Oxford Malmaison Hotel © Terry Bean/Wiki

With the influx of new hotels and other accommodation types in recent years, Oxford’s range of accommodation has expanded considerably.  Visitors now have more interesting choices when deciding on places to stay in Oxford.

Oxford Hotels

An interesting addition is the Malmaison Oxford which was formerly the Oxford Prison. This transformed prison is now a stylish boutique hotel.

Other stylish hotels include:

• Macdonald Randolph Hotel – A prestigious five-star hotel in Beaumont Street, just opposite the Ashmolean Museum.  The Randolph Hotel was featured in several episodes of ‘Inspector Morse’ as a result of which it is home to the Morse Bar.
• The Old Bank – Situated in the heart of historical Oxford, this privately-owned hotel was the winner of the ‘Which Urban Chic Award’.
• The Old Parsonage Hotel – A sister hotel to The Old Bank. This centrally located boutique hotel occupies a building dating back to 1660.
• Cotswold Lodge Classic Hotel – This peaceful and elegant hotel provides accommodation in country-manor style.
• Mercure Eastgate Townhouse – Off High Street, Mercure Eastgate is in a 17th century building close to the Botanic Gardens.
• Oxford Spires Four Pillars – This hotel is set amongst 40 acres of parkland.
• Barcelo Oxford Hotel - A modern hotel about 3.2 km from the city centre.  Barcelo Oxford has a leisure club and small pool.
• Holiday Inn Oxford – This hotel is on the north side of Oxford city centre.
• Express by Holiday Inn – Adjacent to the Vue cinema, bowls complex and football stadium, Express by Holiday Inn is guaranteed to appeal to families with children or teens.

Oxford B & B

There is also a new breed of sophisticated B &Bs, such as The Remont and Burlington House in Banbury Road, and Tilbury Lodge (a short ride from Oxford station).  These are also extremely popular with leisure visitors.

Other Oxford Hotels

For those visitors who need to be in close proximity to the Headington hospitals, Conifers, All Seasons, the Dial House, Mount Pleasant and Pickwick’s will meet the need.

To complete the spectrum, Oxford’s excellent YHA is conveniently located next to the rail station.

See here for all Oxford hotels and B & Bs and read hotel reviews before booking.

Glastonbury Town Centre

Glastonbury is mostly associated with the Glastonbury Festival or Glasto, the largest open-air music and performing arts festival in the world. This small town in Somerset, about 48 km south of Bristol, is also shrouded in many myths and legends in relation to Joseph of Arimathea, King Arthur, the Holy Grail, Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury Tor and the Glastonbury hawthorn.

Glastonbury Abbey and King Arthur’s Resting Place

The coach and car park is next to one of Glastonbury’s key landmarks, the Glastonbury Abbey grounds. Glastonbury Abbey is believed to be the earliest Christian sanctuary in Britain. Pilgrims used to flock here as Glastonbury was one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in England.

Glastonbury Abbey is set in 36 acres of parkland and amongst the tranquil and atmospheric ruins visitors can learn more about the legends of King Arthur. One of these legends revolves around claims made in 1191 by some monks at Glastonbury Abbey that they found the graves of King Arthur and Lady Guinevere to the south of the Abbey’s Lady Chapel. The remains were later removed and lost during the Reformation.  A notice board in Glastonbury Abbey marks the spot where King Arthur’s final resting place is believed to be.

Glastonbury Town

For a change of scene from King Arthur, the myths and legends, take a walk through the main streets of Glastonbury and you’ll see a very different side of this town. Walking  up High Street, we saw a large number of alternative shops and healing centres lining both sides of the street.  And with locals strolling about in tie-dye garments and psychedelic colours, it felt very much like a throwback to the hippie days . Shops with names like The Goddess, Man, Myth & Magik, Stone Age, etc. offer tarot healing, new moon healing, crystal healing, religious books and other products.

Glastonbury High Street

At St John’s Parish Church is the Glastonbury Labyrinth which was built in 1705 to celebrate Glastonbury receiving its town charter from Queen Anne.

We stepped through The Courtyard at 2-4 High Street and the passageways opened out into a courtyard where an eclectic mix of businesses operate – there was a nice cafe decorated with colourful hanging baskets, a plant shop and a dress shop, next to which was a giant Buddha sitting in a corner. Upstairs from the cafe is the Isle of Avalon Foundation which offers all kinds of spiritual courses such as esoteric soul healing and shamanic practice.  Described as a New Age community, Glastonbury attracts people with new age beliefs.

Glastonbury Events

Although Glastonbury is famously associated the Glastonbury Festival, these days the modern Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts is actually held at Worthy Farm in Pilton, about 9.7 km east of the Glastonbury. This very popular festival attracts about 150,000 visitors annually. Glastonbury is also popular during the Summer solstice when many visitors and sun-worshippers flock to Glastonbury Tor to watch the sun rise on June 21st.

Some interesting historic sights and landmarks in Glastonbury include:

• Glastonbury Tor
• Glastonbury Abbey
• Chalice Well
• Octagonal Market Cross
• St John’s Parish Church
• Somerset Rural Life Museum
• St Benedict’s Church

If you’re in Glastonbury for a quick stop, as we were, there are plenty of cafes and pie shops where you can grab a quick snack.

For an interesting place to stay in Glastonbury, the George & Pilgrim in the town centre is a 15th century hotel where the pilgrims used to lodge.  You can search and read hotel reviews for other Glastonbury hotels here.>

See more Glastonbury photos at Travelsignposts Glastonbury photo album HERE.

Map of Glastonbury:

Castle Combe, Wiltshire © Travel Signposts

We were told that Castle Combe is the most beautiful village in England. The village is situated on the southern-most edge of the Cotswolds and a dinner excursion to the Castle Inn in Castle Combe will allow us to see fine examples of Cotswold-type houses.

From our hotel in Bristol it was a 50 minutes drive to Castle Combe and peak hour traffic jams meant that we were a little late arriving. We were more concerned about the fading light and being able to take snaps of this beautiful Cotswold village rather than being late for dinner.

When you arrive at Castle Combe, the one thing you’ll notice that is missing is a castle. There is no castle in Castle Combe today, but the earthworks of the castle and some bits of stonework are still visible if you walk to the original site about half a mile to the north-west of the Manor House. However, to make up for the lack of a castle, Castle Combe is indeed a very beautiful village and one which it seems time has passed by.

There are lots of interesting features in this village which has been the setting for many movies such as Dr. Doolittle’s house (the Dower House), Robin of Sherwood, the Wolfman and as the village of Wall in ‘Stardust‘. Interestingly, watching Poirot and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd the other night we were excited to recognize the Market Cross in the movie. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was mostly filmed on location in Castle Combe.

Other Sights of interest in this village include:

Castle Combe Cottages © Travel Signposts

• the Village Museum contains a summary of the village history, including interesting artifacts
• the Church has the tomb of a knight, inscribed Walter de Dunstanville 1270
• the Town Bridge at the end of the village street was originally a timber construction until it was replaced by stonework in the 18th century
• the Roman Bridge – this one-sided bridge at the far end of the village is often referred to as the ‘Roman Bridge’. According to legend the ghost of a roman centurion had been seen standing guard.

Quaint as they may be, this is a living village so respect the residents’ privacy.  Don’t go into houses or stick your nose to the windows trying to look in, which some over-zealous tourists have been known to do.

For those wanting to spend a few days in this beautiful village, The Castle Inn Hotel is right in the middle of the village. For something more luxurious, the Manor House is a luxury hotel surrounded by 26 acres of private parkland. In the village you will find a few B&Bs and self-catering cottages.

Search and Book Hotels in the Cotswold
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Feathers Hotel, Ludlow © Travel Signposts..

Ludlow is a market town located close to the Welsh border and in a region known as the Welsh Marches. It’s also the largest of the Shropshire county towns.

The town’s major attraction, the splendid medieval Ludlow Castle, dominates the landmark of this town. The Castle and the market place are set on top of a hill and from there the streets of this medieval walled town slopes down to the River Teme.

There are many things that attract visitors to Ludlow, a town famous for its restaurants, food fairs and festivals.  This small rural English town has no fewer than seven restaurants in or near Ludlow that are mentioned in the Michelin guide.

Ludlow’s Tudor-style half-timbered buildings are fine examples of medieval architecture. There are nearly 500 listed buildings in Ludlow. Its Parish church, St. Laurence Church is the largest in the county.

Our stop in Ludlow was just for a quick lunch break which was a shame. We had to choose between visiting the castle or taking a look around town.  We decided on a quick visit to the Ludlow market place, walk around the historic town centre, see the architecture of the famous Feathers Hotel and then have a quick lunch.

It was the eve of the Ludlow Marches Festival of Food & Drink and the market place was in full swing with the 130 or so food and drink producers getting set for the three-day food extravaganza. This annual food festival takes place in and around Ludlow in September.

Ludlow Market © Travel Signposts

Visitors to Ludlow during the end of June can enjoy the annual Ludlow Festival during which various Shakespeare plays take place in Ludlow Castle. The Castle is also the location for the Medieval Christmas Fayre during late November.

History enthusiasts should head for the Ludlow Museum which provides information on the town’s history.

Ludlow has been described as the ‘Gastronomic capital of Shropshire’, ‘the loveliest town in England’ and ‘the most vibrant small town in the Country’, so a one-hour stop certainly did not allow us to appreciate all of these these qualities.

Search, read hotel reviews and Book your Ludlow hotels here.>

Ludlow Map:

Interesting statues at street corners

The walled city of York was called Eboracum when the Romans founded the city in 71AD, then renamed Eoforwic when the Angles took over at the end of Roman rule in 415AD and Jórvík when the Vikings captured the city in 866AD.  When the Normans took over, the name York gradually evolved.  The city’s location, at the confluence of the Ouse and Foss Rivers was an important factor in York’s development and its position in British history.

York has preserved so much of its medieval heritage that visitors arriving in the city centre have a sense of being transported back in time.  Its rich cultural heritage and its many layers of interesting history make York one of the most popular destinations in England.

Amble through the streets of the city and we get to experience the tangle of York’s history in its street and building features.  Stonegate and Petergate were once Via Praetoria and Via Principalis, the two key streets in the ancient Roman city. Today Stonegate and Petergate still run along the same routes as they did two millennia ago.  Check out the medieval red devil in Stonegate.

York Minster stands on grounds where the first Minster church was built for the baptism of the Anglian King Edwin.

Many of the street names with “gate” are a reminder of York’s Viking history and the Jorvik Viking Centre stands on the site where archaeologists uncovered Viking houses, workshops and the backyards where they stood over 1,000 years ago.

View of York Minster, York

Cars are banned in the city of York so this is a wonderful place to explore on foot. Many visitors to York head for the Shambles, which has been voted Britain’s most picturesque street in the Google Streetview award.

York has 18 medieval churches, a 4.8 km medieval city wall, interesting architecture and many fine museums, but if you only have a short time here, the must-see York attractions include:

• York Minster
• Jorvik Viking Centre
• York Castle Museum
• Clifford’s Tower
• Yorkshire Museum
• York Dungeon
• York National Railway Museum

Its architecture may be medieval, but York today is modern city with lots of shops, restaurants and cafes, and a variety of festivals to keep visitors busy, not to mention the 365 pubs, many of which have interesting stories to tell.  It’s a good base from which to explore the surrounding North Yorkshire countryside where there are historic houses and gardens, traditional villages, national parks and castles.

York Tourist Information

The York Visitor Information Centre in the York train station has gone hi-tech.  Visitors and residents alike can get up-to-the-minute information about the city, York events, attractions, restaurants and accommodation by dialling a number shown on a TV screen in the VIC.   Using your mobile phones as a TV remote control you can scroll through to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Download Map of York

Search, read hotel reviews and book your York hotels here>

See York photos with Travel Signposts

York Tour – Hop-on-Hop-off

York Tour from London

Stilton Village Signpost

I’ve eaten a lot of Stilton cheese over the years, but it never occurred to me to find out where this cheese comes from…until now.

Stilton cheese takes its name from Stilton village in the District of Huntingdonshire in the County of Cambridgeshire.  For anyone who’s been to Cambridge, Stilton sits northwest of this famous town, and its nearest large town is Peterborough.

Today the reputation of the Stilton cheese brand has far outpaced that of the village from where the cheese first came. This King of English Cheeses is much loved by cheese connoisseurs around the world and enjoys an international reputation as a premier blue-veined cheese.

Stilton’s Ancient History

The earliest records of settlement in Stilton came from Roman finds and it is believed that the Romans used the road from London to the army fortress at Lincoln, which was later called Ermine Street by the Saxons.

The Doomesday Book of 1086 has three mentions of Stilton as three landowners, the King, the Bishop of Lincoln and Eustace held land here.

By the fifteenth century, the Great North Road had become a busy thoroughfare and Stilton was a well-known staging post.  There were as many as 14 inns or ale houses with a population of 500 – 600 people.

Stilton Today

The village of Stilton today is a quieter place than in the days when it was a trading post for many commodities between London and Edinburgh . The A1(M), a four-lane dual carriageway, runs alongside the village so Stilton gets by-passed by traffic.  Today, there are only four pubs in the village.

Local Attractions

For travellers to the region, Peterborough (about 10 km from Stilton) is one of the oldest settlements in Britain.  Other historic towns and cities include Stamford, Oakham, Oundle, Huntingdon and Cambridge.

Stilton has many local celebrations and one of the more famous ones is their annual Cheese Rolling event every May Day when hundreds of villagers and visitors from as far away as the U.S., France and Poland find their way to the High Street to take part or watch the teams challenging for the honour of being called the ‘Stilton Cheese Rolling Champions’.  I’m pleased to say that no cheese is wasted here!  They don’t use the real Stilton and instead competitors roll wooden “cheeses” (made from chopped up telegraph poles) down the High Street. The price is a real 16 lb Stilton and a tray of local beer.

So, if you’re travelling in the Cambridgeshire area around May Day, it’s certainly worth showing up for the Cheese Rolling event and enjoy some cheese from where it all started. Also, you can check out the Bell Inn, known as the birthplace of Stilton Cheese. Past visitors to this 16th century inn include highwayman Dick Turpin and poet Lord Byron.

Interesting Facts about Stilton Cheese

Helen @ Robin Hood's Nest..

Robin Hood’s Bay was once a haunt of smugglers and legend has it that Robin Hood kept his boats here in case he needed to make a quick escape. Seeing the rocky shoreline and landscape, it’s easy to imagine why this is a conducive hideaway.

Robin Hood’s Bay is very popular with visitors who come here to enjoy the views, have picnics or just to have a relaxing time. There are two parts to the village, the upper section is flat and has more of a Victorian composition whereas the lower section resembles an older fishing village with quaint red-roofed cottages tightly perched on the side of the cliff. The narrow village road runs steeply down to the very edge of the rocky shore making the village off limits to motor vehicles, which is a good thing.

At the lower level, intriguing alleyways weave between tightly-packed cottages and houses and as you walk through the narrow cobbled streets you can almost visualize fishermen, sailors, smugglers and gangs roaming these very streets in days gone by.

We stopped at a pub and enjoyed a beer on the terrace with water views. It was very peaceful and how wonderful it is that there’s no loud music blaring. The village has many takeaways, pubs, restaurants, cafes and tea shops catering for the many visitors. There are also general stores and gift shops, a post office and a picnic area.

Robin Hood’s Bay is especially well known amongst walkers. The 190 miles walk from St. Bees in West Cumbria on the shores of the Irish Sea finishes here in Robin Hood’s Bay in North East Yorkshire. You can do the walk in either direction, but the Coast-to-Coast walk was designed by Alfred Wainwright to start from west to east to keep the prevailing wind and rain on walkers’ backs and the evening sun out of their eyes. Weaving its way from west coast to east, the route takes in the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors including Glaisdale, Egton Bridge and Grosmont, before finishing in Robin Hood’s Bay.

Robin Hood's Bay - Upper Level

Robin Hood’s Bay is a lovely place to end a hard walk as it has all the amenities that walkers need after a 190 mile walk. It’s certainly a place that I would like to return to and spend more time in.

If you’ve been tinkling with the idea of doing the Coast-to-Coast walk but are unsure of how to go about it or what to expect, you can get guidance by doing a course with someone who is a seasoned walker.

Getting there:

By Bus:

There is a regular bus service to and from Whitby and Scarborough.

By Car:

Robin Hood’s Bay is 8 miles south of Whitby off the A171. Follow signs for Robin Hood’s Bay from A171 road between Whitby and Scarborough.

Replica Endeavour and Whitby Abbey..

Mention Whitby and “holiday resort and fish and chips” come to mind. To the unsuspecting modern day traveller, Whitby presents as a sleepy Victorian holiday resort and fishing town.

But, Whitby has a long history as an industrial port and a shipbuilding town and is also home to a few famous residents. And, those with vivid imagination or a belief in the supernatural may see more when they look up the cliff at St. Mary’s Churchyard – was it a wolf, or a bat, or maybe Count Dracula himself!

Whitby is set among the fine stretches of the North Yorkshire coast with spectacular cliffs, beaches and bays. Arriving in town, the sights that make an immediate impression are the cliff-top ruins of the beautiful 13th century Whitby Abbey and its quaint harbour with two striking piers.

This traditional maritime town with its old cobbled streets and picturesque houses is popular as a short break destination. Some even come just to enjoy the fish and chips that Whitby is famous for.

Whitby and Captain James Cook

History buffs and those who were diligent in their history studies know that Whitby was where James Cook did his apprenticeship as a sailor and learned his craft from Whitby’s mariners. It was from Whitby that James Cook set sail in 1768 in the Endeavour and charted the coast of New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia. Two of the vessels he used on his long and perilous voyages – ‘Resolution’ and ‘Endeavour’ were built in Whitby.

Count Dracula and Whitby

Fishing trawler returning home, Whitby

Thanks to Dracula, Whitby is now famous the world over and millions have come to know about Whitby through three chapters of the novel set in this town.  Bram Stoker knew Whitby well, loved the place and was inspired by it.  You can have a Dracula experience by doing the Whitby Dracula Trail starting at the Dram Stoker Memorial Seat at the south end of Spion Kop, West Cliff.  For a guided walk, check with the Tourist Information Office.

There’s a range of things to see and do in Whitby, including the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, following the trails of Dracula, Victorian Jet Works, Pannett Park and Whitby Museum.

For those who enjoy active holidays, there’s mountain biking, sailing, cruising on the replica of the Endeavour, fishing, walking and much more in Whitby itself and the neighbouring bays and counties.  Whitby is also a good base for a driving holiday around the North Yorkshire coast.

Whitby is well serviced with many seafood restaurants, pubs and old world English tea rooms serving freshly baked pastries and Yorkshire teas.  This is the town where some say has the best fish and chips in England.

There’s a good selection of Guest Houses, Hotels, B&Bs, Farms and Camping and Caravaning in Whitby and along the Yorkshire Coast.

Search, read hotel reviews and book your Whitby hotels here.>

Whitby driving holidays

An Old English Inn

If you’re looking to give yourself time out from today’s hectic world and time for you, your family or friends to enjoy, a short break in the beautiful English countryside may do the trick.  And, what better way to have a really relaxing break than a stay in a traditional coaching inn or historic hotel in stunning locations, where you can enjoy real ales, traditional English food and hospitality.

At Old English Inns, you’ll find a unique selection of the finest historic inns and hotels England has to offer – old coaching inns, elegant country houses, timbered buildings and attractive town houses, each with its own special charm and each located in delightful surroundings.

Traditional coaching inns and historic hotels are full of character and are a part of England’s heritage – there’s no better base from which to explore England’s towns, countryside and coastline or to indulge yourself in a favourite hobby.

Whether you’re looking to explore England’s historic homes, visit stately gardens, visit the markets in country town, go on activity holidays like cycling and walking or for a seaside break, Old English Inns has inns and hotels:

• near historic houses
• near stately gardens
• around English country towns
• for cycling and walking breaks
• for seaside breaks

The people at Old English Inns are committed to bringing you the very best in historic accommodation along with excellent value for money – see their offers page for the latest exclusive deals available.

Many of Old English’s inns and hotels offer superb facilities to cater for weddings and conferences in beautiful, unique and inspiring surroundings. Whether you’re getting married or planning business meetings, their helpful and friendly booking team is on hand to offer help and advice.

About Old English Inns

Old English Inns have 50 inns set in picturesque locations and historic buildings in 28 counties, great for that perfect for a getaway holiday.

Based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk for over 200 years, Greene King, the name behind Old English Inns, has been brewing traditional English ales served in some of the finest inns and hotels in the country. It is this heritage which helps them to ensure that your stay is as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.

Jubilee Walkway route

London is a great city for sightseeing on foot – if the weather is fine that is!  There are many tourist attractions within close proximity of each other and many visitors would have pounded the pavements to Buckingham Palace and Westminster, strolled around Trafalgar and Leicester Squares, spent time shopping along Oxford Street or dashed off to the Tower of London or to the Embankment to catch the London Eye on their London vacation.

But, to get a better appreciation of where things are in relation to one another, learn more about the key London tourist  attractions and not miss out on anything along the way, there’s a more structured way that you can cover  London’s sightseeing attractions on foot. You can follow the Jubilee Walkway on your own and its Free!

What is the Jubilee Walkway

The Jubilee Walkway is the London’s premier walking trail and one of the city’s six designated strategic routes. The Walkway was first developed for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.  It was designed to connect the majority of key London attractions, so that anyone walking the trail can follow it easily and get to know London sights.  “The Walkway was designed so that anyone walking it would have travelled through areas of London noted for entertainment, assembly, ceremonial, and open-air activity, passing many historic sites” said Max Nicholson who was chairman of the London celebrations for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

Directional discs, gold discs and panoramic panels

Jubilee Walkway Directional Disc

This London walking tour is approximately 14 miles (23km) long and although some may be able to walk it in a day, it’s probably best to do it over 2 or 3 days to allow yourself time to take in the London sights. Directional discs are set in the footpath at every junction with the cross of the crown pointing you in the direction of travel.

Along the way, panoramic panels installed close to the path also give you a rundown of the views across London from the Walkway.  These panoramic panels are also on the Embankment and on many of London’s bridges to identify the buildings along the way.  You’ll also see some gold discs on the Walkway which mark special events in the history of the Walkway.

In the year of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, the Jubilee Walkway was completely refurbished. Almost all the panoramic panels were either updated or replaced in order to reflect the changes in London’s skyline. Gold discs were also placed in the following places:

• one near Guildhall where the Queen lunched on Golden Jubilee day
• three near Poultry panel which the Queen unveiled on 24 October 2002 to mark the completion of the work
• six along The Mall to mark the Golden Jubilee spur opened by the Queen on 2 June 2003, the 50th Anniversary of the Coronation; and
• a further one on the South Bank to mark the unveiling of a panel by HRH The Duke of Gloucester

The Jubilee Walkway route can be split into five separate itineraries:

Itinerary 1 – The Western Loop walk
Itinerary 2 – The Eastern Loop walk
Itinerary 3 – The City Loop walk
Itinerary 4 – The Camden Loop walk
Itinerary 5 – The Jubilee Loop walk

Following the trail and spotting the directional discs and gold discs on this London walking tour can be a fun activity for children as well.  Certainly the Owl’s Trail in Dijon is very popular with kids.