CARNABY STREET, LONDON

Carnaby Street is a leading fashion and lifestyle street in London, located in the area of 'Carnaby' in the district of Soho, near Oxford Street, and just to the east of Regent Street. It derives its name from Karnaby House, located to its east, which was erected in 1683. It is not known why the house was so called. The street was probably laid out in 1685 or 1686 and first appears in the ratebooks in 1687. It was almost completely built up by 1690 with small houses.

In the 1960s, Carnaby Street was made popular by followers of the Mod style. Many independent fashion boutiques, and designers such as Mary Quant and 'Lord John' were located in and around Carnaby Street as well as various underground music bars such as the 'Roaring Twenties'. With bands such as The Beatles, Small Faces, and Rolling Stones appearing in the area to work, shop, and socialize, it became one of London's coolest destination associated with the Swinging Sixties.

So enjoy this picture with Christmas lights and have a great holiday!! See you next year.

RAMSGATE, KENT

Margate is a seaside resort town in Kent. It lies 38.1miles (61.3km) east-northeast of Maidstone, my « Hometown » as you already know.

Margate's history is closely tied to the sea; it was a "limb" of Dover in the ancient confederation of the Cinque ports. Margate, also known as Margetto, has been a leading seaside resort for at least 250 years, drawing Londoners to its sandy beaches. It was the first resort to introduce bathing machines and deck chairs, in 1898. In more recent years, as tourists have travelled further afield, Margate's unemployment rate has become higher than much of the rest of southeast England.

GATESHEAD MILLENIUM BRIDGE, MANCHESTER

Nicknamed "The Winking Eye", the Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a world famous landmark with its tall white arch and it's the only tilting bridge in the world.

Although Newcastle has six bridges crossing the River Tyne, none of them are dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians. As part of the regeneration project of the Quay, it was decided to build a foot bridge in order to connect the newest venues such as The Sage and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art to the centre of Newcastle.

ST PANCRAS, LONDON

The photo was taken during the Grand opening of the Station on November 7th 2007: The Queen officially opened the revamped St Pancras.

SANDOWN, ISLE OF WIGHT

This picture was taken in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. The cliff-top gardens have superb views across the English Channel.

ANOTHER MYSTERY PHOTO (8)

So now back to our little game again. This picture was taken in LONDON but where exactly and what is the exact name. The first to find out will get a special prize so don't forget to put your name and e-mail address. Good Luck!

ST PANCRAS, LONDON

St Pancras is termed as the "Cathedral of the railways" and includes two of the most celebrated structures built in Britain. The main trainshed (completed 1868), was the largest single-span structure built up to that time. In front of it is St Pancras Chambers, formerly the Midland Grand Hotel (1868-77), one of the most impressive examples of Victorian gothic architecture. It will will accommodate Eurostar trains when the station becomes the London terminus of Channel Tunnel Rail Link on 14 November 2007. But we'll surely talk about this event in the Blog....

TINTAGEL, CORNWALL

Tintagel Castle, King Arthur's legendary birthplace, is set on a dramatic and picturesque headland that is virtually an island, connected to the mainland by a slim finger of land. Over the centuries much of the castle has fallen into the sea and very little remains today, but it is worth the steep climb up the steps to either part of the castle for the setting alone.

YOUGHAL, IRELAND

Youghal situated in the South East of Cork has been a popular holiday destination for centuries. It is an ideal family destination with its 2 Beaches and numerous entertainments . I really enjoyed my two weeks there 4 years ago.

TOWER BRIDGE, LONDON

Tower Bridge on a typical day in May 2005, I particularly enjoyed the colour of the sky and the reflection on the river Thames. Always a great pleasure walking from Westminter bridge to London bridge (Southbank)

GROOMBRIDGE GARDENS, KENT

This place has been the inspiration for books, films and television programmes. Over the centuries its beauty has inspired writers, gardeners and artists. It is situated near the town of Tunbridge Wells in Kent (the garden of England). It has been used as the major location for the film that some of you saw with us: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

GOLDEN JUBILEE BRIDGE, LONDON

Two stunning footbridges opened up the heart of the river at its most historic location, linking the South Bank with the West End. The Golden Jubilee Bridges were officially opened in summer 2003 and became a great new landmarks for London.The elegance and tranquillity they offer in one of London's most breath-taking locations, with the Palace of Westminster on the north bank facing the London Eye on the south bank, have made the footbridges an attraction in their own right.At night the award-winning lighting, created by Speirs and Major, creates an iridescent effect which adds an entire new dimension to central London.

INGLEBOROUGH, NORTH YORKSHIRE

The village of Ingleton is surrounded by magnificent countryside with caves, waterfalls, and mountains. Directly from the village you can ascend the 2,373 feet of Ingleborough and take in the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales from it's summit. For the more experienced, try the Three Peaks Challenge, with Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent offering 25 miles of outstanding natural beauty

MYSTERY PHOTO (7)

Another go before the Summer. Where is it ?

ST PETER'S, OXFORD

This picture's from St Peter's college in Oxford. It is just to say a quick Hello to Simon. Good luck on "your exams"... I wish you a prosperous exam period. I'm sure that you will do great.

BLACKHEATH, LONDON

Blackheath is a village in London, centred on an area of open grassland ('the heath') and straddling boundary of the London Borough of Lewisham and the London Borough of Greenwich. Can you believe that this open space lies somewhere in the centre of LONDON.
Unbelievable ?? Blackheath is also well-known as the start point of the London Marathon. The pub near the church is ever so crowded (both inside and outside) on a hot summer day.

CITY HALL, LONDON

This is the City Hall (home of the Mayor of London, the London Assembly and the GLA). In July 2002 they all became tenants of this striking rounded glass building on the south bank of the Thames near Tower Bridge. Maybe you could post a comment on this strange building... Do you like it or not and why?
And if you want to know why this building is "Green", just click here: http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/city_hall/city_hall_green.jsp

THE GLOBE THEATRE, LONDON

Here's a picture I took last week while I was in London.The foundations of the Globe were rediscovered in 1989. Led by the vision of Sam Wanamaker, workers began construction in 1993 on the new theatre near the site of the original (about 200 meters). The latest Globe Theatre was completed in 1996; Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the theatre on June 12, 1997 with a production of Henry V. The Globe is as faithful a reproduction as possible to the Elizabethan model, seating 1,500 people.

WINDERMERE, CUMBRIA

After watching the film MISS POTTER it's time for me to show you a beautiful picture of Windermere. Windermere is the largest natural lake in England, and is entirely within the Lake District National Park. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since 1847, when the Kendal and Windermere Railway built a branch line to it.Oh just a detail ‘mere’ means ‘lake’.

THE LONDON EYE (2)

The British Airways London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, opened in 1999 and is the largest observation wheel in the world. It stands 135 metres high on the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in Lambeth in London, between Westminster and Hungerford Bridges. The wheel is adjacent to London's County Hall, and stands opposite the offices of the Ministry of Defence.

MYSTERY PICTURE (5)

Now it is your turn to give me all the details you can find on this picture. The name of the place and the region... Good luck!!

MILLENIUM BRIDGE, LONDON

London's Millennium Bridge is the first pedestrian river crossing over the Thames in central London for more than a century. It is a 325m steel bridge linking the City of London at St. Paul's Cathedral with the Tate Modern Gallery at Bankside. Have you walked over it? What were your impressions?

LIVERPOOL, MERSEYSIDE

There's no better way to experience Liverpool and Merseyside than from the deck of the famous Mersey Ferry. Take the ferry across the Mersey to learn about the region's fascinating history, see its spectacular sights and discover its unique character.

DURHAM CATHEDRAL, COUNTY DURHAM

County Durham is a county in north-east England. Its county town is Durham. It is a county of contrasts: the remote and sparsely populated dales and moors of the Pennines characterise the interior, while nearer the coast the county is highly urbanised, and was once dominated by the coal mining industry.

The form of the county name is unique in England. Many counties are named after their principal town, and the expected form here would be Durhamshire. The reason it is called County Durham instead is that the Bishops of Durham historically exercised power in regions outside the county as well, so the inner part was named County Durham as opposed to the rest of the estate of Durham. The form County X is standard for Irish counties, with no such significance or relationship.

THE RING OF KERRY, IRELAND

The Ring of Kerry is a tourist trail in County Kerry, south-western Ireland. The route covers the 170 km circular road, starting from Killarney, the Iveragh peninsula and passing through Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen and Killorglin. The most popular points include Muckross House, Staigue stone fort and Derrynane House. Just south of Killarney, don't miss Ross Castle, Lough Leane, and Ladies View (a panoramic viewpoint).
It passes through some of the most beautiful scenic areas of the country. The trail crosses a wide variety of terrain but, due to onging land access issues, avoids climbing the highest peaks of the mountains. The Kerry Way roughly follows the scenic driving route of the Ring of Kerry.

LONDON, SNOW

When men were all asleep the snow came flying,
In large white flakes falling on the city brown,
Stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying,
Hushing the latest traffic of the drowsy town;
Deadening, muffling, stifling its murmurs failing;
Lazily and incessantly floating down and down:
Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing;
Hiding difference, making unevenness even,
Into angles and crevices softly drifting and sailing.
ROBERT BRIDGES

CERNE GIANT, DORSET

The Cerne Giant is a rampant, naked 60 metre male carved into the chalk hillside near Cerne Abbas, an old village about 8 miles [13kms] north of Dorchester, in Dorset. The picture shows as much of the giant as you will currently see unless you rent air transport; the carving becomes a lot more indistinct from close up. For scale you can see a couple of hikers at the top of the hill on the left.
There are three main theories as to when and why the giant was produced.

1) He was cut out 4,000 years ago in honour of a Celtic fertility god, Cernunnos. Above his head is a maypole mound that was central to pagan May Day festivities until 1635, when the church decided that the wild, all-night, get naked scenes that were enjoyed by locals in the adjacent woods should be discouraged.
Legend said that barren couples who wish for children should copulate on the giant genitalia.

2) He was carved 1,500 years ago in honour of the Roman god Hercules.

3) He appeared a mere 350 years ago and is a caricature of Oliver Cromwell [1599-1658].

The reason that the giant's origin is unclear is first because the only elements remaining in the area are grass and chalk which have been around for months or millenia, so carbon dating is not an option and second because the earliest written record of the giant that survives was in the 18th century.

MYSTERY PICTURE (4)

Let's have another go.....
Where is it?
What's the exact name of this place?
Good luck!!

CASTLETON, DERBYSHIRE

Here's a picture from a county that I'm fond of: Derbyshire.
This ancient lead - mining village is one of the most popular in the Peak District. There are separate spectacular caverns. The village itself is a delightful cluster of stone cottages and interesting inns, ringed by the limestone hills. It sits beneath the protection of a castle keep known as Peveril Castle. Built in Norman times by William I.
Castleton is a very popular place with visitors. This may be due to Castleton having almost everything a visitor could want. It has spectacular scenery. There are good walks for everyone, a pretty village, and many events throughout the year.

BOURNEMOUTH, DORSET

Bournemouth is one of Dorset's newest towns in more ways than one. Prior to the 19th Century it did not exist, not one single house existed where the town stands today. It is located about 107 miles southwest of London. Dorset is one of England's most unspoilt counties. How about visiting it ??? In the meantime, enjoy this funny picture of SIGNS, which looks like an invitation to a hike.

BATH, SOMERSET

This stunning city is one of England's most beautiful places to visit.
Bath is unique with its hot springs, Roman Baths, splendid Abbey and Georgian stone crescents. It has attracted visitors for centuries. Set in rolling Somerset countryside, just over 100 miles west of London, it is a beautiful and unforgettable place to visit.