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Not just the home of its eponymous university – the oldest in Britain, Oxford offers an enormous variety of historic, cultural and contemporary attractions. A visit to the city, which dates back to Saxon times, is a trip into the brains of a nation. Tour the hallowed halls of the university and follow in the footsteps of Prime Ministers, poets and the one and only Harry Potter.

You likely already know that several scenes from the Harry Potter movies were shot here, and you can actually visit some of the locations. For instance, you can get a guided tour of Oxford University’s Bodleian Library – which will be familiar to fans as Hogwarts Library.

Oxford is well worth a visit and not just to the city itself, but to attractions, towns and villages close by.

Here are ten things to do in Oxford:

Explore the historic buildings of Oxford University
Don’t miss a visit to Oxford’s historic university buildings. Many are centuries old and have seen many famous figures pass through their doors, from Hugh Grant to T.S. Eliot. Take a tour, see the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Great Hall at Christ Church, and visit the Bodleian Library. No matter what part of the university you visit you will be surrounded by a wealth of beauty, history and knowledge!

Punting on the river
Become part of the Oxford idyll with a punt on the river, that’s steering a flat bottomed boat with a pole! It’s a great way to spend a sunny day, and lets you really absorb the Oxford atmosphere in a very traditional way. If you don’t feel like punting yourself, you can hire a professional punter to take you on a tour. The river winds through past many of the historic colleges of Oxford University,

The Ashmolean Museum
Visit the oldest public museum in Britain, and the first purpose-built public museum in the world: the Ashmolean. Its collection began with the donation of a cabinet of curiosities in 1677 which supposedly contained such wonders as ‘the hand of a mermaid’ and ‘a human bone weighing 42 lbs’. The collection now includes art and antiquities from across the world, from the Italian renaissance to 17th century Japan, Ancient Egypt and Greece to modern art.

Walking tours
If you prefer exploring on your own two feet, set off on one of the city’s walking tours, either guided, or using a map from the visitor centre. You can even pick a theme for your tour like science, stained glass, pubs, film locations, or ‘Alice in Wonderland’ which has literary links all over the city!

Parks and gardens
Oxford is full of beautiful green spaces that are perfect for walking or picnics. Head to the Oxford Botanic Garden, the great green expanse of South Park, or some of the colleges themselves: Worcester College has a lake, and Christ Church College has a whole meadow!

High tea
Take traditional afternoon tea in one of Britain’s most historic cities and The Randolph Hotel is definitely a good place to start! Afternoon tea at The Randolph is a tradition in Oxford, and it is well-known for the delicious treats you’ll be served. Be sure to try the homemade scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream!

Tolkien’s favourite pub
Enjoy a pint in the favourite pub of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien, famous authors of the Narnia stories and the Lord of The Rings, among other things. The Eagle and Child pub was their old haunt, so a great place to go if you’re looking for inspiration!

Visit Oxford Castle Unlocked
Dating back to Saxon times, or the 7th century AD, St George’s Tower at Oxford Castle is the city’s oldest building. Venture underground and explore the 900-year-old crypt, take a tour of the prison and then the castle itself for a day of spooky fun.

Farmers Markets and Bicester Village
Whether you’re a fan of farmers’ markets, luxury goods, art, or antiques Oxford has it. Head out to one of the weekly farmers’ markets and you’ll find some great fresh produce, or take a trip outside the city to Bicester Village where you’ll find all the top designer brands at discounted prices.

Go on a cycling tour
Oxford is famously a cycling city, and you’re no doubt familiar with classical depictions of Oxford students whizzing to lectures on bikes. For visitors, there are plenty of cycling tours to choose from. In a 2-hour tour you’ll get to see the pedestrianised central parts of the city that no bus will show you, along with beautiful trails along the river, between the colleges and beyond.

Not far away...

About a 20 minute drive from Oxford is Blenheim Palace. Famously known as ‘Britain’s Greatest Palace,’ Blenheim is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The incredible, awe-inspiring palace has so much to offer, including a giant hedge maze and butterfly house, you’ll probably end up spending the entire day there.

Getting there
Oxford is just 45 miles from Heathrow Airport travellers can choose to drive (a little over an hour by car) take a bus from the airport or from Victoria Station. National Express services from Stansted Airport also serve Oxford, taking just under two hours.

And finally a quote from William Butler Yeats

“I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful. One almost expects the people to sing instead of speaking. It is all like an opera.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

At first glance Brighton may seem like a typical British seaside town – but even in a short visit to this quirky, appealing resort you’ll discover plenty to see and do. Brighton has no shortage of attractions: The iconic Brighton Pier of course, and the opulent, Indian-inspired Brighton Pavilion – a palace built in the 1700s by a young Prince (later King) George as a decadent retreat from his London lifestyle. There are interesting museums and art, a beautiful beach, excellent restaurants, and plenty of pubs to relax and quench your thirst after an afternoon of shopping in the boho boutiques of the Lanes. Brighton Pride is hugely popular and is just one of the attractions for LGBT visitors.

Tours and Sightseeing

A variety of tours help visitors to really get to see Brighton and the surrounding areas.

Walking Tours – From Blue Badge Guides to ghosts & chocolate walks put your best foot forward and discover just how easy it is to explore Brighton and Hove on foot.

Cycling Tours – Guided cycling tours are a great way to see the wider city limits and even out into the stunning countryside of the South Downs National Park home to the dramatic Seven Sisters cliffs and some of southern England’s most charming villages

Scenic Flights – Take to the skies for a bird’s eye view and see the city from a new angle.

British Airways i360 – the 162 m observation tower on the seafront will give you 360 degree views across Brighton, the South Downs and the English Channel

Brighton Greets – Join a Greet with a local resident and get the insider’s view of the city.

Restaurants and Dining

Brighton & Hove recently won the Gold Award at the Sustainable Food Places Award. The award is designed to recognise and celebrate the success of those places taking a joined up, holistic approach to food and that are achieving significant positive change on a range of key food issues.

There are hundreds of dining options in Brighton. Whether it’s a romantic meal for two, or a friends get-together finding the perfect place to eat is easy. Being by the sea there are plenty of seafood restaurants and ice cream parlours. The city is also famous for its wide selection of vegetarian restaurants. Brighton offers fine dining as well as laid-back bistros and its proximity to acres of fertile countryside lends itself to tasty local produce.

Visitors will also find some fabulous cafes, bars (serving killer cocktails) and pubs with real ales and craft beers. Brighton’s café culture is hard to beat and perfect for a spot of people watching whilst enjoying a coffee and a slice of cake.

Check out some of the local some local beverages. Sussex vineyards produce fine sparkling wines that are rivalling Champagne, there are plenty of Brighton based microbreweries and Brighton even has its very own Brighton Gin! Cheers!

LGBT Brighton

There is plenty to see and do in Brighton for LGBT visitors. In August the locally loved and nationally acclaimed Brighton Pride is a celebration of all that is great about the city and its LGBT community.

Also in summer, is the Eyes Wide Open Queer Film Festival, and the Duke of York’s & Dukes at the Komedia cinemas both hold regular Queer film nights.

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus is a stalwart of the Brighton & Hove choir scene and they regularly put on performances.

Bent Double is Brighton Komedia’s monthly and irreverent LGBT comedy night hosted by the hilarious Zoe Lyons.

The Marlborough pub is a popular lesbian haunt and the accompanying theatre has a focus on queer performance.

LGBT Walking Tours

Only in Brighton offers a unique ‘Piers & Queers’ walking tour of the city, which provides an entertaining look at the characters of Brighton over the last 200 years from an LGBT perspective. Walks run regularly throughout the Brighton Fringe (May), plus private walks are also available on demand.

LGBT Public Art & Sculpture

Brighton & Hove has a number of public art and sculpture pieces that celebrate LGBT life, including the UK’s only permanent AIDS memorial sculpture.

‘Kissing Policemen’ – Banksy Wall Art Painted on the side of the Prince Albert pub on Trafalgar Street (just below Brighton Station) is one of Brighton’s most famous pieces of public art. The original has recently been removed and sold to a private collector, but a permanent copy remains at the site behind a perspex sheet.

The Kissing Wall – Brighton Seafront – This striking ‘wall’ on the promenade near Brighton Palace Pier consists of a large sheet of blue metal punctured with thousands of holes. When viewed from certain angles light penetrates through the holes and reveals images of local people kissing – of all ages and sexualities.

AIDS Memorial Sculpture – New Steine Gardens – Standing 4 metres high, this dramatic bronze sculpture by artist Romany Mark Bruce depicts two intertwined figures soaring towards the sky. The sculpture forms a shadow in the shape of a red ribbon; the international symbol for HIV/AIDS awareness.

Getting there

Brighton is just a 30-minute rail journey from Gatwick Airport. There are also direct trains from London Victoria (one hour) and London Blackfriars (one hour 15 minutes), and regular rail connections with cities along the south coast of England.

We’ve just touched on all Brighton has to offer – to learn about its “quirky side” check HERE.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

The city of York has known everything from Roman rule to life as a Viking capital. In medieval times it was also England’s bastion against attacks from the Scots. It’s varied and colourful history is ubiquitous and makes a visit to this ancient city a wonderful experience. Every visit should include both a visit to the gothic York Minster, one of Europe’s largest and most beautiful cathedrals, along with a step back into the Middle Ages with a walk through the overhanging timber-framed houses and traditional shopfronts of The Shambles, which was named Britain’s most picturesque street.

You really need at least a couple of days to get the full flavour of York. It’s a captivating city. To walk the streets, or stop at a pub for a pint after taking in the sights and just absorb the history and atmosphere, is an awesome experience.

Here are just some of sights and attractions of York:

1. Get a gargoyle’s-eye view
Thrusting up from York’s maze of ancient streets are the 3 towers of York Minster, the largest gothic building in Britain. The cathedral you see today was begun in 1220, took around 250 years to finish and is now widely considered to be one of Europe’s finest medieval buildings. Highlights include some of the oldest and most beautiful stained-glass windows in Britain (the East Window is the largest area of medieval stained glass in a single window in the world) and the crypt containing some of the original 11th-century church. But it’s the heady 275-step hike to the top of the Central Tower that’s the real show-stopper here. Catch your breath and take in the gargoyle’s-eye view of Yorkshire spread out below just as breathless visitors have done for the last 600 years.

2. Go back in time at a Victorian prison
If you’ve ever wondered what life might have been like 200 years ago, York Castle Museum can enlighten you. Experience the sights and sounds of 18th-century York on a wonderfully recreated Victorian street before exploring the museum’s other social history exhibits, covering topics from World War I to 1960s’ pop culture. The museum is housed in a former prison but gets its name from the fact it stands on the site of a castle built by William the Conqueror. Located in central York, entry is free with a York Pass.

3. Go trainspotting
The awesome scale, slick lines and steam-powered appeal of the locomotives housed at the National Railway Museum are enough to turn even the coolest observer into a fervent trainspotter. The vast treasures in the cavernous halls include the only Bullet Train outside Japan, Queen Victoria’s ‘palace on wheels’ and the achingly beautiful Duchess of Hamilton, a 1930s art deco triumph of design and engineering. Open every day, entry is free.

4. Visit one of the world’s greatest mansions
Named ‘One of the World’s Top Ten Greatest Mansions and Grand Houses’ by Lonely Planet, Castle Howard is definitely worth the short bus journey from York city. Like stumbling on to the set of a period drama, the magnificent 18th-century mansion, set amid lush gardens and rolling hills, has been the backdrop to many a film and costumed TV show including Brideshead Revisited and more recently it doubled as Clyvedon Castle in the popular Bridgerton series. There’s much to explore here, along with its movie-star past; after marvelling at the dramatic interiors and world-renowned art collection, you can wander the acres of parkland dotted with lakes and temples, leaving time for tea and cake in the quaint café. Entry is free with a York Pass.

5. See, hear and smell a Viking settlement
Buckle up for a rollicking journey back through time to the days when raiders from the north had colonised 10th-century York. See, hear and even smell a Viking settlement complete with blacksmith, bedrooms and a historically accurate Viking toilet. Jorvik Viking Centre is a fine mix of history and fun that brings some of the astonishingly well-preserved objects excavated from beneath the city to life. If you fancy a more hands-on approach to history, don’t miss DIG, the attraction that lets you play archaeologist.

6. Enjoy a traditional high tea
You’ve climbed the central tower of York Minster, you’ve been wowed by the steam behemoths at the National Railway Museum and you may even have seen a genuine Viking lavatory. So, by now you’ve probably earned a cup of tea. And the place to have it has to be Betty’s Tea Rooms, a Yorkshire institution serving delicious pastries, cakes and restorative tea in gorgeous surroundings unchanged since the 1930s. Decked out by the same craftsmen who fitted out the Queen Mary ocean liner, a cup of tea here is a luxurious experience not to be missed.

7. Taste your way through chocolate history
One of York’s newer attractions is also its sweetest. Chocolate has been made in the city for 300 years and York was once home to 2 of the world’s big chocolate brands – Rowntree’s and Terry’s. Iconic chocs from Aero to Smarties and the mighty Kit Kat began life here so it’s a fine place to learn about the chocolate-making process from bean to bar. At Chocolate – York’s Sweet Story you’ll taste your way through chocolate history, discover generations of confectionery secrets and end your tour in the Chocolate Bar to enjoy such extravagances as an All Day Chocolate Breakfast and an Ultimate Chocolate Fondue.

8. Ramble down The Shambles
Lying at the heart of a warren of old, twisting lanes is The Shambles, one of the best preserved medieval streets in Europe. Its origins are so old it was once mentioned in the Doomsday Book, while the overhanging timber-framed houses that still stand today are a remarkable reminder of the city’s past. Now the picturesque buildings are filled with quaint cafes and shops selling everything from sweets to handmade soaps.

9. Hear terrifying tales of Roman York
Like a good fright? At the York Dungeon expect to jump with fear and be reduced to laughter as you hear terrifying tales of the city’s gruesome past. With York’s history of Viking invasions, witches, and the plague, there’s many gory legends to tell, and you’ll meet some of the area’s most despicable characters as you are led through a series of scenes in the immersive live action show.

10. Walk England’s best medieval walls
Our favourite free thing to do in York. Circling the city centre, York’s medieval walls are the most complete in the whole of England. You’ll get fantastic views over the picturesque River Ouse and the city itself so don’t forget to bring your camera.

Getting there
York is in the north of England, in the county of Yorkshire. It’s about 2 hours by train from London or an hour and a quarter from Manchester.

Find out more about the city of York.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News