Posts filed under 'UK Travel'
Tis the season to get shopping!
December is approaching at a faster rate of knots than ever before, and you know what that means – Christmas shopping. Now, when it comes to seeking out gifts for the ones I love, I’m in the majority: I want it over with as quickly as possible. However, I was chatting to a colleague about her shopping plans and she revealed to me that she was planning on taking a Christmas shop n’ spa break in London.
The idea is that you head off on your Christmas shopping and top off the day’s work by indulging in spa treatments and staying in a luxurious hotel. That way, the stresses of Christmas shopping disappear and the whole experience turns into a bit of a holiday. Now that’s the sort of Christmas build-up I can get behind.
Usually, I’m not the type of person that likes to go to the spa very often, but I’m sure that’d change if I started. Then again, my bank account probably wouldn’t approve too much of me getting used to being pampered – though a once in a while treat must be okay. So I’ve been thinking about recreating the London shop n’ spa here in York, or somewhere nearby and gorgeous like Durham, which is a stunning city with many excellent shopping and sightseeing opportunities!
It also made me think about spa breaks in general and how they’re some people’s idea of the perfect break away – the entries to our Build Your Dream Break competition proved this. I got to thinking that giving a trip to a spa as a gift might be a welcome present for your family or loved one this Christmas – combined with our Superbreak gift vouchers, you could even give your recipient the choice!
Add comment 19/11/2009
New Year’s Celebrations around the UK
The beginning of 2010 is going to be an exciting one and I’m sure that most people are determined to make the welcome party a good one, too.
While Christmas is usually a family thing for me, New Year is one where I love to focus on my friends. There’s nothing like getting together with a big bunch of people and celebrating the New Year in style. This year, however, it looks like things might be a little different – some of my friends have said they’re interested in going away to celebrate this time around! And guess who they turned to for suggestions?
Naturally, it’d be a bit much to expect to travel too far to celebrate the changing of the year, so I thought I’d look into New Year celebrations in the UK first – but I’m sure there are some of you out there who either live outwith the Euro zone or would be more than happy to travel, so I may end up doing several posts on this (and Christmas too, if I can squeeze them in – I love the holiday season!).
So let’s get started – what’s on offer in the UK? Well, I thought I’d start by checking out the capital – London, of course. If you’re in the vicinity of the big city, there’s going to be a cracking fireworks display along the banks of the Thames, at Alexandra Palace Park and in various other London locations. It’s such a big city that I wonder what the chances are of standing somewhere open and seeing more than one fireworks display going off at once! Of course, hitting Trafalgar Square at that all important moment is surely an event to remember, as is attending the parade on New Year’s Day held at 12 sharp – if you can get up, that is.
Of course, if I’m going to talk about large scale New Year’s celebrations, I can’t get away without mentioning Edinburgh. The capital of Scotland is renowned for hosting the biggest New Year’s celebrations in the world. Its annual Hogmanay party, which lasts for the three days surrounding the big night itself, is filled with concerts, events, exhibitions and street performance as Scottish revellers get into the party mood in style.
Every town, city and village in the UK has its own celebrations, but I’d definitely recommend hitting the big cities like the two mentioned above, as well as Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow if you’re hoping for the biggest party of the year – the problem is deciding where.
Add comment 18/11/2009
Dream break competition results
Well folks, it’s finally over. Our Build Your Own Dream Break competition had the Superbreak office in a tizz for some weeks, and I have to say we’re glad to have a little bit of time to relax after the rush to collect all of the entries and decide on a winner.
And guess what? The effort was fantastic. We got hundreds of entries ranging from the sweet and romantic to the downright bizarre, with a surprising amount of you choosing to build your dream break right here at home. There were plenty of entries looking to enjoy a break in Edinburgh, London, Liverpool, the Lake District, Inverness and here in York
We also discovered dreams involving Spain, Italy, France, Norway and Germany, with many of you hoping to take advantage of the cold weather by heading off on New Year or Christmas breaks, filled with romance, snow and walks through idyllic city settings. Some of you, however, wanted nothing more than to jet off for a holiday in the sun in destinations like Hawaii, Sydney, the Caribbean, New Zealand and a host of South American destinations like Peru and Mexico. It was clear our entrants really got their imaginations going and ran wild with their dreams – especially one fellow who included the presence of Angelina Jolie in his!
Unfortunately, there’s only so much Superbreak can do – and that isn’t one of them. One thing we did do, however, was pick a winner. And it was tough. There were heaps of fantastic dreams and cutting them down to end up with only one was a truly nightmarish task. But we managed, and our congratulations go to Paul Marshall for his poignant entry, which we hope he can make true with the £1000 prize which can be used to tailor make a break on our website.
As for the rest of you who didn’t manage next time, keep your eyes peeled. We had so much fun with this competition that we’re already brainstorming the next – so good luck and keep dreaming!
Add comment 06/11/2009
Guy Fawkes Night coming up!
Remember, remember – tonight is Guy Fawkes Night, the night we get together and celebrate the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot back in 1605. Well, sort of. Nowadays, it’s mostly about energetic firework displays, actually bonfires aren’t even that common any more… but it’s a tradition still worth enjoying.
I really love this time of year, despite the darkness. What with the fun of Halloween being followed so closely by Guy Fawkes Night, it’s a really good way to herald in the winter months and to console ourselves with the fact that, yes, it’s getting colder now – and quite a lot colder at that! And it’s nice when you see people keep traditions alive.
Some people are still going the whole way when it comes to bonfires too. I saw an article on the BBC that detailed how a Kent bonfire society is all set to burn an effigy of Katie Price. That’s right – Jordan, celebrity model, author, plastic surgery connoisseur and star of one of the most publicised divorces in years. They’ve put up a 30ft model of the star and are making preparations to set her alight tomorrow night. However, given the south east England society’s penchant for burning figures from the public eye – having chosen Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross last year, as well as Cherie Blair and Saddam Hussein in previous years – they’re adamant that it’s to be taken as nothing more as a joke.
I’m not sure if I’d see the funny side if I was Katie Price, but I bet lots of people will be heading down to enjoy setting alight to the guy, as well as taking in fireworks and a torchlight procession.
In Worcester, there’ll be a bonfire, barbecue and fireworks, as well as circus acts that’ll entertain crowds with impressive fire-eating displays – made all the more magical by the covering of the night sky. Leeds‘ Hyde Park will be packed with thousands of spectators braving the mud to eagerly await a stunning firework display and a big bonfire lighting up the night. Such events are taking place up and down England – and the rest of the UK, of course. I know I’ll be heading out to catch York’s best Catherine Wheels tonight, just need to remember two pairs of socks this time!
Add comment 05/11/2009
Two days til Halloween – and the end of our dream break competition
It’s just two days until the spookiest night of the year – and, even scarier, the closing of our Build Your Dream Break competition. While Halloween offers the chance for tricks as well as treats, our competition is decidedly just about the treats – and there’s still time to enter, so hurry and submit your entry to be in with a chance to win your dream break come true, courtesy of Superbreak!
Whenever Halloween comes around, I always get a little sad. Nostalgia strikes for when I was little, going from door to door with my friends, receiving loads of sweets and those always unwanted apples from neighbours. On one trick or treating trip we even found toothbrushes thrown into our pillow case buy some well-meaning adult, but now I can see why someone might think that was a good idea. At the time, we’d never felt more ripped off!
But childish longings aside,York is always a great place to be at Halloween. The city centre is already perfect for setting the mood, what with the shadow of York Minster with its gothic architecture looming over the streets, which wind and weave throughout one another to create a real maze for visitors who don’t know their way around.
I always imagine that some cities must be better suited to things like Halloween than others. York is one that definitely makes sense because its layout and architecture lends the city so well to suggestions of the macabre – perhaps that’s why we have so many ghost tours! Durham, similarly, has the same style of winding streets and closes – much like Edinburgh, which possesses a whole street (the Royal Mile, of course!) that spawns narrow alleyways and creepy passages, perfect for exploring on All Hallows Eve.
Edinburgh is also home to the Samhain ritual, which will be taking place on the Royal Mile and sounds amazing. Hundreds of performing artists come together to stage the battle between summer and winter in celebration of the harvest, which sounds like an exciting way to spend the last night of the month.
i still haven’t decided what I’ll do on the big night itself though, what are you doing this Halloween?
Add comment 29/10/2009
Brighton beats the winter blues with the White Night Festival
It looks like tomorrow night Brighton is going to be living up to its ‘bright’ name as the White Night event takes place. An all night cultural festival, the White Night is now in its second year and invites visitors to “do something different in the middle of the night”.
This time around, the Halloween season is receiving plenty of attention as organisers have said they’ll be injecting a dose of mystery and magic into the festival, which will include a variety of venues hosting an impressive amount of events, of which most are free.
I really love the idea of this festival, especially because it gets people to forget about how much they miss the summertime light in the mornings and evenings and instead embrace it. After all, it means the festival will last longer – which can only be a good thing. There’s just so much going on, from exotic art exhibitions to amazing live bands exhibiting some of Brighton’s best local talent. Then there’s the chance to experience Gregorian chants being sung at St Bartholomew’s Church, or get your fortune told at 3am, which I bet would make the experience all the more spooky.
Bike to the Future also sounds fun, where visitors can climb into the saddle and get taken on a virtual time-travelling journey through Brighton and into the future. There are also night bus tours, casinos, a penny arcade and a neon coin slot game where members of the public can put a penny into the slot at the top and watch their coins cascade down to the bottom.
All of this and much more is happening in the southeast of England this very weekend- I wish I’d heard about it sooner, I might have tried to go. Maybe next year! Perhaps one of our entrants to our current Build Your Dream Break Competition might think to add it into their request – the competition’s ending soon, so don’t forget to enter if you haven’t already!
Add comment 23/10/2009
Time is running out to win a dream break!
Many of you will be aware that Superbreak is currently running a build your dream break competition, where you have to tell us what your idea of the perfect break would be. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, we want you to do it in twenty words or less – and that’s where the fun begins. Trying to pack your idea of the perfect holiday into just twenty words has clearly been proving to be something of a difficult task, but keep them coming and you never know your luck!
We’ve had heaps of entries so far, from the nice-but-normal romantic city break style choices to some really wacky and adventurous ones. It’s been a pleasure reading them so far, and the competition has had all of the Superbreak office buzzing over the last few weeks – I think there’s more than a few of us who have been eyeing up our last days of annual leave after being inspired by your suggestions.
So go ahead and tell us what your dream break would be. Don’t worry, you can be as imaginative as you like – after all, we’re looking for an eye-catching winner whose dreams we can turn into reality. That’s not to say we don’t adore the slightly more usual ones too, meaning that you’ve got a great chance no matter what your ideal break would be.
And time is running out – the competition closes on Halloween, October 31, which is just a little over a week away – now there’s a scary thought! Keep the entries coming and you can also add me to Twitter to stay up to date on how the competition is going. Good luck!
Add comment 21/10/2009
Give an amazing gift for Christmas this year – a holiday
Every year in the run up to Christmas, we get a lot of interest on the phones about our Superbreak gift vouchers as they’re such a handy gift to give your friends and family at Christmas. Superbreak gift vouchers are versatile and can be used to book trips away through the Superbreak website, meaning your loved ones can choose the holiday and gift they want most of all.
I thought I’d do a blog post about them, seeing as it seems that the Christmas spirit is already in the air – if the number of people Christmas shopping in town is anything to go by. The vouchers offer a way for you to buy thoughtful gifts for loved ones without having to spend hours and hours in town at its busiest times – and means that you’ll be guaranteed to give them the gift they really want. A lot of people think it’s a little impersonal to buy someone vouchers at Christmas, but let’s face it – there’s a good chance that when you make the selection of what particular CD, piece of clothing or even short break a person might like, you could be wrong. By giving a voucher, you get to be as generous as you like while ensuring the recipient has the freedom to choose to spend it on what they really want.
This could be anything, from an amazing romantic trip to Paris, a historic trek along the Great Wall of China or a short break in Berlin to feel the buzz of a city brimming with life. Maybe you think your parents would like a trip to a big city when all they want is to relax on a seaside break, or you think your best friends would adore visiting Prague when they’d love nothing more than to check out London in style – by giving Superbreak vouchers, you can make sure that your friends and family will be able to go on the short break they want to.
There’s a huge amount of amazing breaks to choose from theatre breaks and concerts at the O2 to spa breaks, speciality breaks and even airport products can be purchased with our vouchers.
You can find out more about Superbreak gift vouchers and, conveniently, order them online in various denominations. Don’t forget that you’ve still got the opportunity to score a great break for yourself, too! Our win a dream break competition is still in full swing and you could win your dream break by entering our simple, fun competition.
Add comment 06/10/2009
October food festivals for the gastro-inclined
October looks like it’s going to be a great month for foodies – which means that my boyfriend will be happy!
Kicking off the festivities is the biggest food festival in the UK, the Celebration of Food. Over the next 30 days, there’s going to be over 240 food and drink events between Bristol and Cornwall where people can try new dishes, discover new culinary experiences and enjoy fine dining like no other.
I’m really looking forward to trying to visit some of these events and trying out some of the treats on offer for myself. Devon’s ‘North Devon Food Fest’ sound particularly tempting, and there’s plenty of other things going on for all sorts of food lovers. The Somerset Cider Festival also sounds particularly appealing, as does the excellently named ‘Feastival’ at Kilver Court.
Food festivals are one of my favourite types of festival. Not only do they get a bunch of food lovers together to take in some delicious new cuisine, but it’s a chance for a town or city to show off its local, cultural dishes that people may otherwise not get much of a chance to try. Cities get to show off just what they’re made of when it comes to the kitchen – and this can include putting on events like fun foodie days for children or the classiest dining opportunities you can imagine.
If you’re in the mood for something a little more artsy, Scotland’s Whisky & Words festival is currently in full swing and is part of Scotland’s Homecoming year. The programme is really interesting as it goes into depth with regards to the relationship between the country’s favourite tipple and writing. It even has a whisky-themed creative writing workshop. I’m not sure what that entails, but it sounds like a lot of fun.
There’s also the Exmoor Food Festival back down south, which starts today and ends on October 11. You can expect to enjoy farmers’ markets, food fairs, tastings and the chance to purchase some of the local delicacies.
Wow, all of this is making me hungry. I’m off to see if there’s any biscuits left in the office cupboard.
Don’t forget to enter our win a dream break competition for a chance to do just that – and, if you’ve got a Twitter account, you can also follow me on Twitter to keep up with some great deals!
Add comment 05/10/2009
Bank Holiday madness this weekend
Yesterday’s Bank Holiday brought with it the end of an amazing month for me, filled with plenty of travelling and many excellent adventures both north and south of home. From my one night theatre break to see Sister Act in London a few weeks ago to the amazing trip to Edinburgh to take in the Scottish capital’s massive annual arts festival, it’s been one busy month – and Bank Holiday weekend wasn’t much different!
Since my long weekend was spent catching up with friends and family, as well as all the usual errands that I’d managed to let slip what with all my coming and going over the last month, I thought today I’d spend some time finding out what other people got up to – and it looks like the weekend was certainly a wild one for many.
An article in The Telegraph revealed the goings on at the Lancashire World Gravy Wrestling Championships, where 24 men and women wrestled their way through a giant pool of gravy to achieve the accolade of world’s best gravy wrestler – yeuch! The day also included an attempt to break the record for most people dressed as Elvis but sadly only 29 impersonators arrived – not even close to the 148 needed.
Around the office here at Superbreak people have also been chatting about what they’ve been up to and it looks as though plenty headed away for the weekend. Although most of them stuck around the UK for cheap Bank Holiday breaks, one lucky person went off to Andalucia in Spain and tried out a Flamenco lesson! Being the region in which Flamenco was born, Andalucia is certainly the place to go if you’re ever hoping to take in some of this mesmerising traditional music and dance which encapsulates so much of Spanish culture.
The first time I saw Flamenco being performed I remember being amazed. When I think of folk music, I tend to think of smoky pubs with old men and woolly jumpers with pints and a couple of fiddles, but the truth is that folk music – from England as well as all across the world – is such a diverse and incredible way to discover the heart of a culture, from Scottish ballads to heart-wrenching cante jondos that form the core of Flamenco.
Add comment 01/09/2009
