England Archives - Planet Whitley

The best place to shop in Manchester

Affleck’s in the Northern Quarter is often regarded as the best place to shop in Manchester. But there’s a strong argument for the Manchester Craft and Design Centre, too. Shopping in Manchester’s Northern Quarter Manchester’s Northern Quarter is renowned for its bars and restaurants, but…

England, Manchester, shopping, UK

Inside the John Rylands Library, Manchester.

How to get into Manchester’s Rylands Library if you’re not a student

There’s no entrance fee to go inside Manchester’s John Rylands Library, but opening hours are limited for this Victorian wonder. Manchester’s most enjoyable heritage building? In Manchester, much of the history leans towards the industrial side of things. This is why the John Rylands Library…

England, Manchester, UK

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London.

Fascinating naval origins of common expressions in Greenwich

Pushing the boat out at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich One of the unexpected delights of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, is learning where certain phrases come from. The Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery of the museum focuses a lot on Navy life…

England, Greenwich, language, London, museums, UK

The cheapest night to stay in London

Sunday is the cheapest night to stay in London. The cost of a four star hotel room can be less than half price when compared to a midweek stay. And here’s the proof… Bringing down the cost of visiting London A couple of days in…

accommodation, England, hotels, London, UK

The best weather for visiting Thorpe Park

If you want to avoid crowds and long queues at Thorpe Park, take a close look at the weather forecast before booking tickets. The best time to visit Thorpe Park The best time to visit Thorpe Park is when heavy rain is forecast. To most…

England, London, theme parks, UK

How to get on the Harry Potter Studios Tour when tickets have sold out

Harry Potter Studios Tour tickets often sell out. But there is often next day availability on packaged tours from London to the Warner Bros Studio. Advance booking Harry Potter Studios Tour tickets For many fans of JK Rowling’s schoolboy wizard, doing the Harry Potter Studios…

England, Harry Potter, London, tours, UK

How to get free entry to St Paul’s Cathedral, London

Worshippers, people praying in St Dunstan’s Chapel, disabled visitors and carers can enter St Paul’s Cathedral free of charge. Everyone else needs to pay for a ticket. St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most visited attractions in London. Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece has been…

England, London, UK

The cheeky way to get the cheapest London Eye tickets

Getting the cheapest London Eye tickets, in summary: Book at least a day in advance. Go for a late afternoon/ early evening slot. Book via a third party for other times of the day. What is the London Eye? The London Eye is one of…

big wheels, England, London, UK

The 6 best things to do in Loughborough

If visiting Loughborough in Leicestershire, the best things to do include the Great Central Railway, the bell museum and escape rooms. My old home town of Loughborough, bless it, is not exactly a tourist magnet. However, plenty of people do visit this Leicestershire town for…

England, Loughborough, UK

Churchill War Rooms, London: Ticket prices, availability and tours

Tickets for the Churchill War Rooms in London cost £33, but you might get more out of booking a more expansive Churchill and World War II walking tour. What are the Churchill War Rooms? The Churchill War Rooms in London is an underground museum that…

England, London, museums, UK