Category Archives: Journeys through the British Isles

A three-hour video documentary that explores England, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Emerald Isle with fascinating stories of kings, castles, cities, authors and intriguing characters, all back-dropped by the scenic beauty of the British Isles. (Photo: Pulteney Bridge, VisitBath.co.uk)

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England: London’s Historical Hotels

Posted on March 11, 2013 by On Top Of The World

With space at a premium, London’s boutique hotels have had to make the most of every medieval nook and cranny. The result gleaned from Tudor and Victorian architecture provides for some intriguing rooms where famous historical figures once slept and heightens the London experience. Who wouldn’t want to sleep in a room with connections to Shakespeare, a Jesuit Seminary, an Asylum or a dubious vicar? Afternoon tea at the Dorchester is a tradition made famous by many of the hotel’s celebrity guests. For more information check out Journeys through the British Isles, episode #9 and Destinations article on “Sleeping Around with the Rich and Famous”.

Posted in Journeys through the British Isles | Tagged asylum, Buckingham Palace, Dorchester, Elizabeth Taylor, Hotel "41", Jesuit seminary, Kensington Palace, London, Milestone hotel, Park Lane, Philip Mountbatten, Richard Burton, Shakespeare, Tudor | Leave a comment

England: Hampton Court Palace

Posted on March 11, 2013 by On Top Of The World

Hampton Court Palace is soaked in history from beheadings to betrayals and was built for Henry the V111th in 1515. It is located just west of London on the River Thames and is one of England’s largest Tudor buildings containing priceless paintings and tapestries. Along with a herd of deer and a golf club, the Palace grounds include 800 acres of parkland, a 300-year old maze, and a Baroque garden discovered during an archaeological dig. For more information check out Journeys through the British Isles, episode #8.

Posted in Journeys through the British Isles | Tagged archaeology, architecture, baroque, Baroque garden, deer, Hampton Court Palace, Henry V111th, history, London, maze, paintings, Sunbury village, tapestries, Thames, Tudor | Leave a comment

England: Cruising the River Thames

Posted on March 11, 2013 by On Top Of The World

London was built on the Thames and this cruise gives a sense of the city that was once capital of the world’s greatest empire. The journey reveals centuries of history and tradition: the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the first churches built after the 17th century Great Fire, Billingsgate Fish Market, and the infamous Tower of London. Starting near Westminster we pass under ten bridges, including the Millennium Bridge and the magnificent Tower Bridge, built in 1894. At journey’s end we taste our way through the Vinopolis Wine Museum and explore Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. For more information check out Journeys through the British Isles, episode #7.

Posted in Journeys through the British Isles | Tagged Big Ben, Billingsgate Fish Market, Buckingham Palace, Canary Wharf, Christopher Wren, City of London, Cleopatra’s Needle, Cutty Sark, English Channel, Great Fire, Greenwich, HMS Belfast, Houses of Parliament, London, Millennium Bridge, Old Royal Observatory, Romans, Royal Naval College, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Sir Francis Drake, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Gallery, Thames, The Golden Hind, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Vinopolis Wine Museum, West India Docks, Westminster | Leave a comment

Journeys: Pembrokeshire, Wales — Castles and Coast

Posted on December 11, 2012 by On Top Of The World

Pembrokeshire in Wales is a hidden national treasure with beautiful gardens, the only National Coast Park in Britain, and the Landsker, a line of castles and strongholds built in the 11th century by Normans to act as a barrier between England and Wales. We visit Pembroke Castle, the centre for Norman rule in West Wales, and where Henry Tudor was born, and Carew Castle built on the site of an Iron Age fort. Picton and Upton Castles, Saundersfoot and Colby have magnificent gardens and for scenery we were blown away by the sweeping crescent of jagged cliffs, sandy beaches, and incredible sea views along the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Path. For more information check out episode #6 in Journeys through the British Isles.

Posted in Journeys through the British Isles | Tagged Amroth, Bosherston, Carew Castle, Colby Woodland Gardens, cycling holiday, Earl of Shrewsbury, farm holiday, Henry Tudor, Iron Age Fort, Landsker Borderlands, Landsker tourism, medieval, Normans, Pembroke Castle, Pembrokeshire National Coastal Park, Picton Castle, Queen Elizabeth 1, Rhy ap Thomas, Roger de Montgomery, Saundersfoot, Sir John Carew, Stammers Gardens, Trail holidays, Upton Castle and Gardens, Upton Chapel, Wales, Welsh | Leave a comment

The Canals of London, England

Posted on September 4, 2012 by On Top Of The World

London may be a bustling capital with famous landmarks but venture off the tourist trail and you can spend an afternoon cruising through the heart of Little Venice on the old canals. We passed through scenery unchanged for nearly 200 years. The canals were designed for the old barges that loaded coal from ships that had sailed up the River Thames and then transported the fuel to the underground bunkers of London’s power houses. You can travel the 2,000 mile canal system up to Scotland but in London we took a leisurely trip from Maida Vale to Camden Market with a stop at the Zoo and then back to enjoy dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane. For more information check out Episode #5 under Journeys through the British Isles.

Posted in Journeys through the British Isles | Tagged barges, Britain, Camden Market, canals, Coal, Dorchester Hotel, Elizabeth Taylor, England, Grand Union, history, Little Venice, London, London Zoo, Maida Vale, Paddington Basin, Park Lane, Piccadilly Circus, Prince Phillip, Regent’s Park Canal, Richard Burton, River Thames, Scotland, tourism | Leave a comment

In the Footsteps of Harry Potter

Posted on August 31, 2012 by On Top Of The World

JK Rowling’s stories of the boy wizard were brought to life by film-makers using the scenic beauty of Great Britain and many of the country’s outstanding historic buildings. Following in the footsteps of Harry Potter takes us from London England and south to Devon as we explore the connections between the stories, the film locations and links with Camelot and history. Along with fun attractions for young travellers, the feature includes London highlights, Gloucester Cathedral, Glastonbury Abbey and Tintagel Castle. For more info and links see Episode #4 in Journeys through the British Isles.

Posted in Journeys through the British Isles | Tagged Avalon, Big Sheep, Camelot, Clovelly, Cotswold long barrows, Devon, Edinburgh, Edward cult, England, Glastonbury Abbey, Gloucester Cathedral, Harry Potter, history, Hogwarts School of Wizardry, horse whispering, JK Rowling, King Arthur, King Edward 2nd, King’s Cross Station, London Zoo, Merlin, mythology, Queen Guinevere, reptile house, Scotland, Tintagel Castle, tourism, United Kingdom, wizards | Leave a comment

Journeys: In the Footsteps of Charles Dickens

Posted on July 11, 2011 by On Top Of The World

The celebrated author Charles Dickens created colourful characters from his observation of life. He grew up in England at a time when the country was bursting with energy following the Napoleonic wars and Battle of Waterloo. We visit the city of Rochester and the small coastal resort of Broadstairs in Kent where people, places and incidents were woven into his books and where local annual festivals now celebrate his life and work. For more information visit our Journeys through the British Isles category and check out episode #3

Posted in Journeys through the British Isles | Tagged Author, Battle of Waterloo, Betsy Trotwoods House, Bleak House, British Isles, Broadstairs, Charles Dickens, Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Dickens Fellowship, Dickens House, England, Festivals, Fort House, Great Expectations, Kent County, Napoleonic Wars, Pickwick, Rochester, Royal Albion Hotel | Leave a comment

Journeys through the British Isles: Castles of Kent

Posted on July 4, 2011 by On Top Of The World

The art of warfare and the history of castle building unfold as the region of Kent in England defends itself through the ages from Roman, Norman and French invasion. Early earthen forts were replaced with wooden motte and bailey architecture and to protect their settlements and ports Romans built forts at strategically important waterways. Many of these forts were stout enough for the Normans to throw up their own solid stone castles when they invaded in 1066. We visit the castles of Dover, Rochester, Reculver, Richborough, Stuttfall, Tonbridge, Hever, Leeds, Walmer and Deal. Many castles have now evolved into heritage properties set in beautiful grounds throughout Britain. The Great British Heritage Pass (HeritagePassBritain.com) is only available to non-UK residents and allows unlimited admission to nearly 500 historic properties. For more info on this episode and others in the series check the “Journeys” category, then “read more” and “episode info“. Additional info: www.visitkent.co.uk and www.visitbritain.com

Posted in Journeys through the British Isles | Tagged 1066, Ann Boleyn, Britain, canons, Castles, Deal, Dover, English Channel, forts, French, gunpowder, Henry 8th, heritage properties, Hever, Igtham Mote, Kent, Leeds, moats., motte and bailey, Norman, Reculver, Richborough, Romans, St. Augustus, Stutfall, Tonbridge, Walmer | Leave a comment

Journeys: Following in the footsteps of Jane Austen

Posted on March 8, 2011 by On Top Of The World

It was in the wealthy Roman spa town of Bath during the Georgian period and Napoleonic Wars that Jane Austen wrote some of her famous novels. Today her books are treasured for their storytelling and reflection of the people and the landscapes of south west England. For Austen’s canvas she could seek out the romantic rivers and stately homes, historic cities and castles; then she would create memorable characters. In this feature we follow in her footsteps visiting Bath, the museums and houses that celebrate Jane’s life and work, and exploring the beauty of the surrounding countryside including Chawton, Stourhead Gardens, Shaftesbury, Gold Hill, and finally Winchester Cathedral where she is buried. For more information www.visitbath.co.uk and Jane’s haunts.

Posted in Journeys through the British Isles | Tagged Addison's Disease, Assembly Rooms, Author, Bath, Beechen Cliff, Chawton village, Claude Loraine, Daylight Robbery, Emma, England, English Heritage, Georgian, Gold Hill, Grand Tour, Henry Hoare, Jane Austen, John Wood, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, Pump Room, Sense And Sensibility, Shaftesbury, Stourhead Gardens, Winchester Cathedral, Window Tax | Leave a comment

Category Archives: Journeys through the British Isles

England: London’s Historical Hotels

England: Hampton Court Palace

England: Cruising the River Thames

Journeys: Pembrokeshire, Wales — Castles and Coast

The Canals of London, England

In the Footsteps of Harry Potter

Journeys: In the Footsteps of Charles Dickens

Journeys through the British Isles: Castles of Kent

Journeys: Following in the footsteps of Jane Austen

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