A TRAVEL NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM



SPRINGTIME BLOOMS IN THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH

As the sun begins to shine on the UK, the flowers are in bloom and many of South East England's destinations, attractions and accommodation providers are gearing up to host visitors over the spring period. From special events to new and exciting museums there is so much of interest to engage visitors and groups from all over the world. The Beautiful South extends a warm welcome to all.

Royal Ascot

Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 June 2013.

Few sporting venues match the 250 year heritage and history of Ascot Racecourse. Tradition, pageantry, fashion and style place Royal Ascot at the centre of the British social calendar and, with £4.5 million in prize money as stake, the ultimate stage for the world’s best racehorses.

Despite popular belief there is no particular Ladies’ Day – there is no difference whatsoever between any of the five June days of Royal Ascot – all five are ladies’ days. Many hotels offer special mini-breaks around the event with opportunities for an extended stay to take in some 900 years of heritage, as well as shopping and fine dining.

The Royal Windsor Information Centre offers an online booking service for tickets and hotel packages at www.windsor.gov.uk

Hampshire

Hampshire is the southern most county of England, situated approximately one hour South West of London. Easily accessible by motorway, airline or train, it offers a wide range of hotels, bed and breakfasts and campsites. Steeped in history, this beautiful county boasts an array of national parks, picturesque villages and stunning coastline. It is an excellent example of the quintessentially English countryside. Rural Escapes is your link to useful information about Hampshire and special offers available around the county.

Visit www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/ideas-and-inspiration/rural-escapes for more information.

A view over Old Portsmouth

Portsmouth, the great waterfront city, has miles of sea views and centuries of history. With more than 800 years of naval history, Portsmouth’s world renowned Historic Dockyard is a must-see. Featuring HMS Victory,The Mary Rose Museum andHMS Warrior 1860, along with the National Museum of the Royal Navy and Action Stations, this attraction offers a full day’s visit. The brand new Mary Rose Museum will open early 2013, reuniting the Mary Rose hull together with her collection of artefacts, placed in context, in a brand new boat shaped Museum. For more information visit www.visitportsmouth.co.uk

The Spinnaker Tower
Visit the Spinnaker Tower and enjoy the breathtaking views on offer 100 metres above Portsmouth Harbour, which stretch 23 miles across the south coast. The iconic 170m tall viewing tower offers visitors spectacular 350° panoramic views of one of the most fascinating seascapes on earth. You could see Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square but how about boarding the actual ship he sailed during the Battle of Trafalgar at Portsmouth Historic Dockyards? Brand new for 2013, combine a trip to Spinnaker Tower with a visit to HMS Victory with a single attraction joint ticket. Plus, take a trip to neighbouring Gunwharf Quays, a designer shopping outlet, boasting 90 stores including Swarovski, Paul Smith, Lacoste, Nike and many more. For more information visit www.spinnakertower.co.uk

The view from the Spinnakertower

Brighton & Hove
There is always a lot to see and do in Brighton & Hove, from the exotic palace – The Royal Pavilion – to the fantastic array of shops in the Lanes and the North Laine. Plus in 2013 there will be a number of new developments to make the city an even more attractive holiday destination.

The Royal Pavilion from the gardens

The Sand Sculpture Festival will be in the city from 8th April until the end of September 2013. The festival will be at Black Rock (near to the Brighton Marina) and over 20 world class arts will be transforming tonnes of sand into magnificent sand sculptures.

For all things Brighton & Hove:www.visitbrighton.com

Keane Trail - Tourist trail in Hastings & 1066 Country

International supergroup Keane grew up in the historic town of Battle. Their fifth and latest no. 1 album 'Strangeland' was inspired by their youth spent in 1066 Country. The album's artwork portrays Bexhill seafront and the De La Warr Pavilion. Download a ‘Keane trail’ map or follow a map on a mobile device around Bexhill, Battle and to Hastings, to discover the places the band name mentions in 'Strangeland'. Interviews too as they reminisce about their childhood in 1066 Country. Welcome to Strangeland: Keane on Battle and Bexhill.

Thanks to Keane, the East Sussex towns of Battle, Bexhill and Hastings will forever be remembered collectively as “Strangeland”. Through Strangeland, the band’s fifth consecutive number one album, Keane revisit the places and spaces of a youth spent growing up in Battle and share the geographic and emotional journeys that helped shape their lives.

Are you a fan of the track 'Sovereign Light Café'? Have you watched the videos and interviews of Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley, Richard Hughes and Jesse Quin? Do you want to visit their home town, see for yourself the places they sing about and walk in their footsteps? Then here you’ll find exactly what you need to do just that! Take a tour of Strangeland and see Powdermill Lane and the Battlefields for yourself. Go back even further, to the very beginning with Hopes and Fears, and visit where they “felt the earth beneath my feet” and find exactly where in Battle Keane last played in 2004.

Hear about Keane’s Strangeland in their own words in our interview with Tom and Richard on The Band tab and then follow the trail in any order you like with either your smartphone or by downloading our PDF map.

This tour is a must for Keane’s fans from near and far and a very warm welcome awaits you here in Strangeland. Visit www.keanetrail.org.uk

For more information about the events and treats in store for this year in 'The Beautiful South' please visit www.tourismsoutheast.com

Jane Austin's House in Chawton, East Hampshire