This is a picture from Bibury. It was once described as 'the most beautiful village in England'. The River Coln, teeming with trout and inhabited by ducks, runs through what is effectively two villages, Bibury and Arlington. The river is sandwiched between the main village street and an expanse of boggy water meadow known as Rack Isle, owned and managed by the National Trust.
Brunel's Suspension Bridge, Clifton Tower and the Observatory behind, from Greville Smyth Park.
Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier is a pier in Weston-super-Mare, in Somerset. It is situated on the Bristol Channel approximately 18 miles (29 km) south west of Bristol. The privately-owned Grand Pier is one of three piers in the town together with Birnbeck Pier, which now stands derelict awaiting possible restoration and the much shorter SeaQuarium aquarium built towards the south end of the seafront. The Pavilion at the end of the Grand Pier has been destroyed by fire on two occasions, 13 January 1930 and 28 July 2008.
With filigree arches and a few kiosks, Brighton Pier was opened in grand ceremony on May 20th 1899. By 1901, the pier consisted of a building with minaret corner towers housing dining, smoking and reading rooms and its first concert hall. By 1911, the concert hall had become a theatre attraction. 21 years elapsed before the next major phase saw the addition of a big wheel, heralding an extension to the piers' length and a widening of the promenade. The wars interfered with development and, as with most seaside piers, a section of the middle was removed to discourage enemy landings. Post war euphoria saw business booming and by the Summer of 1946 day sea trips from the pier along the coast prospered until 1960.
In 1984, the pier was destined to be revitalised under new ownership. New innovative features were introduced such as free admission, free deck chairs, new food outlets on the forecourt and a traditional fish & chips restaurant. At 1,722 feet long, Brighton Pier is acknowledged as the finest pier ever built.
Here is a photo of punts moored near the Magdalen Bridge in Oxford. You can go cruising the tranquil river Cherwell in Oxford. It offers a taste of a slower life, where cares drift away with the gentle flow of the water and life’s pleasures can be enjoyed to their utmost.
The County Donegal presents an ever-changing spectacle of landscapes and seascapes set against a backdrop of mountains and moors. Traditional Irish culture is everywhere. Donegal boasts a vast rugged coastline softened regularly by a succession of beautiful beaches with golden sand and clear fresh waters. Inland, Donegal is wild and unspoilt with winding roads. So get your plane ticket and have a dream holiday....
Bodiam castle is a National Trust property located in Sussex (not far from Hastings). It was built in the late 13th century as a “fortified home” for an English adventurer returning from France. It could well be argued that it isn’t really a castle, as it was more of a “manor house” with a moat and crenelations… This picture shows the front entrance of the castle - This is the very first castle I visited in England I was only 11 at the time !!!
I'm going to show you a part of one of my favourite walk in London. It is in somewhere in Hampstead Heath. It is set in tranquil parkland with panoramic views over London. Brewing magnate, Edward Cecil Guinness, first Earl of Iveagh, bought Kenwood House in 1925. Thanks to him, you can admire masterpieces by Rembrandt, Turner, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Vermeer. Admire the Suffolk Collection, with its magnificent full-length Elizabethan portraits and stunning costume details. Or take a turn outside, in parkland influenced by the great English landscape gardener, Humphry Repton. There are also lakeside walks and meandering woodland paths to explore and enjoy. This is where that false bridge is.
Clare college in Cambridge has a much-photographed bridge over the river which has fourteen stone balls decorating it. One of the balls has a missing section. A number of apocryphal stories circulate concerning this - the one most commonly cited by members of college is that the original builder of the bridge was not paid the full amount for his work and so removed the segment to balance the difference in payment. This bridge is the oldest of Cambridge's current bridges. You should go there and rent a small boat and don't forget to bring your picnic....
Peel is often called the only 'city' in the Isle of Man because it is the home of the Island's cathedral; but it is the fourth largest town on the island after Douglas, Onchan and Ramsey. Peel was never capital of the Island, but Peel Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Sodor and Man. It is the Island's main fishing port.Peel is often referred to as the rose red city or sunset city due to the red sandstone used to build the castle and other important buildings. It also faces west and enjoys beautiful sunsets over the Irish Sea. Peel is a popular seaside destination for Manx citizens and visitors in summer and is noted for its narrow streets of fishermen's cottages and a sizeable promenade and sandy beach. Usually, at least one seal can be seen in the harbour or just outside it.
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.
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.
The photo was taken during the Grand opening of the Station on November 7th 2007: The Queen officially opened the revamped St Pancras.
