Country Traveling

Touring Scotland is a great way to see the sights at your leisure.

Choosing a “Staycation” is a difficult choice, with many beautiful places to visit in the United Kingdom. An excellent way to see the sights whilst keeping your freedom is to travel in a motorhome. Whilst you may not have the money to buy a motorhome outright or be sure if they are right for your holiday, there are plenty of options for hire, like motorhomes for hire in Scotland.

Whilst Scotland is fairly compact on a global scale, there are plenty of sights to see, making it great for motorhome holidays. Whilst driving around it can seem like there is always a new location to visit or beautiful vista just over the next hill.

Planning the route ahead is always a good idea to maximise your time. Here are a few highlights from the large selection of places to visit.

Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye is the largest island of the Inner Hebrides and closest to the mainland. It has a bridge to the mainland, replacing the ferry, which makes it less of a remote location and perfect to drive to.

Skye’s Cuillian Mountains are the main attraction with most visitors using their time hiking, shopping or driving to prime locations to view the beautiful vistas.

Eilean Donan Castle is also close to the Isle of Skye, with most people driving past it when they visit or leave the isle.

Beautiful sights are just round the corner whilst driving around Scotland

The Black Isle

This is a peninsula about 23 miles long by around 9 miles wide, situated just to the north of Inverness. There are a selection of things to do in the area, with the most popular being dolphin spotting along the coast. It is easily accessible by motorhomes, making it ideal to visit whilst travelling around Scotland.

Eastern Highlands

The Highlands are arguably the biggest draw for tourists in Scotland. Separated into the eastern and western highlands, they are Scotland’s most scenic and evocative regions. The Eastern Highlands boast Great Glen, nearly cutting Scotland in half and the famous Loch Ness. Nearby to here you can find Culloden battlefield, the Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle and the Glenfiddich Distillery near Dufftown

Border Areas

The area around the border of Scotland and England compromises rolling hills and agricultural plains dotted with towns steeped in history from Scotland’s battles for independence from the British.

Whilst there are other ways to experience Scotland, the freedom that a motorhome offers is highly recommended, due to the flexibility offered and the mostly rural settings in Scotland. Either completing a circuit of Scotland or sticking to a region, you can create your own experience, breaking away from the crowds and having a brilliant time.

Tags: Beautiful Places, Beautiful Sights, Black Isle, Bridge, Dolphin, Eastern Highlands, Global Scale, Inverness, Isle Of Skye, Largest Island Of The Inner Hebrides, Main Attraction, Mainland, Motorhome Holidays, Motorhomes, Mountains, New Location, Peninsula, Prime Locations, Scotland Highlands, Touring Scotland

We all know how bad the traffic can get on bank holiday breaks with everyone rushing off and taking to the roads for a holiday or to visit family and friends. Sometimes the amount of traffic is enough to put you off going away on a bank holiday at all. After many bank holiday trips delayed by bad traffic I decided to find ways to avoid the congestion and still enjoy a break.

Find alternative routes – As many people now use Sat Navs to get them around you can use the old way of planning your route with a map before you leave, choosing an alternative route to the ones popularly used by Sat Navs. You can choose the roads that the bank holidays masses won’t be using and avoid the congestion. If you still want to use the Sat Nav you could set it to find an alternative route or follow it part way and let your map navigation take over before you hit the busy roads. If you’ve been to the area before, you may even remember your way and the quieter roads.

The majority of people will travel at the most convenient hours and therefore are more likely to get caught in the busy traffic. By choosing to travel at unsociable hours you could miss the bulk of the traffic and even extend your break. Whether you travel in the early hours of the morning or the late evening, you are unlikely to meet the amount of traffic that will be on the roads during the day. However, if you can’t do this I find that travelling at lunch time is usually slightly quieter than before or after it as most people will be stopping to eat or will not have left for their journey until after they have eaten.

Another great way of missing the main bank holiday rush of traffic is taking a day off either side of the usual time off. This can not only mean you miss traffic but you can extend your holiday. Holiday allowance from work can easily be used up so making the most of bank holidays is a great way to make them stretch further. Booking a day either side can mean you have a 5 day break, only using two days holiday from work. With the upcoming jubilee and bank holiday combined you could have a whole week off and only use 3 days of your allowance.

I’d also recommend checking traffic reports and have the radio set to transmit traffic updates as and when they arise. This means that any accidents or road works that could affect your trip can be seen and your route adjusted before you get stuck in the traffic caused by it.

The best way to avoid the traffic on the roads is to avoid the roads. Taking public transport is a great way to get to your destination and avoid wasting time sitting in traffic. Particularly, using trains is a great means to avoid the traffic. This also means you can start your holiday early and enjoy yourselves together without someone having to concentrate on driving.

So don’t waste your time next bank holiday by getting stuck in traffic and enjoy yourself instead!
Do you have any more tips on avoiding the congestion?

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Torquay hotels are all down to financial plan and the kind of holiday you would like to have. There are a lot of different Torquay hotels to select from with a lot of places to visit. Just by making a research online, it is rapidly perceptible that there is a massive amount of selection. The rivalry is quite implausible and can make selecting a hotel very time consuming and tougher than it have to be. There is an extensive selection of accommodation fluctuating from big chain cheap hotels to sophisticated boutique style trivial hotels. In spite of the appearance of big chain hotels in Torquay an excessive feature of Torquay is that it holds the small bed & breakfasts, the visitor houses and little hotels that have created the resort such an exceptional place to visit and offer the personal facility that can sometimes be lost when friendliness is carried out on a huge scale. Torquay hotels are positioned at large in clusters nearby the bay. Several places are more well-known for being the place to stay if you would like to come to Torquay for a night out; these are normally establishment on and all over the place of the Belgrave Road region. This does not mean every hotel, guest house, and B&B’s exclusively offer this type of stay. Walking down the harbor and nearby the town, you be able to find yourself gone from it all in a place of Torquay known as Meadfoot. In Meadfoot you will see a small group of extravagance small hotels and guest houses just a small walk from the lovely blue flag beach that is Meadfoot Beach. The best thing about Torquay as a trip destination is that you can greatly have the trip you would like to have. If you wish to see some stunning setting, beautiful beaches and just anywhere to relax and recuperate from the pressures of daily life, this must be in Torquay. Otherwise if you want something a bit more lively, there are several great events accessible in Torquay with almost all sports accessible whether you are keen on surfing, windsurfing, golf, scuba diving, running, health, go in a boat, tennis and other activities.

Torquay’s bistros, saloons and clubs are popular in the UK. The standard is very tall in Torquay and is just cultivating. There are several delightful Michelin Star eateries in addition to various great trivial families run restaurants that truly showcase the local fare.

Torquay has appreciatively gradually got rid of many of the stag and hen parties that flooded the resort around five or six years ago which has created going out in the nightfall and particularly at the weekends a much more enjoyable experience. This is mostly because of the afforded by Torquay Hotels decreasing the number of group reservations they are taking.

Tags: Belgrave Road, Best Torquay Hotels, Blue Flag, Boutique Style, Cheap Hotels, Clusters, Exceptional Place, Extravagance, Flag Beach, Friendliness, Guest House, Guest Houses, Hotel Balmoral, Hotel Guest, Hotels In Torquay, Hotels Torquay, Personal Facility, Rivalry, Small Group, Spite, Torquay Hotels, Trip Destination

No matter where you live, it is always nice to get away for a weekend or even an extended holiday. However, sometimes the opportunity shows up quite out of the blue, leaving you scrambling for a place to lodge. Many hotels, bed and breakfasts and even private cottages must be booked well in advance. This is why independentcottages.co.uk is a great site to visit. There are hundreds of last minute independent holiday cottages which can be found at our site. In fact, we pride ourselves on helping anyone find what they are looking for in just a moment’s time.

Independent cottages are excellent places for people who are not looking forward to the hassle involved in staying in a huge, crowded hotel or holiday resort. They offer the luxury of having a secluded space that allows the use of a full kitchen so that it truly becomes a home away from home. Believe it or not it is often much nicer to be in your own place for a holiday than in a hotel that offers a full staff access to your quarters. Not only do you feel much safer knowing you can lock up your place and go off for the day without the idea of maid service entering your room, but you may feel less prone to crime such as break ins.

One of the other great things about independent cottages which can be secured at the last minute is the fact that most of them are pet friendly cottages so you will not have to go through drama trying to arrange accommodations with your animals. Most people who are pet owners know that there are usually a good deal of arrangements that must be made in regards to the family pets before going on holiday. A last minute reservation at a private cottage will be a piece of cake in comparison.

Tags: Bed And Breakfasts, Extended Holiday, Family Pets, Going On Holiday, Hassle, Holiday Resort, Home Away From Home, Independent Cottages, Independent Holiday Cottages, Ins, Last Minute Holiday, Maid Service, Minute Reservation, Out Of The Blue, Pet Friendly Cottages, Pet Owners, Piece Of Cake, Private Cottage, Private Cottages, Quarters

There are a number of orangeries among the long list of beautiful and fascinating buildings across the UK. You can find these from Bath to Wakefield and from Tyntesfield in Somerset to Kensington Palace.

The long history of orangeries in the UK is a tale of lavish Royal comforts, global exploration, dancing bears running amok and, well, oranges. I find this kind of thing engrossing and decided to find out more about how we ended up with so many of these fine structures all over the country.

The initial use of orangeries is believed to have started in Spain or maybe France, but it was the Dutch who brought the idea across to our shores. This happened sometime in the late 16th century, when relations between the countries were good.

A Luxury Fruit

Let’s not forget that oranges were a lot less common back then than they are now. Nowadays I think nothing of nipping down to the supermarket and buying a dozen oranges which have been shipped here from some exotic shores. Back in those days they were reasonably well known but were still seen as something of a luxury.

So the building of an orangery gave a rich land owner a chance to get hold of some highly valued fruit as well as have an interesting and attractive addition to their property. As we can see from the early surviving models, some of those orangeries were lovely structures which have stood the test of time wonderfully well. Others would clearly have been more mundane, practical affairs to us now but all of them would have been hugely exciting at the time.

As well as orange trees, the people who owned orangeries would often use them to grow other citrus plants and even bananas. To make their plant collections more interesting some people began to diversify and add in other exotic plants as well. I find it amazing to think of, for example, an 19^th century merchant housing this wonderful collection of bizarre plants which everyone in the town would talk about and marvel over.

The Kensington Palace and Kew models were built during the heyday of the orangery but then there was a second boom period when tax on glass was done away with in the mid 19^th century and it become more affordable to get one built. It was still a luxury compared to doing the same thing today but it was certainly within the reach of more people than before.

I started off by mentioning dancing bears running amok and it would be unfair to end without going into a bit more detail. This strange incident happened in the historic orangery building in Wakefield.  During the 19^th century it was turned into a zoo, and the popularity for dancing bears at that time meant that one was taken along there. Sadly it all ended with the bear escaping and killing their keeper. Not all of our orangeries have such dramatic stories attached to them but there is certainly a wealth of history to be explored.

Tags: 16th Century, Attractive Addition, Bananas, Citrus Plants, Exotic Plants, Global Exploration, Kensington Palace, Models, Orange Trees, Orangeries, Orangery, Oranges, People, Plant Collections, Somerset, Spain, Supermarket, Test Of Time, Tyntesfield, Wakefield

If you are always seeing advertising campaigns for the latest movies but never get a chance to see them until they are released on DVD or Blu-Ray, it is time for you to rediscover the joys of cinema. Across the UK we have so many wonderful establishments from small local picture houses to large technologically advanced multiplexes.  While the quality of home entertainment systems has increased dramatically over recent years, any true film buff will tell you there is nothing compared to a trip to see the latest movies on the big screen. Let’s look at some of the advantages that the cinema has to home viewing, that will convince you to get in line to the box office at your local cinema.

Premium Comfort

Today’s modern cinemas are designed to make your film viewing experience the best it can possibly be, which means that your comfort is a priority.  Uncomfortable seating arrangements which crush you up against your aisle buddies? Forget about it – modern cinema seating is spacious and feels as good, if not better, than sitting in an armchair at home. Improved arrangements also mean that other peoples movements in the seat to the front of you are less likely to distract you from your viewing pleasure. Long waits at the box office are a thing of the past too, as you can now check out the cinema listings online and find out which films are on at what time. Online booking systems mean that in just a few clicks, you can reserve your tickets efficiently and quickly – with no queueing!

Technologically Advanced

The latest movies are created with the expanse of the cinema screen in mind, and to see them as the director intended can completely change your perspective of a film. The breathtaking 3-D special effects of Avatar are a perfect example – awe inspiring and powerful when seen on a cinema screen, but sadly mediocre when viewed through a standard television. The soundtrack of a film is also experienced in  higher quality when heard through a cinema surround sound system, taking you deeper into the world of the film protagonists.

Fun with Friends & Family

Going to the cinema doesn’t just have to be buying a ticket, seeing the latest movies and going home. Arranging to meet for drinks or a meal after seeing a film is a great way to make your trip to the cinema into a sociable evening out, and everyone enjoys sharing their opinion of what they’ve just watched.

Special Offers

Many cinemas offer promotions and special offers to tie in with the latest movies that they are showing. This might be a discounted entry ticket, reduced price snacks or even free collectible gifts, all of which are worth getting hold of.

Great Popcorn

Making popcorn at home in your microwave is easy enough, but the flavour is never quite the same as that perfect popcorn you can buy at the cinema. A big tub of sweet popcorn and your favourite soft drink is the ideal accompaniment to the latest movie on the big screen and turns your cinema visit into a special occasion.

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Given National Park status in 1951, Dartmoor sits in the south of county Devon, southwest England, and covers an area of 365 square miles. Almost half the park is swampland, a haven for wildlife and those wishing to escape the rigours of city life.

Dartmoor Forest, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall since 1307, is a former royal hunting ground and makes up the vast majority of the region. The grass and heather moors are littered with hefty granite boulders scattered amongst the rolling hills. Wild ponies graze among the barren hills; despite running wild, all have human owners and are gathered annually each autumn.

Approximately 10% of the moor is woodland, much of it running along the tranquil river valleys. Stone circles and burial chambers are testament to Dartmoor’s historic and enigmatic past. Indeed, Dartmoor is famous not only for its beautiful landscapes. It was within the little village of Grimspound that Sherlock Holmes found himself investigating the hound of the Baskervilles.

Dartmoor was one of Europe’s biggest tin mining areas back in the 12th century. The stone built homes of the miners can still be found along many of the regions streams and rivers.

Abbot’s Way runs across the southern part of the moor, racing across wild country and moorland bogs. The region is thought to be named after the abbots who are thought to have used this path when travelling between Buckland Abbey and Buckfast Abbey. Man’s presence over the ages is evident in this barren land. Hut circles dating back to the Bronze and Iron ages remain today.

South of Abbots Way sits Harford Moor. The Middle Ages drew tin miners from far and wide seeking riches below the surface. Today visitors are drawn by the vast wilderness and wildlife. A medieval cross adorns Harford Church, one of many in the area which once served as signposts for those travelling across the moors.

Becky Falls Woodland Park first opened to the public in 1903. Some of the most enjoyable walks in England’s southwest can be had here amongst the delightful waterfalls and huge granite.

To the west is Upper Plym Valley and a beautiful array of plants and wildlife. The tracks in these parts are somewhat easier to navigate than many others in the moors and provide much of interest along the way. The spectacular moorland scenery is interspersed with abandoned tin mines dating back over a century and various prehistoric relics including stone and hut circles.

Tags: Beautiful Landscapes, Becky Falls, Buckfast Abbey, Buckland Abbey, Burial Chambers, Dartmoor England, Dartmoor Forest, Duchy Of Cornwall, Granite Boulders, Grimspound, Heather Moors, Hunting Ground, Hut Circles, Medieval Cross, River Valleys, Southwest England, Stone Circles, Streams And Rivers, Tin Miners, Wild Ponies

The choice of venue for your event, be it a high profile business event or a private function for family and friends, can either greatly enhance its success or significantly add to its failure.

There are many aspects to consider when booking your ideal venue and, cost aside, the top of your priority list should always include;

Location – a convenient and accessible location for your guests.

Room sizes – and appropriate room layouts to accommodate your guests in comfort.

Ambience – create the right atmosphere – high tech or historical, intimate or wow factor.

Catering – be it a breakfast buffet or an opulent dining experience, ensure your venue can cater for your requirements – especially if the food is prepared off the premises.

Technology – If required, check everything is available to you from broadband to power sockets. For presentations, make sure the view is not obscured.

Lighting and heating – heating should be controllable and some degree of natural light is usually preferred.

Breakout rooms – check that additional space is available should you need it.

Additional facilities – consider the additional requirements of your guests, e.g. availability of overnight accommodation for those travelling a long distance.

Central London offers a multitude of hotels and serviced buildings catering from the smallest groups to the largest conferences and banquets, and although most are efficient and serve their purpose, if youre looking for a unique and affordable venue, rich in history and character, you may have to dig a little deeper.

One example is 41 Portland Place, situated in the heart of Londons West End.

41 Portland Place is a Grade II listed building and in the eighteenth century was the home of Sir Thomas Gage, a leading figure in the American War of Independence (albeit on the losing side!). Sir Thomas Gage was one of the first occupants of the grand new houses in Portland Place, and moved here in 1779, whilst the street was still under construction. He lived in the house until his death in 1787. His widow Margaret continued to do so until 1792.

Although no longer a private residence, 41 Portland Place still retains much of the style and atmosphere of an 18th Century home and is decorated and furnished with antiques from the period. The private rooms are arranged on the ground and first floors with capacities ranging from 2 to 120. One of the first floor dining rooms opens onto an attractive roof terrace.

41 Portland Place is conveniently located in the centre of London and offers a high quality attractive and unique venue for private meetings, training, conferences, seminars, lunches and dinners. Many of the rooms are decorated and furnished to complement the original 18th century architecture of the building.

The quality of the facilities is equalled matched by the high standard of catering provided. From the simplest of buffets to a smart cocktail reception or from relaxed lunches to haute cuisine dinners, the unrivalled standards of service and the minute attention to detail will make for an occasion to savour.

Tags: Accessible Location, American War Of Independence, Banquets, Breakfast Buffet, Business Event, Central London, Deeper One, Eighteenth Century, Grade Ii Listed Building, London Venue, New Houses, Occupants, Overnight Accommodation, Portland Place, Power Sockets, Private Function, Sir Thomas, Thomas Gage, War Of Independence, West End

A White Mountains Vacation – Most Scenic 100 Miles in New England

This amazing trip through the White Mountains of New Hampshire includes gorgeous views, a visit to the home of the world wind speed record, and one of most scenic train rides in the east.

The White Mountain National Forest is a 4-hour drive north of Boston, Massachusetts. Deep in New Hampshire, the mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountain system that covers the Eastern United States. Within the forest park is the White Mountains Trail, and its a drive thats arguably the most scenic 100 miles in New England. Heres a selection of my favorite stops along the way – some of them require prior planning and are day trips in themselves.

WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST VISITOR CENTER

Most people begin the drive from the White Mountains Visitor Center in North Woodstock on route 112 and head out on route 3N to the Franconia Notch area.

If youre traveling with kids then youll want to pencil dates back in this area at the Clarks Trading Post, and The Whales Tale attractions — both in Lincoln on route 3N. At Clarks you can see Bears, ride a steam train, climb towers, and generally keep the young ones happy. The Whales Tale is a water park with a wave pool, picnic areas, and live entertainment.

Back on the road head north towards Franconia Notch, and shortly youll see the sign for our first stop – the Flume Gorge.

THE FLUME GORGE

The Flume Gorge was formed over 200 million years ago when the White Mountains were molten rock. As the terrain here cooled quickly, softer material was forced into the fractures that formed. These fractures wore down with natural erosion much quicker that the surrounding granite rock — leaving the gorge. And so now you get to enjoy a geological wonder at the base of beautiful Mount Liberty.

The Gorge has a visitor center where your tour starts and ends, one of the oldest covered bridges on the White Mountains Trail, and some dramatic photo opportunities.
Continue to head north on Route 3 until it joins Route 302 and follow 302 towards Bretton Woods. Here the mountains get taller and taller until eventually you see the grand daddy of them all — Mount Washington at 6,288 feet.

THE ROOF OF THE WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST…

Depending on time available, youve got three options for experiencing Mount Washington: take the Cog Railway train ride to the top, drive the auto road to the summit — the quickest way, or you can hike if youre well prepared. But dont consider hiking to the top unless youre in great condition and with somebody. This mountain claims lives every year – even in the summer – as conditions in this area can deteriorate dramatically within minutes.

And yes, its worth getting to the summit. On a clear day the view is stunning. Visit the museum at the top and learn about the day in 1934 when the highest wind speed ever recorded on earth was taken – 231 MPH. Youll learn why its unique geographic position provides the mountain with the worst weather on earth.

Now get back onto Route 302 and head south to the town of North Conway.

THE CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD

Schedule at least enough time to take the shorter valley scenic train, which you board in North Conway. The train rides offer wonderful views of the scenic valleys and notches in the surrounding area.

The valley train is a 55-minute roundtrip, and the Notch train is 5 hours. Both have a first-class car if you want to have a different experience. The notch train has a dome car as well, where you get magnificent views of the steep ravines and sheer bluffs. The trains usually run from mid-June until mid-October.

THE KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY

Lets finish up our White Mountains Trail tour by joining back up with route 112 at Conway and driving back to the White Mountain National Forest Visitor Center.

Route 112, or as its better known the Kancamagus Highway, is the only road that runs directly east and west through the heart of the White Mountain National Forest. This is a dramatic road that shows off the magnificence of one of New Hampshires best-loved scenic spots. From this road your vistas include wilderness and the highest peaks in the presidential range.

During the summer and fall foliage months youre likely to have plenty of company on your drive. But if the weather is clear who cares if the going is a little slow – this isnt a drive to rush anyway. But its a magnificent end to our 100-mile scenic drive.

Tags: Appalachian Mountain, Clarks Trading Post, Covered Bridges, Dramatic Photo, Forest Visitor Center, Franconia Notch Area, Geological Wonder, Granite Rock, Mountain National Forest, National Forest Visitor, Natural Erosion, North Woodstock, Picnic Areas, Route 3n, Scenic Train Rides, Steam Train, Wave Pool, White Mountain National Forest, White Mountains, White Mountains Of New Hampshire

For visiting London, proximity to Kings Cross is the perfect location. An intersection of six tube lines, including the Northern, Picadilly, and Circle Lines, to name a few, can get you virtually anywhere from Kings Cross. Kings Cross is also a train terminal, in the case that you are planning to visit the north of the UK. But lets not get off track and get back to seeing London via Kings Cross. London, the cultural melting pot that it is, offers amazing and varied shops of anything you could desire. Located near the major shopping zones of London, both commercial and artisan, Kings Cross is a convenient place for a shopping tour in London. The city is also a magnet for great and creative minds, as is well known by all the thinkers, writers and artists who both came to and from London. The wide range of museums and galleries reflects this intellectual breeding ground, and again, Kings Cross is a skip, hop and a jump away from many of these world-class museums. Less conventional tours to start from Kings Cross could include a round of the citys parks, exploring the wide web of the tube itself, or the nearby nightlife hotspots. So, whether its shopping, rich culture, or any fun explorations that youre after, Kings Cross will guide you there quickly and efficiently.

For the shoppers! Have an early and hearty breakfast (you will need the energy) and put yourself on the Northern Line, heading for Camden Town, where you will find open air markets selling art, crafts, clothes, accessories and much more. Its best to spend time here in the morning, as the area isnt the safest at night. After youve stocked up on original craft gifts at the market, head back to your hotel, drop them off, and back on the tube! Via the Picadilly Line, head towards Covent Garden, a famous indoor market, and the surrounding area, full of boutiques, shops, and nice cafes. This picturesque market makes a nice lunch stop, with some cozy restaurants nearby. Picadilly Circus comes next: very commercialized, with many well-known brand stores. Picadilly is a fun place to return to at night, as the lights and pubs draw partiers to them like moths to the flame! Head on to Knightsbridge to see the world famous Harrods Department store. After this detour, its on to Oxford Circus to join the crowded throng admiring and buying the riches of Oxford Street, which is equivalent to New Yorks Fifth Ave, a street of fancy department stores interspersed with chic shopping boutiques. If your spending needs are still not satiated, check out other markets, such as Portobello, or just by walking through London, you will find hidden gems of stores throughout the city. If, however, Oxford Street sums up the shopping day nicely for you, head back into the Oxford Circus tube, and the Victoria Line will conveniently take you right back to Kings Cross.

For the culture seeker, you will start your day heading in the opposite direction of the shopper. Head south on the Picadilly Line to Russell Square, and just a few blocks south of the shady square is the British Museum. After your explorations, you may also enjoy Covent Garden for its history and theater check out the listings as they may draw you back in the evening. Nearby is Trafalgar Square, home of the National Gallery. From here, continue on to Green Park, and gasp at the size and beauty of Buckingham Palace. Changing of the Guard takes place nearby, so check the seasons schedule if you are interested. Slide down the Jubilee Line to Southwark, and enjoy the neighboring Tate Modern and Globe Theatre. Make your way back north of the river to Tower Hill, and explore Londons Tower. Take the Circle line back to Kings Cross to conclude the cultural loop.

The adventurer who wants to learn the city by randomly coming across the interesting things may enjoy traveling from park to park, always great for people watching and discovering the wide variety of Londons inhabitants. Regents, Hyde, Green, and St. James Parks are the main ones, each with distinctive personalities. The Tube itself is extremely interesting, and its worth reading the entertaining advertisements of the tube, listen to some talented and not-so-talented musicians, pick out who the tourists are and who the natives are the tube can be really enjoyable during your voyage. Take advantage of being in this unique London sub world! Kings Cross is also nearby to Leicester Square and Picadilly, both popular night out areas. Or try traveling round Circle line and seeing how many pubs you can manage to stop at after which, see if you manage to find your way back to Kings Cross on this concentric line!

Kings Cross, recently made famous through Harry Potters platform 9 , is more than a fictitious train platform. Its a station that literally will get you anywhere in London (and beyond) very conveniently. If youre visiting London to shop, to learn its culture, or just to explore it for face value, Kings Cross is the best starting and ending point. You will get to where you need to go quickly, and at the end of the long day, you wont have to wait long to be back at your London home, sweet home.

Tags: Art Crafts, Breeding Ground, Camden Town, Convenient Place, Craft Gifts, Creative Minds, Hearty Breakfast, Kings Cross London, Kings Cross Station, Melting Pot, Open Air Markets, Picadilly Line, Rich Culture, Selling Art, Shopping Tour, Skip Hop, Train Terminal, Tube Lines, Visiting London, World Class Museums