Popular tourist attractions in Exeter

One of Exeter´s most popular tourist attraction is perhaps it´s greatest achievement, the honey-coloured 12th century Norman Exeter Cathedral, which towers over the city. The mesmerising ceiling in the largest of its kind that is unbroken in the world, an astonishing feat considering the city was flattened by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Take the 45-minute guided walk and you will get more from your visit.

Exeter Cathedral, UK by Antony McCallum

Other historical buildings of interest include the 14th century Guildhall, the oldest municipal building that is still in operation in the UK and resided over by the city mayor. You can also learn more about the history of the city in the Exeter museum which exhibits artefacts dating back to the Roman era. You will also find Egyptian history in the tomb-like Egypt Room which stores a 3000-year old mummy.

And if you enjoy a surreal tomb-like ambience don´t miss the Underground Passages Tour, a guided ghost walk through the network of medieval vaults which is guaranteed to send a chill down your spine. Redcoats guided tours do a wide range of walks from murder to religion and take you into some of the most fascinating parts of the city such as the Exeter catacombs. If you need to hire a car for travel around Exeter, there are various rental services available and also don’t forget to book out car hire insurance.

Exeter – High Street, Guildhall, UK by Franzfoto

Exeter Quay

A modern look at Exeter can be found by the Quay where the docks have been revitalised with trendy bars, cafe and clubs. The dull, red-bricked warehouses have been replaced with glass front chrome frame buildings which emanates pizzazz and elegance with continental-style alfresco dining. This is the place where suited young professionals like to hang-out to sip on espresso and tuck into an assortment of French and Italian breads.

The Quay area was originally designed by the Romans, but took a dip in fortune when opposing merchants built a weir across the River Exe to guide trade to nearby Topsham. There´s not much trade coming into the harbour these days and the slow and relaxed atmosphere offers open-air jazz evenings on Sundays. Bikes and kayaks are also available for hire.

As part of the rejuvenating process of the city, Exeter´s premier attraction, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery also got a makeover. Close by is the Bill Douglas Centre which pays homage to a history of cinema featuring fun films and a massive collection of memorabilia that dates back as far as Charlie Chaplin. If you love film you will love learning about the characters and performers ranging from Mickey Mouse to Marilyn Monroe and James Bond to Luke Skywalker. Learn more about movie mayhem from around the world as well as a behind the scenes look at how visual media is put together.

Other local attractions

Exeter is also well placed for getting to the coast and seeing more of what Devon has to offer. Plymouth and Weymouth are the neighbouring seaside locations whilst you can get close to nature along the many walking trails of Dartmoor National Park and the zoo at Paignton. Just up the road from Exeter and well worth a visit in its own right you will also find the charming town of Topsham.

Conclusion

Exeter is a fine city to visit. With a significant history, there are many architectural delights and splendours to observe. Modernisation has lead to many new shops being made available for the visitor and local alike. Exeter is also handily placed for local tourist spots in the Devon & Cornwall area.

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1 – Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Located in the West End of the city, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum contains a wide range of artifacts and exhibitions devoted to Glaswegian and more general history. Current exhibitions include a gallery celebrating 500 years of Italian Art, as well as the Glasgow Boys Gallery. The Kelvingrove also provides regular guest talks and lectures, while hosting a series of night events. Highly recommended for families and art lovers wanting to get to grips with Glasgow’s rich cultural heritage and contemporary art trends.

2 – Botanic Gardens and Kibble Palace

Recently restored, the Botanic Gardens and Kibble Palace include multiple examples of rare plants and vegetation within its glasshouses, and also features some of the best rose gardens in the United Kingdom. Visitors can also wander around its gardens, which play host to regular concerts, and talks. One of the most well established destinations within Glasgow, the Gardens also cater to family parties.

3 – Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel

Providing insights into Glasgow’s long maritime past, the Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel covers the city’s shipbuilding traditions, while also exploring a number of land based modes of transport. With special tours organised for families, and exhibitions held to celebrate exploration and travel, the Riverside Museum is one of the most unique attractions in the city.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by dun_deagh

4 – People’s Palace and Winter Gardens

With a long history as a centre for local art and celebration, the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens tells the story of Glaswegians from 1750 to the present, and represents one of the oldest public spaces in the city.

5 – Glasgow Cathedral

Open since 1197, the Glasgow Cathedral features excellent stained glass windows and a range of different architectural styles. Regular tours are held during the week, and operas and other concerts are conducted in evening slots.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Thomas Duesing

6 – Burrell Collection

Part of County Park, the Burrell Collection includes 8000 objects of interest, as well as a wide range of temporary exhibits. Current collections include studies of ancient civilizations and Gothic and Islamic art. Particularly recommended is the Collection’s tapestry gallery.
art and history

7 – The Tall Ship

Another fine example of Glasgow’s shipyard past, The Tall Ship at the Riverside Museum is one of the few preserved 19th century ships still to be found in the UK. The ship also acts as a way into understanding the history of Scottish trading, and features a number of maritime themed events, as well as regular classes and exhibitions.

8 – Glasgow Science Centre

Ideal for novices and science experts, the Glasgow Science Centre features exhibitions catered to different disciplines and histories. The Centre also includes an IMAX screen and a planetarium.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Francois Schnell

9 – Willow Tearooms

First opened in 1904, the Willow Tearooms are an excellent way to get around from the crowds near Sauchiehall Street. Enjoy sandwiches and tea within an art deco setting, while taking in some of the sights of central Glasgow. The Tearooms also have another venue at nearby Buchanan St.

10 – The Corinthian Club

A dining bar and venue on the Ship Bank, the Corinthian Club boasts Victorian interiors, and includes regular exhibitions and expert talks, with future events set to look at the Paralympics.

Kirsten Johnston  is a freelance copywriter currently working within the hotel and accommodation industry for www.crowneplazaglasgow.co.uk  Kirsten’s passion for writing and desire to travel has provided her with great experience and insight within all areas with the travel industry.

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The historical buildings, museums, architecture and other famous landmarks of Barcelona perfectly mirror the culture and political history of the city. Today, Barcelona is becoming popular for its many modern attractions and buildings. It is a European city which can give you the right mix of traditional and modern culture and architecture. It comes to no surprise that the flights to Barcelona remain one of the most coveted travel deals offered by airlines.

Popular Attractions in Barcelona

Flights to Barcelona are surely something to look forward to. Barcelona holidays provide you with ample opportunity to explore the variety of attractions that can be enjoyed by families, honeymooners and adventurers. Let’s discover the handful charms of Barcelona that will make your Barcelona flight worth spending upon.

Barri Gothic

This part of Barcelona is the oldest in the city. It boasts a number of tall, medieval and Gothic buildings. Aside from its ancient structure, many tourists also look forward to experiencing the intense nightlife in Barri Gothic.

La Pedrera

Casa Mila: This is an apartment building designed by the world famous architect Antoni Gaudi. It features an extraordinarily innovative and beautiful structure. Tourists can roam the building and go to the rooftop to see the breathtaking view of Barcelona.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Craig Cormack

Museo Picasso

If you love art and Picasso, this museum is a must-see. Museo Picasso displays over 3,000 pieces of artwork made by famous European artists and of course, Picasso.

Beaches

Barcelona has some of the world’s finest beaches that are responsible for making Barcelona a top summer destination. Barcelona beaches are characteristic with pristine waters and rough, golden sands. Nova Icaria, Mar Bella and Costa Brava are just a few  of the beaches that attract tourists in droves to embark on a flight to Barcelona .

Getting to Barcelona

You can make your way to Barcelona through a direct flight or through Madrid. The best time to travel to Barcelona is the off-peak season from January to March. Tickets during these months are definitely cheaper than usual.

Places to Stay on Your Visit

Barcelona is home to many luxury hotels, vacation homes, holiday apartments and resorts. Accommodation rates range from €45 to €1000 per night, depending on the size and type of room or apartment. The best thing about accommodations in Barcelona is that their rates don’t change much throughout the year because of the continuous flow of visitors in the city.

Barcelonan Climate

Autumn is the best time to visit Barcelona. The climate during this period is comfortably warm, around 21 to 25 degrees. During summer, the temperature in Barcelona is hot and humid, usually around 30 degrees or so. Winter in Barcelona is cool and sometimes rainy. The average day time temperature in Barcelona during this period is around +12 degrees.

Simon Jackson is the man behind the Channel Voyager. If you are planning a vacation abroad, don’t miss to check out his blog since he loves to share information about finding cheap hotels (interesting to know is that the Danish term is billige hoteller) worldwide.

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The village offers some fascinating 17th and 18th century churches, some of which contain ancient mural paintings and wood carvings. The churches in Arbanasi typically have strong, high walls, small windows and very strong oak doors studded with iron nails.

One of the earliest churches in Arbanasi is the ‘Nativity Church’ or the ‘Cathedral of Nativity’. Extensive studies have found that the church was built in three separate stages which presents some interesting structural characteristics. The main body of the church is divided into male and female sections and the whole building is decorated with murals. The Nativity Church is one of the oldest and best preserved churches not just in Arbanasi but across the whole of Bulgaria.

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The old city centre is built around a cathedral, the most impressive in Belgium. The cobbled lanes and backstreets are packed with bars, antique shops, art galleries, chocolatiers, designer boutiques and diamond shops, making Antwerp a haven for people who like to shop. Tucked away between these shops are restaurants bursting with delicious meals — Antwerp has a reputation for having some of the best food in the region.

The people of Antwerp are known for their easy-going lifestyles and their cheerful dispositions; they’re thought to be some of the happiest people on earth because of the relaxing and enjoyable nature of the city. Fashion designers, painters, musicians, actors, dancers, poets, publishers — they all flock to Antwerp, creating a lively cultural scene.

Not only is the cultural scene lively; so is the nightlife. They say life pulsates in Antwerp like nowhere else in Flanders. Antwerp’s club culture has expanded; in summer the regenerated docklands to the north and south of the town beat and pulse with music.

Antwerp truly has something for everyone; you can spend your days relaxing, shopping, eating and taking in the beautiful buildings and history of the town but spend your nights partying and having fun.

The city of Antwerp has also one of the biggest and most important seaports in Europe.

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If you decide to visit Sofia, you will have to shortlist attractive historical sites and tourist spots which you can find here and there in this popular city. We chose some of the best known and top sights to see in Sofia.

Nevski cathedral is really marvelous in design. You must visit this tourist spot that has increased the importance of Sofia city. However, you should also go to other exotic tourist spots like Russian church and other religions shrines that are famous for architectural aesthete. This ancient city has a number of ancient Roman, Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian historical buildings, monuments and palaces such as Boyana Church from the 10th century which is a UNESCO world heritage site, or Church of St. George which is the oldest building in Sofia, or St. Sofia Church – early Byzantine church. In the center of the city you should also visit medieval Church of St Petka of the Saddlers

You will get pleasure by watching natural charisma of snow capped mountain range of Vitosha. Here, you will come into contact with the perfect blend of modern city life and natural aesthete. You will find boutiques, small kiosks, shopping centers and a national park at the base of this well known mountain.

The Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Library is the largest national book collection and Bulgaria’s oldest cultural institute, which encourages young generation to learn more about Bulgarian history and culture. You can visit this historical building to watch the gigantic structure of this national library. If you are a knowledge thirsty human, you can check and review historical documents, different types of marvelous relics and collectibles which are available in the inventory of the library. You can also visit the famous Boyona church to learn about the historical background of Bulgarian culture and religion as well. In this church, you will also be able to find stored artifacts, mythological figurines, painted images, books and religions documents in archive of the church.

Finally, when you stay in Sofia, you can also spend some time by visiting Sofia Zoo which gives shelter to more than 1000 wild species. The Zoo has been founded in 1888. You will be able to meet some rare animals in this national zoo.

For your transport in Sofia you can use Metro which has been opened in 1998 and now has just one line and 14 stations.

From natural beauty to sophisticated busy urban lifestyle, Sofia has become the main attraction to foreign tourists. You can enjoy an intoxicated nightlife in this metro city.

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Aveiro is often called as the Venice of Portugal. Water is the main feature of the city and its surroundings. Typical sign of Aveiro is also contrasting colors, white houses are decorated differently, and the blue lagoon is dotted with colorful boats known as moliceiros. Here you can see the snow-white salt mines. Interesting environment is enhanced by the nearby nature reserve of São Jacinto, which consists of several small islands, sand dunes and abundant vegetation. Those who love the sea and beaches, can go to a nearby popular sandy beach Costa Nova. It is also a popular destination for surf lovers.

In Aveiro there is a number of local historical buildings, such as a former Dominican monastery Convento de Jesús from the 15th century, in which the renowned museum is located, or the Cathedral of Sao Domingos from 15th century as well. A popular tourist destination is also Ílhavo maritime museum, located just a few kilometers away and factory, which produces the famous Portuguese Vista Alegre porcelain. You can also visit nearby lighthouse, which is the highest lighthouse in Portugal and even in the entire Iberian Peninsula.

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Latvia’s surface is mainly lowland. The highest point is Gaizinkalns hill with an elevation of 311 meters. There are more than 12.000 rivers in Latvia. The largest are the Daugava, Lielupe, Gauja and Venta. The country has over 3.000 lakes.

The capital city of Latvia is Riga which is very interesting for tourists. For lots of tourists Baltic coast is here interesting as well. The most famous tourist resort on the Baltic Sea is a town of Jurmala, situated about 20 km from Riga. Be sure to visit the beautiful Latvian countryside with beautiful pine and mixed forests. The center of Riga is full of historical buildings.

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