Brighton Pier, England, UK by Samuel Justice

Brighton

The seaside town of Brighton is located just a short train ride to the south of London and is particularly charming on a sunny day. The main pier here is a great place to take a stroll, while shoppers will want to head to the Lanes to browse for bargains. Most of the main attractions here can be found close to the sea, while the Royal Brighton Pavilion is one of the town’s most unusual landmarks and music lovers will find that a wide range of concerts are regularly held here.

Canterbury

The small city of Canterbury is one of the most vibrant destinations in the county of Kent. The city centre is pedestrianised, allowing visitors to wander along the cobbled streets and soak up the atmosphere. Canterbury is famous for its architecture, and no trip to the city would be complete without paying a visit to Canterbury Cathedral. This was also the setting for Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and visitors can get a feel of what the city was like at the time of Chaucer complete with the sights, sounds and smells of the era by visiting the Pilgrim’s Way Museum.

Canterbury Cathedral, England, UK by Steve Evans

Aylesbury

This historic market town can be found just 35 miles to the north west of London, meaning that visitors will have plenty of time to absorb the main sights within a day. Aylesbury is a town that is simply bursting with charm and exploring the town centre is a real treat. Aylesbury is also famous for its ancient standing stones, which are believed by many people to have mystical powers.

Bournemouth

City slickers who are looking for a little fun in the sun should take the train to the southern beach town of Bournemouth. Eating fish and chips by the sea is a popular pastime here, while there are plenty of wide rides and other attractions waiting to be enjoyed.

Oxford

The historical city of Oxford makes the ideal daytrip destination. Wandering along the cobbled streets and lanes in the old section of the city is an uplifting experience, and lovers of history and architecture will find numerous impressive churches, colleges and other buildings to explore, while the Pitt Rivers Museum is a great play to visit to learn about this city’s vibrant past.

Oxford University, England, UK by Biker Jun

Bath

With it Georgian architecture and chic and sophisticated bars and restaurants, Bath is the perfect blend of the old and the new. The buildings that can be found in the town centre are particularly well preserved and this makes exploring a lot of fun. There are plenty of great outdoor cafes here where visitors can enjoy a snack while indulging in a little people watching, while many of the shops here feature handicrafts that cannot be found in any other part of the country. Bath was named after the Roman Baths that were once extremely popular here, and the Roman Baths Museum is the perfect place to find out all about them.

Of course, these are just a few of the destinations that are waiting to be discovered by both visitors to London and those who live there. Conceirge services offered by some of London’s best 5 star hotels are often more than happy to organise a day’s excursion so make sure you pick their brains about the various destinations that are within easy reach of London’s very excellent railways.

Article sources:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/london/travel-tips-and-articles/77050

https://www.wikitravel.org/london

Tom, a freelance writer from London, is a huge fan of rustic Britain and often indulges in his love of the Isles by taking the train without a destination in mind..!

The post The Best Days Trips From London appeared first on Europe Explored.

With the Red Light District and specialist cafes commonly associated with the city, the location may not come across in the best of light. Yet Amsterdam is far more varied and is actually a place of rich culture with some truly amazing scenery and interesting history for tourists to enjoy. If you’re planning a trip to the city then here are five things you might not know:

Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Chris Yunker

1. Amsterdam is one of the safest cities in Europe

When it comes to crime rates it may surprise you to find that, contrary to popular belief, Amsterdam is one of the safest cities in Europe. Many people are under the impression that Amsterdam is a dangerous place to go but this is just not the case.

While the crime policies may be viewed as more lenient towards certain activities, the violent crime rate is actually pretty low. According to data from 2010, violent crime rate for Amsterdam was 35.14% lower than the national average for this type of crime.

Crimes such as pick pocketing do happen but occur fairly infrequently. Crime rates may be slightly higher in areas such as downtown, areas south of downtown and some areas in the western side (including at some of the high rise projects) but even here the risk of crime is minimal.

2. There are more canals than in Venice

Did you know that there are more canals in Amsterdam than there are in Venice? Amsterdam also has approximately three times more bridges than Venice too which may come as something of a surprise.

Beautiful and traditional Amsterdam apartments overlook the winding dreamy canals that caress the city so perfectly and they are one of the city’s most serene and fascinating features; more than earning it the title of ‘The Venice of the North’.

Amsterdam canals, The Netherlands by Christian Lendl

3. Amsterdam is ideal for a beach break

You are never far away from a beach while in Amsterdam; there are many different forms of transport that provide access to nearby beaches. If you fancy feeling a little sand beneath your feet, there are several urban beaches within the city or you could even travel to Zandvoort for a relaxing break away from the city.

With its golden sandy dunes and clear blue water, Zandvoort plays host to many international windsurfing and catamaran racing competitions. Add in some quirky little beach cafes, you’ve got a great, entertaining afternoon in the sun!

Amsterdam beach, The Netherlands by Amy Bonner

4. There are more bikes than cars

You will see cars very infrequently throughout Amsterdam as there is very little need for them. As a result, parking can be somewhat expensive and difficult to find. The public transport system within Amsterdam is simply excellent but many people use bicycles to get around and it is thought they outnumber cars dramatically. In fact, as many as 60% of inner-city trips are claimed to be made by bike.

Bikes in Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Christian Lendl

5. The best architecture is in the Red Light District

While the Red Light District becomes somewhat lively at night, it is certainly a place that should be visited at least once. During the day the area is quite exquisite and there is a free walking tour that will allow you to see the stunning architecture and scenery while learning some of the history of the area.

Amsterdam Red Light District, The Netherlands by William Beutler

Amsterdam is an attractive, romantic place to visit with some surprising features, so why not take a trip and see what else you can learn?

Written by: Sheryl Lovenkrandz – a freelance blogger who loves to write about Amsterdam travel.

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Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), Germany by Holger Weinandt

Berlin is famous for its diverse architecture, festivals, nightlife, standard of living and contemporary arts. A trip to the city can surely get a comfort feeling besides it is planned well. There are many considerations that come into account such as places to visit, means of transport, food culture and many more. All these can be known by consulting a travel agency that is responsible to provide the entire details of the trip including the travel expenses. If the financial part of the tour looks like a hurdle, one can overcome easily through same day cash loans. There is a possibility where one can secure a holiday loan to enjoy the complete trip immediately without delay. This money can then be paid back once you receive funds. It is also advised to have a travel insurance policy that safeguards you from health emergencies.

The top attractions of Berlin

Berlin wall Eastside gallery

The wall which was not at all famous previously has recently gained a great attraction grabbing many visitors by getting the title of the world’s largest open air gallery. The graffiti artists from all over the world have gathered to make the wall filled with beautiful colours stretching from Ostbahnhof to Oberbaumbruke.

Berliner Dom

The history of the city is hidden in this magnificent basilica that stands top among the rest. It confines more than eighty sarcophagi of Prussian royals that are worth exploring while the other famous areas are the organ, stained glass windows and pulpit.

Brandenburg Gate

It is the symbol of impressive art that is located behind the Berlin wall. Although it was prohibited to access through the gate, the renovations made including the Pariser Platz has made it accessible with a beautiful sight especially at nights.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany by Thomas Wolf

Berlin Jewish Museum

The significant architecture treasure and the lively conducted solitary exhibitions have gained international reputation to the museum. This building is door less and windowless in most of the areas that is built by Daniel Libeskind. The entry of this museum is along the Berlin museum with the invincible aspects of history scattered all over.

Charlottenburg Palace

One of the most ancient and largest palaces of the city is Schloss Charlottenburg. This antique architecture was actually built as summer home for Sophie Charlotte, the wife of the first Prussian king, Elector Fredrick III. The palace is filled with masterpieces and the pavilion of the gardens is really attractive. Although most of the palace was dismantled in the World War II, there are some untouched attractions worth seeing.

Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin, Germany by Times

About the Author: The guest post was contributed by Michelle, Passionate guest blogger from Manchester, UK. Find out more about her finance related blogs @financeport

The post Berlin: Get Yourself Comfortable in the Heart of Germany appeared first on Europe Explored.