London

Top London Stylist Reviews Autumn Winter Trends

2008-10-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

Trends for Autumn/Winter 08

There is really something for everyone this season. Whether your fashion stylist recommends you to wear brights, red or mauve or autumnal colours you will find it. Shapes will flapper most figures from fitted to blouson depending on what your proportions are. Use a Personal Shopper to seek out some of the key signature looks as many are classics and can be worn for a few seasons.

1. Tartan. The Highland look was everywhere with tartan appearing as blouses, blouson jackets, fitted jackets and mini skirts. A great way to wear this look is to combine a fitted jacket or blouse with jeans and high boots. Tartan minis always look great with soft jumpers and opaque tights.

2. Colours. Purple is the new black and is in all the shops it will suit cold blue/pink complexions best. Bright blue is also around and looks fab teamed with black. Brights are everywhere and work really well with bright warm complexions. Red is key for this season and works especially well in dresses, jumpers and jumper dresses. Great for Xmas! To identify what colours will suit you best a Personal Shopper or Style Consultant will help you spot the colours that maximise your natural skin tones.

3. Pants. Truly every style is available, ones to look for are cigarette style, high waisted ones that flare out are very flattering. Colours are black,grey.

4. Military. Military coats and jackets are back. Black with silver, black with gold, red with black are key colours to look for. Pieces will have epaulettes , braiding, metallic buttons. This works very well with pants and high boots.

5. Gothic and lace. Use the see through lace to soften the Gothic look or where it on its own. Lace is very feminine and sexy and there are beautiful blouses and dresses on offer.

6. Autumn colours. The Scottish look prevails again with soft autumnal shades in tweeds and plaid shirts. Combine soft colours with cashmere jumpers for a truly highland look. These colours suit muted warm skins best.

7. Folk. Think smocks, embroidered tops, yoke necks in silk or cotton. Combine these with pendant jewellery and Gilet faux fur for a full folksy look. Flat boots a la Sienna Miller also work well.

8. Black. The LBD is alive and well, a new cocoon shape is influencing the catwalk but there are plenty of tight figure hugging ones too. Combine with opaques and high heels or use lace underneath to create drama.

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About the Author:
Is a London Stylist based in Chelsea. She is specialize in Personal Shopping and Styling.

Web Development and Design in London: Using Divs Versus Using Tables

2008-10-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

Most Web Development professionals in London have reached a crossroad in website design which will influence the way they proceed with current and future web design projects.
While there can be no argument over the benefits of CSS stylesheets in opposition to inline styling, there is still a great deal of controversy over the adoption of new web site design layout.
On the one hand we have the tried and trusted method of Web page creation using Tables and on the other we have the contemporary method of using DIV’s. The core problem is which method to use? Which method is better?
Web Development purists in London will argue for complete and full adoption of W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), which means only using DIV tags to build and layout your website pages. There are a few major points they use to back up their argument, most of which surround and support SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).
The Benefits of using DIV’s
•The DIV tags original purpose is for the design and layout of website content.
•Using DIV’s means less code needed to construct a webpage, which means less code for a search bot to navigate through. This means quicker and more comprehensive indexing of your website. “Content is King” for search bots. •Because of the “Top down” method in which data is displayed in the website page, search engines are able to search and rank the importance of your content on your webpage.
But the ideas of the Web Development London are being challenged by industry professionals who claim that DIV layouts are simply not robust enough. Their major arguments for using Tables focus around Web browser compatibility.
The Benefits of using Tables
•The Table tag and its properties are universal across most if not all web browsers, meaning less technical “work-arounds” to make your design display properly. This means more time is spent on improving designs than trying to make designs simply display correctly.
•Table layouts allow the designer a level of measurement and accuracy which is difficult to obtain with a full DIV implementation.
•Tables make creating a visually intensive design easier. Why? Because what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) as Tables set out content in a manner that is visually logical to the human eye.
So, back to the question, which method to use and which method is better?
Each website design or web development project should be evaluated for its needs and purposes before building can begin. You have to ask yourself what is most important for this site.
Most website builds have one major focus. This focus is either economic, informative or visually extravagant. All good websites contain elements of all three but tend to put emphasis on one of these areas.
Economic Focus
Economically driven websites focus heavily on driving traffic to their website in order to sell goods. These sites need great SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and tend to use the latest technologies to give them the edge. In this case using DIV tags for structure would increase the overall SEO London of this site and could potentially offer a better solution than a Table layout.
Information Focus
Informative sites tend to have a great deal of content which is usually dynamic and populated from an integrated CMS (Content Management System). Your template needs to be malleable enough to expand with changing content. In this case using a combination of Tables and DIV’s is not a bad solution. Using Tables to setup a strong outer structure which will be cross browser compatible and using DIV tags within the Table structure to minimize the “code clutter” and give the site a little boost in SEO.
Visually Extravagant Focus
Everyone’s favorite kind of website. This type of website focuses on the visual impact on the user. Sites like these can be very intricate and building a website that doesn’t compromise the original design is vital. This style of website also needs to look good in all browsers. Using Tables would be the best approach for intricate designs because of its robust nature, browser compatibility and its ability to be precise.
In all three of the above cases there are a hundred counter arguments for using only DIV’s or only Tables. But before you tear your hair out over which method to use, remember that what this all boils down to is what is best for the client. As a website designer and builder your responsibility is to produce a website that fulfils their needs on time and on budget to the best of your abilities.
No one ever said there couldn’t be a compromise between Tables and DIV’s.

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About the Author:
Robert London is an employee at Lilo, a Web Development and Design company based in London. Lilo also specialises in Web Development London, Website Design and Branding, E-marketing, E-commerce, and Multimedia, Web Applications as well as SEO London. Lilo has offices in Blooms bury, London, Cape Town South Africa and Melbourne Australia.

Cheap London Hotels - Stay In Style

2008-10-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

Accommodations in London city is perfectly designed for the travelers considering their pocket and taste. There is no doubt about the availability of great many luxurious landmark hotels in London. Visitors can find out such motels with ease. However, the visitors who are budget travelers and looking for affordable low rate hotels, cheap London hotels are the right choice for them. Such hotels can be found in remote areas but due to good transportation and communication system the hotels host endless travelers.

The best time to visit London is in between the months of June-August. During summer the weather is quite warm and it is the real time to explore the city with joy. Being a major tourist destination, London presents thousands of iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the House of Parliament, and other must see attractions like British Museum, National Gallery, London eye, etc.

During Christmas and New Year most of the luxury hotels in London offer discount rate. So, it will be good if you collect the information through internet. You can find a huge number of Discount Hotels In London as well as Budget Hotels In London. The main cheap hotel districts in London are Bayswater and Victoria Bayswater is located on the northern border of Hyde Park. Moreover, Oxford Street, Kensington Palace and Paddington station are just a few miles away. This place houses many budget hotels which are perfectly suitable for cost conscious travelers.

However, the hotels in Victoria are situated in south of the railway station and have easy access to the places like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and Westminster Abbey. Select a motel of your choice and explore the city’s beautiful breathtaking sightseeing, art galleries, skyscrapers, amusement parks, live concerts, and above all city’s passionate night life.

It is easy to choose a hotel in a few minutes but before doing that it will be wise to check the travel certificates and customer’s feedback about those cheap hotels which you are seeing online.

With little research you can find numerous Cheap Hotels In London as per your budget. Enjoy a great trip to London now with little expenses on hotels booking.

About the Author: Last minute deals for Cheap Hotels In London. Book today and save 45% on per night stay for Discount Hotels In London. No booking or cancellation fee for Budget Hotels In London.

Mayor Calls for Wi-Fi London

2008-10-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

Mayor Boris Johnson has told a local London radio station that he aims to make London a “Wi-Fi” city.

Speaking to the radio station, Johnson explained that he believed every Londoner should have access to the web and he wanted to help provide this. His comment comes after Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke of his plans to provide lower-income families with computers and cheap broadband. Mayor Johnson dismissed these claims as being desperate.

He went on to say that he believes there is a need to make technology, especially the internet, more obtainable to those with lower-incomes and that he thought one of the best things that could be done would be to make the whole of London a Wi-Fi friendly city where people could log on to the web wherever the where.

Boris Johnson also said that he believed improvements should be made to the city’s infrastructure to enable broadband Wi-Fi access to be available across all of London. He suggested that the work should begin in Stratford, where the 2012 Olympics will be held, the only information that he didn’t give away was whether or not this service would be free.

This report comes at a time when people are becoming more and more aware of their own internet at home. Many people are now doing tests that you can find on the internet which tell them at what speed their internet is currently working. If this speed test shows that it is significantly slower than what they are being led to believe then they can ring their provider with the information in order to try and get better broadband deals. The problem is that most of the providers use the phrase “up to” which means that they can often get out of the fact that your internet is running at a speed less than half of the maximum speed quoted.

Boris Johnson also said that he believed improvements should be made to the city’s infrastructure to enable broadband Wi-Fi access to be available across all of London.

If this broadband speed test shows that it is significantly slower than what they are being led to believe then they can ring their provider with the information in order to try and get better broadband deals .

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London Fashion

2008-10-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

London is a place with great history in the field of fashion. It is one of the favorite locations of any person related to fashion. We cannot ignore the contribution of fashion schools in London fashion industry. These well-known fashion schools have a good reputation in the production of top designers in shoe design, men’s clothing, women’s clothing, etc. They also have professionals in areas such as fashion photography, fashion merchandising, fashion journalism, and lot more. If you are a student in fashion in London, you can learn pattern cutting, garment production, designing in both manual and digital formats, the history of fashion, etc. Most of the school is well equipped with most modern equipments. Besides all these advantages, you will be able to make a contact with successful working designers, as many tutors usually are well designers in the fashion world. Therefore, it will be a good step from your side in deciding to study fashion in London if you are interested in this field.

Fashion shows are becoming common in London. Fashion shows are event conducted by different fashion designers to display his or her upcoming line of clothing. Many models are use by these designers for presenting there designs. Models strutting catwalks at London Fashion Week can mislead you to a conclusion that they are all of good health, but report acknowledges that there are problem with eating disorders among models. Therefore, this is an area of great job opportunity. With the arrival of new designs, cuts, colors, fabrics, and sizes ethical fashion industry, organic clothing, etc is getting a new boom. The rising awareness among the people is helping in the promotion of products under fair trade market. Ethical clothes are also becoming common among people. Considering this change in trend now many top designers where concentrating in the production of new designs in ethical clothing.
Now with the domination of internet, people are able to see and choose the style they like. People also have the opportunity to watch different live fashion shows through the internet. It also provides various people a chance to talk with the fashion experts and clear there doubts about fashion. It also brings all the latest new on the industry.

Environmental fashion is another upcoming trend in the industry. Young talent is showcased and is awarded. For example, Fashion Fringe, Man and Fashion East are a part of the London Fashion Week. The process of providing new graduates first step on the ladder by exposing them to the press also takes place in these kinds of fashion shows. Yet anew trend is the Fashion label designing for beautiful women's clothes using unusual fabrics and prints has been attracting several international clientele and celebrity to the London fashion show these days.
At present, the most wanted person of the London fashion industry is that of the designers. This is because of the reason that celebrities know that they where being judged the world’s population by what they are wear on different occasion. For this reason alone, they turn to designers for help. Therefore, if you are interested in choosing fashion designing, London fashion industry awaits you.

A former fashion design graduate from Central Saint Martins, Jane Goldsmith wanted to create an innovative and directional shop which specialized in Ethical Fashion

About the Author:
Riva: A former fashion design graduate from Central Saint Martins, Jane Goldsmith wanted to create an innovative and directional shop which specialized in
Ethical Fashion

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Happy Independence Day!

2008-07-04T06:03:00.001-07:00

Fourth Of July Flash Toys

PAARADE

A Visitors Guide to London England

2008-04-15T13:34:00.001-07:00

The biggest city in England is London. In fact, it is one of the biggest cities in all of Europe. For this reason London is one of the most common tourist destinations in the area. A large amount of people from all over the world travel to London every year to soak up the atmosphere, and check out the great attractions. The fact of the matter is that London is a lot of fun for anybody who visits. Ask anybody who has been to London before, and you will more than likely hear about how much fun they had.

London is one of the most densely populated cities in all of Europe. For this reason the number of different cultures, religions, and beliefs in the area are quite diverse. No matter who you are it is safe to say that you will fit in if you are going to London. In addition, there are over 300 languages spoken by the people who live in London. This makes it very easy on tourists. Of course English is the number one language in the city.

For people visiting London for the first time there are many attractions that are must sees. These attractions are not only the most popular in London, but in the world as well. They include the House of Parliament, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace to name a few. For people that are interested in art, there are two institutions that they will not want to pass up; the British Museum and the National Gallery. If you have time to visit all of these attractions you will definitely feel like your time in London was well spent.

The Greater London area covers 609 square miles; this is one big city with a lot packed into it. The Thames River runs through the city and is common for both recreation and work activities.

When planning a trip to any destination you will need to know what the climate is like; and this definitely holds true when it comes to London. Generally speaking, London gets light precipitation throughout every month of the year. There is really not break to when the rain comes and goes, and snow is very uncommon in the area. If you want to visit London during the warmest month you will want to go in July. During July temperatures can reach the lower 70s F. January is the coldest month in London, and temperatures rarely get above the low 40s F.

There is plenty of transportation in London to get you around from one area to the next. When flying into London you can take advantage of one of five airports. The biggest airport is Heathrow, and it is the busiest airport in the world in terms of international travel. And of course London is home to the London Underground which is the oldest metro system that you will find anywhere in the world.

London is popular among people from one side of the world to the next. There are many attractions to see in London, and the weather is never a problem. The tourism industry in London is definitely safe for the time being.

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Usability for Web Development and Website Design in London:

2008-04-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

Usability refers to the level of ease with which a user can interact with the graphic user interface of an application, website or web development solution. Conducting a usability study on your recent website project is especially important in the competitive environment of web development in London The study of usability promotes methods of improving efficiency and ease of use during the design process.
There are many attributes that are measured to establish whether usability has been successfully implemented. These include learnability, efficiency, memorability, errors, utility and satisfaction.
Learnability - refers to the level of ease with which first time users can interact with the interface and how easily they find it to perform basic tasks.
Efficiency - is measured in the speed at which users who are familiar with the interface can perform tasks.
Memorability - refers to how quickly a user who hasn’t been in contact with the interface for a while can re-establish competence.
Errors - relates to the amount of errors users make and how easily they can recover from these errors.
Utility - refers to the functionality of the design.
Satisfaction - is measured in the pleasure experienced with interfacing with a good website design.
These are just fancy theories for considering who the intended users are, what they know, what they want or need to know, how fast can they learn, etc. A website designed with usability in mind, is known to have a user-centred design, making the website user friendly. A user friendly designed website or application will assist in reaching the proposed target audience, ensuring that the purpose of the website isn achieved.
Usability is imperative from a user’s perspective as it determines their ability to perform tasks accurately and efficiently and enjoying the procedure at the same time. Usability also determines the success of the website or web development application. It also determines the productivity of a workforce in the case of internal applications. What this boils down to is that effective implementation of usability saves time, effort and money and increases revenue and user efficiency. All of these elements are vital to remain competitive in the Web Development environment of London.
The key principle for improving usability is to implement evaluation phases from the early stages of design. This provides the web designers in London with user and client feedback at an early stage, which can then be implemented and refined as the project progresses, resulting in a more user-centred design.
Usability testing should preferably be done with the actual users of the website or application; however there are many other ways of doing it. Testing with the actual users ensures more realistic feedback, which can then be knowledgeably applied to the design. A common mistake at this stage would be to listen to what the users say, instead of researching their reaction. Usability experts should bear in mind that users are not designers; however designers may possibly be users. Users have no insight on the best web design practices that should be applied for the specific type of application. Schedules and budgets can make it seem difficult or unnecessary to consider usability, however it should then be considered that effective implementation of usability saves time, effort and money and increases revenue and user efficiency.

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London Hotels in Cheap and Luxury Category

2008-03-28T05:12:00.000-07:00

London houses more than 6,000 restaurants and 5,000 pubs and bars, which offers variety of cuisines from more than 70 countries. To walk around the city, London transport offers nearly 20,000 licensed taxis, double-decker buses and other public transports with underground metro tube.

With a 30 plus historical gardens, 123 historical monuments, 200 museums, 600 cinema screens and 108 music halls London describes ‘why it is a one of the best tourist destinations?’ The city also provides 95 golf courses, 2,000 tennis courts, six race courses and seven ice rinks for the sport lover within an hour distance from city center.

London is also famous for its world class accommodation facilities. London has more than one lake hotel with different categories. More than 70,000 Three to Five Star London hotel rooms are available within ten kilometers of the Central London. These well decorated London hotels provide tasteful facilities to their guests.

Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments London, Courthouse Hotel Kempinski London, Baglioni Hotel London, Cadogan Hotel London, Durley House Hotel London, Four Seasons Hotel London, Ambassadors in Bloomsbury Hotel London, Best Western Premier Shaftesbury Hotel and Apex City of London Hotel are some popular Five Star hotels in London.

These luxury hotels are well known for their world class lodging services. Most of the main luxury hotels in London are situated in the West End, especially in Mayfair. The luxury hotels in London are quite small on average by international standards. The largest Five Star hotel in the city houses only 459 rooms while nine luxury hotels have only fifty or fewer rooms.

London also houses budget category hotels with best services in discount or cheap prices. Some well known Budget hotels in London are Berkeley Court Hotel London, Airways Hotel London, Beverley City Hotel, 10 Manchester Street Hotel London, Abcone Hotel London, Ambassadors Hotel London, Americana Hotel London and Amsterdam Hotel London. Most of the budget hotels in London are located in Bloomsbury on the northern side of the city center.

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Cheap London Hotels

2008-03-28T05:11:00.000-07:00

Being an important tourist destination, the city of London is visited by millions of tourist and visitors throughout the year. And so accommodation in London is very easy to find. Throughout the city you will find lodging facility ranging from cheap London hotels, mid range hotels to world class luxurious hotels.

Cheap Hotels in London is basically located in the remote areas but make for a great accommodation. Sought after by many adventurous tourists and young people looking for fun, lodging in these hotels, mean reveling in the exquisite beauty of London at much cheaper price. As a matter of fact, cheap London hotels offer middling facilities and services but they are definitely great money savers.

London is the largest city and the capital of England and the United Kingdom.
In the central region of London is the quaint City of London that even to this day retains its olden charm. Historically, London was founded by the Romans and since its emergence London has been an important centre of many significant movements and events of the past for instance, the Industrial Revolution, the English Renaissance, and the Gothic Revival. And because of its rich history and cultural background, London attracts millions of tourist throughout the year. London pride itself on its four UNESCO World Heritage Sites which include- the Tower of London, the Palace of Westminster, the historic settlement of Greenwich, and the Royal Botanic Gardens in the region of Kew. It is one of the world's chief business, economic, and cultural hub and its influence in political opinions, education, entertainment, media, fashion trends and the art lends it the class of being a global city. Although London is a year-round travel destination, the best time to visit the city is during summers i.e. in the months of July and August. Although this is the peak season, do expect crowded places of interest and soaring hotel rates.

Attractions in London
There are numerous tourist attractions in London. World-class museums, bewitching art galleries, gigantic historical monuments, awe inspiring skyscrapers and other many other exquisite sites… appeal to the masses. To name a few of them we have the famous Buckingham palace, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, London Eye, St. Paul's Cathedral, St. James's Park and Trafalgar Square among others.

Events in London
All through the year there is something or the other being celebrated in London. Public holidays in London includes New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Public holidays in London means national holidays for all. Besides these, many events are hosted to promote international unity and brotherhood.

Outdoor activities to indulge in
London offers excellent entertainment options to its tourist and visitors. From paddle boating to swimming; from cycling to walking; from horse riding to roller skating… you are spoilt for choices. With the exception of outdoor sports you may also attend theaters, operas, live concerts shows and visiting amusement parks. You will have fun to no end in London.

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Plan a Trip in Advance and Get Discount Hotels in London England

2008-03-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Mostly hotels offer discount to keep their hotels occupied for the whole year. Discount is a very ambiguous term in itself. Because, discount rates are based upon rack rate and it is not fixed, it varies according to the demand. The rack rate is the highest offered price of the hotel. So, if you want to know the exact discount price then firstly, you have to find the rack rate of the hotel.

Whenever, you are looking for discount hotels in London England then you must keep in your mind that summer season may be the tough time. Hence always winter season will be the appropriate time to access such hotels. Weekends again may be tough time as often we say that weekends are mini peak period. Usually, hotels on highway fill up quickly so you should not depend upon those hotels.

Often, travel agents also have some special packages which may be offered with good discount rate. One must discuss about these packages with the travel agent. We may get exclusive discount rates while booking our airline tickets or hotels online. Some hotels may offer redeemable gift point offers. Mostly, business men get benefited with such offer because they are the persons who tour frequently. Business people frequently go for bulk booking which turned into reasonable discount.

Thus discount hotels in London England are not a burdensome task as it was earlier. Now, the large number of internet spreading in all over world has made it a cup of tea for everyone. One must remember that nowadays hotels have special quota of rooms for their online guests. Even cash back offer may be offered them for their next visit.

The administrative structure of the city is divided into two parts. Greater London authority (GLA) takes care of city wide administration while local administration is handled by 33 smaller authorities. GLA was established in 2000. Actually, it has replaced Greater London Council which was already stopped functioning from 1986 onwards.

Transportation system in London is very good and hence, spending long hours in transportation also can be a pleasant session of trip to London. Famous iconic landmarks of London are situated in the central London like museum of London, tower of London, royal exchange building, house of parliament, Westminster cathedral and headquarters of multi national companies.

If we talk about whole London and its top five sights than these sights are London eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, tower of London, British museum and Tate modern. Worldwide, London is known as “the green city”. Visitors can get numerous open places like parks and gardens. Royal park of Hyde park and Kensington Gardens are very famous place of central area. Hyde park is particularly famous for organizing sports and open air concerts. So, if you are staying in discount hotels but don’t like to spend long hours in hotels then you can check the nearest open spaces where you can get ultimate color of London.

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Beautiful London...

2008-03-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

London, U.k. - the City of Cities

2008-02-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

London is the working capital city of England & of the UK. An crucial settlement for approximately two millennia, London is nowadays one of the world's top significant business and financial centre, & its involvement in politics, culture, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts all lend to its position as one of the key global cities.

London is the biggest & most populous city in the European Union. Its population is very cosmopolitan, drawing from a diverse range of peoples, cultures & faiths, speaking over 300 dissimilar languages. Occupants of London are referred to as Londoners.

London is an global transfer hub, with 5 international airports and a large port. It serves as the biggest aviation hub in the world, & its head airport, Heathrow, carries more international passengers than any other.

London is a huge tourist place to visit - numbering iconic landmarks such the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye among its many attractions by with notable establishments like the British Museum & the National Gallery. London has many nicknames like 'The City of Cities' & 'Old London Town', although no defining one. Samuel Johnson one time mentioned that "When a man is tired out of London he is tired of life".

London is an global centre of culture in conditions of arts, music, festivals, museums & lot more. The diverseness of cultures within London is so wonderful that easy definition is impossible. The city is home to additional than three hundred nationalities that have over time moulded and formed the city's culture into what it is nowadays.

Wimbledon Championships 2008

2008-02-20T05:50:00.000-08:00

The 23rd of June to the 6th of July 2008 will see the return of the most prestigious tournament in Tennis; Wimbledon. The oldest tennis tournament in the world runs for two weeks every year at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, UK. The competition was first played in 1877 and was initially just for men. The competition has since developed to include ladies singles, men's doubles, ladies doubles and mixed doubles. It has also moved from its original location in Walpole London to a large venue that contains 19 courts.

All of the venues 19 courts are seeded with rye grass which provides speed and a low level of bounce. As a result the championship has long been a favourite of serve and volley players. The venue contains the two largest spectator capacity courts in England; Court Number One and Centre Court. Centre Court holds 14,000 whilst plans have been made to extend the capacity of court number one from 3,000 to 4,000 in 2009. These two courts are reserved for use for the two weeks of the tournament with the further 17 accommodating games from the general season. In 2012 the show courts are set to be used during the 2012 London Olympics.

One aspect that sets the tournament aside from the others is that there is a strict dress code employed by the club. The traditional colours of Wimbledon are dark green and mauve. Recently the clothing worn by officials, ball boys and ball girls have been designed by Ralph Lauren and are navy blue and cream. The players are required to wear white clothing during matches. In 1990 Andre Agassi used this strict dress code as an excuse not to play in the tournament.

The winner of the Gentlemen's singles title receives a cash prize of 700,000 pounds as does the Ladies singles winner. The men also receive a 18.5 inch high silver gilt cup which bears an inscription that includes the words 'single handed champion of the world'. Conversely the women's champion receives a silver plate known as the 'Venus Rosewater Dish'. The winners are typically presented with their trophy by The Duke of Kent who is the president of the All England Club.

No British player has won the competition since Virginia Wade scooped the women's singles title in 1977. The last British man to win the men's singles was Fed Perry in 1936. Recently anticipation from British fans has surrounded British contenders such as Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and more recently Andrew Murray. Fans have named a hill on which they can watch the games after each of these British hopes to reflect their favourite at the time. Initially named 'Henman hill' it has also been titled 'Rusedski ridge' and more recently 'Murray mound'.

The Brit William Renshaw shares the honour of holding the most Wimbledon titles with the American Andre Agassi, both have won 7 titles. In the modern era Bjorn Borg and Roger Federer have both won 5 consecutive titles. Federer will be the first to hold 6 consecutive titles in the modern era if he wins this year. The Australian Todd Woodbridge has won 9 doubles titles. In the women's game Martina Navratilova has won an astonishing 9 singles titles alongside 7 doubles titles.

Four of the Best: Silk Tie Designers of England

2008-02-20T05:49:00.000-08:00

Despite an increasing casual society, silk ties are still seen as an important icon of style. Celebrating traditional creative talents and hand crafted fashion designs a number of key tie designers lead the way when it comes to luxury neckwear for men. The famous names of Vivienne Westwood, Timothy Everest, Richard James, and Babette Wasserman are considered in more detail below.

Vivienne Westwood began designing in 1971, along with Malcolm McLaren, when London was at the forefront of fashion. The award winning designer is a leader of fashion for all ages that spans across many generations. She has an OBE for her contribution to the British Fashion Industry and was also given the Queen's Award for Export. Vivienne Westwood has designed an assortment of silk ties which are created for fashion savvy men who enjoy new spins on classic designs. Vivienne also designs clothing, socks, scarves, and cufflinks, all designed with features that add a dash of fun and irony to any outfit.

Timothy Everest ties are exceptional. He is one of the leaders of the new bespoke movement, and has spent the past 10 years showing a new generation of men the joys of bespoke clothing. His apprenticeship with Tommy Nutter has enabled him to dodge the formalness of Savile Row whilst utilising its exceptionally high standards of craftsmanship. Timothy's 350 end silk ties (350 threads per inch heavy silk) are some of the best quality ties you will ever wear ... perfectly made with a exceptional attention to detail.

In little over a decade the Richard James' name has become synonymous with the best aspects of today's men's style: from outfitting the Hollywood elites to its use of bold colour. Since the company was founded in 1992 (by Richard James and Sean Dixon), it has collected a number of major fashion awards (including Designer of the Year by British 'GQ' and Menswear Designer of the Year by British Fashion Council). Richard James bespoke services are second-to-none, and the label now has an ever growing selection of off-the-peg clothing second only to bespoke.

Indeed Richard James accessories are becoming a major talking point on the London fashion scene. Richard James ties are hand-made in England using exclusive fabrics and high silk count to ensure that each tie will give years of good knot-age and make for a perfect match with a Richard James shirt.

Developed at Central St. Martin's College of Art in Central London, Babette Wasserman is famous for unique and versatile designs. She launched her own jewellery label and cufflink range in 1997. Regarded by many in fashion as the most unusual designer of stylish, fashionable and innovative accessories; Babette Wasserman silk ties can be found in some of the most prestigious stores across the world. Look out for her collection of nicely presented gift box sets offering pure silk ties together with a pair of luxury cufflinks. A particular favourite is her Black Skull tie which is commonly paired with Jet Black Punk Stud cufflinks.

Have a Break in Brighton: London by the Sea

2008-02-15T07:00:00.001-08:00

Brighton on the south coast on England is a popular seaside destination known as ‘London by the Sea’. The history behind the name comes from the 18th century when George VI enjoyed to party in Brighton. London’s elite followed his path and made Brighton into a fashionable place to be. The town has plenty of Victorian architecture remaining, including the Royal Pavilion which is worth a visit.

Brighton today is still a popular seaside destination, with its amusement parks and piers. The stretch between the 2 piers is full of entertainment with restaurants, bars, arcades and night clubs. Away from the promenade there are more attractions, including shopping in the many clothing stores, jewelers and antique shops. Visit the museums, the large marina and outdoor sports centre.

Business is also important to Brighton. High-tech media companies have recently set up in the city, it also attracts many business people for conferences as it houses a large number of hotels

Transport: how to get there and around
It is easy to get to Brighton from London. The train system that was built back in 1841, can now take less than an hour to reach Brighton. The regular bus service from London Victoria Station also covers the distance in less than 2 hours. By road you can access Brighton by the M23 which leads into the A23 to get into town.

The town itself has an adequate bus service and plenty of taxis to choose from to get around. To make the distance along the seafront you can use the electric railway, which is apparently the oldest in the world. A new addition to the local transport is the tuc-tuc, a motorised trishaw from Asia, this is a fun way to travel.

Weather
The weather is at its best during the summer months of July and August. You are more likely to experience some warm, dry weather. However, this cannot be guaranteed as British weather is notoriously unpredictable. Take your rain coat just incase.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Brighton.

Attractions & Events
During May you can enjoy the Brighton Festival. The city comes alive with visual arts events, street processions and performers, theatre attractions and music. The festival takes place throughout the city with a festive fireworks display each night. and facilities.

Bargain Theatre Breaks to London in 2008

2008-02-15T06:59:00.000-08:00

The spectre of recession is hanging over the UK economy and if that comes to fruition it will means tough times ahead for most businesses and many individuals, especially those in the entertainment and leisure industry.

Normally, when a recession bites luxuries such as trips to the theatre are the first casualties as consumers look to tighten their belts and cut out unnecessary spending. With the doom-mongers predicting that 2008 will be a bad year for the UK economy and 2009 will be even worse, on the face of it entertainment spending looks to worst hit. But, that might not tell the whole story. Traditionally, in times of real economic gloom and hardship people look to entertainment as a form of escapism from the harsh realities of everyday life.

Also, the flip side of an economic downturn is that for those with cash to spare there are usually some real bargains to be had as businesses cut their prices and introduce special offers. So, if theatres and retailers do start to feel the pinch throughout the year, then they will also be forced into offering great deals to attract customers - meaning that if you are in a position to be able to afford it then 2008 will be a great time to visit the capital to watch a West End show.

And because shops are already reporting reduced revenues during the run-up to Christmas last year, sales are already in full flow and look set to continue for some time, meaning there will be some great bargains to be had. Also, just about every hotel in Oxford Street and the rest of the West End will doubtless be offering discounted deals over the next few months as it is a traditionally slow time for visitors.

So, keep your eye open for great West End Theatre deals throughout the year; and when it comes to choosing something to watch there is a huge choice from popular musicals, great drama and comedy. There is bound to be something that will appeal to you and even if it’s not from the mainstream West End selection the fringe theatre scene is alive and well in London and offers some great alternative productions.

Plus, staying for a weekend will leave you plenty of time to take in some sightseeing in the nation’s Capital. The UK’s most popular tourist attraction, the London Eye, is a stone’s throw from the West End and just over the Thames from the historic Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Or, perhaps you could visit Covent Garden and the great boutiques, market stalls and mainstream shops that proliferate in the area.

Regardless of whatever it is that would draw you to London, be assured that there will be some great deals to be had as the recession starts to bite.

The London Low Emission Zone - What It Means For Haulage Workers

2008-02-15T06:58:00.000-08:00

The London Low Emission Zone has now officially come into effect. Quite a few readers will doubtless be asking what it is, what it does, and how it will effect haulage companies and owner operators if media reports of the public being unaware of its existence are to be believed.

Well, Haulage Exchange to the rescue, because here's a quick rundown of everything you need to know about the London LEZ!

What is the LEZ?

For those of you that don't know LEZ stands for Low Emission Zone. In London, the scheme has just been introduced to reduce pollution, and it extends to the entirety of greater London - an area of 610 square miles. To enter the London Low Emission Zone, vehicles must either meet specific emission standards or pay a daily fee of £200. Unlike the congestion charge, which charges motorists to use inner city London roads during business hours, the LEZ will be in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When does the LEZ start?

Technically, the London LEZ has come into effect already for haulage vehicles with a weight exceeding 12 tonnes, but due to the majority of haulage firms having no knowledge of the new laws, haulage industry workers have been given extra time to ensure their lorries meet the Euro III vehicle standards. Firms have been granted an additional 28 days to make their vehicles green.

Lorries between 3.5 and 12 tonnes will be included from 7th July 2008, with large vans between 1.205 and 3.5 tonnes following on 4th October 2010.

In 2012, the legislation will become stricter, and all vehicles previously affected by the law will need to be compliant with Euro IV vehicle standards.

Does my haulage vehicle meet the Euro III/Euro IV standards?

The Euro vehicle standards relate to the amount of particulates emitted by the vehicle. As a general rule, any vehicles registered with the DVLA on or after the 1st October 2001, they are assumed to be Euro III compliant.

Euro IV compliancy is more recent, and only vehicles registered as new on or after the 1st October 2006 are assumed to meet these requirements. This level of greenness is not required until 2012, however.

If your haulage vehicle was purchased before these dates, you will either need to modify them to meet the standards, or pay the LEZ fee when working in London.

Why do we need the LEZ?

The LEZ is being brought in to counter the air pollution of the capital. London is well known for being a highly polluted city, and it is estimated that half the air pollution is a result of transport. London mayor Ken Livingstone believes that the move will not only reduce overall emissions 16% by 2012, but will also cut down on the 1,000 annual hospital admissions and 1,000 premature deaths caused by low air quality.

How much do haulage companies and owner operators need to pay?

Vehicles registered and not meeting the green standards will have to pay a massive £200 per day to enter the zone. If an unregistered vehicle enters the LEZ and does not meet the emission standards, the driver will be fined a hefty £1,000 (reduced to £500 if paid within 2 weeks.)

Vehicles entering London from abroad will have their fines chased by an international debt recovery agency.

How is the London LEZ enforced?

The London Low Emission Zone is set to be enforced using a £54m setup involving Automatic Number Plate Reading Cameras.

Any vehicle entering or driving in the LEZ will be checked against the DVLA to check whether the vehicle has had the required work carried out.

What about cars, motorbikes, vans, buses, coaches and emergency vehicles?

Cars, motorbikes and small vans remain unaffected by the London LEZ in its current form.

Buses and coaches exceeding five tonnes, and lorries, motor caravans and horseboxes between 3.5 and 12 tonnes will be required to pay from 7th July 2008.

In the final part of the LEZ scheme, from the 4th October 2010, large vans and horseboxes between 1.206 and 3.5 tonnes, motor caravans between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes, and minibuses below 5 tonnes will also be included, though with a half price daily charge of £100.

Ambulances and large hearses will also be included - the London Low Emissions Zone applies to all vehicles in the size bracket, regardless of whether they are for public or private usage.

Unsurprisingly, its something our members are beginning to grumble about, and it will only increase as more haulage vehicles are encompassed by the London Low Emissions Zone. For the moment though, it's best to be aware of the restrictions so you can avoid the heavy fees levied for vehicles in the capital. My (slightly biased) advice to all concerned about the LEZ is to join a freight exchange, and swap loads to either make paying £200 a day worthwhile, or to take on work exclusively away from London to avoid the charges altogether.

Covent Garden – a Shopping and Entertainment Nirvana

2008-01-29T05:50:00.000-08:00

Many agree that Covent Garden offers the best shopping experience in London. Whatever you are looking for Covent Garden has it. Whether it be fashion, jewellery, beauty products or that unusual gift, you won’t have to look far in the shops and markets of Covent Garden.

The area boasts many shops whose names you would instantly recognise, but equally there are many unique, one-off boutiques found within the famous streets that attract shoppers from all over the globe.

But it’s not just the shopping that draws the crowds; a plethora of highly talented street entertainers can be found performing in and around Covent Garden every day. It is the only place in London that allows licensed outdoor entertainment. International musicians, jugglers, and mime artists all come to Covent Garden to display their skills and entertain the visitors who can watch these amazing artists perform their fantastic array of acts before grabbing a bite to eat at the many bars, cafes and famous restaurants.

However, many of the visitors to Covent Garden are unaware of its historical significance; the land on which it stands on has been continually occupied for over 2,000 years making it the oldest inhabited part of London. It was originally the site of a Benedictine Convent from which its name is derived. King Henry VIII used the land to train his falcons, after he dissolved the monasteries and destroyed the Convent, before he gifted it to the aristocratic Bedford family.

In 1632 fashionable architect Inigo Jones was commissioned by the Earl of Bedford to design a residential Italian style piazza complete with surrounding streets and church. Having visited Italy and studied the many public squares there he designed Covent Garden in the Renaissance style surrounded by straight streets. Although many of the original buildings may have been replaced, the centrepiece and street grid system still remain.

The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed many of the city of London markets, which then regrouped and relocated to stylish Covent Garden. For almost 300 years the area became renowned for its fruit, vegetable and flower markets, carrying the title of the largest wholesale produce market in England.

In the1970s the fresh produce markets moved three miles to a custom-built New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms. However, the old site at Covent Garden Piazza grew in popularity attracting visitors and shoppers to the arts and crafts market housed in and surrounded by some of the most beautiful architecture on offer in London. The distinctive Royal Opera House is housed on the corner of the square which, as well as Opera, also features productions from the English National Ballet.

As well as being a superb venue for shopping Covent Garden is also a great place to dine. It has numerous fantastic restaurants, many of which offer the full al-fresco experience. Conveniently situated on the fringe of the West End, it is only a short walk from many top theatres and quality London hotels, so if you are visiting the nation’s capital make sure it is on your ‘to see’ list.

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Elisha Burberry

Traveling to London England

2008-01-29T05:49:00.001-08:00

England is an English speaking country which does make it easier to navigate through the city. However, there are some other differences that you should know about that will make your trip more enjoyable.

Ordering breakfast can be a challenge when you take a look at some terminology differences. Ordering eggs over easy will get you a blank stare. You must order eggs "lightly cooked" if you want them over easy. If you order ham with your eggs you will get cold lunch meat style ham. You must order bacon to get fried ham. Also be prepared to get baked beans with your breakfast as well as French frys. These are the normal side dishes with a breakfast order.

As you probably know drivers in England drive on the opposite side of the road from Americans or most other countries. This is a little more tricky then one might think. If you are a pedestrian you must look the opposite way before crossing. I have had many horns go off as I looked the wrong way and attempted to cross. In London the correct direction to look is written on the sidewalk which is very helpful.

Taxi drivers in London are a special group. Driving a Taxi is a family tradition and many families have multiple generations behind the wheel. Before one can get a Taxi license one must drive around London for two years on a motorcycle learning the roads. So needless to say Taxi Drivers in London can get you anywhere you want to go and fast.

The British pound is worth twice the value of the US Dollar at this point. When you spend 5 Pounds it is like spending 10 Dollars.

Travel facts:

There are more traffic fatalities on America's highways in two weeks then there are with aired travel in 10 years.

For international travel consider buying your foreign currency at a US bank before you leave for your trip. You likely will get a better exchange rate.

Always print your boarding pass on your home computer before you leave for your trip to avoid the line at the at the airport ticket counter.

On your return trip use the hotel business center to print your boarding pass. Boarding passes can be printed within 24 hours of your scheduled departure.

Many airlines have discontinued meal service, especially for short flights. You may want to bring some snacks such as protein bars to keep from getting hungry.

For long flights it's always a good idea to bring some things to occupy your mind. Books, Portable DVD players, etc. Time will go by faster.

Airport security is similar all over the world. Liquids must fit in a 4 oz plastic bag. You must place the plastic bag in a bin at the security gate. This should go without saying but you can not bring a knife or any other weapon through security. Take all metal such as coins out of your pockets. Have your picture ID and boarding pass ready at the security check point. Shoes must come off to pass through security do not bring bottled water or any other liquid.

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Alexander Taddeo

The Top Ten Sights To See In London

2008-01-29T05:46:00.000-08:00

London is one of the biggest and most diverse cities in the World. It has an excellent transport system, but if your time is limited, what sights should you make it your priority to see?

The following list is drawn from memory, on the basis that if I can recall them with fondness, they're most likely worth a visit:

1. Houses Of Parliament.

There are very fine buildings. Admittance is free, but you may have to queue. Due to security searches, you may not be able to get in at all, as they have to let the Members Of Parliaments (MPs) and their guests in first. The searches can take time.

However, it's worth the wait. The interiors are very grand indeed, and the staff are friendly.

2. Statue Of Eros, Piccadilly Circus.

This is the geographical heart of London. The statue itself is handsome, but it's more just to say you've been there. The only other interesting feature is the neon advertising hoarding adjacent. This, and Leicester Square, are not much frequented by native Londoners; you will only meet more tourists in these places.

3. London Eye (or The Millenium Wheel).

It offers excellent views of central London, and is quite romantic on a clear, moonlit night. This needs to be booked in advance, otherwise you may not be able to get on. You can book this novelty online.

4. Tower Bridge.

This is best traversed by night, and in a London black cab. A fine example of Victorian workmanship.

5. Tower Of London.

Here are kept the Crown Jewels. This are impressive, but most impressive for me was a brief film clip shown there of the coronation of the current Queen Elizabeth. A very moving piece of ecclesiastical theatre.

Other than that, the ancient weaponry displayed has a kind of thuggish dullness about it. Also interesting are the ravens, who have their wings clipped to stop them flying off. You may see them hopping about outside.

6. A Red Double Decker Bus.

You can pay a small fee, and travel on one of these for a few stops. A pleasant, interesting and efficient means of transport.

7. The Tube.

This is the underground train system. In itself it's not remarkable, but it enables the ignorant tourist to pop up like a gopher at their destination, instead of negotiating the buses and the streets.

8. A Black Cab.

One could see the sites mentioned above in a black cab, at night. This is a high-quality, licenced taxi service, and a nice, if expensive way to get around.

9. The Side Streets.

Get off the main streets like Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, and travel in parallel on the side streets. You'll see more of the real London, and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much less crowded it is.

10. Sites worth seeing outside Central London: Portobello Road, Camden Market, Kew Gardens.

Likely to disappoint: Buckingham Palace, Oxford Street, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square. I'm afraid these are not as interesting as their propaganda. One would go to see them just to boast you'd been.

You should get: 'The A-Z of London'. It is sold at any newsagent. This is a handy book of maps, with a good index. Even native Londoners find it essential in finding unfamiliar places. Don't leave your hotel without it; you might think you know the way, but you'll likely get lost, and even the locals may not know where you need to go!

Haunted Lighthouses - New London Ledge Lighthouse

2008-01-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

Located at the mouth of the Thames River, entrance to New London Harbor, Connecticut at the eastern end of Long Island Sound sits the New London Ledge Lighthouse. Built in 1909 on the Southwest Ledge, the lighthouse was originally called the Southwest Ledge Light, but to avoid confusion with another lighthouse in New Haven, the Southwest Ledge Light, the lighthouse was renamed to New London Ledge Light in 1910.

This lighthouse itself is a unique, one-of-a-kind structure with square red brick quarters topped with a mansard roof (a French type of roof designed to make maximum use of the interior space of the attic) and a circular lantern room. To appease the residents who didnt want to gaze upon an eyesore sitting in the sea, the lighthouse was built in Colonial and French architectural style in order to blend in with the large and historic homes on the shores.

The lighthouse was finally built after a half-century of petitions requesting an offshore lighthouse - the first one in 1845 - from mariners and residents stating the dangers to maritime traffic in the area due to the inadequcy of the four buoys in the harbor and the The New London Harbor Lighthouse on the shore. The Lighthouse Board detailed the inherent dangers to maritime traffic at New London to Congress in 1902 and 1903 and requested funds for constructing a lighthouse. The construction was completed in 1909. The United States Coast Guard officially took over the care of the lighthouse in 1939 and still keeps an eye on the place. Most of the stories of the ghostly lightkeeper have come from the Coast Guard crews manning the lighthouse.

New London Ledge is locally famous for the ghost nicknamed Ernie who allegedly haunts the lighthouse. The famous ghost legend Ernie was a lightkeeper supposedly jumped to his death from the roof of the lighthouse after learning that his wife ran off with the captain of the Block Island Ferry in 1936.

Ernie is said to make his presence known by opening and closing doors, washing the decks, operating the light and fog signal, and untying secured boats to let them drift away. Before the station was automated, Coast Guard crews on duty reported frequently hearing mysterious knocks on their bedroom doors in the middle of the night, doors opening and closing, the television being turned on and off repeatedly, and covers pulled off the end of their bed.

The New London Ledge Lighthouse was the last remaining manned lighthouse on Long Island Sound when it was finally automated in 1987. Since then, reports of Ernie's visits have dramatically decreased, most likely because there is hardly ever anyone there. This seems to be a relief to those who were stuck manning the light house. The final day of manned operation shows a log entry reading, "A Rock of slow torture. Ernie's domain. Hell on earth. May New London Ledge's light shine on forever because I'm through. I will watch it from afar while drinking a brew."

There have been investigations at the lighthouse. In the late '90s, a TV reporter from Japan spent a night inside the lighthouse to investigate the story of Ernie, and loud whispering noises were heard through the night, audible on camera. The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), who have become known by their series "Ghost Hunters" on the Sci-Fi Channel, investigated the place in 2005 but made no significant observations.

Today, the lighthouse is leased by the Coast Guard to the New London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation, partly funded by the City of New London. The lighthouse is used as a maritime classroom, while the Coast Guard continues to maintain the automated light. The group plans to eventually open the lighthouse as a museum and may offer overnight accommodations.

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Denise Villani

Explore Some of the Most Successful Project Manager Jobs London

2008-01-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

Engineers are trained or professionally engaged in a branch of engineering. Engineers
use technology, mathematics, and scientific knowledge to solve practical problems. They apply established principles drawn from mathematics and science in order to develop economical solutions to technical problems. The work of engineers is the link between perceived and commercial social needs. Engineers build things.

Keyman’s Engineering Division is constantly updated with both temporary and permanent positions for engineers. With a history of successful partnerships with all of the major national engineering companies, Keyman is one of the leading engineering recruitment agencies in the UK. This enables us to bring you the very best and most recent jobs for engineers available anywhere in the industry.

Keyman is a specialist recruitment agency focused on the provision of skilled personnel to the Rail, Construction and Engineering industries. Established nearly 30 years ago, Keyman’s reputation as a high quality recruitment agency continues to grow. Qualified Engineers can find Civil Engineering jobs as well as Structural Engineering jobs using our online database. These divisions include vacancies for: Construction jobs, Engineering jobs, UK engineering jobs and many other roles.

To apply for an engineering vacancy, immediately online, simply select a suitable position the database on keyman.uk.com, choose to apply and complete the Candidate Registration Form. Our comprehensive online database will enable you to search for your ideal position including location.

Payday Loan in London UK

2008-01-10T07:44:00.000-08:00

Cash is an important part of everyone’s life and there can be situations when you need the money urgently- opt for a payday loan in London UK for such situations only. These are short term payday loans taken to cover up the expenses like hospital bills, credit card payments or any utility bill. Such loans are borrowed for a short period of 4 weeks which if not returned within the stipulated time, will charge you with a penalty fee.

Features Of Payday Loans

Payday loan in the UK can be easily availed by an employed person who cannot wait to till his next salary. To be eligible for a payday loan in the UK, you should be at least 18 years of age, have a valid UK passport, must be drawing a salary of not less than £1000, should possess a bank account and be employed for at least last 3 months. If a person fulfils all the above conditions there are very less chances of his application getting rejected.

Going to a payday loan store in the UK is the finest option for a bad credit history holder. Usually for a traditional loan, the borrower is asked to present his credit history. And if his credit score is found to be too bad then his application for the loan amount can be rejected. While applying payday loan in the UK the borrower is not asked anything about his credit history. Therefore, bad credit holder has no other option for loan other than payday loan in London UK.

It is very easy to apply for a payday loan in London UK. Everything is done online from application to payment of funds. You can apply for the payday loan online, call the representative of the lending company or visit their nearby office as per your convenience. The process is so fast that you can get access to money in just few hours of applying. It keeps you away from the hassles of faxing the documents or filling the application form manually.

Payday loan in London UK helps to meet up short term financial requirements. And if you have concluded on taking a payday then first compare the APR and the finance charges, enquire about the maximum time limit which the lender can provide, also about the penalty fee or any other additional charges related to payday loans.

Usually payday loans in London UK have a high APR in comparison to traditional loans because they are borrowed for a short term. They are borrowed to meet expenses which are not affordable within the monthly salary. Therefore, no matter what loan you have borrowed make sure that you do not roll over the loan too many times.

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Apurva Shree

Stansted Airport London - An Independent Travellers Guide

2008-01-10T07:39:00.000-08:00

This article is aimed at the independent traveller contemplating using Stansted Airport London. The aim is to provide practical information so best use of the airport can be made with as few surprises as possible.

Of London’s airports, Stansted Airport is furthest from the centre of London, nearly 40 miles. The airport is dominated by low cost budget airlines and in particular Ryanair and easyJet, Europe’s largest low cost airlines. The overwhelming majority of flights are European or UK domestic flights. The airport also has significant charter traffic, particularly for the British travelling on package tours to the sun. The main intercontinental and state carriers like British Airways, Virgin, American and Singapore Airlines all use London’s Heathrow or Gatwick Airports.

The airport is an established airport but was relaunched 15 years ago with a brand new terminal and infrastructure, including a direct rail link and motorway to London. At first it was a white elephant but the emergence of the low cost budget carriers has transformed Stansted into one of the fastest growing airports in Europe in the last decade. Today, full capacity of the main terminal is within sight and a new terminal and further out a second runway is planned.

There are no surprises with the terminal itself, all the standard facilities are in place including choice of foreign exchange, pharmacies, news stands etc. There is a good range of eating opportunities ranging from fast food and pub food through to sit down restaurants. In common with all airports run by BAA, the owner, there is a lot of luxury shopping outlets. But remember, the vast majority of flights from Stansted are within the EEC and do not qualify for duty free status.

It normally takes around 30 minutes from touch down to exiting customs with most flights if you have luggage. There is an airport information desk immediately outside customs and a desk for AirportCarz who have a monopoly on taxi services at the airport. Taking a taxi to London is only used by a very small minority of passengers because of the distance and expense.

If your destination is London, the quickest option is to take the Stansted Express train. The train station is underneath the terminal so you just descend to the platforms by escalators or lifts. The Stansted Express takes 45 minutes to London’s Liverpool Street Station and runs about every 15 minutes during the day. Last trains are around midnight. The fares on the Stansted Express are expensive, well over $US40 for a single return fare. The Liverpool Street terminus is also not very convenient for most travellers, being sited in the middle of the financial district of London, 3-5 miles from most of the most popular hotel accommodation. The train stops at an intermediate stop called Tottenham Hale, 10 minutes before Liverpool Street, an interchange with the London Underground (Victoria Line). Many of the airlines will sell tickets for the Stansted Express, some at a discount, before landing at Stansted Airport.

The budget transfer option into London is to take one of four scheduled coach services run by National Express and Terravision. There is a large, modern coach station in front of the terminal, adjacent to the rail station.

The cheapest option is the Terravision service to Liverpool Street Station, the same route as the Stansted Express. The price is about half that of the Stansted Express Train. Downside like all road based transfers is the London traffic, on a good day the coach will make it in about an hour. National Express run services about every 30 minutes to nearby Stratford Underground at a similar price.

The other route taken by the coaches is Stansted to London Victoria. Both have return fares around $US25. The Terravision service is non-stop, the National Express service makes stops through central London, many of them close to the major hotel districts. The National Express service is a true 24x7 service, the Terravision service only stops for a couple of hours early morning. Some of the highest frequencies are around midnight Stansted-London and very early morning London-Stansted for the first and last flights when the Stansted Express and London Underground have shut down.

For current fares see: Rail and Road Transfers Between Stansted Airport and Central London.

Because of the sometimes extraordinarily cheap fares of Ryanair and easyJet a lot of transcontinental travellers have found it cheapest to fly into Heathrow and then complete their journey to their European destination using a low cost airline from Stansted. National Express run shuttle services between Heathrow and Stansted from the coach station at Stansted. There are usually a couple of services an hour, the journey taking around 90 minutes (though delays on the motorway are almost routine at rush hours). The fare is not cheap either. The return fare is about $US50. It is cheaper to use the indirect National Express service to Stratford and then catch the London Underground to Heathrow, but less comfortable.

If you want to stay over at Stansted Airport before a flight there are plenty of options available. Like all airport hotels at London, room rates are normally much cheaper at weekends than mid-week. If you are transiting from Heathrow or Gatwick which have much fiercer competition, you will probably find rates more expensive at Stansted, particularly in the budget sector.

Immediately adjacent to the terminal is the luxury Stansted Radisson SAS, the only airport hotel where you do not need a hotel transfer vehicle. This is perhaps the most luxurious hotel and at weekends rates can be fairly competitive. The original luxury hotel at Stansted is the 4 star Hilton Hotel on the airport perimeter. The Hilton Stansted runs its own shuttle bus from the coach station about every 30 minutes. In the immediate vicinity of the airport is an Express by Holiday Inn and a Best Western. The consistently cheapest option is the Days Inn on a motorway services area at the entrance to Stansted Airport. It provides no airport transfer facility itself though of course there are taxis and a local bus service. Apart from the chains there are a lot of independent hotels in the vicinity. These feature hotels for all budgets and tastes, ranging from Country House Hotels, to pubs to traditional Bed and Breakfasts. The countryside around Stansted is surprisingly unspoilt and there is opportunity to stay in a traditional market town or coaching inn for example.

Bob Handford is an expert about his city, London and is the owner of the website London Hotels Toolkit that aims to provide practical information for independent visitors to London. You can contact Bob direct at the web site.

The Ideal London Venue

2007-12-21T07:54:00.000-08:00

London is the ideal venue for business meetings, seminars, and conferences, superbly served with high speed transport connections, world class technology facilities, accommodations, technical, and professional services.

It is also one of the world’s leading cities. Whether you are looking for a venue to conduct a meeting with national or international attendees, London will be able to accommodate your venue size, servicing, and budgetary needs.

London is the financial heart of the European Union (EU) and capital of one of only four trillion dollar economies in the EU with an infrastructure to match. The business infrastructure is being improved even further, because of London being selected as the venue for the ultimate global sporting occasion – the Olympic games will be hosted by London in 2012, and a £9 billion ($18 billion) construction project is underway.

As a venue for business meetings of any size, London enjoys considerable advantages over the rest of the world by virtue of its location on the Greenwich Median. This allows participants to travel in as little as six hours from the United States, to perform daily commutes from all parts of Europe, and to travel and attend a meeting on the same day without overnight stopovers.

As a consequence of London's commercial history dating back over two thousand years, a very wide range of venues are available, and they can be fully equipped with any requirement for technology, space and business support services. London itself is serviced by three international airports and a dedicated business airport only 20 minutes from the city center. Excellent train and road links allow for rapid and comfortable transfers from airport to business meeting place, and as a city that hosts millions of business and tourist visitors every day, the range and quality of hotels is immense.

Over 200 daily scheduled flights connect the US and London, primarily using Gatwick and Heathrow Airports, with many airlines operating hourly flights to New York and more than half a dozen flights per day to other US destinations. London's airports also provide more scheduled flights connecting the Far East, South Africa, and South America than any other European venue.

London is also the European Union leader in the provision and implementation of broadband based Internet technologies with greater internet connectivity than any other European city, and more than Washington DC. Using London as a venue for both physical and virtual attendees is easily arranged with the resources and technology services readily available. The frequent IT joke is that London actually floats on fibre, given the amount of optic cable supporting communications in the city.

London is a very cosmopolitan and vibrant city that is home to a wider range of nationalities and languages than New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and any other European city. Interpreters and language support are widely available, often with native speakers, and cheap compared to other international venues. As a place to entertain clients and colleagues; it is second to none in offering entertainment, food, and other diversions.

Given the international dominance of London as a center providing professional services and international markets, there is a heavy presence of legal, accounting, technology, banking, and international business support services readily available to attend any venue in and around the city. As a recognised centre of international business excellence, London excels as a venue for transacting business and holding corporate meetings both nationally and globally.

As a national venue for business meetings, London is easily accessible by train, road, and air from all parts of the UK that again allow attendees to travel to the venue, participate in a meeting, and return to base ion the same day. Travel from the UK's other major cities, such as Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast can be accomplished in under two hours in most cases, depending on the mode of transport.

Meeting venues in the heart of the city, or on the periphery bounded by the M25 motorway, are simple and easy to arrange, and London also offers the opportunity to host meetings in some of the most historic and spectacular venues in the world, if you are looking for a venue with a difference. Where else would you find a selection of meeting venues ranging from hi-tech commercial premises and business hotels to castles or palaces and all within an hour of London's city centre?

No matter how long you wish to hold your meeting, you will find a venue in London that can satisfy your needs, whether it is a serviced office needed for only an hour or a training course lasting several months.

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Jigsaw Conferences venue finder team is a specialist corporate venue finding agency and because we are funded by hotels and conference venues, the service we offer is completely FREE. Our service includes: Free Venue Finder Service : www.jigsawconferences.co.uk . Corporate Business Travel : www.jigsawconferences.travel . Call +44 (0)8700 490000 or email: enquiries@jigsawconferences.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

How to find cheap hotels in central London.

2007-12-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

London is probably one of the most exciting metropolises in the world and one of the top urban travel destinations. London’s charm is not only in its unique architectural heritage but also in the modern lifestyle the city reveals. The beauty of central London is unsurpassed and can be experienced at its fullest by making sure your hotel is in the middle of everything. Don’t worry, not all hotels are expensive, you can still find cheap hotels in central London and have the vacation of your dreams without paying exorbitant hotel fees. At londonstopover.com you will find the finest cheap London hotels.

The capital city of the United Kingdom is one of the most populated cities in the world, a truly multicultural metropolis. London attracts millions of tourists every year with its unique combination of royal splendor and modern masterpieces. With its intense atmosphere and unparalleled historical beauty, London has much more to offer than any travel guide could predict. This cosmopolitan city overflows with liveliness and cultures. London is definitely not a city to get bored in. With dozens of art galleries, fashion shows and social events, one could truly say that London is the place where it all happens. If you don’t want to miss out on any of London’s spoils and still have an affordable holiday, you should consider looking for some cheap hotels in central London.

Many people are under the wrong impression that all London accommodations are extremely expensive. This misconception is probably the result of London’s high life metropolis reputation. It’s true that London is among the most expensive property markets in the world and offers a great deal of glamour. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t find cheap London hotels with high quality services. Even those with somewhat modest incomes can have a fantastic London holiday. The key is to know how to look for cheap hotels in central London. At londonstopover.com you can start planning your London holiday experience.

There are many ways in which you can gather useful information about affordable London accommodations. For instance, if you have any friends or relatives who have traveled to London recently you can inquire about their accommodations, any piece of information can turn out to be useful. If the hotel they stayed in is not exactly in your price range but the location is right, you can ask if they don’t happen to know any other hotel nearby. Another thing you should take into consideration when looking for cheap London hotels is the time of year you are planning you trip for. High season in London is usually between April and October, when the temperatures are ideal for urban traveling. During this period a large number of cultural and artistic events take place in the busy metropolis and you can even check out the latest trends in the spectacular fashion shows. Traveling in high season offers many advantages but you should expect everything to be a little more expensive. Another thing you might want to take into consideration is that staying in the very centre of the capital offers many benefits. For starters, you are close to just about everything. Furthermore, there’s no place like central London to experience the authentic buzz of the metropolis. If you know where to look, you should have no problem finding cheap hotels in central London.

There’s no vacation quite like a London vacation. The roar of a multicultural metropolis, the splendor of the historical buildings, the intense night life, the spectacular fashion shows, the delicious culinary experiences are just a few reasons why you should visit London right away. If you want to stay in the very heart of the metropolis but still avoid spending large sums of money on accommodations, there are several cheap hotels in central London you can look into. By choosing your accommodations wisely you can afford to enjoy your London experience to the fullest. Find the best cheap London hotels at londonstopover.com.

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London probably offers one of the most exciting urban travel experiences anywhere in the world. If you want to fully experience London you should look to stay in one of the cheap hotels in central London. Visit our website to find out more about cheap London hotels.

Planning A Vacation Getaway In London

2007-12-19T07:04:00.000-08:00

London is indeed one of the most popular choices when it comes to tourist destinations. This mainly explains why their airports are often considered as one of the busiest in the world since a lot of passengers come in and out. Interest springs from the fact that the city manifests a healthy fusion of the ancient times and the effervescent present. It likewise openly embraces what the far along future has to offer. London never loses its magnetism because of its ever-dynamic image that lures all people of varied backgrounds and interests.

Getting to London is very easy as they have five international airports ready to serve you. Once there, going around will not be much of a problem as there are different modes of transportation that you can choose from like taxi cabs, train, buses, and underground. You will never run out of places to visit and activities to do as each area offers something interesting so better arm yourself with enough energy to completely enjoy such a once-in-a-lifetime extravaganza.

Social scenes are generally vivacious in North London where you can find attractive interior suburbs like Islington and Camden Town. Areas in West London, on the other hand, are high-end in nature, examples of which are Kensington and Belgravia. A lot of major attractions may be found there like the Royal Albert Hall and Kew Gardens. It is a first-rate place for shopping and appreciation of outstanding architecture. If diversity is what you desire, then East London is the best place to be. There you will find something trendy and modern as well as something historic and deeply cultural. Central London is quite easy to explore as the spots within it are in proximity to each other like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Aquarium, London Eye, Southbank, Tower Bridge, and Tower of London. Moving downward is an area influenced by different cultures and this is what South London is known for.

These only prove that in any area of London, there will definitely be a part where you can identify yourself with and enjoy. This furthers London's welcoming appeal as it appreciates and promotes everyone's individuality and uniqueness. If art, for example, is what appeals to you, art galleries are numerous and widely spread in different areas like the Tate Art Galleries, The Royal Academy, The National and the National Portrait Gallery, and many others. Each of these boasts of extensive and magnificent collections. Similarly, there are also several museums within the city like The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Science Museum, and Natural History Museum which are all located in the Kensington area. These and many others attract the attention of both young and old.

Performing arts seem to have successfully blossomed in London too. In fact, London is considered as its home base in England, specifically in West London. Thus, you need not be surprised when presented with so many options when surveying for a theatre.

Furthermore, if you aim for relaxation that is close to nature, parks are the best place to be. Fortunately, there is literally an abundance of green spaces in London. You may easily take advantage of the sunny days and lull your time off at places like St. James Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, and Regent Park. A day or so away from the busyness and complexity of the modern world is definitely worth all your time. Just a simple walk or sport in these types of places will surely soothe your senses.

Of course, food tripping often comes with any great vacation. This is specifically apt in London as the food choices are as varied as the lifestyle and culture of the people living in it. Cuisines come from all parts of the globe. If you are a little concerned about the prices in most restaurants which are quite high, you may want to try out other options like ethnic eating places, good pubs, and convenience stores. Better yet, you may want to plan ahead of time for a picnic at the park of your choice.

With this wide array of activities and places to choose from, a vacation in London will surely make time run out so easily. It will even be more exciting if you are going to enjoy such wonderful experience with your family and loved ones. Indeed, you can never go wrong in choosing London as your next vacation destination.

Source: Free Articles

Birmingham's Famous Jewellery Quarter: London Badge and Button Designer Cufflinks

2007-12-17T05:57:00.002-08:00

The Birmingham Jewellery Quarter is an historic industrial area of international importance located immediately to the north and north-west of Chamberlain Square in the centre of Birmingham. The area is notable for its dense mix of converted houses, factories and ancillary buildings dating from the late 18th century to the present day and largely associated with the production of jewellery and small metal wares. The significance of the Jewellery Quarter lies in its survival as an inner-city cluster of specialist industrial buildings, and also from its continuing role as the country's main centre for gold-jewellery production. The Quarter is also an important repository of traditional craft skills, industrial processes and historic tools and machinery.

Now occupying a space in the famous quarter is the London Badge and Button Company. Lbb London has over 30 years of experience in design and development of fine silver-gilt and Silver Designer cufflinks for high fashion men's accessories retailers.

Toye, Kenning and Spencer are one of the oldest family run businesses in the world, having been established in England over 300 years ago by a family of Huguenot refugees the ToyÃ©s. Since 1685 members of the Toye family have been using their skills to create fine identity products for both the civil and military markets.

The company has excelled in the making and stamping of medals and insignia in the last 200 years, and they possess great expertise in the application of vitreous enamel and enamel painting for insignia, medal and jewellery production. Their craftsmen and women combine the traditional skills of working in precious and non-precious metals with todayâ€™s modern technology to produce a vast array of quality products.

The product range has expanded considerably over the years and now includes: medals, enamelled badges, civic & society's regalia, ceremonial chains, traditional handcrafted enamels, corporate jewellery, awards, and trophies. The company also offers a free design service; designing and manufacturing products to customers exact requirements, and excels in one off bespoke products and small run production. They are also able to undertake the specialised service of renovation and refurbishment of presentation jewels and pendants of office.

KJD Jewellers is also part of the Toye family they manufacture hand crafted, very high quality vitreous enamel on precious metal designer cufflinks, to supply Jewellers and high end retail outlets throughout the world. Enamelling has its own unique history in Jewellery that stems back many hundreds of years. Here is a very brief, summarised history.

The word enamel comes from the High German word â€œsmelzanâ€ later becoming â€œesmailâ€ in Old French. Hence the current usage of â€œsmaltoâ€ in Italian, â€œemailâ€ in French and German and enamel in English.

It is thus defined as a vitreous, glass like coating fused on to a metallic base. In history, enamels were initially applied on firstly gold, then silver, copper, bronze and more latterly on iron and steel. The term is also used for the application of decorative fusible glass applied to glass objects.

The earliest known enamelled objects were made in Cyprus in around the 13th century BC during the Mycenae period. Six gold rings discovered in a Mycenae tomb at Kouklia were decorated with various vitreous coloured layers fused on to the gold.

Now in modern times enamels are used to decorate designer cufflinks of all shapes and sizes using traditional methods supported by modern technology, often combined with Swarovski Crystals, another favourite amongst jewellery designers.

Have a Break in Brighton: London by the Sea

2007-12-17T05:57:00.001-08:00

Brighton on the south coast on England is a popular seaside destination known as 'London by the Sea'. The history behind the name comes from the 18th century when George VI enjoyed to party in Brighton. London's elite followed his path and made Brighton into a fashionable place to be. The town has plenty of Victorian architecture remaining, including the Royal Pavilion which is worth a visit.

Brighton today is still a popular seaside destination, with its amusement parks and piers. The stretch between the 2 piers is full of entertainment with restaurants, bars, arcades and night clubs. Away from the promenade there are more attractions, including shopping in the many clothing stores, jewelers and antique shops. Visit the museums, the large marina and outdoor sports centre.

Business is also important to Brighton. High-tech media companies have recently set up in the city, it also attracts many business people for conferences as it houses a large number of hotels and facilities.

Transport: how to get there and around It is easy to get to Brighton from London. The train system that was built back in 1841, can now take less than an hour to reach Brighton. The regular bus service from London Victoria Station also covers the distance in less than 2 hours. By road you can access Brighton by the M23 which leads into the A23 to get into town.

The town itself has an adequate bus service and plenty of taxis to choose from to get around. To make the distance along the seafront you can use the electric railway, which is apparently the oldest in the world. A new addition to the local transport is the tuc-tuc, a motorised trishaw from Asia, this is a fun way to travel.

Weather The weather is at its best during the summer months of July and August. You are more likely to experience some warm, dry weather. However, this cannot be guaranteed as British weather is notoriously unpredictable. Take your rain coat just incase.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Brighton.

Attractions & Events During May you can enjoy the Brighton Festival. The city comes alive with visual arts events, street processions and performers, theatre attractions and music. The festival takes place throughout the city with a festive fireworks display each night.

Alistair White has been in the travel industry for over 20 years and is the founder and CEO of Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Cheap Hotels in Brighton.

Cruise from the UK is Not All Down South

2007-12-17T05:56:00.001-08:00

Dover, Southampton and Harwich seem to be the most favoured UK departure ports for cruise lines. But what about you poor folks who donâ€™t live anywhere near these ports? Having to fly, drive or take the coach or train to get there can easily add on an extra day to your holiday and not everyone has the time. To help you out, Iâ€™ve trawled the internet to find alternative UK ports of departure for 2008. The majority are round trips, with the occasional disembarking at another UK port or flying back to the UK, all of which are noted. So take a look. You might be surprised at where you can go.

Liverpool

You have quite a choice if you live near Liverpool thanks to Fred Olsen. You can get a Taste of Portugal or Iberia, have a Canary Christmas, discover the Secrets of Norway, spend Easter in the Med, try out Castanets & Calvados (Portugal, Spain and France) or have an Adriatic Adventure. All on a round trip from Liverpool. Other Fred Olsen cruises from the home of the Beatles are:

Black Prince, The Orinoco Delta (Liverpool to Liverpool) Black Prince, Canaries Interlude (Liverpool to Liverpool) Black Prince, Mini Cruise (Liverpool to Greenock) Black Prince, A British Summer (Liverpool to Liverpool) Black Prince, Celtic Late Summer (Liverpool to Liverpool) Black Prince, Canaries Collection (Liverpool to Liverpool) Black Prince, Eastern Mediterranean Cruise (Liverpool to Liverpool) Black Prince, The Fortunate Islands (Liverpool to Liverpool) Black Prince, Pre- Christmas Escapade (Liverpool to Liverpool)

Thomson also offers two round-trip cruises from Liverpool. You can either get a Taste of Ireland or explore Idyllic Iberia aboard Thomson Celebration.

London

Okay, London might not be that far from Southampton or Dover but do you really want to be lugging your luggage across London on the tube, paying a fortune for a taxi to get you to a mainline station or getting stuck in traffic trying to get out of London? Fortunately Silversea offers five cruises departing from Tower Bridge, although with four of them you fly back to the UK. You can choose to cruise to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Lisbon or Montecarlo and fly back or go on a trip around the UK ending up back at Tower Bridge.

Yachts of Seabourn also offer a cruise starting from Tower Bridge that takes you to the Grand Harbours of Europe before you fly back from Copenhagen.

Alternatively, Transocean have several cruises departing from Tilbury aboard Marco Polo. Explore the majestic fjords in Norway, discover the British Isles, admire some Icelandic Wonders & Northern Isles or enjoy some sunshine in the West Indies. All beginning and ending in Tilbury. Other Transocean cruises from here are:

Marco Polo, Springtime Fjordland (x 4) (Tilbury to Tilbury) Marco Polo, Whitsun Fjords (Tilbury to Tilbury) Marco Polo, The North Cape Explorer (Tilbury to Tilbury) Marco Polo, Baltic Cities & St Petersburg (Tilbury to Tilbury) Marco Polo, Celtic Explorer (Tilbury to Tilbury)

Edinburgh

Itâ€™s quite a journey from Scotland to get to the more popular UK cruise ports, but fear not! Classic International Cruises and Fred Olsen both offer four cruises from Leith. Cruise to St Petersburg via the Baltic Cities on Classic International Cruisesâ€™ ship Athena on a round trip from Leith. Alternatively, pretend youâ€™re an arctic explorer as you head to the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen that lies within the Arctic Circle on Fred Olsenâ€™s Boudicca, also a round trip from Leith. Polarstar Expeditions also offer a cruise to Spitsbergen from Leith, but you do fly back to the UK.

Other cruises from Leith are:

Classic International Cruises, Athena, Norwegian Fjords (Leith to Leith) Classic International Cruises, Athena, Iceland and Northern Isles (Leith to Leith) Classic International Cruises, Athena, North Cape and the Midnight Sun (Leith to Leith)

Fred Olsen, Boudicca, UK Mini Cruise (Leith to Newcastle) Fred Olsen, Boudicca, Baltic Cruise (Leith to Leith) Fred Olsen, Boudicca, Summertime in Norway (Leith to Leith)

Travelscope, on the other hand, offer a cruise to the North Cape and Land of the Midnight Sun aboard Van Gogh on a round trip from the port of Rosith.

Falmouth

If you live right down in the south west of England, Falmouth is the place for you. Want to travel around the world, but like me youâ€™re incapable of packing light? Well, Travelscope have a 93-day round the world cruise beginning and ending in Falmouth. Better be quick though, it departs 4 January 2008. If you donâ€™t have the time to spare to go around the world, why not enjoy some summer sunshine around Spain and Gibraltar, also with Travelscope on a round trip from Falmouth. Other cruises offered by Travelscope from Falmouth next year are:

Van Gogh, Caribbean Sunshine (Falmouth to Falmouth) Van Gogh, Iberian Costas, Corsica & the French Riviera (Falmouth to Falmouth) Van Gogh, Christmas & New Year Sunshine (Falmouth to Falmouth)

Greenock

Glaswegians and their neighbours can depart from Greenock on several Fred Olsen cruises. Catch yourself some sunshine before the nights draw in on the 13-night Mediterranean Canvas cruise beginning and ending in Greenock. Or why not discover the delights of Norway on Norwegian Explorer (Greenock to Greenock)? Other cruises from Greenock for 2008, all by Fred Olsen, are:

Black Prince, Canaries Panoramas (Greenock to Greenock) Black Prince, Mediterranean Medley (Greenock to Greenock) Black Prince, Museums & Bistros (Greenock to Greenock) Black Prince, Norwegian Panoramas (Greenock to Greenock) Black Prince, Tagines & Tapas (Greenock to Greenock) Black Prince, Greenland Adventure (Greenock to Greenock) Black Prince, Dublin Mini Cruise (Greenock to Greenock)

Hull

Donâ€™t fancy the long trek from Hull to the south coast? Travelscope offer two cruises that begin and end in Hull. You can either admire The Majestic Fjords of Norway or cruise east to St Petersburg visiting some of the Baltic Capitals along the way.

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Pray thereâ€™s no fog on the Tyne as you board Fred Olsenâ€™s Boudicca or Thomsonâ€™s Celebration. With Fred Olsen you can cruise to France & Spain, explore the Baltic, spend some Summertime in Norway or discover the land of Volcanoes & Vikings.

Thomson offers cruises to Norwayâ€™s fjords and northern cape, the lands of the Vikings and of fire and ice, and the treasures of the Baltic.

All the Fred Olsen and Thomson cruises from Newcastle are round trips.

Oban

The Scottish isles are beautiful and what better way to explore them than on a cruise. It might be tempting to go abroad on holiday but thereâ€™s often so much to discover in your own backyard. Hebridean Island Cruises offer a number of cruises around the Hebrides starting and ending in Oban. There are too many to list here but you can get A Taste of the Hebrides, go In Search of Bright Waters, discover Highland and Island Treasures or find the Secrets of the Western Isles to name but a few. The only cruise departing from Oban that doesnâ€™t finish there is Summer in Orcadia, which ends in Scrabster.

Portland

If you live near Portland, why not go on a cruise with a bit of a difference on the RMS St Helena operated by the St Helena Line. According to her owners, this ship is the only ocean-going vessel in the world that still carries the title of Royal Mail Ship. As well as carrying passengers she also supplies goods to the island of St Helena. If you fancy something a bit different there are two cruises that depart from Portland and finish in Cape Town, or you can do the trip vice versa.

Hebridean Island Cruises offers one cruise, Jewels of the English Heritage, which departs from Portland and travels along the south coast to Tilbury where you disembark.

Scrabster

For those who live in the far north of Scotland, Hebridean Island Cruises offer three cruises departing from Scabster. If you want a round trip, you can explore the Northern Isles from Orkney to Shetland. Meanwhile, Home from the Far North takes you to Oban, where youâ€™ll end the cruise, via Orkney. Song of Norway takes you (surprise, surprise) to Norway where youâ€™ll visit some of the countryâ€™s highlights before flying back from Bergen.

So you see, you donâ€™t always have to travel miles before embarking on your cruise. And, with the majority of cruises above being round trips, you donâ€™t have to worry about weight restrictions on your luggage. Just donâ€™t forget to tip the poor soul who had to carry your kitchen sink!

Susan Bigmore is the web editor for http://www.insidecruise.co.uk, a cruise community packed full of articles and discussions as well as http://www.idealcruising.co.uk a specialist cruise travel agent.

Sell and Rent Back Homes Quickly

2007-11-22T07:49:00.000-08:00

It is of little surprise that recent interest rate rises have taken its toll on house prices across the UK. The number of new mortgage approvals in the UK fell to a 12-month low in April, Bank of England figures show. Mortgage approvals totalled 107,000 in April, down from 111,000 in March and the third monthly decline in a row. In a further indication of weakening buyer demand mortgage lending rose by Â£8.9bn, much less than expected and the weakest rise since September. "The Bank of England will be comforted by today's news which shows its monetary tightening is taking effect," said Thushani Gajasinghe, an economist at the Centre for Economic and Business Research. "With a further quarter-point rate increase possible in the third quarter, consumer lending may cool further." But now, after a fourth quarter-point interest rate rise in just nine months â€" and another seemingly on the horizon â€" are the bears among the property commentators finally about to be proved right? So what does this all mean for the property market at the moment? It would seem to reconfirm that we are essentially in a flat market still, except London who are experiencing double digit growth still. All this may change off course if interest rates rise any further, as those with the largest mortgages will be hit the hardest. This could mean a transition in the market as people downsize to cheaper properties creating a demand for first time buyer properties. It all boils down to the old fashioned fundamentals of affordability. Property indices suggest growth had already started to cool off in the months preceding last weekâ€™s base rate rise. Research from Nationwide, for example, showed that average house price growth between February and April fell to just 2 per cent â€" the lowest three-monthly increase since last August, when the recent cycle of rate rises began. Prime locations such as London are also more immune to interest rate rises because of a high level of cash buyers and overseas investors. But other areas â€" such as the north-west and the East Midlands â€" are more vulnerable. Although wages have also increased, homeowners are having to set aside a higher proportion of income to cover their mortgage. If you are having difficulties with servicing your mortgage debt, Sell Your Home Quick are happy to provide advice on getting your payments back on track. And we will endeavour to help those unfortunate to have repossession orders up until the last few days of eviction. We will also rent the property back for a desired period of time at a rent you can afford. James is the founder of Sell And Rent Back. The site is to help those who wish sell their house quickly, professionally and with minimum hassle. Sell House Quick, Nottingham

East London Property - Choosing A Lifestyle As Well As A Place To Live

2007-11-22T07:44:00.000-08:00

Buying property in London can be a challenging business because London is a huge metropolis, comprising distinct areas, each with a different character. Perhaps more importantly, house prices are high. The economics behind this is simple demand for housing is massive and supply is limited. But this shouldn't mean the end of your ambitions to own your own home and it can even work in your favour, if you catch the market at the right time and invest in the right property.

It isn't easy to know exactly what the right property is, but to get value for money most buyers tend to look for up-and-coming areas places with slightly restricted transport links, potential for improvement, or areas where regeneration schemes are planned or in progress. If you're a Saudi millionaire or a Spice Girl then tried-and-tested properties in Kensington may seem a good bet, but mere mortals might wish to look for less grandiose properties in East London, which in any case offers a more interesting and diverse environment.

If you're planning to buy a property to live in then East London is a particularly good option if you like cutting edge places, where you are just as likely to find a Bangladeshi restaurant on one street, an artist's studio on another and bric-a-brac being sold just around the corner. Spitalfields and Brick Lane are typical East London areas, with their network of traders, modern creatives and original cockneys. The Spitalfields regeneration project has greatly improved this already much-loved area, adding two new public areas and a traders market; Hackney has seen an influx of trendy young artists.

East London property is increasingly popular with people keen to get a foot on the property ladder. Green Street in East London is a riot of colour, because it is the home of Asian fashion. Vibrant reds, greens and blues, as well as the glitter of gold, entice the shopper â€" and flat hunters.

For a very different experience, you could always look for property in Canary Wharf. One of the most cosmopolitan places in London, it is famous for its exciting urban architecture, including the skyscraper One Canada Square, which is the tallest building in London. The wharf is also home to over two hundred designer, independent and high street stores, housed in three malls. Built to a Canadian model, these are underground and therefore perfect for winter shopping. Also on the water, Greenwich's maritime history makes it a favourite with anyone who loves history, the sea or authentic local pubs.

To buy property in East London, simply decide what kind of lifestyle and property you would like and start hunting. There are flats and houses for sale in East London to suit all kinds of budgets and with the 2012 Olympics set to pour more money into East London, your investment might work out even better than expected.

A short introduction to a Hotel in London

2007-11-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

London is one of the world's premiere cities. With Buckingham Palace and the world famous London bridge, it has many attractions that draw visitors. With locations all around London, a good hotel in London is not hard to find. It is important to find out some basic information before deciding on a hotel in London. You need to know what the hotel in London offers, where it is located and what are the nearby attractions. To help you find the best hotel in London, below you will find descriptions and information on three of the top hotels in London: City Hotel, The Rookery, and The Luxury Inn hotel in London.

The City Hotel in London is located in Aldgate at the edge of London's square mile. From the hotel, you can easily access the London City Airport. Close by you will find Petticoat Lane which offers great attractions for those interested in the fashion world. It is also close to the major banks and insurance companies of the city of London. This hotel in London prides itself on being ever changing as a result of adapting to its guests needs. The design of the hotel includes the latest technology and design techniques. They also meet guest's needs by providing oversized rooms with a wide selection from studio to suite, a conference center, and the hotel's City Bar and Coffee Shop. This hotel in London strives to be everything its guest desire.

The Rookery was designed by Peter McKay and Douglas Blain whose other work includes Hazzlitt's in Soho and The Gore in Kinsington. The Rookery is and 18th century restored brick design. It is located off Cowcross in Clerkenwell. The interior design boosts a mix of period-wood paneling and stone flagged floors. Some of the original fixtures have even been restored. You will find beautiful fireplaces and antique furniture that give the hotel a private club feel. There are 33 bedrooms that have each been uniquely designed and named after a real person who once lived in the building over 100 years ago. The Rookery is located close to London's trendy restaurants and bars and the area features a lively atmosphere. For a little feel of history nestled in London's modern life, try The Rookery.

The Luxury Inn in a modern bed and breakfast located in central London. It is bordered by De Beauvoir where you can find a great art environment. Hoxton is close by where London's trendy new attractions are found. It is also close to areas, like Essex and Cannonbury where popular restaurants, bars, shops and cinemas can be found. The style of the hotel includes lofts with a contemporary design by Charles Xenakis. The Luxury Inn hotel in London is abounding with skylights and large windows making it full of light. It offers cooking facilities, an entertainment area and broadband internet services. The Luxury Inn is close to the busy city life and still maintains a cozy atmosphere.

While these three do not come close to covering all the types of hotels London has to offer they do give you an idea of the diversity you will find. There is a hotel in London to meet everyone's needs from cozy bed and breakfasts to those located in the heart of the city life.

Source: Free Articles

Brief History of London and West End Theatre

2007-11-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

Shoreditch was the venue for Londons first playhouse way back in 1576 and with name of The Theatre, the start of a magical history of London and West End Theatre was born. Before The Theatre at Shoreditch plays and actments were performed at random venues such as private homes, courtyards and inn yards all across London. In 1597 and after the lease had run out the owner of The Theatre, Richard Burbage decided to up sticks and move the timbers across the river Thames to build the first (of an industrious three) Globe Theatres to the South Bank.

The famous Globe opened to the public in 1599 with Burbage pioneering the way with his own performance company. (Burbage was to instantly to propel himself as the first of Londons great actor and impressios. He also honours the famous claim to be the very first man to play the role of Hamlet, King Lear and Othello).

It was not until 1663 that the first London West End venue was opened, when the very first of many was built in Drury Lane. This famous old theatre hosted the earliest West End stars such as Charles Hart and Nell Gwyn until tragically, it was destroyed by fire in 1672. With new found hunger for Theatres it was not long before the residents of London had a new theatre to shout about. A second theatre called the Theatre Royal of Drury Lane was designed by the famous Christopher Wren and opened on the same site in 1674. The Royal survived for 120 years which was along time in those days and along with other theatres that were built in the same locality such as Theatre Royal Covent Garden (known as the the Royal Opera House) and the Haymarket the West end theatres of London were evolved.

David Garrick was the legendary manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He arrived in London in 1737 as a wine seller but was soon to be mesmerised by the attraction of theatre. In 1741 he played the famous role of Shakespeares Richard III and over the next 20-30 years he had a massive impact on London theatre. His work is remembered today through the Garrick Club and the Garrick Theatre.

The modern theatre scene in the West End was largely influenced in the 19th century when many of the beautiful theatre buildings that are still around today were built and all of a sudden theatre going was the latest fashion trend of the middle and upper classes in London. Shaftesbury Avenue was created towards the end of 19th century and many theatres were soon built on this focal point for London theatre.

Today London West End theatre is thriving and many stars of TV and film are now resorting to high profile roles in London and New York theatres. In 2008 the 21st century is set to receive its first new West End theatre when the Sondheim Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue is to open, being the first venue there since 1931.

Source: Free Articles

Finding Airline Jobs In London In Only A Few Steps

2007-11-04T12:35:00.000-08:00

As the transportation, economic, and cultural hub of the United Kingdom, the city of London is a great place for airline professionals to find their first job or a new position. There are a number of major airports that rest just outside of the city limits and a number of airlines of all sizes that are headquartered or have offices in London. Indeed, London and its surrounding communities is a fertile place for those seeking a new airline job.

However, the competition is high for the airline positions available in London. There are a wide variety of pilots, maintenance professionals, and airline crew aspirants that are graduating universities, leaving flight schools, and applying from Europe and North America on a daily basis. Airline professionals interested in working in London need to develop a reliable plan of action, one that is dynamic and does not rest all of its hopes on one resource.

First, airline professionals need to develop a list of all of the airline companies that are headquartered or have offices in the London area. This allows a professional to create a checklist of companies applied to and contacted, as well as giving them an overview of the London airline industry that they would be entering. In the process of assembling a list, an airline professional can review websites for positions that aren’t advertised on job sites or by recruiting firms.

As well, airline professionals need to consider using any connections they have to the London airline industry. A new pilot may have an instructor or teacher in the past who knows people with a regional airline in London. While these types of connections can be unreliable or lead to little in the way of progress, they can give an airline professional opportunities to network with London airline workers and gain interview experience.

Finally, an airline professional can work with a London recruiting agency or job placement service in order to get the most opportunities. An agency that works with airlines and aerospace companies develops relationships that mean a wide range of opportunities for airline recruits. In fact, an airline that works with a recruiting agency often develops an exclusive agreement with this agency to be the sole recruiter for their various open positions. An airline professional can benefit from working with an agency not only in finding the widest range of open jobs but developing the professional skills to remain successful in the industry for years to come.

Source: Free Articles

Bed and Breakfast vs. London Hotels

2007-11-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

Whether planning a romantic getaway or a quiet business trip, sooner or later, the question comes up, "Do we stay at a Bed and Breakfast or one of the London hotels?" More often than not, the European bed and breakfast has been romanticized, in books and on film as the ideal getaway place. While they sound cozy and wonderful, do they really meet the expectations of travelers? How do the London hotels compare?

The bed and breakfast offered an inexpensive alternative to London hotels, and it became popular for homeowners to open their doors to the select public. Travelers were not only given a warm and cozy bed to sleep in, but this offered them the opportunity to stay in a more comfortable retreat, eat home-cooked meals, and enjoy the hospitality of London residents. Those who sought a more homey retreat yet didn't wish to lease an apartment for an extended length of time flocked to the Bed and Breakfast, making them a popular alternative to hotels.

London hotels have their own advantages, however. Typically offering larger rooms and deluxe accommodations, the hotels also grant more freedom to their lodgers. Restaurants, health spas, and stores are just a step away, and since you are not staying in someone's home, you have the ability to come and go as you please, without the constraints of a schedule.

While the Bed and Breakfast remains a popular vacation retreat, London hotels are now offering some hearty competition. Continental breakfasts are commonly served and reduced rates, offered during quieter seasons, often make hotels the better value. In the end, it all comes down to the preference of the lodger and a personal opinion as to what is the better bargain. Whichever you choose, Bed and Breakfast or hotel, there are many wonderful places to stay in the city of London.

Source: Free Articles

Visit Piccadilly Circus For A Taste Of London

2007-10-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

If you are traveling to London, make sure to see Piccadilly Circus which can be found at the junction of Shaftesbury Avenue and Regent Street. Much like Times Square in New York, this centrally located area offers most anything that you may find interesting. With it's neon lights and diverse crowds, no wonder it has the ability to attract tourists.

Besides the theaters, pubs, shops and monuments of London, here you'll also find some very interesting people. This area was officially named in 1819 but was un-officially known as Piccadilly Circus since 1743.The Shaftesbury Memorial fountain is located here and was a technological innovation for 1893 because it was cast using aluminum. In 1980, it was moved from the center to it's present day location.

Erected in 1859, the London Pavilion is located in the northeast corner and was originally constructed as a music hall. Shaftesbury Ave bisected the site in 1885 and a new music hall was put up in 1923. This new hall even had electric billboards. The original facade from 1885 was conserved when the building was rebuilt in 1986, after it became a shopping mall. Since that time it's been attached to the Trocadero Center. The stores of interest that are located here are the Virgin Megastore, Lily Whites and the HMV. Below ground you will find the London underground subway system. The locals know it as the "tube".

If you go to the Criterion Theatre, you will see the reduced Shakespeare Company, which is located close to the center of Piccadilly Circus. It's a theater group that specializes in presenting Shakespeare's complete works in only 97 minutes. It's performances are fast-moving and very highly improvised. They've been performing here since 1995 and if you want to see this interesting event, you had better plan ahead, as the shows are often sold out

If traditional theater is more to your liking, the best of British theater can be found at one of London's West End shows. These are so good that they are often adapted for Broadway. You might want to check out the latest technology that is fairly new here. It's a huge curved TV screen that rivals even Times Square.

There are many interesting things in Piccadilly Circus including plenty of pubs. However, be careful when selecting a London pub, because some are for the tourists and others are for the locals, where they might be a little tourist unfriendly.

Princeton – Seat of Learning

2007-10-11T09:38:00.001-07:00

Non-sectarian Princeton University in New Jersey is a revered seat of learning, part of the elite Ivy League conglomeration of eight colleges, and has a long and rich history. Founded in the town of Elizabeth in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, this premier educational establishment was relocated to Princeton ten years after its formation, but didn’t change its name to reflect its new location until some 150 years later.

The original university’s building - the Nassau Hall - forms the centre point of today’s campus. It has been added to and changed function many times over the years, but still retains its original façade. During the college’s 150 year anniversary in 1896, Princeton adopted the title of Woodrow Wilson’s keynote speech: “Princeton in the nation’s service” as its informal motto. Wilson was then a faculty member, but six years later became the University’s 13th President and immediately set about enlarging and improving the college. Plans for a graduate school were finalized during his term of office and Wilson also doubled the size of the faculty. His vision and plans formed the basis of the university’s expansion and development for the remainder of the 20th Century. Indeed, during 1996-97 Princeton celebrated its 250th birthday, expanding its motto to include: “and in the service of all nations” reflecting the worldwide distribution of its alumni.

From its humble beginnings based around Nassau Hall, Princeton has now expanded to a 600 acre campus incorporating over 160 buildings and boasting 1,200 faculty members. There are over six million books residing on over seventy miles of shelving in the prestigious Princeton ‘Firestone’ library, and although the university traditionally focused on undergraduate education it has latterly turned to also providing Masters Degrees and PHDs as it increases its graduate education prospectus.

The college became Co-ed in 1969 when women were first admitted to this prestigious seat of learning, and today there are close to 4,750 undergraduates and 2,300 graduate students studying at Princeton. Most of the undergraduates and close to two-thirds of the graduate students live on campus. The university encourages parents to become actively involved with their children’s progress at the school starting with Freshman enrolment where parents are invited to join their sons and daughters at Freshman Parents Weekend. It is normally held in the first weekend of October when, as you can imagine, it’s virtually impossible to get a room at a hotel in Princeton.

Although in university terms it is a relatively small institution, Princeton is one of the nation’s leading research educational establishments and continues to maintain its reputation for excellence and quality; one that has endured over its 260 year history.

Adam Singleton

See London on a River Thames Boat Cruise

2007-10-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

Many people associate the idea of a boat cruise with visions of the Caribbean, or cruising around New York Harbor to get a look at the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan. Now however, more and more people are becoming aware of the fact that a River Thames boat cruise is a great way to see all of the great sights that there are in the city of London.

If you are planning a trip to London then maybe you should give some consideration to booking a day trip on the River Thames as there are trips of this type of all sizes that are available for the curious traveler. They range in size from a small speed boat trip, to twelve person tour boats, up to larger passenger cruise boats that can accommodate as many as a hundred people.

The larger boats even come equipped with complete dining facilities and can easily host a complete wedding or corporate party. If you have never been on a day cruise on the River Thames then you may be missing out on an experience that will leave you with memories to last a life time.

They are surprisingly affordable and easy to book and the boarding accommodations are fantastic and these are just a few of the reasons that more and more people are choosing to make a day cruise on the River Thames part of their London travel itinerary.

Along with all of the wonderful sights along the river Thames you are treated to a history lesson that covers the hundreds of years of rich history that took place all long the River Thames by the experienced guides and river pilots that will lead your excursion. Because London was built up along the river Thames you will be amazed at all there is to see of the city by boat.

Natalia Sloan

London Calling - The City of Old and the City of New

2007-09-24T11:41:00.002-07:00

As far as cities go, there are few that can rival London’s bold, brash and bustling vibrancy. Not only is it a modern, cosmopolitan epicentre of international activity, it is also steeped in history, having been settled for almost two thousand years, including periods of Roman and even Viking rule.

It could be said that London has more than its fair share of iconic images, from Big Ben and Tower Bridge to Buckingham Palace and red double-decker buses. But these photo-friendly attractions may only offer limited entertainment for the snap-happy tourist, and as beautiful and historically significant as they are, it’s important to remember that London has so much more to offer. In fact, there’s no shortage of things to do in London that will appeal to all interests and budgets.

For starters, there’s the British Museum which is open every day and has free entry. It holds in trust for the UK one of the finest collections of art and antiquities in existence, including the Rosetta Stone which dates from 196 BC, and its subsequent discovery in 1799 which led to the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphs. Then there is the London Eye; the world’s tallest observation wheel, located on the banks of the River Thames and offering unparalleled views of the capital's skyline.

For outdoor activities, London doesn’t disappoint, as it has five football teams in England’s Premier League. So whether it’s a ticket for a title-decider or a tour of Arsenal’s impressive new Emirates stadium, there’s a lot on offer. Furthermore, London has plenty of sprawling parklands including Hyde Park and Regents Park which offer everything from boating, tennis and cricket to cycling, jogging and, perhaps more appealingly, fine-dining by the Serpentine Lake.

If that doesn’t appeal, then there’s also the opportunity to engage in some retail therapy in many of London’s shopping hotspots, including Covent Garden, which has everything from small boutiques to large High Street stores, not to mention an abundance of pubs, cafes and street performers that make Covent Garden a lively experience.

But, perhaps the one aspect of London that makes it such a prominent player in the world community is its position as a major transport hub, which consists of five international airports, a port and the largest underground railway system in Europe, in terms of route length. It also has a direct train-link with Europe via the Channel Tunnel, making it possible to reach central London from Paris in less than three hours without having to go near an airport.

With such connections to the international community, it’s little wonder that so many people choose to visit London, with more than 26 million overnight visits in 2006. And with London set to host the Olympics in 2012, the demand for hotels in London can only intensify, as it prepares to welcome even more visitors in the build up to one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

With its activities, vibrancy and accessibility, London seems to have all roads leading to it - sending out the aura that London is indeed calling.

Elisha Burberry is an online, freelance journalist and keen traveller and watersports enthusiast. Originally from Scotland, she now resides in London.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elisha_Burberry

London Sightseeing Can Be Easy and Affordable

2007-09-24T11:41:00.001-07:00

Whether you're going on your first trip to London or your tenth, the city can be more than a little intimidating. After all, the greater London area covers 600 square miles! Before you go, it's worth your while to invest some time in planning which London attractions you'd like to see, as well as exploring your transportation options.

London Sightseeing Attractions

Here are the top five "must-see" London attractions:

1. Tower of London: One of the city's most prominent landmarks, the Tower of London is best known as a castle of imprisonment, torture, and execution - but it's also been a Royal Palace, a fortress, and a Royal mint!

2. Kensington Palace: Although Kensington Palace was the birthplace of Queen Victoria and the primary residence of William III and Mary II, today's it's best known as the home of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales. Exhibits honoring "The People's Princess" are a must-see.

3. London Zoo: Located in Regent's Park, the London Zoo is home to over 12,000 animals and features exhibits including "Meet the Monkeys" and "Butterfly Paradise."

4. Windsor Castle: The home of Queen Elizabeth II, Windsor Castle has been the official residence of Kings and Queens for more than 900 years, making it the oldest continually occupied castle in the world.

5. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre: This faithful reproduction rests on the site of the original Globe Theatre, the backdrop upon which the Bard wrote his famous plays.

London Transportation

If you're a London tourist, you have access to a number of trains and busses that will take you to the major London attractions. These include the London Underground trains, London busses, the Docklands Light Rail, over-ground trains, Tramlink, and the First Great Western (for travel to Windsor Castle).

A Travelcard Lets You Save Money While Sightseeing

London sightseeing can be incredibly expensive. Individually, London attractions may not charge much, but together they can quickly add up to a significant cost. Likewise, travel expenses to and from popular tourist locales can also take a bite out of your pocketbook. The money you spend on admissions and travel within London is money you won't be able spend on accommodations, souvenirs, and meals.

If you're a London tourist, a Travelcard is an excellent investment, especially when combined with a London Pass. At a single affordable price, the London Pass provides you with free admission to 56 London attractions - locations that normally charge for admission. Similarly, the Travelcard allows you to use busses and trains at no additional charge. These "smart cards" are like credit cards that are swiped at the entrances of attractions, busses, and trains, and that allow you free entry or passage.

In addition to cost savings, a London Pass allows you to bypass long lines and receive priority admission to all of the best London attractions. Best of all, depending on the length of your stay, you can choose to buy a 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, or 6-day pass.

Planning ahead and taking advantage of a London Pass and Travelcard will help to make your London sightseeing trip hassle free. You'll be able to enjoy the rich variety of attractions the city has to offer without having to spend a fortune on admission fees and transportation costs.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Affordable London Sightseeing or Majon's Travel directory.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

London Broil - Garlic

2007-09-24T11:39:00.002-07:00

eRix Recipes

London broil - Garlic

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. London Broil beef
• 1 ½ cups cubed, peeled carrots
• 1 ½ cups cubed cabbage
• ½ cup cubed Spanish yellow onion
• 2 cups halved, unpeeled red potatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon of canola vegetable oil
• 4 quartered cloves of garlic from bulb
• ½ cup of water

Step One – take the 2 lb. London broil beef slab and infuse it with the 4 quartered cloves of garlic. The easiest

way to accomplish this is to take a chopstick or a paring knife to make incision into the beef about 2 inches apart,

then take the garlic and insert it into the holes created. Take ½ of the teaspoon of oil a put it into a pan

warming to medium-high heat. Take ½ teaspoon of salt and dust the slab of beef. When the pan is warmed for about 2

minutes, place the beef into it and spend 10 minutes browning all sides of the beef. DO NOT WASH THE FRYING PAN,

keep the heat on medium-high and place the ½ cup of water into the pan and bring to a boil, then remove from heat

and save to be put on the vegetables. From that point place the seared meat onto a broiler rack lined with foil

and place into a pre-heated 400º oven for 20 minutes. This should bring a meat cooking preference of medium-rare.

Adjust the time longer or shorter for your liking of meat doneness.

Step Two – while the London broil beef slab is in the oven, take ½ tablespoon of canola oil and place into another

frying pan warming to high heat. Next take the halved potatoes and carrots and begin to cook for about 4 minutes,

then add the onion and cabbage and cook for an additional 4 minutes. Add the other ½ teaspoon of salt and the ½ cup

of water that is in the pan used to brown the beef, then cover and cook for another 4 or 5 minutes. Remove from the

heat and let to rest until serving time.

Step Three – a simple, clean presentation of the food will always wet the appetite of those about to eat a meal.

Therefore, never crowd the plate with more than three items at a time. I suggest you take the beef sliced about ¼”

thick—against the grain of the meat to ensure tender cuts—and place it a fan shape on the lower left portion of

the plate. Nest take the vegetables and place the above and to the left of the meat. Compliment this with your

favorite salad placed across from the vegetables and you have a delicious, hearty garlic infused London broil your

family and friends will rave about. I like how cool the slices of garlic appear within the meat and how good it

really tastes.

Eric Smith - over 9-years experience as a Japanese Teppan-yaki Chef

ebernard38@yahoo.com

http://www.quality-gifts-galore.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Smith

Family Vacation in London, England on a Budget

2007-09-24T11:39:00.001-07:00

There are excellent budget hotels to be found in London, England. These include:

• Georgian House: Within distance of all the Central London sights. Breakfast freshly cooked in a pretty garden room. Four floors and no lift. Taxis, restaurant and theatre bookings can all be arranged.
• Henley House Hotel: Hidden on a quiet side street, two minute walk from Earl’s Court Station. Popular and friendly choice. Rooms are comfortable and well-equipped, many look out over gardens. Breakfast served in an airy conservatory. Room in the reception area to sit and read or wait for companions.
• Hotel 55: Stylish hotel counters its busy road location with a soothing garden and modern conservatory bar and dining room. Neutral colors, Indian art, Egyptian cotton sheets, plasma TVs, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and immaculate bathrooms.

Entertainment in London, England on a budget

There are a wide range of free concerts, films, comedy shows and leisure activities to enjoy in London, England. At the National Theatre, you can tap your feet to free jazz Monday – Friday 6:00 p.m., Saturday 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., the Royal Opera House once a month and Octave in Covent Garden Wednesday evenings . Free classical recitals can be heard drifting through the majestic stained-glass windows of many of the city’s churches and cathedrals. There are also lunchtime concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Some of the world’s biggest rock bands can be seen playing their latest tunes at the HMV music store on Oxford Street. During nice weather, visit Covent Garden Piazza. You will find everyone from guitarists to full string quartets providing the soundtrack as you watch the world go by.

For those who love the cinema, enjoy the big screen on a little budget at the Roxy Bar and Screen on Borough High Street. There are film-noir classics to futuristic “video art.” It is an innovative program of free screenings for film buffs.

The Theatre Royal Stratford holds free comedy nights every Monday and on the last Sunday of the month. Wednesday evenings are either Comedy Café or Mirth Control at the Lower Ground Bar.

The Salsa Bar and Restaurant is a great way to burn calories. You can take part in a beginner dance lesson on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7:00 p.m., all for the price of a drink.

Free outdoor activities in London, England

Put on a pair of roller skates and join over 5,000 skaters skating around the streets of London. The skate departs from Wellington Arch every Friday at 8:00 p.m.

In the summer visit The Scoop next to City Hall. The outdoor amphitheatre hosts a program of free music, cinema and children’s entertainment.

Kids can benefit from free or discounted travel across London’s transport system. Older kids might need a photo card or Oyster photo card to travel free. Children under five can travel free at any time on the Tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), buses and trams as long as they are accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

Children under 11 can travel free at any time on buses and trams. They can also travel free during off-peak hours (after 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and all day weekends and Bank Holidays on the Tube and Docklands Light Railway when traveling with an adult who has a valid ticket. Up to four children can travel free with one adult.

Children under 15 can travel free at any time on buses and trams. Some 11 – 13 year olds who look older than their age and all 14 – 15 year olds will need a photo card or Oyster photo card.

Some restaurants in London, England also offer free meals for children when dining with adults. These are values that are constantly changing. London, England also has many areas for picnic lunches.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about vacationing in London, England, visit http://smalldogs2.com/LondonEngland For a variety of FREE reprint articles with various other special topics, visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

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London's most distinguished quarter - a place where Tiffany and Cartier are at home

2007-09-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

When traveling to London, among all the great world famous historical and cultural landmarks, make sure not to miss the historic and quite cosmopolitan Mayfair. This famous area of London is a heaven of luxury and opulence. But you don't have to be too wealthy to sit in a pub and watch the rich go by.

A part of London where history has been alive for centuries
Mayfair is an area of central London in the City of Westminster, named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place there from 1686 until it was banned in that location in 1764. Prior to 1686, the May Fair was held in The Haymarket, and after 1764, it moved to Fair Field in Bow. It is roughly bordered by Hyde Park to the west, Oxford Street to the north, Piccadilly and Green Park to the south and Regent Street to the east. Most of the area was first developed between the mid 17th century and the mid 18th century as a fashionable residential district, by a number of landlords, the most important of them the Grosvenor family. The freehold of a large section of Mayfair also belongs to Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth II was born in Bruton Street and lived in Mayfair during her infant years.
Although Mayfair is a wealth of 20th-century luxury and opulence, it is also an area full of history. However, this wasn't always the stylish London neighborhood that we see today. In the 18th century the region was a paradise for prostitutes, drunks and crooks, a daily scene for donkey races and duck hunts- all in an almost impossible combination of noise and disorder, especially during the fair. As a result of all that clatter, the fair was closed in 1764, at the insistence of the Earl of Coventry.

From popular fair to exclusive location for big pockets
Now, two and a half hundred years later, the name 'Mayfair' is synonymous with class and style. To put it quite simply, Mayfair means money, loads, and has turned into London’s most exclusive residential address. Today, many of the grand houses which in the 18th century were occupied by dukes, earls and baronets, are home to a modern type of higher class, mainly people who can afford the best of luxury that London has to offer
Although some of the lovely old houses have been taken over by foreign embassies and international businesses, they have not been drastically changed and there is still a distinct Georgian air about Mayfair which can best be appreciated by strolling around the area, turning into small streets and mews, or sitting in one of the quiet little squares.
The district is now mainly commercial, with many offices in converted houses and new buildings, including major corporate headquarters and a concentration of hedge funds. Rents are among the highest in London and the world. The area encompasses London's largest concentration of luxury hotels and many fine restaurants.
Shepherd's Market, the site of the original May Fair is the 'village centre' of Mayfair. There are some good restaurants and interesting pubs and the area has not yet been spoiled by tourism - it caters to the needs of locals as well as visitors. Outdoor cafes abound in the summer months, and even on a cool winter's day - as long as the sun is out - you will see plenty of hardy souls lunching 'al fresco'. Many 18th-century buildings survive and the market has a special charm - definitely worth a wander around and a stop at Ye Grapes pub with its traditional Victorian interior.

Mayfair- a treat for special food lovers
Mayfair also has to cater for all the tastes in food of the residents and tourists alike and there are many small traditional food shops which do this. One of the most interesting is R. Allen & Co, on Mount Street, an old-fashioned poulterer, with pheasants hung in the windows in the same fashion as they were a hundred years ago.
And while on the subject of food, if you really want a treat try Le Gavroche, one of the best French restaurants in London; this is haute cuisine at its finest and most serious.
For something less famous but with good food and popular with Londoners, try Wheelers on South Molton Street There are branches all over the city, easily recognized by their green frontage. Their specialty is fish and seafood - Dover sole, a British favourite, is cooked a staggering 13 different ways.

Last but not least- haute couture and plenty of style
Haute couture has its home in Mayfair and small, chic boutiques with famous names above the door are scattered around the area. Both Old Bond Street and New Bond Streets are stuffed with elegance. There are world-famous jewelers such as Cartier, Tiffany and Asprey; men who like to buy the best come to Saville Row to be suited. Then there are the art galleries and antique shops. And if you want one of the world's best haircuts, the Vidal Sassoon Academy on Brook Street will give you the style of your life.
There are a number of delightful shopping arcades in Mayfair that are fun to wander around and which contain shops selling every kind of luxury you could possibly want. One of the most popular is the Burlington Arcade on Piccadilly. Built in 1819, supposedly to prevent passers-by from throwing garbage into the garden of nearby Burlington House (now the Royal Academy of Arts), the arcade is still patrolled by a beadle, a man in traditional dress whose historic function is to ensure shoppers obey the rule against singing, carrying open umbrellas, or running. In the 1870's Charles Dickens reported that the arcade was mainly occupied by "bonnet-makers, ladies' boot-makers, and sellers of knick-knacks." He would see some changes if he were to visit the Burlington Arcade today. There are shops full of exotic jewelry, antique toy soldiers, cashmere and Irish linen.

More articles from this pro: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Laurent Fabier

Be a Visitor in UK's Guest Houses

2007-09-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Going out of town or visiting another country, such as the United Kingdom, on a short notice has numerous drawbacks, and we attempt to stop them by coordinating everything ahead of time, from flights back and forth, our suitcase contents, venues we like to visit to, things we need to do and, most importantly, our hotel accommodations. Yet there are certain circumstances wherein vacancies are hard to come by, such as during the holidays as well as on peak times where even the most affordable budget hotels in London have bookings. Yet if you believe you have run out of options and are already considering of spending the night on the park bench, consider. If you don't mind walking relatively further down the street, you would discover guest houses leased by some townsfolks and you will be happy to discover that the ideal guesthouses provide services as well as facilities comparable to that of prominent hotels. And such guesthouses could be found on all travel destinations in the UK. London is a busy metropolis all year round. From expensive accommodations to cheap hotels, to flats and London b&b, the capital is more than overjoyed to have you. However, if you're searching for something where there is more privacy and is more home-like, you may opt for guest houses where you may place your feet up and relax from your busy day. If you're thinking what kind of guest house London could offer you, see for yourself. They are cheaper, and the atmosphere is more relaxed unlike in hotels with their bustling lobbies. You can even request for the type of food you want rather than making do with what's on the menu. Manchester, a.k.a. the Capital of the North, is a broad display of architecture which dates back to the Victorian period. Still these edifices as well as their public monuments aren't the mere reasons why Manchester is a well-liked tourist location. Afficionados of music, theater, and the arts may think of Manchester a haven. Include the sports enthusiasts that flock the city in droves when game season arrives, and you will absolutely be in a jam when you find every hotel reserved to their final rooms. Kiss that Manchester spa hotel you had in thought goodbye. It is recommended to get yourself familiar with Manchester flats and guest houses nearest to your point of destination to avoid having to journey. Nevertheless, if it's too late for you to do it, then I am certain a little exercise wouldn't hurt. Although tourism has dropped somewhat in Blackpool, it's still undeniably a well-liked destination for vibrant and fun-loving people. Pleasure Beach, the Blackpool Tower along with Louis Tussaud's Waxworks, the bustling nightlife as well as the Blackpool Dance Festival are merely a few of the notable attractions that bring in tourists to this capital. But accommodation isn't much of a dilemma. You'd discover a number of cheap bed and breakfasts in Blackpool when you are on a tight budget. And if you like more privacy that bed and breakfasts sometimes are short of, you could select from among the little hotels in Blackpool or the local apartments as well as guest houses that will fit your needs. If hotel accommodation is insufficient specifically during peak periods, you know what to do: look for the best guest houses in the area. These are more affordable, and there is less competition since this is a nontraditional form of accommodation, and service may be quite good. Nevertheless, it would depend on the kind of homeowner you get to talk with. So be sure that the best guest houses you think you have on your list don't turn out to be definite disasters.

More articles from this pro: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Landon Colins

UK English schools

2007-09-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

London's popularity with overseas students is well-known - young people come from all over Europe and the rest of the world to study the English language and culture in its very birthplace; and what better place to learn English than the capital of the United Kingdom? Although London's vehemently multicultural society is common knowledge these days - with over 1,500 immigrants per day, the UK as a whole is a centre for immigration; and London is said to house over 300 different languages, all of which are regularly spoken within city limits. UK English schools thrive on the constant turnaround generated by overseas students and immigration. As clearly the most cosmopolitan city in Europe (with its internationalism only truly comparable with New York), London stands out not so much as a quintessentially English-speaking city, but certainly the city from which tens of thousands of people each year are given their first taste of the British tongue. Unlike New York, however, London's multicultural communities are spread throughout the entire city, with relatively few areas specific to any racial subgroup. However multicultural London may be, however, an English school in London is a hugely superior alternative to overseas students learning English in their native country, as the best way to learn a second language is to immerse yourself within it, to the point where you are forced to converse in order to survive. In London, English lessons take place on the streets as well as in the classroom. As the world's universal language, and with over a billion speakers worldwide, English is so often the best option as a secondary language for non-native speakers, giving them access to world business, media and culture without the need for constant translation. English courses in London (and the rest of the UK) come in a variety of flavours to suit all needs, from general English courses, to academic English for foreign students hoping to attend a UK university, as well as business and executive courses for those needing to sharpen up their skills for their occupation.

More articles from this pro: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?John Campbell

Is the London Underground Easy to Use?

2007-09-13T12:33:00.001-07:00

The London Underground is an all-electric railway system that covers much of the conurbation of Greater London and some neighbouring areas. It is the world's oldest underground system, and is the largest in terms of route length. Services began on 10 January 1863 on the Metropolitan Railway; most of that initial route is now part of the Hammersmith & City Line. Despite its name, about 55% of the network is above ground. Popular local names include the Underground and, more colloquially, the Tube, in reference to the cylindrical shape of the system's deep-bore tunnels.

A first glance at a London Underground map is enough to give even the most intrepid explorer second thoughts. It is a spiders web of colored, interwoven lines. However, if you take the time to check the map in detail, the system is extremely simple to use.

Finding your way through London using the Underground, or the Tube, as its also called, is not as difficult as it looks. Most London Underground stations have maps on the walls and helpful station attendants to answer questions. Tickets can be purchased from machines either for a single trip or for unlimited daily, weekly or monthly use.

The London Underground is split into zones. Central London, commonly known as the West End, is Zone 1. The further you travel out of the West End, the higher the zone number. The cost of your trip depends on how many zones you travel through on your journey. If you purchase an unlimited daily, weekly or monthly pass, London Transport buses are included.

The London Underground lines are designated by color. The Northern Line, which runs from High Barnet in the north to Morden in the south, is represented by a black line on the map. The Central line is red, and as its name suggests, it runs from east to west, taking in central London. There are a total of 12 different colored lines in the London Underground system.

Underground has been part of Transport for London (TfL), which also administers Greater London's buses, including the famous red double-deckers, and carries out numerous other transport-related functions. The former London Underground Limited was a subsidiary of London Regional Transport, a statutory corporation.

When in London, an easy way to find a location is to ask someone which Underground station is nearest to your intended destination. The Underground stations in the center of London are quite close together. For instance, if you are in the heart of the cinema district, known as Leicester Square, it is only a 20-second Tube ride to Piccadilly Circus.

By using the London Underground map and plotting your journey, you should have no difficulty finding your destination. If you find yourself going in the wrong direction, simply get off at the next station and cross the platform to the other side. There are also maps inside each train to ensure that you can see where you are going and that you are on the right train. Each stop that you approach will be notified by a loudspeaker in the train.

If you are a vacationing visitor to London, you may do well to avoid the rush hour. The central London Underground is always extremely busy throughout the day. During rush hour, it becomes completely packed with people. The term sardines in a can is no exaggeration when it comes to rush hour on the London Underground. Rush hour in the morning is usually from 8 a.m. to around 9:30 a.m. In the evening, it usually lasts from around 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Also be aware that during the summer months, the London Underground becomes extremely hot. There is usually no air conditioning except for open windows at either end of the carriage. Unlike subway systems in many major cities, such as New York, the London Underground shuts down at night. The last tube train is usually around 11 p.m. or midnight, and the system does not reopen until around 6:30 a.m. This is when the London night buses come in handy, and they may be included as a part of your Underground pass.

For more about London Underground at www.ShoppingSoLow.com
For more information about Indian college at www.FindCollegesIndia.com

sandeep subhash@halfvalue.com

Flipping A House Made Easier

2007-09-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

Flipping a house is a quick way the make some good money. It is a way to invest in real estate and make money without managing the property. To flip a house you buy a house below market value and resell it as quick as you can for more than you pay for it. The difference is your profit. This method if done right can bring in a bit of money quite fast. If done wrong can leave you holding the bag.

The best thing to do is buy the property with as little or no money coming out of your pocket. If you can buy this property with no money down even better. A loan you should look into is an arm loan, also known as an adjustable rate mortgage. With an arm you can chose just to pay the interest from month to month, but the down side to this is it adds more to the principal when you do this. If you flipping the property paying just the interest can help you if the house takes longer to sell than expected.

Another thing to do after buying the property is get the word out that it’s for sale. You can use signs with your contact number, flyers, and classified ads on the local paper. The faster that you sell the property the quicker and the more profits you will see. The last but not the least thing you can do is deal with anything that you think needs fixing. This can make you get more for the property when reselling it. Try not to break the bank. You don't want to spend a lot fixing up the property and when its time to resell it you lose money. If you use some of the tip you read here flipping a house will become just a bit easier and safer to do.

A good web site where you can see more information on topics like this is Real Estate Facts which is highly recommended. Thank you and enjoy.

London - Tea Capital Of The World

2007-09-10T16:07:00.002-07:00

The British have long been known for their love of tea -- a custom acquired from the Chinese back in the 16th Century, when British entrepreneurs discovered this most refreshing of beverages and started to bring it to England, turning London into the tea capital of the west.

This started the tradition of the clippers: swift, square-rigged sailing vessels, which would race each other round the Cape of Good Hope in an effort to be first to dock in London with the new harvest of tea from China. One such tea clipper, The Cutty Sark, is preserved and is moored on the Thames at Greenwich, to the east of London.

The oldest tea merchant in the world is Twinings, who opened their tea warehouse in London in 1706. Today they are still very much in business, still selling tea and still run by the Twining family.

Two other tea merchants followed Twinings, eventually diversifying into selling more general goods. The oldest of the two is Fortnum and Mason, the world famous food store in Piccadilly. This was started by William Fortnum -- a retired footman, who used to work in nearby St James's Palace, serving the then monarch, Queen Anne. He was already in partnership with Hugh Mason, as he was allowed to keep the burnt down stubs of the candles that lit the royal palace, which Mason melted down to make new candles for sale.

Fortnum and Mason opened just a year after Twinings, in 1707, and immediately started to sell a wide range of high quality food -- including tea -- to the royal household and the local gentry. They also shipped tea to Florence Nightingale, when she was nursing in The Crimea. They are still going strong today and, when you visit London, you must visit "Fortnums", as they are known, and see the liveried shop assistants. And, if you are seeking that special Christmas gift, Fortnum and Mason gift hampers, presented in monogrammed wicker baskets are the epitome of fine food for the festive season.

In 1834, Henry Charles Harrod opened a wholesale grocery, specializing in tea, in Stepney in the east end of London. In 1849, he shrewdly moved to the new district of Knightsbridge, then in the countryside west of London. This lay just south of the original royal hunting area of Hyde Park, which was due to be the location of the Great Exhibition of 1851.

This relocation paid off handsomely for Harrod and his store grew and grew into the world famous Harrods, now occupying an impressive site in the same location as the original shop. They still sell tea today -- and a lot more besides. In fact their proud boast is they sell anything you might want. To reinforce this, their telegraphic address is: "Everything, London".

Taking afternoon tea in London has become something of a tradition. One of the most desirable locations for this is just along Piccadilly from Fortnum and Masons, at the Ritz Hotel, overlooking Green Park.

"Tea at the Ritz" became particularly popular in the early twentieth century, because it was the only place young ladies could visit unchaperoned. Today, it is a delight to be savored, with or without your chaperon! The standard of the tea, sandwiches (another famous dish invented in London by The Earl of Sandwich) and the cakes is impeccable.

Another excellent location for afternoon tea, when in London, is the English Tea Room of Brown's Hotel in Albemarle Street, Mayfair. This fine, traditional hotel was founded in 1837 by James Brown, butler to Lord Byron and his wife, who was Lady Byron's maid. Their hotel quickly became a meeting place for the local nobility and today is frequented by a wide clientele carrying on the tradition of enjoying English afternoon tea.

Jon Michael is a lifelong resident of London, England and owns http://www.LondonVacationSecrets.com. His hobby is discovering the hidden stories about this fascinating world class city. Add to all that the daily honing of his knowledge of London as a taxi cab driver and you need look no further for information on the real London.

Check out where you can take afternoon tea when you visit London: http://www.LondonVacationSecrets.com/tea.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Michael

Cheap Hotels in a Rapidly Changing London, England

2007-09-10T16:07:00.001-07:00

So the logo looks like an alien life form has lost its lunch coming out of hyperspace. But that doesn't mean you should avoid London for the Olympics.

It's worth pointing your 'plates of meat' (that's feet to you non Cockney's) in the direction of that great metropolis, just to experience the transformation which is London's East End. When the Germans bombed Buckingham Palace, the Queen famously remarked that she can now "look the East End in the face". Well, if she looked now I'm not sure she would recognise her old friend. Gone are the dodgy pie shops, the suburbs of Indian eateries and the smoked filled 'rub a dub dubs' (erm, pubs). They have been replaced by shining glass and steel towers surrounded by pavement piazzas crammed with creative types swilling Mint Tea.

As for the sports facilities; Maximus himself would be pleased with the arenas. Grand new stadia of every kind are serviced by a public transport system of startlingly un-London like efficiency.

It all sounds great, huh? So where are we going to stay?

And that's the big question.

Finding cheap hotels in London is still very much possible, but if you fall off the Heathrow Express expecting to fall into a nice clean and inexpensive hotel, hostel, bed and breakfast or backpacker - think again, friend. In this town - it pay to book ahead.

The first question has to be; what constitutes cheap?

Sub GBP 60 (that's Great British Pounds - none of those funny Euro thingies here, what) is cheap. You can expect a clean room inside zone 2 of the metro system for that. In this space, I would recommend 'Easyhotels' - part of the Easy Group (Google and ye shall find). I stayed in one in Kensington recently and, whilst not for the claustrophobic, the room was clean, central and cheap.

If your budget will stretch up to GBP 100 your options expand significantly. Try one of the excellent independent operators in Kensington or Knightsbridge, both of which are close to Hyde Park and the city.

If you're looking for the real London experience, branch out from the usual places like Paddington, Westminster and the City. Try some of the cool fringes like Ladbroke Grove in the West or Hackney in the East. They are sure to be stocked with many more accommodation bargains!

Born within earshot of London's Bow Bells, M Corey is a Londoner through and through. He has had his ear (and over the course of time, many other parts of his tender anatomy) to the street of London Town for many a year. He is always on the look out for Cheap Hotels in London

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_Corey

London Property Price Increases Are Starting To Slow Down

2007-09-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

Although London now ranks above Monte Carlo in terms of property prices, recent figures released by estate agents Rightmove show that London house prices rose at their slowest rate in five months, with the cost of a home falling in more than half of the United Kingdom's capital's boroughs.

While other regions across the country saw the average house price rise by 0.8 per cent in June, property prices in London rose by 0.7 per cent in comparison - half the rate that had been seen in May, prompting experts to predict a drop in property prices over the next few months.

A nationwide property boom, led by demand from rich foreigners and bankers in the city might be reaching its peak as interest rates reach a six-year high deter homebuyers with record debts. With another interest rate increase looming, it is widely expected by property analysts that another increase may crimp price growth.

The slowdown saw the cost of a home fall in seventeen of London's thirty-two boroughs, with Southwark, an area south of London's financial district showing the largest level of decline with prices falling 2.8 per cent. Hounslow, close to Heathrow Airport showed the next biggest decline with a 2.4 per cent drop.

However, property prices within London's upmarket boroughs continued to increase, with property in Kensington and Chelsea, areas popular with bankers, footballers and Hollywood celebrities recording gains of 3.4 per cent on the month and a staggering 73 per cent compared to the previous year with an average price of £1.4 million. Furthermore, the average time a property remained on the market rose to 69 days from 65 days in May. The average asking price in London is still 23 per cent higher than a year ago, with the prices rising from £315,224 to £387,898.

Property prices across the U.K roise by 13.2 percent in June to an average cost of £239,317, climbing in seven out of ten regions. The West Midlands showed the greatest level of gain with a 5.8 per cent increase, while East Anglia, the North-West and Yorkshire and Humberside all recorded negative growth. The increase in property values has highlighted the growing divide between homeowners and those not on the property ladder, with more than four4 million people expecting never to be able to own their own home.

Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Regan

Pictures: Beautiful London

2007-08-08T04:24:00.000-07:00

Westminster Bridge, London, United Kingdom

Pictures of Tower Bridge, one of London's most famous landmarks. It was completed in 1894, after 8 years of construction.

Also pictures of London's Millennium Bridge, the 330m pedestrian bridge linking the City of London at St Paul's Cathedral with the new Tate Gallery at Bankside.

Plus photographs of London Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge and Westminster bridge. More images from the category Westminster Bridge.

Tower Bridge at night

Picture of Tower Bridge at night, London, England More images from the category Tower Bridge at night.

Raymond Revue Bar

Raymond Revue Bar, Soho, London, England More images from the category Raymond Revue Bar.

Ten O'clock, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament

Ten O'clock, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, London More images from the category Ten O'clock.

Tower Bridge at night

Tower Bridge at night, London, England More images from the category Tower Bridge at night.

The Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament, London, England More images from the category The Houses of Parliament.

Blackfriars Railway Bridge Buckingham Palace The Globe Theatre, South Bank

Pictures of Tower Bridge, one of London's most famous landmarks. It was completed in 1894, after 8 years of construction.

Also pictures of London's Millennium Bridge, the 330m pedestrian bridge linking the City of London at St Paul's Cathedral with the new Tate Gallery at Bankside.

Plus photographs of London Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge and Westminster bridge. More images from the category Blackfriars Railway Bridge.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, London, United Kingdom More images from the category Buckingham Palace.