Top 10 Travel Tips for May 2008
Tom's Tips
1. "Take yourself to St Davids"
Quintessentially this is the capital of all things Welsh. David is the patron saint of Wales and this city is the de facto ecclesiastical capital of Wales. Water sports and walking tours prevail, attractions include the cathedral and the Tower Gate, and the whole scenic city lies within a national park. St David's is also the only city in the United Kingdom that can boast this national park credit and it's also the smallest city in the UK, with just 2000 residents.
2. "Visit Knoydart"
Head up to the Scotland and the beautiful little settlement called Knoydart. This peninsular can be found on the west coast and excitingly, it can only be accessed by boat or a 26km hike through the rough country! It's reputed to be Britain's last wilderness and for those in the crowd who despise world dominating commercialisation, you'll be pleased to hear that this 100 person community is not served by a Starbucks or a McDonalds.
3. "Take a trip to Ilkley"
Yorkshire not only gave the world the best savoury, Sunday lunch pudding – it also gave birth to the stunning scenery in and around Ilkley. If you've ever seen the film Calendar Girls you've already seen Ilkely but if you haven't had the pleasure, do it in person. National Express East Coast offer high speed train transit from London to northern cities like Leeds and then from there - Ilkley is a short branch line ride away. If you book advance fares online you get a ten percent discount too so take a look and book.
Louise's London
4. "A stroll around Bushy Park – near Hampton Court Palace."
This beautiful regal open space is just north of the equally good looking Hampton Court Palace. The two iconic attractions are inextricably linked and an exploration of their rich history is the perfect day trip. Famous features include the Arethusa Fountain in Chestnut Avenue and medieval field boundaries near Waterhouse Woodland Gardens. Apart from September and November, the park is open 24 hours a day and it's easy to get to. Just jump on a train at London Waterloo and jump off at Teddington / Hampton Wick / Hampton Court. Cheap day returns start at £6.
5. "The Horniman Museum"
This museum is a little off the regular, tourist beaten track and it has the kind of bizarre, off the wall attractions that make you sit up and pay attention. The historical repositories on offer focus on Anthropology, Natural History and Musical Instruments. Entrance to the museum and the garden around it is free but there is sometimes a small charge for contemporary exhibits. Train is the best way to get there, so jump on a chariot from London Bridge or Victoria and dismount at Forest Hill station.
6. "The East End"
This is one of the most vibrant and dynamic areas of London. It's a mix of modern urban culture and fascinating history. There's a great mix of yesteryear immigration, classic architecture and maritime pride at the docks and the wharfs. It's had a great renaissance lately and a day spent here won't be forgot in a hurry. Greenwich is a lovely choice and it's only ten minutes on a cheap train from London Bridge Station. Here you can explore the fantastically free Maritime Museum and the observatory; the home of time straddling the Meridian Line.
Jake's Jaunts
7. "Princess Margaret's Misdemeanours"
A favourite stop on the London Fat Tire Bike Tour is the residence of royal - Princess Anne. This Olympic equestrian gold medal winner is tenth in line to the crown but despite her distance from the queen's quarters, she's had a fair amount of high profile, royal run ins. Princess Anne is in fact the only member of the Royal Family to be almost kidnapped in modern times. On March 20, 1974 a crazed gunman attempted to force her and husband Mark Phillips out of the car. Her stiff upper lip, stoical response was: “Not bloody likely.” This fine British specimen also became the only royal to face criminal court charges after she was caught speeding at 93 miles per hour and her dog – Dotty, mistook two boys for chew toys.
8. "Winston Churchill's Secret Service Bathroom Antics"
Another favourite bike resting point on the tour is the Cabinet War Rooms - at the far end of St James Park. This former basement became a secure space for the Prime Minister and his cabinet, for meetings during World War Two. The roof was reinforced with steel and most interestingly, a scrambled phone was concealed in the lavatory. This facility made secure phone conversations with President Roosevelt possible and proved to be an integral part of the war effort. Mr Churchill has a permanent affectionate residence in the hearts of the British people – as demonstrated when he was honoured with a state funeral, and a twenty four hour tube service, to accommodate the 300,000 mourners in London. The queue to see his coffin in Westminster Abbey was over a mile long.
9. "Buckingham Palace"
This is the primary residence of Britain's much loved Queeny. The history behind the palace is equally awe inspiring and as Jake will expertly relay to you, the palace was bombed no less than seven times during World War Two. As a true bastion of British spirit during the conflict, the Queen was quoted as saying: “I am glad they bombed the palace. Now I can get a clear view of the west wing. I never could see it quite right before.” The Palace was also the focus of a musical bombardment in 2002 – the year of the Queen's Golden Jubilee. To celebrate fifty years on the throne Brian May took to the roof of the Palace and jammed out God Save the Queen on his guitar. Legend. To hear this for yourself and so much more, you'll just have to take the tour. It runs everyday at 11am and 3pm, the pick up is from outside the Queensway Tube Station on the Central Line, you don't have to book and these bargain tickets are just £15 for four hours of friendly fun. Students can come along for £12.
10. Editor's Choice: "Cheese Rolling."
You can't come to Britain without immersing yourself in the weird and wonderful world of quirky, English eccentric-ness. One key example of this is Cheese Rolling, which you can see in all its glory over the May Bank Holiday weekend. The date is May 26, the location is Coopers Hill in Gloucestershire, the wheel of cheese thrown down the hill is Double Gloucester and the Englishmen manically throwing themselves after it are stark, raving mad. You can combine this truly unique experience with a spot of sack racing in nearby Tetbury. This rather random race dates back to the seventeenth century when the town's finest would run the 240 yard uphill course, carrying a 60lb woolsack. To see a sneak preview and book yourself on such a weirdly wonderful trip check out Pillow Tours. I dare you to catch up with the bruised and battered cheese wielding winner and ask him for a slice.
- Rob Savage
