Tag Archives: Tour

Received by Royalty

Posted on December 12, 2012 by | Comments Off

Buckingham PalaceIf you acquired a taste for  English monarchy whilst watching the marvellous Jubilee celebrations earlier this year, then you’ll want to know about a new opportunity to visit the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace in London.

Nearly twenty years ago Her Majesty opened the Palace doors to help pay for the renovations at fire-damaged Windsor Castle – the ‘annus horribilis’ of 1992. Once sufficient funds had been raised, the Palace was to have become private once more, but due to popular demand the tours have continued each year through the summer months. This winter, the Palace is providing on selected dates only  from 22nd December -3rd February 2013, exclusive tours of the majestic State Rooms at the Palace.

The State Rooms are where the Royal Family receives, rewards and entertains important visitors from both home and around the world. So, if you wish to practice your Regal Reception (sorry, no guarantee that HM will be in attendance), then book now as these tickets are bound to go fast.

The 21/2 special tour includes a glass of champagne, a copy of the Palace’s official guidebook and a 20% discount on Palace gift shop purchases.

For information on how to book your tour click on the picture of the Palace.

Have a right royal time!

Blue Badge tourist guide

 

Comments Off

Posted in Events, Royal Family

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Down and Dirty in Brighton

Posted on August 5, 2011 by | Comments Off

Brighton tends to be known for the sea, its glorious pavilion and great street scene but did you know there are folks who prefer what is going on beneath the streets?  

Here’s the photo proof – people emerging into the sunlit uplands from the manhole cover [shouldn't that be acquiring an equal ops identity?] in Victoria Gardens early this week – all had positive things to say about their stroll!

 Tours of the Victorian sewers are available in the town, are proving to be very popular and are not as unpleasant as you might expect. The tunnels are dry and unsmelly (relatively) at this time of year and completely fascinating – or so they tell me!

Comments Off

Posted in Sussex

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Conquer the Tower at Windsor Castle

Posted on July 29, 2011 by | Comments Off

Visitors to Windsor Castle from next Monday will need a little extra puff to climb the 200 steps up the iconic Round Tower  to enjoy breathtaking views of the Castle and Windsor Great Park, the Thames Valley and the London skyline.

The Conquer the Castle tour commences at the ‘cannonade’ at the base of the tower where in medieval times bowmen were stationed as an additional ring of defence for the Castle. The cannonade is now equipped with sixteen 18th-century bronze field guns mounted on cast-iron carriages.

Visitors continue up to the roof of the tower and, standing next to the Castle’s 15-metre flagpole, yes, you can be in someone else’s iconic souvenir picture(!) enjoy views across several counties.

The Round Tower will be open every day in August and September, the Conquer the Tower tour cost £7 per adult and lasts approx. 45 minutes. There is limited availability, with a maximum number of 15 places on each tour. If the tour is a success, it will start running every year.

Comments Off

Posted in Royal Family

Tagged , , , , , ,

Congratulations Brighton!

Posted on April 27, 2011 by | Comments Off

Brighton Pavilion in Sussex has been voted 4th best Tourist Attraction by Trip Advisor and 400,000 visitors a year cannot be wrong.

It is a wonderful place, you cannot help but smile when you see it.

It is the most marvellous architectural romp through all that was being discovered and brought back to England by the East India  Company. Onion domes, minarets, acanthus leaves – eclectic does not describe the half of it. Monochrome  on the outside to show off these feats of cast iron and cladding – and of course, tone it down a little so as not to affect the sensibilities of the local populace – it is a riot of colour and flamboyance on the inside.

Harry Potter meets the Maharajah probably sums it up nicely.

Built for the Prince Regent who later became King George IV it allowed him to let his hair down away from the stuffy London court of his parents, it is a princely pleasure dome. The dining room is truly spectacular with dragons perched over chandeliers, more than 3,000 lamps in all.

Even the kitchens have not been overlooked with palm trees up to the ceiling, but judging by the size of Prinny’s breeches, he was rather keen on his pies!

If you think I am exaggerating, have a peek for yourself, they are currently on show in the Prince Regent Gallery within the Pavilion – Dress for Excess: Fashion in Regency England until February 2012

Blue Badge tourist guide

Comments Off

Posted in Sussex

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gardeners’ Cuttings

Posted on April 26, 2011 by | Comments Off

blubells.JPG Ightham Mote (pronounced Item Moat), near Sevenoaks in Kent  is running Landrover Safaris through their bluebell woods, ideal for those who would not otherwise be able to get out into the woods – nice one National Trust!

Don’t miss the only Grade I listed dog kennel in the Courtyard of the house.

Hole Park Gardens – lovely house and gardens owned by the Barham family who are celebrating living in the house for 100 years this year. Situated near Rolvenden in Kent it is very different than Sissinghurst Castle & Gardens but makes for a good alternative especially on the days that Sissinghurst is shut! (Wednesday & Thursday just in case you are wondering)

There’s an opportunity to win a baluster sundial and plate at the Kent & Sussex Courier stand at the Weald of Kent Craft Show at Penshurst Place, near Sevenoaks in Kent April 30 – 2nd May .

High Beeches, Handcross in Sussex are yet more gardens with beautiful bluebell walks - 27 acres of listed woodland and water gardens, bluebell and azalea walks a wildflower meadow in summer and fantastic autumn colour. The garden hosts the National Collection of Stewartia trees. 

Don’t delay on your azalea and rhododendron visits this year, they are coming into flower earlier than usual in response to the beautiful April weather.

Near Kingston upon Thames in Surrey the Isabella Plantation in the middle of Richmond Park is at its best right now. The Isabella Plantation grows 15 known varieties of deciduous azalea and houses the national collection of 50 Kurume Azaelas, as well as 50 different species of rhododendron and 120 hybrids. The gardens have two ponds, the Still Pond and Peg’s Pond.

Blue Badge tourist guide

Comments Off

Posted in Kent, Surrey, Sussex

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s all in the Timing

Posted on April 22, 2011 by | Comments Off
The Queen attends the Royal Maundy Service at Westminster Abbey

Evening Standard photo

Accompanied a coach tour from Dover Docks to London yesterday and had one of those special co-incidences of timing that you could never engineer however hard you tried. As the coach went past Westminster Abbey, HM the Queen was coming out, having taken part in the Maundy Thursday service – fantastic photo opportunity for everyone on the coach.

And quite frankly that would have been enough to make their day but when the coach pulled up outside the Tower of London, the Queen’s 85th birthday cannon salute had just started, noise of gunfire and smoke everywhere – the icing on the (birthday) cake!

21 rounds are fired for for Happy Birthday + 20 rounds because the Tower is a Royal Palace & Fortress + 21 ‘for the City of London’ = 62 rounds in all.

My grateful thanks to Mick the coach driver from Crosskeys Coaches who was responsible for making it a wonderful day for a group of very happy German tourists AND he didn’t even get stuck in any of the London  I’m-getting-out-of-here-it’s-holiday-time traffic exodus.

 

Blue Badge tourist guide

Comments Off

Posted in Royal Family

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mixed Emotions

Posted on April 20, 2011 by | Comments Off

Well, today has been a bit up and down to say the least. A good start with a jog in Knole Park – it was lovely this morning with a little mist in the hollows and a few deer looking at me in astonishment.

Morning progressed well with a networking meeting in Tunbridge Wells – Twuttle in the Trinity Theatre Café. Great place to meet people, very informal, and a useful exchange of ideas without being too pushy. Had a lesson on how to Twitter effectively from Peter Chapman, so follow my tweets and see if I listened well!

Raced back PDQ to change and go on to Titsey Place a beautiful country manor house near Oxted in Surrey where I am guiding for the summer season. Lovely lunch provided and got to meet the Innes family who are the ‘chairpersons’ of trustees of the house. Hadn’t had time to fill up with fuel and was just praying that I would not run out just in front of the house – would have been so ignominious – think I would have died of shame. Anyhow, you get what you wish for in this world, and I did get to the fuel station, breathed a sigh of relief, rapidly filled the car up, paid and went on my way determined to get home early and enjoy a few rays in the garden.

One mile on car grinds to a halt: petrol instead of diesel – argggh! The car is not new, it is nearly 4 years old, I have never done this before, I cannot explain it!

Two hours wasted sitting in lay-by until rescued by irate husband. We abandon my car to be towed to the garage later. Not much said on the way home.

My knight in shining armour is Jack, owner of Weald Garage in Weald village. He will tow the car back, drain it and have it ready by tomorrow lunchtime – brilliant, except I have to in Dover by 7.30am. Double brilliant; Jack lends me his own car for the day – isn’t that just fantastic? Many thanks, Jack.

Got to stop now, need wine.

Blue Badge tourist guide

Comments Off

Posted in Bringing in the Business, Home, Family & Fun

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Union Flag Extravaganza

Posted on April 20, 2011 by | Comments Off

Had to go up to London yesterday and walked from Charing Cross through Regent Street and beyond. The Union Flag display in Regent Street is simply spectacular with enormous flags strung across the road all the way along – really made me think about what it is to be British and proud of it. Great pictures in the Evening Standard taken from above the road. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/royal-wedding/article-23942856-prince-william-and-kate-middleton-to-say-i-do-live-on-youtube.do

Perhaps this will help us lose our national self consciousness about flying the English Cross of St George flag and let the negative political connotations of the past be consigned just there, the past, and we can once again genuinely celebrate and take pleasure in our identity.

Dawn

Blue Badge tourist guide

Comments Off

Posted in Home, Family & Fun

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

1st May Sevenoaks Town Walk – know your town

Posted on April 19, 2011 by | Comments Off

Come and walk the talk, delve into the history of the ancient market town of Sevenoaks as we stroll through the town on Sunday 1st May, the first day of summer.

We meet at the Stag Theatre, London Road at 10.00am come rain or shine for an entertaining and informative tour around the town; from the ancient church of St Nicholas to the home of English cricket and much more besides. The tour is devised and led by Blue Badge tour  guide Dawn Blee.

Looking forward to seeing you!

£5.00 per person + concessions to be paid on arrival.

Duration: under 2 hours.

 

 

Blue Badge tourist guide

Comments Off

Posted in Kent

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sevenoaks walking tour

Posted on April 14, 2011 by | Comments Off

clip_image002[4]I’m putting the final touches to my guided walk of Sevenoaks and it has been a fascinating experience working on a town I thought I already knew really well.

There’s a lovely story about No. 132 High Street, Sevenoaks – in 1900 it was owned by a certain Thomas Parris. He and his two daughters ran a restaurant on the site serving lunches and light teas. All perfectly straightforward until you remember that each business would have owned a horse – too early for many cars to be around – have a look at the building, how would the horse get to his stable in the backyard?

You’ve guessed it – through the restaurant of course – twice a day, there and back! Just imagine the fun the Elves of Safety would have with that today!

I’m not letting on what No. 132 is today, go and check out the High Street for yourself, it’s a lovely mix of architecture from  from 1600’s onwards.

Dawn

Blue Badge tourist guide

Comments Off

Posted in Kent

Tagged , , , , , ,