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With such a diverse and rich culture, it’s no wonder Sweden is home to so much artistic talent. There’s nothing better than discovering this wealth of talent on a lazy city break to the country’s capital – Stockholm, host to a selection of art galleries, which are perfect to lose yourself in for hours at a time. Though, if you’re pushed for time, these are the best options to really learn about the artists themselves:

The National Museum of Fine Art, Stockholm

Make sure you visit the largest of Sweden’s art galleries with this choice. A weekend city break to Sweden is a great option as there is just so much to see here.

The Florentine and Venetian Renaissance inspired building is art in itself. Rembrandt, Rubens, Boucher, Renoir, Degas and Gauguin and the Swedish masters Anders Zorn and Carl Larsson are just some of the artists and sculptors whose work is on display here. With three floors, all packed full of things to look at, it might be quite easy to get lost. Investing in a guidebook will help you to make your way through the labyrinth of art and starting on the ground floor; you’ll find the café and shop, as well as an ever-changing exhibition. When you make your way to the first floor, you’ll also find a range of incredible items, such as items touched by Sweden’s royalty, including beds slept in by kings, beautiful dresses worn by the monarchy. The second floor is the most striking however, with an amazing range of European and Mediterranean sculptures coupled with sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Russian icons.

Swedish Art Association

A trip to Skånes konstförening (the Swedish art association) is the place to really get to grips with local talent. Founded in 1904, the association holds up to 10 exhibitions a year, to showcase and support up-and-coming to more established artists. Matisse, Picasso and Warhol are some of the more well-known artists who have been exhibited here. The link between the public and the art on display through the association is strong, thanks to it’s member support and location in the Norrmalm area of Stockholm.

Stockholm Metro Art

A visit to any of Stockholm’s Metro stations will fulfil your artistic desires, they’re brimming with local talent. With sculptures, mosaics, paintings, installations, inscriptions and reliefs from 1950s to present day, the stations here have all been turned into museums.

The Government came up with this solution to bring local art to the public. Now the walls of the station are covered in the works of hundreds of artists. In the Kungsträdgården subway station, the art resembles an archaeological excavation, with the remains of the old Stockholm Makalös palace. Where Östermalmstorg the artist Siri Derkert highlights women’s rights and peace and environmental issues.

Art enthusiasts will be satiated with the depth and scope of the art on offer here on a city break to Stockholm. You’ll find something inspiring from the broad range of art available, from traditional to modern. You could lose a weekend wandering around the vast number of art galleries in the city.

Bring to mind Nottingham and mostly all visitors recall the legend of Sir Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest and though folklore attracts many folk year after year there is plenty more to the city of Nottingham than meets the eye. Infact the city of Nottingham is home to a respectable selection of interesting tourist attractions making it an excellent base for a short break and the article below discusses the city and a few of attractions in Nottingham, and also some guest houses offering Nottingham B&B accommodation.

The city of Nottingham is in Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands of  England. As well as Sherwood Forest, the legend of Robin Hood, his merry men and the Sheriff of Nottingham, Nottingham is also renowned for the lace making business especially during the Industrial Revolution when it gained a worldwide reputation for excellence.

Nottingham Lace Market

At one time the heart of the worldwide lace industry, during the time of the British Empire, Nottingham’s Lace Market is, today, a protected heritage area. It  is home to many splendid examples of 19th Century industrial architecture. The Lace Market wasn’t like a normal market area, instead of featuring stalls and salesmen, the lace market was a number of warehouses and salesrooms displaying and selling lace. After the decline in the lace industry the area became rundown however, today, the majority of the fine warehouses have been restored and renovated for alternative use for instance photographic studios and similar. The Nottingham Lace Market is a popular tourist attraction.

Shire Hall & Galleries of Justice

Not a great distance from the Lace Market can be found the Galleries of Justice in Shire Hall. Shire Hall is a Georgian civic building featuring Neoclassical columns, pilasters and dome. The front of the hall has, if you look at it closely, a spelling error Goal instead of Gaol. The Hall has two excellently preserved courtrooms from the Victorian period plus old cells, a women’s prison, bath house, an Edwardian police station and a prisoner’s exercise yard.

Nottingham is a fantastic place to have a short city break. You will find lots to see and do within the city and an selection number of tourist attractions nearby. Places well worth a visit include; Newstead Abbey, Hardwick Hall and Wollaton Hall.

As all all bed & breakfast in England, accommodation in Nottingham is commonly first class at a reasonable rate and many visitors choose to stay in Nottingham for part of their break and then elsewhere for the remaining nights.

Christmas is unavoidable, so coming up with a plan of action is a must. No sooner have the stores taken down their Halloween displays than they’re replacing them with huge icicles, gold stars and beaming Santas. Even those with a real love for Christmas can struggle to keep up with the pace for that long – there’s no escape.

Or maybe there is, if you dare to try something different and break from the normal, society imposed, traditions…

It’s not necessary to forget about Christmas altogether, unless of course you want to; rather, it’s a case of having a different type of Christmas, one which takes a bit more imagination and planning, but one which you will forever remember.

City breaks are always a popular choice and there are plenty to be had at a reasonable price for those shopping around. Prague, with its rich history and opulent beauty, is a firm favourite and the wonderful Christmas markets are open throughout the festive season, including Christmas Day itself. In Vienna, the Christkindlmarkt in the City Hall Square is famous the world over for its elaborately decorated trees, dozens of wooden huts selling gifts and food and, of course, welcome glasses of hot Gluhwein.

Venice is another great European city that will make your Christmas totally unforgettable. Gone are the crowds of summer tourists (the population is actually halved in the winter months), and so you can take in the unique Venetian culture and charms, with a little festive spirit sprinkled on top, at your own leisurely pace. If you’re looking for a particularly romantic trip, then it’s absolutely ideal.

Or, how about a guaranteed white Christmas? The ski resorts in Switzerland, Austria and France will not only guarantee you snow, but they, with their pine-covered mountains and crackling log fires, will also give you the complete and perfect Christmas scene. There’s no need to even ski whilst you’re there if you don’t want to, as there is enough in the way of restaurants, bars and shops to keep you entertained.

Then there is the ultimate Christmas experience – a visit to Lapland. What could be more perfect than spending your Christmas at the place that Mr. Christmas calls home. What could be better than watching, from within your snug log cabin, the snow fall outside as Reindeers run across the scenic landscape. For those of you with children, this can turn out to be the most memorable and magical trip of your lives.

There really is something for everyone in the range of Christmas hotel breaks available. Ask yourself, is another Christmas spent half asleep on the sofa, watching the same old Christmas specials on TV, something that you really want this year?

This Christmas, why not have a festive adventure away from home? Our Christmas hotel breaks guide offers a number of ideas for a wonderful Christmas spent at one of the worlds most festive destinations. Cheap Hotel Chains price compare all latest cheap hotel deals across the world.

The capital city of England and Britain, London, has a large collection of world class tourist attractions, ranging from the immensely old to very recent additions. The majority of the attractions are famous all ’round the globe (for example, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace the Tower of London). Among the recently built are the Millennium Bridge, London Aquarium, Millenium Dome and the London Eye.

The Merlin Entertainments London Eye (it’s full name), is more frequently called, just, the London Eye or,occasionally, the Millenium Wheel (because of the fact that it was erected as part of the Millenium celebrations). The Merlin Entertainments London Eye was officially opened by the then English P.M., Mr. Tony Blair, in the night of December thirty first alarmingly there was a number of technical safety problems which led to it not being opened to the public until March. At the time of erection it was the highest Ferris wheel on the planet being four hundred and forty three feet in height.

The huge wheel can be discovered in Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank of the River Thames peering down upon the Houses of Parliament below. From within one of the 32 capsules towering over the whole of London it is possible to view a large number of the many London landmarks, the earlier mentioned Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s, Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court Palace are just a handful, what a fantastic way to see nearly all of London and, the most likely, the reason it is one of the busiest visitor attraction in London.

The London Eye’s first flight is at 10.00 am but the ticket office opens at 9.30 am.  The Eye closes at half past nine at night between August and July, 8 at night between October and April and at 9 pm for the rest of the year.

People arriving by car will be pleased to learn that there are three car parks nearby. For those traveling in coach parties there are parking facilities very close to the Eye (Telephone) +44 (0)870 990 8886) for details.

The easiest method to get to the London Eye is by the Tube, simply get off at one of the following stations; Embankment, Westminster, Charing Cross, or the nearest Waterloo. It is also possible to arrive by boat, get off at Waterloo Millennium Pier.

Finding London bed and breakfast accommodation is as simple as going over to Bing, Yahoo or Google (or any other search engine of your choice. Whatever you prefer you are sure to find your perfect London accommodation because the city must feature the most guest houses, bed and breakfasts and hotels than any other. Luxury accommodation to the cheap, huge corporate hotels to the smaller boutique hotels and more.

Perth in Scotland a former royal burgh can be found at the head of the Tay estuary. Between the C12th and C15th the city fought with Dunfermline for the title to be the capital of the country. In the article below I write about three places to visit in Perth, Scotland; Elcho Castle, Scone Palace and Huntingtower Castle:

Scone Palace

Today, home of the Earls of Mansfield is Scone Palace, and a immensely popular attraction to visitors from across the globe. The palace of Scone is an integral part of the history of Scotland, as the kings of Scotland were once crowned there. Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone Palace, in 1306, as was Charles II when he took ownership of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious atmosphere to the palace, which is justifiably so.In the past the site acted as an important gathering place of the Picts and there was also a church on the site said to be early christian.

Elcho Castle

Lying about 3 miles from the city of Perth, with breathtaking views across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. The castle is one of the prime examples of 16th century workmanship in Scotland today. The Wemyss family authorized the building of the castle in the 1570′s. The land had been in the family since 1468, when it was granted to them by King James III. In 1633, the leader of the family was given the titles of Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho. Elcho Castle and it’s lands remained in possession of the Wemyss family until 1929. It was then, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, gifted the castle to Scotland. The castle has recently been restored and is now in the hands of Historic Scotland.

Huntingtower Castle

Located just to the west of Perth is the medieval pile of Huntingtower Castle. Even though the castle is medieval in origin, it has been significantly redeveloped throughout the majoprity of it’s history. The Ruthven family were the owners of the lands and castle from the 1100′s to the 1600′s. During this time the castle consisted of two separate towers, built 3 meters apart. When the Murray family took occupancy, later on in the seventeenth century, they decided to amalgamate the two towers, making the house appear more like a conventional country abode. The bridging work between the two towers is still rather noticeable today, both inside and out.

If you are thinking about a city vacation in Perth you will discover a large amount of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will discover a huge selection at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

Because the Scottish town of Inverness is now a city, Fort William is the largest town in the Highlands of Scotland. The town is a massively popular vacation destination with many folk arriving to go hill walking on Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain. In the article below I take a look at three different places worth a visit if you are visiting Fort William.

The Immensely Interesting West Highland Museum

Founded in 1922 was the West Highland Museum in Fort William. A group of people from Lochaber wanted to create a museum, about life in the Highlands, for the people of the Highlands. The present building was purchased in 1926 from the British Linen Bank, and can be found in Cameron Square, just off the Hight Street. Small but fascinating is how many people describe the museum. The exhibits of the museum present a delightful look into life in the West Highlands over the years. People from all walks of life are represented, through the magnificent collections of picture’s, photograph’s and artefact’s

The Superb Old Inverlochy Castle

In fort William there are two Inverlochy Castle’s, the Old Inverlochy Castle and the new Victorian, chateau-style Inverlochy Castle, erected in the village of Torlundy (which is now a luxury hotel). The Old castle was rumoured to have been constructed between 1270-1280, by John “the Black” Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lochaber, and chief of the Clan Comyn. Although the castle is in ruins, the layout hasn’t changed much since it was erected. Lord Abinger made enhancements and alterations to the house, in preparation of a visit by Queen Victoria. Old Inverlochy Castle is still an important part of English and Scottish history, because of the part it played during the Civil Wars of the 1640′s.

The Awe Inspiring Jacobite Steam Train

A trip on the Jacobite Steam Train, is an exciting way to explore the breathtaking scenery of the Highlands. The Fort William to the Mallaig journey takes one on a magical trip through the glens. One of the most riveting parts of the ride is traveling across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which most travelers will recognize due to the fact that it has appeared in the films of the exploits of Harry Potter and his pals. The 84 mile trip takes you past Ben Nevis, Loch Nevis and Loch Morar, with a break in Glenfinnan before arriving in Mallaig. There is about an hour and half in which to explore Mallaig, before the return journey, back to Fort William. This journey has frequently been described as, one of the Great Railway Journeys of the planet.

There is plenty of accommodation in Fort William available to book online but you will find a comprehensive list of hotels in Fort William at http://www.fortwilliamhotelscotland.com/

Inverness, in the Scottish Highlands,  is set in some of the most incredible countryside in Scotland. In and around Inverness are a number of important historic sites, frequently these places lay witness to a large amount of human suffering and violence. Thankfully Inverness has a amazing number of visitor attractions (and the number is continually increasing). In the following paragraphs I introduce readers to 3 places to visit in Inverness Inverness Castle, Inverness Museum and Beauly Priory:

Beauly Priory

It was in the 13th century that Valliscaulian Monks founded a community at Beauly Priory. Unfortunately no-one has the ability to say the accurate date of foundation but it is widely accepted that is would have been sometime around 1230. At that time Sir John Bisset, whose lands were almagamated with the Fraser’s of Lovat, was the landowner and patron of Beauly. The French monks and Sir John are accredited with the naming of Beauly, coming from, ‘beau lieu’, the French for ‘beautiful place’. Sadly, the priory was abandoned after the Scottish Reformation of 1582 and stone from the walls were thieved for use the construction of other structures. In the year 1913 the ruins of Beauly Priory were handed over to the state for the nation and they are now looked after by Historic Scotland.

Inverness Castle

Throughout the centuries there have been many structures on the site of Inverness Castle, as far back as 1057 there was something there. The first Inverness Castle was almost destroyed by an attack by King Robert I of Scotland. Today’s castle was built and designed , in 1836, by William Burn. The picturesque structure, of red sandstone, is perched on a cliff gazing down onto the the cathedral on the opposite side and the River Ness. King James I of Scotland held parliament in Inverness Castle in 1427, and called all the Northern Chieftains to attend. Horrifically three of these chieftains were later condemed to death for asserting an independent sovereignty.

Inverness Museum

Situated in the Center of Inverness is the recently renovated Inverness Museum and Art Gallery which is well worth a visit especially if it is wet and windy weather. Inside the museum you can enjoy Scottish History and learn about how the Highlands are linked with the rest of the world. It is also possible to find out about the folk of the Highlands, their traditions and culture. There are several different exhibitions featuring, wildlife, archaeology, fine arts, crafts, costumes and textiles.

If you are planning a vacation in Great Britain this year and you plan to spend a short time in Scotland, think about spending a few days staying in Inverness. Finding Inverness hotel accommodation online is relatively easy as many establishments have their own web site.  Hotels in Inverness, small hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts are always superb and Inverness is very well know for unrivalled hospitality, so you can be sure of have a wonderful time.

The city of Cardiff is not only the Welsh capital city, but also the most popular tourist destination in Wales other than London, the capital of England. The city is also the biggest of the cities in Wales, but it remained but a rather small town until the time of the start of the 19th century. It was during the early 19C when the small Welsh town of Cardiff grew into a considerably busy seaport involved in the transportation of coal mined locally, plus other various light and heavy industry. Cardiff eventually received city status on 28th October 1905 from King Edward VII of England, however, strangely, it only became the capital city of Wales on 20th December nineteen fifty five. After Cardiff was declared the capital it became the home of a number of national institutions, such as the University of Wales Registry Building, the National Museum of Wales and the Welsh National War Memorial. For a surprising amount of time now the companies involved in I.T. have seen excellent rates of expansion as well as, to a lesser degree other industry sectors, most noticeably in service industries. The tourism industry has also witnessed dramatic growth and today there are surprising numbers of places providing Cardiff bed and breakfast.

Tourist Attractions To Visit In Cardiff

Although Cardiff has been a city for only 100 years, surprisingly there has actually been a castle in Cardiff for two thousand years, or thereabouts. The Cardiff Castle which is currently there is, most probably, the most popular visitor attraction in the city and can be found right in the very heart of the city centre. It is possible for tourists to partake in a guided tour investigating the castle interior, and, enjoy a pleasant walk around and about the stunningly picturesque gardens of the castle. You will also find a new Interpretation Centre at the castle which displays the different development stages, of the castle,  across the ages from the time of the Romans right up to present times.

The city of Cardiff also has a fair few modern tourist attractions including the wonderful Techniquest, one of the UK’s greatest centres for Science Discovery. At the Science Discovery centre you will be presented with more than one hundred hands on exhibits, designed to entertain and educate folk of all ages. The centre has a hi-tech Science Theatre, a Discovery Room, a laboratory and a planetarium.

There are a great many more visitor attractions to see in the Welsh city of Cardiff, so, if you are in the process of considering spending a few weeks there it is incredibly important that you reserve your  accommodation at your first opportunity because, sadly guest houses and hotels in Cardiff tend to be surprisingly busy and are frequently fully booked for months in advance. If your family is large you might find that apartment accommodation in Cardiff turns out to be a reasonable option to bed and breakfast accommodation.

The ‘Fair City’ of Perth in Scotland is also frequently called to as the  ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Sited on the River Tay’s banks, the town of Perth was, for centuries, the capital of Scotland and back in the medieval period the busy little town was locally known as Saint Johnstoun (St. John’s Town). The name of Perth, or, in Gaelic, Peairt, derives from a word of the Picts which means a copse or wood. These days  this beautiful little market town is a great place for a vacation with a great many Perth bed and breakfasts to choose from.

Whether you will find that there are a great many things to interest you in Perth and the surrounding area. Visitor attractions include; sport and leisure pursuits, shopping, historical attractions and restaurants and many other entertainments. Not that long ago the town was a very busy port profiting from the export of bleached products, linen, leather and whisky. Nowadays the tourist industry creates income and much appreciated employment for the area’s youth who happily take up employment in the many Perth hotels and guest houses and similar enterprises.

One of the most popular visitor attractions, near to Perth, is Scone Palace, one of the finest historical country homes in the Scottish nation. Here visitors can discover the fascinating past of the palace, where Scottish kings were once crowned including, Robert The Bruce who took to the throne in 1306.

About 3 miles away, from Perth, one can find the 16C Elcho Castle, which has the most stunning vistas over the River Tay. The castle dates back to around 1570 when it’s construction was commissioned by the Wemyss family who were it’s owners until the year nineteen twenty nine. The Castle is now in the possession of Historic Scotland.

Only a short distance west of Perth is the fine medieval structure of Huntingtower Castle. Located in stunning Huntingtower Castle has undergone numerous redevelopments and alterations over the centuries. Huntingtower began life as a pair of clearly separate towers but constructed rather closely together.

As well as the visitor attractions mentioned earlier the town of Perth has many more, meaning that it is an awesome place for a vacation for the family. Attractions and places, to see, to be found in Perth and the surrounding area include the following; Kinnoull Hill, Perthshire Visitor Centre, Perth Ice Rink, Strathearn and the Glenturret Distillery.

If you are planning to have a holiday in Perth you will discover a large selection of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will find a massive listing at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

In recent Years growing numbers folk are looking for new destinations which offer something completely different or, the absolute minimum something different to the common bar and beach vacation. Under the current economic conditions large numbers of families are, alarmingly realizing that they have a great deal less money for investing in a family vacation and are, frustratingly, having to making cutbacks to save cash. A way of meeting this requirement is to search for a less expensive destination. In the following article I introduce readers to the English city of Birmingham. With the pound Sterling so weak against the euro and dollar hotels and guest houses in Birmingham are  much cheaper than last year.

The city of Birmingham is situated in the English county known as the West Midlands  and the city’s inhabitants are described as being “Brummies”. Birmingham’s accent sounds typically northern English and it can be rather difficult to understand fully what is being said a difficulty which is made worse if if you are unfamiliar with such dialects. Luckily Brummies are kind, helpful and polite and do their utmost to explain clearly so if necessary do not be afraid to approach people about help and directions or assistance with  bed and breakfast accommodation in Birmingham.

Birmingham possesses  an excellent collection of visitor attractions including some highly interesting and equally informative galleries and museums, such as the Barber Institute of Fine Arts and the new Thinktank  which is in the Eastside. The city of Birmingham also features a huge number of square miles of parks, woodland and open spaces, Sutton Park  is the largest having 970 hectares making it the largest urban nature reserve in Europe.

The city of Birmingham has a varied and vibrant night scene with an excellent number of restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, bars, wine bars and nightclubs. You will find the most popular in one of Birmingham’s squares, Victoria Square, St Martin’s Square, Rotunda Square, Chamberlain Square, the historic Old Square at Corporation Street, Centenary Square and the Gas Street Basin. Gas Street Basin is the central hub of the city’s canal system. Birmingham has roughly thirty two miles of canal waterways with between eight canals which were created in the eighteenth century and continued being used by local companies nearly until the end of the twentieth century. Today the area has been cleaned up and is now a rather nice visitor attraction.

As an alternative to bed & breakfast why not consider hiring apartments in Birmingham. If you If you are currently planning a vacation in Birmingham you will need to know that Birmingham Airport is approximately eight miles distance from the center of the city just off the A45 and near the M42 (junction 6). You will find that there is a lot of hotels and guest houses near to the airport.