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Need To Know
Climate London is cold, damp and wet in the winter. May and June usually offer the best chance of dry, sunny weather. July and August tend to be hot and humid. September and October can be pleasant too, with the added attraction of brilliant autumn colours.
Tipping In restaurants, tip 10 to 15 per cent, unless a service charge has already been added to the bill. Tipping in bars is not expected. Airport porters usually expect £1 per bag, while taxi drivers expect 10 to 15 per cent.
Taxes Value Added Tax (VAT) is 17.5 per cent in London and is almost always included in quoted prices.
Transport London is very congested and thus, not advisable to drive around in. The famous Black Cabs (Hackney Carriages) are plentiful (there are about 22,500 drivers
in London), but they can be expensive for longer distances. These taxis are licensed by the police and are the only taxis allowed to legally offer their services just by stopping in the street. Mini Cabs are not licensed and not supposed to stop for you in the street. The law requires that you call them for their services. They are less expensive than Black Cabs.
The cheapest and fastest way to get around London is on the Underground, “the tube”. Although it is crowded during rush hours, it is still the way to go.
cosmopolitan city, with scintillating shop- ping, world-class arts and culture, and the UK’s finest concert venue, Symphony Hall. Go on one of the seven walking trails in the city centre that takes you through key at- tractions, including the NIA, The Mailbox, Millennium Point and the Bullring. Each walk guides you around the city, providing interesting nuggets of information on route regarding architecture, public art, history, heritage and quirky facts. The seven walks can be taken separately or linked together to form a comprehensive walking tour of the
city. Leaflets of the Gateway Trails are avail- able from the Tourism Centres or by calling
0870 225 0127.
Getting There
The best way to get to Birmingham from London is by train. Located in the city centre, Snow Hill and Moor Street Sta- tions serve routes from London Marylebone
(www.chilternrailways.co.uk).
MANCHESTER
Most famous for its soccer team, Manchester United, this city has plenty to offer outside Old Trafford. The Lowry is Manchester’s lat- est cultural and architectural offering, with the main exhibition by L S Lowry and lots of
other innovative displays by up-and-com- ing artists that change on a
regular basis.
If shopping is what you’re after, head to the Northern Quarter, where clothes, gifts and records are to be found under the guises of Afflecks Palace and The Coliseum empori- ums. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of stalls within these buildings, but if you’re looking for something different or retro, these are a
must.
Manchester also has a plethora of theatres
to choose from. The Palace Theatre tends to show musicals while the Opera House does opera and ballet. For the unusual and contemporary, head to the Royal Exchange and Contact Theatre. For music, the Bridgewater Hall, built to house the Hallé Orchestra, is a breathtaking building (built on springs, to boot) with a spacious and modern bar. If you’re into rock and pop, the Manchester Evening News Arena, Apollo or Manches- ter Academy is where you’re likely to end up, with the likes of Robbie
Williams to entertain you.
Getting There
Getting to Manchester from Lon- don involves a three-hour train ride north from London Euston, or a one-hour flight from Heathrow or Gatwick airport. Check out www.britainexpress.com or call your
travel agent regarding flights.
Penny-Wise, Pound-Wiser
Here’s how to stretch your dollar while in London:
• Use public transport and
buy the daily or weekly
travelpass.
• Avoid the obvious tourist
traps, usually closely as-
sociated with pop culture.
• When travelling with family, ask for family
discounts. Children under 5 usually get free admission.
• Government-run or supported attractions are usually free or request a voluntary donation.
• If possible, pack your own food bought from supermarkets.
• Pound for pound, Chinese restaurants and pubs usually provide best value for money.
• For theatre or concerts, cheaper tickets may give overall better value.
Buy only from the theatre itself, rather than ticket agencies which usually charge a hefty commission.
RCI Resorts in England
Cornwall
• Cravynick Cottages
• Glendorgal
• Honicombe Manor
• Perran View Holiday Village
• St. Mellion Golf & Country Club • Trelowarren
• Tresco
• Trewince Manor
Cumbria
• Chapel Stile Apartments at Langdale • Elterwater Hall at Langdale
• Windermere Marina Village
Devon
• Devoncourt
• The Osborne Club
• Woodford Bridge Country Club
Kent
• Broome Park
• CC at Hever Hotel & Country Club • Hever Hotel and Country Club
Norfolk
• Barnham Broom Golf & Country Club • Blakeney Timeshare
• Cromer Country Club
Northumberland
• Akeld Manor and Country Club • Breamish Valley Cottages
Staffordshire
• Classic Houseboats at Barton Turns • Wychnor Park Country Club
South Devon
• Court Barton
• Hope Barton Barns
• The Marine Quay Club
Bedford – CLC at Canaltime Houseboats Bedford
Bournemouth – Carlton Club Apartments East Sussex – Club Britannia Gloucestershire – Stouts Hill Hampshire – Macdonald Elmers Court
Resort Lancaster – Thurnham Hall
Lincolnshire – Kenwich Woods
London – The Allen House Club
North Yorkshire – Langdale Nottingham – CLC at Canaltime Sawley
Marina
Port Erin – Cherry Orchard Timeshare
Rutland – Barnsdale Country Club
EnDLEss VACATIon