RYE, EAST SUSSEX

For a most rewarding stroll in Rye, visit this incredibly picturesque cobbled street. It retains many of its late 15th - 17th buildings. The Mermaid Inn is to the right. It is a 15^th century half-timbered pub rich in tradition. It was also a notorious meeting place for smugglers. At the end of the street is an elegant18th-century house called « Lamb House » .The American author Henry James (1843-1916) spent the last years of his life and wrote the novels « The Wings Of The Dove » in 1902 and « The Golden Bowl » in 1904.

HAMPTON COURT, HEREFORDSHIRE

Hampton Court near london is a castle on the meadows of the river Lugg, backed by a steep wooded escarpment and surrounded by woodland and grounds of 1,000 acres. Founded by King Henry VIII in the early 15th century the castle has been completely restored. The Gardens at Hampton Court are spectacular. you should see the famous MAZE.... Some of you went there with me a feew years ago... Mind you nobody eventually got lost.

CORFE CASTLE, DORSET

The village of Corfe Castle stands in a narrow gap where the road from Wareham to Swanage passes through the Purbeck Hills. It is dominated by the ruins of the mediaeval castle, after which it is named.
Much of the present day village was built in the 1700's to a consistently high standard of craftsmanship. There followed a decline in prosperity when the centre of the Purbeck Stone trade moved from Corfe Castle to Swanage. As a result, the village has retained a remarkable unity and a picturesque quality which makes it unique, and the setting for several historical feature films.

ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, LONDON

St Paul’s, with its world-famous Dome, is an iconic feature of the London skyline, but there is so much more to Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece than its impressive facade. Look at this photo taken at night from the Millenium bridge (South Bank). I love the ancient - modern blend.

PRIMROSE HILL, LONDON

Lying between St John's Wood and Chalk Farm/Camden tube stations on the jubilee and northern lines respectively, Primrose Hill is a beautiful parkland area near Regents Park. The green space is next to Primrose Hill 'Village' which has now become a favourite spot for many of the capitals media stars and personalities.

Primrose Hill lies at one of the highest points in London (though admittedly being quite a flat city, this still isn't very high!) which means that there are very good views to be had looking out from one of the park benches which have been strategically placed to maximise this view. As a result of this position at the geographical top of the city, it has also attracted many writers and artists over the years as a place which provides inspiration. Take a stroll around Primrose Hill and the Village itself to see where the other half live in this stunning London enclave.

MORECAMBE BAY, LANCASHIRE

Morecambe is located on the north coast of Lancashire (north west), just after Blackpool and before the English Lake District. Morecambe has become a new seaside venue for millions of visitors each year. It is also a major migratory stopover for many species of birds.

FRESHWATER, ISLE OF WIGHT

Freshwater Bay golf course is one of the most spectacular golf courses in the UK. Set on the ISLE OF WIGHT overlooking the English Channel, this course is 5,725 yards long, par 68 which provides a challenge for golfers of all abilities.

This is a beautiful part of the Isle of Wight and an excellent base for a holiday. Landmarks include Freshwater Bay, The Needles, Tennyson Down, Fort Victoria, Alum Bay Cliffs and Yarmouth Castle but there are other places like Newtown Creek - an unspoilt haven for wildlife, Hannover Point with it's dinosaur footprints on the rocks, the ancient standing stones at Mottistone and Hulverstone and beaches ranging from safe and sandy to wild and rocky!

KEW GARDENS, LONDON

The Royal Botanic Gardens, usually referred to simply as Kew Gardens, are extensive gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London. It is an internationally important botanical research and education institution with 700 staff and an income of £44 million a year, as well as a visitor attraction. This is a picture of The Palm House built between 1844 and 1848. A tropical rainforest habitat is created in this massive greenhouse.

HAMPSTEAD HEATH, LONDON

Hampstead Heath (locally known as "the Heath") is London's largest ancient parkland covering 320 ha. The Heath is hilly, there are ponds, recent and ancient woodlands, a lido, playgrounds, a training track. South of the Heath is Parliament Hill, a focal point and one of the highest points in London with the view protected by law.

The Heath has long been a popular place for Londoners to walk and take the air. Running along its eastern perimeter lies a chain of ponds - including three open-air public swimming pools - which were originally reservoirs for drinking water from the River Fleet. It's a fantastic place if you like walking. I love the peace and quiet of this place.

HADRIAN'S WALL GREENHEAD LOUGH

Hadrian's Wall is the most important monument built by the Romans in Britain.

It stretches seventy-three miles from Wallsend near Newcastle, across the neck of England to Bowness-on-Solway in North West Cumbria, and stands today as a reminder of the past glories of one of the world's greatest empires.

It was built in the 120's AD and because it was not an impenetrable barrier, forts were built at seven mile intervals, milecastles (small guard posts) were built at one mile intervals, and two turrets (towers) were placed between each pair of milecastles, for observation. In front of the wall lay a ditch, except where the crags made it unneccessary. The wall crossed three rivers, and bridges were built.

DAWLISH, DEVON

Dawlish is a pretty resort, on the south Devon coastline, between Torquay and the city of Exeter. Dawlish has excellent rail links, with a mainline station situated right on the sea front.

The town itself has a quiet, relaxing feel to it - full of charm and loaded with atmosphere. Dawlish, was once the haunt of such literary giants as Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Charles Dickens used the town as the birthplace of Nicholas Nickleby...

ABBEY GARDENS, BURY ST EDMUNDS, SUFFOLK

Abbey Gardens stand in the heart of Bury St Edmunds on the site of a great Benedictine abbey. The gardens contain magnificent floral displays and impressive ruins of the abbey. They stand adjacent to St Edmundsbury cathedral that is only now in the final stages of completion after nearly 500 years with the addition of a central tower.

BIBURY, THE COTSWOLDS

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.

CLIFTON, SOMERSET

Brunel's Suspension Bridge, Clifton Tower and the Observatory behind, from Greville Smyth Park.
This photo was Taken in Bristol not very long ago... It's a wonderful bridge and on top of the Hill the view is incredible, just awesome!! I could spend ages watching the Avon below and the countryside in the distance. So get a cheap ticket and spend some time in Bristol!!!

WESTON SUPER MARE, SOMERSET

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.

RYE, SUSSEX

When you're in need of a treat or want to escape the pressures of modern life, come to Rye in the East Sussex countryside, in the south east of England.
Perched on a hill, overlooking the River Rother and Romney Marsh, this ancient town is the sort of place you thought existed only in your imagination.
With enchanting cobbled streets, medieval church and beautifully preserved historic houses from medieval, Tudor and Georgian times, Rye is almost suspended in time and has a uniquely unhurried atmosphere. Compact enough to discover the key places of interest over a week-end but with plenty of secret treasures to entice you to stay much longer and to return again.

BRIGHTON PIER

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.

EMBANKMENT, LONDON

This is a picture of Embankment in London at night. It is taken from the South Bank of the river Thames not too far from the London Eye.

RIVER CHERWELL, OXFORD

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.

DONEGAL, IRELAND

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....