Royal Ascot fashion

There is a long history of horse racing on the grounds at Ascot and it’s always had a royal association. King James I began the family tradition in the 16th century, becoming a huge supporter of horse races and equestrian sports. In 1711 Queen Anne was out riding near her home in Windsor Castle when she came upon an area of heath. She claimed it was “ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch.” Over the next few years she held a series of equestrian events on the site, which is the site of today’s Ascot race course.

The Seal Colonies and Pilgrimage Shrine in Norfolk

Blakeney is perhaps the prettiest of all the Norfolk seaside villages: flint fishermen's cottages tumble down a steep slope to a picturesque quay with wonderful views over the salt marshes. Beyond the harbour is Blakeney Point, the tip of a 6-km long shingle spit, a National Trust nature reserve famous for its seals.

A seal pup born at Blakeney Point. Photo credit National Trust/Ian Ward

Although you can get there on foot, it is a lot more fun, and less tiring, to be ferried in a fishing dinghy from Morston, a small marshland village 2 km along the coast from Blakeney. A round trip takes a couple of hours and includes plenty of time to explore the Point where, as well as colonies or grey and common seals, you will see hundreds of birds and unusual plants. It is a brilliant place for wildlife photography.

Cadbury World: The Chocolate Heaven

If you visiting Birmingham or West Midlands area, one of the most popular places to visit is Cadbury World - chocolate factory and exhibition space. No, you would not need a golden ticket to visit, and you won't need any proof that you are good. You will be navigated through the world of chocolate, from the very beginnings in South America to delicious products we buying today.

From its early beginnings in Birmingham, Cadbury grew to become a pioneer in the development of eating chocolate and the UK's most prestigious chocolate company. The creations of the Cadbury family have had a huge impact on the way that Britain enjoys chocolate today.

Pearly Kings and Queens of London

Pearly Kings and Queens are one of the most intriguing, unique and beautiful attractions of London. Each London Borough has a its King and Queen, as do the City of London and the City of Westminster. It is a colourful London tradition and one that has been kept alive by a few dedicated people, who work hard on the promotion of this tradition. Today there are 30 Pearly families that are active in collecting money and fund raising different charities.

The story about Pearly Kings and Queens started in the Victorian London among street traders or 'The Costermongers', as they were called. They were selling their goods marching the streets of London, selling from baskets, later from barrows, and, finally, from static market stalls. It was usually a family business and went from the generation to generation.

20 interesting facts about Great Britain

Every country in the world has its own tradition, unwritten rules and peculiarities. Great Britain is not an exception and here are 20 interesting facts you may not know about England.

1. England is 74 times smaller than the United States, 59 times smaller than Australia and 3 times smaller than Japan. However, England is 2.5 times more populous than Australia.

2. The highest temperature ever recorded in England was 38.5 degrees Celsius in Brogdale, Kent, on 10th August 2003. I personally find English summer very pleasant and temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius are on average in the summer months.

3. This is not an urban myth! British people consume more tea per capita than anybody else in the world - 2.5 times more than the Japanese and 22 times more than the Americans or French. The tea time in England is not anymore about the time itself (well known 5 pm), but having a tea means to refresh yourself, recharge the batteries during a day, have a break from the work, have a nice hot drink while being snugged in the front of TV... you name it.The tea time is important time in England.

Portmeirion, a Welsh Italian-style village

First time I have heard of Portmeirion was when I was watching TV channel about the travelling. For a good minute or so I was convinced the place is in Italy with all its colours and architectural features. I couldn't be more wrong. Portmeirion is a beautiful place in Wales, on the peninsula on the coast of Snowdonia. Once you are there, you can easily forget about the outside world. You will actually be on your journey to Mediterranean. 

Portmeirion was a life project of Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis (1883 - 1978) who acquired the site in 1925 for ljust under £5,000. As he recalled, it was"a neglected wilderness - long abandoned by those romantics who had realised the unique appeal and possibilities of this favoured promontory but who had been carried away by their grandiose landscaping... into sorrowful bankruptcy."

Jorvik Viking Centre, York

When visiting York, you have to be sure you spent some time at Jorvik Viking Centre. It will took a good part of your day, but you will be overwhelmed with the experience. Not just the great education centre, but also an entertainment for the whole family without an exception.

The Jorvik Viking Centre was opened in 1984, after extensive excavation at Coppergate, to show that Viking society wasn't just violence and warfare but one of trade, commerce and crafts. It is built on the very same site of archaeological research. That was possible thanks to unusual oxygen-free conditions in the soil that helped preserve many materials that normally rot away to dust. These conditions meant that minute details of everyday life in Viking times could be recreated to allow you to experience life in a busy street in York (Jorvik) on 25th October 975 AD. The buildings and objects you see were all found here and are reconstructed at the level of the Viking-Age ground surface.

Blists Hill Victorian Town, Shropshire

Have you heard of Blists Hill town? Well, you have to have a good map, because it is not a real town. It is Victorian town borrowed from the past and presented to us now. To enjoy and learn. Blists Hill is a museum set in over 50 acres of land where iron was once smelted, coal and clay were mined and where bricks and roofing tiles were made. The remains of those industries can still be found on site, but in the same landscape a small industrial town has been created.

Much pleasure can be had by wandering around the site, looking in the buildings, listening to the customed demonstrators and getting involved with the various activities. Like any town anywhere in the UK Blists Hill would have been shaped by its geography, how it communicated with its neighbours and the rest of the country and most importantly, what type of work was available for its residents.