Photo by FearfulStills

1) Edinburgh

Heading up this Christmas-filled list is Edinburgh, one of the best cities in the world to celebrate Christmas in. Edinburgh is the king of Christmas celebrations, with six weeks of festivities for people to get stuck into. There’s everything from street performances, fairgrounds, Christmas markets, comedic acts and traditional Scottish pipers to entertain the crowds. Along with all of this, Edinburgh is also home to a number of fantastic attractions and amazing restaurants you can visit during your winter break.

2) London

Just shy of getting first place, London is still an incredible city to enjoy Christmas in. London is lit up with spectacular Christmas lights and other decorations during the Christmas season, making it a sight for sore eyes at night. There are also all kinds of entertaining activities you can enjoy throughout the city of London, such as going ice skating, visiting Hyde Park’s Christmas market, watching the carolling in Trafalgar Square and much more.

3) The Peak District

The Peak District’s beautiful rolling hills and quaint towns and villages are the ideal destination for your Christmas holiday if you’d like to enjoy a traditional break. Full of stunning sights, the Peak District would also be ideal for those that enjoy walking – you could even go for a Christmas Day walk to get back to nature a little bit!

4) Skegness

While it might seem a little strange to visit the seaside in the middle of winter, the one thing Skegness has that a lot of other seaside destinations don’t is a Butlins holiday park. Butlins is one of the best places to spend your Christmas, and it’s also family friendly which is a definite plus. You could book yourself into The Spa to enjoy some relaxing treatments while the kids enjoy some Christmas-themed activities, and afterwards you could go and watch the panto for some side-splitting laughs.

5) Yorkshire

Yorkshire is a fantastic place to spend the Christmas holidays – this county is packed with good cheer around this time of year and you’re bound to be given a traditional Yorkshire welcome when visiting. There are excellent Christmas markets, beautiful attractions and great shopping opportunities, which would be ideal for those after a chance to pick up some last minute bargains.

No matter where you choose to spend your Christmas this year, make sure you do your research before settling on your final option. You should find that the internet is a great resource when planning your holiday, so why not start your search now?

This guest blog was contributed by Steve Williams a freelance writer who regularly blogs on the subject of Christmas breaks and how to have the most fun over the festive season.

The post The Best Destinations For The Full Christmas Experience In The UK appeared first on Best of European Union.

Norfolk Broads, UK by Russell Smith

More than a stay-cation

I was fed up with the airport stress ball and decided that I would do my best to avoid this situation occurring to my family. So the airport is out of bounds this summer, no matter how tempting the last minute offer appear to be I will resist them. Instead my holiday this year will be in the UK. I was at one point considering a ‘stay-cation’, but felt that returning to the family home each evening would make the time of work feel like a proper holiday. I considered a family holiday in the Peak District, thought the natural beauty of the area, would help calm us all down and slow the pace of life. However, I decided that the summer weather has been so bad this year the chances are that the peak district will be grey and damp this summer. I wanted to focus my attention on the southern counties. Which is why i decided to focus my attention on the southern counties.

Boating holidays

It didn’t take me long to find what I wanted, a relaxed family break, and I booked a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads. Boating on the Broads i thought I would give the perfect base for a fun active holiday full of walking, cycling, fishing and horse riding. Plenty to keep me and the kids entertained for a couple of weeks. I am even considering booking wildlife walk, which is not normally my kind of thing.

Norwich Cathedral, UK by Rachel Clarke

Do as I please

One of the big appeals of a boating holiday for me was the ability to stop and start as and when it pleased me. If I fancied mooring up in Norwich for a couple of days to experience the big city life for a while, then I could. This is pretty much what i plan to do as I have never been to the ‘fine city’ and plan to spend a couple of days seeing some of its highlights before I begin my Broads adventure. What’s in Norwich I hear you ask well this is just the start of it but to name a few;

• Two cathedrals
• A mighty fine example of a Norman castle
• Boutique shopping area – no multi national brands allowed here.
• Music and arts hubs
• Market

Plus the bonus for me is that right next door to where I can moor up is a bustling riverside area that boasts many restaurants and bars, perfect for kicking of the holiday in style.

Boat time

Once I have done the tour of Norwich, then the relaxation time begin as we enter a slowed down world where you travel along between three to six miles per hour. The thought sounds so strange as living in a big city I am used to zipping around all over the pace, normally on my bicycle which is four times that speed! Hopefully this slowed down world will help me to absorb more of what is going on around me, give me more time to appreciate nature.

Fritton Lake Country Park near Gt Yarmouth by Michelle Simmons

More than a boating holiday

I am a little concerned that too much time on a boat will begin to become a drag. So I intend to drop in a few days out to get us all off the boat for a while. When I started looking into possible day trips I realised that Norfolk and Suffolk are full of great day out possibilities. I have listed a few that are on my shortlist for you:

• Zoo – Africa Alive, Banham
• Redwings Horse Sanctuary
• Pleasurewood Hills
• Fritton Lake
• Dinosaur Park

Written on behalf of Holiday Lodges in Norfolk specialists – waveneyrivercentre.co.uk

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Glasgow University by Ben Kucinski

If you want to see some of the UK’s most exciting cities and enjoy going to theater events, concerts and more, some top destinations for cheap city breaks include London, Edinburgh, York, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Liverpool.  Popular countryside areas to visit include Aviemore, South Lakes, Peak District, Cotswolds, North Lakes, Yorkshire, New Forest, and Loch Lomond Area.  You might also enjoy a location where civilization meets nature such as a seaside town like Brighton, Eastbourne, Southampton, or Blackpool.

The Reality

In reality, you’re going to have a tough time getting under 100 GBP for a weekend break, even if you are careful with your budgeting.  You’ll need to account for transportation, food, and accommodations, as well as any entertainment you have planned.  In general, you’ll spend less on entertainment if you venture into the countryside, since many activities in the countryside are free.  In the city you’ll pay for concerts, theater, museums, and other diversions.  In terms of transportation, you’ll want to calculate whether you’ll pay more or less using your own vehicle or public transportation.  That’s one way in which you might be able to save money visiting the city.  Public transit is generally more affordable in town and can take you to all of the sights.  As far as food is concerned, you’ll need to shop around for good deals.

Keeping the Budget

Accommodations are generally the most expensive part of a weekend getaway.  You don’t have to settle for the first deal you find, however.  While you may find hotels which cost hundreds of dollars a night in many exciting locations, you can get excellent accommodations for far less if you’re willing to take the time to find them.  Many top notch hotels have very nice rooms available for 70 GBP and under, both in the city and in the countryside.  You also may be able to stay for even cheaper if you find a hostel which serves low budget travelers.

You might be tempted to borrow money to take your weekend trip, but this isn’t really a good use of a loan.  You may still want to incorporate payday loans into your plan, however, simply as a backup in case of a contingency.  If you’re traveling on a budget, hopefully your trip will unfold without a hitch and won’t turn out to be any more expensive than you planned.  If however something unforeseen does occur, as a budget traveler, you may not have the funds to cover the emergency.

Unexpected Expenses

If your car breaks down while you’re on your trip or you have a medical crisis or another emergency, you can get a payday loan fast online to pay for your emergency if you don’t have the money to cover it.  You’ll need to be able to pay it back within a short timeframe, which will be specified when you take out the loan.  You may need to deal with the crisis in order to get home and back to work however, so a payday loan can actually end up saving you a lot of money in a pinch while you’re traveling.

Have fun planning your cheap holiday getaway in the UK, but don’t forget to have plans in place if you do end up needing to spend more money than you budgeted.  Do what you can to save money in your trip plans.  If unforeseeable circumstances do arise, you can turn to a payday loan to cover the emergency.  Enjoy exploring the beautiful countryside and cosmopolitan cities of the UK!

By writer John Szabo, who works at PoundAccess. PoundAccess is an online loan provider in the UK. The aim of the company is to provide short-term cash loans and fast payday loans to its costumers within the hour.

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In 1932, a Manchester branch of the British Workers’ Sports Federation staged a mass ‘trespass’ on Kinder Scout.

It resulted in five of their number being jailed for up to six months for ‘riotous assembly’…and set the ball rolling for a momentous event that still reverberates today.

Peak District National Park, UK / Elin B

The resulting National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act in 1949 began to open up the whole of Britain to ordinary people, giving them the right to roam over land that was previously out of bounds.

UK’s First National Park

The Peak District National Park was the first national park to be designated in the United Kingdom, covering swathes of central and northern England and taking in northern Derbyshire and parts of Cheshire, Great Manchester, Staffordshire and south and west Yorkshire.

Kinder Scout is a moorland plateau in what is known as the Dark Peak. It was the central focus of the ‘trespassers’, who are credited with the nation-wide rethink into access to the countryside and the Act of Parliament several years later.

Their protest was aimed at landowner the Duke of Devonshire, who had refused to let visitors from the nearby industrial sprawls of Manchester and Sheffield to walk the hills and share their beauty on the one free day a week they had from work.

Skirmish With Gamekeepers

A skirmish with the duke’s gamekeepers led to one of his men being knocked unconscious, and five of the protestors were arrested on charges of incitement and ‘riotous assembly.’

At Bowden Bridge – the rallying point for the 1932 ‘uprising’ – there is a commemorative plaque set into the quarry wall.

A circular walk from here takes in Kinder Downfall, the tallest waterfall in the Peak District, where rainbows arc over the rocks on sunny days, Leygatehead Moor, and Coldwell Clough.

Duration: 4 – 6 hours depending on conditions and ability

Going: Challenging – only for those with good levels of fitness

Distance: 8 miles

For a less taxing stroll amid the splendour that is the Peak District, wander along to Ilam Park, Derbyshire, where a one-and-a-half mile route to Dovedale will leave you gasping in wonder instead of gasping for breath.

This is a photographer’s dream, a casual jaunt through the southern Peak District and what can only be described as the spectacular Dovedale Gorge.

Caves and fossils can be found in abundance, in rock formations created more than 350 million years ago by the accumulation of dead sea creatures.

Duration: Around 50 minutes

Going: Easy

Distance: 1.5 miles

• The story of the Kinder Scout Trespass is told in a newly-published book by Sinclair McKay, ‘Ramble On,’ on sale now.

Nicki Williams is a copy writer for outdoor on-line specialists Gear-Zone, where you’ll find everything for walking, hiking and life in the great outdoors.

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Teggs Nose is on the western edge of the Peak District. There are so many stunning views along this walk, including views of the park and across the beautiful Cheshire plains.  On clear days you can sometimes see as far out as the Welsh hills and Liverpool. The walk on average should take a round 1 – 2 hours, so if you’re looking for a great walk but not a long distance one, then Teggs Nose is perfect.

2. Hadrian’s Wall Walk (Northumberland)

This is an extremely long trek, it is 84 miles long. However if this sounds all a bit too much for you, there are many shorter and circular walks and routes available, so you can still take in the breathtaking scenery and culture, without the week long hike.

Hadrian’s Wall, England / quisnovus

3. Ilkley Moor (West Yorkshire)

Ilkley is a former spa town, but it is also known as ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town, due to their stunning walks and their commitment in welcoming walkers. You’ll find not only breathtaking views, but many carved pre-historic rocks found on the moor. The walk will take approximately 4-5 hours dependant on walking speed.

4. The Roaches (Peak District)

The name Roaches means rocks, as this walk is a bit of a rocky one, but the views are truly memorable. For example, tucked away under one of the overhanging rocks is a former game keeper’s cottage, which is partly built in the cliff face, this is now a drinking spot for climbers.  The walk will take on average around 4 hours, so you will be able to squeeze it in on a Sunday afternoon.

5. Powis Castle (Wales)

A truly magnificent castle built around 8oo years ago. It is surrounded by 26 acres of gardens and that is why this castle is on our list. It was recently voted the best place to walk in an online national trust poll. The gardens are breathtaking and truly magical.  This walk will only take approximately 2 hours, so more like a leisurely stroll than a long distance hike.

6. The Three Peaks (Yorkshire)

The Three Peaks is the classic walk of the Yorkshire Dales, and it is a classic for a reason. It dominates the skyline of the western side of the Yorkshire dales, and hosts a splendid array of views, nature and complete serenity. This walk will take you anything between 8-14 hours as it is around 23 miles in length, so you may want to take advantage of the B&B’s nearby for a quick snack and a snooze.

Yorkshire Three Peaks / Peter Burgess

7. Ingleton Falls (Yorkshire)

The Ingleton Falls offer some of the most spectacular waterfall and woodland scenery in the country. This walk is approximately 4.5 miles long and will take on average around 2-4 hours to complete it. This walk will lead you through ancient oak woodland via stunning views and geological features.

8. The New Forest (Hampshire)

Exploring the New Forest means exploring wetlands, grassy plains and woodland. There are a wide range and variety of walks and routes available, so you can make them as short or as long as you like and if you prefer a guided walk, this is an available option to you or even a small group of you.

9. The Ridgeway Path (Avebury)

The Ridgeway Path is Britain’s oldest road. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the Ridgeway path is perfect, as it’s peaceful and serene. Even though the Ridgeway Path is 87 miles long and can take up to 2 weeks to complete, there are day trips and shorter routes available, catered around different people’s ability.

Cotswold Way / Joe Calhoun

10. The Cotswold Way (The Cotswolds)

This specific walk has existed for over 30 years and is extremely popular. It is a long distance walk, stretching a whopping 102 miles long. Although this may be off putting if you don’t like long distance walking, there are a lot of different walks available, so you can break the walk up into a collection of different days to suit your capability and your commitments.  It passes through many picturesque villages and leads you to many stunning historical sites.

So there you have my list of the top ten walks in England, can you think of any I’ve missed? Or have you been on adventurous treks around the world and you’d love to share – please feel free to comment!

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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Peak District National Park was designated in 1951 and consists of two distinct types of landscape. The first type is located in the southern part of the park, called the White Peak, and is characterized by undulating limestone terrain. In the northern part – Dark Peak there are the wild moors and heaths.

Peak District National Park is interlaced with numerous hiking trails with beautiful vantage points – for example, Hathersage, from which you can get a panoramic view of the northern moorland or Edale, from which you can see the winding trail Pennine Way that is 412 km long.

Probably the biggest tourist attraction of the Peak District National Park is Arbor Low – stone ring, called the “Stonehenge of north”. The ring consists of 46 laying stones surrounded by a moat from 2000 BC.

Another beautiful place is Dovedale. In this southern part, the Peak District National Park is densely forested along with the most beautiful river valley, which is dominated by steep cliffs. The site is suitable not only for romantic walks, but also for fishing.

Thanks to limestone bedrock, the Peak District National Park is characterized by caves, such as Thor’s Cave or Treak Cliff Cavern.

But the Peak District National Park is not only about beautiful nature, you can meet lots of historical artifacts and ruins in many places, such as Alport Castle or Peveril Castle. One of the entry points for the park may be a picturesque spa town of Buxton, which opera house is due to its location in the beautiful surroundings of the town called “theater in the hills.” Another entry point can be Cromford village, which boasts the first cotton mill in the world, which used water power.

Peak District National Park also offers a unique tram museum in the town of Crich, where you can ride the old trams from around the world.

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