Top 20 food and drink reasons to visit Britain
Food is an important ingredient in a holiday. So therefore, we’ve produced a guide with 20 reasons why Britain is a great place to visit for its food and drink!
The UK boasts 145 Michelin starred restaurants and a further 117 Bibs Gourmands. There are good cafes, restaurants and pubs in virtually every village and town throughout Britain, many of them serving dishes made from locally grown finest ingredients. For example, did you know there are over 700 named British cheeses produced in the UK?
There are also 400 vineyards throughout the British countryside and 850 independent brewers and microbreweries which between them produce over 5,500 traditional ales (for example Bishop’s Finger, Doombar and Fursty Ferret)!
Top Twenty GREAT Food (and drink!) reasons to visit Britain:
1. Gastropubs –well, after all, we invented them! They started in London and can now be found all over the country. Combining the best of the much-loved British pub, with good value, tasty food, using the best local produce, and in relaxed surroundings.
2. Fish and chips (and maybe mushy peas….). Another British institution - try the Magpie in Whitby, Yorkshire; Rick Stein’s in Padstow, Cornwall, or Aldeburgh Fish and Chips on the Suffolk coast, to name just three, but you can find them frying away in every town and city.
3. The world’s cuisines in one country – or even one city, London. Indian food is a British favourite, from takeaways to Michelin starred restaurants, but you can alphabetically eat anything from A (Australian) to Z (Zulu, www.shaka-zulu.com) inspired food in London; or geographically from New Zealand cuisine to that of Peru – one of the latest trends in the capital. Try Ceviche in Soho (www.cevicheuk.com).
4. Stinking Bishop, Cornish Yarg, Stilton, and Cheddar produced in – the village of Cheddar, in Somerset. There are over 700 named British cheeses produced in the UK, with a cheese available for every occasion http://www.britishcheese.com/. And as well as eating it, you can roll it down a hill, in one of Britain’s quirkier events, the Cheese Rolling Championships held in Gloucestershire http://www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/index1.htm
5. Afternoon tea: think of tea and the Ritz comes to mind, but there are literally hundreds of places to try this relaxing mix of sandwiches, cakes and other delicacies, from thatched cottages such as the Primrose Tea Rooms in Devon, to the grander surroundings of the Royal Deck of the Royal Yacht Britannia, in Edinburgh. Betty’s Tea Rooms in Northallerton, Yorkshire has just won the top UK award, with The Athenaeum Hotel coming top in London. All help to contribute to the 165 million cups of tea drunk daily by the British!
6. 145 Michelin starred restaurants. The 2012 Michelin Guide awarded three stars to four restaurants; two stars to 16, and one star to 125 places. They range from the Isle of Skye in Scotland to St Helier on Jersey, from Rock in Cornwall to Blakeney in Norfolk. For the first time a pub, the Hand and Flowers in Buckinghamshire, won two stars (thehandandflowers.co.uk).
7. 117 Bibs Gourmands, not Michelin stars but awards given to establishments offering “good cooking but at moderate prices”. If you can’t get into Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck or Dinner restaurants, why not try the Hind’s Head, a Bib Gourmand across the road from the Fat Duck in Bray.
To read the full list, click here.
Bon Appetit!
-Helene-
British cupcakes à la Leila
Image from www.leilasgeneralstore.com
Have you seen these fantastic British inspired cup cakes with landmarks and icons like the Big Ben, the red routemaster and a London taxi. I just love them! I recently found them in the Swedish celebrity chef Leila’s generalstore.
We understand Leila is very fond of Union Jack inspired products, and London is one of her favourite cities. She’s just visited London actually and has got some really good suggestions on what to do and where to go, and not at least, for a great meal of course! Read more about her recent London visit here.
Most Swedes will probably have heard about Leila, but for those of you who haven’t….Leila Lindholm is a Swedish chef, she’s written several cook books and is frequently seen on Swedish Television. She started her careeer in New York, at the Swedish restaurant Aquavit. When she returned to Sweden she worked at leading Stockholm restaurants like Operakällaren and Fredsgatan 12. In 1999 she was honoured the female cook of the year and shortly after that she began her own business.
I’ve got the theme planned for my next party – it’ll be British of course! Now I just need to learn how to make cup cakes, well bake them is the minor problem, the challenge is how I will get them to look as beautiful as above….
-Helene-
100 days to go: 100 reasons to visit Britain in 2012
Today marks 100 days to go until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
To celebrate this occasion, we have produced a list of 100 great resasons to visit Britain in 2012! The Games is of course a very good reason to come and visit us, but if sport isn’t really your cup of tea, there are many other events and experiences worth a visit. Well, I would say at least a hundred of them! 
Whether your interest is culture, heritage, music, food & drink or shopping, there is something for eveyone. To download the full top 100 list, click here. Sneek preview below.
Unique 2012 events and anniversaries:
*Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 60 years on the throne and so does the whole country.
*Bond is 50 – he might not look it, but Britain’s most dashing secret agent makes it to half a century this October, with a new film Skyfall to be released. A new exhibition in July marks the occasion.
*Shakespeare is 400. Double the age of Dickens, and double the fanfare. Britain is going Bard-crazy, with the World Shakespeare Festival inviting over 60 theatre companies to perform in a myriad different languages; Globe to Globe presents 37 plays over 37 days in 37 languages.
*Dickens is 200 and the Museum of London recreates Victorian London to celebrate.
*The Sandwich is 250. It was invented in Britain.
*The Beatles released their first single 50 years ago, conquering the music world and making Liverpool proud.
*The London 2012 festival with 1000 events and 10 million free opportunities to get involved!
Britain has the world’s best pubs:
*Marble Arch, Manchester, England. For visitors searching for a truly traditional and off the beaten path pub, the Marble Arch won’t disappoint. This 120 year old pub brews its own selection of Marble beers. While it is a bit tricky to find, it is busy all day proving that over 120 years of tradition equals good beers and a good atmosphere.
*No Sign Wine Bar, Swansea, Wales. A must for fans of Dylan Thomas, the No Sign Wine Bar was a favorite with the poet who used to drink here in the 1930s. It appears as the ‘Wine Vaults’ in his story The Followers and retains much of its period charm. In addition to a vast selection of wines, No Sign Wine Bar also serves excellent ale.
*The Pen & Wig, Cardiff, Wales. This old-style pub is tucked-away making it the ideal spot for a perfect pint. Popular with the locals, The Pen & Wig offers a delicious menu including Sunday Roasts, has a pool table and even boasts a large patio garden out back. The friendly atmosphere, welcoming staff and refreshing drinks make this a must-try pub.
* The Ship Inn, Devon, England. Scrumptiously set in one of the prettiest villages in Devon, The Ship Inn at Noss Mayo’s garden sits surveying the town quay with excellent food and well-kept beers. Visitors can relax and take in the views of bobbing boats, hungrily circling seagulls and a gentle estuary bordered by forested hilltops. Visitors arriving by boat can tie up outside.
Discover British fashion designers:
*Alexander McQueen. Designer Sarah Burton created Kate Middleton’s Alexander McQueen wedding dress and the label shot to worldwide fame. 4-5 Old Bond Street, London
*Burberry. Famous for its iconic check-print and trench coats worn by celebrities, with brooding, chiselled actors featuring in its ad campaigns. 165 Regent St, London
*Victoria Beckham. A British ambassador and fashion icon. Victoria Beckham’s recently created designer label, and diffusion line ‘Victoria, Victoria Beckham’ are available at Selfridges and Harrods.
*Vivienne Westwood. A living icon, Vivienne Westwood represents Britain’s eccentric and subversive side. Her store has creative window displays and is a spectacle in itself. 44 Conduit St, London.
*Paul Smith. The famous British designer uses Union Flags in ad campaigns and iconic coloured stripes in his designs. He’s best known for his floral printed shirts and high quality suits with surprising printed linings. The Covent Garden store has art objects interspersed with clothing items. 40-44 Floral Street, Covent Garden, London
And last but not least, did you know:
*At any one time, at least 18 ½ million barrels of whisky are maturing in warehouses throughout Scotland.
*The British drink 165 million cups of tea per day!
*Charles Dickens, who would have turned 200 this year, is credited with introducing 265 words and phrases to the English language, including ‘boredom’, ‘butter-fingers’, ‘fairy story’ and ‘squashed.’
*Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms
*The Tube’s most popular tourist route is from Leicester Square to Covent Garden, though it is actually quicker to cover the distance on foot.
*Queen Elizabeth II has worn more than 5000 hats since becoming Queen in 1952. James Lock & Co often provides headwear to the Royal Family. The company has been synonymous with hats since its establishment in 1676; a postcard addressed to ‘The best hatters in the world, London’ sent from abroad was once delivered there.
It’s Britain, it’s 2012 and you’re invited!
-Helene-
50 years of James Bond
© 2006 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation and Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
2012 is a year of celebrations! The 50th anniversary of James Bond for example.
The first movie Dr No, was released in 1962.
So if you plan to visit Britain before this year (which we hope you are!), there are two great exhibitions we can recommend:
Designing 007 – Fifty Years of Bond Style at the Barbican Arts Centre in London and Bond in Motion at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu (between Bournemouth and Southampton on England’s south coast).
Designing 007 – Fifty Years of Bond Style running from 6 July to 5 September, will tell the inside story of how design and style combined to create the world’s most influential and iconic movie brand.
Exhibits will cover the 50 years from 1962’s Dr No to this year’s Skyfall in a multi-sensory experience that explores the craft behind the screen icons, the secret service and villains, tailoring and costumes, set and production design, automobiles, gadgets and special effects, graphic design and motion graphics, exotic locations, stunts and props.
Bond in Motion is an exhibition of 50 iconic James Bond vehicles – the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world – opened in January and will run until the end of the year.
Vehicles will include the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 and the 1937 Phantom lll Rolls-Royce from Goldfinger, the Lotus Esprit S1 nicknamed ‘Wet Nellie’ from The spy who loved me, the Bede Acrostar jet flown in Octopussy, the BMW 750iL from Tomorrow never dies, the original Parahawk (powered parachute) featured in The world is not enough and the original SFX Cello Case Ski navigated by Timothy Dalton in The living daylights.
Time for some action!
-Helene-
Top tips to save money at the 2012 Games this summer
Watching the Olympic sailing in Weymouth and Portland is free.
Did you know there are several non-ticketed events that you can experience for free during the Olympic Games this summer? Take a look at our list below.
There will also be 22 live screens spread across the country, as well as all the pubs of course. Visiting a pub is always a great way of engaging and getting to know the locals, as well as taking in the festive atmosphere.
Non-ticketed Events
1.) Olympic and Paralympic Cycling Road Races
July 28 – August 1, 2012
There are lots of ways to enjoy the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games without a ticket. Some of the most iconic events will be able to be viewed from great vantage points at no cost. The men’s and women’s Road Races will begin on The Mall, a popular backdrop for formal ceremonies and major sporting events throughout the year. From The Mall, the riders will head southwest through London, cross the famous River Thames at Putney Bridge and continue out through Richmond Park past Hampton Court Palace. Before the riders make it back to The Mall for a dramatic finish, they will head to Surrey, travel north through Leatherhead, Esher and Kingston.
www.london2012.com/cycling-road
2.) Olympic Marathons
July 5 and 12, 2012
The Olympic and Paralympic marathons will start and finish at The Mall, an iconic location in central London most recently famous as part of the wedding route for the marriage of Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Each race will have around 80 athletes taking part, making it a heart-pumping spectacle worth watching.
www.london2012.com/athletics
3.) Olympic Sailing
July 29 – August 11, 2012
The deep sapphire blue waters of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour will play host to 10 sailing events over the course of 14 days during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These free events will offer fans excitement and drama as they watch teams race in the beautiful but testing waters on the southern coast of England.
www.london2012.com/sailing
4.) Olympic Race Walks
August 4 and 11, 2012
Known for its regal beauty and nature, visitors can watch the Race Walks which begin and finish at The Mall in St James’s Park. Along the 2 kilometer race loop, visitors can take in the sites of Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen, and the Commonwealth Memorial Gates.
www.royalparks.org.uk/London2012.cfm
5.) Olympic Live Sites
With large screens carrying live broadcasts of the Olympic events, visitors in 22 locations around the UK will have the best seat in the house to watch their favorite event. Screens will feature a broad range of UK-wide and local content in partnership with community, arts and media organizations.
www.london2012.com/get-involved/live-sites/index.php
And as London is less than three hours away from all our major Scandinavian airports, it’s even possible to go to experince the Olympic atmosphere in London, just for the day!!
Or why not take the chance to experience some of the other destinations in which the Olympics is taking place: Cardiff, Glasgow, Coventry and Manchester for football, for example. Or Eton-Dorney (near Windsor) for rowing.
-Helene-
Royal hats on the menu
The Berkeley hotel in Knightsbridge, is celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by offering visitors a Prêt-à-Portea – The Royal Collection afternoon tea.
I love the Berkeley’s fashion inspired bakery, it’s one of my favourite places for afternoon tea in London. And now, for a limited time, (29 May-9 June) to mark The Queen’s 60th anniversary on the throne, the hotel’s special afternoon tea will include biscuits, fancy cakes and choux buns made to resemble the most memorable hats worn by the Royal Family. They look adorable, don’t you think?
The fashionable edibles will include a praline profiterole inspired by the much-talked-about Philip Treacy fascinator worn by Princess Beatrice at last year’s Royal Wedding and a vanilla biscuit with icing and sugar diamonds resembling the crown Queen Elizabeth wore for her coronation in 1953.
There will also be a strawberry pannacotta macaroon made to look like the Canadian maple leaf hat designed by Angela Kelly and worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge when she visited Canada.
It is believed that Elizabeth II has worn more than 5,000 hats since she became Queen in 1952!!
Quite impressive!
-Helene-
250 years of the British Sandwich
2012 marks the 250th anniversary of the sandwich, ‘officially’ at least. People have probably been eating sandwiches before this time but it was called something else….
John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich (Sandwich is a town in the region Kent) allegedly ‘invented’ the bread snack in 1762 when he asked for meat to be served between slices of bread so that he didn’t have to take a lunch break during a gambling game. Before long, his friends were asking to have the ‘same as Sandwich’ and the popular convenience food was born.
Sandwich will of course be celebrating big style, on 12–13 May especially. The celebrations will include a Baguette versus Sandwich competition when locals from Sandwich’s ‘twin’ town of Honfleur will take part wearing their traditional French Normandy costume. There will also be a theatrical presentation of the creation of the very first sandwich, a concert of 18th-century music, a food fair and a Sandwich Competition in which visitors can enter their own sandwich creations.
Getting hungry now? I am!! So here’s a sandwich you can easily make yourself:
Coronation Chicken (for four)
250g cooked chicken (remove skin and bones)
50g mayonnaise
40g mango chutney
1 teaspoons curry power
Splash of lime juice (to taste)
Salt and pepper
(Be careful when using mayonnaise so that it doesn’t go soggy! )
Want to see how it’s made? Watch Gary Robson, Manager Nordics & Russia making sandwich live on Swedish TV: TV4 Nyhetsmorgon
-Helene-
Opening soon: Harry Potter Studio Tour in London
Coming soon: a chance to visit the Great Hall at Hogwarts
The set as well as many of the actual costumes and props from the films will be in the tour and one of the highlights is the Great Hall, which I’ve heard is really impressive!
Diagon Alley is antoher of the sets that visitors will be allowed to walk right down and I can imagine, it must be a very magical feel to sstand at the top of the alley. Other sets include the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore’s office, and part of the Ministry of Magic set, which was the biggest ever built.
Professor Dumbledore’s office
The behind the scenes aspects are being kept so visitors will see the sets just as the cast would have done when they walked off and there are lots of little bits of information to test Harry Potter buffs on the way round. Warner Bros are estimating a dwell time of approximately 3 hours but there is no time limit on how long you can stay in there.
Tickets must be purchased in advance as there are no facilities for buying tickets once you are there.
The Studio is located in Watford, 20 minutes by train from central London / Euston Station and a shuttle service will operate from Watford Junction station. Tickets will be £28 for adults, £21 for kids and £83 for a family.
The tour is scheduled to open on 31 March.
I can’t wait!
-Helene-
A GREAT year to visit Britain!
2012 is finally here! There is so much GREAT to see and do in Britain this year. Olympics of course, but there are more to 2012 than sport!
Here’s a few highlights that hopefully will get you in the mood for a British holiday!
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating 60 years on the throne. Lots of events throughout the year but the but the major weekend is 2-5th June.
London 2012 Festival: This is the biggest festival that UK has ever seen. 10 million opportunities to get involved – for free! 21 June – 9 September 2012.
50 years and 50 cars of James Bond: at the National Motor Museum.
Charles Dickens : 200th anniversary
.
The making of Harry Potter : Warner Bros Studio Tour opens in London, Spring 2012.
National Football Museum: opens in Manchester.
We are currently running a promotion with Resfeber/Reisefeber/Rejsefeber and they are offering some great travel deals to Britain for people living in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
And for those of you who live in Sweden (or understand Swedish), don’t miss Resfeberbloggen! They have a special feature on Britain at the moment, where you can get lots of inspiration and valuable holiday ideas around London, Manchester and other places around the country.
-Helene-
Hogmanay – Scottish New Year festival to be streamed online
Fireworks by Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of the biggest New Year’s celebrations in the world, and this year you can watch exclusive free live performances online!
So if you like me, can’t make it to Scotland this year, you can log log on and join 80,000 friends as we party the night away. :-)
The streaming will feature exclusive tracks from Scottish headliners Primal Scream, summer Festival favourites, Friendly Fires and the spectacular Midnight Fireworks from Edinburgh Castle.
To join the party, register at www.edinburghshogmanay.com before 31st December. So hurry up!
The programme will last one hour, starting at 23.30 GMT and ending at 00.30 GMT. Spaces are limited and free of charge.
See you at the Edinburgh street party – and Happy New Year to you all!
-Helene-
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