Previously on Smart Traveller we have focuused on the city of York in the following posts Free things to do in York and family attractions in York

Here with the help of Visit Britain Itineries we can bring you this video guide to help you make the most of a day in York.

Explore York City Centre

The Park Inn Hotel in York overlooks the River Ouse from the city centre and is situated within a five-minute walk from York Train Station and local bus links to the Park & Ride. The hotel’s central York location provides guests with easy access to York Minster, Cliffords Tower and other prime York attractions.

Now known as Manchester Airport it has two runways, three terminals and is supported by a comprehensive road network and railway station. Terminals 1 & 2 are joined by the Skylink travelator, with terminal 1 & 3 linked by a covered concourse. The Skylink is also connected to the railway station and the Radisson Blu Hotel.

The airport has a World Freight Terminal where carriers can make use of the 550,000 sq ft storage area, with chiller units and office space. There are also three airways that have maintenance hangers here.

The most popular destinations from Manchester Airport are Tenerife, Dubai, Dalaman, Dublin and Mallorca, all handling over 500,000 passengers per year.

Location
Manchester Airport is south of the city and still very much in a rural setting; it is reached by road from a dedicated exit on the M56 Motorway at junction 5. The Manchester Airport Railway Station is connected to Manchester Piccadilly, while there are also plans for a tramline to link the airport to the city centre, which is due to open in 2016.

Car Parking
There is a “No Waiting” restriction on all roads surrounding the Manchester Airport, but its three terminals all offer long and short stay options; there is also a shuttle service every 15 minutes and VIP Valet parking from which to choose.

Facilities
• Airport shopping, with a large range of designer and boutique stores as well as some well-known high street names.
• WiFi Hotspots with free 30-minute access.
• Lounge and bars, including the premium Escape Lounges and executive business and VIP lounges.
• Shower and change facilities in the directly connected hotel
• Multi Faith Prayer Rooms
• Aviation Viewing Park for aircraft spotting enthusiasts with its own café and shop.

Accommodation
The area between terminals 1 & 2 is known as the “Station”, for obvious reasons as the railway is located here and this is where the Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport is also situated. Linked by the covered Skylink travelator to the terminals the hotel represents the ideal place to stay before early morning flights or after landing late in the evening.

The hotel has 360 comfortable Nordic and Rural themed rooms, along with its own bars, restaurant and health spa facilities including a swimming pool. Guests can also avail themselves of the hotels long and short-term parking when staying at the hotel.

Flights
Flights from Manchester go to 190 destinations using 65 different tour operators, predominantly to European destinations. However, there are a number of scheduled carriers that travel to the United States and Canada, the Caribbean. India and Pakistan and Singapore. There are several flights to North Africa including Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya and Egypt and also the Middle East such as Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Europe is the most accessible destination from Manchester Airport with regular journeys possible to almost every country, with Germany, France and Italy having particularly good coverage.

Steeped in history, with 60 miles of stunning coastline and renowned for its warm climate, the Isle of Wight really is a hidden gem in its own right. To help visitors discover the delights of the ‘Garden Isle’ as it’s also known, Isle of Wight Tourism is calling for people to nominate their top ‘hidden gems’ on the Island – be it a secret beach, stunning scenery or a fabulous restaurant.

All hidden gems can be viewed and submitted via the dedicated Facebook tab. Users simply state why they love their particular gem and are required to include their name, location and an image. Once moderated and verified, the location will appear as a pin on the virtual map.

Ashley Curzon, Strategic Manager for Economy, Tourism and Events at Isle of Wight Tourism said: “The Isle of Wight is such a diverse destination it has an appeal to a wide variety of people for a number of reasons – a family holiday, a cosy couples break, as a festival getaway or just somewhere to escape the stresses of everyday life.

“We want to find out what people love about the Island so they can share those special, hidden places with everyone and recommend them as must-see destinations when visiting us.”

To find out more and enter your hidden gem visit www.facebook.com/IsleOfWightTourism. When planning your next trip to the Island make sure you visit www.islandbreaks.co.uk for up to date accommodation, restaurants, attractions and events listings.

Smart Traveller is keen to explore the Donal McGill Seaside Postcard Museum with its unique collection of obscene saucy postcards

The prize consists of a night’s accommodation for two in a Four Pillars Hotel in Oxfordshire, dinner for two, tickets to Blenheim Palace and Broughton Castle, and a walking tour of Oxford.

You can enter the competition by completing the online form on the Telegraph website. Entries must be received by midnight on Tuesday, May 3 2011 and the winner will need to take the holiday before September 14 2011.

The prize consists seven nights’ self-catering accommodation for four people in a shepherd’s hut on a working farm, situated on the northern edge of the Lake District. The winner will also be able to choose one of three additional prizes: a day’s mountain biking for four with Savvy Bikes; a Gyroplane flight for one with RS Gyroplanes; or a luxury food hamper from Cocklakes Farm Shop.

To enter the competition, you will need to register with the BBC Countryfile website, answer a simple question, and complete and submit the online competition entry form. Entries must be received by 11.59 p.m. on 15 February 2011. The winner must take the holiday before the end of July 2011 and will be responsible for their own travel costs to and from the destination.

Where is Hever Castle?

Hever Castle is situated in the village of Hever, in Kent. Hever lies between Sevenoaks and East Grinstead, and is about 30 miles from London.

The History of Hever Castle

Hever Castle dates back as far as 1270 but in the late 1400s, it was bought by the Bullen family, who constructed a house within its walls. The spelling of the name Bullen was variable, but in later years it was usually spelled as Boleyn.

In 1505, Hever Castle was inherited by Thomas Boleyn, the 1st Earl of Wiltshire. Thomas Boleyn was the father of Anne Boleyn, who spend her childhood at Hever Castle before becoming the second wife of King Henry VIII. Anne was executed in 1536 and, after her father’s death in 1539, it became the property of Henry VIII, who bestowed it to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.

During the years that followed, Hever Castle became the home of a number of different families and in the early 20th century,the American millionaire William Waldorf Aston bought the estate and embarked upon a major programme of restoration.

Highlights of Hever Castle

Hever Castle is now open to the public and you can enjoy exploring both the building and 125 acres of grounds.

The castle’s highlights include:

• the Tudor Portrait Collection
• two of Anne Boleyn’s Books of Hours
• Tudor furniture and tapastries
• collections of weapons, armour and torture instruments, housed in the 13th century gatehouse.

Attractions in Hever Castle’s gardens include:

• the Yew Maze – planted by William Waldorf Aston in 1906, this traditionally-designed maze includes a quarer of a mile of pathways and hedges which are up to 8 feet tall.
• the Italian Garden, which also contains a walled Rose Garden.
• a range of water features, including the Cascade Rockery, Two Sisters Pond and Half Moon Pond.
• several attractive walkways, including Anne Boleyn’s Walk and the Rhododendrun Walk.
• Sixteen Acre Island, which includes the Millennium Fountain and the Water Maze.
• Hever Lake Walk, a pathway which will take you all the way around the lake.
• the Adventure Playground.

Facilities at Hever Castle

There are two restaurants at Hever Castle, the Moat Restaurant and the new Guthrie Pavilion. You can also buy sandwiches, cakes and drinks from the Grab and Go Counter and, during the summer, you can purchase ice cream and drinks from a number of kiosks within the castle grounds.

If you’re looking for souvenirs to take home with you, you’ll find plenty to choose from in the Hever Shop and the Courtyard Shop.

Further Information

For more information, including opening times and prices, you can visit the Hever Castle website.

Image: Charlesdrakew

Blenheim Palace  Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP)

Blenheim Palace is situated in Woodstock, about 8 miles to the north west of Oxford, and is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. 

The estate covers more than 2,100 acres and the parkland that surrounds Blenheim Palace was landscaped by Capability Brown. The estate’s Formal Gardens include the Water Terraces, the Rose Garden, the Italian Garden and the Secret Garden, and there are a number of walking trails around the grounds.

You can also take a tour of the palace, which was constructed during the early 18th century and is an example of the English Baroque architectural style. Famous for being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill,  and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlights include the stunning State Rooms, Long Library and Great Hall.

Blenheim Palace also has its own Pleasure Gardens, where you’ll find attractions such as a Butterfly House, the Marlborough Maze and a miniature railway.

The estate has an ice cream parlour, a gift shop and two cafes, one within the Palace and one within the Pleasure Gardens, and you can also buy picnic hampers so you can dine al fresco.  

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden (Rose Lane, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 4AZ).

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is situated in Oxford’s city centre and is the oldest botanic garden in Britain. The centrepiece of the garden is the Walled Garden, which contains a series of borders filled with plants grouped together within their families. 

Outside of the Walled Garden, you’ll find a number of other gardens, including the Water Garden and the Rock Garden. There are also a number of glasshouses, such as the Lily House, the Insectiverous House and the Palm House.

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is also linked to the Harcourt Arboretum, about 6 miles to the south of Oxford, which is home to many different trees and plants.

Greys Court (Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4PG)

Greys Court is a 16th century mansion in Henley-on Thames, in South Oxfordshire, and is now owned by the National Trust. The house has recently undergone major conservation work and reopened to the public this year.

If you visit Greys Court, you can see the ornamental walled gardens, take a stroll down the wisteria walk and explore the maze. Greys Court also has a tea room and a gift shop, and you can buy flowers and plants from the estate’s plant stall.

Buscot Park Gardens (Buscot Park, Farringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 8BU)

Buscot Park is a country house, situated just outside of the town of Farringdon. Constructed in the late 18th century, it is an example of the neo-classical architectural style.

You can take a tour of the house and see the Farringdon Collection, a collection of art which contains works by a number of artists. Highlights of the collection include a number of  Pre-Raphaelite works, including paintings by Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

Buscot Park’s grounds cover more than 100 acres, so garden-lovers will have plenty to see. The Four Season’s Walled Garden was created by the present Lord Farringdon, who transformed the old kitchen garden into an ornamental garden featuring lilies, roses, Judas trees, cherry trees, fruit and vegetables. This garden also includes statues of the Four Seasons by Frank Forster.

You can also see the Peto Water Garden (named after its designer, Harold Peto), the Swinging Garden and a number of frescoes.

Other Oxfordshire Gardens include Waterperry Gardens, Broughton Castle Gardens and Rousham House Garden.

Image: © Copyright Colin Smith and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Here are details of just some of the gardens that you can visit if you’re taking a holiday in Derbyshire.

Chatsworth House and Garden (Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP).

Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, is situated about 10 minutes’ drive from the Derbyshire town of Bakewell.

The house dates back to the 16th century, but was remodelled during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Chatsworth estate covers more than 1,000 acres of land and includes a 105 acre walled garden, which was originally a formal garden, but which was transformed into a more naturalistic garden by Capability Brown during the 18th century.

Highlights of Chatsworth’s garden include: the Cascade, a 300 year old water feature in which water flows down 24 steps; the Willow Tree Fountain; the Kitchen Garden; the Sensory Garden; and the Maze.

You can also take a tour of Chatsworth House and visit the estate’s farm, and there are restaurants, cafes and gift shops on-site.

Haddon Hall (Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1LA)

Haddon Hall is a fortified medieval manor house, and dates back as far as the 12th century. The building itself is stunning, and you can take a tour of it to see the Tudor Long Gallery, the 14th century Banqueting Hall and the oak-pannelled Dining Room.

However, Haddon Hall is also known for its gardens, which date back to the Elizabethan period, but which were cleared and replanted during the early 20th century. The gardens are best-known for their roses, but you can also see a range of other flowers and plants, together with some magnificent old yew trees there.

Haddon Hall has been used as location in a number of television and film productions. It also has a restaurant and a gift shop.

Cascades Gardens (Clatterway, Bonsall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2HA)

Set around an old corn mill, Cascades Gardens cover 4 acres of land and are open to the public on Wednesdays, Sundays and public holidays between the beginning of April and the end of August.

Highlights of Cascades Gardens include: the Formal Garden, where you can see irises, delphiniums, foxgloves and other flowers; the Rose Shrubbery, which includes geraniums, daffodils and bluebells, as well as shrub roses; and the newly created Alpine Garden.

Cascades Gardens also has its own nursery, which stocks a wide range of herbacious perennials, so it’s the perfect place to visit if you want to buy flowers and plants to take back home with you.

Other gardens that you can visit if you’re staying in Derbyshire include Melbourne Hall Gardens, Hardwick Hall Gardens and Kedleston Hall Garden.

Image: David Benbennick

Arley Hall and Gardens (Arley, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 6NA)

There are 8 acres of formal gardens to explore at Arley Hall, as well as a woodland garden and arboretum, so it’s the perfect place to visit on a day-trip if you’re staying in Cheshire. 

Highlights of the gardens include: the Pleach Lime Avenue, which was planted in the 1850s; the Flag Garden, in which you’ll find roses and lavender; the Fish Garden, which was planted during the 1920s; the Victorian Vinery, where you’ll find fig trees, olives and ginger plants; and The Grove, Arley Hall’s arboretum.

You can also take a tour of the stunning Arley Hall and enjoy a meal in the Tudor Barn Restaurant. Arley Hall also has a gift shop, and you can buy a range of plants and flowers from the on-site nursery.

Tatton Park (Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN)

The gardens at Cheshire’s Tatton Park cover more than 50 acres, and the first formal garden on the estate, now known as Charlotte’s Lawn, was laid out in 1814.

Highlights of Tatton Park’s gardens include the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Walled Kitchen Garden, and the Glasshouses, and you can buy a range of plants and produce from the Garden Shop.

There are also plenty of other things to see and do at Tatton Park, so it’s a great place to go for a family day out. You can take tours of the Regency-style Mansion and the Tudor Old Hall, see pigs, donkeys, goats, sheep and other animals at the Farm, or take part in a range of outdoor activities in the estate’s parkland. There are also a range of gift shops and a self-service restaurant at Tatton Park.

Norton Priory Museum and Gardens (Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1SX).

Norton Priory, in the Cheshire town of Runcorn, was home to Augustinian canons in the Middle Ages and later became the residence of the Brooke family. Today, you can explore the priory ruins, see a range of artefacts in the museum and take a stroll in the grounds, which cover 38 acres.

Garden-lovers can explore the 3.5 acre Walled Garden, which is home to the National Collection of Tree Quince, as well as a rose walk, a fruit garden, a vegetable garden and an orchard. You can also see the priory’s Herb Garden and explore the woodland Sculpture Trail.

Other gardens in Cheshire include Lyme Park Gardens in Disley, Dunge Valley Rhododendrun Gardens near Kettleshulme, and Cholmondeley Castle Gardens.

Another essential destination for gardeners visiting Cheshire is Bridgemere Nursery and Garden World, near Nantwich, which claims to be the largest garden centre in Britain.  It has more than 6 acres of show gardens, and you can also buy flowers, plants and a range of other garden-related products there.

Image:  © Copyright David Tranter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens (East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon)

Situated in the Otter Valley, in East Devon, Bicton Park Botanical Gardens is the perfect place to go for a family day out. The oldest of the gardens, the Italian Garden, dates back to 1735, whilst the Pinetum and Arboretum includes more than 300 species of tree.

Other gardens at Bicton Park include the Hermitage Garden, the American Garden, the Mediterranean Garden and the Rose Garden, and there are also four large glasshouses, in which you can see plants from around the world.

Bicton Park is also home to a number of other attractions, including the Bicton Countryside Museum and the Bicton Woodland Railway. It’s open all year round (although it’s closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day). Bicton Park is usually open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m during the summer, and between 10 a.m and 5 p.m. during the winter (although it may open for fewer hours during the Christmas holidays). Admission fees apply.

Image: Burkhard Gutleben

RHS Garden Rosemoor (Great Torrington, Devon)

RHS Garden Rosemoor is situated in Great Torrington, in North Devon, and covers 65 acres of land. The estate was given to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) by Lady Anne, in 1988. Lady Anne was a keen gardener and spent many years developing an 8 acre garden around the house, travelling and bringing back plants from all over the world. This part of the estate is now known as Lady Anne’s Garden, and contains more than 4,000 plants.

The Royal Horticultural Society developed the estate, creating new gardens and a reservoir, and RHS Garden Rosemoor opened to the public in 1990. Today, you can explore the gardens, which include the Rose Garden, the Fruit and Vegetable Garden, and the Arboretum, and take walks in the nearby woodland. There is also a visitors’ centre, a restaurant and tea room, a shop, and a plant centre, where you can buy flowers and plants to take home with you.

RHS Garden Rosemoor is open all year, from 10 a.m. It closes at 5 p.m. from October to March, and at 6 p.m. during the rest of the year. Royal Horticultural Society members can visit the garden free of charge, but admission fees apply for non-members.

Coleton Fishacre (Brownstone Road, Kingswear, Devon)

The Coleton Fishacre estate, in South Devon, was constructed in the mid-1920s for Rupert and Dorothy D’Oyly Carte, who used it as a holiday home. Rupert D’Oyly Carte was the Chairman of the Savoy Hotel Group and owner of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and the Savoy Theatre.

The garden at Coleton Fishacre cover 30 acres of land, and provides stunning views of the sea, as it slopes down to meet the South West Coastal Path. It contains plants from around the world, including rhododendrons and camellias, and you can also see attractive water features and a gazebo. You can also take a tour of the Coleton Fishacre House, which was decorated in the Arts & Crafts style, a style most associated with William Morris.

The Coleton Fishacre estate is now owned by the National Trust. It’s open to the public between 10.30 a.m. and  5 p.m on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays between the 1st of March and the 31st of October. Admission fees apply.