Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for england
Nashville of the North
By Linda Tancs
It might be best known as the hometown of pop/rock legends The Beatles, but Liverpool has had a long love affair with country-and-western music. Known by such monikers as “Nashville of the North” and the “Country Music Capital of England,” some credit the genre as the genesis of the Mersey Beat. Even Beatles drummer Ringo Starr reputedly took his stage name from the cowboy character Johnny Ringo. Liverpool’s musical history is so rich that it was designated a UNESCO City of Music in 2015. You can explore the city’s many musical influences (including African, Irish and reggae) year round at one of its music festivals.
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The Little Green Huts
By Linda Tancs
A quirky part of London’s history are the little green huts that pop up in various parts of the capital. Known as cabmen’s shelters, they were established in 1875 for London’s cabbies as a place to rest and eat during the workday. Once numbering 61, the 13 remaining shelters are all Grade II-listed (protected) buildings. You’ll find them at locales like Wellington Place, Russell Square and Kensington Park Road. Nowadays even non-cabbies can order takeaway from a service window; hours vary at each shelter.
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The Greater Outdoors
By Linda Tancs
Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland is home to England’s largest forest and the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe. Popular with walkers, hikers and cyclists, you’ll get great views of a gorge and waterfall at Hindhope Linn, a few miles from Kielder Castle, formerly the hunting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland. The castle area is a hub for cyclists. Consider a short stroll from Kielder Village along the trackbed of the former Border Counties Railway, where the Kielder Viaduct is one of the best preserved examples of a skew-arch bridge in the country. The night views aren’t bad either, considering that the dark sky zone is the second-largest area of protected night sky in Europe. The observatory offers events throughout the year that must be booked in advance.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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The House of Devon
By Linda Tancs
Just south of Exeter, over 600 years of British history stands resplendent over the estuary of the River Exe. This is the site of Powderham Castle, a home now occupied by the 19th earl of Devon (Charlie Courtenay) and his family. One of the grandest family estates in Britain, it was built in the 14th century by Sir Philip Courtenay, making the current occupants the 28th generation of caretakers. Little is off limits; the upstairs guided tour even includes personal family bedrooms. The other option, the State Room Tour, includes the castle’s grandest rooms, secret doors, long libraries and even a hidden ballroom. Among the highlights is the Rococo interior, especially the staircase hall that was immortalized in the film “The Remains of the Day.”
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Silver Darlings in Norfolk
By Linda Tancs
Great Yarmouth, also known as Yarmouth, is a seaside town in England with a long maritime history. By the 19th century, it was the largest herring port in the world. Known as “silver darlings” for their bright, silver color, the fish was exported as far as Russia, India and Africa. You can learn more about the fishing industry at the Time & Tide Museum, a former smokehouse. And don’t miss this month’s Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival at historic South Quay. The event features tall ships, shanty music and pirates along with a costumed actor portraying naval commander Horatio Nelson, who spent time there before the Battle of Copenhagen and on his return to England after the Battle of the Nile.
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The Chapel Lighthouse
By Linda Tancs
Touted as the oldest working lighthouse in Britain, St. Nicholas Chapel in North Devon is perched on Lantern Hill overlooking Ilfracombe’s historic harbor. As its name suggests, the structure is named for St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. The chapel dates back to 1321 as a place of worship for seafarers; the beacon was added in the 15th century to guide shipping into the harbor. The iconic landmark is open from Eastertide to the end of September.
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Holy Island
By Linda Tancs
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne off Northumberland’s coast is more than just a pilgrimage site; the tidal island is also home to a nature preserve full of wildlife, tidal mudflats, saltmarshes and dunes. A short distance from the Scottish border, the island was home to St. Cuthbert, a revered monk who spread Christianity in the north of England. Two of its most stunning sites are Lindisfarne Castle and the ancient priory, but what may be most magical about the place is just getting there. It’s linked to the mainland (Berwick) by a causeway that floods twice daily, so timing is essential. Bus service will get you there when it’s safe. Enjoy a stay on the island for a true tranquil getaway.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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Urban Art in London
By Linda Tancs
There’s only one place in London, England, where you’ll find legalized graffiti and street art, and that’s at Leake Street. In fact, urban art is encouraged on the walls and ceilings of the street, which is a road tunnel in Lambeth. Less than 1,000 feet long, the street runs off York Road and under the platforms and tracks of Waterloo station. The area is known as Leake Street Arches, a dining and entertainment complex which incorporates the graffiti tunnel and a new pedestrianized walkway connecting Leake Street to Westminster Bridge roundabout. The entrance is next door to Park Plaza County Hall.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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Plenty of Books in Norfolk
By Linda Tancs
One of the most impressive collections of books in England is at Blickling Estate in Norfolk. That’s where you’ll find the 18th-century Long Gallery, which contains over 12,500 volumes, including a handwritten manuscript from the 1100s containing the Dialogues of Pope Gregory the Great. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the estate is also the alleged birthplace of Anne Boleyn, ill-fated wife of King Henry VIII. Be sure to stroll the gardens. There are two secret tunnels, a walled garden and a lake, as well as a formidable row of yew hedges flanking the driveway.
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The Coronation of King Charles
By Linda Tancs
The Coronation of His Majesty The King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023, sparking a series of ceremonial, celebratory and community events that will take place over the Coronation Weekend. For instance, on May 7 a special evening Coronation Concert will be staged and broadcast live at Windsor Castle by the BBC. The highlight of the concert, Lighting up the Nation, features iconic locations across the United Kingdom being lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations. During the day neighbors and communities are invited to share food and fun together at what’s being styled the “Coronation Big Lunch.” Monday, a Bank Holiday, is set aside for “The Big Help Out,” a day for volunteering and community service.
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