Tag Archives: bank holidays

How to spend your days when in Oxfordshire

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Oxfordshire is a great place to spend a little time away from home. It’s only an hour from London, yet could be at the other end of the country. It’s quiet, civilised and offers a huge range of things to see and do. Renting one of our holiday cottages in Oxfordshire is a great way to explore England!

Here are a few things to see and do.

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is almost a thousand years old in parts and is spread out across the city. Some of the colleges are open to the public some of the time and are well worth checking out.

Pitt Rivers Museum

The Pitt Rivers Museum is one of many superb museums in the area but has a character all of its own. It’s a bit cluttered but is truly amazing to wander around. It’s free to enter and is one of the most fascinating museums anywhere in the world.

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology

The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology is another Oxford-based museum that is one of the best examples of its type anywhere. You need a full day to really appreciate what’s here.

University Museum of Natural History

Another museum well worth your time is the University Museum of Natural History. Stuffed full of exhibits from across the ages, the museum is an easy way to lose a day. The building itself is fascinating too.

Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library is one of the most famous book repositories in the world and for good reason. The building is amazing, the sheer number and variety of books are too. Take a guided tour to get the very best out of this attraction.

Broughton Castle

Leaving museums and libraries behind for a while, let’s visit Broughton Castle near Banbury. It’s a fortified manor house built around 1300 and is open to the public. It’s a lovely, peaceful place that has feature in more than a few movies.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a fascinating walk into the past. The birthplace of Winston Churchill and current home to the Duke of Marlborough, the palace is a historic building with a lot to offer. Allow plenty of time to do it justice!

Those are just a few of the hundreds of places to see and things to do while staying in one of our holiday cottages in Oxfordshire. Each offers a little something different and is well worth your time. Don’t forget to let us know how you get on!

Great days out in Gloucestershire

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Whatever time of year you visit Gloucestershire, there is always something to do. It’s a wide open and varied county with a huge range of towns, cities and attractions to keep you occupied. If you’re visiting one of our many quality holiday cottages in the county, you won’t be short of things to do.

Here are just a few ideas of things to do in Gloucestershire while in a holiday cottage.

The International Centre for Birds of Prey

We seem to feature a lot of bird of prey centres here on holidacottages.net. That’s because they seem widely appreciated by our customers. This one is no different. Based in Newent, The International Centre for Birds of Prey is an excellent example of somewhere that mixes preservation with entertainment. The owl nights are especially good!

Royal Forest of Dean

The Royal Forest of Dean is an amazing place to visit if you like walking, amazing scenery, have a dog or children you want to wear out. It offers something new every season, with spring and autumn being particular highlights. With marked trails and plenty of opportunities to explore, it’s a must-see for anyone visiting the area. Especially if you have a nice warm holiday cottage to go home to!

Torbay Express

The Torbay Express is a step back in time that we should all enjoy at one time in our lives. It’s a steam train that travels across Gloucester, Somerset and north Devon. Options include short scenic journeys or a full five hour trip with dinner. It’s an excellent way to spend a few hours and get to see a bit of the west country at the same time.

Perrygrove Railway and Treetop Adventure

Another rail-based attraction in Gloucestershire is the Perrygrove Railway and Treetop Adventure. This attraction isn’t all about the trains, although they are a main reason for visiting. There is also a treetop adventure area where you can get a bird’s eye view of the woods, a hidden treasure area where children can explore and find real treasure!

Symonds Yat Rock

Symonds Yat Rock is a geological formation on the edge of the Forest of Dean. It’s enormous and accessible via forest trails that are fairly easy going. From the top of the rock you can see over the River Wye, the Wye Valley and the forest itself. It’s also a great place to watch birds of prey in action.

Those are just five of the hundreds of attractions in Gloucestershire. If you’re planning a holiday cottage trip to the area, each offers a great way to spend time. Enjoy them and let us know how you get on!

The origins and history of Valentine’s Day

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Here at holidaycottages.net, we’re taking lots of bookings for romantic holiday cottages for Valentine’s Day. It’s a busy time for us, but we wanted to take a minute to think about the origins of this day. Where did it come from? Why do we celebrate it?

As far as we know, celebrations began in Roman times. The festival of Lupercalia was held in February on the 13th, 14th and 15th. This was a fertility festival, held to usher in the spring and healthy crops. Men would run around naked using dog or goat-skin whips to spank women to promote their fertility too.

Valentine was Bishop of Interamna who served in AD 197 under the Roman Emperor Aurelian. He was beheaded for reasons unknown. Another Christian Valentine, Valentine of Rome was also martyred for giving aid to prisoners during the reign of Emperor Claudius. He was said to have fallen in love with his jailer’s daughter and wrote to her signing off “From your Valentine.”

Then, around 496 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St. Valentine’s Day. The day was to be a Christian feast day, ostensibly designed to “civilise” the still popular festival of Lupercalia.

The first mentions of Valentine’s Day and love, apart from the alleged love letters from Valentine, were from Geoffrey Chaucer. He wrote in his book “Parlement of Foules” in 1382 about the engagement of Richard II of England and Anne of Bohemia. “For this was on St. Valentine's Day/ When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate.”

Later, in France around 1400 AD, the High Court of Love was formed to manage affairs of the heart such as marriage, divorces and all manner of happenings. It was held on Valentine’s Day each year. Sometime later, the Duke of Orleans writes the first recorded Valentine’s love letter to his love when he was a prisoner in the Tower of London.

By now, Valentine’s Day is a firm fixture in the calendar, so much so that Shakespeare writes about it in Hamlet. “To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,/All in the morning betime,/And I a maid at your window,/To be your Valentine.”

From then on, Valentine’s Day was a regular part of our year. The print press, the advent of the card, various publications of romantic rhyme writing and the Post Office all made sending cards and love notes easier. The rest as they say, is history.

So when you’re relaxing in your romantic holiday cottage on Valentine’s Day, just think. The holiday you’re celebrating is over 2000 years old!

The top 10 UK city destinations for a Christmas break

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If you’re looking to get away for Christmas and don’t want to spend hours and hours and hundreds of pounds chasing the sun, this is the post for you. We have scoured the UK for cities that have gone the extra mile to make Christmas that little more special. Here’s what we found.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is one of the best cities in the UK for Christmas and was featured in our Best Christmas Markets article last week. It’s a city that embraces everything to do with the holidays and has lights, special events, lots of child-friendly activities and shops to spend your money.

As Christmas holiday destinations go, it’s hard to beat. We also have a few holiday cottages around the city too!

Durham

Durham is another city that knows how to do Christmas. Nice at any time of year, Durham offers shopping, Santa, a Christmas market, carol singing, a lantern procession, the Polar Express and more during December. That makes it prime Christmas real estate for all the family!

Cardiff

Cardiff is a great place all year round, but especially at Christmas. Cardiff Castle already featured in our Best Christmas light displays in the UK article and this time the rest of the city wants in on the action. The Winter Wonderland makes a welcome return this year, with ice skating, ice bar and more. The city centre is lit up, there’s a Christmas market too.

Cardiff is a great city to do Christmas is and we have some lovely holiday cottages nearby.

York

York does Christmas exceptionally well and it isn’t all Dickensian either. While there is a lot of old England on display, there is plenty of contemporary Christmas too. There are medieval markets, Santa displays, carols, the Festive Fayre, street displays, lights, shops, food and a whole lot going on throughout December.

Bath

The historic city of Bath is like going back in time. The amazing Georgian architecture, narrow streets and old buildings all make a lovely atmosphere that’s only enhanced by Christmas. Bath Christmas Market is a particular highlight, as are all the lights, the ice rink in Victoria Park and carol singing around the city.

Leeds

Leeds is already renowned for having a lively, vibrant city centre and Christmas brings out the best in that. There is usually a Christmas market, regular visits from Santa and maybe his reindeer. The shopping is also excellent, the city is lit up throughout and there is a real festive atmosphere that’ infectious.

These are just some of the cities that do Christmas well. Each has a little different on offer, making them truly unique. We also have holiday cottages within a short drive of all of them, making them an ideal destination for your last minute shopping or as a day out!

UK memorial gardens worth visiting

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With today being Remembrance Day, it’s only right that we honour that by listing the top memorial gardens that we know of. Places of reflection, places to honour the lost and places to remember.

Each has its own character, its own allure and reason to visit, especially on the 11th of November. If you’re enjoying an autumn break in one of our fantastic holiday cottages and are in the area, we encourage you to brave the weather and visit.

National Memorial Arboretum

The National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas, Staffordshire is our national shrine to the fallen. It is a wonderful place that manages to balance relevance, beauty and memory into a single location. It’s an amazing place to visit at any time of year, but autumn is definitely a highlight.

Tower of London sea of poppies

The Tower of London sea of poppies is an amazing sight and one everyone should visit if they can. The Queen loved it when she visited last month and everyone who has seen it since has said the same. Spending a few minutes there while visiting the capital is well worth your time.

Palace Barracks Memorial Garden

The Palace Barracks Memorial Garden is outside Holywood in Northern Ireland. A quiet corner of the base has been turned into a garden of reflection and remembrance. Given that Northern Ireland has had its own troubles, the garden has a dual purpose, to remember the fallen of all conflicts.

Royal British Legion Remembrance Garden

The Royal British Legion Remembrance Garden in Royal Wooton Basset, Wiltshire is a poignant garden as the town used to be where service personnel were repatriated from Afghanistan. The garden has been created to honour the fallen from all conflicts and it well worth a visit if you’re in one of our holiday cottages in Wiltshire.

Lichfield Garden of Remembrance

The Lichfield Garden of Remembrance is a lovely little garden opened in 1920 to remember the fallen. Located next to Minster Pool within sight of the cathedral, it’s a nice, relaxing place to contemplate and remember. Lovely any time of year, it really comes alive during autumn.

There are hundreds of memorial gardens or remembrance locations across the country. Almost every town and city has one and there are hundreds of others in villages across the country. Each offers the respect due to those who gave their all and made that ultimate sacrifice.

If you’re staying in one of our holiday cottages this week, we suggest making a trip to one of the thousands of remembrance gardens, even for a couple of minutes. It’s the least we can all do.

Would you like a holiday cottage in one of the top ten cities in the world?

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Would you like a holiday cottage in one of the top ten cities in the worldEagle-eyed readers would have noticed last week that Salisbury was voted one of the top ten best cities in the world to visit by Lonely Planet. It was the only British city to be entered into the list and was nominated because it is "quintessentially English."

Holidaycottages.net has a selection of cottages around Salisbury and throughout Hampshire, so if you want to see what all the fuss is about, we can help.

Salisbury beat the likes of Toronto and Vienna to take seventh place in the list. A surprising entry there is no doubt, but a worthy one. The city itself is lovely, the cathedral is impressive and the fact that 2015 is the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta doesn’t hurt either!

The top ten best cities in the world to visit list includes:

1.    Washington, D.C. USA

2.    El Chaltén, Argentina

3.    Milan, Italy

4.    Zermatt, Switzerland

5.    Valletta, Malta

6.    Plovdiv, Bulgaria

7.    Salisbury, United Kingdom

8.    Vienna, Austria

9.    Chennai, India

10. Toronto, Canada

Lonely Planet have this to say about the city.

“For too long travellers have considered Salisbury a short stop on the way to Stonehenge. But 2015 is set to be the year visitors linger in this quintessentially English city, as Salisbury uncorks the champagne for the 800th anniversary of its greatest treasure, the Magna Carta.

As home to the best-preserved original copy, Salisbury Cathedral is the lightning rod for the celebrations. Expect a brand new exhibition alongside an array of talks, evensongs, a flower festival and plenty more.”

A lot is planned for next year’s anniversary, with the cathedral having been granted over £415,000 to put together displays and exhibitions to showcase the Magna Carta.

It isn’t all about that document though. Salisbury has a lot more going for it than just a lovely cathedral and one of the most important documents in British history. It’s also a city in its own right with restaurants, shops, attractions, history, culture, interest and so much more.

It’s also friendly, relaxed, easy to get around and to find parking. Something most other cities struggle with.

If you would like to sample the delights of Salisbury without staying in a boring chain hotel, holidaycottages.net can help. Our selection of quality accommodation set around the city are ideal for exploring Salisbury and Hampshire. Each is fully furnished, ideally located and ready to move in. Perfect for a short city break!

The best places to see autumn in all its glory part 2.

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Lanhydrock

Continuing on from Tuesday’s post, we continue our exploration of the United Kingdom in autumn. It’s a fantastic time of year to be outdoors, weather permitting. The colours, the life and the scenery make it so worthwhile.

So if you’re staying in one of our many holiday cottages dotted around Britain, why not visit one of these locations too?

Batsford Arboretum

Batsford Arboretum near Stow-on the-Wold, Gloucestershire is another fine example of a place to enjoy autumn in all its glory. The cherry and maple woodland and gardens make for a fine day out and the “Autumn Colour Spectacular” is run between early October until mid-November.

Wendover Woods

Wendover Woods near Wendover, Buckinghamshire is another fine woodland well worth a visit. This one sits on the edge of the Chilterns and offers amazing views across Aylesbury Vale. It has ancient woodland, hiking and biking trails, lots of wildlife, an information centre and children’s play area too.

Exbury Gardens

Exbury Gardens in the New Forest, Hampshire is a 200 acre wonderland of garden, woodland and more. Owned by the Rothschilds, this location has award winning Nyassa and Oxydendrum trees and is widely regarded as one of the best places in the country to see them. We have lots of holiday cottages within the New Forest too!

Lanhydrock

Lanhydrockm near Bodmin, Cornwall is a Victorian country house with lovely gardens and woodland. It’s a National Trust property that offers some of the best landscapes in Cornwall and those woodlands really do take some beating in autumn. There are 14 miles of trails within the property too.

Kielder Water And Forest

Kielder Water And Forest in Northumberland is Europe’s largest and most impressive man-made forest and lake. It has also been voted the most tranquil place in England, which makes it worth a visit on its own. Add the woodlands of ash, aspen and oak, autumn colours and fantastic trails and you have a great place to spend time!

Hyde Park

Hyde Park in London may not have the country glory of many of the place on this list, but it’s still a fantastic place to visit in autumn. The 350 acre park has thousands of beech, horse chestnut, oak and more and all turn golden around the same time. With the Lido and Kensington Palace nearby, it makes for a great day out.

Holidaycottages.net has some fantastic holiday rentals near all of these locations that are available year-round. If you feel inspired to enjoy autumn a bit more, check out what’s available near your location of choice. There are some great deals to be had!

Where to go and what to do in Essex

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Colchester ZooWhatever your opinion on the portrayal of the people of Essex, the county itself is lovely. It’s chock full of picturesque countryside, miles of lovely coastline, lots of history and lots of things to do. It’s a real mix, with London at one end and Constable country at the other. That makes for a great short stay.

If you’re enjoying one of our holiday cottages in Essex, here are several things you can do while you’re here.

Imperial Bird of Prey Academy

The Imperial Bird of Prey Academy in Billericay is an ideal opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the world’s most impressive predators. These birds of prey balance deadliness with beauty and are a joy to behold. Watch exhibitions and demonstrations or buy some one on one time with the birds and their handlers.

Combined Military Services Museum

The Combined Military Services Museum celebrates a long and interesting military history from all three services. It is an outstanding museum with many quality displays and exhibits. The staff are knowledgeable, the displays well laid out and the entire museum experience is one to remember.

Made by You Pottery

Made by You Pottery is a small pottery studio in Leigh-on-Sea near Southend. Here you learn how pottery is made and finished. You also get to decorate your own pottery with the help of the expert staff. Decorating is harder than it looks, but anyone can master it after an afternoon here!

Colchester Zoo

Colchester Zoo is one of the best of its kind and somewhere that will easily entertain the whole family. Plan to spend the entire day here as it’s a big place with lots to see. Over 270 species of animals of all shapes and sizes in comfortable looking enclosures, demonstrations, talks and of course, feeding times. It’s all here and all worth seeing.

West Cliff Theatre

West Cliff Theatre in Clacton-on-Sea is a local highlight that shoots well above its weight. With a wide range of local, national and international talent appearing there all the time, it’s a great place to take in some culture while you’re in deepest Essex. The building itself is nice too, but the sheer range of performances are what makes it stand out.

There is a lot to see and do in Essex and it isn’t all about fake tan and nails. It’s a fascinating county with a lot to offer and is an ideal sport to a family break. That’s why we have a number of holiday cottages spread across the entire area. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to see, we have a cottage nearby. Check out the interactive map to find yours!

Explore the historic buildings of Kent

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Dover CastleEnjoying some autumn sunshine in Kent is a great way to spend October or November as far as we’re concerned. The garden of England has a lot to offer and plenty of historic buildings to see. It’s also easy to get to, not too busy at this time of year and has something for just about everyone.

If you’re planning to stay in one of our lovely Kent holiday cottages and are looking for inspiration, this is the post for you. We have a range of historic buildings suitable for the entire family. All designed to offer a great day out in Kent!

Dover Castle

Dover Castle is a fantastic place to visit if you’re staying anywhere in the area. It’s a 12th century fortification that has seen action from the day it was first built until a mere 70 years ago. It’s an amazing example of castle building in great condition. Regular events are held to bring history to life spanning the entire history of the location. It’s a must see!

Ightham Mote

Staying on the subject of history, another Kent highlight is Ightham Mote. It’s a 14th century moated manor house that has been restored, retained and renovated to offer a glimpse into Tudor life. Outside are landscaped gardens, an orchard, woods, lakes and more.

Hever Castle

Hever Castle is just another example of a fine Kent historic building. The castle was home to Anne Boleyn and was built in the 13th century. The modern castle is moated and kept in fantastic condition throughout.

It’s hard not to recommend these buildings to anyone staying in our holiday cottages throughout Kent.

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral has to be one of the most recognised buildings in the county. Originally built in 597 A.D. it is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a thriving, interesting church. As well as the historic building, there is a lot of cultural interest, organised events and displays and plenty to see and do.

Chartwell

Chartwell was the home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924 until his death. The house is now run by the National Trust and much of it looks the same as it did when the great man lived there. As well as the house, there are landscaped gardens, a lake, woodland, a playhouse and more. It’s a great day out for all the family!

We have holiday cottages throughout Kent, so if you’re staying with us, why not combine it with a visit to one of these buildings?

Watch the Ryder Cup from one of our fantastic holiday cottages

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Ryder CupIf you love your golf but don’t have the budget to stay at the amazing Gleneagles Hotel, we might have the answer. Stay in one of our lovely holiday cottages that are within a short drive of the course and have the best of both worlds. Enjoy Scotland and the golf at the same time!

Gleneagles is located in Auchterarder in Perthshire. It’s near the A9, 40 miles or so north of Edinburgh. Even when the Ryder Cup isn’t on, it’s a busy and expensive place to stay. That’s great if you can afford it, but not so much if you can’t.

However, staying at the hotel isn’t the only way you can enjoy the golf. Sure you can watch from home on TV, but there’s nothing like being there and watching the pros in action. Why not try staying nearby in a luxury holiday cottage? Despite the popularity of the Ryder Cup, we still have a few vacancies, so it’s not too late yet!

If you have the time to get to Scotland in time to watch some of the golf, we have the cottages to suit. We have a range of high quality holiday accommodation spread across the entire country of Scotland with many in Stirlingshire, Perthshire and Fife. Many within a convenient drive of the Gleneagles Hotel where the Ryder Cup is being held.

Despite the popularity of the event, there are still some cottages with space, so you could easily make a booking and get combine a relaxing weekend in Scotland with a great view of the golf. What more could you want?

Currently, we are also running a special offer on last minute holiday cottages. Find a suitable location, find a great holiday cottage and you could save up to 30% off the usual price. That’s an offer too good to miss!

If you have a family to entertain too, there is a lot to do in that part of Scotland. You have Edinburgh in one direction, Glasgow in the other, Stirling is only a few miles away and then hundreds of square miles of amazing countryside in-between.

Even without the Ryder Cup to take up your time, you’re never short of things to do in this part of the United Kingdom.

Move fast though. The Ryder Cup started Sunday, (21st September) so you don’t have long to make a reservation and get in on the action. Find yourself a great little getaway today by using the interactive map or the search function on the left. The Ryder Cup awaits!