Archive for the ‘Europe’ Category
The London Underground or ‘tube’ network has long been carrying crowds of people around for many years now and is a popular mode of travel for thousands of Londoners every day.
The network takes up almost 300 miles of track, both below and above the ground, and actually links almost every part of the capital city, so if you’re staying in any of the hotels in London, the network makes commuting that bit easier for the weary London traveler.
Since 1863, there have been many stations that have opened and closed and nowadays there are numerous abandoned stations or “ghost stations” as they are also referred. Below you can read about a few of these stations and their fascinating stories;
Down Street (1907-1932) – This station was closed in 1932 and the fascinating fact about this one is that the brick work on the tunnel wall will actually change colour as you travel on the Piccadilly Line between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.
King Willian Street (1890-1900) – This station opened in 1890 and was closed on 24th February 1900 and was used as an air raid shelter during the war. Today, the only access to the station is via the basement of Regis House, who still use some of the tunneling nowadays in order to carry fibre optic cables. There are still posters up on the walls of the station that date back to the air raid shelter days and the tunnels leading to it can still be seen today from the Northern line.
Bull and Bush (completed 1907) – This can clearly be seen between Hampstead and Golders Green on the Northern Line. The unique fact about this particular station is that, although completed in 1907, it was never opened.
Brompton Road (1906-1934) – This station was situated between Knightsbridge and South Kensington stations on the Piccadilly Line and ended up closing in 1934. During World War II the station’s platforms were bricked up in order to be converted into offices and the floors were built in a lift shaft to enable them to convert it into a 4 story operations centre as used by London’s anti-aircraft control centre.
British Museum (1908-1933) – If you gaze out of the window on your journey between Tottenham Court Road and Holborn on the Central Line then you can see this station which was closed in 1933 when the new Holborn startion we know today was erected. The station had a very important job during World War II as it was used by the Ministry of Defence as an administrative office.
Aldwych (1907-1994) – Aldwych is actually a closed branch line so it cannot be seen from underground, however, the station still exists and is now used for private parties and also as a film and TV set. The station can still be seen from the street and is probably most deserving if it’s “ghost station” title as ‘Fluffers” (people who clean the tracks at night) have apparently spotted the ghost of an actress on the tracks many times. This may be explained by the fact that the station was actually built on the site of the Royal Strand Theatre.
London is one of the splendid destinations in the world. Millions of travelers book flights to London every year to visit the great Buckingham Palace, London Bridge and the Tower of London. Madame Tussauds is a world famous wax museum in London.
The London’s Eye is one of the best tourist attractions in the city. It allows you to enjoy 40 kilometer panoramic views of the city on a clear day. You can view some famous landmarks like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square on a gradual ride in the London’s eye. ZSL London zoo houses more than 1000 species of animals, birds and fishes. Gorilla Kingdom, Butterfly paradise, Tropical birds pavilion and aquarium are the highlights of this zoo.
You can book cheap flights to London to enjoy the ancient charm and modern beauty of this city. Internet is the best place to find some best deals. You just need to choose the name of the airport near to you and compare the prices of London flights. You can book a flight to London at anytime you want. However, July and August are the warmest months. Spring and fall can be pleasant in London, so you can plan your trip during those seasons. The royal parks and gardens are fresh and beautiful in spring season. The city receives heavy rainfall in November, so it is not advisable to book a flight during November.
Normally, the British people get their vacations in July and Augusts, so the resorts and hotels are overcrowded in these months. However, it is quite interesting to spend summer in London, as the city offers plenty of fascinating things to do and see in this season. January is the coolest month. However, you can get cheap flights in such off seasons.
London has various airport options. You can book cheap flight to any of those airports. Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the UK. It is located 15 miles away from London. You can reach the town with the help of designated Heathrow Express Trains. You can also reach the town by the underground tube. Taxis and coach services are also available from the airport to the city. Gatwick airport is located 25 miles away from London. You can reach the city by taking the Gatwick Express train. Stansted airport is 30 miles away from London. There are shuttle buses and taxis that connect the Stansted airport to the city.
Tenerife is the most popular island in the Canary Islands. Its fantastic weather, lovely beaches and picturesque garden make it a perfect spot for families, honeymooners and enthusiastic travelers. Costa Adeje, Puerto De La Cruz, Santa Cruz and Playa De Las Americas are some of the best resorts that offer cheap Tenerife holidays.
Costa Adeje is a great place to enjoy wonderful facilities and at the same time peace and privacy. It is close proximity to the Veronicas Strips, so you can enjoy the island’s best bars and clubs during your stay. You can also enjoy water sports, sea fishing and water sports. Costa Adeje features a golf course and provides great opportunities to enjoy duty free shopping. Do you want to relish traditional and international cuisine? You may not find some other better place than Costa Adeje. You can savor the traditional Spanish dishes like Tapas and Paella and a variety of international dishes here. Costa Adeje can be ideal for everyone and you can find some cheap package deals to Tenerife online.
Puerto De La Cruz is one of the oldest towns in Tenerife. The open air restaurants and bars here offer you an unforgettable experience. The botanical gardens in this place offer a visual treat to both children and adults. You can trees and plants from every corner of the world here. The locals are friendly and considerate. You can pick any of the great hotels or lower priced apartments to enjoy a comfortable stay in Puerto De La Cruz.
Santa Cruz is the capital of the Canary Islands. It is located in the northern Tenerife and boasts of some best sightseeing attractions. Loro Parque is a must see animal show, especially if you have children. The show features friendly dolphins, sea lions and parrots in a lovely tropical setting. The national park and La Laguna are some important places to visit here. If you want to enjoy an exploratory Tenerife holiday, you can plan your visit around February or March, when the carnival would take place.
Playa De Las Americas is a cheap, yet popular resort in Tenerife. You can find plenty of hotels, restaurants and bars here. It is conveniently located near Reina Sofia airport. It is a bargain holiday destination, so you need not worry about hiring a car to explore this island. Nightlife is more pleasurable in Playa De Las Americas. Most of the nightclubs have a relaxed dress code and they offer unlimited options to enjoy.
A country with a rapidly developing golf market, fast growing tourism industry and favourable climatic conditions, Turkey has enormous golf development potential. Its emergence as a “hotspot” for new golf courses seems certain to make Turkey Holidays increasingly popular, especially with European golfers. The country welcomed over 30 million foreign visitors in 2009, of which some 40% were from established golf destinations such as the UK, USA, Germany and the Netherlands.
At present, the Antalya / Belek region offers the most attractive golf Holidays in Turkey, having built a noteworthy worldwide standing as a golfing destination. The area’s finest courses include the David Feherty-designed National G.C., an excellent venue, offering 300+ days of sunshine, in a tranquil part of the eastern Mediterranean. Arguably, the flagship course of the Anatalya region, its modern features are tastefully incorporated into the natural landscape, offering a classy championship-standard layout. A decent test for the even the best players, accomplished golfers will need to find the narrow landing areas on the sculpted, tree-lined fairways from the back tees, whilst less experienced players will be tested by tricky approaches to greens, including the “signature” 2nd hole, with its green apparently floating in a lake.
Other offerings for golf holidays in Turkey include the nearby, Tat Beach International G.C., a Fred Hawtree design, some 20 miles east of Antalya.
With 3 loops of 9 holes, of varying characteristics, it is another course worthy of inclusion in any Turkey holidays itinerary.
The Antalya / Belek region is one of the Mediterranean’s most accessible, with Belek just a half hour drive from Antalya airport, which is served by many budget airlines including in the cooler months, when demand for Turkey holidays incorporating golf is at its greatest. As a result, Turkey should continue to capitalise, with Turkey holidays on the Aegean Coast increasingly focusing on golf as a major tourism product.
The Spanish island
of Tenerife is the smallest of the seven Canary Islands and rests on the Pacific Ocean off the shores of Africa. This popular holiday destination is famous for its year round sunshine and its developed tourist resorts, particularly in the South which has been a busy area with holiday makers ever since the islands’ tourist boom of the 1980′s. The major tourist destinations including Puerto de la Cruz, Las Americas and Los Cristianos offer excellent beaches and a welcoming atmosphere.
By comparison the quieter and greener North of Tenerife is less densely populated with hotels and its coastal areas maintain some of their original old harbour town charm. When you book your Tenerife flight you will notice that the island has two airports, this is because around five million visitors each year pick Tenerife as their holiday destination. You can book a Tenerife flight to the Reina Sofia (South) or Los Rodeos (North). Besides the obvious appeal of the glorious sun, sea and sand, the island also offers some interesting and unusual places to visit, transforming the standard package holiday into something more extraordinary.
Dizzying heights and Hollywood film sets await those booking a Tenerife flight. Mount Teide is Spain’s highest mountain and the world’s third largest volcano. Surrounding it is Las Cañadas a giant 16 kilometre wide crater. This bizarre and other worldly landscape consists of endless black basalt fields and solidified lava streams that tumble down the mountainside. It is not surprising that this unforgettable sight was recently chosen as a location for the filming of the 2010 remake of Hollywood blockbuster Clash of the Titans.
Step back in time – a magical world of nostalgia awaits visitors to Masca, a small hamlet of cottages that was isolated from the outside world until the 1970′s when a connecting road was built. A picturesque location situated in the valleys of the 7 million year old Teno Mountains telling its story inside a museum at Lomo de Masca.
The northern town of La Oratova developed throughout the 17th and 18th century has aristocratic architecture that shows visitors the island’s colonial past. A Tenerife flight that will take visitors direct to the North of the island is easily available but at a higher price on average. A volcanic eruption which in 1709 destroyed the seaside town of Garachico has now left behind lava formations which act as welcoming rock pools where visitors can swim alongside tropical fish.
With street sculpture and a world famous carnival, the vibrant city of Santa Cruz acts as Tenerife’s one stop culture shop. The main road Las Ramblas is lined with sculptures by artists such as Joan Miro and Henry Moore. For those who book a Tenerife flight out of season, this city hosts the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife every February visited by around one million party goers. This spectacle of dance, costume and music is considered to be the second most popular carnival event in the world.
The Silver City of Aberdeen is a scenic city filled with paths and walkways that crisscross with its 8,000 years of history. Aberdeen has won the Royal Horticultural Societyís ìBritain in Bloom Best Cityî ten times. The worldís largest international youth festival is held in Aberdeen, filling the air with the sounds of art and music from the folk festivals, jazz concerts and literature.
Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city and is considered to be the Oil Capital of Europe. However, the cityís stories and historical event turn it into a walk through history itself. The city was flattened during a conflict with King Edward III in 1336, during the Second Scotland War of Independence.
Coupled with the bloody historical battles, the famous granite buildings, gorgeous churches and beautifully appointed parks are the elegant structures that grew out of the destruction of the city. King’s College, Marischal College, and the Town Hall are grandiose examples of Edwardian architecture.
Modern Aberdeen is a fun and friendly city, whose residents are more than welcoming to tourists. The local accent may seem daunting, but the streets are lively, with many restaurants, nightclubs and music venues. Bed and breakfast inns and hotels are plentiful and nicely appointed. There is much culture to be seen, as the city is home to the Maritime Museum and the Aberdeen Art Gallery.
Aberdeen is the gateway to sandy beaches, the waterfront district, the Malt Whiskey trails, the Grampian Highlands and many ancient Scottish castles. There’s a lot of things to do here and unlike some of the other tourist destinations in Scotland, this one isn’t packed with tourists so you can enjoy them without the crowds.
Flights to Aberdeen are available from many UK locations with several carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet servicing the city’s airport. You can always find a deal or a cheap flight there.