The Isle Of Wight ( videos )

The diamond shaped Isle of Wight measures 23 miles wide by 13 miles deep, and lies a short sea or air crossing away from the South Coast of England.

The Isle of Wight has stunning unspoilt scenery, breathtaking sea views, fantastic award-winning sandy beaches, and a rich historical heritage, with attractions, activities and adventures to suit visitors of all ages, abilities and nationalities.

More than half the Island is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with picturesque villages, spectacular cliffs, downland, sandy beaches, rich farmlands, creeks, marshland, river valleys, and a rich diversity of wildlife, flora and fauna.

The Isle of Wight is a beach lover's paradise with over 60 miles of beach varying from quiet secluded bays, fossil rich coves and miles of award winning clean sandy beaches.

The island is home to some of the most diverse countryside in the UK, and has over 500 miles of award-winning public signed footpaths and bridleways taking in historic farms, pretty lanes, thatched villages, coastal trails and woodlands.

The island is also a place of simple but rewarding pleasures such as; rock pooling, crab fishing, jumping off breakwaters and building sandcastles.

The Isle of Wight has a wide variety of attractions and activities. These are available for all age groups, all abilities, and for all tastes. They range from educational to fun, from passive to interactive, and from sedate to extreme.

Attractions include; historic houses / villas / castles / windmill / lighthouse, landscaped gardens, art centres, steam railway, boat / bus / military / shipwreck and dinosaur museums, Blackgang chine, Shanklin chine, the Needles and pleasure park, adventure and animal parks, seaside zoo, llama trekking, butterfly and fountain world, water light show, ten-pin bowling, and music festivals.

Activities include; golf, walking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, power boating, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, body boarding, stand-up paddle boarding, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, hang-gliding, paragliding, and tree climbing.

Holiday accommodation on the Isle of Wight is plentiful and varied, both catered and self-catering, including hotels, guest houses, holiday homes, cottages, apartments, static caravan sites, touring caravan parks, and camping. You can even hire a Volkswagen Camper Van to tour the island, or 'go green' and stay in a yurt.

The Isle of Wight is one of the UK's sunniest and warmest places, with Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor regularly topping the sunshine league table. With relatively mild winters, a below average annual rainfall, and high light intensity, the local climate borders on sub-tropical, allowing many Mediterranean-type plants, trees, and vineyards to flourish.

The Isle of Wight was home to many prehistoric monsters, over fifteen types of dinosaur are known to have inhabited the Island, and the commonest and best known was a plant-eater called Iguanodon. This creature stood about 5 metres high and was 10 metres long thanks to a large tail.

The Isle of Wight is one of the richest locations for dinosaur finds in the whole of Europe, a combination of location and geology has made it the perfect place to find fossils. As many as three hundred Iguanodon skeletons have been discovered on the Island since records began.

The Isle of Wight really is an island for all ages, all tastes, and all seasons.

Stephen Davies has spent many years holidaying in the Isle of Wight, both as a child and a parent. For everything you need to know about the Isle of Wight visit: http://www.the-isle-of-wight.com

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Enjoy a Day Trip From London to Canterbury ( videos )

Canterbury is perhaps most famous for its Cathedral which is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England. The Archbishops of Canterbury have been the head of the Church in England (Roman Catholic from 602 to the 16th century and Anglican ever since the Reformation) from the time Canterbury was founded by Saint Augustine. The Cathedral is also the burial place of King Henry IV and Edward the Black Prince, and was the scene of the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170.

You can visit the Cathedral and marvel at its wondrous architecture. It's easily found in the middle of the city atop a small hill.

Something else the city is famous for is the Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century. The story tells of the tales told by a group of pilgrims on a pilgrimage from Southwark to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.

Today you can visit the Canterbury Tales museum located in the centre of town on St Margaret's Street, just off the main High Street. In the museum you can take a step back some 500 years to the 14th century and meet all the characters as they each tell their tale.

The rest of Canterbury has an interesting mix of architectural styles. Some were lost forever as a result of the bombings during WW2. Other landmark buildings include St Martin's Church, the oldest parish church still in use, and there's even evidence of the original Roman walls; St Augustine's Abbey, formerly a Benedictine Abbey; and Canterbury Castle, ruins of a Norman castle built in the 11th Century.

There are a number of other museums and attractions to visit within the city such as:
The West Gate Tower used to guard the road coming in from London. You can climb to the top of the tower and see the Cathedral towering over the rest of the town. The inside of the tower houses a museum.

The Roman Museum which is located underground at the level of the old Roman town. Inside you will see some of the preserved remains and reconstructions of what life was like when the Romans ruled most of the known world.

The Canterbury Royal Museum and Art Gallery is found on High Street and gives you an excellent example of Victorian Architecture. The gallery includes works from T.S. Cooper, one of England's more famous artists.

There's also the Buffs Regimental Museum, which is a branch of the National Army Museum, and tells the story of one of England's oldest infantry regiments The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment).

The Sidney Cooper Gallery displays local art and is connected to the University Building.

The Canterbury Computer Gallery of Art is located on the High Street and displays a small selection of digital art.

Located just a little outside Canterbury is the Sarre Windmill which is still grinding corn. There's also the town of Dover, and its famous white chalk cliffs, just 25 kms away along the A2.

How to get to Canterbury?

Canterbury is located in Kent, to the east of London City, some 150 kms drive from Heathrow Airport so the journey shouldn't take much more than an hour and a half.

When driving out of the airport head for the M25. Once you're on the M25 you will want to travel south in an anti-clockwise direction. Stay on the M25 for about 70kms until you can turn off onto the M26 which joins up with the M20. After 13 kms on the M20 you will be going around Maidstone and you will have to option of turning off at Junction 7 onto the A279 which will get you onto the M2. This road eventually becomes the A2 and will take you the rest of the way to Canterbury.

If you are driving out of London City then you will simply need to get onto the A2, which starts close to Greenwich, and this will take you all the way to Canterbury.

Enjoy your trip to London and remember if you need to book car hire, check out our Car hire Heathrow Airport page.

Mairead Foley writes for http://www.Novacarhire.com/ where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

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THE NEW FOREST HAMPSHIRE

Are you planning to expend a couple of days in England? Perhaps you would like to attempt some new place. New Forest is located in Southern England and is again another pride of the nation. An England vacation is never complete without you exploring the country's borders. True enough, a visit to this popular nation in Great Britain promises tons of fun, thrill, and new things to learn both in the historical and educational context. There is always something new that is in store for the tourists who set foot in England. Once more, New Forest is yet another place for you to conquer.

What's at Stake during Your Visit?

Spending a short break in UK means that you want to explore the place in an unusual light. If you must already gone along to its capital this is London, you need to try another site. New Forest has enough sceneries and sites to offer a wandering tourist like you. In the year 2005, it was pronounced to be a National Park. With it came along the increase in several captivating countryside sceneries. If you are an outdoor person, then the ancient woodland will surely give you the thrill. It is a fantastic place for walking, riding, and mountain biking. If you opt to play sports, you can besides make do of this place.

The New Forest was once the royal hunting forest as declared by William the Conqueror back in 1079. Presently, the place is a perfect destination for those wildlife aficionados. Among the typical sightings include the badgers, deer, and the atypical birds of prey. Cows and ponies likewise make up the list. Motorists have to be extra cautious since they drive around at night since the pigs are set loose for them to feed upon the acorns and the cows and ponies also wander on the forest roads at nighttime.

A Brief Background of Lyndhurst

The core of the New Forest is called the village of Lyndhurst. It is the seat of the administrative groups in the New Forest. The Tourist Information Centre itself is found in the centermost step in the village this is surrounded by a great place for walk. One of the latest developments in the area includes the handiness of outdoors top bus tour which produces a stop at the major tourist destinations around the forest. The bus features a trailer at the rear part to create way for the bicycles so that anytime you would like to be drifted off you could take a ride through the wilderness. The forest has embellished cycle tracks that provide a good path for off road cyclists.

The Breathtaking Tourist Attractions

Tourists are unlikely to go wrong since they pay the New Forest a visit. The top destinations that will surely take your breath away are the National Motor Museum located at Beaulieu, the Exbury Gardens located nearby Beaulieu, the wildlife parks such as the Owl, Otter, and the one in Marchwood, the activity farms, historic houses, and museums. A main event in the New Forest is called the "The New Forest Show" which features the equestrian and agricultural presentation this is held in July. The exhibits comprise the local produces and a rural area products.

Furthermore, restaurants in Lymington and Lyndhurst provide good meals. There are likewise pubs that will keep you well-entertained. Thus, this place will make your England vacation a pleasant time for the whole group!

Laurence has been writing articles online for nearly 3 years now. Not only does this author specialize in weight loss,fitness and diet, you can as well check out his latest website on petsafe instant fence and cat water fountains

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A Quick Guide to London

Planning for vacations in London? Then let me shortly and briefly tell more about London so that you can plan accordingly and enjoy it to its maximum!
London is one of the worlds most sought after city for vacations as it is a beautiful amalgamation of historic buildings, well-known museums and galleries and of course one of the best USP is its dining, clubbing, entertainment and now a new range of boutique hotels. Location
London being the capital of UK is located beside river Thames. Connected by several airports, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Stanstead, and with direct train links to the continent via the Channel Tunnel, and to the rest of the UK via domestic operators, the capital is comfortable to approach.
Staying options
New boutique hotels are these days hot favorite among tourists and there are also expensive hotels alongside smaller guesthouses. These hotels have immaculate service which are stylish and also have a real atmosphere rather than one manufactured by the marketing department of a large hotel chain, staying in one of these hotels can only make your trip to London more pleasurable and unforgotten experience.
Hot spots
You should indeed plan your itinerary well in advance so that you can enjoy maximum in limited time that you have and also don’t miss on anything. There’s so much going on in London that even the residents don't see it all. You can see historical Tower of London or St. Paul's Cathedral for example; some of the treasures and paintings in the museums and galleries; a show in the West End and some great drinking and dining. You can also take assistance of the reception staff to help you in planning and also they can help you buy tickets. And yes, to capture those delightful moments of your stay make sure that you have your camera with you while making a long list of the things you want to do the next time you visit.
How to navigate
London has a up to date public transport system.
A widespread underground network takes you to all parts of the city, and you will be priced on a "zone" basis, that makes much easier to calculate which tickets to buy and the total amount that would be spend. Also ask about the saver tickets if they come out to be cheap then go for them.
If you are comfortable traveling in London's famous red buses, then they are pretty cheap options approximately £1 for central London journeys.
Otherwise traditional "black cab" is the other option that you can think of! These hackney cabs are easily available anywhere and everywhere and the driver is skillful at avoiding traffic jams, good to talk to and honest with fare meters, a journey with a hackney cab driver is a real London experience.
So keep above things in mind for planning your vacations in London.
To find additional information like this or about cities and holidays visit – [http://outdoorandtravel.com] [http://outdoorandtravel.com] was founded Jakob Culver. Jakob has a background and large knowledge in and about tourism.
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Stratford-upon-Avon

What's to see in Stratford-upon-Avon?
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town located just 35km south of Birmingham, almost in the centre of England.
The town is is probably most famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare, considered by many to be one of, if not the greatest writer in the English language ever. You can visit the site thought to be Shakespeare's Birthplace on Henley Street which has been restored to its 16th-century decor and has many authentic items from the period.
You can also visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage, who would later become Shakespeare's wife. Anne Hathaway was 8 years his senior and was pregnant before they married. The cottage is located in the hamlet of Shottery a short distance from Stratford.
Shakespeare is buried in Holy Trinity Church, and his tomb is a place of pilgrimage for many fans of his works. The church isn't very remarkable and is still functional. So if you're planning a visit be sure to do so outside of service times.
If you've a few hours to spare then you should make time to visit the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and catch one of the shows, perhaps something Shakespearean! The main theatre is undergoing renovations until 2010 but the smaller stages are still in use. Tickets can be in demand during the tourist season so it's best to book in advance.
Located on Henley Street is the Creaky Cauldron - Wyrd Museum and Henley Street Theatre. This is home to the creepiest family in Britain, the Bombay family who can scare the living day lights out of you. This animatronics' exhibit is one of the best haunted house experiences anywhere in the world.
There's also the Falstaff's Experience on Sheep Street, an award-winning 500 year-old half-timbered Shrieve's House. It's the largest museum in Stratford and is home to an impressive collection of waxwork figures relating to the story of Stratford. The TV show Most Haunted was filmed here in 2004 and there have been hundreds of paranormal investigations of the property!
Continuing with the ghostly theme of some of the attractions of Stratford, you can go on a Stratford Ghost Cruise along the River Avon while listening to all the ghost stories from the local area.
How to get to Stratford-upon-Avon?
Stratford-upon-Avon is located about 170km north west of Central London.
If you're driving out from the city centre then you will want to head west along the A4. This becomes the M4 and it intersects the M25.
If you're driving out from Heathrow Airport, just head north out of the airport and turn left as you meet up with the M4. Then turn north when you hit the M25.
Head north along the M25 for about 7km until you come to the M40 turn off (Junction 16). Take this exit towards Birmingham and follow it for about 120km. At Junction 15 you'll want to exit left onto the A46/Stratford Road and then left again on the next roundabout for Stratford-upon-Avon.
We hope this will give you a few ideas of what to see and do in Stratford-upon-Avon. All you need is a car!
Mairead Foley writes for http://www.Novacarhire.com/ where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.
Visit Novacarhire.com for all you need to know before you take to the roads in London, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire Heathrow Airport now.
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Marvelous Blackpool

Situated on the North West coast of England in the county of Lancashire, Blackpool is probably the nearest thing that the United Kingdom has to Las Vegas. In fact there are already several casinos in operation in the city, and there are plans to make Blackpool the site of the first British "Super Casino". The proposed super casino will be open around the clock, and there will no longer the need to wait 24 hours before being granted membership. As long as you are over eighteen you will be able to walk in off the street, and place your bets on roulette, blackjack or even the latest hits, Texas hold'em poker.
Needless to say, not everyone come to Blackpool just to play in casinos, and there is no shortage of other entertainments available for the hundreds of thousands of holiday makers who flock to Blackpool and neighboring St. Annes every year for their holiday. Blackpool has been the holiday venue for the people of Lancashire for more than a century, and looks like remaining their first choice for many years to come.
Blackpool has a beautiful beach curtained bu a long trail of sea front restaurants, bars and entertainment centers. Looking down on all the holiday frivolity is the d world famous Blackpool Tower. Built way back in Victorian times, Blackpool Tower displays a strong resemblance to its Parisian counterpart on which it was modeled, Blackpool Tower is the focal point of the famous and spectacular light show held every year during the peak holiday season.
Offering something for everyone, Blackpool is a great choice of a holiday for families with young children, with attractions to keep the kids amused all day and every day. The Pleasure Beach theme park is a great favorite. There is much to do and sample there in the way of entertainment, with the high point for many being a breathtaking ride on the roller coaster which is one of the World's largest.
For those who want to get out of Blackpool for a day or two and visit the neighboring countryside there are many attractions within a short distance of the city.
Highly popular among them is the Lake District situated to the north of Blackpool. There are many breathtaking views to be enjoyed as well as excellent "old manor" style restaurants or hotels where you can pass a day or two in perfect tranquility. If you want to travel to and from Blackpool, you have many choices, among them the local airport which handles local and international flights, train services, bus lines as well as fast road links to the excellent UK motorways services.
Renting a car can be an economical way to travel around Blackpool and the county of Lancashire. There are a few major car hire companies operating in the city, with some firms even offering discounts for rentals of three days and over. Car Hire in Blackpool usually comes as a 'fully inclusive' package which includes unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, passenger indemnity insurance and cover for third party, fire and theft - but not usually insurance excess.
To rent a car anywhere in the United Kingdom, you must show a full driver's licence and a credit card in the driver's name. Cars are usually rented to customers between the ages of 21 to 70 years. Many people are reluctant to hire cars and drive around the city which can be congested especially during the holiday season with parking being a problem. Blackpool' s famous trams can be a fun to travel and if you want to get exotic there are also horse drawn carts plying their services more or less twenty four hours a day. Taxis are not expensive and are readily available around the clock, and take a lot of the pressure out of traveling around the center of Aberdeen city. Hiring a car is a great idea if you want to use Blackpool as your base for a three day minimum travel experience around the region.
Whatever you decide, Blackpool has it all and looks forward to welcoming you For information on car hire or car rentals in Blackpool city visit EveryCarHire at Car Hire Blackpool
England's entertainment city by David Muldoon
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