Posts Tagged ‘england’

Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery

Saturday, March 5th, 2011

Birmingham is a lively city in the English county of the West Midlands, it is an incredibly popular destination for vacations. The city features a great variety of world class visitor attractions including many churches which have Grade I status and other impressive buildings as well as many museums and galleries, including Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery.

The Ikon Gallery in Birmingham is an art gallery focusing on contemporary art which is situated in the building which was previously the Oozells Street Board School in Brindleyplace, but it wasn’t always in such surroundings.

The Ikon was founded in the year nineteen sixty four by Angus Skene and 4 students of art. The 4 artists were; Jesse Bruton, David Prentice, Sylvani Merilion and Robert Groves. Angus Skene had purchased a painting by David Prentice and the pair of them talked about the numerous problems faced by local artists, including the lack of venues and support. The discussion resulted in the basic concepts for Ikon which was to be a “gallery without walls”.

Skene provided the initial finance for the project, which consisted of exhibitions in such diverse venues as post offices and cinemas in a motorcycle sidecar, the idea being to make the general public more aware of art. To keep the overheads down staffing was by the founding artists, friends and family who did not charge. After a while the Ikon Gallery obtained a glass walled stall in the famous Bull Ring shopping centre.

Over the next couple of decades the Ikon Gallery moved from location to location until 1997 when it acquired, with help from the National Lottery Fund, its current premises, the former Oozells Street Board School. In the last few years the Gallery has put on a number of exhibitions and its continual ability to produce the superb has led to it becoming incredibly popular, so much so that it opened another gallery in 2006, the Ikon Eastside in Digbeth.

If you are in the process of planning a short break in the city of Birmingham we hope that this article has interested you so much that you will be visiting the Ikon Gallery. Also it is important to know that although there are many hotels in Birmingham finding Birmingham bed and breakfast can sometimes be very difficult. It is because of this that it is vitally important to book your accommodation at the earliest opportunity. You will need to know that the nearest airport is approximately eight miles from the center of the city just off the A45. You will find there is a lot of hotels and b & b’s nearby the airport.

If you are planning to stay in bed and breakfast accommodation in Birmingham you may be interested in our listings of accommodation near the Ikon Gallery

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Holidays In London And Accommodation Near The Millennium Wheel

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

The metropolitan area of London is one of the most well liked holiday locations in the continent of Europe. Numerous factors work in combination making the city interesting to a broad range of visitors, the most important element being the enormous selection of top notch tourist attractions found the capital. London is the most expansive urban zone in Europe and it is the capital of England. As such it’s not unexpected that there are numerous areas to stay with each having their very own unique appeal. Some people choose to stay in the very middle of the city whilst others make a selection to stay somewhere on the outskirts. Within the article below I will be examining some of the accommodation close to the London Eye/Millennium Wheel.

The London Eye, or, more correctly, The Merlin Entertainments London Eye, an incredibly big observation wheel positioned on the banks of the River Thames. Visited by over 3.5 million folk each year it’s the most well liked visitor attraction in the United Kingdom. While taking a flight passengers can view a selection of the greatest attractions the city has to offer such as; Tower Bridge, Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, Palace of Westminster, Big Ben clock tower, the NatWest Tower and and more. With such a large number of world-class places of interest only a short distance from The London Eye/Millennium Wheel many folk choose to stay in hotels near to the attraction itself.

Accommodation Near To The Merlin Entertainments London Eye

To help keep everything easy I shall focus upon those hotels and accommodations which are nearest to the Merlin Entertainments London Eye and which can also be booked over the Internet. The closest two establishments are both Park Plaza hotels, the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge and the Park Plaza County Hall. Only a little further away are the accommodation; Citadines Trafalgar Square, London Marriott Hotel County Hall and Royal Horseguards and below I will describe these great hotels in more detail.

Park Plaza County Hall The Park Plaza County Hall is situated at number 1 Addington Street on the River Thames’ South Bank. It’s within a short strolling distance of the Eye (it is just over Westminster Bridge) which is visible from many of the rooms. Providing 4 star lodging at an inexpensive cost the Park Plaza is a highly regarded place to stay so it’s always worth looking to book your room as soon as you can. Amenities include; free WI-FI Internet access, free laundry room, free access to the fitness center, sauna and steam room (spa therapies are available for an extra cost). Rooms have kitchen facilities together with microwave, crockery, cutlery and coffee/tea making amenities but it’s well worth bearing in mind taking foods at their Spectrum Restaurant which specialises in fine British Cuisine.

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is positioned at number 200 Westminster Bridge Road which is on the southern side of Westminster Bridge. The hotel offers all of the facilities you possibly can expect of a four star establishment (such as free Wi-Fi web access) but other amenities include a concierge service, a business centre and 2 executive lounges making it the best choice for folk visiting London on business. The hotel additionally includes a health club that is open twenty four hours a day as well as A steam room, spa, sauna and a swimming pool of fifteen metres.

The Royal Horseguards gives award winning 5 star lodging with rooms costing just a bit greater than four star rated lodgings (in case you have the ability to locate a last-minute booking discount. Situated at 2 Whitehall Court this accommodation is near to the business district. The London Marriott Hotel County Hall, on Westminster Bridge Rd, is a four star rated hotel which also provides late reservation discounts and which also has a gymnasium, an indoor pool and a spa. Citadines Trafalgar Sq. London gives three star rated accommodation serviced apartment style accommodation, on Northumberland Avenue, at an inexpensive cost.

Different places to stay near the London Eye come with; Charing Cross (Strand), LSE Northumberland House (8a Northumberland Avenue), Wellington (81-83 Waterloo Road) and apartments at SACO London (75 York Rd), which are all less than half a mile away from The Millennium Wheel. The Savoy (Strand), which has just gone through the biggest refurbishment in Great Britain and Europe, is also half of 1 mile from the Millennium Wheel and also The Royal Trafalgar on Whitcomb Street, The Trafalgar in Trafalgar Square and The Strand Palace Hotel in the Strand.

Together you will find in excess of fifty hotels near the London Eye (less than a mile away), the choice is stunning but you will need to notice that these places to stay are extremely popular and it’s the best idea to book a room as early as you possibly can. It is important to remember that hotels near the London Eye are nearly always fully booked however, if you want to take the risk, there is, sometimes, the potential for discovering last minute reservation discounts.

If you are considering a London vacation and you are searching for hotels near the London Eye please examine listings at http://www.londonhotelhelper.com/categories/4/hotels-near-london-eye/

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English Holidays Are Back In Fashion

Monday, November 1st, 2010

For the population of Britain, the word “holidays,” tends to invoke images of Spanish beaches or long haul holidays in the Caribbean. But contrary to these common images, holidays really don’t have to be overseas, as both couples and families from the UK are finding out for themselves.

It seems that the English holiday is enjoying a revival. This can be attributed in part to the recent economic downturn. Bank balances dwindled and people had to cut back on their expenses, leading many to choose a domestic UK holiday in favour of the usual annual break abroad, which is often easier on the finances! But it isn’t only a financial thing. After all, a break in the UK could actually cost as much as an overseas break, if you do it in luxury style. So it really isn’t only about the money. A second reason that these breaks are enjoying a comeback is that England has an incredibly wide range of different types of break to offer.

Take, for example, the traditional cottage type English break. Locations like the Lake District and the Cotswolds boast simply unrivalled beauty, serene atmospheres and many tourist geared activites as well. For the real ale fans, there are hosts of pubs and inns, there are trekking opportunities for the keen walker and the picturesque landscape for those who just like to enjoy their surroundings. Literary breaks are also on the increase, where readers and fans of certain writers visit the towns their idols once lived to trace their steps, for example Stratford-Upon-Avon for the Shakespeare fans and Howarth for the Bronte sisters fans.

It would be a mistake, however, to assume that English holidays are always a quiet option. This isn’t the case! England has some pretty amazing cities ideal for city breaks. Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham and, of course, London are amazing city break locations. They are home to cultural centres and museums, some renowned nightlife and entertainment and also boast a diverse offering of accommodation to fit most budgets!

So if you’re feeling uninspired by the Spanish Costas or you really don’t fancy travelling a great deal on your next break, why not consider an English holiday?

Find out more about about English Holidays on Holiday Insight.

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England’s South Coast – Things To Do And Sights To See

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

There are many incredible places to visit and sights to see on England’s South Coast. But before we get to that, let’s discuss what England’s south coast is comprised of. Southern England includes the southern counties of England bordering on the English Midlands. The government of the UK divides Southern England into South West England, South East England, Greater London and the East of England. So having established some geographical boundaries, here are some places to go on England’s South Coast:

- Beachy Head: 5km or 3 miles south of Eastbourne is a snowy white cliff at the end of the South Downs. It has popular views and is reached by a lovely footpath. It is known for its striped lighthouse. The cliff path that passes through Cuckmere, Haven and Seaford is 3.5 miles or 6km long and provides a great hiking opportunity.

- Bramber Castle: is on the west side of Bramber village and is an English Heritage property. The ruins of the castle gatehouse are from the original gatehouse built by the Normans.

- The Kent Battle of Britain Museum: is in Hawkinge. It’s an old armory that contains the Luftwaffe Room, the Aircraft Armaments Room, the R.A.F. room and an art gallery.

- The Eurotunnel: is not to be missed. It crosses under the channel between France and Folkestone in Kent. It was complete in 1994 and is the fastest and newest transport system on the British coast. The visitor center is in Folkestone. There is also The Exhibition Centre in Cheriton which is west of Folkestone. This Centre explains the construction of the Eurotunnel.

- Borde Hill Gardens in Haywards Heath: is set on 200 acres of Sussex woods and parkland. It is a renowned botanical garden and displays a fabulous variety of colour through all seasons.

- Romney Marsh: is 50,000 acres of flowers that extends along the coast from Hythe. Visit in the spring when the flowers are the most beautiful.

- Mermaid Street: in Rye. A wonderful place to stroll where you can see Lamb House, an 18th century Georgian building in which Henry James wrote “The Wings of the Dove” and “The Golden Bowl” during the final years of his life. You will also want to see Old Hospital, a triple-gabled half-timbered 15th – 16th century building. Don’t forget The Mermaid Inn, a 15th century pub that is rich in tradition. It was once known as a meeting place for Smugglers.

This is just a small sampling of the many things to do and see on England’s South Coast. Be sure to learn about the many other attractions of this beautiful area of England.

If you liked this, try : Cheap Hotels Brighton

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