About.com United Kingdom Travel

Registration Opens for Brighton Festival Fringe

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:01:34 +0000

Have you got an act the public Must see? A dance company, stand-up routine, musical ensemble, play or performance art event that's time has come?

The Brighton Festival Fringe, England's biggest fringe festival, may be just the place for your debut. Registration for 2010, for performers and companies opened this week. You can register between now and February 8, 2010 to participate in the festival, scheduled for May 1 to 23, 2010.

There's an online registration form for participants who have it all sussed. But if you're not sure what's involved in putting on an event at the Brighton Festival Fringe, check out the Participants page and the very helpful Get Involved section.

_{Brighton Festival Fringe | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

Registration Opens for Brighton Festival Fringe originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 12:01:34.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Thanksgiving in the UK-Where to Have a Trad Turkey Feast

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:40:01 +0000

Just because you're away from home, that's no reason not to carb load at a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner - and eat some turkey too, of course. Americans abroad, for vacation, school or work, can tuck into turkey with all the trimmings at a remarkable number of restaurants and informal gatherings around Britain. Dinners range from haughty gourmet feasts in expensive hotels to friendly homestyle feasts. Several even throw in live broadcasts of the Macy's Parade and Thanksgiving football games. In Plymouth, they make a whole weekend out of the holiday.

Find out more about Thanksgiving in Plymouth, England, and about other places to enjoy this most American festival in the UK in our round up of Thanksgiving Celebrations in the UK.

And while you're at it, drop in to my forum to share your Thanksgiving thoughts, traditions and plans with the rest of us.

_{composite created from Getty Images | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

Thanksgiving in the UK-Where to Have a Trad Turkey Feast originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 01:40:01.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Southern Railways Half Price Deal

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:20:51 +0000

Day trips from London and around the south of England just got much cheaper. Southern Railways has launched half price day return tickets (that's round trip, same day) for customers who book online between now and December 15.

The fares are for off-peak, weekday journeys and some are pretty remarkable. London Victoria to Brighton, round trip, is just �10.40. Travel to Arundel with its wonderful castle and access to the South Downs Way for just �11 round trip.

Tickets must be purchased online before the closing date but you can use them after December 15. Sounds like some school vacation outings might be in the cards.

To book, visit The Southern Railways website.

_{UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

Southern Railways Half Price Deal originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 01:20:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

More News About Ancient UK Gold Finds

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:19:06 +0000

Metal detectorists seem to be having a field day in the UK at the moment. As a small selection from the Anglo Saxon gold hoard, unearthed in September, went on show at the British Museum in London today, a new find, in Stirling, Scotland was announced.

The Stirling find, a 2,000-year-old hoard consisting of four twisted gold neckbands, or torques, is estimated to be worth �1 million. The pieces are believed to date from the 1st and 3rd centuries B.C.

The find has been declared treasure trove and is now being valued by the The Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel. The finder has no right to the find, which becomes the property of the Crown, but is customarily offered a reward equal to the appraised value.

Meanwhile, a small group of items from the West Midlands Anglo Saxon hoard went on display at the British Museum while the entire find - approximately 1,600 items - is being valued.

At the same time, a group of West Midlands institutions, including the Birmingham Museums and Art Galleries and Staffordshire County Council, announced that the gold will, ultimately, be returned to Staffordshire, in the West Midlands, where it was found.

_{Christopher Furlong/Getty Images | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

More News About Ancient UK Gold Finds originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 15:19:06.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

An Evening at Windsor Castle - What a Holiday Treat

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:42:04 +0000

If you've ever fancied getting closer to some of the treasures of Windsor Castle, or having a virtually private view of them, after hours - you may just be in luck.

Four exclusive evening tours of the Castle are planned for December 16-19. A maximum of 30 people on each night will have a chance of spending two and a half hours in the company of an expert guide from 5p.m. onward.

The tour costs �50 per person and includes an official guidebook, a 20% discount in the Royal Collection shop, a glass of champagne and a traditional mince pie. The tour can be booked online, or by telephoning 44 (0)207 766 7333.

More Holiday Merriment at Windsor Castle

Family visitors are invited to "A Christmas Ball at Windsor Castle" on the 19 and 20th of December between 11a.m. and 3p.m. But don't hurry to get the designer gown out of storage. This is a kind of virtual ball.

Children are invited to imagine what it would be like to host a ball and to follow a special trail through the State Apartments. They'll learn about costumes, decorations and feasts of the past before heading for the Moat Education Room to design a royal outfit or make a Christmas decoration.

_{Getty Images | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

An Evening at Windsor Castle - What a Holiday Treat originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 08:42:04.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Blog Carnival: Christmas Markets Light Winter Nights

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:36:53 +0000

All over Europe, traditional Christmas markets brighten the early winter dusks this month. Shoppers enjoy the twinkling lights, steaming crocks of spicy mulled wine, sizzling sausages and chestnuts. There's usually music, crafts, baked goods and sweets. The Best Christmas Markets in UK go on for most of November and December, in the shadow of Medieval cathedrals.

The tradition may have begun in Germany and Austria, but today Christmas markets (or Christkindle Markets as they are sometimes called), have spread to Northern and Eastern Europe, France, Italy and Spain. We've even found some around the USA.

And this year, with everyone pinching pennies, the traditional Christmas market is a good choice for unique gifts at reasonable prices. About.com's Travel Guides have joined together for this week's blog carnival to recommend their favorite Christmas markets:

Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland all feature in The Best Christmas Markets in Scandinavia from Scandinavia guide Terri Mapes.
Birge Amondson, About.com's guide to Germany, highlights a handful of The Best Christmas Markets in Germany including the oldest, in Dresden, dating from 1454. Check out her Christmas Market photo gallery too.
Paris always sparkles so it's no surpise that Paris guide Courtney Traub has found a nice bunch of Paris Christmas Markets. And check out other Christmas Markets in France
Eastern Europe is positively effervescent with holiday markets. Guide Kerry Kubilius highlights these Christmas Markets in Eastern Europe.
And, heading south, Italy guide Martha Bakerjian says Italian Christmas Markets, called Mercatini di Natale, are good places to shop for Italian Christmas gifts and, perhaps, catch a glimpse of Babbo Natale, Father Christmas.
Stateside, New York City guide Heather Cross spotlights Holiday Markets in New York City.
And frosty Chicago is the setting for Christkindlemarkt in Daley Plaza.

And, if you are heading for Spain and can handle a bit of Spanish, do check out Madrid's Ciudad Navidad website. They've been selling traditional nativity figures in the Plaza Mayor since 1860 and the Plaza Espa�a is the place to find traditional and contemporaray Spanish crafts.

_{Matt Cardy/Getty Images and Bernhard Lang/Getty Images | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

Blog Carnival: Christmas Markets Light Winter Nights originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 01:36:53.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Ghost Cams for Armchair Ghost Hunters

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:21:07 +0000

I love Halloween, chills and thrills and ghostly manifestations as much as anyone. But here's the thing. I hate the dark and being cold, and all that manky mildew in haunted cellars makes me sneeze.

So how am I supposed to go ghost hunting?

Lucky for me the web can solve anything. Some of the most haunted places in the UK now have web cams - ghost cams actually - trained on them during the spookiest times of day...and night. If, like me, you prefer armchair ghost hunting, check out Haunted Places with Ghost Cams around the UK.

_{©Ferne Arfin | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

Ghost Cams for Armchair Ghost Hunters originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 01:21:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Michael Jackson Exhibition Opens

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:50:12 +0000

Michael Jackson:The Official Exhibition opens today at the O2 bubble in London, where the King of Pop was to have launched his come back concert career.

The exhibition showcases many of the star's most personal and iconic memorabilia, including the famous white glove, costumes from the show that never was and a selection of (occasionally bizarre) paraphernalia from Jackson's Neverland mansion.The exhibition continues through January, with tickets available online.

_{Samir Hussein/Getty Images | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

Michael Jackson Exhibition Opens originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 00:50:12.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Giant Sea Monster Found on UK's Jurassic Coast

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:55:56 +0000

The fossilized skull of a giant pliosaur, an aquatic reptile that ruled the seas about 150 million years ago, has been found on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, one of the UK's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The skull, which is about 8 feet long, was discovered by local collector. It is believed to be the largest find its kind ever discovered and may have been part of an animal that was at least 50 feet long.

Dorset County Council used UK Lottery Heritage Fund money to pay the local collector �20,000 for the find. After it is investigated, it will be put on public display in the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester.

Apparently the skull was revealed in segements as time, tides and rock falls exposed it. According to the County Council's experts, it may be many years before more of the skeleton is exposed.

County officials are keeping the location of the find secret because of the danger of landslides and rock falls in the area. But, visitors can walk and fossil hunt along much of the Jurassic Coast.

Find out more about fossil hunting on Britain's Jurassic Coast

_{UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

Giant Sea Monster Found on UK's Jurassic Coast originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 13:55:56.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Halloween Blog Carnival - Spooky Thrills Worldwide

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:54:36 +0000

Just in case not enough of their chocolates end up in this Halloween's trick or treating loot, Cadbury World, near Birmingham, is planning to go all out for Halloween with a whole Ghosts and Ghouls Week from October 24 to November 1. Kids who come dressed for trick or treat can win prizes for best costumes (two winners every day); there'll be Halloween entertainers, craft workshops, spooky stories and disgustingly ghoulish food served in the caf� every day.

More grown-up Halloween thrills can be had at some of the UK's most haunted places, where creepy spirits have been spooking locals and tourists alike for hundreds of years.

Once an American celebration (via the Irish and Celtic originals), Halloween is now catching on all over the globe. Hotels and Resorts guide Charlyn Keating Chisholm has polled About.com's Travel team to come up with a collection of spooky special events where you might just try capturing a ghost or a ghoul on film. Check out this week's blog carnival Halloween Around the World.

_{Getty Images | UK Travel Blog | share on facebook | Twit This}

Halloween Blog Carnival - Spooky Thrills Worldwide originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 01:54:36.

Permalink | Comment | Email this