London, England is the home of several of the most visited attractions in the World. You will find Big Ben, the Tower of London, the London Eye and many others centres, homes, hotels and famous landmarks just waiting to be explored on your doorstep when you book any Westminster hotels. Here is a list of our top 10 favourite London attractions, particularly for first time visitors to London:

The Houses Of Parliament

The British Government are seated in the Houses of Parliament and throughout the year they will debate on a vast array of different topics. You will be able to have the opportunity to attend a debate, tour the buildings and witness Big Ben it all its awe inspiring height.

Buckingham Palace

A visit to the residence of the Queen is a real must do activity, particularly for first time visitors to London. You will be able to view some of the rooms that are used by the Queen herself as well as see some of the wonderful trinkets, treasures and fineries available for Her Majesty to use. During the Summer it is also possible to visit the grounds where the Queen holds some of her famous tea parties throughout the year but these are by extreme invitation only and members of the public cannot gain access to these.

The Tower of London

This is one of the most famous historical locations in London and is the place where Anne Boleyn was beheaded. You will find Warders here who will guide you around the Tower and you will be just metres away from where the Crown Jewels are held. A guided tour here is fantastic, informative and fun for all ages with lots of conversation and interaction amongst the groups.

The London Eye

Being higher than Big Ben would probably be a big enough experience in itself but on a clear day you will be able to see for up to 25 miles. The London Eye was originally installed for the Millenium celebrations but has been such a hit that it is has stayed in the very same place that it was first installed and it is now starting its twelve full year in the capital. Even a cloudy day in London can be a fantastic one as you can see some of the most historic landmarks from here even if the visibility is not very high.

St Paul’s Cathedral

Located in the City of London for over 300 years St Paul’s Cathedral has stood the test of time. The Cathedral has survived the Blitz and is a place that is well known throughout the country for holding some truly beautiful services and being home to many a well known and respected church member throughout the years. The Cathedral is absolutely stunning and must be seen to be fully appreciated in all its glory.

Tower Bridge

Here you can see some Victorian work in all its marvel. Having stood for over 125 years you will be able to watch this being lowered and raised several times a day and this is truly fantastic to see in action. If you want to learn some more about the bridge, how it works and how it was built there is an exhibit just waiting to be explored and even the option for some very high level walking which makes way for some truly breath taking views. Be sure to take a camera with you but ensure that it is firmly secured!

The Southbank Centre

If you are looking for some diversty, some arts, some crafts or some entertainment on your London break then why not come here? The Hayward Gallery is home to some amazing pieces by World renowned artists and you will find numerous types of music on offer here including classic music in the Queen Elizabeth Hall. If you are looking for somewhere amazing to dine then visit the Skylon restaurant while you are here for a meal that you will not forget in a hurry.

The River Thames

A boat trip along the Thames will allow you to witness some of the buildings and architecture here without having to even walk or queue up for ages. You can have lunch or dinner on a number of boats and you are also able to enjoy a nice glass of champagne or a beer while cruising along taking in the sights. You will find many boat trips available at any number of points along the River Thames but you can take a boat trip as part of a London Eye package and save yourself some money also.

The Royal Observatory

Located in Greenwich you will be able to visit the National Maritime Museum and see the Royal Observatory too. While here one of the most fascinating things to do must be to stand in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres at the same time which is definitely not something that you can do on any old holiday!

The O2

What started out life as the Millennium Dome has now become known as the O2. You can spend a whole day enjoying some wonderful cuisine and taking in a show with around 20,000 other fans! You will see huge celebrities performing here and you can also watch a movie, enjoy a night out in the nightclub or just grab a drink and have a catch up with friends or family. The atmosphere in the arena can be truly amazing, particularly when everyone is singing along to the song of a well known musician such as Lady Gaga or Prince.

Whatever you decide to do while in London you can be sure of an amazing fun filled adventure for the whole family and by booking a four star hotel central London you will be right in the heart of the city and in walking distance from most attractions.

So, you’ve decided you want to visit Yorkshire and enjoy some of its stunning scenery and its picturesque villages. So where do you stay? Do you stay in a hotel or look at cottages to rent in Yorkshire?

While of course it is a matter of personal preference, you may be one of the many people who are now choosing to stay in holiday cottages rather than a hotel or Bed & Breakfast. Why is this?

Cost
Typically, cottages to rent in Yorkshire may work out more cost-effective than alternative accommodation. And in today’s tough economic climate, for most of us, every penny counts.

Privacy
If you are the type of person for who holidays are a chance for you to chill out and sprawl across the sofa without being interrupted, then holiday cottages may be just what you are looking for. For some people, staying in a hotel with interruptions from housekeeping staff and having the formality of going downstairs to the breakfast room etc is not relaxing.

Space
Even though you may be out and about exploring Yorkshire during the day, do you really want to spend the evening stuck in a hotel room? With holiday properties you have a whole cottage to relax in after a hard day of walking and / or sightseeing.

Experience
Cottages to rent in Yorkshire allow you to have your Yorkshire experience in a more personal atmosphere. What sounds better for you – a quaint and quirky cottage in a small village or a large, impersonal hotel room in the middle of town?

Pet-friendly cottages
If you hate being separated from your pet when you go on holiday, then the good news is that there are pet-friendly holiday cottages. This is not only good for you and your pet’s emotional welfare, but it saves you money on kennel costs too!

So now we have discussed hotels versus cottages to rent in Yorkshire, which option will you choose?

Travelling around the UK is a delightful pleasure to be experienced by travellers, for those who are thinking about a trip to or in and around the UK; there is one place which should feature on any traveller’s map of ideas and plans for places to visit… The Lake District (or commonly known as The Lakes) is situated in the heart of the UK, centralised in the county of Cumbria, this amazing and picturesque location has featured firmly on travellers maps for centuries and boast some of the best walking holidays to be found anywhere in the UK. With uninterrupted views from your WetheralCottages.co.uk range of lake district holiday cottages you can enjoy the rolling hills of The Lakes with a glass of wine in the comfort of your cottages back garden and surrounding private grounds.

With the massive range of benefits which accompany the lake district cottages on offer through wetheral cottages booking you and your family a whole cottage for a week is one great way to enjoy a holiday in this part of Cumbria, just a stone’s throw away from Lake Windermere, the range of cottages available through Wetheral are terrific, choose from over 6 different cottages, all with unique and original features, some old shepherds cottages like Mickledale holiday cottage in the lake district offers you the traveller, a chance to own your own piece of this idyllic place for a few weeks of the year and relax in pure comfort as you parade yourself as the king of this holiday cottage. With amazing things to see and do in the local Windermere area, The Lakes offer you everything and anything you may need, from local farm shops selling home made bread and fruit and veg, to country pubs vending local ales and beers brewed in the Cumbria regions, even tours of Micro brewers and farms, animal sanctuaries and walking trails, even horse riding and equestrian sports, the Lake District boast all of this and more!

What more could you possibly want from a cottage holiday in the UK? With reasonable prices on offer for all the luxury holiday cottages on offer at Wetheral Cottages, you are sure to find a holiday deal, a cottage and that special place in the lake district which we at travel ideas know you are going to fall in love with again and again and keep coming back for more and more luxury holiday cottage goodness. Wetheral Cottages is the place to book your Cumbrian Holiday Cottage if you are thinking about visiting the Lake District during your travels this summer season.

Manchester lies in the southern part of North West England. Its population is close to 500,000 people, and it was the site of the world’s very first railway station, as well as being where scientists first split the atom.
Anyone visiting Manchester for a weekend break may be thinking what has this got to do with me?

All I want to know about is what there is to see and do here, but in fact the Alan Turing Memorial is situated here in Sackville Park, and is in memory of Alan Turin who is an icon of computing. He can be found sitting on a bench in a central position in the park. Another statue is the larger than life statue of Abraham Lincoln by George Gray Barnard which can be seen in Lincoln Square, and in Albert Square you can find monuments to Prince Albert, Bishop James Fraser, Oliver Heywood, William Gladstone and John Bright, while in Piccadilly Gardens there are more dedicated to Queen Victoria, Robert Peel, James Watt and the Duke of Wellington.

The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester holds extensive displays about transport including rail, air and space, as well as power, textiles, computing and more. It also offers steam train rides on a train that’s pulled by a replica of ‘Planet’ one of Robert Stephenson’s stam locomotives. The museum is located on Castlefield near the site of a Roman fort, and incorporates the original terminal building of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway which was the world’s first passenger railway.

If you fancy stepping back in time, you could try visiting the Stockport Air raid shelters where you can experience the sights and sounds of Home Front Britain, and wander around reconstructed tunnels which can show you what it might have been like to be here during the war.

If you happen to be visiting between 30th June and 17th July this year, then there are some fantastic performers going to be appearing here at the Manchester International Festival including Bjork, Damon Albarn, Snoop Dogg, and many more. During this time, the city will be transformed into a festival zone and will bring together work by some of the world’s best artists in visual and performing arts, music and popular culture.

The Peoples History Museum makes a fascinating visit and entry is completely free. Based in a restored Edwardian Pump House, it documents the revolutionaries, reformers, workers, voters and citizens of Manchester and shows how historic events here played a key part in changing the UK politically.

If you are going to Manchester and looking for a place to stay for a long weekend you can often find that reting a flat for the weekend can offer excellent value for money. A good starting place is to look on Gumtree’s free ads Manchester board which list rentals.

Shopping enthusiasts looking to splash the cash while on weekend breaks in London will not find themselves short of places to shop. The capital is home to a number of captivating markets, so you can be sure that you can always get your hands on a bargain.

Here, we look at 5 of the best London markets to visit during your trip to the nation’s capital.

Petticoat Lane Market

If you’re something of a fashionista, a great place to start is Petticoat Lane Market.

Situated in Tower Hamlets in East London, the market gives you the chance to pick up a wide variety of clothing and household goods.

Consisting of more than 1,000 stalls, you’ll likely find lots of things that catch your eye – who knows, you may even end up leaving the market with a whole new wardrobe! You can be sure of getting a bargain here and you may be interested to know that the Petticoat Lane Market is where entrepreneur Sir Alan Sugar first entered the world of business as a teenager.

There should be plenty of opportunity to stop by Petticoat Lane Market during a trip to London, as it is open from 10:00 to 16:30 every Monday to Friday.

If you’re visiting the capital at the weekend, it is open on Sundays from 09:00 to 14:00, although it is shut on Saturdays.

However, don’t make the mistake of seeking out an actual Petticoat Lane when trying to find the market, as a road with this name doesn’t exist in the capital. You will find it is situated between Middlesex and Wentworth Streets, with Liverpool Street the closest tube station.

Old Spitalfields Market

Alternatively, you may want to head to Old Spitalfields Market. Situated in a 19th-century Victorian market hall in East London, a wide range of antiques and vintage fashion can be picked up here.

The emporium is a particularly good place for arts and crafts and you can buy everything from Venetian masks to handmade wooden toys, as well as contemporary furniture.

If you’re in need of a breather, check out the international food court where you can indulge in a range of organic and fair-trade produce.

The market is open every day of the week, although individual businesses may have slightly differing trading hours.

Like Petticoat Lane Market, Old Spitalfields can be easily reached from Liverpool Street station, although the latter is also a five-minute walk from Aldgate East.

Apple Market

Art lovers should endeavour to visit the Apple Market in Covent Garden. Situated close to the tube station of the same name, the market focuses on supporting emerging talent within the UK arts and crafts scene.

By visiting the emporium, you may be able to purchase high-quality handmade ceramics, jewellery and gifts before stopping at one of the many cafes nearby for a hot drink and a snack.

The market is within a short walking distance of some of the finest hotels in London including the Sofitel St James Hotel and The Savoy so this area may be a great to place to stay during your trip to London

Brick Lane Market

Brick Lane Market in Shoreditch is another market in East London that is well worth visiting.

Open on Sundays, you’ll be able to pick up some fantastic second-hand furniture and watch lively street performers in action.

After you’ve finished shopping for the day, you can head to one of the local curry house where you can be assured of fantastic cuisine to quench your hunger.

Borough Street Market

Why not round off your stay in London with a trip to Borough Street Market? Set beneath the railway viaducts between Borough High Street in South-East London and the Thames, here you will be able to pick up a wide range of domestic and international produce.

The market is open three days a week, from 11:00 to 17:00 on Thursdays, 12:00 to 18:00 on Fridays and 08:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays, with London Bridge the nearest underground station. By visiting on Thursday you may be able to get some ideas about what dishes to cook by watching a demonstration from a chef at the covered Jubilee Market.

With so many markets to visit in London, you can be sure of getting your hands on some fantastic goods at great prices.

For an exciting and bustling City Break, London is the perfect location. There’s so much to see and do, hundreds of shops, restaurants and bars alongside some of the most renowned hotels in the world and the most recognisable tourist attractions.

Getting to London is fairly simple thanks to the location of the London Airports Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick, which are all connected with Express train services running to the city centre. London is served well by tube services (underground train) and buses within the city, although it is advisable to plan your journey ahead as the tube map can be rather complicated to interpret at times.

Staying overnight in London also isn’t a problem. Accommodation can vary from the prestigious and expensive hotels such as The Ritz and The Hilton, Park Lane, through to travel lodges, bed and breakfasts and hostels with prices ranging from £25 per night up to £1500!

When it comes to entertainment, or dining in the city, the prices again are just as varied. There are very many independent restaurants, lots of curry houses, fast food chains, celebrity chefs restaurants and members only dining clubs such as The Ivy. Money can be saved on eating out in by signing up for a London Daily Deals site ahead of the trip. Savings of up to 90% can be made on 3 course meals, drinks, or experiences such as sushi rolling lessons and wine tasting.

Some top attractions in London include Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament, The London Eye, The Tower of London, and London Zoo. All of these attractions can be reached easily by the tube and are well signposted. Again the chance to save money on entrance to top attractions can be found on a daily deals site such as Kelkoo Select

Most of us are aware that if we book our holiday early we can get a better deal on the price, but few of us carry this thought much further. In fact, pre-booking works with other things too including pre-booking your airport hotel and car parking.

Pre-booking also of course means that your parking space and hotel room are guaranteed for the dates that you want, and for the car park and hotel that will suit you best too. This is quite important as at most major airport parking spaces fill up quickly so if you’re pre-booked, you don’t need to worry about this.

If you’re planning on parking your car at the airport, but hadn’t been considering booking a hotel, it may actually be worth thinking again about this, as combining parking and a night’s stay in a hotel before your flight, can often cost around the same price as parking alone might, and you won’t have to worry about the hassles of delays on the road either.

Many airport car parks like – Heathrow airport parking and Birmingham airport parking offer lower prices on advance purchase bookings, and the earlier you book the more likely you are to find these good deals. When you find a good price, book it because as the date of the parking gets closer, these cheaper prices become unavailable as they’re only offered to people booking well in advance.

The savings you can make by booking in advance rather than just turning up on the day and paying for your parking on the spot, can be as much as 60% of the price which means quite substantial savings for you if you do book ahead.

Watch out for best price guarantees too! Some companies will offer free parking at the airport to people who find the same airport parking elsewhere cheaper within say a 24 hour period, so if you find somewhere that is offering this, its is definitely worth booking it, and then searching hard to see if anywhere does offer better. If they do, you’ll get your parking for free, and if nowhere does, then you can at least be safe in the knowledge that you’ve got a truly excellent price for your parking.

Generally speaking, off-airport parking is the cheaper option, but don’t worry this doesn’t mean it’s necessarily further away, ironically the transfer times can sometimes be less for off site parking than they are for parking within the airport boundary because of the locations, so check out these transfer times too.

Again it’s worth making sure you look at combined hotel and airport as although you might not think it, this can be one of the cheaper option, so don’t discard this option before you look at it. Find out more at Holiday Extras Airport Parking.

Edinburgh is a beautiful city, and an enchanting place for a short weekend break or longer holiday. The city has many places of interest to visit, as well as an excellent menu of events that take place here throughout the year.

Through the year, such events take place as the Linlithgow Folk Festival, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, The Military Tattoo, Fringe Festival, Film Festival, and many more which means that whatever month you visit Edinburgh there’s bound to be something taking place here.

There is a diverse range of attractions here in Edinburgh. There is of course Edinburgh Castle, high up on the hill overlooking the city. This is Scotland’s most visited tourist attraction, and as well as being home to the National War Museum, is also backdrop to the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Holyrood Palace stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile (at the other end to Edinburgh Castle), and is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. It is the setting for state ceremonies and official entertaining, and is open to the public throughout the year unless members of the royal family are in residence.

Princes Street is another of the main thoroughfares in Edinburgh, and is the main shopping street here. The street has virtually no buildings on the south side allowing great views of the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, and the valley between. What you will find here as well as shops are Princes Street gardens containing the Ross Bandstand (an open-air theatre), a war memorial to US Soldiers of Scottish descent, and a floral clock. The Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery of Scotland – two of Scotland’s best known art galleries – are also situated on Princes Street.

For such a large city, Edinburgh is a surprisingly green place, and even in the heart of the city you’ll find open spaces, parks and gardens that you can enjoy.
Edinburgh Old Town and Edinburgh New Town have many buildings which date back quite some way, and just wandering the streets themselves can be a joy if you like interesting architecture, and there are over 4,500 listed buildings here in Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh Vaults are in tunnels built in the 18th century underneath one of the arches of the South Bridge which was completed in 1788. For 30 years or so, the vaults housed taverns, cobblers and other tradesmen, and were a storage space for illicit material including, it’s said, the bodies of people killed by Burke and Hare. The vaults complex was closed down somewhere between 1835 and 1875, though it’s not known exactly when, and was rediscovered in the 1980’s. They were excavated in the 1990’s and now are a popular tourist destination.

http://edinburghguide.org.uk/

When travelling abroad, it can be an absolute risk taking a train, or taxi to get to and from the airport, delays can cost you not just extra money, but at worst your whole holiday experience. So taking the car and parking at the airport is often the best thing to do, it’s much less stressful. The problem is that parking at airports can cost a lot, and if you just turn up on the day, the cost you’re faced with could put a real dampener on that holiday feeling. If you book the parking in advance however, it can be a lot cheaper.

Booking ahead won’t just save you money either, it will also ensure that you get a parking space, and the further in advance you book the cheaper the cost generally is. Policies at airports vary, but some will actually let you book your parking space up to two years in advance.

A good starting place for prebooking your parking is at ParkBCP where you can book parking at many UK airports including – Manchester Airport Parking in addition to London airports where you can get deals on Stanstead Parking and Heathrow Parking.

Another thing to watch out for is that different airports charge different amounts, a Which? Survey reported that many airports in the South charge more than their Northern counterparts. The survey looked at fifteen of the UK’s busiest airports and found that Heathrow was the most expensive at over £85, while Manchester was the cheapest at just under £20 (this was based on seven days of parking not booked in advance). This means, that if you have the option of flying from several different airports to reach your destination, it could be worth considering their parking costs before you book your flights.

Another option is to consider an airport hotel and parking package. This can allow you to combine a night’s stay in a hotel, and the parking of your car while you are away. By staying in a hotel close to the airport the night before you fly, you remove all the horrible worry of whether you’ll get there on time, and if you opt for a fairly basic budget hotel, you may well pay no more than you would if you paid for just the parking alone, and in some cases you might even pay less. Airports that offer this option include Manchester, Heathrow (where there are 31 different airport hotels to choose from all offering parking), Gatwick, Edinburgh, Luton and many more.

Overall, the difference in what you pay if you book in advance, compared to not booking and just arriving on the day of your holiday and paying, could be as much as 70% in some cases, and of course the more you save on parking, the more you have to spend on your holiday.

Oban (“little bay” in Gaelic), Scotland, is a charming harbor town in western Scotland. It is an important ferry port for many of its surrounding islands. Located in the spectacular Argyll countryside, it is known for some of the most magnificent sunsets in Scotland.

Also known as the Seafood Capital of Scotland, Oban boasts of fabulous seafood restaurants and many fish stalls. One of the most recommended eateries is the SEAFOOD TEMPLE. Their freshly caught, simple, delicious and generous portions are incredible. The owner and staff are very friendly and attentive, and the view over the bay is superb. This is such a top-notch restaurant that you have to make a reservation. Also visit the INVERAWE SMOKERY AND COUNTRY PARK with its smokehouse, one of the country’s finest stocked fisheries, nature trails, a shop, and a cafe.

You will find kayak schools and many tours including to the SCOTTISH SEALIFE SANCTUARY with its otters, seals, and other salt water native animals. The SEA FREEDOM KAYAK is a mobile kayak which offers coaching and day trips where you can paddle among the islands and lochs. Also popular is canoeing, climbing, gorge walking, wildlife excursions, and more.

The beautiful Argyll area is known for its glorious gardens, one of which is ARDUAINE GARDENS, run by the National Trust for Scotland, which is a fabulous paradise filled with outstanding plants.

How can a person go to Scotland and not visit an attraction such as the OBAN DISTILLERY? This is one of the oldest sources of malt scotch whiskey in Scotland. An hour tour gives you much information about the process, shows you the distillery at work, and you get a taste or two!

Several castles are in the area including the medieval DUNSTAFFNAGE CASTLE, which is rumored to be haunted. As well as a good history display, there is also a chapel within the woods and a path to a cobbled beach behind the castle.

Another sight to see is the Coliseum-type McCAIG’S TOWER with its Victorian architecture and views of the harbor. Admission is free and was built by McCaig as a mausoleum, giving unemployed stone masons of his day work, which they completed after his death.

The OBAN WAR AND PEACE MUSEUM has free admission and has a wonderful collection of memorabilia, artifacts, and photographs from the war years when RAF Flying Boats operated from this bay.

Fun for the whole family is MITCHELL’S AMUSEMENTS with kiddie rides, video games, pool tables, a candy shop, and a coffee shop.

Top off your Oban adventure by staying at the luxury hotel Barcaldine house close to Oban, which is surrounded by beautiful gardens, mountains, and beaches. Although this country manor is 300 years old and there are many original features to admire, it is modernized and is a nominee for a 2010 Scottish Hotel Award. With just eight bedrooms and six self-catering cottages, it was opened as a hotel in May of 2009. It is pleased to boast about its award-winning restaurant and its Rising Star Chef of the Year 2010. Barcaldine House is also a renowned wedding venue.