Uk Tours - Great British Trips

The Lake District

2011-08-22T01:28:00.000-07:00

There are few things in life that are quite as enjoyable as escaping city life for incredible and dramatic scenes of peace and tranquillity in areas like England’s Lake Country and last weekend, that is exactly what we did. My friends and I exchanged the smoky urban landscape to which we’d become accustomed in favour of a more rural, rustic and generally charming landscape and we were not disappointed. The sheer range of activities available here is enough to satisfy every individual whether you’re an adrenaline junky or cafe hopper. If you are into walking, cycling, climbing, culture or watersports, you will be delighted as the Lake District is definitive provider of the great outdoors! You will find a range of outdoor providers and can enjoy the landscape on foot, on wheels, on ropes and on water. For lover’s of a more gentle day out, you you may prefer to immerse yourself in the stunning countryside of Beatrix Potter and find out what inspired the author to write her world-famous books, including The Tale of Petter Rabbit and The Tale of Mrs Tittlemouse.

This large National Park is simply filled with trails, quiet railway paths, villages and valleys to explore the quietest and rural county in England. The stunning beauty of these magnificent and unique scenes are hard to believe and the area really does have to be seen to full appreciate the wild splendour of it all. We stayed in Bowness-on-Windemere; Cumbria’s most popular destination. This quaint town is famous for hiking, watersports and of course England’s largest lake – Windermere herself. On Saturday, we took a walk in the woods and managed to lose ourselves entirely amidst fields of sheep as our map reading skills fell victim to a momentary lapse of concentration. On Sunday, we took the bus to Ambleside, another charming village on the north of the Windermere Lake. There we discovered a curious site: a house built on a bridge which apparently was done in order to escape local taxes! This feature alone made Ambleside worth the trip but the glorious day was completed with a delightful visit to a series of stunning waterfalls.

Liverpool !

2011-07-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was fortunate enough to spend a fabulous day with my friend in the world capital of pop music, the incredible city of Liverpool !

Our day began with an authentic English pub breakfast followed by a visit to the city centre. The city is just bursting with art and history, and evidence of it’s pride as it took the title ‘European Capital of Culture’ in 2008 still surrounds the city to this day. Art lovers will be delighted to visit the Walker Art Gallery; which houses many fabulous paintings by great artists such as Rembrandt, Degas and Turner, but for this visit, we turned our attention to music. In Liverpool, music is everywhere. Non-negotiable for the music fan I am, a trip to The Beatles Story at Albert Dock topped the day’s itinerary. This museum is more of an experience than a museum. Through different rooms and atmospheres, you are invited to follow the story of the Beatles from their humble beginnings there in the Matthew Street Cavern Club right through to international super-star status. The museum displays lots of collectibles such as vinyl records, newspapers articles, John Lennon’s glasses, guitars, scene costumes... Although this was my second visit to the museum, my experience was surprising due to obvious renovation and expansion work with more and more pieces than I could possibly imagine. I particularly enjoyed the snippets of song lyrics plastered across the walls. Many Beatles lyrics are pure poetry; every line more thought-provoking than the last.

Outside the museum, it is impossible not to notice the industrial past of the city, famous for being the gateway to the New World. Much of the architecture from the industrial revolution still remains but it has been modernized and beautifully incorporated into a city dedicated to art lovers, sports and music fans. Later it was back to the music for me as I saw the Cavern Club for myself where the Beatles began. Of course it was simply impossible to resist the inevitable tourist photo with John Lennon!

Walking in Liverpool, it is impossible not to be carried away in this unusual and vintage atmosphere! The city is full of life, full of music, and fully immersed in the spirit and memory of the Beatles. Despite the not so great weather, I really enjoyed my day in Liverpool, strolling the streets and drinking in this uniquely British cultural experience.

Manchester Art Gallery

2011-06-20T06:21:00.000-07:00

Hi there!

I’m back! For my first weekend on my own in Manchester, I chose to visit the Manchester Art Gallery. I had visited once before for a sneak preview and waited in eager anticipation for the real visit, and I’m pleased to say it did not disappoint. Entering the building, the first port of call was the map stand which turned out to be invaluable as it’s easy to lose yourself in those three floors and 21 rooms of art and design!

I chose to follow the "body language, relationships and art trail" on the first floor and the balcony. The information document is very well done and allows the visitor to discover paintings at their own pace thanks to questions and precise explanations, leaving space to wonder about the fascinating characters captured by the unique artwork. Besides admiring the paintings, the exhibit has an interactive element which allows to you experience for yourself body language techniques through exercises that teach to you be careful and alert with regards to signalling emotions and thoughts without talking.

The Manchester Art Gallery is a beautiful place full of spirit. You can choose to spend as long as you want in here; and draws you back again and again! I hope to go back there during the Manchester International Festival, to see some amazing live scenes displayed by 11 interesting artists who will explore the ephemeral aspects of art.

Free entry

Open Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm

Closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays), 1 January, Good Friday, 24-26, 31 December. Closed Bank Holiday Fridays, 22 and 29 April

Location
Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL
Tel: 0161 235 8888

My arrival at GBT

2011-06-10T01:39:00.000-07:00

Hi There!

I am Helene (yes, with an ‘e’ at the end!), and I just arrived at Great British Trips in Manchester! I am in internship for 3 months and will be involved in various aspects of the company including itinerary creation, tour-leading, and social networking.

I always wanted to have work experience in the UK, and that is why I chose GBT. It is my first internship abroad and, as you may notice, I am French. So, when I decided to have my internship in England, I had to face some ‘clichés’! My friends told me:

-          What?! You are going to Manchester? Why?
-          Well, it is not the nicest city in the UK…
-          I hope you like beer!... Or tea? Or rain? Or both?
-          They’re crazy over there! They drive on the wrong side!
-          But… You’re interested in football now?
-          What’s wrong with you? You don’t like sun?
-          Oh, you’ll see, you will take, like… 20kgs!
-          Say hello to the Queen!
-          Well, at least, with your white skin, you won’t have sunburns!

But now, here I am, and I am proud to tell them… YOU’RE WRONG GUYS!

Actually, Manchester was the heart of the Industrial Revolution. Today it is, of course, a city of football (and well I confess I wanted to see Old Trafford on my first day here!).

When I visited the city with Claire, the other French intern, I have been surprised about the modernity and the contemporary aspect of the city. When you walk the streets, you can easily notice it is a city which suffered from the Industrial Abandonment. But what you’re feeling about this city is just like at home! It is a human-scale city with lots of shops, lot of life, and moreover, lot of Culture!

I am interested in art and photography. For me, Manchester could begin a Paradise! Galleries, Art Centers, everything is made with and for art! Moreover, most of these equipments are free to enter! I will tell you more about it when I would have visited some of them! Well now, I know what to do with my weekends!

So, my friends, what you said was wrong. Well, except about beer, tea and football. Oh, and rain. Actually in the UK, you can have the four seasons in the same whole day. The thing is to choose the summer-moment to go out!

Cheers!

Snowdonia and Ruthin Castle

2011-06-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to stay at a genuinely British Castle? Now you can! One of our favourite hotels is the Ruthin Castle Hotel, a fabulous Edward I castle situated in North Wales on the edge of the stunning Snowdonia National Park. Although some parts of the castle have been rebuilt during the last 700 years much of the original building remains if you fancy a romantic night in a real castle, this is the place for you! Set in acres of stunning grounds, the castle boasts 3 fabulous restaurants and rooms at 3 and 4* level – catering for even the budget travellers.

Right next to the Castle is the Snowdonia National Park of North Wales. As well as providing the home for Wales’ highest mountain – Snowdon, the area is a stunning region of mountains, lakes, beautiful Welsh stone towns and some of the most scenic views imaginable. The town of Betws –y-coed sits right at the heart of the National Park and has a train station for those without transport. From here the Sherpa bus is the way to travel, a cheap sightseeing bus that quite literally drives all over Snowdonia throughout the day.

For those who are more about the history than the hills, we recently visited the magnificent Caernarfon Castle on the west coast of Wales. This stunning castle is still used today to crown the Prince of Wales as it has done for hundreds of years. Guided tours can be taken here from local guides who really know their history and the views from the very top of the highest tower are nothing short of spectacular. For history lovers this one is a must!

There’s nothing Plain about Salisbury

2010-10-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

With TV drama series ‘Pillars of the Earth’ due to air on Channel 4 very soon, we thought it important that the Great British Trips team visit Salisbury for themselves. Although it’s not directly mentioned in the book or TV version, we know that many of the fictional events, characters and places are based on the building of Salisbury Cathedral and the politics of the time.

Our visit to Salisbury Cathedral we must confess was much more enjoyable than expected! Having trawled around most of the UK’s biggest cathedrals and abbeys, we weren’t sure what would make this one any different. To our surprise, the tower and spire on the cathedral itself has grandeur written all over it. In a special move, our tour guide took us up to the first level of the tower. Already exhausted we decided not to head further up but it’s fairly obvious that the view for the few that choose to go right up the tower is something rather special.

The cathedral itself is as spectacular as most but this one does have 1 or 2 special touches. The font in this cathedral is a brand new addition and very unusual. Tough to describe, the font is full to the brim of water which continually flows from its 4 corners (which of course make it a cross shape). This particular font is large enough for a full emersion baptism should it be requested and as fonts go, it’s really quite beautiful. So that’s the new but the old? Salisbury Cathedral is home to the best preserved copy of the original Magna Carta. Amazingly given its age it’s much better preserved than the American Declaration of Independence and were it not for the Olde English (ok, Latin) it would still be perfectly legible today.

So that’s the new Cathedral but what about the original site? Old Sarum is an English Heritage looked after ancient site that it would appear has seen fort after castle after fort be knocked down and rebuilt by every group that has ever invaded or taken over Britain! Today it’s just a few Norman castle remains but it’s easy to imagine what went before on this great hill. Old Sarum includes the original Cathedral which is just an outline in the ground today but from here you get a great view of the new city of Salisbury and the cathedral itself.

Salisbury is a great draw for visitors from all over the world for 1 other reason – a load of old rocks commonly known as Stonehenge. We felt we couldn’t justify a trip to Salisbury without popping in and seeing these old rocks for ourselves, after all we send enough people there! Although pulling up in the bus alongside this pre-historic mystery you can’t help but think it’s a lot smaller than you imagined it to be. When learning about cave men dragging these huge stones weighing hundreds of tonnes each in Primary School, you sort of imagine them to be the size of a... well a very big rock! But, it’s interesting how donning a headset and wandering around the outside of the world’s most famous stone circle can change your perception. As you carefully wonder, imagining them being dragged here by a bunch of hairy-ape like dudes the rocks seem to magically somehow grow. By the time you reach the number 7 sign, instructing you to press ‘7’ on your headset guide the stones are now the size you always imagined them to be- a giant, pre-historic monster. And while part of me wants to tell you that I’m not sure what all the fuss is about the truth is, I sort of want to go back and take a second look!

Bath – A forgotten beauty

2010-10-11T05:13:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip out of the office, member's of the Great British Trips team were fortunate enough to visit the stunning city of Bath. Set in the idyllic surroundings of rolling English hills, there is nothing sprawling or unattractive about this city. Nestled deep in heart of the countryside, it fits its surroundings perfectly and looking down onto the city at sunset it’s easy to imagine a Roman camp here with a huge breathtaking temple at the centre only a few thousand years ago. To the indigenous people it must have seemed as though aliens had landed and yet for us it doesn’t seem quite so foreign.

Our tour of Bath started with a tour of the original Roman Baths. A fascinating insight into Roman Britain, this world heritage site is simply a must for anyone thinking of visiting the area. Since my last visit as a small girl, the baths experience has changed a lot. The baths themselves are of course as well preserved as ever however the money spent on quality exhibits and really bringing this ancient temple to life is evident throughout. A headset allows visitors to learn as much or as little as they wish about Roman life and this site which although no substitute for an actual human is a great opportunity for non-English speakers to feel just as much a part of the attraction.

A walking tour of the almost perfectly preserved Georgian city of Bath is quite literally like taking a wander through Jane Austen’s greatest works. It’s difficult to resist making comments about how pleasant it is to take a turn about the park and enquire about when the militia is next in town, but that’s not surprising as this is prime Austenland. Miss Austen herself lived in no fewer than 9 townhouses in Bath (once you’ve started it’s hard to stop!) but only 1 is today devoted to the great writer herself (although ironically she never actually lived in the museum house!). Still it’s a must-see for all Jane Austen lovers, as are the Bath Assembly Rooms. Unlike other areas of upper class society where balls and parties would be held in one’s own home, Bath’s houses were to small to host any sort of decent party. As a result anyone who was anyone would gather in the Assembly Rooms to drink tea, gamble and dance. This was a rare opportunity for the upper-middle class to mix with Gentry. Today the Assembly Rooms have been perfectly preserved from Jane Austen’s day and it’s very easy to see exactly what life would have been like back in the late 1700’s.

All in all Bath is a must. Jane Austen aside, it’s an incredibly romantic city which is small enough to explore fully on foot with many tiny museums of an exceptionally high quality. If you wish to test out the natural hot spring water’s healing quality for yourself, a stunning spa resort is available in the centre of town. Whether the waters hold magical healing powers or not, relaxing in the natural outdoor hot spa overlooking this incredible city at sunset will bring such a sense of peace and well-being that you will quickly understand why the Bath water has been sworn by for thousands of years.

Ruth on behalf of Great British Trips Team

Why do we need Great British Trips?

2010-08-20T03:27:00.000-07:00

Planning great trips is hard. Many people love the idea of travel, most people love holidays. Lots of people love to start planning, researching places, exciting attractions, looking at how many things we can tick off the list on this particular holiday. So we create our list of dream locations and then what? For most of us the fun stops there. Sure there are hundreds of websites that claim to have the best hotel deals, the best tour packages, the cheapest tickets but does that really help us? Let’s face it, choosing 1 potential hotel out of a possible 455 is a nightmare! You have to read all the reviews, weigh up what’s being said, compare it to other hotels, study the location in detail (and lets be honest, they all claim to be an ideal location with great transport links, but are they really?) and at the end of the day, it’s still a gamble. Unless you’ve been there or someone you know has been there, you don’t really know what you’re getting until you get there.

After that you have the transport issue. Trying to figure out another county’s transport system based on endless websites, each trying to sell you the best deal with adverts for alternative companies flashing here there and everywhere, how on earth can you be sure to find the best means of transport and be certain of the best deal?

It was out of these issues that Great British Trips was born. You spoke, we listened, we travelled, we understood, we found a solution. On Great British Trips we do the hard work for you. Through our website you can do the fun bit, choosing your locations, events tickets, even multi-attraction passes. Simply tell us where you want to go and we do the rest.

We have carefully visited each area, personally visiting and selecting only 1 hotel in each price band and working solely with that hotel to get our customers the best hotel for their budget, in the best location, with the best transport links. You will even receive a complete guide before you go with information on the area so you will know exactly how to get to your hotel and how to get from your hotel to all the wonderful places you’re there to see! It’s all taken care of, every step of the trip. So if you’re visiting the UK and don’t fancy a coach tour, check out our destination guides, choose your locations and leave the rest us.

Go to Great British Trips