Menzies Hotel -The Prince Regent, Chigwell

It had been a typically rewarding day for us in the Capital City. As always there had been so much for the tourist to do but tiredness was creeping in. We had a 20 minute Central Line tube journey to Woodford Station before a short taxi ride brought us to our home for the evening at The Prince Regent Hotel, Chigwell, out in the affluent London Suburbs. 








Pulling into the large car park afforded us our first view of the hotel, which looked particularly appealing with the Georgian building lit up by the outside floodlights. The brightly lit interior also looked warm and inviting through the large windows on this cold, dark winters night.

After a warm welcome at reception, we were given details of our rooms location .We were staying in an "Executive Double Room" which was based in a converted old chapel at the rear of the deceptively large site. Along the route to our room it was evident that the hotel was excellently maintained with all corridors clean, tidy and with fresh decor throughout.  






The room itself was also in superb condition,as advertised it was evident that a recent refurbishment had taken place as it was spotless and clean. It was fashionable and was tastefully decorated with muted modern colours.  





 
The large room had a double bed, an armchair, desk and chair plus plenty of
storage space to house clothes and suitcases out of the way.
The usual amenities were included too, a large wall mounted flat screen television, tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryer. 











The added benefit of the hotel offering totally free Wi-Fi was also a great perk with a good signal being found throughout the buildings.













The en-suite bathroom again had seen a recent renovation, having a modern but contemporary design including both a walk in shower and also a bath. The warm, steaming power shower did wonders in removing the fatigue of pacing the London streets all day.











After a well needed relax in our room, we attended the Brassiere Restaurant as per our evening reservation. Once again we were greeted warmly by all the staff members we came in contact with and felt like a welcomed guest. The restaurant was artistically furnished with a very modern, contemporary style of fixtures and fittings. The wine list had an extensive selection available. The a la carte menu also had a large choice of meals to choose from covering all tastes. All the courses we chose were superbly presented and in turn tasted gorgeous. For her main meal my wife had the Supreme of Chicken wrapped in Parma Ham set on Dauphinoise Potatoes with a white wine sauce, her comments "it was the nicest meal I have had in years" summed up just how much she had rated it. .   







Having finished our meal we went 

to the lounge area to relax, there were two rooms to choose from, a TV room and a stylish general lounge by the bar. There was a range of modern furniture to choose from, from comfy sofas to armchairs through to high seating tables. We manged to get a sofa right in front of the "Real Flame" fireplace, snuggling up in the warmth whilst looking through the window observing the wind blowing the trees in the dark outside. A wonderful, comforting and relaxing experience.


Although the Hotel was extremely quiet and peaceful on our night there, it did seem it could be at times a more livelier place with six function rooms on site. Hosting events such as musical entertainment, wedding functions and conferences...it seemed like the Prince Regent catered for all, both individuals and groups whether it be for business or pleasure..    

After having a good nights sleep in our extremely comfortable bed we went down for breakfast which was served in the Restaurant area. We chose a table by a window that afforded lovely views of the hotels extensive rear gardens. Although the weather was not really suitable for a walk round that day, we could imagine that in the summer months it would be a welcoming outdoor place to sit back and relax on the outside terrace. The breakfast on offer was an "all you can eat buffet", with a wide range of quality food and drinks available. It left us suitably nourished for our return trip to see more of the sights and sounds of London City. 

Our visit was over but we were leaving with a good impression of the hotel, which we had found clean, modern, well cared for and fully deserving of it's four star rating. Our room was excellently furnished and the standard and presentation of food was exceptional giving us a quality dining experience. In turn we had received the most welcoming attentive service from all the members of staff throughout our stay. 

The Prince Regent Hotel is an ideal base to escape the commotion the city can bring to a more relaxed, peaceful place allowing that restful night that any tourist to London knows is very welcome after being on ones feet all day…… .      

More information can be found at the link below

http://www.menzieshotels.co.uk/hotels/london-home-counties/london-chigwell-prince-regent/

Note-  This stay was provided by the Menzies Hotel Group, however all thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.  
       
The Menzies London Chigwell Prince Regent Hotel, Manor Road, Chigwell, London, IG8 8AE    
Part of the Menzies Hotel Group

Birmingham Christmas Market.....celebrating German style

To some it is the moment the Christmas magic starts to shine, to others it is nothing but an annoying distraction that brings mayhem to the city centre during it’s busiest time of year. It’s the time of the year when city centres throw open their arms to welcome the continental markets to be their guest and provide the local inhabitants with the chance to purchase an array of goods and delicacies that they wouldn’t think twice of buying if they were being sold normally in the local shops.

Birmingham’s annual “ German Market” can only be considered a total success, year after year thousands flock to shuffle along within the massive crowds, desperately fighting to break free of the throng if they see something of interest being sold. The Cities Centenary square, Victoria square and it’s main shopping thoroughfare New Street house an array of wooden stalls selling German food and drinks. Throw in a sprinkling of Belgian Chocolates, Swiss Hot Chocolate, Traditional English Roasted Chestnuts together with the unusual Reindeer, Ostrich and Buffalo burgers on offer and this is a real cosmopolitan occasion.

 

Yes the drinks are a little more expensive, yes the queues are extensive, yes the crowds are a little too much at times, but it is a great event particularly on an evening when the stalls bright lights and Christmas decorations shine out giving a glowing feel good atmosphere to the area. As well as around 200 stalls, there is an outdoor ice rink with a large gallery of spectators gleefully laughing as the beginners come crashing down when taking their first steps on the Ice. Also right beside Birmingham’s new impressive Library is the Birmingham "Big Wheel" offering a trip that allows sights over the “second city”.

 

Some say that it is taking trade away from local shops and bars, that its packed streets provides a haven for crime and that it clogs up the road networks for those wishing to visit Birmingham City Centre for other reasons. However despite these negative comments, it could be argued that it is bringing customers into the city centre who would not have visited otherwise, customers who in turn may visit other shops whilst there.


Reports suggest that around 3 million people visited last years event and this year the evidence suggests a similar footfall.It does seem almost a yearly tradition for people to visit and take in the sights and sample the wares, an occasion for all demonstrated by the large number of families from all backgrounds enjoying the colourful sights and sounds.

…from Frankfurters to Bratwurst, from Strudels to Stollen, from Glühwein to Pilsner  …this is one month long event where a very pro European factor can be felt within the hosting UK cities.

Road Trip...3 reasons it's a must do experience

I have always had an interest in road trips ever since I saw Clark W Griswold in his attempt to reach the holy grail of Wally World in the hilarious National Lampoons vacation. Admittedly a strange mentor considering the trials and tribulations his family endured during their trip across the states, however the enthusiasm and endeavour shown won me over.

 

Having recently completed a second road trip around the deep south of the United States, I am itching for more and luckily the size of the US will give me the opportunity to carry a lot more excursions in the future. Whilst most of my friends are put off by the prospect of travelling so many miles in a two or three week period, I yearn for the chance to set off on my next adventure. How could I convince them that this wasn’t something to miss out on…. here are the 3 reasons I gave them…..

1 Planning and Preparation -

Planning and preparation is essential to make a successful road trip, our preparation began nearly 12 months in advance and it became a kind of hobby researching what was worth taking a look at and travel timescales between places. With your initial idea in place your Map became a blank canvas , allowing you to design your own route taking in whatever the region being visited had to offer. The Internet allowed us to pick a region and over time check all attractions, towns , sights that will fit around your time frame. Specific websites such as https://www.tripit.com/ give approximate driving times which are useful tools to see if a certain part of your journey is achievable in one day. We found most tourist boards, particularly within the US, really helpful offering brochures, attraction leaflets and State Road maps, which they were prepared to post out even to International addresses. This research was a really enjoyable part of the process and It was extremely rewarding when all our plans came together ensuring our trip allowed us to see all that we had originally intended to and plenty more all within our timescale and budget.

2 Variety of Experiences-

One of the great aspects of a Road Trip is that it allows a whole variety of different experiences to be gained within a short space of time. The first road trip we ventured out on allowed us to visit 5 States, 6 Major Cities, numerous small towns and attractions such as

Theme Parks – Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Lake WInnepesaukah in Chattanooga

Nature- The Smokey Mountains at Cades Cove, Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Lookout Mountain at Chattanooga

Historical sites- The Loraine Motel in Memphis (place where Martin Luther King was shot dead),  Johnny Cash’s grave, Dolly Parton’s home town in Sevierville, Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel

Musical historical sites - Graceland and The Sun Studios in Memphis, Elvis’s Childhood home in Tupelo, Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium in Nashville,

Sporting events- Atlanta Braves Baseball game

Museums- Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, National Civil rights museum in Memphis

All this and much, much more in just a two week period.

Not only do you get to see the major cities and towns, the freedom to choose what route you go allows you to leave the interstates and take the back roads through numerous small towns each with it’s own character. You really are the master of your own destiny, If a place doesn’t live up to expectations then move on, no getting to a resort where you are stuck there for days on end with nothing to interest you.

To me It wasn’t just a vacation it was like being part of a storybook where each new place reached started a new chapter of your adventure with new places to explore and memories to be stored..

Vicksburg Riverside Murals

 

3 Expect the unexpected -

Despite doing plenty of research there is always some thing that crops up along the route to enhance your trip further. It may be something small or trivial but it will provide a memory to reflect back on and smile. We came across such an event whilst driving through the outskirts of Natchez, Ms where we came across the most unusual building that required us to turn round and go back to take a closer look. We were at Mammy's Cupboard, a building in the shape of a 28ft woman in skirt housing a real "Southern cooking" style restaurant. It was a very welcome distraction, adding a fun moment to our trip and a fabulous photo opportunity.

Merlin

 Upon your journey you will encounter some of the most marvellous characters, one of favourites was 89 year old "Merlin", who we came across at Vermilionville Living History Museum in Lafayette, Louisiana. Recounting tale after tale from his life, he charmed us all with his cheeky humour. We could have sat and listened to him for hours to his wartime and romantic recollections and in turn his musical interludes on the Cajun fiddle.


Admittedly a beach holiday may allow you the chance to see strange buildings and meet unusual characters. However a road trip with its constant change of scenery and regions will certainly increase the opportunity of being involved in that memorable unplanned experience.




Whilst the Griswolds trip had its fair share of catastrophes it certainly entertained it's many viewers and that is the beauty of the road trip whatever comes your way there is a memorable experience just around that next corner.....just watch out for the Pea Green "Wagon Queen Family Truckster" with the eccentric family onboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alton Towers Hotel......5 fun things to look out for...

Alton Towers is one of the UK’s biggest tourist attractions with its Theme Park having a large collection of state of the art Coasters which draws massive crowds daily. Located deep within the Staffordshire countryside it is not an easy journey to get there but that doesn't deter it being the mecca of British thrill seekers.

Developments to the site have not only seen continued introductions of more and more extreme rides such as the recent 14 looped “The Smiler” but it can also boast about it’s two on- site hotels and it’s own indoor water park.
 

Alton Towers hotel, opened in 1996, was joined in 2003 by Splash Landing Hotel and water park - Cariba Creek - meaning accommodation is just a 10 minute woodland walk or a 2 minute monorail journey away from the Theme Park.








 

Staying at either hotel gives the added privilege of early access to the theme park, a hour earlier than the general paying public. This gives residents the chance to hop on the selected rides open, before the inevitable long queues form during the day. The hotels offer excellent family accommodation with the addition of on-site themed restaurants plus entertainment on an evening to suit both young and old. If the weather allows the rear of the hotel hosts a beautiful man made lake with a large seating area, a perfect place to relax and calm down after your day of fast rides, recovering from all the screams and scares.

The Alton Towers hotel has the theme of an adventurists house with the large and eye catching Time Machine, a boat come balloon contraption, being the centrepiece of the hotel, rising from the bottom floor to the top in the centre of the open plan staircases.

In turn there are a number of quirky things to provide a bit of fun around the hotel which are less obvious and could easily be missed, so keep you eye out if staying there to increase the fun….

1 – You can ring my bell!! Look out for the door bell at the front entrance – Press the bell as the sign
suggests and you will be greeted by the booming voice of Sir Algernon Alton, the hotels themed character. An eccentric Explorer and Inventor Sir Algernon bellows a number of different statements that echo through the lobby when entering.  

 

2- Parking for the privileged - If you are lucky enough to be staying in one of the sponsored themed rooms be sure to make use of the reserved Car Park spaces at the front of the hotel. You may even see you name on the board giving you your own personalised parking space.

 

3- Lift off – The lifts too are included in the theme with its wooden panels adding to the antique like stately home effect, but add in booming, inspiring epic film type music and flashing lights giving your short but fast journey a magical feeling.

4- Mirror, Mirror On the wall – Taking a visit to the communal toilets will give you the chance to see who the fairest of them all is….step on the coloured tile in front of the mirror and a message will be relayed. From all accounts the message received in the ladies is far more complimentary than in the men’s…unless of course the message about my qualities was actually genuine….

 

 

 

 

5 – Look Down- Look out for the beautifully coloured and illustrated carpets around the hotel, particularly in the corridor that connects Alton Towers hotel to the Splash Landings buildings where the theme changes from Explorer to Seaside. The gradual merging of the two with the introduction of a sand effect is superb and gets you in a sea faring mood as you enter the Splash Landing
environment.

Admitably it is not cheap to stay or eat within the hotel but it is a magical Disneyesque experience not normally available in the UK, a perfect chance to enhance your visit to the Theme Park.

 

 

 

Coventry...don't wait for somebody to send you there

   

It was intended as a romantic gesture, a night away from home with my better half as part of our anniversary celebrations. The place we were visiting met all the criteria I had set, not too far away from where we lived, somewhere we hadn't been to before, had things to keep us occupied within walking distance of our hotel and a choice of restaurants and bars close by to relax in on the evening.

"Coventry???", "Coventry!!!", "Coventry" (cue sniggers and laughter)...these were just some of the responses I had when mentioning to friends where I was taking my wife. The shock and in some cases hilarity shown by others put doubt in my mind whether this trip was such a good idea, after all Coventry is well known for being the proverbial place to send someone who isn't liked and even the local football team has decided to play their "Home" matches some 40 miles away in Northampton. However it was with all positive intents we set off determined to have a good time and see what Coventry city centre had to offer the visitor.

Set in the middle of a stilted ring road, the centre of Coventry houses a large pedestrianised shopping area, which admitably is not the most prettiest of retail experiences. The area is a mixture of precincts, malls and street shops meaning there are buildings of different ages, designs and architectural fashions which struggle to blend into one. However, this aside the centre does house a large number of established stores meaning plenty of choice and the opportunity of spending plenty of time browsing round the wide variety of shops. 

The large open square of Broadgate houses the statue of Lady Godiva, infamous in legend for riding naked through the streets of Coventry to protest at excessive taxes her husband, the Earl of Mercia imposed on the oppressed occupants of the city. The impressive statue shows her in her naked state astride her horse, her modesty being protected by her flowing locks of hair. Her naked exhibitism certainly caused a stir at the time but allegedly did cause her Husband to alter his tax policy and in turn make her a heroine in the eyes of the city forever more.

Towering over the skyline are the two spires of the Holy Trinity church and the Medieval cathedral, now just ruins following it's destruction during the Luftwaffe attacks of November 1940 that decimated the city. Only the tower, spire and the outer walls together with a bronze effigy survived the bombings but the building remains a popular tourist site, a poignant place to sit and reflect of the suffering caused by wars, in the roofless surroundings. Around the inner "Hallowed" grounds are numerous signs of peace and forgiveness for the atrocities caused such as the symbolic cross at the head of the alter, a copy of one made from original charred roof timbers, with the poignant message "Father Forgive" inscribed on the wall behind it. The new modern Cathedral built in the 60's is attached to the original, combining the two in a message of reconciliation between the horrors of the past with the hope of the future.

 



















 

Further across the city centre is Spon Street, advertised as an attraction, the street houses a number of Medieval properties transported from various points of the city and renovated to produce a historical district. However, whatever good intentions were there are the time of setting this project up now seems to be a wasted opportunity for Coventry's tourist trade. Information boards giving details of the streets history over the ages are faded and in turn the buildings now house shops containing the likes of a hairdresser, audio equipment specialists and perhaps most disappointingly a kebab, take away shop. It would be interesting to see what the original Medieval inhabitants of the area would make of a "Ye old Tanning Salon", probably thinking some kind of witchcraft was being practised within.

Sunday morning in the Centre was a hive of activity witnessing the the Sunday ritual of the masses visiting their modern day cathedral....Ikea. A reflection of the secular behaviour of Modern Britain as cars queued to enter the stores car park whilst the church close by seemed barren of parishioners .Very different to the large scale out of towns outlets, this was Ikea's first city centre store in the UK with the store being spread over seven floors but just as popular as its counterparts.

Around the area it is evident that Coventry's "Concrete Jungle" reputation is still there in places, the ugly, threatening Subways under the ring road being a prime example. However, improvements to the shopping areas, the Skydome entertainment complex, together with the more cultured attractions such as the Cathedral, Belgrave theatre and the modern Herbert Art gallery & Museum make it a worth while place to visit ....through your own choice, no need to be sent there by others.  

Kenilworth Castle....Battling for English Heritage

 Norfolk skilfully manoeuvred his boisterous steed, facing his men the Earl spoke with a fervent passion, calling on the throng before him to give their all in the fight to take over the castle. Greeted by an approving roar the columns edged forward whilst on the Castle walls the heavily outnumbered Royalists could only stare out and hope the castle defences would be sufficient to stop them being over run. Screams rang out as men fell from a shower of arrows dropping from the sky sent by the Archers perched high on the turrets, but Norfolk’s army kept marching closer to their goal. Their battle cry rung out as they charged, waving their standards, swords at hand, shields protecting as the castles occupants attempt to repel them. Their first attempt fails and an aura of calm develops as casualties on both sides are carried away and the attacking masses retreat to regroup before trying again.

Amongst the quietness a child cried aloud…… his mothers swift response “ you can have an ice cream when the men have stopped fighting” bringing things back to reality.


This was Kenilworth Castle 2013 style and a re enactment event part of the English Heritages “Let battle commence” programme at sites all around the country. Having to compete against it’s much more heavily commercialised neighbour , the “Merlin Group” owned Warwick Castle, days such as these offer the public the chance to experience medieval activity at a much more family friendly price. Attractions throughout the day included 3 stages of the battle from 1266 that became a 6 month siege and demonstrations by the enthusiastic authentically dressed actors regarding armour, fighting techniques and life in a medieval camp. Shakespearean type performances outlined the story of the siege and the roles that the occupants of each camp would fulfil enthralling both young and old.

 














    
















 

Kenilworth Castle set in the beautiful Warwickshire country side contains the ruins of the original Castle, the meticulously laid out  Elizabethan Gardens, a tea rooms set within a renovated medieval barn and a Tudor Gatehouse, built in 1571. Originating from Norman days the Castle has had a rich and varied history from Battles to Royal visits through to its destruction by the Parliamentary army during the English Civil war.

The large grounds offer ample opportunity for a wander round, exploring the ruins, climbing the ramparts,finding a labyrinth of hidden rooms, an historical adventure playground for kids of all ages.

The Elizabethan gardens have been beautifully recreated with the castle ramparts offering a fine vantage point to fully appreciate its lay out. Records dating from the 16th century giving a detailed description of the garden have allowed it to be authentically replicated, including fountains, statues, arbours and a bejewelled aviary.

The museum within the Gatehouse details the intriguing relationship between Queen Elizabeth 1st and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester who allegedly wooed the Virgin queen when she visited the site back in 1575. All this amid ongoing scandal of Dudley’s wife being found mysteriously dead at the foot of a staircase as their relationship blossomed. Today's newspapers would certainly have a feast of headlines at such a gossip ridden royal story.

 
 













 

This live medieval exhibition certainly seemed to capture the imagination of the young children amongst the large crowds attending the event. In turn, It certainly seemed the gift shop was doing a roaring trade as the mass fun filled sword fight involving scores of foam sword wielding children seemed to indicate. The English Heritage sites really depend on days such as these to plough much needed funds into their restoration works, one battle we should all be prepared to sign up for.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/

 

Kew Gardens....London's Botanical Beauty

 
Continuous sunny weather in London, surely not…but this years English summer has provided plenty of it. Therefore, reluctant to spend time indoors (there will be plenty of rainy London days to go inside the museums), a 30 minute tube journey from the capitals centre took us to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Set within a massive 300 acre site “Kew Gardens” as it’s more commonly known, is home to world's largest collection of living plants with species from all around the globe. This UNESCO World Heritage Site as Spread across its grounds listed buildings such as the historical Glass Houses, a royal palace formerly inhabited by the late King George III as well as iconic structures like the Pagoda in the Japanese garden.

The extent of the site and its many attractions mean you may have to be selective on what you see if you are a one off day visitor. Although the Land train which circles round to stopping points should allow more of the area to be seen if large amounts of walking is an issue to anyone. For any energetic children in your party there are numerous opportunities for them to let off steam.An adventure play ground and indoor themed play areas give the adults a chance to rest weary limbs, although the boating pool may be a little more strenuous for some.

Across the year various exhibitions take place on site promoting different aspects of the plant world, currently running is the "IncrEdibles". Housed in the Victorian Palm House, this exhibit educates visitors on the wonders of all types of edible plants. Inside the wonderfully historical glass and wrought iron structure, decorative spiral staircases take you up to the high level walkways allowing a birds eye view of the foilage beneath. Dating back to the 1840's, the glass houses host a vast range of world wide vegetation in all forms of shapes and colours . It’s literally a walking, interactive encyclopedia of flora, allowing kids in particular to learn about the different species through colourful hands-on quiz boards as well as offering the chance to feel and in some cases, smell them.

 































The more modern Princess of Wales conservatory hosts 10 different climate zones each with controlling temperatures suited to the various plant life within it. From the desert like temperatures of the cacti room, to the more humid heat of the rain forest, though to the swamp area, trees and ferns can be observed at close hand. Keep your eyes open for a surprise encounter as we had when we came across a Water Dragon Lizard casually sitting amongst the vegetation. Apparently the reptiles earn their keep by being a natural pest control within the conservatory.

 
 

The largest of the Victorian glass houses is the Temperate House, although seemily barren of greenery on our visit, we later found out that a five year renovation is due to take place hence the scaling down of the plant life within. However it is still a marvellous structure to see, with the adjacent "Xstrata tree top" walk affording a particularly good view with descending Heathrow bound planes flying at low level in the background.  At 60ft high, the walkway is a 200 metre trek around the top of a forest containing Chestnut and Oak trees offering great views across the gardens and out towards the London skyline.

Although not a massive gardening fan myself, I did find the visit thoroughly enjoyable and
interesting, particularly the use of the information boards, showing how the plants relate to your own life such as production of coffee beans from seed to your mug. The great thing about Kew is that each of the seasons will offer a different experience as the various plant life encounters the conditions it thrives in. This summer visit had allowed us to see the flower beds in full bloom but a return visit to see the autumnal reds, browns and golds of the trees foilage would be just as spectacular.







 Following the short walk back to Kew Gardens underground station you’re greeted with a range of small independent shops to browse round and an outdoor sitting area at the Railway inn to get some well deserved refreshment. After all it’s not just the plants that need regular watering.