Or of course if you are not from the UK, why not pay us a visit? We have a lot more to offer than just the Olympics you know!

I love a sunny beach of course, but I also like a little culture and I love to explore, so this blog post is going to be about just that; exploring England and seeing what there is to be seen if you take the time.

Canterbury

Home to the oldest Cathedral in the UK in which Thomas Becket (the archbishop of Canterbury at the time and one of the most powerful men in the country) was murdered. Canterbury is also the setting of the Canterbury Tales by George Orwell and a world heritage site too.

Canterbury Cathedral, UK by David Spender

The Salisbury Plain

This is perhaps the most inspiring site in Britain and one of the most iconic in the world – I do of course refer to none other than Stonehenge. It dates back to prehistory and no one is quite sure how it was built, but what is certain is that it took many many hours and is a testament to what our ancestors were capable of.

Hastings

There was quite a well-known battle here in 1066 where rival armies fought for power over England. This city has been hugely significant in the UK’s history and there are even some nice beaches if the weather serves you well.

Blenheim Palace

Not heard of this one? It’s where Winston Churchill was born, but it has more history to it, dating back as far as the battle of Blenheim 1704. For the keen traveler though, the palace in itself is worth exploring and as it sits in 2000 acres of land there are plenty of opportunities for a walk.

Blenheim Palace, UK by Roger Wollstadt

Winchester Cathedral

This is the longest gothic cathedral in Europe and is a breathtaking piece of architecture, particularly when you consider that it is over fifteen hundred years old (built in 642AD). Oh and for book lovers, Jane Austen is buried here too.

Summary

All of these places just give you a sample of what south England has to offer the historic traveler. Hopefully I have wetted your appetite to explore some more.

This post was brought to you by Ricky from BristolAirportParking.

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Portsmouth fishing fleet, UK by Roger H. Goun

How to keep occupied when on a low budget

There are many attractions in Portsmouth which don’t cost a single penny in order to enjoy them. Portsmouth has a very long seafront (approximately 4 kilometres) and two piers (Clarence and South Parade) are situated there as well. When walking, cycling or driving along the seafront, there are many events which are organised throughout the year, such as the bandstand which overlooks the seafront. During the summer months, a host of bands and artists perform at the bandstand and several styles of music can be enjoyed at no cost whatsoever.

Portsmouth is a city of culture

Unlike other towns and cities in the United Kingdom, Portsmouth’s cultural attractions have not suffered greatly because its many libraries are still open. Portsmouth has numerous museums which are still free to enter (although giving a donation is recommended). They are also open extensively throughout the year as well.

Enjoying the great outdoors

Despite being hugely developed over the past few hundred years, especially since the end of the Second World War, Portsmouth has many areas which have copious amounts of nature. Hilsea Lines is found in the north of the city and were originally built in the 19^th century in order to protect Portsmouth and its affluent residents from French and Spanish forces if an invasion took place. As the likelihood of this happening soon diminished, Hilsea Lines returned to civilian use and now houses a sanctuary which is host to much nature. Running through Hilsea Lines is a canal and this attracts an abundance of birdlife.

Just a few hundred yards away from Hilsea Lines is Farlington Marshes. With a path running through the top of it, many walkways are in Farlington Marshes which offers those who visit this picturesque area the opportunity to see many birds and animals. Free to enter, Farlington Marshes is a very popular destination, especially as there are many car parks throughout.

Home to the last remains of Henry VIII’s warship the Mary Rose and also both HMS Victory and HMS Warrior, Portsmouth continues to attract thousands of visitors every year. As the upmarket shopping complex Gunwharf Quays opened in 2001 and the hideous Tricorn Centre demolished in 2004, Portsmouth is a far more pleasant place to live and visit, especially as it regularly hosts events which attract people from around the world.

About the author: Russell Hill is a journalist and freelance writer. He loves green tourism and enjoys exploring cities rich in culture and heritage. He gives preference to staying in fully furnished corporate apartments rather than hotels. One company that inspired Russell was Executive Apartments, a fully furnished corporate apartment rentals provider in Washington, D.C.

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Bodiam castle is situated in the undulating countryside of southern England and was originally built as a protection against possible invasions of French during the The Hundred Years’ War. However French army has never come here. So today, more likely version is that the castle was built by Sussex Knight as his headquarters. The castle was inhabited until the 17th century, when it was during the civil war (which began in 1642), damaged in an attack by parliamentary troops. The roof has been destroyed which made it useless and non-recoverable. In 1664 thus became unoccupied and remained abandoned.

Fortunately, thanks to the sandstone, which was used as its building material, it has withstood the ravages of time and remained preserved until today. In 1919, Bodiam Castle was restored by Lord Curzon, who later gave it to the state.

Now the castle is open to the public and is one of the major attractions of the region. From the outside it looks perfectly intact and you will find also impressive interior remains which show you how the castle was equipped.

View Bodiam Castle – the most romantic place in the United Kingdom in a larger map

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The waterfall itself travels a total distance of 380 meters from its highest point to the pool below. It is separated into three distinct stages of which the upper and lower stages feature a drop of just over 140 meters while the middle stage features a drop of 100 meters. The point at which the Krimmler Ache flows over the edge of the cliff is 1470 meters above sea level.

Krimmler waterfalls, Austria by Manuel Heinrich Emha

The Krimmler Ache which feeds the Krimml Waterfalls is a glacial stream which ranges between 20,000 cubic meters an hour during the summer months to only 500 cubic meters per hour during the winter months. It is also important to point out that back in 1987, the largest ever recorded flow of more than 600,000 cubic meters per hour was recorded; affording anyone who visited at the time one of the most awe-inspiring views imaginable.

After the water has fallen into the pool below, then makes its way out to the Salzach River which then flows into the Inn River before finally meeting up with the famous Danube River. Eventually all the waters that cascade over the edges of the Krimml Waterfalls find their way out into the Black Sea.

Tourism in the area can be dated back several hundred years. A number of password created between the upper and lower portions of the waterfall prior to the 1870s. In 1879, in order to improve panoramic view and access the region, the Austrian Alpine club for forth a lot of effort into developing the area in and around the Krimml Waterfalls. Today, close to a half 1 million people visit the falls every single year.

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