FIRST STOP – LONDON!!

After visiting London many times…I was looking for a different experience aside from the usual..

I only had a couple of hours to adventure, so I donned my runners and headed off through the streets to soak up the atmosphere of London in Spring ….although the weather was a bit like Melbourne with 4 seasons in one day!!

The City of London boasts iconic sites as Fleet Street the 17th Century St Pauls Cathedral , and is the historic financial district - home to both the Stock Exchange and the Bank of England.

The Tower of London (home to the Beefeaters and the Crown Jewels) https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/#gs.w3cimb and Tower Bridge https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/#gs.w3cimb are also located in this area.

If you have the time you can climb the towers of this famous bridge.

A meander across the Millennium Bridge had me arrive at TATE Modern.

Take note that most of London's major museums and galleries are free to enter, so you can see world-class art and artefacts at no cost!!! Amazing!!

I continued my exploration by walking down the bank of the River Thames to Westminster Bridge, passing the London Eye, and then across Westminster Bridge with a fabulous view of Big Ben.

A great couple of hours spent exploring a different side to London – well worth the effort!!

DUBLIN

I have 10 days to explore Ireland and I am so excited!

I have been to Dublin previously and loved it, so my expectations are high for the rest of this beautiful country….

I based myself at The Westin Dublin for my first 2 nights – The Westin is a Virtuoso property and definitely lived up to my expectations. https://www.thewestinhoteldublin.com/

Main Beach Travel are a Virtuoso Travel Agency so you would receive the below benefits when booking with us. The Afternoon Tea was superb!! A great value add to receive when staying at this hotel

Room Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
$100 USD equivalent Afternoon tea for up to two guests per bedroom, once during stay (advisable to make advance reservations)
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

The Book of Kells is a must on your list for Dublin – known as Irelands greatest cultural treasure and located in Trinity College in the heart of Dublin City.

The Book of Kells is a precious 9th century manuscript, featuring an exquisite combination of ornate Latin text and intricate illuminations.

https://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells/

You also have the chance to to visit the Long Room - The 65-metre-long main chamber of the Old Library, the Long Room, was built between 1712 and 1732 and houses 200,000 of the Library's oldest books.

This is a wonderful experience – do not miss it when you visit Dublin!!

Another thing not to be missed during you stay in Dublin is a visit to Temple Bar area….home to many lively pubs and restaurants, the street is buzzing from mid afternoon with live music in most venues.

Treat yourself to a pub crawl and experience a fun time!! Patrons dancing, clapping and singing to local artists playing covers and traditional Irish songs.

Guinness – born and bred in Ireland!! Take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse and savour the sights, sounds, tastes and aromas of Guinness https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/home

Windmill Lane Recording Studios – the Visitor experience is a journey through music and how it has shaped our culture.

https://www.windmilllanerecording.com/studio-tour/

Artists who have recorded at this studio include U2, Kate Bush, ACDC (Razors Edge Album), Cranberries, The Rolling Stones, Simple Minds, Van Morrison - the list goes on….

https://www.windmilllanerecording.com/milestones/

Grafton Street – the main shopping street in Dublin and home to many buskers on a daily basis did not dissappoint…take a walk up Grafton Street and cross the road to enter St Stephens Green – a public park located in the heart of the city.

Visit Ireland – its amazing!!