See Blackpool Illuminations this Autumn
Autumn just wouldn’t be the same without a trip to Blackpool’s world-famous northern lights – the Blackpool Illuminations! Other holiday spots have gone into hibernation, but not Blackpool! The multi award winning Blackpool Illuminations light up the skies of the seaside town entertaining millions of visitors every year. Never seen them before? At Roomguide, we have plenty of cheap hotels in Blackpool so get yourself along and see what all the fuss is about! With over 180 hotels in Blackpool to choose from, you’ll be sure to find somewhere close to the event.
The Blackpool Illuminations run for 66 days from the end of August to November each year. This year they began on the 2nd September and will shine nightly until 6th November. Over the course of the festival, one million lamps of different shapes and sizes play their part in the six mile long promenade illuminative display. Tourists have been coming to see the magical display since 1879, when only arc lamps lit up the Promenade in what was described as “artificial sunshine”. Blackpool was the first town to “go electric” in Victorian times and today, in 2011, its love affair with light still remains. Blackpool Illuminations only use green electricity from renewable resources comprising wind, small-scale hydro, landfill and Bio-Gas. The introduction of green electricity has reduced the annual Illuminations carbon dioxide emissions to zero, saving 420 tonnes per year in the atmosphere.
You can experience the magic of the Illuminations by hopping on an illuminated tram or an open top bus which will guide you through the six mile spectacular. With so much going on including circus shows, comedy events and theatre performances, it’s a great time to visit Blackpool with your loved one or as a family. Book cheap hotels in Blackpool today with Roomguide!
Chester Halloween Ghost Tours
Steeped in 2000 years of history and with hundreds of ghost sightings, Chester is one of the most haunted cities in England. This Halloween, why not book a night-time ghost hunt in Chester and take a night-time journey around the haunts of the city. With your very own Ghosthunter Guide you will hear spine-chilling tales of ghosts and ghouls and revisit scenes of supernatural happenings from Chester’s mysterious and murky past.
Just in time for Halloween, Roomguide have jaw dropping deals on cheap hotels in Chester so you have somewhere safe to hide at the end of your tour! The tours will be running on Thursday, Friday and Saturday leading up to Halloween with extra tours departing on Sunday 30th October and Monday 31st October. Tours depart from the Town Hall Visitor Information Centre at 7.30pm and tickets should be purchased in advance where possible as they are extremely popular!
Ghost Tour Ticket Prices:
Adult: £6.00
Child/Student/Senior: £5.00
Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 concessions): £17.00
You can book your tickets here.
Take a look at all of our cheap hotels in Chester and plan your Halloween now!
Roomguide’s Top 5 Luxury Hotels in Belfast
The Northern Ireland capital of Belfast has undergone a major transformation in recent years. With millions of pounds investment into visitor attractions, bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels, the once battle-scarred city is now a vibrant city break destination for many. From Belfast Castle and Zoo to the Botanic Gardens and Titanic Dock, there is so much to discover. This week you can save on luxury and cheap hotels in Belfast so we thought we’d put together our top 5 picks especially for you.
The Merchant Hotel
This five star luxury hotel is situated in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter and offers elegant rooms complete with flat screen TV’s and spacious en suite marble bathrooms. Dating back to 1860, this Grade I listed building has a huge domed restaurant offering a delicious a la carte menu. The Merchant hotel has spa facilities include a hydrotherapy area, steam room, sauna, gymnasium and 5 treatment rooms. There is also a choice of bars and an onsite nightclub for guests to enjoy.
Malmaison Belfast
This beautifully converted Victorian warehouse is situated in the heart of Belfast. The stylish 4-star Malmaison Belfast is one of the city’s top boutique hotels and with carved stone gargoyles and original iron pillars, it offers luxurious rooms and suits decorated in a rich, opulent style. The Brasserie in the hotel offers classic dishes from its a la carte menu and the chic bar is the perfect place to wind down with a glass of wine.
Ten Square
Located just minutes away from the City Hall, Victoria Square and the business district, this boutique style hotel is Belfast’s most innovative hotel development of the decade. The 23 bedrooms each boast contemporary furniture, chic wallpaper and low slung beds as well as free Wi-Fi and flat screen TV’s. Ten Square also has its own restaurant – The Grill Room Restaurant and Bar serving everything from steaks and seafood to nachos and mojitos.
Europa Hotel
Situated on Belfast’s ‘Golden Mile’ the Europa hotel is next to Great Victoria Street Railway Station. Offering luxurious rooms with modern bathrooms, guests can enjoy designer fabrics from Ralph Lauren and flat screen TV’s. The Piano Bar Restaurant provides gourmet cuisine, a range of cocktails and an impressive view over Great Victoria Street below. Live music is played in the bar by the hotels resident pianist from Thursday to Sunday.
Benedicts Hotel
This boutique style hotel is also on Belfast’s lively ‘Golden Mile’ and is within easy walk of the main shopping area, Queens University and the Botanical Gardens. The guest rooms are individually styled by Eamon Carberry, one of the country’s top interior designers and boast feather topped mattresses, widescreen digital TV’s and Italian marble bathrooms. The bar in the Benedicts hotel is a hotspot, being the only bar offering live entertainment throughout the week and guests can enjoy a mix of Asian and European cuisine within the hotel’s restaurant.
Take a look at all our other cheap hotels in Belfast.
Top 5 Things to Do in Venice
Located in northern Italy, Venice really is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. It’s also one of a few cities in the world that can be described as truly unique, where main streets are the canals, the cars are gondolas and the mixture of Renaissance, Byzantine and Gothic architecture leaves you wondering if this magical city is actually real at all. At Roomguide, we have over 350 luxury and cheap hotels in Venice so you can experience the mystical canals, old bridges and architectural buildings that make this ancient city so memorable.
Here are our top things to do in Venice:
1. See St Mark’s Square
Piazza San Marco known as St Mark’s Square is a beautiful square, one of the best in the world in fact. Napoleon once referred to it as the ‘drawing room of Europe’. Standing in the centre of the square is an experience in itself but if whilst you’re there be sure to visit St Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and Torre dell’Orologio – three of the city’s most famous buildings.
2. Grab a gondola
A ride through one of the city’s picturesque canals is a must for anyone coming to Venice. The authentic Venetian Gondola ride will allow you to take in the iconic sights of the city from its famous waterways and as you float along your gondolier will serenade you with songs of love!
3. Lose yourself
If you’d rather not pay the costly prices of a gondola, lose the guidebook, pack up your map and explore! Walk around the quaint cobbled streets and discover the sights for yourself. Come across the Rialto Bridge, one of the first bridges to be built across the Grand Canal and find the Bridge of Sighs, famously known as the last bridge prisoners crossed before their execution.
4. Head to the beach
That’s right, Venice has a sandy stretch all of its own! Take a Vaporetto from St Mark’s Square to the Venice Lido where you’ll find a completely different atmosphere. The Lido’s laid back character makes a change from the crowded city. Grab a sunbed and bask in the beautiful Italian sunshine!
5. Get a birds eye view of the city
At almost 99m (325ft), the Campanile is the city’s tallest building, originally built between 888 and 912. The Campanile served both as a watchtower and a bell tower and today visitors can look out at the stunning cityscape of Venice.
Take a look at all of our luxury and cheap hotels in Venice.
Liverpool Design Festival and Show
From Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th October Liverpool Design Festival will grip the city with a celebration of contemporary design including fashion, jewellery, homeware, furniture, textiles and accessories. Held in different venues across the city, the vibrant programme will be a mixture of design related events in the form of workshops, catwalks, open studios and exhibitions, most of which are free to attend. Renowned as a creative capital, the city brings only the best in music, art, poetry and fashion and at Roomguide we have plenty of cheap hotels in Liverpool so you can experience all of this in 4 days.
The Design Show is a major part of the festival running from the Friday to Sunday with around 100 independent designers showcasing fashion, jewellery, furniture and ceramics whilst sharing their skills and creations to an expected 5000 visitors. Held in St George’s Hall, one of the finest neo-classical buildings in the world, the Liverpool Design Show will present a number of key exhibitors including Kirsty Hull, Lazerian, Tatty Devine and Theo by Thorsten Van Elten. Claudette Joseph, who has Helen Mirren and Julie Christie as customers, will also be showcasing her latest collection combining influences and inspirations from the 1940’s and 50’s. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet Claudette at the show and buy from her directly as her clothes are not available in stores of the North West. Other exhibitors at the show will include quirky and fabulous designs from Biscuit Boutique, DesignedMade and Amanda Mercer, amongst many others.
Don’t miss out on the biggest design festival of the year – book one of our cheap hotels in Liverpool and get yourself along this weekend! Tickets to the Design Show can be purchased here along with lots more information about the Liverpool Design Festival.
