London Hotel Rundown: From 5-Star to Eco-Luxury

A large, diverse city such as London poses a challenge to travellers: with so much to see and do, hotel location must be carefully considered.

Best Transportation Options to London from Gatwick and Heathrow

"Here is a breakdown of the best ways to get from the two major London airports into the heart of the city, as well as why you might choose each option.

Accommodation in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is without a doubt one of the most fascinating old cities in Europe. The ancient Scottish capital is rich in history, but rather than merely celebrating its past, Edinburgh continues to live life at the forefront of contemporary culture. Nowadays the Edinburgh Festival is an event which draws in thousands of visitors each year, and is recognised throughout the world.

If you’re looking for a luxury hotel Edinburgh, then a good place to start would be in the city’s West End. Much of this district reflects a modern architectural style, and here you will find popular theatres, shopping centres, a couple of casinos and of course some excellent, designer hotels. This is also the best place to come for a meal out, with a wider choice of restaurants than any other district of the city.

Those looking to immerse themselves more fully in history and ancient culture however, might prefer to book a stay in the Old Town area of Edinburgh. Here the narrow streets form a labyrinthine pattern of cobbled alleys and passageways, often with one level built high above the one below. As well as a good range of comfortable hotels here, many of which occupy attractive, listed buildings, this is also a good area to look for discount accommodation – there are a number of good hostels and backpackers’ hotels available here, which will allow you to save significant money on your trip to Edinburgh.

Then again, if the main point on your agenda is to pay a visit to the city’s historic castle, then you will have no problem at all finding a good range of hotels near Edinburgh Castle. Book a stay at one of these, and you will find yourself within easy reach of the fantastic fortress which has overlooked the city since days of old.

England Storms Murrayfield

Stuart Lancaster's new England stormed to victory this weekend. Celebrating could be heard across the Princes street hotels Edinburgh as they won in Murrayfield.

The Scottish Seabird Centre of Edinburgh

The coast of Scotland is a haven for seabirds. If you are staying at one of the many Princes Street hotels Edinburgh has to offer, you will see only seagulls gliding on the wind above and perched on statues. However, just a short distance away is the seaside and offshore are the Isle of May, Craigleith, and the famous Bass Rock. Here gannets, puffins, shags, and cormorants gather to create what David Attenborough has called one of the “Twelve Wildlife Wonders of the World.”

Cheese and Liverpool: A recipe for a good time

Cheese is the great equalizer. It can take on many forms, and many qualities, but cheese is in its own a right glorious and tantalizing dairy product that has been produced since the beginning of human history. The word ‘cheese’ as we know it in English is related to the Latin root ‘caseus’ which is now very similar to the word ‘casein’, a vital part of the cheese creation process. Fromageries are the ideal location for getting better acquainted with the world of cheese.

The Karabakh Horse: Pride for Baku and Azerbaijan

Horses have been instrumental in easing the burden of humans and in many ways aiding the development and settlement of many parts of the world. Horses are good companions, have unique personalities, are physically powerful, and often quite beautiful. In Azerbaijan, the national animal is a breed of horse that is a point of national pride.

What on Earth is the Blue Banana?

With a provocative name like that, this could be just about anything, but the Blue Banana is another name for the backbone of Europe, the European Megalopolis, the most populous region of Europe by far. Shaped like a banana, it bends from Liverpool and Cardiff in the UK at one end to the densest regions of Northern Italy and the South of France like Milan, Venice, Monaco and Nice.

Go International in Edinburgh

Every year, thousands of fans look forward to the annual Edinburgh International Festival, a three-week festival that showcases a variety of performing arts within the city.