Travel Log

Houses of Parliament -- London, England

 
Houses of Parliament -- London, England

This famous statue of Oliver Cromwell resides outside the Houses of Parliament in London, England.  Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 – 3 September 1658) was an English military and political leader best known in England for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland. Events that occurred during his reign and his politics are a cause of animosity between Ireland and the UK.

He was one of the commanders of the New Model Army which defeated the royalists in the English Civil War. After the execution of King Charles I in 1649, Cromwell dominated the short-lived Commonwealth of England, conquered Ireland and Scotland, and ruled as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death from a combination of malarial fever and septicaemia in 1658.

Cromwell was born into the ranks of the middle gentry, and remained relatively obscure for the first 40 years of his life. His lifestyle resembled that of a yeoman farmer until he received an inheritance from his uncle. After undergoing a religious conversion during the same decade, Cromwell made an Independent style of Puritanism an essential part of his life. He was elected Member of Parliament for Cambridge in the Short (1640) and Long (1640–49) Parliaments. He entered the English Civil War on the side of the "Roundheads" or Parliamentarians.

To read more about his most interesting history please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_cromwell

London is an amazing city to visit anytime of the year. Airfares have started to drop to London for fall travel and I would be more than happy to assist you with your travel plans there. Contact me today for some airfare quotes and/or package deals. 

Lincoln, England

Lincoln, England

Dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, the impressive Lincoln Cathedral (officially the Cathedral Church of St. Mary in Lincoln) dominates Lincoln's skyline and can be seen from 30 miles away. Its 271-foot central tower is the second tallest in England.

History

William the Conqueror ordered the first cathedral to be built in Lincoln in 1072. The church that existed before that, St. Mary's Church, was a mother church but not a cathedral. Bishop Remigius built the first Lincoln Cathedral on the present site, finishing it in 1092. He died two days before it was to be consecrated on May 9 of that year. About 50 years later, most of that building was destroyed in a fire.

Bishop Alexander rebuilt and expanded the cathedral, but it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1185. Only the central portion of the west front and lower halves of the west towers survive from this period.

King Henry II of England approved the election of St. Hugh of Avalon, a Carthusian monk, as Bishop of Lincoln in 1186. St. Hugh began a major rebuilding project in the emerging Early English Gothic style, but died in 1200 before his plan was completed.

The east end of the cathedral was moved each time the building was enlarged. The eastern wall of the Norman cathedral (1073) was in the middle of what is now St. Hugh's Choir. The east end of the Early English building (1186) was in what is now the Angel Choir behind the High Altar.

The existing structure was finished by about 1280, but repairs and remodeling have continued. There have been repeated problems with the spires (removed in 1807) and towers, which were sometimes thought to be in danger of collapsing. This was despite attempts to shore up the towers by digging underneath them to increase support, an early attempt of what is a common engineering project today on such building as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Lincoln Cathedral and its bishops have had a leading role in the history of England. The Magna Carta was signed by the Bishop of Lincoln amongst others, and one of only two remaining copies resides in the cathedral's library.

For this and more information please visit:  http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/lincoln-cathedral
 

London, England

TOWER BRIDGE in London, England

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, which gives it its name. It has become an iconic symbol of London.

The bridge consists of two towers which are tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways which are designed to withstand the horizontal forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical component of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers. The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower. Its present color dates from 1977 when it was painted red, white and blue for the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Originally it was painted a chocolate brown color.

Tower Bridge is sometimes mistakenly referred to as London Bridge, which is actually the next bridge upstream. A popular urban legend is that in 1968, Robert McCulloch, the purchaser of the old London Bridge that was later shipped to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, believed that he was in fact buying Tower Bridge. This was denied by McCulloch himself and has been debunked by Ivan Luckin, the seller of the bridge.

For this and more details see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge

 

London, England

 

 

LONDON, ENGLAND

A terrific city to visit! There is always something going on in London, for every budget and every travelers wish and dream!

Here is a list of the TOP 15 things to do (or visit) while in London:

1. Westminster Abbey

2. Big Ben

3. Houses of Parliament

4. Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

5. Dine at Covent Garden

6. Tour the British Museum

7. Visit the Tower of London and see the crown jewels

8. Tour the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square

9. Madame Tussaud's Waxworks.

10. Stroll through St. James's

11. Visit the financial district and tour St. Paul's Cathedral

12. Visit numerous boutiques down King's Road in Chelsea

13. Tower of London

14. Victoria & Albert Museum

15. Complete your tour with a ride on the Millennium Wheel London Eye (featured in the photo above)

There are some great airfare specials to England for the fall and many tours that include some if not all of these stops. Call or email today to reserve your seat!

 

 

Sutton-on-Trent, England

 In a small village just 3 hours north of London you will find the quiet and serene village called Sutton-on-Trent. It is a quaint village filled with beautiful gardens (such as the one in this photo above), villagers walking about (along the Public Footpath), horses out with their riders for a daily jog and some jolly English folk on their way to Nags Head (one of 2 local pubs). There is one local library filled with interesting books, a small school and a great old Saxon church (All Saints Church Sutton-on-Trent) which was built back in the early 1200's and is laden with history. What a great place for a few days respite from the everyday hustle and bustle where you will feel as though you stepped back in time! For more details and for a great suggestion on a local B&B contact me!

Crawley, England

Tucked away 30 minutes south of the greater London Gatwick area is Crawley, England.  A small village offering a typical feel of southern England. Small bricks houses lush with English gardens line the curvy streets of Crawley. There are several hotels and B&B's in the area which will be much less expensive than staying in central London. Crawley is an easy drive or bus ride away and right off the main auto-way. If you are looking for a typical English experience without the crowds than Crawley, England might be just the place for you!

Lincoln, England

The Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, England was one of the sites used in the filming for the controversial movie,"The Da Vinci Code," which is based on the novel by Dan Brown. The Lincoln Cathedral will take your breath away and cause you to pause in wonder and awe at how this great, Gothic medieval masterpiece was built and so intricately designed, so long ago. The original Cathedral structure began in 1072 but the central part of the Cathedral dates back to 13th century when Hugh of Avalon, Bishop of Lincoln came up with the brilliant plan for this place of worship and mission. He was later canonized in 1220 as St Hugh.  Lincoln is about 3 hours north of London central and can easily be reached by car or train. For much more information on Lincoln and the Cathedral, visit www.lincolncathedral.com or email me.

Cuckfield, England

If your flights take you into London Gatwick airport and you are looking for a quaint English town outside of central London, then Cuckfield, England might just be the place for you. Located about 45 minutes south of London Gatwick airport lies the small town of Cuckfield. The streets are lined with small, quaint shops, little restaurants or pubs and for a special fine dining experience  you might consider making reservations at Ockenden Manor hotel. In 2005 Ockenden Manor received the following dining accolades:  Egon Ronay star, Good Food Guide 5/10, AA Restaurant Guide 3 rosettes and the Michelin Red Guide 1 star. The photo above is taken at the cemetery of the Cuckfield Holy Trinity Church  - the main parish of Cuckfield. Early church records date back as far as the 13th century.

London, England

A popular destination for people from all over the globe, London is situated in southeastern England along the Thames River. With an abundance of museums, art galleries and theaters, London is one of the most influential cities in the world and one of the major culture capitals as well.

"Big Ben"  (seen on the left) is one of the many famous monuments to visit in London.  Many people believe that "Big Ben"  refers to the clock tower as a whole. However, officially, "Big Ben" refers specifically to the principal bell within the tower - the largest bell with the lowest pitch. This is the tone that follows each hourly chime sequence and specifies the hour of the day and night. The tower is designed in the Victorian Gothic style, and stands 96.3 m (316 ft) high.

Newark, England

Located about 3 hours by car, north of central London, is the quaint village of Newark, England. The Newark Castle ruins overlooking the River Trent date back to the 12th Century. The castle was originally built by Alexander the Magnificent who was the Bishop of Lincoln as well as the Lord of the Manor of Newark during the 12th century. Only twenty percent of the original castle still remains, but that which still stands is well preserved and worthy of a visit. This was the first castle to be repaired as a monument at government expense;  work began on it in 1845 and continued until it was open to the public in 1847.