It really disappoints me when I hear tourists say they've 'done' a country when in fact all they have done is visit a major city, and probably for a few days at most.
For Britain, a large proportion of tourists may just fly in and out of London, and while London is a brilliant tourist destination, Britain offers infinitely more.
In the space of three weekends recently I have spent time as a tourist in London (to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary) and in rural Derbyshire.
London
We decided to do a couple of things we had never done before so we took the new 'Emirates Airline' cable car across the Thames from Royal Docks to North Greenwich (for the famous Millennium Dome/ O2 Arena), then took the 'Thames Clipper' commuter boat from North Greenwich up the Thames (and under Tower Bridge) to Embankment where we disembarked, had some dinner and headed off to the West End for a show. We saw 'Wicked' (About the witches from The Wizard of Oz) and jolly good it was too.
Alfreton, Derbyshire
By way of total contrast, we visited rural Derbyshire last weekend as Laura was speaking at a conference. We stayed at the wonderful 'Park Farm' Bed and Breakfast, a working farm complete with geese and pigs!
We asked owner Sue why she had decided to diversify the farm business and renovate an old barn into a 3 bedroom b&b and she cited issues of decreasing incomes (including the price squeezing by the large supermarkets for milk) and the choice between investing in new farm equipment with no reasonable return or look at a new forms of income generation. The decision to create a b&b has worked and she is now seeing a regular stream of income. She also mentioned that many farmers were having to take on additional jobs in order to survive for example as retained firemen.
It was a glorious morning when I took these photos which I think really capture the beauty of the English Countryside.
Chatsworth, Peak District
I also took a drive into the Peak District and went for a walk at Chatsworth.
For Britain, a large proportion of tourists may just fly in and out of London, and while London is a brilliant tourist destination, Britain offers infinitely more.
In the space of three weekends recently I have spent time as a tourist in London (to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary) and in rural Derbyshire.
London
We decided to do a couple of things we had never done before so we took the new 'Emirates Airline' cable car across the Thames from Royal Docks to North Greenwich (for the famous Millennium Dome/ O2 Arena), then took the 'Thames Clipper' commuter boat from North Greenwich up the Thames (and under Tower Bridge) to Embankment where we disembarked, had some dinner and headed off to the West End for a show. We saw 'Wicked' (About the witches from The Wizard of Oz) and jolly good it was too.
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| The 'O2 Arena' with Canary Wharf and Docklands in the distance. |
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| The Emirates Airline. This was completed in time for the Olympics in 2012. |
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| The Thames Flood Barrier at Greenwich |
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| Tower Bridge from the Thames Clipper |
Alfreton, Derbyshire
We asked owner Sue why she had decided to diversify the farm business and renovate an old barn into a 3 bedroom b&b and she cited issues of decreasing incomes (including the price squeezing by the large supermarkets for milk) and the choice between investing in new farm equipment with no reasonable return or look at a new forms of income generation. The decision to create a b&b has worked and she is now seeing a regular stream of income. She also mentioned that many farmers were having to take on additional jobs in order to survive for example as retained firemen.
It was a glorious morning when I took these photos which I think really capture the beauty of the English Countryside.
Chatsworth, Peak District
I also took a drive into the Peak District and went for a walk at Chatsworth.
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| Chatsworth House, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire |
