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Posts Tagged ‘England’

Try London Weekend Breaks For Something Completely Different

June 22nd, 2009 No comments
by Arthur Townlands

London is one of the largest and most exciting cities in the world. If you live in the UK London weekend breaks are great, but they can be a bit of a tourist trap. There are ways and means of avoiding this so we shall look at a couple of things which are a little bit more exciting.

Although visiting the British Museum has its merits and it is one of the most visited place in London, why not try to avoid the camera clicking crowds and see something really interesting instead. Who wants to see the same old sights anyway?

The Hunterian recently underwent a 3 million revamp, and if you fancy having a look at Winston Churchill’s gnashers, this is the place to see them. The Hunterian is a medical museum annexed to the Royal College of Surgeons of England, so if you fancy your history mixed up with the curious and the downright gruesome, it is worth a visit. You will find medical instrument, from centuries ago which look like torture instruments, body parts pickled in formaldehyde and all sorts of strange exhibits.

Not too far from Bromley you will find 22 miles of man-made underground caves. These are the Chilsehurst Caves, and to reach them you get a train from London Bridge. They offer a 45 minute tour of the caves where many people spent their time during the Blitz of London. The tour informs you about the relationship caves have with the Romans, Druids and the Kent Mushroom Co, and quite disconcertingly the guide refers to the world above as “topside”.

What about trying the Secret Cinema? This brings a whole new meaning to cinema-going. These days watching a film has really lost its charm, it is all pop-corn, multiplexes and ridiculous ticket prices. Joining the Secret Cinema society could provide you with even more excuses for visiting London, as they screen a “secret” film once a month in an unusual location. You are informed of the location, but don’t get to know what film is showing till you arrive, hence the name “Secret Cinema”. Once of the most recent screenings was “Paranoid Park” by Gus Van Sant and it took place in an unused railway tunnel.

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Kids and Earth Day

April 16th, 2009 No comments

America celebrated the first Earth Day On April 22, 1970. It was a need celebration to bring to light how polutio was killing this world. Today, Earth Day is no longer celebrated nationally but is celebrated around the globe.

The earth is in better shape than those early days yet, there is a staggering divide between children and the outdoors. Richard Louv, child advocacy expert, directly blames the lack of nature in the lives on today’s wired generation. He calls this phonomenon nature-deficit order and he links it to some of the most alarming trends for our kids. Including rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder has spurred a national dialogue among educators, health professionals, parents, developers and conservationists. This is a book that will change the way you think about your future and the future of your children. The bottom Line we and our youth need to spend time outdoors.

Schools have realized this for some time. Teacher Judith Millar, Lucy Holman School, Jackson, NJ, more than five years ago, began an environmental project in the school’s courtyard. It has become quite an undertaking–even gaining state recognition. It contains several habitat areas, including a Bird Sanctuary, a Hummingbird/ Butterfly Garden, A Woodland Area with a pond, and a Meadow. My classes have always overseen the care of this “Outdoor Classroom”, but now it’s practically a full time job!! My students currently maintain the Bird Sanctuary–filling seed and suet feeders, filling the birdbaths, building birdhouses, even supplying nesting materials! In addition, this spring they will be a major force in the clean up and replanting process. They always have energy and enthusiasm for anything to do with “their garden”.

Despite schools doing their best to get kids in nature , we as a nation have lost the ability to just send our kids out to play. Summer Camps are a great wayto fill this void. A recent study finds that todays parents overprotect their kids. Kids have stopped climbing trees, been told that they can’t play tag or hide-and-seek Not to mention THE STTICK and how it will put out someone’s eye.

Is the Internet and computers to blame for the decline in outdoor play? Maybe, but most experts feel it’s mom and dad. Play England says “Children are not being allowed many of the freedoms that were taken for granted when we were children, They are not enjoying the opportunities to play outside that most people would have thought of as normal when they were growing up.”

Voce argued “that it was becoming a ‘social norm’ for younger children to be allowed out only when accompanied by an adult.” “Logistically that is very difficult for parents to manage because of the time pressures on normal family life,” he said. “If you don’t want your children to play out alone and you have not got the time to take them out then they will spend more time on the computer.”

The Play England study quotes a number of play providers who highlight the benefits to children of taking risks. ‘Risk-taking increases the resilience of children,’ said one. ‘It helps them make judgments,’ said another. We as parents want to play it safe and we need to rethink safety vs adventure.

The research also lists examples of risky play that should be encouraged including fire-building, den-making, watersports, paintballing, boxing and climbing trees. Summer camp provides an excellent opportunity for children to get outside take risks and play, all while still while being supervised by concerned young adults…knowen as counselors.

Swift Nature Camp is a Traditional OUTDOOR CAMP in Wisconsin. Where Boys and Girls Ages 6-15. enjoy Nature, Animals & Science along with Traditional camping activities. Swift is a Nature Camp that develops a childs desire to know more about nature but also on acquiring a deep respect for it. Our philosophy is to engage children in fun-filled learning through active participation and natural curiosity.

No matter what skill level or interests your children have, Swift Nature Camp has activities that allows them to excel and enjoy. All activities are promoted in a nurturing, noncompetitive atmosphere, giving each camper the opportunity to participate and have fun, rather than worry about results.

Campers also can participate in out-of-camp trips, such as biking, canoeing, backpacking and horse trips. This is the ultimate test of a camper’s skill and knowledge. It’s a reward to discover new worlds and be comfortable in them. This is what makes S.N.C. so much more than just a SCIENCE SUMMER CAMP.

Earth day has provided so much..but their is more we can learn from nature. This summer help your child regain their appreciation for nature by sending them to Swift Nature Camp. This is an opportunity that will be treasured the rest of your child’s life.

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Milton Keynes – the Most Progressive Town in UK

April 14th, 2009 No comments

Milton Keynes is a rather new town situated towards the north-west of London, in the South East of England. It is a huge town, and also the major town in the Milton Keynes Borough. It came in the category of town in 1967 which makes it just over forty years old. “Milton Keynes” obtained this name from the neighbourhood village of Milton Keynes which is just east of the town centre.

In the 60s, the government decided that new towns needed to be made in the South East to reduce the problem of congestion in London where thousands of people were living in really old houses. There were a few boroughs in London that were massively overcrowded with people living in substandard housing and low quality of life.

To reduce this congestion and encourage people to move out of London without changing jobs, several towns were established near London so that people could move to these and commute to and from work.

The location for Milton Keynes is halfway from numerous cities: London, Birmingham, Leicester, Oxford, and Cambridge. The plan was that the town would grow to be self sufficient over time, and would ultimately turn into most important city in the very near future.

The town is very progressive in the way it is constructed and has many of its buildings being attributed in architectural magazines. There are many parks, lakes, and a large network of roads which connects it to all the adjacent cities. The town centre is not a conventional town centre, but is in fact a business and shopping zone. While Milton Keynes has made a claim for city status earlier, it has been denied for this status and thus remains a town.

Milton Keynes is the ideal place to live if you like to work in a big city but do not like the big city life. It is not only calm and silent, but it is one of the most excellent built cities in the country with its network plan. Internal traffic is handled very well with double carriageways and pedestrian paths. It is also expediently close to the motorways and has grand transport links with the rest of the country.

Living in the city is superb as well. It has ethos in the shape of arts and amusement. There are shopping spots and business regions, as well as good quality schools, colleges, and hospitals. All this makes it an idyllic town for a family to become accustomed. Nonetheless, it is near enough to London that people can make the commute everyday for work.

It is just right town for those people who are searching for the advantages of the big city and a diminutive town joint in one, which is exactly what the government was trying to do when they mapped to build the town some forty years ago. This town is an admiration of architectural genius. Nevertheless the town may not be a significant town to visit when on holiday to the UK, but for people working in the country, this is the best place for people sick of high-pitched noise levels and overcrowding in big cities.

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Things to do in England

March 15th, 2009 No comments

The current economic climate has led people throughout the world to find cheaper holiday ideas. One of the United Kingdom’s greatest draws is the strength of the dollar against the pound. Below I have outlined a few simple ideas to help you gain the most from your holiday.

A simple fun activity for your entire family is to visit museums and luckily the United Kingdom is absolutely full of them. Even better, is the fact that many of them are owned by the government and therefore are totally free to visit. There’s an absolute wealth of knowledge to find and discover in the British Isles no matter what kind of culture you are looking for. This is represented in the very different historical and scientific museums that are available.

No matter where you visit though, you’ll want to be familiar with the wide range of bus companies that tour up and down the UK. These tours are a fantastic way to visit all the major tourist attractions around the cities. They’re comfortable and interesting too.

Many of the guides have lived in the city’s they operate for their whole lives thus they make the perfect guides. I’ve had the privilege of taking many of these tours and can quite honestly vouch for the expertise and professionalism of the operators.

England has a world famous train system too, in fact, many believe the trains in the UK were some of the first ever developed. Plenty of them operate still today; the Colne Valley Railway located in Essex is an especially excellent rail service. The sights and smells of the countryside are a true joy to behold as you ride the line. It’s relatively cheap too and well worth a day out. The refreshments you can buy off the trolleys are delicious too.

There are some fantastic theme parks and marking them as well, the most famous and clearly greatest of them all is Alton Towers. Alton Towers feature some of the most advanced rides in the world the oblivion and Air are truly amazing. Plunging 200 metres into a deep underground tunnel makes the entire visit worthwhile. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself unable to scream though, it takes the breath away and leaves you quaking in your boots.

Another great family day out is attending a soccer match. Football, as they like to call it over there. For a seat at a top sides ground you can expect to pay around $40 to $50. The atmosphere and excitement of the crowd is worth every cent though. There’s nothing greater than celebrating a goal with crazy happy Brits.

As you can see there are so many cheap and reasonable events and attractions you can take part in while visiting England. Check with you local tour operator for more great offers, and remember sometimes the best things really are free!

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Lancashire Seaside Resorts

March 5th, 2009 No comments

Lancashire County is in the north-west of England and has plenty of sandy beaches. This is one of the most well-liked seaside resorts in Britain, and it also creates a gorgeous contrast with the eastern side of the county which has astonishing scenery and charming landscapes.

Lytham St Annes is the idyllic resort to go to for a seaside trip when you want a tranquil and relaxed setting. It has well-known golf courses that even host a number of championship tournaments. It also has a charming windmill and a big boulevard to walk on. If you are visiting in May, you can even see the British Sand Yacht Championships that take place here.

Blackpool is an additional seaside resort that is very attractive to tourists owing to its Blackpool Sea Life Centre and Blackpool Tower. The resort site has a continuous sandy beach and other attractions like walks to Anchorsholme in the north. Stanley Park, with its formal gardens too has a lake for boating as well as attractive fountains. If you are searching for culture, visit Grundy Art Street in Queen Street.

Another seaside resort in Lancashire County is Morecambe which has a gorgeous bay which offers water sports as well as other forms of fun. It is more than just a tourist spot. Morecambe is also a wildlife site and has many bird species as well as marine life creatures. It is also one of the largest bays in Britain, second only to the Wash.

The best time to visit Lancashire for some seaside enjoyment is in summer months, specifically from May to July when the weather is better and the sun is out. At this time, you can enjoy the many water sports available and truly enjoy the seaside. Since Lancashire is very popular among tourists, it is a good idea to get your booking in advance so that you can be sure to get cheap accommodations in good places.

If you get uninterested in the beach, you can also see additional things in this gorgeous county. You should go see Lancashire Castle which is open to tourists. It has a priory next to it that dates back to Saxon times. Lancashire City Museum will inform you of the history of the county.

The Bowland Forest and Pendle Hill are a part of the “Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” and they really live up to their name with their attractive contours, valleys, old-fashioned towns, and villages. While here, you can saunter around and look at the area, or get a bike and explore even more of the landscape. The county has numerous natural parks so you can really amuse yourself here if you are nature aficionado.

If you are going to Lancashire County for a seaside holiday ensure you plan this earlier, so you can plan out a way to really see this gorgeous county and do more than just spend time on the beach. Nevertheless, as the beaches are so stunning no one can blame you if you head no further inland than the hotel.

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