Blog

Hello, city-lovers! Today we head over to the United Kingdom, where Rachel Cotterill tells us why she loves her city--first as a student, now as a native.

Want to see your city on IT? Copy and paste our list of fill-in-the-blank questions into an e-mail, fill in your answers, and send your responses to IntelligentTravel@ngs.org. And if you're still waiting for us to feature yours, fear not! We're going to keep posting as long as we keep getting them (please include photos and links!).

Oxford is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is the Pitt Rivers Museum (below), one of the most eclectic museum collections I've ever seen, where things are pretty much organized by "stuff that looks the same" rather than by culture or historical period.

When I crave late night ice-cream I always go to G&D's Ice Cream Cafe, where I had a summer job as a student. And I always choose the original branch on Little Clarendon St.

To escape the bustle of the city centre, I head north along the canal, to the area where I used to live.

If I want to celebrate Christmas in style, I go to one of the excellent college carol services (any college with a choir you've heard of is likely to be worth a visit during December).

For complete quiet, I can hide away in one of the many Bodleian library reading rooms, but you need a library card--if you're a student whose university has a reciprocal arrangement, it's well worth bringing your card along and taking the Bodleian Oath to get a temporary card.

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with a student--cheesy but traditional, especially if you're around during matriculation, exams, or graduation, when the streets are swarming with students in academic dress. But don't pay them for the privilege!

If you have to order one thing off the menu from Al-Andalus it has to be the lunchtime mixed tapas plate, much better value than ordering individual items.

With at least 12 resident spectres, the tiny hamlet of Pluckley in Kent is considered Britain's most haunted village. There's a spectral highwayman, a phantom monk, the hanging body of a schoolmaster and a poltergeist in the local pub. You would think Halloween would be the town's favorite holiday. And indeed, the Halloween festivities in Pluckley last year raised thousands of pounds for worthy causes. 

But it also raised the ire of some of Pluckley's citizens, who prefer the town to be as quiet as the grave on Halloween. Rather than falling victim to vandalism, traffic chaos and uproar caused by hundreds of revelers flocking to the village, the parish council has simply banned the holiday. From the blog Nothing To Do With Arbroath:

"There will be no entertainment provided for visitors," said a notice on the Parish Council website.

"There will be no barbecue, no hog roast, no beer tent, no fun fair and there will be no ghost tours. In fact, unless you are coming for a quiet drink, may we suggest you visit one of the many other attractions in Kent for Halloween."

Enjoy the peace, Pluckley!

Photo: via Nothing to Do With Arbroath

Cool or creepy? A Titanic-themed cruise, created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the the ill-fated vessel, will retrace its trans-Atlantic journey in April of 2012 (without an iceberg collision, we hope). The cruise, created by Miles Morgan Travel, will follow the original ship's itinerary, departing from Southampton, England, and stopping in Cherbourg, France and Cobh, Ireland, before arriving at the site where the Titanic struck an iceberg on April 15, 1912. There, 100 years after the ship sank, passengers will hold a memorial service for the 1,500 who lost their lives that day. The 12-day cruise will also include a stop in Halifax, Nova Scotia, so that the passengers may visit several of the cemeteries where the Titantic's victims were buried, before finally arriving in New York, the original ship's destination.

Those traveling on the commemorative vessel Bamoral will find it outfitted with many of the same touches used in James Cameron's epic film. "The whole voyage will be steeped in Titanic history," Miles Morgan, the trip's organizer, told the Telegraph earlier this year. "The food served will match the sumptuous menus on the original voyage; the entertainment will include music and dancing in the style featured in those glorious times and there will be a chance to hear firsthand from historians who have studied the Titanic story." Right now, nine cabins have already been sold, for about $3,900 each. 

What's your take? Would you climb aboard the Bamoral to relive and remember Titanic's maiden voyage? 

[Titanic Memorial Cruise]
[Gadling]
[CNN]
[National Geographic Channel: Return to Titanic]

Image: via the Telegraph

Traveling with teens to London? Senior editor Norie Quintos shares some hard-earned lessons from a recent visit with her 13- and 15-year-olds. Check past blogs on traveling with teens to New York City and Kenya.

Give them a preview: Provide some context before your trip, not necessarily with history books but with novels (Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Prejudice, Oliver Twist, Harry Potter), music (Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Kinks), and movies (Shakespeare in Love, The Queen, Bridget Jones' Diary, and of course, the James Bond flicks).

Make yourself at home: Consider booking an apartment with kitchenette rather than a hotel. No need to pay restaurant rates for ravenous teen appetites. Agencies such as Central London Apartments cater to travelers. Some hotels, such as the Athenaeum in Mayfair, also have townhouse apartments that combine hotel service with apartment convenience.

Get active: Teens typically like to go fast and court danger. We got a little of both on a Central London bike tour (there are several companies, including the one we went with, the London Bicycle Tour Company). Weaving in and out of traffic, crossing bridges, and avoiding double-decker buses driving on the "wrong" side of the road made for ecstatic teens and a nervous mom.  Another bonus: We saw the obligatory sights, including Trafalgar Square, Buckingham palace, and Westminster Abbey, in under three hours.

 

Go easy on the museums: My younger son recoils at anything with the word "museum" at the end of its name, so I chose places that were more experiential, such as the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. A walk through the concrete-fortified underground warren of bunkers used by the British during World War II put us right in wartime London under threat of a blitzkreig. If only all history lessons could be as compelling. I didn't have enough time to take the kids to another of my favorite non-museumlike museums--Shakespeare's recreated Globe Theatre.

Turn it into a game: Really. Teens are not too old for a scavenger hunt (though you may need to provide an incentive). It's a stealthy way to turn them into cultured people. On the list: Quote a line of Shakespeare, Find an Elgin Marble, Read the Rosetta Stone. Cross the Thames. Have a spot of tea. Stand on the Prime Meridian line. Ride the London Eye. Try to make a Palace Guard smile.

 

Talk about a cause to celebrate! It's been 200 years since naturalist Charles Darwin's birth and 150 years since his pioneering publication On the Origin of Species first rocked the scientific world.  In honor of the milestone occasion, the University of Cambridge, where Darwin was a student, is hosting a festival this week through July 10 as part of a yearlong series of events marking the university's 800th anniversary.

Over 100 scientists, writers, artists and performers will commemorate Darwin's work at more than 40 events around Cambridge. Speakers and performers include Sir David Attenborough, Ian McEwan, Professor Richard Dawkins, Sir Terry Pratchett, Richard Leaky, and Harold Varmus among many others.

If you're not a scientist or your level of evolutionary expertise consists of that one high school biology course you took eons ago, don't fear. The wide range of events caters to all interests, from scientific debates to art exhibitions to stand-up comedy. Street-side performances include interpretations of the evolution of juggling, music, and voice, while the evening Fringe Festival features plays, comedy shows, and film screenings.

"Nowhere else this year will you find such breadth of expertise gathered in one place, at one time, to discuss and celebrate Darwin's work," Darwin Festival director Mirand Gomperts said. "The Festival is a key event in the University of Cambridge's 800th anniversary year. We hope that as many people as possible will enjoy this unique opportunity and discover how Darwin's ideas can help us tackle the challenges we will face in the future."

'Ello city-lovers! Today's city is London, England, and Louise Heal shows us the must-sees of the U.K.'s capital.

Want to see your city on IT? Copy and paste our list of fill-in-the-blank questions into an e-mail, fill in your answers, and send your responses to IntelligentTravel@ngs.org. And if you're still waiting for us to feature yours, fear not! We're going to keep posting as long as we keep getting them (please include photos and links!).

London, England is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is Waterloo Bridge. This is far and away the best view of London. Any London taxi driver will say so, and what they say goes. Just so as you know.

When I crave Indian food I always go to Brick Lane, the spiritual home of curry in London. This is the heart of London's Bangladeshi community and is also within walking distance of the City of London.

To escape Oxford Street I head to Marylebone High Street. Daunt Bookshop is a treasure trove, there are plenty of nice little boutiques and some really great coffee places. What more does a girl need?

If I want to have a really good steak and chips I go to Chez Gerard. As they say - the best steak frites this side of Paris. And the champagne list isn't bad either!

For complete quiet, I can hide away at the British Library You need a reader's card to use the Reading Rooms, but anybody can use the restaurants, public areas and the courtyard. During the summer, there are free lunchtime concerts.
 
If you come to my city, get your picture taken on a Trafalgar Square lion. Then pose with a Guard at the Horse Guards Parade. Then hover about in front of Big Ben. Then stand on Westminster Bridge with the London Eye behind you. Strike a pose, why don't you?
 
If you have to order one thing off the menu from Simpson's in the Strand, it absolutely has to be the roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. You don't eat meat? Maybe just the Yorkshire pudding then.

Stanfords is my one-stop shop for all things travel-related. There are travel books, guides, maps, nautical charts, globes and Inspiration galore. I think I actually lived here in a former life.
 
Locals know to skip Leicester Square and check out Lower Regent Street instead. There are cinemas, restaurants and bars here, without the tourists or the touts.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped I go to the National Gallery and then walk down Whitehall to the London Eye. Depending on my mood, I'll either go to see Holbein's "Ambassadors," the Leonardo "cartoon" or Seurat's "Bathers at Asnieres." If you're feeling peckish, the Whitehall Sandwich Bar and the Lord Moon of the Mall pub opposite both serve good, cheap food and drink.

Former National Geographic staffer Sarah Louise Galbraith is traveling around U.K. and writes to us about an unlikely creature living in the English countryside.

When first arriving to the Old King Street Farm, located on the English side of the England/Welsh border just a few miles from Hereford and Abergavenny, guests may expect to be greeted by grunts and snorts from animals typically associated with farms--pigs, sheep, cows, perhaps the odd rooster or two. But in the heart of the Welsh Marches, you're more likely to encounter a rather more unusual animal that typically makes its home not in the heart of the British Isles, but rather in the heart of the Andes in South America: the llama.  
 
Old King Street Farm is run by Amanda Huntley and Robert Dewar, and home to not one, not two, but fourteen llamas who live in this stunning part of England. Holiday makers who visit the farm have a unique the opportunity to get up close and personal with these kind-hearted beasts by participating in a llama trek. With half- and full-day treks, the outings are perfect for explorers of all ages.   
 
Arriving to the farm mid-morning, you'll be just in time to help round-up, halter, and groom the llamas before setting off on a llama trek through beautiful countryside. All of the llamas are impressively named--in true National Geographic spirit--after British standing stone circles, including Brodgar, after the Ring of Brodgar in Orkney, and Avebury, located in Wiltshire. No doubt that after spending a day at this family-friendly, sustainable farm with such aptly named animals you will be inspired to learn more about the llamas' archaeological namesakes and adventure beyond well-known Stonehenge to discover these remarkable heritage sites for yourself.
 
Setting off on the trek I was a bit wary of my new furry companion Doll Tor, affectingly known as Dolly, who was on her first proper trek off the farm. Dolly, a large llama with a bushy coat, was a true natural, happily humming besides me and negotiating the occasional mud puddle with more grace and ease than myself. She liked to look at the scenery, so we would often stop to take in the gorgeous green hills and watch the sunlight shift through scattered clouds. By the time we made it back to the farm two hours later, I'll admit, I was unabashedly in love with not only the landscape but with my llama, and envisioning how I could bring Dolly home with me. 
 
Luckily for me and other guests who have similarly fallen for their new furry friends and the farm, the llamas at Old King Street Farm have their own blog, so readers can keep up with the daily lives of Dolly and the rest of her friends.
 
Beyond llamas, there is also much to do in the area, including visiting the book town of Hay-on-Wye, world famous for its thirty secondhand and antiquarian bookshops, as well as for its annual Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts. Venturing further you can explore many historic villages and shops in nearby towns, including castle ruins, weekday markets, and more. Since Old King Street Farm also offers holiday stays in beautiful two- and four-person cottages, guests can stay overnight for a short break or a week at a time, allowing plenty of time to discover the hidden local gems.

Photo: Sarah Louise Galbraith

Looking for a unique holiday gift? The Royal Oak Foundation, the American affiliate of Britain's National Trust, has a deal for you. For a $55 membership fee, you can give someone free admission to all the castles, manors, parks, and gardens administered by the National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for an entire year. And if you'd like to stay in a historic property as well visit one, the Royal Oak Foundation also offers 25% off three historic hotels that are members of the Trust: Hartwell House and Spa in Buckinghamshire, England; Middlethorpe Hall and Spa in York, England; and Bodysgallen Hotel and Spa in North Wales, now through October 31, 2009. Each of the properties is at least 300 years old, and each has been meticulously restored to historically accurate standards. 

Bodygsallen Hotel, for example, has a 13th-century tower with a view of the mountains of Snowdonia National Park, and sits on a hillside amid 200 acres of its own parkland, two miles from the Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno. You can stay in the elegant Main Hall, or in one of the cottages on the estate: Pineapple Lodge, Castle View, or Gingerbread House (pictured above). To get to the spa, walk through the formal gardens, which include a walled rose garden and a parterre herb garden bordered with 17th-century boxwood hedges. And lest you feel guilty from the pampering, it's nice to know that all profits go to benefit the house and the National Trust. 

As Henry James said: "Of all the great things that the English have invented and made a part of the credit of the national character, the most perfect, the most characteristic, the one they have mastered most completely in all its details, so that it has become a compendious illustration of their social genius and their manners, is the well-appointed, well-administered, well-filled country-house."
 
Thanks to Susan Derby at the L.A. Times Daily Travel & Deal blog for the tip!

Photo courtesy of Bodysgallen Hotel, The National Trust