Hit the markets

Nothing captures the buzz and character of London more than its bustling markets. Colourful, cultural and packed full of bargains galore, whether you’re looking to uncover chic gems in the vintage clothes stalls of Camden, sample the sights, smells and tastes of Whitecross Street Food Market or hunt for treasure in Brixton, there are plenty of unique and tempting markets all across London which are at their best during the week, away from the tourist-trapping weekend trade.

London Eye and Panorama, England, UK by Elliott Brown

Soak up the views

Whether you’re a hard-nosed Londoner who knows the Tube map like the back of your hand, or an innocent tourist clutching your guidebook, the chances are you’re often in too much of a rush to really soak up the unique beauty of this city. A day off is a fantastic chance to take a step back and just drink it all in. The London Eye may be one of London’s most recognisable icons but it is also one of the best ways to get a great view of the famous buildings, landmarks and skyline that lie all around you.

Explore the quirky side of life

As well as its glitzy tourist attractions and mainstream entertainment, London really excels itself when it comes to underground culture and off-beat antics and there are plenty of ways to explore this side of the city – you just have to know who to ask. The Alternative London Tour will show you some of the best street art and unique cultural history of East London, while Ghost and Murder Walks can help you uncover the darker sides of London’s spooky underbelly.

London Fields, Hackney, Egland, UK by Charles Hutchins

Hit the park

A day off means relaxing and getting away from the daily grind. Luckily, London is blessed with plenty of green spaces which means you don’t need to travel far to be able to chill out on the grass or enjoy a rejuvenating wildlife walk. If you’re planning what to do with your bank holiday, then a barbecue is often the first thing that springs to mind, but for many Londoners access to a garden comes at a price. But fear not, if sparking up the barbie in your front room fills you with fear, then you can always head off to Highbury Fields in Islington or London Fields in Hackney, two parks which permit barbecues in designated areas.

This article has been produced by FollowUK. The place to follow UK Bank Holidays 2013 dates, not to forget dates for special occasions and important events.

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London Underground (Håkan Dahlström) / CC BY 2.0

The tube

I recently went to Milan where the four-line subway system utterly baffled me, I believe the UK has nearer 10 lines, for a non-English speaking person visiting and trying to get around this doesn’t make for an easy journey. As with most things though, once you know how, it’s easy and efficient. In central London you rarely have to wait for more than three minutes for the next train and if it’s easy for you to get to an underground station this can be a fast and efficient way to travel.

Ferry

We love the river and amidst the hustle, bustle and general chaos that constitutes day to day city life taking a ferry from one place to another can provide welcome respite from the hectic day to day routines of many that live in the city. With British summer’s typically akin to the depths of winter for some countries this is certainly not the warmest route – for a tranquil way to travel though, it stands alone as the cities best.

Black London Cab, UK by Jimmy Barrett

Cabs

Travel in style, avoid stress from excessive traffic and parking worries, don’t worry that it’s going to break down or not be running…and pay more. If you’ve got the budget cabs are one of the best ways to go, the pro of these is being taken door to door without having to worry about missing trains, running late, climbing up masses of stairs because the escalators are broken, being packed in tightly with other travelers or figuring out where you need to go on a map. They are abundant although the sheer volume of partygoers on a weekend can render even the cab service scarce, many a clubber can be seen wondering around at 3am on a Saturday night looking for a way home which brings me on to another benefit – no time limits. The drawbacks are that you have to fight the traffic like everyone else and you can get ripped off, booking this in advance though and using a cab driver with good knowledge can eliminate a lot of this stress.

Buses

Finally, if you’re on a budget but it’s too far to walk or you’re wearing unsuitable footwear the big red buses so characteristic of London are a good way to get around. Even more difficult to get your head around than the tube these aren’t for the navigationally challenged! Most drivers will (admittedly grudgingly) help you to get to the right stop for your destination and make the best of the bus network.

The Transport for London website has a great journey planner and other maps, you can also click through to book a London taxi.

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Bray-Dunes, France by aimee daniells

A visit to the North Sea

While the southern beaches are great for those that like to enjoy the sun, do not neglect the North Sea from your route. Here, the weather is not as hot as on the French Riviera, so you can enjoy walking on the shores without fear of getting burned. During the nights, the temperature can get quite cold, so it is best to pack some warmer clothes with your luggage.

Some of the nicest resorts on the north coast are Zuydcoote and Bray-Dunes.

Visiting the English Channel

For families that love the quaint and the quiet part of France, there is no better place to embark on a vacation than the English Channel. Etretat is one of family friendly resorts that you can find in this area, especially known for the white cliffs and the white sand beaches that can be found nearby. Honfleur is a resort ideal for visiting historical places, as the local port and house are filled with history.

Other great family resorts along the English Channel are Perros-Guirrec, Berck on Sea and Granville.

Taking your family on the Atlantic Coast

When you want a bit of action and hotter weather, you can take your family with you on the Atlantic Coast of France. Some of the best known resorts here is Biarritz, a place where celebrities often meet. However, if you do not like the hustle and bustle of the trendiest resorts, you have plenty of others to choose from. Les Sables d’Olonne is famous for its beaches and for its boats.

Biarritz, France by Emmanuel Dyan

La Trinite-sur-Mer and La Baule are also great picturesque resorts where you can take your family.

A trip to the Mediterranean Coast

A great thing about France is that it can offer all kinds of weather, due to its spread from the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Here the water is warmer and the weather is sweeter, which makes children really enjoy the many water activities that can be performed in the area.

Great family resorts on the Mediterranean Coast include Valras and Collioure.

Paris

If the beach and its attractions are not enough to complete a great vacation to France, there is always Paris. You cannot go wrong if you take your family on a trip to the famous capital. While seen as a trendy destination, Paris can also be very children friendly, with its Cite des Sciences (with a whole department dedicated exclusively to kids), and Centre Pompidou, with its Galerie des Enfants. The famous French deserts will definitely have your children beg you to stay more.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Elizabeth Veitch

There are plenty of tour operators who specialise in horse riding holidays that you can check out online, and they can find places that are close to you, or a little further away. Here are some ideas horse riding holiday places all over the UK that you might want to consider.

Escape from London

If you live in London, it can be a bit difficult to get out and about on horseback. Fortunately, that’s what the home counties are for! The Thames Valley has a wealth of stables and horse riding facilities across counties such as Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Surrey. These places make a great escape for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the big smoke.

Horseriding in the North

In the same way that Londoners need a break from the city, other places such as Manchester certainly benefit from nearby places to go horse riding. Cheshire is full of rural places where you’ll be able to get away from urban city life and enjoy the great outdoors. Places such as the Coddington Loop at Farndon is well known for its ideal conditions for leisurely outdoor pursuits, and great for horses too.

Stunning Scotland

Scotland is a country that is, without a doubt, visually stunning. When it comes to this part of the world, you’re spoilt for choice for great places to visit and enjoy slipping on your Ariat Bromont boots and riding into the sunset. There is a network of horse and pony trekking routes throughout the glens of Scotland, which were originally used for cattle driving. Many of these routes can take days to traverse, although there are much shorter routes to travel, which allow you to take in the scenery.

Trails in Wales

The mountain range of the Brecon Beacons is one of the most awe-inspiring places in the British Isles. This area has National Park status, protecting it from development and maintaining the areas natural beauty. Here you’ll find a rolling vista to enjoy while on horseback, but you can also enjoy other past-times too, such as rock climbing, hang gliding, sailing and windsurfing. The Brecon Beacons offer a rewarding horse riding experience, where you can really breath in the wide expanses of this magnificent, rugged countryside.

Trot2 has a great collection of riding gear and footwear such as Ariat Bromont boots.

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A view looking along Glen Rosa, Arran / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by uplandaccess

And as much as it might be thought ‘Scotland in miniature’ is an exaggeration or simply marketing hype, the truth is there isn’t much of Scotland you can’t experience when you’re on Arran.

Arran’s Landscape

Starting with the island’s landscape, Arran is a particularly mountainous isle, not only producing some of the country’s best postcard photographs, but offering a fantastic array of walks for experienced and amateur walkers alike.

From leisurely walks to climbing challenges, try setting off from the village of Blackwaterfoot on the west coast and heading north towards Lochranza. It’s a beautiful walk, benefited tremendously by simply looking left – you’ll have an unrivalled view of the stunning Kintyre for the entire journey.

If walking isn’t your thing, what about a relaxing stroll through one of the islands many beautiful villages?

Home to no more than a couple of hundred people each, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll be blown away by one of two things – the sheer tranquillity of sitting outside, drink in hand, watching the world go by on an island that seems to be completely removed from any type of hustle and bustle or the simple friendliness of the people who are so proud of their island and love to share its intricacies and delights with everyone.

And if you’re looking for something a little more cultural or historic, how about Brodick Castle, a castle that’s still standing strong after 500 years?

Brodick Castle, Arran / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Magnus Hagdorn

Anyone for Whisky?

Or Arran Distillery, perhaps, if you’re partial to a wee dram? Although having only been established for just over 15 years, Arran Distillery produces some of the country’s finest single malt whisky and is the only distillery in the whole of Scotland that is allowed to use the famed Scottish poet, Robert Burns, on its labelling.

It’s also worthwhile keeping in mind that on top of the island’s ability to provide beautiful walks with stunning scenery, quaint villages to enjoy a relaxing time in and a range of popular attractions, there are also a number of golf courses on the island, courses that have arguably some of Europe’s most favourable backdrops.

The Isle of Arran is one of those destinations that people very often skim over when deciding on where to visit Scotland, as they can feel visiting a more well-known place will be more beneficial to the time they have.

But with so much to see and do and on an island that can at times seem like it’s completely your own, where else in Scotland would you need to go?

Matthew Bettoli writes for Cottages and Castles, who can provide comfortable Arran holiday cottages for your next Scottish holiday.

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You will really enjoy your staying at Bad Füssing. It is Europe’s most popular spa resort in the Bavarian golf and thermal area. You will find here thousand of wellness possibilities, which help you with rheumatism, problems with joints and back or other problems.

The medicinal spring with a sulfur content at the temperature of 56 °C, which gushes from a depth of 1000 meters, have according to the opinions of many guests, scientists and doctors incomparable natural healing power.

An offer of the medical and therapeutic services in Bad Füssing is immense, ranging from Chinese medical practices to top medicine. Many local health experts help each guest and prepare an optimal plan for the health program or holidays.

Like many others, also mentioned services are for the guests staying in Bad Füssing provided for free. The guests can also attend more than 1,500 cultural events such as concerts, lectures and exhibitions for free as well.

Relax simply from stress and bustle of everyday life in one of the most popular areas of the European spa. Here you can even find first potato sauna in Europe or other more than 1,000 wellness activities.

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The Nant Llech is a small and peaceful river that meanders its way to the edges of Farewell Rock. It is here that the waters of the river make the 27-meter plunge over the edge of the rock face.

Henrhyd Falls, Wales, UK by Dave Mack

The Henrhyd Falls are very well-known; not just in the UK, but throughout the world as well. Up until just recently, the area was a popular destination for those who lived in the UK and just wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of inner city life. However, since the falls appeared at the end of the recently released film, The Dark Knight Rises, more and more visitors from all over the world have made the trek down into the gorge.

To get to the Henrhyd Falls, you will need to park your car and take a steep hike down into the very deep gorge lined with oak and ash trees. There is a small bridge at the bottom which will take you to the opposite side of the Nant Llech. From here, special care must be taken as the path narrows and becomes uneven.

There is only one way down into the gorge and one way out so special care must be taken when choosing to make your way down to see the Henrhyd Falls. The path will take you down to the base of the waterfall and if you continue to follow it, the path will take you behind the falls.

The area that Henrhyd Falls is located in is aptly dubbed the Wales Waterfall Country as there are countless falls that can be found throughout the Brecon Beacons National Park. For someone who is planning on visiting the Henrhyd Waterfall, make sure that you bring the proper footwear for the trek down into the gorge.

Take your time and make sure to check out the many other spectacular water falls that can be found throughout the area before you leave.

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Durdle Door, Dorset, England, UK by W. Lloyd MacKenzie

The vast majority of Durdle Door is composed of limestone which is why over the centuries it has slowly eroded away to form the arch. Its mammoth size however has led to its popularity over the years. Countless people have made their way to Durdle Door and to enjoy the English countryside.

The limestone rock formation has appeared in a number of music videos over the last few decades which have increased its popularity. One of the more popular videos is the Tears for Fears’ Shout video which was filmed on location in and around Durdle Door. Also, Pink Floyd fans have seen an image of the rock formation in the lyric books supplied with every “The Division Bell” album sold.

The rock that the Durdle Door is composed of stretch for great distances in every direction. They can be found hundreds of meters inland as well as out in the sea. Those who visit the Durdle Door will also be able to see the Bull which is located just off shore. This has been determined to be a continuation of the rock that the door itself is made of.

Durdle Door, Dorset Coast, England, UK by W. Lloyd MacKenzie

While there are many things to see and do in England, many people make the choice to head out into the countryside to get as far away from the hustle and bustle of life in London. While there are many great attractions in the capital city, some of the best destinations in the country are not.

There are countless castles and other ruins of days gone by that can be found in and around the area where the Durdle Door is located. The area known as the Jurassic Coast is one of the more popular destinations in the country.

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