New Discoveries - Bath, UK

Bath is a country town set in the southwest area of England.
It's known for it's hot springs and country side!

Here are my top three things to do and see -



1 - The Roman Baths
The baths were supposedly founded by Romans, may moons ago. However, they were opened in 1897 and to the trained eye, house a Victorian style in architecture. However, the real magic of this place is the water. Said to have healing powers, and said to have been blessed by a wishing god, men from all over the world for decades threw coins in to help their wishes come true.
Now the water is contaminated, and it's banned from people to touch it, it's still cool to look at, walk through, and learn about. Id you're lucky, a Roman will be walking around for you to get pics and ask any sorts of random questions.

2- Bath Abbey
Look familiar? yes, it looks like Westminster, that's because it was built around the same time. This style was very dominate for Abbeys in England at this time, and it's said to be a miniature of the mother herself.
The Abbey is of Anglican faith and used to be a Benedictine monastery. Of course, like many Abbeys around England, it was forced to change, and would have been renovated or re-built throughout the years.

3 - Bath Park
This park is absolutely stunning, and somewhere you could take the family.

This year it houses an amazing flowered sculpture to celebrate the 2015 rugby cup! Very cool.

For  bonus, and just down the road, for those of you readers out there, Jane Austin's house, where she wrote several of her most famous novels, such as Sense and Sensibility, is just around the corner, you can go for a tour, and check out some of her hand written passages, and walk the halls she did. For those writers and those who believe in the sprits, this one is for you.
Straight across from the Park there is the best ice-cream shop in the WHOLE of bath. Pick up a cone, and stroll around this amazing town.

Enjoy!
Cj, xoxo

New Discoveries - York, UK

York is a small city in North Yorkshire. Arguably the most famous part of Yorkshire.
It's hard a fiery history, from the people of York supporting, the sometimes delusional King Richard ( the one who wrote the Demonology) to it being taken over by King Henry the 8th. Whilst still in tact, thank goodness, York is an ancient city, with it's bones still baring those of it's past, with some modern features of course.

Here are my top three things to do and see in York.


1 - York Cathedral
Look familiar?  If you've been to London, and in particular West Minster Abbey, this cathedral resembles just that.
It is an absolutely stunning master piece built in 1080 it was known as Norman Minster originally, over time more expansions aided in its beauty, and now we have what we do today. A stunning master-piece.

2 - The shambles
Arguably the best preserved medieval street in the world,  The shambles is not to be missed. With it's winding streets, cobbled roads, and uneven shops, some doors are very low and narrow, some windows are crocked. This is a Harry Potter fans must see as it resembles a little shopping street called Diagon Alley! The shambles was actually an ancient shopping street for freshly butchered meat, yep, an open slaughter house, but now days it has anything from collectables to some home made rustic pies (if you have seen Sweeny Toad, this might freak you out, as the pies looks very similar to THOSE pies in the film!)
If you keep your eyes peeled you can have a little look inside the oldest church in the shambles, it's been there since day dot. Make a donation, and don't forget to mind your head whilst walking inside.

3 - The atmosphere
Walking these streets is like walking back in time.
Take your time and soak it in, have a look at the York Castle and check out York Dungeon for a bit of fun. Learn about Yorkshires bloody history, and become a true British local. England has a long and proud history, York is the perfect place to become knowledgeable on that history.
Don't forget to pick up a pint at one of the many pubs.

My top tip?
Why not visit Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms?
It's the most famous tea house in the world. Get the original tea, and a tea cake stand. Enjoy. But watch out, the line will be around the corner, so get there early!

Cj, xx