As clichéd as it
may sound there are innumerable reasons to fall in love with London! It is a
city where something is always happening be it a sports, entertainment,
cultural or social events. From some of the finest palaces, magnificent
museums, amazing art galleries, incredible shopping and entertainment venues,
new restaurants or musical concerts to attend, a visitor will never spend any
two evenings doing the same thing. It is fair to state that one can never get
bored when in the city.
The best part of
the year to visit the city is during the summer season, when the weather is
pleasant and great to go sightseeing. The city is home to some fantastic hotels
located all over the city with some of the best being the hotels in
Hyde Park. The
Grand Royale London Hyde Park is one such stunning luxury hotel which
offers opulence, comfort and top class amenities at a very affordable price.
With the
numerous attractions in London we tend to forget there is much more to the UK
than just the city of London. And for that we need not travel too far, just
move out of the town to the city’s surroundings counties and districts to
discover some real fabulous places in the neighbourhood of London. Whether you
are a Londoner or a visitor some of these fantastic places to visit are …
Windsor: It is a historic
town that lies in the Royal Borough of Windsor
and Maidenhead in Berkshire County, just a mere 23 miles from Charing Cross in
London. Windsor town is home to the official residence of the Royal Family and
remains as the oldest and largest castle in occupation to this day. This
imposing fortress was originally built in the 11th century by
William the Conqueror and has played a key role in the British history over the
centuries. A full working palace that employs over 500 people it is a fabulous
place to visit with its ornately decorated State Apartments, which house some
of the most priceless furniture in the world, besides St George’s Chapel, that
has been the historical home to the Order of the Royal Garter, since the 14th
century.
Arundel: It is without any
modicum of doubt out of the most beautiful rustic towns that lies nestled in a
steep valley of the South Downs in West Sussex, just about 49 miles of London.
The focal point of the town is its stunning fairy-tale like castle, which is
the seat of the Duke of Norfolk, and has been their ancestral home for more
than seven centuries. It is also home to a striking neo-Gothic Cathedral with
its streets and markets that house a variety of antique shops and emporiums,
great eateries and quaint little teashops.
St Albans: Only about nine
teen miles from the northwest of Central London St. Albans a city lies in
Southern Hertfordshire. It has the distinction of being out of the oldest
cities in the country with its fascinating history even pre-dating the time of
the Roman invasions. Visitors and tourists are drawn to its serene and
tranquil surroundings where they can explore its ancient Roman ruins. During
Roman times it was known as the City of Verulamium. With its awe inspiring medieval
cathedral, historic high streets buildings, verdant parkland and an array of
restaurants and cafés it is a terrific place to visit and spend the day
exploring.
Blenheim Palace: The
historic palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, which in
actuality is a massive country house that lies in Woodstock in Oxfordshire
County. It has served as the principal residence of the Marlborough Family over
the centuries. It serves as a mausoleum, family home and national monument and
is a very popular attraction with tourists and visitors to the county of
Oxfordshire. Its exteriors are stunningly impressive with imposing columns, gigantic
pediments and obelisks. Equally charming are its interiors which house tapestries,
grand furniture, statues, a priceless china collection and beautiful life-size
oil paintings in attractive gilt frames. The palace’s sheer opulence is
breathtaking and definitely is an attraction to visit.
Hever Castle: Set amidst
picturesque surroundings Hever Castle is just 30 miles from the south-east
part of London and is located in Hever village in the District of Kent. It is a
popular tourist attraction owing to its historic links with the hapless Anne
Boleyn (who spent her youth here) and Henry VIII. With its attractive gardens,
mazes and lake that are encircled by a narrow moat with an abundance of natural
wildlife including swans and ducks it makes for a most interesting visit. The
Castle also has a fine collection of Tudor artwork, and offers a plethora of activities
during summer, which include country fairs, falconry exhibitions and jousting
among other events.
Lincoln: The city of
Lincoln is a cathedral city in Lincolnshire within the East Midlands in
England. Lincoln evolved over the centuries from the historic Roman town of
Lindum Colonia. With its cobblestoned medieval streets that crisscross the city
it is famous for its awe-inspiring 12th-century cathedral. Its lanes are lined
with Tudor style town houses, quirky shops and classic English pubs. A quaint
and interesting place worth a visit!
Bodiam Castle: It was
built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, who was a former knight of Edward
III and was constructed apparently to protect the area from the French forces
in the period of the Hundred Years’ War. It is situated close to Robertsbridge
in the county of East Sussex. This formidable fortress has stout walls (2 feet
in thickness), numerous battlements, turrets and a large surrounding moat that
teems with goldfish, it is a fascinating place to visit and explore. Although,
most of the interiors are in ruins, it nevertheless makes for an interesting
trip, with a panoramic view from its battlements of the surrounding
landscape.
No comments:
Post a Comment