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

Just west of Tower Bridge, the Jubilee Walkway runs along the south bank of the river and leads visitors past many of the most famous sights in London in a relatively short distance. The Jubilee Walkway is a path around London that encompasses many of the most recognized and visited locations in the nation’s capital, created in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. The part of the pathway that runs along the side of the Thames contains sights such as Royal Festival Hall, the Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, the Hayward Gallery to name but a few.

If you are traveling by tube, the best way to see the sights is to disembark at the Tower Bridge tube station. From this point, crossing the main road and making your way down to the riverside allows for a beautiful west-ward including all the best sides that Bankside has to offer. The promenade is always full of street performers, and on a sunny day the view across the river into the heart of London is fantastic. Walking west away from the Tower Bridge, the first sight you come across is Shakespeare’s Globe theatre. Although the original was destroyed in 1613, rebuilt the year after and then closed a decade after that, the reconstructed theatre began showing Shakespeare’s plays once more in 1997. Performing a variety of the bard’s plays every season, tickets are reasonably cheap. Seats under the covered awning range between £15-30, and the standing room underneath the opened centre are only £5. Although standing for 2 hours in drizzling rain watching Shakespeare may not sound the most fun, it is an experience all its own and is highly recommended. Visit  shakespeares-globe.org for performances, dates and times.

Next door to the Globe is the new Tate Modern art museum. Formally Battersea Power Station and re-opened in 2000 as the Tate group’s Modern art house in London, the museum contains an immense collection of national and international modern art. Artists such as Manet, Rothko, Matisse, Picasso, Sol LeWitt and Andy Warhol are just a few of many renowned artists presented in the well-organized galleries (set up by concept and philosophy rather than chronology) of the permanent collection. Admission is free, and the museum always has temporary exhibitions moving through. From the front of the Tate Modern, visitors can see the dome of St.Paul’s Cathedral (only ten minutes walk away from the museum) and the brand new Millenium Bridge opened also in 2000. After a few years of traumatic construction work (upon opening the bridge swayed a couple of inches as people walked across) the bridge is open again and affords a great view down the Thames. Also outside the Tate Modern is a water shuttle that carries visitors down the Thames to the Tate Britain (boats run frequently and costs £5 for adults). The Tate Britain is on the other bank facing Chelsea and the Southbank district. It is home to fantastic British art, both modern and historic and is a must-see for anyone interested in English art history.

As you carry on walking down the bankside promenade, passing by the London Television Centre and the IBM building, you are suddenly confronted by an unimpressive concrete block of a building known as the Bankside Arts Centre. Surprisingly, this grey complex contains Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall, two major venues for shows and concerts in London. Nestled among this block of buildings is the Hayward Gallery. The gallery is one of the principle contemporary and post-modern exhibition sights in the UK, alongside the Saatchi Gallery and the White Cube. Although admission is not cheap (around £9), the shows at the Hayward are always worth the money. Past exhibitors include Robin Rhode, Andy Warhol, Antony Gormley.

Further down the bank from the Bankside Arts Centre are Jubilee Gardens, a large open space perfect for relaxing after the walk down the riverside Right in front of the gardens is the London Eye. Having become a hallmark of London tourism and a large part of the London skyline, the wait to get onto the Eye can be as long as 3 hours. Granted, on a clear day the view is brilliant, and it is possible to see to the far reaches of the City of London. Its also a novelty to ride on the ferris wheel, but the question remains if the expensive ticket price (adults cost £16) and long wait is worth the view. The ‘flight’ takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and offers a unique view to visitors who may only be in London for a few days.

Just down from the London Eye is the London Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the British Isles. Tickets are fairly cheap for families, and the building offers a fun alternative for children who have just been dragged around the mammoth exhibitions of the Tate Modern. Country Hall is also in the same building and has temporary historical art exhibits. At this point you will have reached Westminster Bridge. Just across the river Thames is the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Cathedral, which leads northwards to James’ Park.

Although this is just a small taste of what London has to offer, the bankside walk between Tower and Westminster Bridge is a great way to spend an afternoon while sampling some of the city’s great arts culture and famous sights.

Top 3 London Hotels near the river Thames

• Swisshôtel The Howard – Luxury hotel just off the London Embankment
• Hotel The Royal Horseguards – Luxury hotel in London Withehall Court
• Holiday Inn London Limehouse – 3-star hotel in London Docklands

Photo of the London Bridge by RachelH

1. Beach Town near Rome: Sperlonga

Looking for nice beaches near Rome, Italy? Rob recommends Sperlonga, a pictures seaside village halfway from Naples and the Italian capital. Do not miss his blog post if you’re planning a day trip from Rome to Sperlonga.

2. Top 5 Digital SLR Cameras for Travel

An article for the avid travelers who want to buy a new SLR camera. Paul lists the five best digital SLR cameras from the most expensive SLR to the best value for money digital camera to take beautiful travel pictures.

3. The Best Burlesque Shows in London

Want to have fun and spend an exciting evening in London, UK? Sarah takes you to Burlesque London and lists the best male burlesque nights in Soho. Burlesque clubs and shows reviewed in her article included Working Men, Bearlesque, Madam Jojos, High-End Class and Have A Go.

4. Amsterdam Red Light District: Tacky or Tasteful?

What to think about Amsterdam’s Red Light District? Will draws quite a negative pictures of one of the most popular tourist attractions in Amsterdam, Holland.  Read his blog post and drop a comment to share your thoughts about the Red Light Distric of Amsterdam.

5. 5 Packing Tips for the Tour de France

If you are planning a 2010 Tour de France vacation, read this travel blog post by Liz.  A huge fan of bike racing, she shares all the useful Tour de France packing tips she has learnt along the way of the the world’s most popular cycling race.

Photo of sunglasses on sandy beach by Katie@!

The end of 2009 should see a multi-storey arcade of additions to Camden Markets indoor and a fresh outdoor series of stalls. An artist’s impression on display in Camden shows the type of goods on offer should be of the same ilk – weird, eccentric and downright strange.

Exotic grub

Camden Market is already a haven of home-grown food sellers touting passers-by to try their cuisine, be it pasta, pizza, noodles, bagels, doughnuts, coffee or cake. Notably, the passing of a new law in London meant Camden Market’s infamous magic mushroom stalls had to close down, but they have been replaced by a haze of shisha-pipe smokers sitting on cushions outside mock Moroccan cafes.

Cyber chic

Techno-fans will find the largest Cyber Dog store in the UK in Camden Market. It’s hard to miss, with two huge cybernauts outside, and often a plethora of tourist taking pictures (occasionally of the odd decked-out local or two). Upstairs is for gadgets, downstairs for doing yourself up techno-style, with neon lycra and plastic bodices, hot pants, cyber boots, day glow trousers and hair pieces on offer. Need directions? Listen out for the pumping techno music outside.

Retro glam

Around the corner from Cyber Dog is vintage corner, full of gear undergoing a revival from 60s glam through to 80s punk in the UK. Further afield are full length leather and PVC coats for fetishists, tartan, pierced and pinned attire that looks like it is trying to be something the godmother and godfather of punk, Vivienne Westwood or Malcolm McLaren, might have designed in the 70s. Go on the look-out for lots and lots of stylist hats, wacky scarves, dark glasses and cool gloves in the small stalls, full of little dinkies.

Funky furniture

Deck your house out Camden style with a super-size bean bag, laminated-picture deckchair or restored furniture from the warehouse-size shops opposite the new build alongside the canal. Even if the price tag is a little more than you can afford, it is a great place to wander round the paintings, sofas and tables, if only to pick up some cool, off-the-wall ideas.

Canal-side booze

Taking a breather by Camden locks proves popular on a sunny day, where there are a few bars and pubs to let your hair down and watch the world go by in their garish get-up. Add this, to a trip past the tattoo parlours, piercing boutiques and spin-off stalls along Camden high street and you have got a day to remember. Just don’t forget to wear your pink, pedal pushers, cyber boots and spike your hair.

Top London Accommodation near Camden Market:

• Holiday Inn Camden Lock
• Apartment SO Quartier

Photo of Cyberdog shop in Camden Town, London, UK, by Punchup

Enormous, packed full of important work and absolutely free (apart from special exhibitions), you could spend days doing little else than wondering around them and admiring the work on show. However, if you don’t have much time in the capital but want to see the most important works of art, then your best bet would be to head to The National Gallery where you will find the following treasures.

1. Sunflowers, Vincent Van Gogh

Oil on canvas, 1888

Van Gogh’s four sunflower paintings are amongst the most famous works of art in the world, and The National Gallery has one of them. Painted using an impasto style, the thick brushstrokes bring out the texture of the flowers vividly. It was painted to decorate the room of his friend Paul Gauguin, who he was living with at the time. The collection of paintings are said to represent the cycle of life, with some of the flowers being in full bloom and some dying.

2. Cupid Complaining to Venus, Lucas Cranach The Elder

Oil on wood, about 1525.

Acquired by The National Gallery in 1963, this masterpiece depicts Cupid complaining to Venus after having been stung by a bee. It is thought that numerous versions of this painting were completed by the artist, but that this is one of the best. The National Gallery claims it is a “moral commentary”, which is based on Idyll 19: The Honey-Stealer, by the poet Theocritus.

3. The Hay Wain, John Constable

Oil on canvas, 1821

This painting of an area along the River Stour in Suffolk, England, depicts a traditional rural English scene, even though the artist painted it in his studio in London. Constable failed to sell it in England at the Royal Academy when he finished it, but it received great acclaim in France, and was even awarded a gold medal from King Charles X. It is without doubt one of the finest British paintings in the country.

4. The Fighting Temeraire (tugged to her last berth to be broken up), JMW Turner

Oil on canvas, 1839

This is a depiction of HMS Temeraire, a ship which fought in the Battle of Trafalgar, as it is towed away to be turned into scrap. Turner enjoyed painting ships near the Thames Estuary, and the artist gave the painting to The National Gallery in 1851. In a national poll in 2005 it was voted the greatest painting in a British gallery.

5. The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist (also known as The Burlington House Cartoon), Leonardo da Vinci

Chalk on paper, mounted on canvas, 1499-1500

The Virgin and Child with John the Baptist, and the Virgin and Child with St Anne, were two common themes of Florentine art at the time of the painting, and here they have been represented together. One of the things that makes the work typical of the artist is St Anne pointing up to the heavens, a device which also appears in a number of his other paintings. Cartoons were often lost or destroyed after they had been transferred to the panel, making this an especially rare and unique part of the collection.

Top London National Gallery Hotels:

• Hotel St. Martins Lane
• Hotel Club Quarters Trafalgar Square
• Haymarket Hotel

Photo of Trafalgar Square and The National Gallery, London, by Andras Jancsik

Travel Answer Man lists the world’s 15 best food markets including the Spice Market in Istanbul, Turkey, Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand, Mercado De La Merced in Mexico City, Mexico, Mercat De La Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain, Mercato Coperto in Modena, Italy, Pike Place Market in Seattle, USA,  Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakech, Morocco,  the English Market in Cork, Ireland, Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco, USA, and more colorful street markets all over the planet.

Hens and Stag Parties

On Times Online, check out the most popular destinations for stag and hen parties in Europe according to Hotels.com and Wedding Ideas Magazine. It seems like most of hens’ favorite places for stag parties are in the UK with London, Brighton and  Edinburgh at the top of the list.

Italian Beauty

Italian Notebook shares some nice pictures of Ancona, a seaside city on the East Coast of Italy that offers visitors spectacular views over the Adriatic Sea.

Eat organic in the City of Lights

Secrets of Paris lists six organic restaurants, shops and markets in the French capital. So if you’re looking for organic food in Paris, head to BioArt, Victoire Supreme de Coeur, Bio Coop, Cojean, Boulangerie du Monde and Marché Biologique Raspail.

London iPhone applications

If you’re planning a trip to the UK and possess an iPhone, read Anglotopia.net and get useful tips for traveling to London with your Apple phone.

Photo of Istanbul Spice Market by Alaskan Dude

The interesting things that there are to do, such as visiting Big Ben or doing a boat tour of the Thames, while undoubtedly being world class, often seem a little trite, and, for lack of a better phrase “done to death”. So here is a list of some of the best things to do in London a little off the beaten path.

1. Sir John Soane’s Museum

John Soane was a remarkable architect who designed the majestic Bank of England building which is famous for looking more like a Greek temple than a British bank – however, much of his magnificent work was demolished to make way for a bigger, different rendition, in a move that was once described by an architectural historian to be “the greatest architectural crime, in the City of London, of the twentieth century”. Oh well. Soane was so proud of his construction work on his own home and the priceless exhibits collected by himself that in his will he stated that it was to be turned into a Museum. The interior can only be described as strange; although it’s quite clear the man was something of a genius. The most noteworthy exhibit is the alabaster sarcophagus of Seti I, one of the ancient Pharaohs of Egypt.

Where to stay in the City, London: Hotel Club Quarters

2. 50 Berkeley Square

50 Berkeley Square is a Town House which was once occupied by the British Prime Minister George Canning in the 1700’s who once entered into a duel with a political opponent, despite having never fired a gun. What’s more interesting however is the fact that this four storey structure is considered one of Britain’s most haunted houses. In the 19th Century, several people were said to have died of shock resulting in convulsions in one of its bedrooms. One gentlemen, keen to disprove this theory, slept a night there himself, and died of shock very shortly afterwards. Many other happenings such as screams and flashings of lights were commonplace, even though the building was uninhabited. Nowadays, it’s occupied by a book shop, the owners of which have also reported strange happenings. To this day, the top floor of the house is unoccupied and not even used for storage. Worth a visit for those who want a bit of history behind horror.

Where to stay in Mayfair, London: Hotel Park Lane Mews

3. Hunterian Museum

The Hunterian Museum (not to be confused with a museum of the same name in Scotland) occupies part of the Prestigious Royal College of Surgeons and contains numerous anatomical and surgical oddities, some pickled in jars for preservation. These include the brain of Charles Babbage (the father of computers) and even preserved Octuplets. Also of interest is some 18th century surgical equipment, and the skeleton of the “Irish Giant”, a man who was 7 feet 7 inches tall. While it’s arguably rather morbid, some of the exhibits aided research into disease treatment and many of the resulting discoveries have saved millions of lives worldwide.

Where to stay in Holborn, London: Hotel Jesmond Dene

Photo of monket foetus at the Hunterian Museum, London, UK by Sumlin

London is the first city in Europe to offer the likes of Dickon Savage, Tony Love and Lord Dashwood in the male tournaments of tease.

Working men

Amateurs and professional strippers go boylesque at the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club for the Male Tournament of Tease with spectacular results. Wannabes are welcome to take part with free coaching from the in-house trainer who promises to help men make ladies scream! There are still a few heats to go and plenty of laughs in store. Tickets are £8, with showtime at 20:30 local time. For more information visit http://www.workersplaytime.net/.

Bearlesque

I kid you not. Portly men with beards are the next big thing on the London burlesque scene. Also performing as The Bear Boys and The Bears, this bearded burlesque troupe can also be seen at KOKO in Camden during Guilty Pleasures on the last Saturday of every month, as well as having starred in the Male Tournament of Tease. A large section of the act were also seen earlier in 2009 at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London in the flesh. Check out http://bearlesque.thegreatstromboli.com/ for up and coming dates.

Madam Jojos

This rum Soho club has a history that dates back to the 1940s, but shows have been brought up-to-date with sultry and saucy burlesque performances from men and women. Finger in the Pie cabaret takes place on the first Sunday of the month inside the red and raunchy interior compered by “acid tongued” drag-queen Myra DuBois. She introduces top city acts such as Chrisalys and Lady Beau Peep as well as burlesque performers Bourgeois and Maurice and magicians Stuart and Maurice.

High-end class

This all-female burlesque club puts the t back in tantalising. Volupte is widely touted as one of the best, provided punters dig deep. For £30 a head you can dine while watching the very best of London’s burlesque scene perform cabarets, or stand for the less advertised spaces by the bar with cocktails £5 a pop. As well as special events, there are late shows - which can prove marginally cheaper – on from 22:00. Barflies should look at Volupte’s calendar at www.volupte-lounge.com/ to get filled in on events at the Club off Norwich Street in London by Chancery Lane on the Central Line.

Have a go

Owing to the rising success of glamorous burlesque, Madame Jojos has become the first club to offer people the chance to get it on with the best of them. You guessed it, 2009 is the first year this Soho club has gone on the look-out for an army for 1940s-themed soirees entitled the London Burlesque Social Club, planned for the first Thursday of every month. Special requests include soldier uniforms, suspenders and bright red lipstick.

Where to stay in Soho, London?

• Sanderson A. Morgans Hotel
• Hotel Rathbone
• Arosfa Hotel

Photo of burlesque performer in Soho, London, by Faster1974

• Hotels.com US recommends reading Elliott Blog to know how to find great summer travel deals.

• LDN shares a link to a Time Out article on lidos, ponds and outdoor swimming pools in London, UK.

• TallinnCity invites you to attend the ongoing  “To Breathe as One” song and dance festival in Tallinn, Estonia.

• Visit Holland likes the evening light display at Madurodam miniature city, The  Hague, Netherlands.

• James Dunford Wood shares great holiday ideas including a trip along Japan’s Golden Route from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Photo of Madudrodam miniature park in La Hague by Daveness 98

There are only two alleyways leading into the Yard, both of which are fairly unassuming, and give little hint of what lies beyond. Neal’s Yard is almost like a secret garden in the center of London, well off the main drag, and visited only by those who know exactly where they are going.

I had walked up and down Neal Street loads of times before I became aware of the existence of nearby Neal’s Yard, but by happy chance discovered it when I went there to do a student job with a company that had its offices right on the Yard itself, and there I found the gorgeous Neal’s Yard Bakery, the delicious yogurt ice cream, the New Age bookshop, and the Remedy Shop.

So how did this discreet little haven in the center of London come about? Well, the late Nicholas Saunders was a well-known figure in the

trip traveling around England and Wales in a van, he produced the amazing book “Alternative England and Wales” which was a cornucopia of advice aimed at those attempting to live some sort of alternative lifestyle, and included advice on how to squat empty houses, how to live on a low income, and incorporated a clear emphasis on communal living and spiritual development.

It was in 1976 that Saunders moved into an old warehouse in Neal’s Yard, which at the time really was just a scruffy backyard behind warehouses and other buildings. With his emphasis upon alternative and healthy living, Saunders set about opening up a wholefood shop, and the enterprise proceeded to be a huge success. Going from strength to strength Saunders then set up a dairy, a cafe, and an apothecary specializing in alternative remedies and healing.

The whole Yard was also brought to life by sculptures from Tim Hunkin, a Cambridge graduate who first made his name by producing the informative cartoon “The Rudiments of Wisdom” in the Observer newspaper. Hunkin created the magnificent water clock that is on the outside of the wholefood shop, and the animated sculpture of people standing in line at a baker’s within the Yard itself.

Since its debut, this cosy backwater and its shops have simply gone from strength to strength, so if you happen to find yourself in Covent Garden, be sure to visit Neal’s Yard, as you will be in for a real treat. It is the perfect place to have lunch outdoors in the summer, and in winter you can warm yourself up with a massage in the Therapy Rooms followed by tea and a healthy snack in the Bakery and Tearoom.

Neal’s Yard is three minutes from Covent Garden tube station, and five minutes from Leicester Square tube station.

Photo of Neal’s Yard, London, UK, by Okinawa Steve

So, far from the usual madness and bustling spots, what places can the whole family visit in London?

Before I dive into the finer details of this trip, here’s a quick planning tip. It involves a cunning plan, checking up the official websites and extensive use of Google Maps; this was a useful way of organizing travel events when family members are located in different parts of the world. Hence, if, like us, you have family members who are coming from different parts of the world to converge on that one relative in London, this can be an especially handy way of co-ordinating the event. This helped fend off the usual array of queries – “How far is one place from the other”, “Are they open on a Saturday” and “Can we just do John and Jill’s thing all in one day?”. What helped significantly was the creation of a personal map on Google Maps. And so, to this map, we added the various location ideas everyone was playing around with. Now, all we had to do was send the link of the map to all members of the family and plan it all from there onwards.

There was one other site we looked into when planning our way around London. This was the Transport for London website which had a useful little journey planner setup. This way we could find out what transport vehicle would whisk us away to the correct destination.

And now, on to the list of family friendly places.

Do note that we picked a lot of off-beat spots since most of us were not too eager to get caught in a crowd of people thronging through the popular spots.

1. The Charles Dickens Museum in London.

How can you go wrong with Dickens? This is one of those events that will appeal to both children and adults. The older family members will probably remember Dickens from their childhood and thus might be curious to find out a little bit more about him. Unfortunately, as I constantly discover from my cousins, his stories are probably a bit outdated for the current young ones. However, classics never grow old and it has the three key words ideal for family travel – informative and child-friendly.

Here’s a little bit of information about the place. Apparently this museum used to be Dickens’s home and now houses a number of material relevant to the famed writer’s life. What’s the ultimate appeal of this place? Firstly, it is a fantastic little treasure trove of information for a Dickens fan. Secondly, there are some interesting planned events in the museum, most of which are readings from some of his works. Thirdly, they also offer guided walks which pertain to either Dickens’s life or specific works like Oliver Twist.

Address:
48 Doughty Street
London WC1N 2LX

2. Sherlock Holmes Museum

It is not so strange to say that this is one location all family members tend to agree upon. Blame it on the love for Doyle novels or even years of watching Poirot, but thankfully this was a spot that caught everyone’s fancy. And, what’s more, the style and setting suits all ages, thus making it the perfect place for everyone.

This little museum is dedicated to the fictional detective from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous novels. What can you expect to see? Just to name a few attractions ... Sherlock’s famous study as well as his beloved paraphernalia (do the words Persian slippers ring a bell?) and Dr Watson’s room with material relating to some of the most famous cases. There’s plenty more in this museum and it promises to be a fascinating place indeed.

Address (there’s something surreal about typing this out):
The Sherlock Holmes Museum
221b Baker St. London NW1 6XE

3. Dan Dare and the Birth of Hi-Tech Britain

Science and technology sights also appeal to most of the family. In my case, whilst I had an ulterior motive and wanted to see the Astronomy section, I was also glad to find a UK-orientated spot that was great viewing fun for the little ones.

This exhibition lasts up to the last week of October 2009. The aim of this interesting event is highlighting the various technologies and innovations that developed UK. I believe there is also a focus on exploring the individual developments that contributed to technological advancements which, as they imply, can be hard to imagine in this day and age of glottalization and internet connectivity.

Address:
Second Floor
Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD

4. Royal artillery Museum

Admittedly this might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Strangely, the Royal Artillery Museum was another spot that appealed to most family members, be it for its cultural value, its uniquely British appeal or just a boyish love for anything artillery related. Do note that, given its location, this was one of those places that would end up as a day trip.

I can understand how this place would cater to everyone. Other than the usual rigmarole of gunnery that appealed to younger teens, there are plenty of historical artifacts to pique your interest. There’s the fascinating link between Arsenal and the armaments as well as the number of artifacts relating to significant world events like the war with South Africa in late 19th Century. And for the young ones, check out the paintball range within the premises. By the way, given the museum’s varied artifacts and events, I guess it’s no surprise that the place offers to host children’s parties. And so parties boast rock climbing, face painting and of course paintball!

Address:
Royal Artillery Museum
Royal Arsenal
London, SE18 6ST, United Kingdom