Just under an hour outside of the city limits of London is a night out or an afternoon drink you do not want to miss out on. It is the Royal Standard of England, and it is the longest running freehouse in the country. With its history running back over 900 years, it is said that King Charles I had once used the pub as a secret hideout before trying to escape to France in the mid 1600’s. While once named “The Ship,” The Royal Standard was given its title from King Charles II, as a way to honor the pub for providing shelter during his father’s attempted escape. Aside from its rich history and ghost stories, the Royal Standard of England sets up the perfect location for refreshing drinks and brilliant pub food. Imagine tucking yourself into the same rustic room where King Charles himself had once sat. The wooden beams across the ceiling and the worn in furniture makes it look like a scene straight out of a British historical movie. The shelves are stocked with a fine wine selection, while on tap there is a diverse assortment of beers to chose from. Watch your head however, because […]
Rome is one of the most beautiful and oldest cities in the world. Aside from its great food and being the home of the Pope, Rome has so much to see all across the city. When you arrive, you might feel overwhelmed by all there is to do, but with a couple things in mind you will know just where to start. After enjoying a nice cannoli or a slice of traditional pizza, you will be ready take on the attractions below while cutting some slack on your wallet. 1. The Pantheon Dedicated to all the gods of Ancient Rome, the Roman Pantheon is a classic site to see. To this day, its dome top is the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. As you walk through its eight pillars and inside, you will be presented with statues, historical tombs, and the natural spotlight from the open dome above. Your head will constantly be on a swivel, as you won’t want to stop looking at every inch of the striking interior. Even with the massive amount of people that will most likely be inside, it is still powerful to think that you are standing in one of most historically […]
Mayfair is justly famed as a luxury tourist destination, with many exclusive hotels, shops restaurants and cultural centres, making it the perfect location for those seeking an enjoyable break. There is a wonderful choice of places to visit here, but some are undeniably world famous. The Royal Academy of Arts One of London’s finest galleries, the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an ideal choice to see art and architecture at its best. With a rolling programme of exhibitions, together with many fascinating talks, lectures and workshops, the RA features an eclectic mix of art with something for everyone. The Summer Exhibition is its showpiece exhibition, consisting of entries from the general public, in a variety of genres, and this is considered by many to be an unmissable summer event. Other exhibitions vary in their focus, and include such diverse options as one devoted to early 20th century Mexican art, and paintings by Sir Hugh Casson. La Gavroche Known the world over, La Gavroche was the first restaurant in the UK to be awarded two Michelin stars, and has also won a host of other awards. Owner Michel Roux Jr. runs the restaurant, together with a well-established team who have […]
The city of Sochi in Russia is a resort town of the country. It is a unique city within the country through its subtropical climate, with a backdrop of scenic Caucasus Mountains and some vegetation which is loved by many vacation-goers. Sochi is not only famous for its temperate and tropical weather but also a destination for international sporting action. The city will host the upcoming 2014 winter Olympics and is starting formula 1 grand prix in the city. And by the year 2018, it will host the FIFA world cup along with other cities. The sporting action in Sochi is a spectacle for any sports fan, and planning a visit to Sochi is a priority especially choosing the right time and events. Going to Sochi is easy by air into the Adler-Sochi International Airport. And to have more comfort is going there by jet charter, the Monarch Air Group travels one into Sochi with efficiency and privacy to all fliers in having a wonderful journey into the city. Sporting Action By the year 2014 the world will witness the spectacle of the winter Olympics which will be played in the city of Sochi. The winter Olympics is an international […]
So you’ve decided to head to the East Mediterranean for your next Holiday, specifically Cyprus. A member state of the European Union since 2004, this island nation is closely affiliated with both Turkey (its closest neighbor) and Greece (which it has been affiliated with for thousands of years). Thanks to its relatively mild climate, it has become a holiday hot spot (especially in the summer), and boasts excellent facilities for water activities, in addition to championship golf courses, winter snow fun in the Troodos Mountains (with hiking and mountain biking in the other seasons here, as well as on the Akamas peninsula). Its great value to travel to Cyprus with online booking agents so see what deals you can get and lets check out the wonderful things you can do. Scuba Diving There are a lot of different things one can choose to do in Cyprus’ sea. One of the most popular, due to the clear water, is scuba diving. Cyprus houses several five star diving schools on the island, and are all skill levels are welcomed. An excellent diving opportunity for those advanced scuba enthusiasts is the Zenobia Wreck Diving Site, a ferry that capsized on her maiden voyage […]
Last month Visit Britain released its most recent sets of figures for global visitors to Great Britain. There were no huge surprises but the general trend is up. Our best customers in terms of frequency are our nearest neighbours: France and Germany but when it comes to the most valuable markets we still look across the pond to our American cousins! However all of these markets pale into insignificance when we look at those individuals who spend the most amount of money! When it comes down to average spend per visit the undisputed kings of cash are the Kuwaitis who spent over £4,100 per visit in 2012. This was a massive increase on anything achieved previously either by the Kuwaitis or any other country ever – it makes you wonder whether the purchase of Nottingham Forest Football Club by Kuwaiti businessman Fawaz Al Hasawi was included in the figures! *** Image credit: Simon Harding Here are the top five – no matter what souvenirs they took home with them! • Kuwait – £4136 • Indonesia – £2519 • Saudi Arabia – £2342 • Oman – £1950 • Qatar – £1870 At the other end of the scale the list is […]
Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful and interesting cities to visit in Europe with plenty of sights and attractions to offer. Not only is the city unique, but it has more than enough to marvel at, even thought it hasn’t got any world famous monuments or historical attractions. This jewel of Europe continues to draw thousands of visitors from all over the world because of its liberal culture and vibrant nightlife, and for first time visitors, there’s plenty to do here. Visit the Van Gogh Museum Van Gogh Museum is home to the works of the world famous artist Van Gogh, and it houses over 200 paintings and 550 sketches by the artist. The museum has the largest collection of Van Gogh’s works, and it also houses some of the work created by his friends. The museum gives you an insight in to the life of the Netherland’s most prolific artist, his art as well as his collection of pieces from all over the world, so if you are a big time lover of art, then this is the first place to begin your tour of Amsterdam. Take a visit to Anne Frank House While in Amsterdam, make it […]