2018年9月1日 星期六
2015年5月26日 星期二
Punt it like Beckham!
David and Victoria take their children for a leisurely afternoon on the river in Cambridge... and Brooklyn even gets to meet Stephen Hawking
Punt it like Beckham! David and Victoria take their children for a leisurely afternoon on the river in Cambridge... and Brooklyn even gets to meet Stephen Hawking
It's one the of best ways to spend an afternoon in Cambridge, so the Beckhams were naturally keen to take to the waters when they paid a visit to the beautiful city on Monday for a fun-filled family outing.
David and Victoria Beckham and their brood were spotted enjoying a leisurely punting trip down the River Cam as they made the most of the bank holiday weekend.
And not only that but their eldest son Brooklyn, 16, even got to meet legendary physicist Professor Steven Hawking during the family day out.
Family affair: The Beckhams were spotted glided down the River Cam in Cambridge on Monday afternoon in two separate punts
Inspiring: Brooklyn Beckham shared this picture of him with Stephen Hawking, when he paid a visit a visit to the professor on Monday, although his grammar would no doubt have horrified the esteemed physicist
The 40-year-old sporting legend was in one punt with his three boys Brooklyn, Romeo, 12 and Cruz, ten, while fashion designer Victoria took another boat with three-year-old Harper.
Relaxing: David shared this relaxed picture of himself in front of one of Cambridge's many beautiful buildings
Stunning: David was so impressed with his fun-filled day on the river that he took to Instagram to tell his fans about it
All together now: The children's maternal grandparents Tony and Jackie Adams joined them on their outing
2015年1月29日 星期四
North Yorkshire set for tourism boom - 1,000-year-old Selby Abbey
A small town in North Yorkshire, England, has gained notoriety in Asia after Taiwanese pop star, Jay Chou, held his wedding at Selby's 1,000-year-old abbey.
For his marriage to model Hannah Quinlivan, the star opted for Selby Abbey for the ceremony and the nearby home of Castle Howard for the reception.
Though he may be relatively unknown in Britain, Chou is one of the biggest stars that Taiwan has ever produced, even being nicknamed the 'New King of Asian Pop.'
Selby in North Yorkshire has gained considerably notoriety in Asia following Jay Chou's wedding
The Taiwanese popstar married his girlfriend earlier this month at the 1,000-year-old Selby Abbey
Since announcing his marriage last week, both venues have already been visited by hundreds of fans, inspiring tour operators to add the locations to their itineraries.
In fact, Castle Howard is now translating its wedding brochure to respond to enquiries from Asia.
'We have also seen an increase in enquiries from Chinese outbound-tour operators, so hope to see an increase in groups visiting us over the summer and during our Christmas opening,' Hannah Cooke, a spokeswoman for Castle Howard, said.
The couple's luxurious reception was held at the nearby Castle Howard, a 4,050-hectare estate
Following news of their wedding venue hitting the media, the abbey and castle have seen many tourists
The 36-year-old singer, actor and director, unsurprisingly, chose a regal theme for his grand fairytale affair.
His 21-year-old bride, whose Chinese name is Wu Yi-Chen, wore a white Tudor-inspired gown and a diamond-encrusted tiara worth over £1.25 million.
Weddings at the 4,050-hectare estate start at £8,000 with a rental of the main house coming in at about £15,000.
At Castle Howard, the team have also experienced an increase in enquiries about it as a wedding venue
Most of the fans who have visited over the past week are Asian visitors already studying overseas in Britain, according to the abbey's vicar.
Unlike York, Selby Abbey had not previously received many visitors from Asia, but this is expected to change following the recent festivities.
Chou, who is often credited with reviving the Mandarin music scene, is known for his blend of traditional Chinese instrument sounds and hip hop and R&B.
Chou and his bride, Hannah Quinlivan, opted for an appropriately royal theme for their fairytale day
Recently, he also directed and starred in 2007's Secret and acted as Kato in The Green Hornet, alongside Seth Rogen.
Chou's wedding also comes on the heels of the UK trialling easing up on visa application requirements for Chinese citizens.
2015年1月21日 星期三
Yorkshire B&B and £74-a-night hotel in Wales named best in the WORLD by TripAdvisor travellers for service, staff and sea views
A quaint bed and breakfast in Yorkshire and a £74-a-night hotel in North Wales have been named as the best holiday guesthouses in the world after receiving top ratings from TripAdvisor travellers.
Millgate Bed and Breakfast in Masham, North Yorkshire, and Lawton Court Hotel in Llandudno, North Wales, fought off competition from around the globe to come out on top in the 2015 Travellers' Choice awards.
The awards were based on millions of reviews left over the past year by holidaymakers on travel website TripAdvisor and took into account quality, service, staff, food and location.
Sue and Andrew Burrell celebrate their B&B, Millgate in Masham, North Yorkshire, being named the best B&B in the world by TripAdvisor
Millgate Bed and Breakfast in Masham, North Yorkshire (above), beat competition from around the globe to come out on top in the 2015 Travellers' Choice awards
Millgate B&B has received more than 350 excellent reviews online, with one reviewer saying it was the 'best B&B we have ever been to'
The B&B scooped the top award based on its excellent ratings and reviews and was praised for its staff, service and good quality
Sue Burrell, who owns Millgate B&B in North Yorkshire with husband Andrew (together above), said they were 'thrilled' with the award
Source: the dailymail
2014年10月31日 星期五
Elderly couple love Torquay holidays
They say a great holiday should leave you wanting more.
One holidaying couple has taken the notion to new heights by returning to their favourite seaside location 60 times in the last 10 years.
Pensioners Sid and Joyce Goode, of Nottingham, consider Torquay in Devon their home from home and such is their loyalty to the resort that they still visit six times every year.
Holiday of dreams: Sid and Joyce Goode enjoy stays at Abbey Lawn Hotel so much they visit six times a year
'The staff are so friendly': The pensioners like to sit and watch the world go by, do suduko puzzles and dance
According to them, nothing beats the hospitality and warm welcome they receive at Abbey Lawn hotel behind Torquay seafront.
Sid said: 'When we were in our 80s we loved to dance, so having a dance floor bigger than a postage stamp made the Abbey Lawn perfect for us.
'Now that we are not so mobile we appreciate the two swimming pools and lots of space to read the papers, chat to guests and relax.
Milestone: In December Sid will celebrate his 90th birthday at hotel and couple will return next year
According to the Goodes, nothing beats the hospitality at Abbey Lawn hotel behind Torquay seafront
'The staff are so friendly.
'The manager Barry is a one-off. I love his sense of humour you can always have a laugh with him.
'In the evenings we have entertainment laid on so there is always something happening and we don't get bored.
'I have my routine of getting the paper, having breakfast and doing a suduko puzzle.
'We like to watch the world go by rather than rushing about on trips and we sometimes look after Barry's dog.'
Sid is looking forward to celebrating his 90th birthday at the hotel in December and the couple have already booked nine luxury coach tours with Robinsons Holidays to the location next year.
Place in the sun: After 60 visits over 10 years the pensioners consider Torquay in Devon a home from home
Sunshine: A view of two deck chars on the promenade in Torquay
Rob Lyng, Robinsons director, said: 'It is wonderful Mr and Mrs Goode enjoy their stays with us so much they return time after time to Torquay.
'To thank them for their years of loyal custom, we are going to give them a free holiday.
'It is the least we can do for two of our favourite guests.'
2014年9月15日 星期一
Scotland's first £1,000-a-night hotel closes for good...
Scotland's most expensive hotel has closed just two years after owners spent £5 million on the initial project.
The Atholl, located in Edinburgh's posh West End, broke barriers when it became the first Scottish hotel to charge £1,000 per night in April 2012.
Despite high expectations on the luxe property, the uber-expensive hotel proved to be just too excessive - at nearly four times the rate charged by nearby five-star hotels.
The Atholl Hotel has permanently closed its doors just two years after the initial £5 million investment
Rooms at The Atholl broke the £1000-a-night barrier and were the first to charge that much in Scotland
The luxe hotel offered Michelin-starred dining from Albert Roux and an award-winning garden
Day to night: The Atholl was located on Atholl Crescent, which is one of the poshest areas of Edinburgh
With the Georgian building's high price tag came Michelin-starred dining by Albert Roux, Hermes wallpaper favoured by the likes of Victoria Beckham, and an award-winning garden.
However, owner and Edinburgh businesswoman Alison Davies announced today that The Atholl has closed its doors for good.
2014年8月5日 星期二
The cast of Downton Abbey enjoy some down-time as they film fifth season on set of Harry Potter movies
Alnwick Castle in Northumberland took a step back in time today as members of the cast of Downton Abbey filmed scenes in the grounds of the iconic building.
The castle famously doubled as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter film franchise - and the Grade I listed building will now be of limited access to the public until scenes are completed on August 8.
No doubt the surroundings make a change for the characters who are used to shooting at Highclere castle in Newbury.
Standing by the entrance to the state rooms, stood one character, who was sporting traditional pin curls from the period which were held in place with special grips
No doubt the surroundings make a change for the characters who are used to shooting at Highclere castle in Newbury.
Time out: The stars of Downton Abbey take a break outside Alnwick castle in Northumberland on Tuesday - they are filming scenes there for the next three days
Standing by the entrance to the state rooms, stood one character, who was sporting traditional pin curls from the period which were held in place with special grips
Mixing it up: The cast usually film at the lavish Highclere castle in Newbury
So famous: The castle which doubled as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter film franchise - and the Grade I listed building will now be of limited access to the public until scenes are completed on August 8
But a filming notice on the venue's website says: 'Please note that various areas of Alnwick Castle will be closed or have limited access on 28 July – 8th August
This is due to the filming of a major ITV period drama.
'Please check the 'What’s On' page for details about which events will be taking place on these days, as some are affected by the filming and may have to be cancelled or rescheduled. Some days may require a visitor capacity limit.'
Cast: The residents of Grantham House as seen in ITV's smash-hit Downton Abbey
Filming notice for fans: Venue owners discreetly revealed the plans on their website
Stunning: The Alnwick Castle, Most Famously Known As Hogwarts Castle In The Harry Potter Series
They add: 'Please note that some of the State Rooms may be dressed for filming while open to the public on those days. We apologise for any inconvenience.'
As reported in Radio Times, the grand 14th century fortress was also used in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner and Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett.
In addition to hosting weddings and music concerts, the castle also provides 'broomstick training' and sword juggling shows.
Scenes from the famous film franchise: Harry Potter learns to fly at Alnwick castle
Action: Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith in a scene from season four Downton Abbey
In addition to being famous, the venue is also steeped in history.
Baron of Alnwick erected the first parts of the castle in about 1096 and it was later captured by King David I of Scotland in 1136. It is Britain's second-largest fort, after Windsor Castle.
The fifth series of Downton Abbey is expected to be screened in the autumn.
A general view of Highclere Castle at Highclere Park in Newbury, West Berkshire, United Kingdom. Highclere Castle is a country house in the Jacobethan style, with a park designed by Capability Brown.
From the Dailymail
2014年8月3日 星期日
Best hotel in Britain is Birmingham's £49-a-night Holiday Inn, according to Chinese tourists
- The 236ft high-rise was given a 9.6 rating out of 10 on website booking.com
- 224-room hotel has Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a free continental breakfast
- Impressed guests praised the 'deep bath tub' and 'excellent eggs' on offer
- Was followed by Old Town Chambers, Edinburgh and Paradise Hotel, Bath
- Number of Chinese visitors has double since 2009 and could treble by 2020
Another said the scrambled eggs were 'very salty and probably powder form'.
The hotel has 224 air-conditioned bedrooms, each with Wi-Fi. According to the hotel's website, Snow Hill is 'ideally located in the heart of Birmingham city centre'.
The city's Bullring Shopping Centre is a 10-minute stroll from the hotel, while Cadbury's World, the Sealife Centre and Drayton Manor Theme Park are also nearby. It is also close to the National Indoor Arena and the ICC.
TOP FIVE UK HOTELS AS RATED BY CHINESE VISITORS
1) Holiday Inn Express Birmingham – Snow Hill, Birmingham, 9.6
2) Old Town Chambers, Edinburgh, 9.4
3) Bath Paradise House, Bath, 9.4
4) Broadlands Guest House, Windermere, 9.3
5) Tower Guest House, York, 9.3
2) Old Town Chambers, Edinburgh, 9.4
3) Bath Paradise House, Bath, 9.4
4) Broadlands Guest House, Windermere, 9.3
5) Tower Guest House, York, 9.3
The figures about the Chinese visitor were released by Booking.com, which said there had been a significant rise in the number of tourists coming to the UK from China.
There has been a 50 increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the first quarter of this year, compared to 2013, when there were 231,000, it said.
According to VisitBritain, visitors from China have doubled in the last five years and tourism leaders hope these numbers will treble again by 2020.
Jason Grist, the UK Area Manager of Booking.com, said: 'In line with industry trends, we have experienced a 50 per cent increase in UK bookings by Chinese tourists in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same timeframe in 2013.
Paradise House Hotel in Bath was voted as the third best place to stay, with a 9.4 rating
'In addition, we have seen the range of accommodations stayed in increase by almost a third. We believe this growth is just the beginning.
'By enhancing our service for Chinese visitors, it will help drive interest not only for us, but also for UK tourism.'
The website released the figures after it became a member of the VisitBritain ‘GREAT China Welcome’ Charter (GCW) campaign.
The charter, which was launched in March 2014, involves 170 members working to provide 'exceptional tourism' for Chinese visitors.
The initiative involves making it easier for Chinese visitors to identify hotels, attractions and tour operators that are providing information in Chinese and generally making it easier for these tourists.
A TYPICAL 'MODERN HOTEL': THE UK'S NUMBER ONE HOTEL
After a six-hour, traffic-saturated journey from London to Birmingham, I arrived in the second city at 10pm with nowhere to stay.
The landlord my new apartment block wasn't picking up the phone, and my sat nav had conked out.
And so it was that I came to stay at the nation's favourite hotel: the Holiday Inn Express in Snow Hill, Birmingham.
Imagine a typical ‘modern hotel’: that’s what it looks like.
You are greeted by the sight of a sleek white reception desk, striped carpets, glossy walls, and leather chairs.
It was late but staff were phenomenally cheery.
They set me up with a double room and helped me lug my car-load of bags and boxes into the lift.
With crisp white bed sheets and a strong smell of air freshener, it screamed 'CLEAN'.
There was a small kettle with tea bags ready and waiting, and a toothbrush to save me digging around.
I don’t have any distinct memories about the mattress, but the pillow was a cushy heaven.
In the morning, I was greeted like a chum, offered breakfast, and – when I said I was in a rush – swiftly given a hand packing myself up.
The landlord my new apartment block wasn't picking up the phone, and my sat nav had conked out.
And so it was that I came to stay at the nation's favourite hotel: the Holiday Inn Express in Snow Hill, Birmingham.
Imagine a typical ‘modern hotel’: that’s what it looks like.
You are greeted by the sight of a sleek white reception desk, striped carpets, glossy walls, and leather chairs.
It was late but staff were phenomenally cheery.
They set me up with a double room and helped me lug my car-load of bags and boxes into the lift.
With crisp white bed sheets and a strong smell of air freshener, it screamed 'CLEAN'.
There was a small kettle with tea bags ready and waiting, and a toothbrush to save me digging around.
I don’t have any distinct memories about the mattress, but the pillow was a cushy heaven.
In the morning, I was greeted like a chum, offered breakfast, and – when I said I was in a rush – swiftly given a hand packing myself up.
FromL the Dailymail
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