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Category Archives: UK
BA short haul to charge for food
I know people who fly British Airways regularly, mostly trans-Atlantic. Be aware though, folks – BA’s short haul flights won’t include food, so keep your sterling handy or bring your own snacks. I’m tempted to advise bringing high-aroma foods (I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Europe from the air, General magpie travel, News from Britain, travel advice, UK
Tagged BA food policy, BA short haul, British Airways
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London Tube updates – holiday season 2015-16
The Christmas holidays usually mean reduced services for all public transport in and around Londontown; click on the link for a spreadsheet overview of the week ahead — Planned Works for the holiday week. Closures and off-normal service schedules begin … Continue reading
Foyles spiffy new London bookshop
I went looking for a book that Waterstone’s didn’t have on my last trip to London. Traipsed up Charing X Rd to Foyles – the first time I’d been there since 1990 with Mom. The old location had a giant … Continue reading
Posted in All Suzanne's travels, England, London travel, UK
Tagged Foyles bookshop, London bookshops, Waterstone's books
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Neolithic Orkney 1 – the Ness of Brodgar and Maeshowe
Blognote – In the interest of shorter blog posts to cater to ever-diminishing attention spans (not least of which is my own!), here is the first of several posts about the Neolithic sites on Orkney. With all the known settlements … Continue reading
Food news from Oxford and new rail station plans
A roundup of food and other news from Oxford Mail. Changes, perhaps not all for the best, coming to Oxford Rail Station. A more recent update from BBC news here. Oxford Kitchen restau. The Rusty Bicycle for great pizzas and … Continue reading
Secret streets near Paddington
There are tons of cozy little streets all over London known as “mews”. On my daily stroll to Paddington station from my hotel last year, I passed a couple of these and decided I would looove to live on one … Continue reading
Fourth plinth artwork comes home to roost
The latest in a continuing series of artworks, each of which resides for about a year on the previously unoccupied fourth plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square. It’s a giant blue rooster entitled Hahn/Cock. I especially like the pigeons sitting below … Continue reading
Posted in All Suzanne's travels, European art, London travel, News from Britain, UK
Tagged fourth plinth, Hahn/Cock, London arts, London sculpture, Trafalgar Square
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Some quick notes from Europe
Haaj. Hola. Hello! Coming to the end of the first week on vaca. Wi-fi has been spotty to say the least. The hotel in London only had access in the lobby, a real pain. The place I stayed in Alkmaar … Continue reading
As the London Olympics approaches, London travel tips
TfL (Transport for London) has some additional thoughts on how to survive the Olympic travel pressures.
Posted in General magpie travel, London travel, UK
Tagged London Olympics tourism, london travel, London Tube, UK travel
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Upcoming festivals in Edinburgh
Just my luck that my vacation plans didn’t include checking these out first. The Jazz and Blues fest starts Friday, followed by the Arts festival, the Military Tattoo, Fringe, International Festival, Book Festival. These overlap from early August thru early September. … Continue reading
Diving the Mary Rose
From Oxford Mail. An interview with one of the divers on the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s ship that sank like a stone right after her launch. Then make plans to visit the new museum next year (it reopens late this … Continue reading
Posted in News from Europe, UK
Tagged Mary Rose, Mary Rose museum, news from Europe, Portsmouth Naval Dockyard, UK travel
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bring your fishing pole next time you’re in London!?
From the London Independent. The Thames, along with other rivers in the U.K., is getting so clean that trout fishing is making a comeback.
Posted in General magpie travel, News from Europe, UK, UK news
Tagged london travel, London trout fishing, UK travel
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the best English gardens for visitors
From the London Independent – the 10 best English gardens open to visitors. Great places to celebrate springtime. Click on the link for prices and websites.
Posted in General magpie travel, News from Europe, UK
Tagged English gardens, news from Europe, UK travel
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chocolate festival in Oxford!
From the Oxford Mail. If you’re in or near Oxford, England this weekend, check out the Chocolate Festival. I wish I’d known!
who were they?
A brass memorial plaque in England names two casualties of Gallipoli but the plaque’s original home is unknown. From the Oxford Mail. Will post any updates.
a new clothing label for the U.K.
From the London Independent, a new Welsh company enters the jeans market. And a Swedish label comes to London.
Banbury Cross gets a wash for the Jubilee
Cleaning up the Banbury Cross for the Queen’s Jubilee. Who gets to ride a cock horse, I wonder? From the Oxford Mail.
a historic pub in Abingdon getting another chance
Nags Head pub will get some major renovations and reopen later in the year. CAMRA is excited. From the Oxford Mail.
Posted in Europe food & wine, UK
Tagged food & wine in Europe, news from Europe, oxford travel, UK travel
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A new bell to mark the Queen’s Jubilee
A town in Oxfordshire raises a new bell to mark Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee.
A commercial stunt at the Uffington White Horse
From the Oxford Mail. New canvas lines were added around the Uffington White Horse, a prehistoric hillside chalk carving near Oxford, England. Locals are upset, but it’s canvas and does not affect the existing chalk. Lax security should perhaps be … Continue reading
Posted in England, General magpie travel, UK
Tagged news from Europe, oxford travel, UK travel
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High speed train on Cotswold line almost ready
A new high speed express train is almost ready to join the Cotswold line. (But how fast will it really travel?) From Oxford Mail.
An eco-friendly rest area in England
Reopening after being destroyed by fire, Cherwell Valley rest stop will be clean and green. From Oxford Mail
new plans for a Travelodge near an Oxford park-&-ride
If this becomes a reality, it will make staying cheaply near Oxford really easy!
English market town deserves a visit
Wantage, near the Uffington White Horse, scores high on mystery visit. (from Oxford Mail)
2012 Jane Austen tours now booking with Dad’s favorite tour outfit
Tours International now booking their Jane Austen tours for 2012 They also have a variety of military tours, tours with historical themes, tours relating to other literary figures, garden tours. These are regularly offered but the company will also create … Continue reading
Winter walks in the U.K.
Go for a walk. Here are 50 from the London Independent. Walks from 2.5 to 14 miles and all lengths in between. Something for everyone and maybe not just for winter!
London Tube closures, weekend of 14-15 January 2012
Tube station closures on a few lines and line shutdown of the Northern Line this weekend
Posted in England, General magpie travel, London travel, UK
Tagged london travel, London Tube, UK travel
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A great walking tour in London with ‘Hairy Goat’
Thanks to a London friend, I took a walking tour of London before Christmas that I would probably never have found on my own. The name of the outfit that conducted the tour is Hairy Goat and if you are a … Continue reading
Posted in All Suzanne's travels, England, London travel, UK
Tagged Hairy Goat London, Hairy Goat tours, london travel, UK travel
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Scottish National Portrait Gallery reopens
from the London Independent… After a huge expansion and updating, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery is open to visitors again.
Posted in Edinburgh, General magpie travel, Scotland, UK
Tagged Edinburgh travel, Scotland travel, UK travel
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Getting some shut-eye at the airport with Yotel
A few weeks ago, needing to make a 6.30 am (ridiculous, I know) flight from London’s Gatwick airport, I booked a single room at the Yotel there. They are located inside the South Terminal, a short elevator ride below the … Continue reading
Posted in All Suzanne's travels, London travel, UK
Tagged london travel, UK travel, Yotel
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