Sometimes there is no need to travel very far to have a great day out. If you live in England, there is a perfect getaway location on the South East coast called Portsmouth, which is in Hampshire. Not only is there plenty of fashionable, modern entertainment to enjoy, but there is a wealth of history underneath the surface and plenty of stuff for the younger ones. And of course, the Isle of White is just a short ferry ride away if you feel like adventuring a little bit further.
1. Historic Dockyard
Whether you have a family to entertain, or you are, rightly, just quite interested in how Britannia used to rule the waves, this is a great day out. Highlights include the mysterious Mary Rose Museum. Who were the people aboard at the time? Why did she sink? Or why not check out HMS Victory, the famous war ship, and see where Nelson commanded and eventually died on board. The main attraction of Historic Dockyard is that the ships are brought to life by experts and actors in full dress and visitors can explore the ships themselves.
2. Spinnaker Tower
This spectacular building stands at 170 metres above the Portsmouth harbour, mimicking the shape of a sail blown in the wind. The tower was opened in 2005 and attracted nearly half a million visits in the first year alone. It is not hard to see why, with beautiful 360 degree views of Portsmouth and the sparkling Solent Sea. At the top of the tower, visitors can dare to walk across the largest glass floor in Europe, or brace the elements in the open air top deck.
3. Gunwharf Quays
Gunwharf Quays is where the old and new Portsmouth is brought together. This large complex encompasses restaurants with cuisines from around the world, fashion outlet stores for retail therapy, bars and nightclubs, a bowling alley and a cinema. The best thing about this location is that there are so many ways to enjoy it, whether you choose to sip a strawberry daiquiri before a fine meal, looking out across the sea, or have a madcap dash to the bowling alley with children in tow.
4. The Isle of White Festival
Technically, this is on the Isle of White, and therefore not central to Portsmouth. However, it is a top destination for music lovers throughout the year and so close to Portsmouth that it is definitely worth a mention. In June, there is the Isle of Wight Festival, which is a popular destination for pop and rock lovers, with 2011 headliners including Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters and Kasabian. Bestival is a much more alternative affair, which is very family friendly. The Cure are headlining this year. Every year there is a fancy dress competition which all festival goers are encouraged to take part in.
This post only really scratches the surface when it comes to things to do in Portsmouth. Why not find out for yourself this summer?
UK Travel bug writes for a number of hotels and leisure destinations in the UK, and recommends finding a great Portsmouth hotel, or a hotel near Spinnaker Tower to get the best out of your stay in the area.
There’s plenty to do in Windsor, even though people seem to associate Slough with the boring workplace and dull roundabout featured in The Office, with Ricky Gervais. Slough is only 10 minutes away from Windsor in the car, which means it can be an excellent base of operations for jaunts with the family. With Legoland and Windsor Castle so close together, it’s somewhere you can easily keep the little ones entertained for a few days.
Children and adults alike are bound to be inspired by the view on approach to Windsor Castle. When I took my 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son, they couldn’t quite believe their eyes upon site of the castle at the end of the long driveway. When they saw the turrets, I think they thought they were entering a Disney movie. It ticked the box for impressed children. When I explained that the slits in the stone masonry were for archers, who would have aimed their arrows towards attacking troops, their eyes widened. We had several conversations about knights and jousting that day.
The castle is still inhabited by Queen Elizabeth II, when she is not engaged in international appointments or visiting one of her other abodes in the UK. A good portion of the castle is open to the public, and there is a new tower tour – “Conquer the Tower”- where visitors can learn about the Round Tower. Not always ideal for those with height phobias, but definitely fun if you are not affected by vertigo.
Throughout the castle there are the sumptuous decorations you would expect of a royal dwelling. There is a personal art collection to enjoy, but every room is filled with colourful, paintings and enormous wall hangings, as well as many objects from around the world. There have been many trips abroad for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to gather elements of different cultures.
Highlight of the trip was something my daughter was highly fascinated by – but I loved too. Lovingly preserved at the castle is Queen Mary’s Dolls House- a perfect recreation of a house in miniature, complete with flushing toilets and working lights. Just fabulous.
Take my advice and take the children for a historic day at Windsor Castle- you won’t regret it! There are plenty of hotels near Windsor Castle you could try.
UKTravelBug writes about UK travel and accommodations like hotels near Slough. Find me on Twitter for more.
Nik has been gathering wild mushrooms for the last 20 years during which time he has starred on Sky and Channel 4 TV, hosted Fungi days for Chichester and Emsworth Food Festivals, West Dean Gardens and Weald and Downland Museum. Nik also does an annual whistle stop tour doing cookery demonstrations for Waitrose.
These fun and educational days or weekends allow you to be confident to pick and prepare certain wild fungi.
Days start at 10.30am with coffee and pastries served at 82 Fishbourne, then its of to the forest to hunt!! We usually spend 2 hours then its back to the house for a Mushroom based 3 course lunch. To give you the best day courses have no more than 8 people. A day with lunch is £75.00
Or turn it into a weekend with one or two nights accommodation, two hunts, a lunch and a gourmet supper too. Prices from £145 per person based on two sharing a room.
Hunts are best in September to early November. Although June to August can be good if we get a damp summer.
Visit http://www.82fishbourne.co.uk – For more details
Hurry and book your bed and breakfast close to Hickstead this coming weekend 24 – 27 June 2010.
Looking forward to the South of England Show 10th, 11th & 12th June 2010. This always promises to be a great event for the family. I especially enjoy the horse events and agricultural classes. The South of England has many events throughout the year, so if you need accommodation near to Ardingly, West Sussex
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Brighton is a popular coastal resort in the county of East Sussex. Granted city status in 2000 it attracts millions of people every year and is a perfect base for both business and pleasure. Brighton has many bed and breakfasts, guest houses, inns and hotels to choose from.
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• Do you think you have a great B&B?
• Would you like to show the nation why they should book in?
• Do you think your business knowledge would make you a good judge of other peoples B&Bs?
We would like to talk to passionate and out-going Bed and Breakfast owners for a potential new series of Channel Four’s much anticipated Three in a Bed.
We are looking for B&B owners who feel they have something special to offer their customers – and are willing to put their businesses to the test. We’re looking for a wide range of B&Bs, but they’ll all be run by proud B&B owners.
For more information please contact Emily Hudson at Studio Lambert ASAP on threeinabed@studiolambert.com or 0207 534 2030.
Please state the name of the B&B that you run, your contact details and tell us why you are so proud of your business.
West Grange Bed and Breakfast has just joined Bed and Breakfast Direct and is the perfect base for business or pleasure, within a short drive from Canterbury and its beautiful Cathedral; Wildwood Wealden Forest Park (home to abundant of wildlife and reconstruction of a Saxon village) also the coastal resorts of Herne Bay and Whistable.
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We have just had a new property join Bed and Breakfast Direct – Brixham House in Brixham, Devon.
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Sandown Guest House in Dover, Kent is a great place to stay for both business and pleasure and ideal for French visitors coming to this part of Kent. The Sandown Guest House is particulaly popular with Channel Swimmers and one of the few places in Dover that caters for pets.
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