Prince Regent Royal Pavilion, Brighton, UK by Dominic Alves

It’s only around 50 miles from the centre of the capital, and is an hour’s train ride from London Bridge and Victoria stations. There are times when even the most iconic cities in the world become a little too fast-paced, congested and hectic, so if you’re in the mood to seek out some fresh sea air and a little more space in which to breathe, Brighton should be a must on your vacation itinerary.

Brighton is home to a significant number of top class restaurants that offer the finest cuisine options for any visitors who are seeking out the best in dining, but sometimes it might be better to choose a true classic. Fish and chips is synonymous with all things British, of course, but it’s perhaps best enjoyed when close to the sea. Freshly-caught cod in crispy batter is simply delicious, especially when accompanied by a generous serving of the finest quality chips.

The city of Brighton, officially known as Brighton & Hove, has a rich heritage and is home to a number of historic buildings. Perhaps chief among them is the Royal Pavilion, once the home of the future King George IV. More than 400,000 tourists visit the location every year, and a guided tour of the landmark is a must. The distinctive design is reminiscent of Indian architecture, reflecting a popular fashion from the time when it was constructed.

Palace Pier, Brighton, UK by Garry Knight

Equally famous, although perhaps not as noble, is the spectacular Palace Pier. Located in the heart of the city, it’s a hugely popular attraction that plays hosts to tourists from all over the world every week. It’s home to several amusement park rides, bars, restaurants, and other attractions.

For those who enjoy live music, an overnight stay in Brighton is highly recommended, because the city has plenty of venues that remain open into the wee small hours. The local nightlife has a distinctive buzz about it, and this intriguing Sussex location enjoys a reputation for its artistic innovation and its musical diversity.

David Showell has visited Brighton on several occasions. When he’s not travelling, he’s working for https://www.carrentals.co.uk/.

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Big Ben and London Double-Decker Bus by Kevin Poh

Travelling

First things first: buy an ‘Oyster Card’. With this you can get around the city by bus, tube and boat! You can order your card online from the London Transport website or simply pick one up from a London station. To spot a few more landmarks, jump on the popular number 15 red bus; this authentic London double decker is much cheaper than the conventional sightseeing buses and still packs in many popular attractions. There are many bike docking station located all around London city centre, this allows you to easily rent a bike with minimum effort and fuss and get a good workout while travelling too!

Entertainment

The West end is London’s famous entertainments centre; blockbuster films premier in Leicester Square which often plays host to worldwide-known movie starts and celebrities. Instead of paying top-dollar to see a new release, head around the corner to the Prince Charles Cinema for cheaper showings.

If you fancy seeing a show, The Coliseum is a fantastic venue and as one of London’s largest theatres that offers cheap tickets for certain performances you’re more than likely to be able to get a seat last-minute.

The Coliseum, London, UK by Steve James

Once an old flower market, there’s never a dull moment in Covent Garden. If you are going to check out the street artists, avoid emptying your pockets by skipping outdoor eateries; instead, buy a quick snack and find a comfortable spot on the curb. Next, head to neighbouring Trafalgar Square; here you can find the National Gallery that offers free entry and cheap Saturday cinema tickets. The national portrait gallery is just next door too!

Dining

If you’re after a quick bite before a show in the west end, head down to China town for some affordable treats; for a hearty, authentic meal, find a restaurant with lots of Chinese customers. Head along Neal Street and Neal’s Yard for tasty vegetarian dishes at the modern World Food Café; there is no shortage of stylish boutiques and vintage shops to distract you on the way.

At Borough Market there’s a fresh selection of top quality produce to sample; boasting delicious coffee, smelly cheeses, crispy pastries and roasted meats, Borough Market yields plenty of mouth-watering treats to keep you busy for more than a few hours!  Fill your belly with free samples or purchase some delicious snacks to enjoy later!

So there we are some affordable entertainment and snacks to enjoy whilst out and about in London city centre. Remember, don’t be disheartened by the expensive restaurants you will likely see when researching on the internet, there are plenty of affordable places to spend your time.

Daniel Travis – Brown is an avid traveller and visits London on a regular basis to enjoy all the West end has to offer! He writes travel guides regularly on behalf of Skypark Stansted Airport Parking and shares his articles with his Twitter followers! Find him on Twitter @DanTravisBrown

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Anyway, here goes…

Bamburgh Castle by James West

Bamburgh Castle, Northumbria

Britain is home to a number of famous castles, but few can claim to be quite as impressive as Bamburgh Castle in the north-east of England. This giant building is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country and takes pride of place of the Northumbrian coastline. Bamburgh Castle was once home to the kings of Northumbria and is still a place of fascination to historians and archaeologists who can often be seen digging for artefacts and anything else that provides information on the long history of the castle. This historical landmark should be visited by everyone.

Fishing Cove, Cornwall

Fishing Cove is a secluded a beach as you will ever find – this despite being several hundred metres from a car park! The small beach is a place loved as much by seals as it is by skinny-dippers and naturists and is the perfect place to enjoy a sunny summer afternoon. Fishing Cove, would not doubt be one of the most popular places in Cornwall, were it not for access. The pathway down to the beach is steep and can be slippery but well worth tackling to experience the golden sand.

Dunster Castle, Somerset by Chilli Head

Dunster Castle, Somerset

Dunster Castle is much like something out of a fairytale with turrets and towers aplenty overlooking beautiful Exmoor. The castle itself is made all the more picturesque by the medieval town that surrounds it and the National Collection of strawberry trees that must be seen (but not eaten). Regular events are held at the castle and you can choose to take a tour around the grounds and inside the vast building itself, tracing more than 1,000 years of history in the process.

The Temple, London

London is home to the majority of Britain’s most famous attractions, but many hidden gems also populate the city streets; one such attraction being the Temple, a building which is hidden in plain sight between Fleet Street and the Embankment. Both an ancient church and a base for members of London’s legal profession, the building was named after the Knights Templar. The Temple is eerie as it is wonderful.

Author’s Bio
This article is brought to you by Direct Ferries, a site that provides a quick and easy way to look, compare and book 1000′s of scheduled ferry crossings to and from virtually any ferry port in Europe and North Africa.

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We’ve kept everything cheap and cheerful within your budget and free things to do – both day and night, but first things first;

London Eye and County Hall From Westminster Bridge by stephen boisvert

Buy an Oyster Card!

This is your key to getting around London by bus, tube, and even boat. Order online from the transport for London website or buy from a London station. To spot historical landmarks, hop on one of the red buses (the number 15). Not only is the authentic London double-decker, but it is also cheaper than the commercial site-seeing buses. Why not grab a bike from one of the many docking stations located all around the city center?

The West End

West End is London’s entertainment neighbourhood. Major films premier in Lester Square. Don’t pay full whack for cinema tickets here; instead, go around the corner to the Prince Charles Cinema for cheaper screenings. If you fancy seeing a top London show, your best bet is to try the coliseum; one of London’s largest theatres which offers cheap tickets for better performances.  If you are after a quick bite before a show, dive into China Town for some cheap eats. Choose one with lots of Chinese customers because you are guaranteed an authentic meal. To watch the street artists, avoid the premier tables at the outdoor eateries, instead grab a snack and make yourself comfortable on the curb. Next, head to the neighbouring square.

The National gallery offers free entry and cheap Saturday cinema sessions. The national portrait gallery is just next door. I recommend wandering over to Neal’s Street and Neal’s Yard for creative vegetarian dishes at the colourful world food café.

There are plenty of great boutiques and vintage shops to distract you on route. Get out on the river tends and see London from a fresh perspective. Why not use your Oyster Card on the Tate-to-Tate boat? The Tate-to-Tate boat is a service that runs between two of London’s great art galleries. On the south side of the river tends, an area called Southbank will find you one of London’s major constitutions.  Have a browse around the Southbank book fair. You will also find the Shakespeare globe, the national theatre, and the royal festival hall along this stretch. Nearby, the British Film Institute allows you to explore the film archive for free so it is truly a hub for the arts.

Borough Market

At Borough Market, there is fresh and top quality produce for example, premium Monmouth coffee, fresh pastries, stinky cheeses, and hog roasts. Fill up some free tasters or gather up some fresh ingredients to cook back at your hostel. A few stops on the underground and you are in Brixton, South London. Brixton village has plenty of cheapeners to offer. They say the best pizza in town is at the Franco Manca. By nightfall, catch of layback rangy, jazz, and other great like music venues. North of Kingcross station is Camden. You can easily wow-away an afternoon with people watching and shopping around the Camden region canal. This area is also a great place to pick up a cheap hotel in London. With so many hotels to choose from, there are hotels to suit all budgets.

Camden

Camden Stables Market is a labyrinth of crafts tools and outdoor eateries. Skip the first few path heists, and further on there is much more choice in cheap/tasty dishes from all over the world. A short walk from Camden is Primrose hill. A quick but steep climb to the top and you have earned yourself a spectacular view of London. It is an idealist spot for spending lazy summer days on the grass. Out of bed early on a Sunday? Head to Columbia Road flower market where there is a lively atmosphere of proud and loud store holders selling orchids, sunflowers, and sweet smelling herbs. By the afternoon, the place is heaving, but the prices are falling. Keep on walking, and once the air fills with spices, you know you’ve hit Brick Lane. On Sundays its bustling with vendors frogging furniture, second-hand items, and devious looking electricals.

Listen out for free gigs at the brilliant Rough Trade record shop. Just down the road, you will find the covered Spitalfields market where there are some great places to eat. Don’t shy away from S&M serving sausage and mash. Around the corner, Regent’s Canal is bustling on weekends. Sit back for coffee on the Tall Parks Café and watch the long base glide by. Clubs like cargo often run free nights in live band and DJs. On other nights, arrive early and you may even get in for free. Hungry after a heavy night out? Tackle your munchies at one of the bakeries at nearby Brick Lane. No worries, in London there are always loads of buses to take you home at the end of the night.

If you are staying in London, why not contact outlet4holidays.com for a last minute reservation. We also have limited spaces for the London 2012 Olympic Games too.

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Sofia, Bulgaria / antonella sinopoli

Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia is one of the cheapest eastern European cities to visit and stay in, and by extension one of the cheapest on the continent. The city displays much of its history in its architecture, starting with the city walls, much of which remain largely intact since their establishment in its 7th century days as a regional capital in the Holy Roman Empire. The frescoes of the St George Rotunda date from the 12th century, while the edifice’s foundations date back to the Roman settlement of 4th century Serdica, the original site of the city. Since then, the city’s older buildings trace its time from Byzantine, Ottoman and medieval Bulgar fortresses through the neoclassical period and into the prefabricated socialist-era apartment blocks.

The city also boasts a large number of classical theatres, which remains the country’s most popular performing art, followed by the combined National Opera and Ballet company, established in 1891. Free hiking and cycling tours are a great way to see the Sofia’s extensive green and mountainous areas without leaving the city limits. Bulgaria is still a very cheap place to visit, and 4 (and sometimes even 5) star hotels are affordable if you book sufficiently ahead of time.

Guimarães, Portugal

An average-sized city in the slightly cooler northern region of the country, Guimarães is a real hidden gem that is begging for travellers to seek it out. Tucked away in a lush, secluded valley in the district of Braga, the city was founded around the 9th century by a local noble who conquered the region for the then-kingdom of Galicia, and since the 12th century been considered the seat of Portuguese nationality and the home of the Portuguese conquistadores. In 2012, Guimarães was named European Capital of Culture, and not without good reason.

Despite its size (only around 190,000 in the greater urban area), the city is home to a large number of musuems, galleries and theatres, principle among which is the Alberto Sampaio museum. Opened in 1931, it contains a huge collection of pieces from the city’s history during the 14th-16th centuries. On the first weekend of August, there is the Festas Gualterianas, in honour of Saint Gualter, featuring fireworks, street performers and musical performances, and the spectacular Battle of the Flowers.

Dorset, England

Of course, if the cost of physically getting across the seas is too much, you don’t even have to pass through customs to have a great holiday on the cheap. The south-west of England has long had tourist centres in Devon and Cornwall, but Dorset is just as calm, quiet and picturesque without facing the same high prices and tailbacks as its neighbours. Even better, if you get yourself a bus pass, you can see most of the county without straying from the public transport system.

This holiday might be strictly for the hardcore hiker, as getting the most out of your stay will rely on your capacity for long walks and creative use of wireless internet if you want to stay tuned in the goings on beyond the hills and beaches. The best place to pick up some tips on where to stay while on the Jurassic Coast is Countryside and Coastal, with its range of B&Bs and hostels.

So don’t panic if your budget is looking fine this summer: just take a look outside of the usual haunts.

Catherine Halsey is based in Edinburgh and writes for a digital marketing agency. This article links back to Skype.com.

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Tennyson Trail, Isle of Wight / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by David Jones

The world is filled with stunning and breathtaking landscapes, but did you know that some of the best are right on your doorstep? If you are anything like me you’ve probably spent your whole life living in the UK but have yet to see all of this small isle’s best beauty spots. From picturesque locations ideal for an afternoon stroll to more challenging hikes set against a fantastic backdrop, here is my run down of the top 7 must-see, must-do walks in the UK…

Tennyson Trail, Isle of Wight (14 miles)

One for experienced hikers, this difficult but rewarding trail is so named because the poet Tennyson loved this challenging, up-and-down walk for the whole 40 years that he lived on the island in the 19th century, describing it as ‘noble down’.

Follow this marked trail and go back in time and you follow in Tennyson’s footsteps and view the scenery that inspired some of his best work, from the forbidding Carisbrooke Castle that imprisoned Charles I before he was executed in 1649, to the towering heights of Alum Bay which is the perfect spot for a lunch break before you head back down to Earth.

Ridgeway and Watlington Hill, Oxfordshire (8.5 miles)

For a more manageable walk suited to newer hikers, the beautiful Chiltern Hills are a hidden gem of the English countryside. From Lewknor village you move to a stunning nature reserve that is arguably Oxfordshire’s finest spot of natural beauty. Continue through the almost deserted Wormsley Valley with nature as your only companion, before heading through a delightful forest and up onto the chalky landscapes of Watlington Hill.

The Roaches, Staffordshire (8.5 miles)

Close to the famous Peak District lies this often-overlooked location, the perfect alternative when you want to avoid well-trodden paths and discover a quieter but no less beautiful area. Similar in length and pace, this dramatic landscape provides a stark contrast between the towering rocky summits and the lush green plains that you will see stretched out for miles and miles before you from the summit, Hen Cloud.

Malvern Hills, Worcestershire (10 miles)

The ideal choice for the amateur hiker, this relatively easy hike can be walked in around half a day and then a Hopper bus will take you back to the starting line at Great Malvern for a much deserved cup of tea in this picturesque Victorian spa resort. Following the gently sloping path upwards from St Anne’s Well you will traverse some of the UK’s finest woods and cross a beautiful open plain before reaching the hill’s summit, where a relaxing walk along the ridge will lead you to the bus service.

Malvern Hills, Worcestershire / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by TomGough

Coast to Coast, The Lake District (190 miles)

Not for the faint of heart, this 12-day walk is an absolute must for any true lover of the great outdoors. At just under 200 miles this trail is challenging but unmissable, offering breathtaking scenery and a last glimpse at an area of the UK that has not been tarnished by industrial development.  Start at St Bee’s head in the West where the walk is harder but the scenery is all the more stunning, reaching some of England’s highest grounds. Then leave the coastline behind you as you make for the famous Yorkshire moors, following through to an easy but delightful walk across the Eastern side to a grand finale at the historic Robin Hood’s Bay.

Manningtree to Dedham (4 miles)

The perfect beginner’s hike, this short and peaceful trail through the flat, open lands of South-East England starts at Manningtree rail station and passes across the wildlife-rich, rural marshlands of Flatford that was the inspiration behind Constable’s better-known words such as The Mill Stream. Literary walkers will want to stop at the National Trust’s Bridge Cottage on the way to discover more about this great author, before returning to Manningtree.

Preseli Mountains, Pembrokeshire (9 miles)

From the idyllic seaside town of Newport this lovely trail takes you up the side of the heather-wrapped mountain Carn Ingli. Continue across open moors and lonely woods in the deserted Gwaun Valley, before doubling back on a different set of ancient paths that lead back down the mountain to Newport.

Preseli Mountains, Pembrokeshire / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Felix O

Have you been on some great hikes recently? Tell us all about it!

Kate Dawson is a keen writer who blogs for Optegra on a regular basis. Optegra are specialist eye care providers who provide many treatments such as cataracts treatment for a number of eye conditions, such as glaucoma.

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