Hovertravel is the only scheduled Hovercraft operator in Europe.  It’s also the quickest way for visitors traveling to the UK, to reach the Isle of Wight.

The scenic Isle of Wight offers some of the best beaches in all of Britain. In addition, enjoy the historic Victorian architecture, all alongside some of quaintest English villages. It is definitely the perfect place for a day out.

Launched in 1965, Hovertravel’s service is a safe and speedy 10 minute flight across The Solent to the Isle of Wight.

More importantly, it means that from London to the Island is a journey of just 1 hour and 45 minutes.

As the world’s longest running hovercraft operator, the Hovertravel experience is also one your children will never forget.

Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, explains, “For any Americans visiting Europe, the quick flight on our hovercraft is a truly unique and enjoyable experience. We regularly welcome visitors from around the world who have traveled many miles to witness this iconic British invention.”

The Hovertravel terminal is linked to London via several transport options including trains and the Greyhound coach service which departs directly outside the Hovertravel terminal.

For additional information on deals and events, please visit www.hovertravel.co.uk

Do you ever wish you could get away somewhere to just chill? Where mind, body and soul can simply be at one?

You can do this at Y Noddfa where, in keeping with its status as a  country estate of exceptional quality and prestige, an impressive choice of ‘residents only’ amenities are available following an extensive £2 million investment program.

Located in the heart of North Wales’ Lleyn Peninsula Y Noddfa Luxury Lodge Park  http://www.ynoddfalodgepark.com offers luxurious seclusion in a peaceful 60 acre gated country estate.

Prestigious luxury state-of-the-art lodges offer the best of both worlds and are available as a holiday hideaway or, if you prefer, you can buy one for your personal use and enjoyment.

Within this tranquil estate – this sanctuary – you can enjoy the large heated swimming pool and jacuzzi with its surrounding relaxation area, plus gazebo with built-in barbecue and refrigerators; tennis courts; state-of-the-art gymnasium; woods; six natural lakes; 2.5 acre fishing lake; all this set within a lush natural natural landscape.

There is also a safe children’s play area with a soft bark surface, swings, slide, climbing frame, rope wall and bridge. Plus, a football pitch that is ideal for 5-a-side.

If you are searching for stylish seclusion, this is the place for you. Stretch out with that book you’ve been wanting to read but never found the time; jump into your personal hot tub whenever the mood takes you – enjoy sunshine and soft drinks, or moonlight and champagne and take time to do some serious star gazing.  Or, do absolutely nothing at all . . . Heaven!

Nearby you can explore the dramatic coastline of high cliffs and endless beaches bounded by the bright blue ocean, ancient hills, and quiet lanes. Everywhere around you is steeped in history.

Southwards is Pwllhelli, a Victoria market town with a fine harbour and probably the best marina in Europe. West of Pwllhelli is the fashionable coastal resort of Abersoch – now famous for its Westock summer festival. Nearby Morfa Nefyn offers golf, sailing and the delights of Porth Dinllaen, a beachside hamlet accessible only on foot – but well worth the walk.

Snowdonia National Park http://www.snowdoniaguide.com with its stunning scenery and numerous attractions is on your doorstep, as is the stunningly beautiful village of Portmeirion http://www.portmeirion-village.com

Other area attractions to see are Electric Mountain http://electricmountain.co.uk and Sygun Copper Mines http://syguncoppermine.co.uk

Written by: Ellen Dean

The Lanesborough in London, England, is pleased to offer its guests the “Butler Picnics” event this summer, available now through August 2010.

Situated on the borders of Knightsbridge and Belgravia, The Lanesborough is in an enviable location right in the heart of London, England – with panoramic views of historic Hyde Park.

The Lanesborough has long been considered one of the world’s most luxurious hotels. The luxury hotel offers elegant surroundings, exquisite cuisine, unsurpassed attention to detail and world-renowned service are second to none.

The hotel just recently premiered Apsleys a Heinz Beck Restaurant. This fine dining restaurant was proudly awarded its first Michelin star in February 2010.

Served in Hyde Park, The Lanesborough’s “Butler Picnics” is a truly unique experience. Whether a romantic rendezvous or a family affair, butlers will provide individual consultation to personalize each picnic experience and ensure an enjoyable and memorable trip for all.

The Lanesborough butlers will deliver the tasty picnic basket directly to Hyde Park and serve the gourmet banquet. They will also clean up and bring everything back to the hotel after the guests have finished their delicious picnic menu.

From Jane Austen’s literary vignettes to Victorian England’s famed summertime gatherings, picnicking has long been considered a very British affair. In celebration of this cultural affection, The Lanesborough in London will offer guests “Butler Picnics” between May and August 2010.

Courtesy of: The Lanesborough

The property’s unmatched sense of elegance, proximity to Hyde Park and impeccable butler service ensure that The Lanesborough Butler Picnics offer the ultimate alfresco dining experience.

The Lanesborough will create beautiful bespoke hampers to suit all occasions; including romantic picnics á deux to fun-filled family gatherings. Savory menu highlights include deluxe summer inspired canapés, Cornish poached lobster with Beluga mayonnaise and balotine of truffled foie gras with asparagus jelly washed down with chilled Taittinger rose champagne.

To follow, relish in a Cropwell bishop stilton trifle with pear marmalade and oatmeal sablée or a scrumptious summer berry Rumtopf. Finish off the culinary extravaganza with The Lanesborough’s Artisan chocolates. All will be served in an exquisite traditional hamper complete with crystal glasses, plates, linen, napkins and a large picnic rug.

To ensure an enjoyable and memorable experience, butlers will provide a personal consultation to modify each menu, ensuring that favorite dishes and drinks are harmoniously integrated. He will then deliver the hamper to the park and serve the gourmet banquet.

Once finished, allow the butler with a mere phone call, arrive and clean everything up. This allows you all the more time to soak up your surroundings.

The butler picnics are completely bespoke and will be served in Hyde Park; the luxury Champagne picnic is priced at £250 per person.

Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance.

For reservations, call the hotel on +011-44(0)20 7259 5599 or visit www.lanesborough.com

From the second you enter Swinton Park Hotel, you will understand why it holds the White Rose Award for Hotel of the Year 2009.

This luxury castle hotel sits in 200 acres of landscaped parkland in the Yorkshire Dales, and has played host to many country house parties of legendary style and grandeur.

The castle dates from the late 1600’s with subsequent alterations by the Danby and Cunliffe-Lister families, combining both Regency and Victorian Gothic style and architecture.

Samuel Cunliffe-Lister bought Swinton Park in 1880, having amassed a fortune in the Bradford wollen mills. His great-great-great grandson, Mark (the current Baron of Masham), now owns the hotel and surrounding 20,000 acre estate with his wife Felicity.

Lavishly furnished with family portraits and antiques, the hotel combines all the traditional warmth and hospitality of a stately home with every creature comfort that a contemporary hotel could provide.

Relax and absorb the timeless elegance of a quintessentially English country house. Enjoy traditional afternoon tea in the luxurious drawing room with its warming log fire where attentive staff will serve you delicious food. The hotel holds the Tea Guild Award of Excellence 2009 and boasts its very own blend.

It’s not just popping in for afternoon tea. Swinton Park offers thirty bedrooms, each individually designed, drawing inspiration from the nearby dales, castle, abbeys and towns.

Sweeping views over the surrounding gardens, parkland and gatehouse are in abundance.

Enjoy exclusive use of The Spa; an oasis of calm. Relax in the Jacuzzi pool, relaxation zone, or sit for a while in the sauna. The Treatment Rooms offer face, body, beauty and complementary therapy treatments. Individual treatments, day spa and spa accommodation packages are available throughout the year.

Try your hand in the Cookery School with celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager, using the freshest ingredients from the hotels own walled garden and surrounding countryside.

Recent Awards & Accolades:
Hotel of the year 2009, White Rose Awards
Sustainable Tourism Award 2009 (Highly Commended), White Rose Awards
Green Business Award 2009, Yorkshire Rural Awards
Tea Guild Award of Excellence 2009
Green Tourism Business Scheme 2008
Top Ten Cookery Schools 2008, Sunday Times
Taste of Yorkshire 2007, White Rose Awards
Top Ten European Castle Hotel 2007, Trip Advisor
Outstanding Customer Service Award 2006, White Rose Award
50 Most Romantic Hotels 2006, The Independent

Hotel of the Year 2004, Excellence in England Awards
Swinton Park Hotel
Masham, Ripon
North Yorkshire, HG4 4JH
Tel: 01765 680900
http://www.swintonpark.com

Written by: Ellen Dean

For the first time in more than 40 years, London will host a major art exhibition of Vincent Van Gogh’s work. It will be held at London’s iconic May Fair hotel.

The May Fair hotel is offering a Real Van Gogh package that allows hotel guests to receive two tickets to ‘The Real Van Gogh: the Artist and his Letters’ exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts, which is just a short walk from the hotel.

It’s not just another “Starry Night” at The May Fair as hotel guests will experience an exclusive look into the famed artist, Vincent Van Gogh.

Guests can stay at The May Fair in an icon of expressive contemporary design, then view Van Gogh’s renowned works of art.

Room rates start at £269 (approximately $433*) per room, based on double occupancy.

The May Fair’s Real Van Gogh Package, available now through April 18, 2010, includes:

* Accommodation
* Full English breakfast daily
* A pair of exclusive open tickets to ‘The Real Van Gogh: the Artist and his Letters’ at the Royal Academy of Arts (valid any day, any time)
* Fast track entry to the exibit
* Gallery guide
* Ticket wallet

This spring is a great time to visit London; there is a rich array of art and cultural offerings that travelers can experience. Special exhibits running through April 18 include:

* Twiggy: A Life in Photographs, through March 24. Join the National Portrait Gallery in celebrating the 60th birthday of “the face of ’66.”
* Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year, through April 11. View more than 40,000 pictures of nature from amateur and professional photographers competing from around the world.
* The Empire Strikes back: Indian Art Today, through May 7. This free exhibit at Saatchi Gallery features work by 26 emerging and established contemporary Indian artists.
* Chris Ofili Exhibition at Tate Britain, through May 16. Check out this exhibition that includes new canvases by the British painter who channels hip-hop culture, folklore and nature in his work.
* Painting History: Delaroche and Lady Jane Grey, February 24 – May 23. Catch paintings by the popular 19th century French artist at the National Gallery.
* Irving Penn Portraits, February 18 – June 6. Catch celebrity photos by the late famous photographer at the National Portrait Gallery.
* Kingdom of Ife: Sculptures from West Africa, March 4 – June 6. Stop by the British Museum to view more than 100 sculptures from 12th-15th century Ife (now Nigeria).
* Henry Moore, February 24 – August 8. Tate Britain will showcase more than 150 works by the famous sculptor.

For further information on The May Fair hotel, visit http://www.themayfairhotel.co.uk/ or call 011 44 20 7769 4041, toll free (800) 333-3333.

The luxury May Fair Hotel is a legendary five star hotel with a glamorous past.

The celebrated hotel’s 406 guest rooms bring an eclectic luxury style to the historic West End hotel that first opened in 1927 with King George V and Queen Mary in attendance.

May Fair Hotel also offers guests twelve of London’s most memorable hotel suites, a discreet spa, a fine-dining restaurant and the quintessential London Casino.

Set in the heart of London, The May Fair hotel is within close proximity to the city’s best shopping districts on Piccadilly and Bond Street; Knightsbridge, Green Park and Buckingham Palace.

From Fendi furnishings; Baccarat chandeliers, including the largest Baccarat chandelier in Europe; the largest private theater in London; to 12 new spacious signature suites, and the Asian-inspired May Fair Spa, The May Fair is leading a renaissance of luxury hotels in London.

For more information, visit: http://www.themayfairhotel.co.uk/

Cornwall is a historic county in England, that is rich in scenic beauty and British history.

Cornwall is quite a special place with its own culture, language and even its own micro climate thanks to the Gulf Stream which passes its shore. Famous for its impressive landscape, friendly people and Gaelic tradition or delicious seafood Cornwall is an ever popular holiday destination in the UK.

Another feature of Cornwall is the provision of quaint cottages which supply a welcome alternative choice to more formal forms of accommodation like hotels.

With a cottage in Cornwall, you put yourself right in the center of the best that Cornwall has to offer. There’s a large choice in terms of location, from remote farms to sea and hill top views. Choose to be close to a village or out a long distance from the hustle of modern life.

Naturally, that does not apply to modern convenience like broadband Internet and satellite television should you need them! By choosing one of the many luxury cottages in Cornwall you can take more control of your holiday, and stay somewhere actually special and remarkable.

West Cornwall offers spectacular hills and countryside, as well as long golden beaches, authentic unspoiled towns and towns and a colorful history and cultural heritage. You can visit the mythical home of King Arthur ( Tintagel ) set on a remote cliff crown with waves crashing below, or visit the spectacular St Michael’s Mount, the romantic Sennen Cove, the preferred Eden project, monkey sanctuaries and plenty more.

Even when you’re on seemingly remote walks along cliff tops and moors civilization is never that far away, and finding great places to eat is never a difficulty. Sea food is very popular in Cornwall with locally caught produce a real favorite. Another culinary specialty of Cornwall is fudge which is produced in several places round the county to conventional recipes, and of course Cornish ice cream and cream teas!

One of the nicest things about staying in a cottage in Cornwall is that you get a genuine flavor of the local culture and strategy for living. Whether you plan a short stay of a couple of days, or a longer 2 week break cottage holidays in Cornwall are a great option for you.

When planning your trip, finding a great cottage in Cornwall is very easy. Most cottages now have websites and there are numerous directories to choose from, as well as official tourist websites which list details of hundreds of great places to stay.

The Lanesborough (a St. Regis Hotel) in London, is a luxury hotel located on world famous Hyde Park Corner.

The Lanesborough opened in 1991 and has been a landmark place to stay for the affluent, ever since. The luxury hotel was created inside the empty walls of the former St. George’s Hospital.

With Christmas quickly nearing, The Lanesborough is offering several holiday promotions for their honored guests.

o From December 13 – January 3 The Lanesborough is offering special holiday rates which include Champagne and petit fours, daily car parking, Sony VAIO laptops in all guest rooms, high-speed wireless internet access, unlimited movies on demand, fresh fruit and mineral water replenished daily, tea and coffee on arrival and with wake-up calls, as well as 24-hour Butler Service. Nightly rates start at 355 GBP for a deluxe double to 575 GBP for an Executive Junior Suite.

o From the 1st November 2009, ‘Apsleys – a Heinz Beck Restaurant’ at The Lanesborough offers its collaboration with Dom Pérignon, a nine course tasting menu. Served throughout November and December, the Heinz Beck and Dom Pérignon tasting menu represents the exclusive partnership of two globally respected names in the world of fine living. This exceptional menu comprises some of the finest ingredients and wines in the world, including Herbal infusion with tuna tartar and tea sorbet and a selection of rare Dom Pérignon OEnothèque Vintages, such as Vintage 1995 and Vintage 1969 – of which there are only a few bottles remaining.

o London’s premiere hotel warmly welcomes guests over the festive season to experience and enjoy the delights that the city’s foremost address has to offer. Soft candlelight, open fire and traditional decorations create the perfect ambiance for a luxurious Christmas. In addition, Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck and his team have created a sumptuous array of temping menus to be enjoyed with friends and family, accompanied by the finest wines and Champagnes.

The Lanesborough, A St. Regis Hotel
www.lanesborough.com
Hyde Park Corner
London, SW1X 7TA, United Kingdom
020 7259 559

Just off Piccadilly on Albemarle Street in London, you can find the historic Brown’s Hotel.

It is London’s oldest hotel, established in 1837 by Mr & Mrs Brown who were servants to the late Lord Byron.

At Brown’s Hotel, you can find likely the most traditional English afternoon tea. At this famous hotel, Agatha Christie wrote her novel, “At Bertram’s Hotel”.

In the English Tea Room, sit down and enjoy the award-winning Traditional Afternoon Tea that consists of your choice of 19 different teas. Included is Brown’s own blend.

In addition, you can sample along with succulent finger sandwiches and an assortment of delicate pastries, fruit and plain scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve, as well as a choice of freshly baked cakes from the trolley.

You will be served by professional waiters you bring your tea and food with classic Victorian silver tea stands.

Long a London institution, Brown’s Hotel English Tea Room was awarded Tea Guild’s “Top London Afternoon Tea 2009.”

You can also relax to the beautiful sounds of live music played on a Baby Grand piano.

Brown’s Hotel
Albemarle Street
Mayfair
London W1S 4BP
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7493 6020

England is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world, and this is mostly due to it’s rich history which has resulted in wondrous tourist attractions galore.

London is home to a great many of these monuments of history, however there is still a great wealth of them outside the capital and in fact, all over the country.

One of the most famous stone monuments in history is located in Wiltshire and has been the subject of much speculation over many years. There is still no solid evidence of why it was built or when, but historians believe that it once served as a burial ground and is around 5500 years old.

The overall creation of this monument is thought to have been spread over a long period of time (between 1500 and 6500 years!) and the stones themselves are thought to have traveled a long way before reaching their destination in Wiltshire.

People have since tried to recreate the carrying of the stones along the path that the men of history are though to have taken, using only the equipment that they would have had, but carrying stones that weigh several tons each and crossing rivers and ditches is apparently beyond people of the modern age.

Of course one of the most famous stories in English history is that of Robin Hood. His memorial statue still stands in Nottingham city center. It has never been conclusively proved whether or not the story of Robin Hood is historically factual or a myth, there have been many references to him throughout history, some as far back as the 13th century. You can visit the place where the majority of his deeds are said to have happened, Sherwood Forrest.

Of course, a place that holds a highly notable place in the countries history is Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of possibly the greatest playwright of all time. It is not only home to the house that William Shakespeare was born in, but it is a beautifully quaint town with a picturesque feel to it, outside Henley street that is. Henley street is the street on which Shakespeare’s old house is located, and it is one of the most visited places in the country.

Part of any great trip to anywhere is great accommodation. England is home to some of the finest hotels in the world and whatever county or city you happen to be traveling to, the chances are that you wont be far from one of them.