England Archives - Page 3 of 4

October 23, 2013 by jfalbelda

A guide to Newcastle’s independent music scene

Newcastle’s got a cracking music scene, and what draws me to it most is that so much of it is independent. Yes, there are big-name branded venues like the O2 Academy, but there are plenty of smaller, more characterful places too – and it’s these I want to focus on today.

Before I start talking about individual establishments, though, I’d also like to point out that Newcastle receives a really wide range of acts. Yes, you get household names like Jessie J (who, by the way, is playing at the Metro Radio Arena in October), but plenty of smaller and fledgling artists also take to the stage here.

By the way, if Newcastle isn’t particularly close to where you live but you’re still keen to check out the live Newcastle music scene, there are plenty of affordable hotels you can crash in overnight – NewcastleGateshead has a comprehensive list to suit pretty much every budget.

Now, let’s talk venues.

The Cluny

If you visit one music venue when you’re in Newcastle, make sure it’s this one. Tucked away under Byker Bridge in Lime Street, the Cluny is one of the hottest establishments around, somehow managing to be a gig venue, art gallery and bar all at once. Pretty impressive, hey?

Of course, being a pub at heart it offers a decent selection of ales, plus some classic (and delicious) pub grub. So, it’s far more than a music venue alone – but as a place to see live acts it’s pretty hard to beat, especially since it attracts such an eclectic mix of performers.

Set to play here in the next few months, for example, is Johnny Borrell, who’s on tour following the launch of his solo album Borrell 1.

Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre

As you’ll immediately be able to tell from the name of my next suggestion, it’s not exclusively a music venue. However, it does put on its fair share of concerts, hence it making my list.

What’s nice about the Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre is that as well as simply being a good venue, it’s really historic, as it’s a grade I listed building. You’ll find it on 105 Westgate Road where it has stood since the 19th century, when it originally opened as the Tyne Theatre and Opera House. Big names playing here in the near future include Daughter, who take the stage on October 19th.

Newcastle City Hall

Next up we have Newcastle City Hall, which is on Northumberland Road. This is one of the best places to go to if you want to see headline acts – and not just from the world of music. You see, Newcastle City Hall regularly puts on comedy shows and other productions, so it’s worth taking a peek at what else is on offer during your stay.

Turning back to music, artists set to play here in the next few months include British-American rock band Foreigner.

Hoults Yard

Last on my list is Hoults Yard, which is probably one of the quirkiest venues around. You’ll find it on Walker Road, where until fairly recently it stood as an industrial site.

It’s been utterly transformed, though, and today it’s home to office space, studios and more. The View, The Orb, and Kids in Glass Houses are among the bands slated to perform at this unique venue in the future.

September 27, 2013 by jfalbelda

Best Christmas Cities in Europe!

Thanks to cold weather and rich culture, celebrating Christmas in Europe can be an exceptional experience. Depending on where in Europe travelers decide visit different food, sights and experiences can all be enjoyed within the seasonal celebrations of Christmas. As Christmas is traditionally a time spent with family, many suggest that there is no better place to enjoy the festive period than at home. Whilst this may be the case markets, fairs and other celebrations often all occur weeks before December 25th allowing a keen traveler to visit multiple destinations absorbing a myriad of cultures sparkling with festive joy.

London, England

London’s markets, fairs and festive celebrations make it an appealing destination during the Christmas season. As the lights are twinkling and the Christmas tree is impeccably decorated in Trafalgar Square, the weeks leading up to Christmas in London are littered with lots of markets and events of festive cheer. In particular, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland featuring a selection of circuses, markets and amusement rides. Along the Southbank vendors sell mulled wine, street food and small gifts serenaded by carol singers. London presents a truly magical Christmas atmosphere.

Whilst enjoying London’s sights and attractions a great place to stay in London is near Heathrow airport as it makes it easy for travelers to fly in and out, as well as hopping on the tube to anywhere in the city.

Nuremberg, Germany

Soaking up its medieval charm, visitors to Nuremberg during Christmas are in for a treat. Festivities begin with the opening of the famous Christkindlesmarkt in the city’s old quarter on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent. Featuring over 150 wooden stalls selling traditional merchandise such as candles, spices, street food, gingerbread and handcrafted decorations, it’s difficult not to become lured into the jubilant ambiance of Germany during Christmas. There is also, of course, lots of gluwein to go around. For children, there is a separate Kinderweihnacht with a Ferris wheel, old-fashioned carousel and steam train and many markets selling sweet indulgences. Wonderfully enchanting, Nuremberg’s gothic architecture brings Christmas to life ensuring every trip is an unforgettable experience.

Prague, Czech Republic

From the beginning of November visitors to Prague can enjoy the city in the Christmas spirit. The main markets of decorated wooden huts are held in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square. Vendors sell handcrafted products such as wooden toys, glassware and Christmas tree decorations. The markets give the local vendors an opportunity to show off traditional food and drink such as ‘Trdelnik’ a hot, sugar coated pastry and Czech mulled wine known as ‘svařák’ that can be sampled and bought. The market of the Old Town Square bringing the Nativity to life as children can stroke sheep, donkeys and goats in a Bethlehem scene stable depicting the story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus as carol singers, local choirs and bands perform Christmas songs.

Europeans are famous for celebrating Christmas by involving their history and culture. Tourists from across the world are able to immerse themselves in foreign culture and appreciate other traditions within the spirit of Christmas. There you have it, 3 of the best Christmas Cities in Europe!

August 15, 2013 by jfalbelda

How to Read a Bus Timetable

Reading bus timetables is something that most of us learn how to do in school or from real-life experience as children taking the bus with our parents. But if you’re not a regular bus user and wouldn’t know where to start to even look for the timetables let alone read them when you’ve found them, where do you begin?

Thankfully most bus schedules are available online through the various bus companies that run the various routes. If you know what area you will be travelling in, then doing a quick internet search for bus companies that operate in that area will direct you to their sites which, in turn, ought to offer you details of the routes, stops and times.

If you are planning an international bus journey then searching for ‘buses to France’ (for instance) will bring up a few options for you to choose from. Each site will be different but iDBUS, for instance, has a really clear bus timetable: just select the cities you want to set off from and arrive in, and the date you want to travel. The site will pull up a really clearly-marked timetables telling you when the bus sets off (e.g. from London Victoria) and when it will arrive (e.g. at Paris Charles de Gaulle).

Normal British timetables will typically have a list of major bus stops down the left hand column, and rows of times that the buses will reach each of those stops. From that you can estimate what time your bus will arrive and many bus stops are now fitted with real-time information about when the next bus is due and which route it is taking.

On the timetables there may be symbols or other notes that you need to bear in mind when reading the timetable: some times and services will only be available on Saturdays, or not on Sundays, for instance.

At major bus stations you can find screens telling you which platform you need to go to in order to catch your bus, and they will also tell you what time your bus will depart. There are also members of staff available who can direct you and – if you are travelling with iDBUS as before – dedicated bus company staff will be easily identifiable and can help you to find your bus and seat.

Remember that bus timetables are always calculated on a best estimate basis. There can be little accounting for changes in road conditions and traffic flow. That’s why real-time information is so handy, and many stops offer a text service so that you can text and receive information about when exactly your bus is due to arrive. We hope this post helped “demystify” how to read a bus timetable just a bit to make your next overland journey a tad bit more, relaxed.

July 24, 2013 by jfalbelda

Top Three Reasons to Stay On British Soil for Your Next Holiday

The Beauty of the UK

When thinking about your next travel destination, it is easy to get carried away. There are lots of amazing places to visit in the world. When considering dream holidays Goa, Brazil or the Maldives might spring to mind, but what about the little slices of paradise found right here in the UK?

You might not think that staying here for your holiday is very glamorous, but the UK is an incredibly beautiful place and has some world-class destinations. Here are our top three reasons for staying in the UK this summer.

No travelling

A holiday in Brazil might sound like a good idea, but if somewhere takes two days to get to, it’ll seriously eat into your holiday time. When you do arrive, you’ll need the best part of a few days to get over your jet lag.

As we’re a small island, it will rarely take you more than a few hours to get anywhere in the UK – especially with the availability of domestic flights, which can connect Londoners to the northern territories of Scotland in an hour.

Speaking the language

We don’t mean this in just the sense of being able to understand what people are saying – although that really helps. What we mean is, in a wider sense, you know what is going on. You know what things cost, you know how much to tip and you know how to get served in a bar or restaurant. So often these are the cause of anxiety in other countries, but here in Blightly, you’ll always be on the right page.

From the wild and rugged mountains of Wales, to the quintessentially English countryside of Sussex and the stunning Lake District, we have some of the best views in the world. The pyramids of Giza are impressive, the Taj Mahal an architectural masterpiece but it’s important not to overlook the understated beauty of England.

What’s more, by deciding to explore home soil this year you may find that you’re able to save money for your next trip, and that means opening up more destinations such as Goa and the Caribbean. All areas of the world are beautiful and worth exploring but perhaps it’s time we started looking a little closer to home for our thrills before taking our interests overseas.

March 26, 2013 by jfalbelda

Newcastle, England: Top Itinerary Fillers for your Trip!

Riverfront in New Castle, England

Once upon a time, the north eastern city of Newcastle was considered to be a typical tough and gritty town that was oozing nightlife opportunities, but since the economic slump of the 1980s, it’s recovered into much more than it once was. Nowadays, it’s full of appealing sights and attractions to keep you occupied during a visit. Check out https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/book/newcastle-hotels for some affordable hotel options in the area, to ensure your stay in the city doesn’t cost the Earth when there’s no reason for it to.

Once you have organised your accommodation, start planning your itinerary. Other than the inevitable pubs and bars you could visit, there are plenty of attractions to add to your list, giving you the opportunity to benefit from a well-rounded trip to the city.

Great North Museum

In 2009, the Hatton Museum and Hancock Gallery joined forces to create an epic museum that is now listed among the top 20 UK attractions. Make sure you take the time to experience the state-of-the-art planetarium as well as the fascinating collection of artifacts from world cultures.

Belsay Hall & Gardens

Located on the outskirts of Newcastle in Belsay, this beautiful hall is looked after by the English Heritage and provides beautiful surroundings for an afternoon out, including the Yew Gardens.

Seven Stories

The Seven Stories is the first museum in Britain dedicated to children’s books, with 50,000 of them on the premises. It can be found in Ouseburn Valley, which isn’t far from the newly regenerated Quayside. Named because of the theory that there are only seven basic plots in literature and the building that houses it being over seven floors. Exhibitions change all the time with its collections increasing exponentially.

The Castle and the Black Gate

things to see in New Castle, England

As one of the major historic attractions in the Northeast, the prominent structure that remains is the Castle Keep as well as the fortified gatehouse, known as the Black Gate. While it was originally used as a defense mechanism, it is now open for public viewing, including for paranormal investigations due to the possible hauntings that occur.

The Discovery Museum

As one of the largest museums in the North East of England that is free to enter, it attracts almost half a million visitors each year due to its multi award-winning exhibitions. The renovation of the Discovery Museum in 2004 has meant an even better visitor experience, including interactive and hands-on displays to enrich each and every visit.

Quayside

This area of Newcastle has come a long way since its industrial roots, now providing one of the trendiest sites to spend time in the city. The docks are home to several cultural, art and music attractions that change regularly. Check online for updates. As darkness falls, the area transforms into a throbbing hub for evening entertainment, with plenty of restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs to choose from to keep you dancing till your feet can’t take any more.

With plenty of attractions, museums and things to see in New Castle, England,a stay here can be enriching and fulfilling (and of course a great time too!).