The Fylde Coast is home to the Victorian seaside resort of Lytham St Annes. With a well-deserved reputation amongst the well-heeled classes, the town has long catered for the slightly higher end of the market.

Further up the coast is the razzmatazz of the world famous Blackpool. Blackpool is a town whose reputation proceeds it, and whilst it may need no introduction, it has made several significant changes over the last few years. Whilst the plans for the super casino didn’t quite make it through the final government decision process, much of the town is still earmarked for improvement and regeneration, along with attracting businesses back into the area.

But back to Lytham St Annes.

The town has an attraction all of its own when it comes to the retired folk – they flock to the place in their thousands looking for somewhere to settle down once the corporate life is over. The pavement cafes abound in Lytham and the town has a cosmopolitan feel about it. Of the twin towns of Lytham and St Annes, it is the latter that attracts the hotel trade, possibly due to it closer proximity to Blackpool, so this is where the hotels are to be found.

North Promenade is home to most of the St. Annes hotels, with a fine range all lined up near the Victorian Pier overlooking the Irish Sea. A lot of the hotels in St Annes cater equally well for families and business functions, although in line with many of the prevailing trends in recent years, many of them have had to move with the times and adjust their service offerings accordingly. A lot of the hotels rely on the golf trade, with the town’s many golf courses bringing in visitors from far and wide. Other hotels offer spa weekends and other such pampering delights!.

Pricing and packages among the different hotels is keen and always competitive. St Annes hotels generally appeal to a different demographic than their Blackpool equivalents, and certainly people visit the two towns for different reasons. Most Blackpool hotel owners would agree that their peak times are during the illuminations in October and November and the busy summer months, and the town can be eerily quiet outside those times.

St Annes will always be a popular destination for holiday makes and day visitors, due to its excellent local amenities and its proximity to the surrounding countryside and the Lake District just further north, which is why it is such an appealing place to go.

Technorati Tags: Britain, lytham, st annes, travel, United Kingdom

One of the very best places to visit within the world is the United Kingdom. Every year millions of vacationers decide to visit the United Kingdom and with the number of great locations to stay and places to visit. The United Kingdom is blessed with a mix of beautiful countryside and busy cities. The sixth most visited country within the world by overseas visitors, the United Kingdom has a lot to offer. People go to the UK to see the wealth of historical and modern culture the country has to offer with sports events and shopping probably the most popular activities to do. Probably the most popular time for people to visit the UK is throughout the summer with July to September more than likely to be the peak time for vacationers from overseas.

The senior citizens constitute one in five of the tourists to the UK. This group of visitors tend to want a longer holiday where they can relax and they typically spend more funds than other visitors. As a result of their need to relax, the over 55’s prefer to stay in luxurious holiday accommodation. Whilst younger visitors that are staying in a city might look for a spending budget hotel or a hostel, the over 55’s are more likely to stay in more costly hotels. This older demographic of visitors is more likely to stay within the countryside of the UK rather than a city as they are more interested in a quiet and relaxing holiday. As a result a few of the most popular accommodation chosen by this demographic is significantly sized luxury holiday cottages.

With regards to domestic tourism in Britain, luxury holiday cottages are chosen by many families and folks taking brief breaks. The reason for this is that holiday cottages provide a significant amount of space and all of the facilities that are needed to truly relax. They’re great should you need a significant location to house your entire family or a large group of friends. If a family is looking to book accommodation for the entire family, then there’s a great chance they will need to bring a family pet. Just over 70% of those that choose to stay in a holiday cottage will need to bring along their families dog. As a result of this demand the number of dog friendly holiday cottages has increased substantially.

The UK has a great deal of areas that are very popular with tourists but in terms of rented cottages the south of England is probably the most popular destination. Counties like Cornwall, Devon and Dorset are among the most popular. This is hardly surprising as these areas all have some thing in common; great beaches, great weather and a range of various places to visit and things to do. The coastlines are the large selling point whether you would like to just take pleasure in the beaches or get involved in various aquatic sports. Cottages in Cornwall are typically rented by surfers, where as holiday cottages in Dorset and Devon are frequently chosen by folks that prefer to go scuba diving or spending a day on a yacht.

Technorati Tags: accommodation, Cottages, holiday, tourism, United Kingdom

When I was 16, I got to take a trip to The City Of London. I can’t even begin to explain how amazing it was. Luckily, I was armed with a camera and a little bit of money, so I was able to walk away not only with some of the greatest memories I have, but also some souvenirs and lots of pictures. I’ve spent years figuring out how I can make my way back there. Even though I had to deal with a missing passport and finding the right kind of electrical adapters, getting to go to London proved to be one of the most inspiring and unforgettable moments of my life.

The Tower of London is one of the oldest buildings in London. It was used most famously as a royal prison and place of torture, but it has served many other uses, such as an armory, treasury, menagerie, an observatory, and also as a fortress. A treasure trove for any history buff, the Tower of London holds a whole day’s worth of exploring. Seeing the ravens makes it worth going, just by itself. These huge black birds walk around the lawn, and, believe it or not, they are one of the most important guests of the Tower of London. It is said that if the ravens ever left the Tower, then the kingdom would fall. Not only do the ravens have their very own living quarters, but they have their own personal handler as well.

Big Ben is probably one of the most recognizable monuments in London. As the third largest clock tower in the world, this huge and incredibly beautiful tower is even more breathtaking in real life. It is readily apparent why Big Ben has been represented for generations in films, TV, and books. Standing at the base of the clock tower is a really neat experience. I’ll be the first to admit that I’d rather not get into inner-workings of the government, getting to visit Parliament was really pretty inspiring. Getting to see first-hand how the government of London, United Kingdom runs taught me a lot, and I left feeling happy that I decided to go.

As cliche as it is, I had to see the Changing of the Guards. Although I didn’t try to make him laugh or kiss him or anything, they are armed after all, but I did get my picture taken. But who knows? If I go back, maybe I will end up kissing one. Many different locations have a Changing of the Guards, and I recommend seeing one for yourself if you are in any of these locations. The plethora of gardens and parks located in London is unbelievable. Huge plots of flowers of every color roll on the landscape, surrounded by swans and beautiful artistic sculptures. Since it is free, and since it makes walking anywhere amazing, I definitely recommend going.

London shopping is unlike any other. All you need is a purse with plenty of money, and don’t forget your passport, and you are set. Camden market is any teenager’s shopping heaven, and some of my favorite souvenirs were purchased there. From classy boutiques to a punk rocker’s paradise, there is something for absolutely everyone, and it is almost impossible not to be walking away with armloads of stuff.

Everyone in your family can walk away with some unforgettable experiences after a London visit. I definitely did. If you’ve never been able to see London for yourself, I recommend you take a trip there sometime. I promise, it’s even worth the hassle of having to find that missing passport.

If you need to renew your passport or get a new one before your London vacation, check out USPassportNow.com for excellent service.

Technorati Tags: England, london, London travel, London U.K., United Kingdom