The extensive Victorian docks fell into disuse in the 1960s but a massive regeneration project has seen a thriving business district spring up around the iconic Canary Wharf tower – the tallest building in the UK.

London’s majestic nautical history provides many opportunities for wannabe pirates, sailors and buccaneers to find their sea legs.

Boat trip on the Thames

A leisurely trip on a Thames riverboat offers a unique view of London’s famous tourist attractions, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London.

There are numerous tour operators departing from piers throughout central London, many of them selling multi-trip tickets that allow you to hop on and off their boats.  Some even include a meal in the price so you can enjoy lunch as you take in the sights.

Museum of London Docklands

Located in a huge Georgian warehouse in the shadow of Canary Wharf, this sprawling museum charts the 2,000 year history of London’s river, port and people – from the first Roman settlement to the regeneration of the former Docklands.

The permanent galleries are complemented by a programme of visiting exhibitions and show how the docklands, and the River Thames as a whole, have been at the heart of centuries of social and economic change.

Greenwich

As well as being home to Greenwich Mean Time, this World Heritage Site is famous for historical landmarks such as the beautiful architecture of the Old Royal Naval College.

For nautical fans, a trip to the National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory is essential, where visitors can discover everything they could possibly want to know about the sea, ships, the stars and their relationship to people.

Walk the plank

Ship-spotters on the Thames should look out for HMS Belfast, the only surviving vessel of her type to have seen active service during the Second World War, and the Golden Hinde, a full scale reconstruction of the Tudor warship in which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe in 1577-1580.

Another must-do item on any maritime itinerary is a visit to the Cutty Sark, the world’s last tea clipper, built in 1869.  Unfortunately, this impressive ship is undergoing vital conservation work and is not currently open to the public.  A tragic fire in 2007 set the project behind schedule but luckily, and thanks to some heroic fire-fighting, the ship suffered relatively little damage and is due to reopen in 2011.

Top hotels in London, UK

• Central Park Hotel London – double room starting from £40/€44.1/$59.8
• Caring Hotel London – double room starting from £46/€50.8/$68.8
• Notting Hill Gate Hotel – double room starting from £50/€55.2/74.8

Photo of the Cutty Sark by night, London, by dukeharumi.

The suburbs contain a large number of open spaces such as Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest, but for those of you who are in London for a shorter period, the five royal gardens and three council gardens in the middle of the city are a more convenient option. Although there are eight royal gardens altogether, three of the largest (Greenwhich, Bushy and Richmond Parks) are further outside the city in the surrounding suburbs. The royal parks in the centre are beautiful, and are all located near some of the main tourist attractions in London so it is easy to leave a museum or district and take a brief breather among the trees.

One of the first parks you’ll come to in London city centre is St. James’ Park, directly behind Buckingham Palace. St. James’ is nice break after the rush of Trafalgar Square. The park was enclosed by Henry VIII in the 16^th century after purchasing the swampy land from Eton College. Following this, James I turned the park into an area for exotic animals and birds. The two islands in the centre of St. James’ Pond still hold a variety of waterfowl and remind visitors what the original intentions of the gardens were: not relaxing spaces to escape a bustling cosmopolitan district but an area to exhibit the wonders that could be purchased with the wealth and power of the British crown.

Just behind St. James’ park lies Green Park, part of a huge green stretch that lies between Whitehall, Victoria Station, Kensington and Notting Hill. Originally thought to be a leper burial ground, the gardens were also enclosed by Henry VIII, but maintain no traces of its grisly past. The park now contains the modern Canada Memorial, and is a nice walk to get through a significant part of the city (from Trafalgar Square towards Kensington, where there are some great museums and galleries). At the east end of Green Park, it connects corner to corner with the amazing Hyde’s Park.

Divided in two by the Serpentine, Hyde’s Park is huge and also includes Kensington Gardens (although the two were officially separated in 1728). Hyde Park Corner is a central tube station and is a good place to hop onto tube lines that travel around the city. The park includes both meadows and forested areas, and is the prime area to get lost in after the grid of London city streets. Hyde Park is slightly smaller than Central Park in New York, but still bigger than the entire Principality of Monaco. The park is also known for being the sight of the Great Exhibition in 1851, a showcasing of industrial and cultural advances for which the Crystal Palace was constructed. This is easily my favourite place in London, for many reasons. Lying in the grass on a sunny summer day, the city is worlds away and barely audible when large willow and elm trees surround you. It is very similar to Central Park, because it is filled with bikers, runners, skaters, carriages or just families walking around together. Also, it is extremely close to some of the best museums in the city, just as Central Park is hemmed in by the Metropolitan Museum and the Guggenheim.

Just south of Hyde Park is the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, two of the London museums that are of greatest interest to kids, with hands-on and engaging exhibits. Also around the corner is the Victoria and Albert Museum, possibly one of the greatest museums of the city. Filled with nearly five million objects covering every possible genre, the museum is a gigantic space filled with objects relating to design from 1960’s England to Africa to Ancient Asia. The museum has one of the largest Islamic design collections in the world, along with the Metropolitan Museum and the Louvre. Because they are city museums, all of these sights are free to visit, and added bonus to already spectacular museums.

At the south edge of Hyde Park is the Royal Albert Hall, a famous concert venue in which the seasonal Prom’s and many other wide-ranging concerts are performed. Opposite this is the Albert Memorial and the entrance to the Kensington Gardens, a beautiful section of manicured land that contrasts with the almost rugged appeal of Hyde Park.

The last royal park in the centre of London is Regent’s Park, about ten minutes walk north from the northeast corner of Hyde Park, along Marylebone Rd. Although not connected to the larger parks stretching east from Buckingham Palace, this park is fairly large and has much to offer for families. Containing part of London Zoo and the London Zoological Society, the park also has many parks and play areas as well as a lake complete with herons and other waterfowl.

London can be overwhelming at first, but once visitors experience the open spaces and parks nestled amongst the labyrinthine streets, the city has a whole other character; a character that combines natural love of the urban with that of the rural.

Top 3 hotels near London parks, UK

• Shaftesbury Metropolis London Hyde Park – double room from £59,00/€67,60
• Notting Hill Gate Hotel – double room from £40,00/€45,80
• Cleveland Square Hotel – double room from £85,00/€97,30

Photo of a squirrel in Kensington Park, London, by law_keven and some people on their free time in Hyde Park, London, by SNOWFactory.

Rome, Italy

Rome must be first on this list. It is easy to be overwhelmed here by not just the significance of the history all around you but also by the sheer amount of it. It seems that every corner you turn brings you to another world famous monument towering above the cluttered streets. As if the Roman remains from the BC period were not enough the Vatican and its surroundings continue the story right up to the present day. Of course the conditions of the Roman remains do demand a little imagination, but the impressive size of the Colosseum and character of the Forum cannot but enchant the visitor and transport them back to the glory days of the Roman Empire. Children especially find Rome a magical place as it can be the first realisation that history is not just a collection of stories but a fragile link with our collective past.

Top 2 hotels in Rome Colosseum area

• Hotel Paba – double room from €70,00
• Hotel Canova – double room from €50,00

Globe Theatre, London

The Globe Theatre in London has a few similarities with the Colosseum in Rome, but primarily the ability to create an atmosphere that makes the modern city surroundings melt away. A tour of the theatre is a good way to get an idea of the natural home of Shakespeare plays, but nothing can compare to seeing one performed there. The educational potential of the Globe can hardly be overestimated, especially for those who believe that education should never end. Whether in developing a wider understanding of the Elizabethan world or a more focused literary exploration, the theatre can provide young and old alike with an experience more rewarding than textbooks and more satisfying than a museum.

Top 2 hotels near The Globe, in London

• Comfort Inn London – double room from £90,00/€102,60
• Comfort Inn SW8 – double room from £63,00/€71,80
  

Lidice, Czech Republic

Acting as a chilling comparison to the Colosseum and the Globe Theatre is the remains of the village of Lidice, outside Prague in the Czech Republic. In 1942 the Nazis came to Lidice and vowed to wipe it from the face of the earth in revenge for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich in Prague a few days earlier. The men were rounded up and shot, the women were taken to concentration camps and the children were either sent to live with German families, or, if they were too old to be assimilated, they were gassed. Today a peaceful field is left where Lidice once stood, with an understated museum overlooking the sight from a memorial complex. When people use the phrase ‘where history comes to life’ they usually have something less oppressive in mind than this, however, if you want to witness the results of the last century’s bloody ideological conflicts this is one of the best places to do it, and it will leave you with a renewed desire to ensure that our new century does not go the same way.

Top 2 hotels in Prague, Czech Republic

• Hotel Charles – double room from CZK 1670.2/€64,00
• Hotel Residence Green Lobster – double room from CZK 1800,70/€69,00
  

Photo of the Roman Colosseum, Rome, by vgm8383.

The logistics of the journeys are simple. The Eurostar departs St Pancras at seven each evening and arrives in Brussels two hours later. Passengers then switch onto the Deutche Bahn overnight train from Brussels to Berlin, arriving at eight the next morning feeling refreshed, relaxed, and ready for a full day of fun in the German capital. Or at least, this is the idea, but I have my suspicions.

The advertised cost of this is from seventy pounds for a seat and seventy five for a ‘couchette,’  either of which compares favourably with low-cost airline prices, especially if you are travelling at the weekend. But the whole crux of the train argument relies upon the mysterious ‘couchette.’

The pictures on the webpage detailing travel on the night train show a couple in very comfortable looking bunk beds. With the carriages ‘cushioned axels’ it would seem that the good night’s sleep promise will be fulfilled. However, the picture is of the sleeping compartments and does not show a ‘couchette.’  These are beds in communal sleeping compartments that are relatively hard and not particularly comfortable. They allow sleep, but they do not suggest it.

A further concern with the train option here is that it claims to be ‘time saving.’ Even adding considerable padding to the time of a London to Berlin flight to allow for journey’s to the airport, security and waiting time, the plane doesn’t come anywhere near the twelve hour journey of the train.

I presume what Deutche Bahn mean is that after their good night’s sleep passengers are ready to leap off the train and into a full day of activity. Flying visitors, however, will have arrived at their hotel late the night before and presumably still be in bed having a lie-in.

Despite the concerns outlined above, I do believe that there is considerable merit in taking the train on short breaks to Berlin. If you have concerns about sleeping comfortably on the train think about flying in one direction and taking the train in the other. I see the train journey as being more romantic, environmentally friendly and cheaper. In contrast the plane is quicker. Travellers must base their decision on whether the destination itself is the most important thing, or if the journey is going to be part of the fun.

Top 5 Berlin hotels, Germany

• Hotel Kima – 2-star hotel in Wilmersdorf – double room from €50,00
• Motel One Berlin-Urania – hotel in Schöneberg – double room from €74,00
• Hotel NH Berlin Potsdam – 4-star hotel in Potsdam (Kleinmachnow) – double room from €55,00
• Hotel Bernhard Garni – 3-star hotel in Wilmersdorf – double room from €49,00
• Hotel-Pension Arche – hotel in Charlottenburg – double room from €45,00

Photo of a train in Hautbahnhof, Berlin, by LHOON.

ranging from the grandfather of communism Karl Marx to author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams.

Although the majority of plots were bought up in the Victorian era, burials still take place, which included the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who created international shockwaves in the UK in 2006, when he died claiming he had been poisoned by the Soviet security service.

Guided tours are the only way people can see some of the obelisks, catacombs and mausoleums that make up the Victorian architecture of the west and oldest side of the cemetery whereas visitors are free to wander the east side at will for a nominal fee.

1. Book ahead

There is only one tour a day around the west side of the cemetery at 14:00, so it is advisable to book in advance. The guided visit is led by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery, who charge £5 for the hour’s tour. They say this is not enough to cover costs, so there is a donation box for voluntary contributions at the end of the walk.

2. Take a camera

Although video cameras are discouraged, visitors are allowed to take photographs of the Victorian headstones that were fashionable at the time. The overgrown headstones are beautifully spooky. Visitors should note all the decorations on the tombs face downwards, such as torches and swords on obelisks, as a mark of respect.

3. Wear comfortable shoes

Drainage work was underway in 2009 in a bid to prevent damage to graves from water-logging and tree growth, so wear shoes with good grips if you are visiting after poor weather. As the former owners of the cemetery went bankrupt, trees and bushes have grown over some of the graves. Although some students have been allowed to locate some of the more out of the way graves, the tour will not take visitors off the path. It is a tight squeeze anyway, as cutting costs meant graves were created inches apart.

4. Don’t be disappointed

It is rare to be able to see the graves of Rosetti and his wife, as the packed nature of the burial ground would mean visitors clambering over other graves and fighting through bushes and trees. However there are photographs of these resting places in a book available for sale at the entrance to the cemetery. The Friends of Highgate Cemetery are working on an extensive renovation programme to cut back some of the vegetation and restore headstones.

5. Some of the highlights

The resting place of the man who invented the Hackney Carriage, which has also become known as the bomber taxi; a businessman who brought exotic animals to the UK in dramatic (and often dangerous) circus shows, a feminist writer who receives fresh flowers for her woes, a Jewish aristocrat who built a mausoleum to taunt cemetery visitors and famous family crypts.

Photo of graves in Highgate Cemetery, London, UK, by Blu_Blue

Many of these lists often forget to incorporate the costs of travel, which in a city like London can be what ends up meaning you have to cut your trip short. So I’m going to be honest here, a great deal of your ten-pound limit is going to go in one press of a button at the ticket machine. An adult day travel card, which will allow you to travel on any Underground train in zones 1-2 (these will be all you’ll need if just doing the tourist type thing) as well as any bus too will cost you £7.20. You might have sighed there but don’t worry, it’s the investment that will make the whole day worthwhile. This leaves you with only £2.80 so treasure it.

Any day out is going to be tiring. A day out in the one of the biggest and busies cities in the world is going to be much more so. I’d therefore head to the places you will be doing the most walking first so you don’t end up there later when you’ve run out of energy. Head to Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square and Oxford Street (all in the same square-mile in central London) at about 9am. This might sound mad but if you time your trip into this area for this time then you’ll hit rush hour. Why would you want to hit rush hour? This sound like madness. You’re going to have to stand on the tube and weave your way through all the commuters yes, but one of the best ways to really feel as though you’ve experience London is to join in this mad half and hour before work at 9am. It’ll all be over sooner than you think and then for nothing you’ve people-watched your way into the real side of the capital.

Window shop for a few hours. Try on clothes you know you aren’t going to buy. Watch as many street performers as you can in Covent Garden. Sit in Leicester Square and count the number of pigeons bothering people. Then hop on the tube and head up to Hyde Park Corner. Before you get there find a cheap looking supermarket and with your remaining £2.80, pull your resources and buy some bread and cheese and ham and fruit and drinks and go over to Hyde Park for a picnic. The biggest park in London is brilliant to explore. The lake in the middle is a great spot to nibble at your budget lunch. If it’s raining or cold then don’t panic there’s a few little sheltered areas in the park you can hide under.

After lunch get the tube over to Euston station and find the Wellcome Collection museum on Euston road. People often say things like, “He’s more of an artist and she’s more of a scientist”. This is where art and science meet. It’s one of the most brilliant museums in London and hardly anyone knows about it. The Wellcome Trust is hugely wealthy and funds thousands of great scientific research projects every year. What they do at the Collection though is make science interesting to look at. There are often medical feels to the exhibits, one such installation was hundreds of tiny pills all carved into the shape of the body that is was designed to treat.

You’ll probably be feeling quite tired after this day now so I’d suggest a tube to Embankment and then a walk across the bridge over the Thames, where the sight of the Southbank will take your breath away. The Millennium Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The Royal Festival Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral in the distance. It’s all here and all for free. Have a seat on the benches under the sparking tree-lights and soak up the capital in its element.

Top 5 Budget Hotels in London

• Hotel Caring – 2-star hotel – from £ 50 – Bayswater
• Hotel Reem – 3-star hotel – from £ 49  – Bayswater
• Crestfield Hotel – 2-star hotel – from £ 50 – Covent Garden
• Notting Hill Gate Hotel – 1-star hotel – from £ 45 – Notting Hill
• St George’s Hotel – 2-star hotel – from £ 50 – Victoria Station
  

Photo of 10-pound note by S_Migol

Any that won’t do, will it? So, if you promise not to tell anyone else about them, I’ll share with you the strangest and most secret drinking holes in London. Deal? OK then, here they are.

1. Cellar Door – Aldwych, Covent Garden.

What’s that? A public toilet that’s been turned into a bar? Yep, that’s right. But don’t worry, when they got rid of the (no doubt) grimy loos, they got rid of the stinky smell too. Instead, you’ve got yourself a luscious cabaret bar that’s decadent, sexy and a gorgeous little secret. Can’t find it? Can you see those steps that go down to nowhere? That’s it.

2. The Friendly Society – Wardour Street, Soho.

There’s something wonderfully seedy about the drinking hole under the lingerie shop in the middle of seedy Soho. This place is a gem. It really is as friendly as its name suggests, and you’ll be welcomed by a lovely landlady and staff who can pour a decent cocktail of three. It’s got a lively gay crowd, but then you’re in the middle of Soho, what did you expect? It’s worth noting that they close bang on 11pm, no matter what day of the week. Shame.

3. The Rake – Winchester Walk, Borough

Possibly the smallest bar in London, this is a tiny little place but somehow still find space for over 120 different beers and ales. Impressive. That said, it is expensive. You can pay up to £7 for a beer. That’s a lot of money for an ale in my opinion. (Yet, I have no problem spending that on a cocktail so whatever works for you). This place has got charm and it’s certainly novel, although I do hear bad things about the gent’s loos.

4. Vertigo 42 – Old Broad Street, Bank

For some of the best views in London, dress up and book ahead at Vertigo 42. The champagne bar located at Tower 42 can get a bit ’suity’ given its City location. However, with a view like that out of the window, you won’t be looking at what people are wearing. Prices for bubbly start at £7.50 and that’s pretty darn reasonable.

5. Cork and Bottle – Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square

Considering the hideous tourist trap that Leicester Square is, this little wine bar is doing a great job of staying hidden. Not that I have anything against tourists, but this bar does stand out in a pool of generic restaurant chains. Grab a table (really, it’s not always packed) get some wine and cheese and then stay hidden until it gets warm again. Or, until they kick you out. Whichever is sooner.

Top 5 Hotel Bars in London:

• The Long Bar, Sanderson Hotel, Leicester Square
• The Gazebo, Landmark Hotel, Marylebone
  
• Light Bar, Hotel St. Martins Lane, Soho
• Blues Sports Bar, Millennium And Copthorne Hotel, Chelsea FC Stamford Bridge complex
  
• William’s Bar & Bistrot, St. James Hotel & Club, Westminster

Photo of Vertigo 42, London, UK, by Another Pint Please

Travel Photography

If you like traveling and taking pictures, check out the Lonely Planet Community Blog and learn more about the travel photographer’s rights. Another info for the fans of photography: Solo Traveler is running a “Stop & Stare” travel photo contest. The prize is a $150 gift certificate from Hotels.com.

Holiday Travel Gifts

If you have travelers on your Christmas shopping list and need some present ideas, check out Independant Traveler’s Top 10 Unexpected Travel Gifts including pet suitcases, travel scrabble and more.

Christmas in London

Planning a Christmas break in London, UK? Check out 501 Places and find info on the most beautiful Christmas lights and displays in the British capital.

Car rental in France

If you speak French and are traveling to France visit  Sixt Location de Voiture Blog, a new travel and car rental blog full of great tips and ideas.

Photo of traveler taking pictures by IceNineJon

To make celebrating easier, underground trains and buses will run throughout the night and are free to use between 23:45 in the evening and 4.30 am.

The London Eye Firework Display

London will bring in 2010 with a firework display at the London Eye. This tourist attraction is celebrating its tenth anniversary and is the site for London’s official New Year’s Eve firework display at midnight. Radio One’s DJ Nihal will entertain the crowd. There is limited space along the River Thames for viewing the fireworks and viewing spaces close when they’re full, so get there early or watch it live on BBC.

The Ministry of Sound Live at O2

One of the biggest clubbing events in London this New Year’s Eve is the London superclub Ministry of Sound’s one–off party at the O2 Arena. Tickets should be booked in advance as this is likely to be a very popular party. Calvin Harris and Eric Prydz headline the event, accompanied by several other DJ’s and artists and a spectacular light show.

The Bond Ball at the Kensington Close Hotel

One of the most glamorous New Year’s Eve parties in London is the Bond Ball at the Kensington Close Hotel. There will be fancy dresses, great DJ’s and a casino, and Ms Moneypenny or even James Bond himself may appear.

Late Night Skating at the Natural History Museum

For something different to do on New Year’s Eve, try the Natural History Museum’s 1000 square meter outdoor ice–skating rink. It will stay open until 1 am while the Café Bar serves hot and cold drinks and food.

Cruise on the Thames and View the Fireworks

Join a New Year’s Eve cruise on London’s River Thames and get a view of the fireworks at the London Eye. Several cruise companies, including City Cruises, offer New Year’s Eve packages that include dinner, dancing and fireworks viewing.

Photo of London by Wok

The phrase is no longer original but the sentiment is still relevant, as the throbbing, pulsing London and the hordes of visitors it draws each year attest. Despite this, visitors often find that day trips out of the city can be refreshing and many chose to turn to bastions of Englishness after the worldly city. This is a guide to some truly English trips possible from London.

1. Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle has been a residence of nobility for about one thousand years and once hosted fashionable and exclusive parties for the aristocracy and their friends in the lower orders. Today it welcomes visitors on a more inclusive basis to tour the interiors and relax in the gardens and around the lake. Make sure that you take in the unusual museum of dog collars collected by eccentric family members down the years. Visitors should be aware that the castle is nowhere near Leeds, the city in the north of England, but rather in Kent, to the south of London.

Leeds Castle is approximately an hour’s journey from London Victoria station.

London Hotel near Victoria Station : St. George’s Hotel

2. Norwich

Norwich is an ancient English town in the fine county of Norfolk. It is also, because of the regions agriculture, the home of English mustard. While many foreign guests find this condiment too strong for their tastes, the English roast beef cannot be truly enjoyed without it. Visitors can combine a trip to Norwich with a visit to the Colman’s museum and shop. While this is really best for connoisseurs it is interesting enough for the general guest, and the shop sells Colman’s merchandise for the truly English feel at your dinner table back home.

Norwich is approximately an hour and a half from London’s Liverpool Street Station.

London Hotel near Liverpool Street Station : Hotel 196 Bishopgate

3. The Museum of Witchcraft

The Museum of Witchcraft is located in Boscastle, Cornwall. This means that it is a bit far to be done in a single day but since Cornwall is one of the most beautiful parts of England a stay overnight is no bad thing. Certainly, any Harry Potter fans will enjoy this (I think there are one or two out there) and it is interesting for adults as well. In fact, while none of the exhibits are unsuitable for children one or two of them will need some explaining to the young ones. Trains from London Paddington go to Cornwall in about three hours, although public transport within Cornwall can be unreliable. If you have time the best advice is to hire a car to fully explore the sheltered coves and sandy beaches the county has to offer.

London Hotel near Paddington Station : Hotel Cardiff

In each of these three cases the journey to them and the city, town or village around them should give just as much insight into the real England as the attractions themselves. Just getting out of London and seeing some of the ‘green and pleasant land’ will give you that much more energy when you get back to the big city.

Photo of the Museum of Witchcraft, Boscastle, UK, by Ennor

Many people affected by the economic crisis will be willing to bid what will probably in a few decades become known as the year of the recession goodbye, with a hope for a brighter tomorrow. While a great many of the world’s cities have fantastic New Year’s parties, we’re focusing on specifically the best ones in Europe. Enjoy!

1. London

There are multiple ways to have a great New Year’s in London this year, with something to suit all ages. The London Parade is held on New Year’s day, full-on with circus performers and marching bands and much more, and on the Eve there will be an epic fireworks display over the Thames to properly usher in the new year. However, it’s likely the viewing areas by the waterfront will fill up fast (often by as early as 9pm), so it’s probably worth getting there early. Also worth mentioning is the famous Ministry of Sound Nightclub and Record Label hosting a massive party at the O2 Arena (Formerly known as the Millennium Dome). The tickets aren’t too expensive either but book as soon as possible as they will sell out!

Top London Hotel for a New Year Break : Hotel Club Quarters Grace Church

2. Paris

Paris’s shortage of accommodation can grow particularly acute during the New Year, so book well in advance. Some of the most notable celebrations include the Fireworks Display most visible from the Champs- Elysees. A quieter place to visit on the Eve is the Sacre Coeur Cathedral Plaza in Montmartre (close to where Amélie lived in the 2001 hit Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain ,film buffs!). A highly expensive but also extremely romantic way to while away the final hours of 2009 is a dinner cruise on the Seine which sets off from the Eiffel Tower at 8pm, with a menu featuring Champagne Cocktail and Duck foie gras, among other delicacies. Not to niggle about the ticket price, but let’s just say that you shouldn’t expect much change from €500 a table!

Top Paris Hotel for a New Year Break:  Hôtel Résidence Lord Byron

3. Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s really jazzing it up this year with countless parties and events. The Dutch are famous for their love of partying and DJ’s, so there’s no exception this year at the amount of clubs and bars holding celebrations. Firework displays are promised all over the city, particularly in areas such as Nieuwmarkt and Dam Square. The quietest places to view them are said to be the bridges overlooking the Amstel River. Also, look out for strangers hurling firecrackers around to shock the more gullible bystanders!

Top Amsterdam Hotel for a New Year Break: Rho Hotel

4. Rome

The former capital of what was arguably the greatest Empire ever seen has got entertaining events happening this year, with many of the New Year’s activities taking place in the traditional squares. The Piazza del Popolo will feature attractions such as a firework display and musical concerts. Rome is a particularly attractive destination for families, as on New Year’s Day the attractions shift more to suit children. It goes without saying that Rome’s also a great city for those on “gastro holidays” as there are a great deal of restaurants serving New Year feasts.

Top Rome Hotel for a New Year Break: BB Corso 22

5. Vienna

Long established as one of the worlds’s most cultured cities, Vienna has no shortage of things to do, particularly around the New Year. On December 30th there is a tour, dinner, and concert at the Schloss Schönbrunn, which can only be described as totally majestic. The Palace has a fascinating history, from the reign of the early Habsburg Monarchs (the last of which died in 1922), to Franz Josef’s I occupation and death in Schönbrunn. The evening concludes with the dinner and the concert featuring classical works from the likes of Mozart and Strauss. Additionally, from midday onwards, there are a massive series of street parties, with tents and marquees lining the street and passageways of the old city, hosting parties with DJ’s and other live music where hedonists can dance from New Year’s Eve through to the dawn of New Year’s Day. Exciting, eh?

Top Vienna Hotel for a New Year Break: Hotel Kaiserpark Schönbrunn

Tourists along with the city’s populace then throng the numerous joyfully illuminated shops, restaurants and bars to revel in the immensely festive ambience. If you are planning to be in London with your family for the Christmas holidays then you will not be disappointed for aside from the millions of twinkling Christmas lights, London also offers a plethora of ‘Christmassy’ events to keep all the family happy.

1. Santa’s Grottos

Your children will love the chance to visit jolly Santa at the various Santa’s Grotto’s which are constructed all over London at popular stores like Harrods’s, Selfridges and Hamley’s. This year the Santa’s Grotto at Harrods celebrates the seventieth anniversary of the movie the Wizard of Oz and accordingly sports a décor that depicts scenes from the movie. Tickets sales for the Santa’s Grotto at Harrods have been on sale online at the store’s website since September.

At Selfridges, the Santa’s Grotto usually features a Santa Express which offers train rides for children through a winter wonderland that features real to life polar bears and penguins. Not to be outdone Hamley’s the greatest toy store in the world offers a ‘Breakfast or tea with Santa Claus’ every day until the 24th of December. This event cannot be booked online but you can reserve a spot for your kids by calling the store’s hotline at 0844 855 2424 once you are in London. Other Santa’s Grotto’s can be found at Kew Gardens, Canary Wharf and various other shopping centers located all over London.

2. Winter Wonderland

London’s iconic patch of green – Hyde Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland from Saturday, 21st November until 3rd January and this spectacular, magical Christmas playground will feature attractions like the largest ice skating rink in the city, the Zippos Christmas circus, a giant Ferris wheel equipped with heated pods, a thrilling Santa Land and a traditional German Christmas Market. A similar Winter Wonderland will be constructed in the renowned London suburb of Wimbledon which will feature a fireworks display, a parade which will feature, Miss Christmas and Santa Clause and many other festivities.

3. Ice Skating

Outdoor Ice skating rinks appear all over London during the festive season and offer hours of entertainment for ice skating enthusiasts of all ages. These outdoor ice skating rinks can be found at many major London landmarks like Somerset House, Alexandra Palace, The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Canary Wharf, Wembley Stadium, and the Natural History Museum.

4. Pantomimes and Theater Shows

Pantomimes are a typical English Christmas tradition that consists of performances where men dress as fat ugly women and women star as male leads. Traditional family ‘pantos’ as they are popularly known as contain song, dance, comedy, slapstick, magic, innuendo-riddled word-play, cross-dressing and enthusiastic audience participation. This year’s Christmas Pantomime schedule in London features shows such as Aladdin, Cinderella, Mother Goose and Dick Whittington which will be held at various venues all over the city. Aside from these Christmas pantos, London’s Christmas theater schedule also includes performances by the English National Ballet which will perform the traditional Christmas favorite, the Nutcracker as well as other perennial favorites like the Snow Queen and Giselle at the London Coliseum.

5. Christmas Trees, Christmas Lights and Christmas Carols

The Christmas events in London also include ceremonies that are held ‘to switch on’ the city’s famed Christmas Lights that adorn London’s famed shopping districts like Oxford Street and Regent Streets. These ceremonies are usually held in early November and feature many well- known celebrities who are given the honor to switch on these lights.

The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is London’s most famous Christmas tree. This tree is presented to the city of London every year by Norway as a gesture of appreciation for the help that the British gave the Norwegians during the Second World War. The gifted tree is usually approximately 20 meters high and over half a century old. The tree lighting ceremony for the Trafalgar square tree usually takes place on the first Thursday in December.

The site of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree then becomes popular spot for Christmas caroling as various groups assemble at the base of the tree for two weeks in December to sing Christmas carols for various fund raising efforts. So if you and your family enjoy this traditional Christmas time activity you can head out to the Trafalgar Square to spread some Christmas cheer.

Photo of Santa Claus and the London Tower Bridge by Pineapplebun

The Hungarian Girl invites you to attend the 16th Stollen Festival in Dresden, Germany.

In occasion of the festival, a giant stollen bread will be baked and paraded through the Old Town towards the Dresden Christmas Market.

Gay Christmas Market

Patroc.com gay travel guide announces that Amsterdam will host a special Pink Christmas Market. Oragnized by the ProGay foundation, the event will take place 18-28 December 2009 right in the center of the Dutch capital.

New London Guide

The Londonist reviews ‘Not for Tourists Guide to London‘ and announces that they will be giving out a few free copies of the guidebook via their Twitter account soon.

Spoleto Guide

On GotSaga.com, read a blog post on Spoleto, Italy, a lovely city located  only 39 miles from Perugia and 78 miles from Rome. The short guide includes Spoleto’s most interesting landmarks and sights, such as the Roman Amphitheater and the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta cathedral.

Photo of stollen by Birger Hoppe

1. Visit the Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park

The annual Winter Wonderland brings festive spirit to London’s Hyde Park from 21st November 2009 to 3rd January 2010. The 2009 Winter Wonderland features an ice skating rink, Santa’s Grotto, a Snow Ball Bungee Dome, an Observation Wheel with views over London, and a German Christmas Market with dozens of stalls that sell arts, crafts and gifts. There are also bars and restaurants, mulled wine and other Christmas treats, and entertainment by bands and choirs. Entrance to the Winter Wonderland is free, but some attractions require pre-booking via the Winter Wonderland website  hydeparkwinterwonderland.com.

2. Catch A Christmas Carol Concert In London

Get into Christmas mood in one of London’s many Christmas Carol concerts. The 18th-century St Martin-in-the-Fields church has a special Christmas Program in December that includes family carols and carols by candlelight, and visitors can also enjoy mulled wine in the church’s café. The Royal Albert Hall features several Christmas concerts including a Christmas Carol Singalong in the run-up to Christmas, and the St Paul’s Cathedral offers classical concerts and a special Christmas Eve Carol Service.

3. Take A Christmas Cruise Along River Thames

Those who are in London for Christmas can take a Christmas Day Lunch Cruise along the River Thames. The City Cruises company offers a lunch cruise on Christmas Day, giving visitors the opportunity to sample a traditional English Christmas lunch while cruising along the Thames and taking in many famous London landmarks.

Photo of snow in London, UK,  by E01

Christmas is one of the most eagerly anticipated holidays in London. The Christmas break in London usually extends over four days and features cheerful family get-togethers that are characterized by much feasting and gift- exchanging.

Gift exchanging is an important tradition of the Christmas celebrations though shopping for gifts for friends and family is often considered by some folk to be a highly stressful experience as they have to battle hordes of other shoppers in the high street stores which are always jam packed during the festive season. For this reason London, like many other cities around the world hosts animated Christmas markets which give shoppers the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping in one spot.

The Greenwich Christmas Market

Maritime Greenwich is a World Heritage Site which is situated on the bank of the River Thames in South East London. This area is famous for historic landmarks like the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Meridian Line and its Greenwich Market. The Greenwich Market is a covered market which is made up of nearly 120 stalls whose vendors are market traders, up and coming artists and crafts people who retail their works at the market and make it London’s best source for unique gifts , arts and crafts and antiques. The Greenwich Market hosts a special Christmas market every year that features live entertainment, Christmas lights and various other festivities. This Christmas market will be launched this year on Friday, 27th November. Besides the Greenwich Christmas Market, other popular London markets like Camden Market and Carnaby Street also host Christmas Markets which are extremely popular with shoppers they feature products like exclusive jewelry, bespoke fashion items, toys which are perfect as gifts and stocking stuffers.

London Hotel in Greenwich : Holiday Day Inn Greenwich London

Covent Garden Christmas Market

Traditional British Christmas foods like mince pies, Christmas pudding, Figgy puddings and cider are a big part of the Christmas revelry. London’s Convent Garden market which hosts the popular Real Foods Market all year long also has a special Christmas themed market for the festive season which features several traditional British Christmas delicacies which are sourced from local farmers, artisan producers and vendors. The Convent Garden Christmas market also features much live entertainment and music and is open every Thursday and Friday until December 18th for the Christmas season. Similar Christmas food markets are held at London’s other popular foodie heavens like Borough Market, the Slow Food Market at the South Bank and the Cabbages and Frocks Market at Marylebone High Street.

London Hotel near Covent Garden : Euro Hotel

Festive Fairs

Along with specialty Christmas Markets, London also hosts several annual festive fairs like the Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair and The British Red Cross Christmas Fair which offer shoppers an additional avenue to shop for gifts for all the family from a wide range of vendors. Both these fairs are held in mid-November and provide early birds a chance to get all their Christmas shopping done before the traditional rush starts.

Christmas Shopping on London’s High Streets

London’s most famous shopping districts like Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street which are collectively known as the West End are usually all dressed up for Christmas adorned as they are with elaborate illumination displays which are popularly known ‘Christmas Lights’. These Christmas Lights are switched on by celebrities at special ceremonies which are held in early November and these lights usually stay on until early January. All the famous British stores that are located here like Marks and Spencer’s, Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges and Hamley’s have their own Christmas promotions and events for the festive season but one of the best days to shop at these stores is on the Traffic Free Shopping Day London which this year is scheduled for Saturday 5th December. On this day, the entire West End like it has for the past five years is transformed into a huge car free pedestrian shopping zone that features much entertainment and festivities along with its many shopping opportunities.

Hotel in London’s West End : The Summer Hotel

Photo of Christmas store in London, UK,  by JohnBurke

London shortly before the turn of the 20th Century must have been a frightening place to be, and even to this day there are some fairly eerie attractions for people who take delight in horrific thrills. Here are some of the best:

1.  Halloween at the London Dungeon

For the Children, the most recommended event would be the brand-new Halloween at the London Dungeon, which features a “Halloween Forest” complete with cackling witches. There is also a certain amount of educational value in this attraction, as there is also a 17th Century Courtroom, which retells courtroom dramas of the time where many men and women were executed for being witches, often innocently– thank goodness our legal system is a bit more fair today! It’s suitable for all ages except the really young ones.

2. Imagining the Impossible

Held by the British Library on October 31st, Imagining the Impossible is an Illustrated Talk by Gordon Rutter, Head of the Charles Fort Institute who will be presenting Images of Spirit Photography taken between the 1860’s and 1930’s, which was apparently all the rage back then, capturing the minds of the (gullible?) public and even the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle. Were all the photographs and recorded paranormal experiences phony? You decide.

3. The Halloween of Cross Bones XI

Now in its 11th iteration, The Halloween of Cross Bones XI is a series of (often humorous) poems and songs penned by local writer John Constable which became so popular that beginning in 1998 there a yearly is festival held in the cellars of the Hop Exchange Building. After the main performance, the event concludes with a procession to the Cross Bones Graveyard (where prostitutes and all sorts of outcasts in London’s society were buried) held in candle light.

4. Medieval Banquet

Wait, a Halloween Horror Themed feast? That’s right. Taking place on the 31st October at the Historic Cellars of the St. Katharine Dock, is a Halloween Themed night with a full gourmet meal and a ghostly and unique re-enactment of the life of King Henry VIII, a man most famous for having six wives, two of which he had executed. Participators are welcome to come in costumes to get into the mood. The night concludes with, rather bizarrely, a disco. Tickets are rather expensive at €60 per head, but it should be well-worth going to.

5.  Silent Cinema

No, it’s not a place where movies are played on mute. The concept is simple: Viewers are given noise-cancelling, wireless headphones so that they aren’t disrupted by popcorn, ringtones, and other whispering cinema-goers. Even if you visit the toilet during the showing, you’ll still be able to hear what’s going on. Right now the scheme is on a trial basis, with the first showing being a (predictably) scary movie on October 31st at the five-star Andaz Hotel. Why wasn’t this thought of years ago?

Haunted Hotels in London

• Hotel London Elizabeth – 3-Star Hotel in Bayswater
• Georgian House Hotel – 3-Star Hotel near Victoria Station
• The Langham Hotel – 5-star Hotel near Regent’s Park

Photo of  The London Dungeons Halloween Festival MuLan

Yet as the years go by, more and more of the icons are taken off the streets, mostly because of vandalism and lack of profitability, in an era where mobile phones are used more and more because of the portable convenience they are.

In the early 1900’s, the telephone started to become more of a commonplace piece of technology, and was available at many shops and places where often it would be operated by an attendant.

There was no standard centralised designed, with each town having its own type of kiosk.

In 1921 the United Kingdom Post Office produced and distributed the K1, (which stood for Kiosk No.1), a rather elegant red and white booth with highlighted brackets around the window panes and a Elizabethan looking metal decoration on top.

However, the London Metropolitan Boroughs resisted the design and efforts by the Post Office to place them on the streets, so in 1924 a competition was set up with an objective to find a design that the fussy London Boroughs (meaning areas of a city) would permit. The Royal Fine Art Commission, after some fuss about building materials and various other design and architectural issues, decide to limit the competition so that only three respected architects could submit designs. The eventual selected design was from Giles Gilbert Scott, which the Post Office decided (against his wishes) to make it out of Cast Iron and paint it Red for visibility. It was a success and 1200 were produced.

Over the years, later attempts were made at phone boxes, including an effort to integrate the phone box and a letter box, and a move back to creamy-white boxes. The most popular design, called the K6, had over 70,000 produced and resembles closest the original K2, only less expensive and less prone to vandals.

Nowadays, however, with over 95% of households in the UK having a built-in landline, there seems little point economically in having phone boxes anywhere, what with their cost, size and expense of maintenance. Most of the surviving old fashioned boxes are in London and other touristy and traditional parts of Britain, but are vastly out-ranked by the ugly standardised “glass and steel” BT boxes, called the KX range, often with a numerical classification (such as KX-100). Even the name sounds horrible. However they still come in handy for study-abroad exchange students and people with family abroad, because international calls from them are cheaper than using a mobile phone, although even that trend seems set to die with the recent surge of internet telephony, such as Skype, which can be utilized without the need for having to step outside.

Nowadays I find they’re most often missed when it’s raining like only it can rain in England, and you’ve forgotten your umbrella.

Photo of London phone boxes by Spoungeworthy Redux

Especially now that the public baths have been re-opened to the public (in a brand new building across the road from the Roman ruins… see  thermaebathspa.com for more details on that one) and the high street full of fashionable stores and cafes, it can be easy for visitors to see Bath as a rainy day destination. And it is true that the city caters to England’s traditional weather, but that is only half of the personality of the city. The true beauty of Bath does not lie steaming in the natural springs or rest in the reliefs on the façade of the Gothic-style abbey, but is in the parks and outdoor sights. Bath offers some of the best city parks outside of London, and are not to be missed.

The Circus

Just to the northwest of the city centre is the Circus, a perfect circle of Georgian houses constructed out of the startlingly white Somerset stone that cloaks the entire city. Constructed during the 18th century, the circle breaks in 3 places for adjoining roads (so is easy to find) and houses a huge chestnut tree in the centre, under which you can always find residents lazing about on hotter days. The circular architecture is a rare sight (many sights around England such as this were destroyed in the Second World War….much of Bath was also damaged) and is complimented by the semi-circle of houses in the same style just down Brock St. The Royal Crescent has been a symbol of Bath as much as the Circus has, and has the added advantage of looking out over Victoria Park.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park slopes down the valley side towards the centre of town, comprised of many small paths, band stands and a fantastic adventure play area for children. At the top of the 57 acres of gardens is the meadow on front of the Royal Crescent, originally used as a grazing pasture for livestock inside the city walls. Opened in 1830 by the young Queen Victoria, the park has remained a quiet refuge for residents and a place in the centre of the city where people can lie in the grass, walk under trees. There are also cultural events inside the park, including an open-air theatre for plays and musical shows and a variety of sports fields for tennis, bowls, etc. As you carry on walking west through the gardens along the main road that bisects the park, visitors come upon the Bath Botanical Gardens. In the author’s opinion, these are some of the loveliest flower gardens in England not found in National Trust estates. The flowerbeds are meticulously kept, and the variety of pant-life is remarkable for a country that seems to be gray and raining most of the time. In the north section of the Botanical Gardens is the relatively new addition of the Great Dell, a natural depression in the side of the Bath valley that is a peaceful, shadowy refuge of conifers.

Parade Gardens

Walking back through the city centre, just behind the Abbey, are the Parade Gardens, a small walled park along the banks of the River Avon. The park is free for city residents but only a few pounds for visitors. On sunny days the park is speckled with lawn chairs, and families will gather for picnics. On Sundays the bandstand is filled with a local horn band, and the gardens are also a sight for local primary school plays and choral events. Below the noise of the city, the Parade Gardens are one of those rare places in the middle of a city that is almost completely silent. Just up the river is the Pulteney Bridge, an 18th century bridge lined with small shops, comparable to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Further on down Great Pulteney St are the Sydney Gardens, an extensive space with a maze and many other entertainments where Georgian families would come to amuse themselves. It is said that Jane Austen (one of the city’s most famous residents) would come down to the Sydney Gardens with her sisters and spend all day playing in the maze. At the gates of the Sydney Gardens is the house of William Holburne, which is now a University Art museum, housing collections from the 18th and 19th century with painters such as Guardi, Turner and Gainsborough present.

Alexandra Park

If you find yourself still searching for that perfect park bench or willow tree, the last large city park can be found at the top of the steep hill behind Bath Spa railway station. Alexandra Park looks over the beautiful Bath valley. On a sunny day, the city literally glows as the sunlight bounces off of the white somerset stone. I may be a little bias having grown up in this area, but I believe it to be one of the most beautiful places in the United Kingdom. The Alexandra Parks are also very large and many hours can be spent wandering around taking in the beautiful hill-top views.

As well as the larger gardens, there are also a high number of smaller gardens and squares tucked away around the city that are just waiting to be discovered. There are also the ever-popular open top buses and the beautiful streets to explore when the sun is shining. So take advantage of the break in the clouds, and discover why England in the sun is one of the most beautiful places I know of.

Top 5 Hotels in Bath, UK

• Hotel Express by Holiday Inn Bath – 2-star Hotel – Double from £ 109
• Hotel Barcelo’ Combe Grove Manor – 4-star Hotel – Double from £ 189
• Queen Charlottes Orangery – Bed & Breakfast – Double from £ 110
• Wentworth House Hotel – 2-star Hotel – Double from £ 75
• Bath Priory Hotel & Restaurant – 4-star Hotel – Double from £ 260

Photo of the Circus, Bath, UK, by Shanathalas

What do you think about the Denmark tourism video campaign showing a Danish girl seeking the father of her child, a baby conceived on a drunken one-night-stand? Do you find this hoax video funny of tasteless? Does it make you want to visit Copenhagen?

Dark England

Looking for a spooky holiday destination to go on Halloween? On EnjoyEngland.com check out the scariest places to visit in London, East Midlands,  Warwickshire and the Southwest of England.

Creepy Paris Underground

Planning a holiday in France and looking for ‘creepy’ places to visit in Paris?  Nomadic Matt recommends the Paris Sewers Tour. Another way to explore the city’s underground would be a visit to the Catacombs of Paris, but the attraction  has been closed this week after human bones  and skulls scattered along the walking paths.

Italian Cappuccino

Planning a  trip to Lake Maggiore, Italy? If you are an Italian coffee lover, visit the Stresa Sights blog and find out what a ’serious cappuccino’ is and where to drink this yummy beverage in the lovely town of  Stresa.

If you think Carnaby Street has lost its appeal of late, and is a bit to cool for school despite being full of chain shops, Kingly Court will put a smile back on your face.

Vintage boutiques, tiny little jewellery shops and enough crafty little places to grab any ‘last minute birthday presents’ in your lunch break. Here are my favourites:

Twinkled – 2nd Floor

Twinkled is a huge vintage Mecca on the second floor of Kingly Court. You’ll find anything from retro dresses to tableware and jewellery. The best buys are the household goods and accessories, but whatever your taste, you’ll find some retro and vintage goodies to suit you. The perfect antidote to all of the chain shops on Carnaby street.

Traffic People – Ground Floor

If you’re looking for a perfect timeless dress, this is the place to come. Reasonably priced at around the £50 mark, you’ll find a variety of colours, although the styles can be a little limiting. The staff are very friendly, and you’ll have fun. This shop has a concession in the flagship Topshop on Oxford Street, don’t pay extra in there, come here instead.

Bird Cage – 1st Floor

Bird Cage is the place to come for one-off gifts and lunchtime treats. Handmade purses in kimono fabrics, perfect jewellery, or lanterns. Whatever takes your fancy. If you don’t plan on spending any money until pay day, give this shop a wide berth. Otherwise you’ll come out with scented candles and all sorts of little trinkets you really didn’t need.

Black Pearl – 2nd Floor

This shop is great if you want to pick up something a little bit saucy. Nipple tassels ahoy! This is a great little shop to treat yourself to something fun. You can also pick up some great jewellery here. This is the perfect store for out of the ordinary items. Watch out for their special events as well, Cocktails and discounts all at the same time. Brilliant.

Mnini – 1st Floor

Mnini, despite it’s rather silly name, is cute. If you like your clothes to be one off ‘pieces’ then you’ll adore the collection in here. Well cut jackets and tailored items are the best buys, the rest of the items are a little over priced for what you’re getting. Hit this place in the sales and you’ll pick up some great bargains.

Marshmallow Mountain – Ground Floor

As well as a fabulous name, this vintage store is one of my favourite in London. Despite it’s highly sough after location, the prices aren’t too shocking, and you can pick up dresses for about £40. The shoes are fantastic, although as with most vintage shops, they do tend to be in the smaller sizes which is a shame. Everything is well laid out and the staff are helpful. It’s a joy to shop here.

Top 5 Trendy Hotels in London

• Haymarket Hotel -  Westminster, London
• Sanderson, A Morgans Hotel – Soho, London
• Hotel Sydney House – Chelsea, London
• Chiswick Moran Hotel – West London
• St. Jame’s Hotel & Club – Westminster, London

Photo of Kingly Court, London, UK by Lenkolaf