Travel News

Once Christmas is finally out of the way, parents will be looking for a way to relax - preferably away from the kids.

There are few better ways of doing that than packing the children off to the grandparents for a couple of days and then heading off for a theatre break. Book into one of the top hotels in London or Manchester, dine in a swanky restaurant and then take in a show - bliss.

So what shows should escaping parents book tickets for?

Joseph And The Technicolour Dream Coat

A West End classic, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph And The Technicolour Dream Coat is currently running at The Adelphi, London. A light-hearted musical based on a biblical story, it features numbers such as Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door.

Since its first performance in 1968 it has featured a number of stars in the lead role, including former Neighbours heartthrob Jason Donovan, housewives' favourite Phillip Schofield and Boyzone singer Stephen Gateley.

This production sees Lee Mead, the winner of BBC1 talent show Any Dream Will Do, take on the role of Joseph, but only until January 10th 2009. His current understudy will then have a brief spell as the headline attraction before pop star Gareth Gates dons the loincloth for his West End debut on February 9th.

La Cage Aux Folles

A musical based on a play by Jean Poiret and telling the story of the relationship between a St Tropez nightclub owner and his drag queen lover may not seem an obvious hit. However, La Cage Aux Folles has wowed audiences around the world for 25 years.

The latest production is on at the Playhouse theatre, located close to many of London's best hotels. It has been running at its current location since October, although the cast is due for a high-profile change next month.

Chat show host and comedian Graham Norton is to take on the role of drag queen Albin from January 19th for an initial three-month run. It will be the star's first West End performance.

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience

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Where's the best place to take a short break in the UK?

London, perhaps, with its huge range of cultural attractions and top-quality hotels . Or maybe, the perennially trendy north-west cities of Liverpool and Manchester, with their heady mix of music, nightclubs and football. Newcastle is always popular, particularly among those who enjoy a city with a lively nightlife.

However, none of the above made the top three in the Sunday Telegraph Travel Awards' Best British City category. Top spot went to York, which beat off competition from Edinburgh and Bath to win the trophy.

York

Perhaps it says a lot about the newspaper's readers that they have chosen York above some of its bigger counterparts. The North Yorkshire city is almost completely devoid of the glitz and glamour that is often displayed in some of its brasher northern neighbours.

However, York more than makes up for that with its history and architecture. The narrow, bustling streets are packed with boutiques, old-fashioned pubs and antiques shops, and it is only a matter of time before you come across a museum.

Jorvik Viking Centre is unmissable. It details the lives led by the Viking invaders who settled in what is now York and features hundreds of original finds from archaeological digs in the city centre.

If Vikings aren't your thing, then perhaps trains are - in which case you'll want to take in the National Railway Museum. Designed to appeal to both kids and big kids, the museum houses scores of trains, from historic steam locomotives to modern classics.

There are also plenty of good hotels in York, most situated close to York Minster. Its website describes the Minster as "one of the great cathedrals of the world" - it isn't wrong. Dating back to mediaeval times, it is a remarkable feat of design and engineering which is certain to impress all visitors, even those with no interest in religion.

Edinburgh

That the Sc ... read more

The cut in the rate of VAT, the weak pound and the willingness of retailers to slash prices is likely to see London experience an influx of shopping tourists in the coming months.

A recent report by lifestyle-management company WhiteConcierge revealed that the UK is now cheaper for shoppers than France, Germany and the US. In recent years many Britons have enjoyed pre-Christmas shopping trips overseas, safe in the knowledge they could save plenty of money. However, it appears the reverse is now true.

WhiteConcierge's managing director Will Holroyd predicted that market conditions would tempt people from continental Europe to head to London's famous shops to cut down on their Christmas costs. And the trend may not end in December.

"We wouldn't be surprised to see a number of non-UK residents come here to shop after Christmas. Lower VAT, the weak pound and the January sales should entice many people over to do their shopping," Mr Holroyd explained.

"Many retailers have great discounts at the moment and so both UK and non-UK residents are bound to be tempted."

So you've travelled over, booked into one of London's best hotels and are armed with a wallet full of credit cards – the only thing you need to know now is where to go.

Oxford Street

If you can't find what you are looking for on Oxford Street, you're probably being too picky. Virtually every major high street chain has a shop here, seemingly catering for every taste and budget.

The highlight remains swanky department store Selfridges. Fashionistas can spend a satisfying few hours just browsing, even if the clothes on show are too expensive for them.

King's Road

The upmarket district of Chelsea is now best known for its football club - an outfit so wealthy it even has a lavish hotel in its Stamford Bridge stadium. However, back in the sixties and seventies it was famed for the trendy boutiques on King's Road, which gave the world miniskirts and punk fashion.

It may no lo ... read more

The Lancashire coastal resort of Blackpool will evoke many images for anyone who has spent a break there, but pictures of sporting heroics are probably not among them.

Blackpool has a League football team, albeit one that won its only major trophy in 1953, and a county cricket ground. It is also located close to some of England's toughest golf courses. However, it could hardly be described as a great sporting town.

However, that has not stopped the Rugby Football League (RFL) announcing that it will be the venue for a new tournament next year. The Northern Rail 9s will see 26 clubs battling it out at Fylde rugby union club's ground over the weekend of July 11th and 12th.

The last two teams will contest the final at Bloomfield Road, the home of Blackpool's football club, ahead of the 13-a-side Northern Rail Cup Final on the Sunday.

Gary Tasker, development director for the RFL, said the event would allow supporters from across the country to get together for a memorable break. He added: "It will be a real celebration weekend held in one of Britain's and our fans' favourite tourist destinations."

So just what is it that makes seemingly old-fashioned Blackpool so popular?

The Golden Mile

No traditional British seaside resort is complete without a stylish promenade and Blackpool has one of the best. Known as the Golden Mile, it is home to many of Blackpool's best hotels and a stroll along it will show you everything the town has to offer.

It stretches from North Pier to the Pleasure Beach and takes visitors past the arcades and attractions such as Louis Tussaud's Waxworks, while giving a perfect view of the beach and sea. If walking along it seems too much effort, why not hop on to one of the famous trams.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

If Blackpool lovers are honest, the actual beach is not much of an attraction. The climate is hardly Mediterranean and the sea is freezing cold for the vast majority of the year.

So many people prefer to spend their time at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, an amusement park with some terrifying rides. The Grand National rollercoas ... read more

The drinking culture in Scotland is legendary, with tales of alcohol-fuelled exploits easy to find in pubs and bars north of the border.

In recent years, the Scots' reputation for drinking has, not entirely fairly, become a subject for ridicule, thanks partly to sitcom character Rab C Nesbitt and stand-ups such as Frankie Boyle.

However, one thing drink-related that has not changed is the fact Scotland produces the world's finest whisky. The nation has more than 100 distilleries, producing something for every taste.

A group of Edinburgh bar owners have now decided to group together to offer tourists the very best in whisky, producing a guide and map to where to get the best Scottish firewater. So why not book into one of Edinburgh's best hotels, follow their advice and give your taste buds some stimulation.

Whisky Bars of Edinburgh

The bar owners keen to promote Scotland's finest products get few marks for imagination in the choice of name for their group - Whisky Bars of Edinburgh is certainly not going to mislead anyone. But this initiative is not about flash marketing, with the participating pubs and bars focusing on quality of service and product.

Chris Conway, of distillery industry body ScotlandWhisky, explained that the drink is one of the main things that attracts tourists to Edinburgh. By using the guide to choose their bars carefully, visitors will be assured of not just the best produce, but also a great atmosphere.

"Edinburgh is rightly famous for its bars and Whisky Bars of Edinburgh brings together ten fantastic examples of where visitors can enjoy a dram in a traditional setting," said Mr Conway.

Enjoy a drink in regal surroundings

Edinburgh has one of Europe's best-known castles and the Queen's official residence in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Linking the two is the famous Royal Mile, which is home to some of the capital's best hotels, including the Radisson SAS Edinburgh.

The street a ... read more