Harrods is the most famous shopping mall in England, and probably the world. I made quite a few trips to central London before I ever visited Harrods. To be honest with you, I must say that I have never really been a shopper. However, I reckon that a trip to Harrods is more than a shopping trip. It’s like a visit to the most spectacular museum of shopping.
The place is massive and you are provided with a map as soon as you step your foot into the door that is filled with amazing, luxurious and stylish items. It is simply amazing. There’s always something you would definitely want to buy though everything seems really pricey.
One of my mates used to work in one of the restaurants there and he kept telling me how fascinating it was to work in such an environment where you get to meet an awful lot of people, some of whom the so-called upper class when they come to do their shopping. And the average wage in Harrods is relatively higher than elsewhere too and that’s one of the reasons my mate was quite miserable when he had to leave the job and went home where the wages are peanuts.
It is true that much of the stuff in Harrods can be bought elsewhere, usually at lower prices, but as you may know many people come here simply to get something with the Harrods logo on it. A lot of trade is done in this way, whether the items bought are genuine souvenirs or merely ordinary products but in Harrods packaging.
Another friend of mine got really annoyed with me once when I said to her that the Xmas puddings were much better in Tesco for £1.99 rather than the outrageous 8 Pounds she was about to pay for a Harrods one. My mate then called me ignorant. Well, what was I supposed to say?
I also many times noticed that the owner of Harrods Mohammad Al Fayed had a shrine to his son Dodi and Princess Diana. I had a quick peep and thought it was really tacky. Pictures of the lovely couple and the engagement ring he was about to give her in Paris. I just think that they should be left in peace without any sort of reminders, well at least in a crowded department store like Harrods.
During my time in England I tended to stay clear of this fabulous department store though I was really impressed with it. As far as I’m concerned, most of the people who shop there are too filthy rich and I’d feel uncomfortable dealing with them.
I still remember one day when my good mate insisted that I buy her a nice souvenir from Harrods for her birthday. I had to force myself to take the London Tube all the way to Knightsbridge and upon my arrival, they just sent me to a small area where a lot of cheap souvenirs were sold – I didn’t realise that Chavs are not allowed there!
The London Underground (locally known as the Tube) is the biggest and oldest metro system in the world. It’s also one of the most convenient, serving about 20 hours on a daily basis. Each of the Underground lines has a different name and colour. This helps you easily follow your route on the map.
Upon your arrival at a station, you should have a look at the colour-coded signs that will direct you to the line you’re looking for. The London Underground system is divided into 6 different fare zones. The London city centre is of course in Zone 1. Your ticket price depends on the number of zones through which you travel. You can easily buy your ticket from an automatic ticket machine or alternatively at the ticket office at any station. Both single and return tickets are available and they are valid only on the date shown.
If you know where you want to go, I recommend you should use the ticket machines because they can save a lot of your time. The instructions are easy to follow. The ticket machines usually give change, but I would suggest that you use the correct money if possible. By doing this, you will help keep change for other passengers who really need it.
Most London Underground stations have ticket gates. You need to pass through them quite a few times throughout your journey. Upon your arrival, just insert your ticket into the slot of the machine through which the ticket will pass. You can then take it from a slot at the top and the gates will open to let you through. When you have completed your last journey, the gates will open and let you through but your ticket will be retained by the machine.
As far as I’m concerned, London’s Tube is probably one of the most famous in the world. However, I feel that there is something about being underground I am not very keen on. For instance, the massive crowds swarm towards the train platforms, rushing up and down stairs, following the signs and the annoying ‘Mind the gap’ thing. Based on my experience, the trains are also absolutely packed. I have so many times been pushed up against someone really stinky. It’s never easy to find yourself a seat, and you can hardly see anything. Having said that, I still believe it is the cheapest and quickest way to get around London though.
To sum up, The London Underground is really easy to use so long as you are equipped with a map. To avoid wasting your time, simply validate your ticket and pass through the gates, stand on the right hand side of the steep escalators, or just walk down on the left if you are in a rush. The Tube normally arrives every few minutes so you don’t need to run. In summer the tube can be really hot and smelly, but again it is another part of travelling around the capital of England.
Summer is the time to get out of the confines of the house and enjoy the weather. While it may not be sunny all the time, this is the best period in the year to enjoy what nature has to offer. You don’t even need to go far or out of the country. Just take a look around you and you will find a lot of options.
One of these is a floating picnic at the River Thames. The best online resource for this kind of outing is Visit Thames, which compiles most anything that you can do related to the river. There are lots of restaurants by the river, from the outskirts of London to the Cotswolds. The Guardian recently had a feature on these floating picnic outings and suggests these:
The Beetle & Wedge Boathouse in Moulsford near Goring (beetleandwedge.co.uk) makes up hampers of cheese, salads, gravadlax, baguettes, melon and strawberries, then puts you in a wooden launch that seats up to 10 people (one hour boat hire £50, hampers from £15pp).
Or cruise the Thames in style from Marlow on the Compleat Angler’s Edwardian-style electric launch, while tucking into poached salmon, sandwiches, salads, scones, cheese and biscuits and strawberries and cream (macdonaldhotels.co.uk/compleatangler, boat hire £75-£95 per hour, hampers £25-£36).
If you want to pack your own hamper the website also lists boat hire companies such as Cotswold Boat Hire (cotswoldboat.co.uk), based in Lechlade, which has open-top motor boats from £80 for four hours for up to five people, and rowing boats from £15 per hour.
Now that sounds pretty good to me. What about you?
Are you yearning to get away from your tedious daily life? If you cannot find the time to go on a week-long break (or longer), or you do not have the cash to spare for an exotic vacation this spring, why not keep within the boundaries of the country and spend some time in the local scene? You may not know it but there are so many places within the UK that you can visit without breaking the bank, while at the same time discovering something new.
One such place is Bodwin Moor in Cornwall. With its awe inspiring landscapes and natural beauty, Bodwin Moor is the perfect place to go to get away from it all. And another plus? This area is largely undeveloped. This means that you would not have to compete with too many tourists if you visit.
But just because it is not that developed, it does not mean that you will not find a good place to stay. There are a number of comfortable bed and breakfasts and farmstay opportunities in the area. If you like roughing it, you can opt to go camping as well. Let me tell you, camping is not exactly roughing it, though, as you get proper beds and wooden floors inside the tents at Belle Tents.
Some areas of interest that you should NOT miss if you go to Bodwin Moors include the Cheesewring (a natural formation of rocks) and the numerous mines in the area. For more detailed information on tourism in Bodwin Moor, read The Guardian’s feature.
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Posted on Dec 27, 2008 by Jodie in English Cuisine, English Culture, English Places, English Traditions
With a history and culture as rich as it can be, there is no doubt that one can experience a myriad of festivities all throughout the country during the period of Christmas. As diverse as the activities are, one of the most popular is going around visiting various Christmas markets.
Year in and year out, visitors and locals alike look forward to Christmas markets all over the country. Here are some of the popular ones this year.
Bath Christmas Market
This has been a tradition in Bath since 2001. The town itself has a lot of other things to offer, especially the historic Abbey where the market is located. The traditional wooden stalls used as shops in the market add to the ambiance. More so, one can expect a lot of unique items.
Frankfurt Christmas Market
This is being held in Birmingham and is considered the largest Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria – definitely a unique experience!
Manchester Christmas Markets
Manchester is not to be outdone when it comes to markets this Christmas. It has more than one! There is a traditional German market, a European market, and an Arts and Crafts Market.
These are only a few of the on going Christmas markets in Britain today. More than the food, crafts, and other items on sale, visitors can enjoy the festive atmosphere with the entertainment being offered everywhere. This is a good time to feel the English culture at its festive best – wherever in England you may want to go.
Stonehenge has proved to be a mystery for so long now that when I heard about experts finally unveiling some of that mysterious cover, I was not so sure that it was true. Still, what researchers have revealed to the world makes some sense.
According to some British researchers, they might have found a reason people transported those gigantic stones from Wales to Salisbury Plain – a good 250 miles. They think that the people of that time might have believed the stones to have possessed miraculous healing powers. Apparently, other archeologists who were not involved in the research think that the findings are very possible.
Stonehenge has “multiple meanings and multiple uses” that may have changed over the centuries, said archaeologist Mary Ann Owoc of Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., who was not involved in the new research. “To limit it to one is an error.”
The idea that the stones are not just building materials but have efficacy “is tremendously appealing as an idea,” said archaeologist Julian Thomas of Manchester University, who also was not involved in the research. “The idea that they were brought there because they have some kind of power seems to me entirely plausible. But whether it is just about healing is another question.”
I do not know much about archeology and am definitely not an authority on this matter but the idea that Stonehenge served like a Lourdes in the ancient times sounds realistic. I also think that it is a fitting explanation for a structure that has been so shrouded in mystery for as long as anyone can remember.
For those of you who grew up in the country, you would probably love to relive that experience. For those who are purebred city people, then you might want to have a taste of what growing up in the country is like. That is, being surrounded by animals and fields, being out in the open air.
If you like animals and you want to experience something like a county fair, then I suggest that you head on over to the Rare and Traditional Breeds Show at Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex. What should you expect? About Britain announces the event:
Our biggest show of the year! Over 500 cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry of numerous rare breeds will be taking part in the show, the largest in south east England. Bring the family to see orange bristled Tamworth pigs; the Pygmy goats, not much more than one foot high; Gloucester Old Spot pigs with their dramatic black blotches, Longhorn cattle with majestic curly horns and Southdown Sheep with their teddy bear faces and dumpling shape and many many more. Other attractions include country craft and trade stands with farm and animal themes and the Museum’s own team of working Shire horses.
The exact venue of the show is the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, which is worthy enough of a visit on its own. The highlights of the Museum include historic homes, farms, and workplaces. These have been restored and all efforts have been made to keep them as close to the original as possible.
The show runs on the 20th of July from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm. Ticket costs:
Adults £8.50, over 60s £7.50, children £4.50, family ticket £23.30 includes a full day’s entry to all Museum buildings and outdoor exhibits.
Photo courtesy of Dunechaser
Long rambling walks in the countryside, the unmistakable scent of fresh air, the peacefulness that one finds only outside of the city – these things and more are what you can expect from a visit to Cumbria. Cumbria is a shire county in Northwest England and is predominantly rural. It is actually considered to be one of the most beautiful places in the whole country.
Being predominantly rural, the Cumbria area is one of the best places – if not the best – to go walking in England. If going on leisurely walks is your idea of relaxation, then Cumbria should definitely be on your list of places to visit.
The two main footpaths in this area are the Cumbrian Way and the Dales Way. If you take the former route, you will start by the sea side and head on northward to experience some of the most spectacular sceneries. The latter route will take you west into Yorkshire. Either way, you will have a one of a kind walking experience.
Of course, there are other options for those who are not “heavy duty walkers.” There are countless other footpaths wherein you can take more leisurely and shorter walks. Cumbria Calling lists down some of them:
• Buttermere – a two hour walk takes you all the way round this lovely lake
• Derwent Water Ferry – take the Derwent ferry from Keswick to Hawes End. Walk to Lodore Falls and take the ferry back to Keswick
• Stiffer than a stroll, but possible without being a mountaineer is to climb Skiddaw from Keswick.
• Ullswater ferry and walk. Take ferry from Glenridding pier to Howtown. It is then a three hour walk back along the lake shore to Howtown
• Take the ferry from Bowness to Sawrey, walk along the lake shore to Bass Rock, return through the National Trust woods
• Grizedale forest. There are a number of waymarked walks. Details from Forestry Commission
• Round Grasmere. A pleasant walk all the way round the lake at Grasmere will take about two hours
So put on your walking shoes and head on over to Cumbria!
Photo courtesy of Pikaluk
I wrote something about visiting Bath, one of the most popular tourist spots in the UK, some time ago. If you remember, Bath is a World Heritage Site as designated by UNESCO and this is one reason that Bath is as popular as it is today.
Recent developments, however, might be putting this charming British town at risk. Apparently, there are some building developments in the city which might lead to the stripping of the designation by the UNESCO. The said developments are actually plans to construct homes – thousands of them – in the Western Riverside area, and this is only part of the whole picture.
The Guardian reports:
The development has been described by the Bath Heritage Watchdog as ’something akin to a massive Soviet-era housing project’.
Deborah Aplin, managing director of Crest Nicholson Regeneration, which is behind the Western Riverside development, said that it had written support from the government and English Heritage. ‘This land has been derelict for more than 25 years and our scheme will help regenerate this part of an otherwise beautiful city,’ she added.
I think that it is understandable that some citizens of the city would want to push Bath forward by opening the city to development and progress. However, it is also understandable that the city’s stature as a World Heritage Site could be affected. After all, certain criteria must be met in order for a place to be designated as such.
The issue will be discussed during UNESCO’s annual conference. I guess we just have to wait and see what happens.
Photo courtesy of Ian Muttoo
Want to have children? Have you been trying for years to no avail? Then I suggest that you head on over to Dorset in southern England. Just outside the village of Cerne Abbas, you will find a legendary chalk figure – The Cerne Abbas Giant. It is also called the Rude Man or the Rude Giant due to its exposed phallus.
So why should you visit the Giant if you want to have children? Legend has it that if a childless couple made love (on a certain part of the giant), they would soon have children. Another legend says that if a woman walked around the figure three times, she would keep her lover faithful to her. Oh, just make sure you’re fit enough to do three rounds – this giant is not called a giant for nothing!
The Cerne Abbas Giant’s is thought to be created way back in Ancient times. However, its history has only been traced to the late 17th century. Wikipedia presents one version of its origins:
Some believe that the giant was carved during the English Civil War by servants of the Lord of the Manor, Denzil Holles, and was intended as a parody of Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was sometimes mockingly referred to as “England’s Hercules” by his enemies. The Hercules connection is strengthened by the recent discovery of an obliterated line perhaps representing an animal skin (see below). The suggestion that the figure is Hercules was first made in 1764 by William Stukeley.
Whoever the Giant may really be, the fact remains that it is one of the more popular sights in that part of England.
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