#in the list of Great Lakes: we have a Lake Victoria Albert and Edward

[songofwizardry]

more for your consideration:

the phrase "The Great Lakes" now refers to the African great lakes in the East African Rift Valley (which include Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, Lake Albert, Lake Turkana...)

the "Plegde of Allegiance" now refers to the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the Philippines

the "dollar" with no additional clarification refers to the currency of Brunei

We've had enough of the English-speaking internet defaulting to USAmerican terms that we are all forced to learn against our will. Here are the new default settings:

"Southern" no longer means Texas. It now refers to the Philippine island of Mindanao.

"The Midwest" is now Harare, Zimbabwe.

The default legal system is now that of the devolved administration of Scotland.

"College" is an educational institution for 13 to 18 year olds, as in some parts of New Zealand.

The "president" is that of Guyana, currently Irfaan Ali.

If you use these terms to refer to something in the USA then you have to specify or else we won't know what you're talking about and you'll sound like an idiot. Thanks!

[londontopsightstours]

The Best Walks in London

London is a vast city with plenty to do for everyone! Being as big as it is, London has some wonderful walks that any visitor or city dweller can do on their own or with friends.  Here is a list of the top 10 walks you can take when visiting the English Capital.

St James's Park

St. James Park is the oldest Royal park in London. The area where St. James's Park lies today was actually once the site of a lepers hospital for women. The history of this park goes way back to King Henry VIII buying the land from Eton College in 1532, and transforming the land into his own personal deer-hunting and duck-shooting ground. King James I even introduced various exotic animals to the park in 1603, such as crocodiles and even an elephant and a camel. In the 1820s, the park got an extreme home makeover. It was remodeled in the new naturalistic style. On a walk, a visitor can now stroll alongside a curving lake, winding path,  and beautiful shrubberies all designed by landscaper John Nash in 1827. The work was commissioned by the Prince Regent, later George lV. It was part of a huge project that created many of London's best-known landmarks, including Regent's Park and Regent's Street. The park you see today is still very much as Nash designed it and there have been only small changes since. Traffic was allowed to use The Mall in 1887, and the area outside Buckingham Palace was remodelled in 1906 to make space for the Victoria Memorial.  What was once an elegant suspension bridge was built across the lake in 1857 and was replaced 100 years later by the concrete, and much safer structure we use today.  An added bonus is that this park is centrally located in Westminster, and from certain parts of your stroll, Buckingham Palace is visible.

The Capital Ring Walk 

The Capital Ring Walk  is a circular “Walk London route”. While it covers almost 78 miles, the walk is conveniently split up into 15 sections so anyone can walk at their own pace. One particular point of interest on this walk is the Abney Road Cemetery. Abney was unique in being the first arboretum to be combined with a cemetery in Europe; offering an educational attraction that was originally set in a landscape of fields and woods, some distance from the built-up boundary of London. This sight is considered to be one of the “Magnificent 7” cemeteries in London, meaning that it is one of the biggest and most beautiful cemeteries in the English capital, that sprung up during the Victorian age.

The London Wall Walk 

From around 200 AD, the shape of London was defined by one single structure; it’s massive city wall. From Tower Hill in the East to Blackfriars Station in the West, the wall stretched for two miles around the ancient City of London. In modern London, the layout is very different, but the remnants of its ancient past are still apparent. On an afternoon stroll, a walker should start at  Tower Hill, and then travel north to Aldgate and Bishopsgate where parts of the wall still steadily stand. Following the layout of the old wall, travelers should head along the north, past Moorgate, Cripplegate and West Cripplegate. In this section, there are remains of an old Roman Fort, the wall ends South towards Newgate, Ludgate and Blackfriars, and a walker will conclude in modern London, having traveled in the footsteps of its ancient citizens.

Thames Path

The Thames path may seem a little self explanatory but it is anything but ordinary. On this path, a traveler can see the greatest river in England for 184 miles from its source in the Cotswold hills to the sea and all around London. While this path stretches  79.5 miles down one side, it is divided into four sections on both the North and South Bank. Being right alongside the Thames, it also passes by some of the greatest city landmarks such as Parliament, The Globe, The London Eye, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Thames Barrier, South Bank, Hampton Court Palace, Chiswick Pier, Albert Bridge, Erith Marshes and The Royal Docks. Travelers looking for a more laid back stroll may be interested in the  Hampton Court to Albert Bridge stroll on the path. This long and winding walk will have you soaking up the Royal Palaces of Hampton and Kew, and give you the chance to enjoy an incredible view of the Thames floodplain below Richmond Hill.It’s a well sign posted route, with plenty of spots along the way for you to drink, shop, stop, or have a meal.

South Bank stroll

One of London's most iconic walking routes is South Bank. Easily accessible and on pavement for those with ability concerns, this leisurely walk will take you past The Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern, and if any should peak your curiosity, you can easily pop in and out without ever leaving the paths route.   Continuing along the river, you pass HMS Belfast, a Royal Navy battleship that served in the Second World War, and is now open to the public. After passing HMS Belfast, although you can continue along the river a short way, it's better to head away from the river through Hay's Galleria, a shopping arcade - you can't miss it, it's dominated by a vast vaguely-boat-shaped statue - onto Tooley Street, where there is a view of London Bridge.

East End Walk 

Fancy a walk in the hippest part of town? Try the East End Walk. Start at the curious dog-shaped Aldgate Pump and discover Leadenhall Market and the ever trendy Brick Lane. This walk will also take you past old Spitafeilds market, one of the most historic shopping venues in London. There has been a market on the site since 1638 when King Charles I gave a licence for flesh, fowl and roots to be sold on Spittle Fields.  After the rights to the market had seemingly lapsed during the time of the Commonwealth, the market was re-founded in 1682 by King Charles II in order to feed the burgeoning population of a new suburb of London. Now, the market is home to trendy clothes, artisanal foods, art and music. The East End walk will have something to entertain everyone in your group.

Westminster to Whitehall Walk 

If you’re spending the day taking in the sights and sounds of historic Westminster, the Westminster and Whitehall Walk is easily accessible via any route in the area. Short by walking trail standards, this three mile walk takes you past some of London’s most famous tourist attractions including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Number 10 Downing Street. Make sure to plan your trip accordingly in order to catch the changing of the Guard outside of Buckingham Palace.

Hampstead Heath

In contrast to the finely trimmed walks of central London, the enormous Hampstead Heath nature reserve offers a wild, untamed walking experience with great views across the city. This royal park  has over 30 ponds, huge bright rhododendron bushes bursting with colour, and a vast variety of wildlife. Running along its eastern perimeter are a three open-air public swimming pools which were originally reservoirs for drinking water from the River Fleet. To the north east of the heath is a derelict site within the conservation area comprising the grounds and mansion of the former Caen Wood Towers.This historic building, currently in disrepair, was built in 1872 for Edward Brooke, aniline dye manufacturer. In 1942 the building was taken for war service by the Royal Air Force and was used to house the RAF Intelligence. Casually strollers can feel free to explore this building if they wish.

Beautiful Hampstead Heath is one of the  biggest green areas in London – over 791 acres of woodland and meadows. So be sure to bring your walking shoes, and bug spray!

London’s City Tree Trail 

On the theme of nature in a big city, the City Tree Walk is the perfect stroll for those looking for a little green while not wishing to leave London. A short walk, the trail is designed to take in eleven significant trees found within a two-mile route of St Paul’s Cathedral and also incorporates sites of historical importance such as the London City Wall, the Barbican, Smithfields Market, the Old Bailey, Cheapside, Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral. This walk should take you roughly one hour, however if you are pushed for time, there is a shorter route of thirty minutes which can be followed on the map. There are plenty of parks and gardens along the way to sit and relax in, enjoy a picnic or have fun on the play equipment.

London’s City Tree Trail is described as a celebration of the diverse tree population and history of the Square Mile. It is also intended to highlight the importance of urban trees across the world and the need for people to continue planting and caring for them.

Jack The Ripper Walk

Founded on some of London's more sordid history, visitors of London can recreate the murderous path of one of the city's most infamous residents.

Between August and November 1888,the Whitechapel area of London was the scene of five brutal murders. The killer was dubbed 'Jack the Ripper'. Although a murderer was never found, there has been much speculation as to the identity of the killer. It has been suggested that he or she was a doctor or butcher, based on the evidence of weapons and the mutilations that occurred, which showed a knowledge of human anatomy. Many theories have been put forward suggesting individuals who might be responsible. One theory links the murders with Queen Victoria's grandson, Prince Albert Victor, also known as the Duke of Clarence, although the evidence for this is insubstantial.On this spooky walk,  visitors will stroll through the dark and narrow streets of London’s famous Victorian East End and  trace the footsteps and crime scenes of the murders Jack the Ripper committed. This walk  is not for the faint hearted.

Be sure to check out our own Jack The Ripper walking tour and all of our other exciting tours on our website! 

[castlesinengland-blog]

4 Best Castles to Visit in England

History is interesting. It is full of stories, theories, myths, controversies and beautiful architectures. Those marvellous creations of the epic age always appeal the most to our eyes, and if you are a history lover, they fuel your imaginations to the extent that you actually start experiencing the history unfolding right in front of you.

For such history buffs, there can be nothing better than travelling across England and visiting those mighty castles which  once housed the formidable people in the world. Today we bring to you the 4 most known castles in England which you can visit to satisfy the evergreen historian in you.

·         Leeds Castle

The Leeds Castle is situated in Kent, England which is 5 miles away from southeast of Maidstone. The castle was built in 1119. During the 13th century it was owned by King Edward I, for whom it was his favourite place of residence. The castle then passed over from one monarch to another as no king could manage to ignore the beauty of this magnificent structure.

The castle was built on the islands in a lake which is formed by the river Len, which now flows on the east side of the village of Leeds. Leeds Castle has been opened to the public since 1976 and thereafter has remained a favourite tourist destination for all the tourists who visit Leeds.

The origins of the castle can go back to 857 AD when the land on which the castle now stands established, was taken up by the Saxon chief called Leed who then built a wooden structure on two islands. Robert de Crevecoeur then went on to build the Leeds Castle in 1119 which then descended through the de Crevecoeur family. This rich history of the castle is enough to lure you to visit it. It is quite overwhelming to be in a place this old and to experience its aura around you while you stand on that rocky floor on which great men and women once walked.

The last private owner of the castle was the Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie who bought the castle in 1926 for £ 180,000. She brought about the redecoration of its interiors by appointing French architect and designer Armand-Albert to oversee the exterior alteration who then also added interior features such as 16th century style carved oak staircase in the castle. It is delightful to see all these masterpieces which still shine as if they were crafted yesterday.

It would also tickle your mind with interest when you will know that the massive castle you would be standing in had also served as a hospital during the World War 2 where Lady Baillie and her daughters hosted burned Commonwealth airmen as part of the wounded soldiers’ recovery drive.

Leeds Castle also has a maze in it which was opened in 1988 and is made of 2,400 yew trees. An aviary was added in the castle around 1980 and by 2011 it swelled to contain more than 100 species. The castle also holds the world’s only museum of dog collars and has a golf course as well.

The castle was also a location for a film shot in 1949 named Kind Hearts and Coronets. It has also been used for small screen entertainment shows such as The Moonraker (1958) and Waltz of Toreadors (1962). It was also seen in serials such as Doctor Who, The Androids of Tara both of 1978 and had once been used for filming a live concert.

The Leeds Castle is one of the most   recognised  structures internationally  and also one of the 57 heritage sites in England which receives more than 500,000 visitors annually. You thus cannot avoid visiting this old beauty which stands calmly waiting for you to appreciate its splendid structure.

·         Warwick Castle

Warwick castle located in Warwick which is a county town of Warwickshire, England is a medieval castle developed from a wooden motte-and-bailey castle of 1068. This wooden castle was built by William the Conqueror and was later developed during the 12th century. At the time of Hundred Years War, the castle played a pivotal role and was owned by the Greville family who then became the Earls of Warwick in 1759 who then stayed at that position till 1978 when finally the castle was bought by the Tussauds Group. In 2007 the group merged with Merlin entertainments, which now currently owns the property. Thus even though the castle wasn’t passed on from one family to another, had been of significant relevance during one of the great wars of England and so has a lot of history attached to it.

There were many important people who visited the castle during the 17th century which then grew more in the 19th century making the castle, a medieval hub for the intellectuals to meet. Being a history buff you would surely like to visit such a place where important discussions took place  which then shaped the course of history of England. You might also be fascinated by the fact that in 1858 even the Queen Victoria visited the 4th Earl with great local celebrations.

Warwick castle is  known for its beauty and was appreciated for its impressive structure so much that it had many commoners visiting it, just  to behold its sheer size and splendour. It is said that visitors soon became a nuisance and so a ticketing system was started by 1900 to police the trouble making visitors. There were also guides appointed who then explained the new visitors about the history of the castle.

As a visitor, you too will be exposed to the rich amount of information about the castle which your guide may tell you. You will also get to see a huge spread of armoury, artefacts, treasures and many other historic items which will impress you to the fullest. This spread is also regarded as the second best after the tower of London.

Throughout the 20th century the Earls of Warwick castle expanded its tourism potential by banking on the already receiving tourists. In 1978 it was then sold to a media and entertainment company who opened more tourist attractions in the castle which may excite you even more. If it still doesn’t excite you enough, remember that the Warwick castle is also named in Britain’s Top 10 historic houses and monuments. This is due to the restoration work done by the media company who now owns the castle. Also in 2003 the castle was recognised as Britain’s best castle and had more than half a million visitors on an annual basis.

Another attraction there is the trebuchet located in the castle. It is the world’s biggest trebuchet which also is functional. It is 18 metres tall and is made from 300 pieces of oak wood which weighs around 22 tones. Imagine the amount of destruction this machine would have done in medieval wars. You thus wouldn’t want to miss out on giving it a visit.

There are other seasonal exhibits of the castle as well where in you may get to see Flight of Eagles, events such as archery, jousting, trebuchet show and sword displays. There also are musical events which may please your ears, and if you are inclined on getting some thrill then there are few ghost stories linked to the Watergate tower of the castle as well.

·         Alnwick Castle

Alnwick castle located in Northumberland is the seat of the Duke of that region. It was built after the Norman Conquest and was renovated for a number of times. It entered the list of grade I buildings in 2012 and receives 800,000 visitors per year.

The current Duke and his family still lives in the castle, but occupies only a part of it while the remaining castle is kept open for the visitors. It is the second largest castle after the Windsor castle which is still inhibited by its owners. Also Alnwick castle was the tenth most visited stately home in England according to the Historic Houses Association.

Another point of interest about the castle is that it was used as an educational establishment during the time of World War II. This educational background to the castle will give you many unique things of interest such as huge libraries, stacks of old research study papers, etc. which cannot be found in other old castles.

Alnwick castle also houses special exhibitions in the castle’s perimeter towers. The Postern Tower features the exhibition on the Dukes of Northumberland and their interests in archaeology which includes frescoes from Pompeii, relics from Ancient Egypt and Romano-British artefacts.

The Constable’s tower hold exhibitions which houses military displays like Percy Tenantry Volunteers exhibition, local volunteer soldiers rose to repel Napoleon’s planned invasion of the 1798-1814 period. The Abbot’s Tower houses the Regimental Museum of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.

If you are not pulled towards the castle by these historic exhibitions then there is more that can hold your interest. The castle was used in the shooting of Harry Potter films. Such appearances of the castle in such big films have shaped the public image of the castle which is in total contrast to what it looks like in reality. So if you feel you have seen the castle enough in the films, then make sure you  visit it and capture its real beauty.

Besides the castle is the Alnwick garden which is a formal garden set around a cascading fountain which was initially established by Jane Percy, Duchess of Northumberland. It came at a cost of £42 million which now belongs to a charitable trust which is separate from the Northumberland Estates.

The garden is very spacious and magnificently beautiful which can give you a soothing effect if you sit in there during the time of evening after you spend your entire day walking around the castle. This beautiful garden was designed by Jacques Wirtz and Peter Wirtz of Wirtz International based in Schoten, Belgium which is well known for its exceptional work in architecture.

Following is the list of films and TV series where in the Castle Alnwick was used as a production set design.

·         Films

o    1954 Prince Valiant

o    1964 Becket

o    1971 Mary, Queen of Scots

o    1979 The Spaceman and King Arthur

o    1982 Ivanhoe, starring Anthony Andrews and James Mason

o    1990 or 1991 The Timekeeper

o    1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

o    1998 Monk Dawson

o    1998 Elizabeth (film)

o    2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

o    2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

o    2010 Robin Hood, directed by Ridley Scott

o    2017 Transformers: The Last Knight, directed by Michael Bay

 ·         Television

o    1983 The Black Adder

o    1984–86 Robin of Sherwood

o    1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation

o    1995 Antiques Roadshow

o    1995 The Fast Show

o    2005 The Virgin Queen.

o    2009 Dickinson's Real Deal

o    2011 Red or Black?

o    2012 Flog It!

o    2012 The Hollow Crown

o    2014/2015 Downton Abbey

 ·         Warkworth Castle

This castle is not there in any lists of famous heritage sites in England or lists of beautiful structures in the country, yet it can be worth  visiting this old ruined castle situated in Warkworth which is an English county of Northumberland. This is because it has a different view point through which you can look at a castle.

Its ruins particularly state the kind of damage a castle faces at the time of war. Its destroyed pillars and walls show  you the exact amount of pressure a castle withstands at the time of war to save its owner. The castle doesn’t provide you a spectacular view but if you observe it closely, you may find its beauty hidden in its ruins.

The Warkworth town and the Warkworth castle occupy a loop of river Conquet which is less than a mile away from England’s north-east coast. The date of origin of the castle is unknown but it is believed that Prince Henry of Scotland established it in mid 12th century.

The castle was first documented in a charter of 1157-1164 when Henry II granted it to Roger Fitz Richard. The main reason for its ruins can be considered as it being left undefended by its owner when the Scotland army invaded it in 1173. Hence there is a strong history behind this castle as well.

Not only the ruins, but there is some more historic background to the castle. This castle was used as a backdrop in several scenes of William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2. It also has been a central point during the English civil wars.

Since now you know which 4 are the main centres where you can satisfy your hunger for history, you can now plan your vacation, pack your bags, book one of the Hemel taxis near to you, reach the airport and fly to your dreams.