BRITAIN CALLING
NEWS ROUND UP FOR AUGUST 2005

LINCOLNSHIRE IS A MOVIE-MAKERS’ FAVOURITE
The Eastern England county of Lincolnshire is in the movie spotlight as two major movies are being filmed there. Elizabethan stately home Burghley House and the historic town of Stamford nearby are two of the locations used in a new version of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ starring Keira Knightley and Dame Judi Dench and due for release in September.
Oscar winning actor Tom Hanks will visit Lincoln Cathedral, which will double as London’s Westminster Abbey in the big screen version of Dan Brown’s ‘Da Vinci Code’, due for release next year. The great cathedral, perched on a hill-top, is a harmonious mixture of Norman and Gothic architecture.
Website: www.visitbritain.com.au

STAYING UPTOWN IN LONDON
A 17th century pottery, a Mayfair coach house and a former home of writer Virginia Woolf are just three fascinating properties offering bed and breakfast accommodation in London. Uptown Reservations has a selection of host homes in central and attractive parts of the city including Chelsea, Knightsbridge and the West End.
As well as houses of historical and architectural interest filled with antiques and fine art, guests can expect a warm welcome from their host who may be an artist, an actor or a diplomat and will offer the hospitality and comfort of a top hotel along with a unique insider’s guide to London. Bed and Breakfast is available from £72 per night single, including private bathroom. Website: www.uptownres.co.uk

JANE AUSTEN TEA ROOMS OPEN IN BATH
The Jane Austen Centre in Bath is inviting visitors to take ‘Tea with Mr. Darcy’ in their new Regency Tea Rooms. Decorated in period style and with rooftop views of the Georgian city the Tea Rooms allow visitors to go back in time and relax with courteous service and traditional teas. Mr Darcy is the great romantic hero in Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” which is recreated in a new film to be released in September.
The Jane Austen Centre tells the story of the author’s time in Bath (1801-1806) and the effect the city had on her writing. Another new feature is the ‘Jane Austen, Nelson and the Navy in Bath’ exhibition (May – Dec.) which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and explores connections between Austen and Nelson who both resided in Bath. This exhibition also highlights Austen’s links to the navy both through her family and her writing. Bath is 110 miles west of London and was one of England’s first spa resorts.
Website: www.janeausten.co.uk

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NEW WALKING TRAIL FOR CORNWALL
Walking enthusiasts will have a guide to exploring one of Cornwall’s best kept secrets this summer with a new 60-mile circular route around Bodmin Moor. A new book – “The Copper Trail” - will outline the new route and encourage visitors to make the most of the moor’s historic sites and scenery. Bodmin Moor lies in the north-east of the county of Cornwall, and is famous for the copper mines which brought wealth to the county. The landscape includes granite tors and wooded valleys, home to many species of birds and other wildlife as well as historical and archaeological features such as the Iron Age hillfort of Berry Castle, Trethevy Quoit – a tomb dating back to 4500 BC; and the villages of St. Neot and St. Cleer. . Website: www.bobm.info.

FROM MONTY PYTHON TO WITCH BURNING: SCOTTISH EVENT VARIETY
Some of Scotland’s historic properties are welcoming visitors to experience military re-enactments, go ghost hunting and enjoy entertainment in their events programme for the coming months. The events aim to bring the properties to life with diverse themes including:
• Monty Python Day – Doune Castle was a key location for the film ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ and the event features a screening of the film in the courtyard with a sing-a-long of favourite Python songs and competitions for best impersonations and costumes. (Sept. 4, adults £15)
• Burn the Witch! – on a tour around Scotland including Stirling Castle and Linlithgow Palace, visitors can join ghost hunters to hear chilling tales and seek out those in league with the devil (Oct. 8-31, adults £8.O
Other cultural events include the Scottish Chamber Orchestra performing classical favourites in the Great Hall at Stirling Castle (Sept. 24, adults £16). Website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/events

‘NEW LOOK’ ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL REVEALED
Visitors to London can enjoy a new look St. Paul’s Cathedral. Following a four-year restoration project, the interior of the landmark cathedral in the City of London has been fully revealed to show the results of £10.8 million of cleaning and repair. The work – financed by a single donation from the Fleming family - is part of a £40 million project to restore St Paul’s inside and out and is due to finish in 2008 to mark the 300th anniversary of the laying of the final stone. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666 and took 35 years to complete.
The restoration of the interior included removing 1,000 containers of dust and cleaning 15,500 square metres of stone which had been dirtied by centuries of London smog. The famous dome had a 14 storey scaffold suspended from the top to allow conservators to work on 18th century paintings by Sir James Thornhill. Mosaics, gildings and sculptures were also painstakingly cleaned by hand to complete the light, bright space that Wren intended the cathedral to be.
Website: www.stpaulscathedral.org.uk

FREE HERITAGE OPEN DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
Thousands of buildings and places throughout England will be open to the public free of charge for Heritage Open Days 2005 (Sept. 8-11). In this annual celebration of architecture, history and culture, visitors can gain fascinating insights into properties in every county from Kent in the South East to Cumbria in the North West – many of which are not normally open to the public. Co-ordinated by the Civic Trust and supported by English Heritage highlights include:
• Bradenham Manor Garden near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire offers a rare chance to view the restoration work on this 17th century garden.
• Brading Roman Villa in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Isle of Wight off England’s South Coast displays its fine mosaic floor.
• Orchard Wyndham in Somerset, home to the Wyndhams for 700 years where each generation has added to the 13th century house and contents.
The county of Norfolk in the east of England will have 100 properties available to visit including Norwich City Football Club, a medieval hospital, and Victorian skating rink.
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.

YORKSHIRE TOWN IS A SHOPPER’S DELIGHT
An independent think-tank has declared that a Yorkshire town is the best in the country for retaining its individual character. Out of 103 British towns surveyed, The New Economics Foundation’s survey showed that Hebden Bridge beat better known shopping destinations. The former 19th century mill-town, surrounded by steep hills 216 miles north-west of London, had 50 shops surveyed and only three were found to be chain stores. The rest represented a rich diversity of independent retailers.
Among the stores residents and visitors enjoy is an old-fashioned sweet shop, filled with glass jars containing colourful candies; Feathergill’s Emporium and Holts the greengrocer. The town’s mayor, Councillor Stewart Brown, said the town’s transformation had been fantastic. “It used to be known for ley lines more than anything but now it’s known as much for its lattes,” he said. Councillor Nader Fekri added: “There’s so much variety. I start my day with a coffee in one of the many quirky cafes and do all my shopping here.”
Website: http://www.calderdale.gov.uk

BATH HAS ‘CAMPAIGN FOR REAL SHOPS’
Shopkeepers in the Georgian city of Bath have set up a Campaign for Real Shops to draw attention to its concentration of unique and specialist stores. The city claims one of the country’s highest proportions of independent shops – and five out of ten are unique to Bath.
It is a very walkable city, which adds to the appeal, with many shops hidden in side streets and alleyways. Among the highlights:
• In Margaret’s Buildings, between the Royal Crescent and the Circus, Liz Cox showcases her handmade handbags; while Shire’s Yard off Milsom Street has shops selling fashion accessories, designer shoes and nearby is Molton Brown, which opened earlier this year. Minerva sells mouth-watering handmade chocolates.
• In Walcot Street, the artisans’ centre since Roman days, hand-blown glass can be purchased from Bath Aqua Theatre of Glass; Kent and Carey sells children’s shoes and 150 cheeses are on offer at the Fine Cheese Company.
• Fine galleries and antique shops attract collectors from around the world; and unusual gifts can be bought from stores such as Bloomsbury and Rossiters.
Declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO, Bath is renowned for elegant Georgian architecture, while the Roman Baths is one of the UK’s most visited attractions.
Website: www.visitbath.co.uk

LAKE DISTRICT TEA TRAIL
A selection of the best tea shops in and around England’s Lake District are featured in a new Tea Trail from the Cumbria Tourist Board. From a mountain tea garden specialising in home-made cakes and local ice-cream, to a ‘tea barn’ set in an open-air sculpture park, all the places on this Internet-based trail boast quality farmhouse produce – including jams, cakes and biscuits -- and a warm Cumbrian welcome.
From Beatrix Potter country in the heart of the Lake District to the Solway Coast, the trail suggests some perfect refreshment breaks in one of England’s most scenic regions, and there are a few local recipes to try when you get home.
Website: www.golakes.co.uk/teatrailcumbria

TOILETS IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN BELFAST
The first world conference devoted to toilet provision and standards will be held in Belfast this autumn. The World Toilet Summit (September 26-29) at the Northern Ireland city’s Waterfront Hall will be a platform to hear international speakers address key issues, share best practice, discuss new ideas and the way forward for toileting needs. An exhibition of products will be held at nearby St. George’s Market.
Website: www.2005worldtoiletsummit.com

WHISTLER’S LOST LOVE AT WELSH STATELY HOME
An important collection of 50 items by Rex Whistler is to go on display in North Wales to mark the birth centenary of the artist. They include paintings, drawings, theatrical backcloths, archive material and a nude portrait though to be of Lady Caroline, sister of the present Marquess of Anglesey. Said to be Whistler’s great love, his feelings were sadly not requited.
The exhibition (September 17 – October 12) is at the stately house of Plas Newydd on the Isle of Anglesey, home of the Marquess of Anglesey overlooking the Menai Strait and the mountains of Snowdonia. Some of Whistler’s more personal items will be on display for the first time, including a selection of his letters and sketches. He died, aged 39, on active service in Normandy, France in 1944. The house and gardens are in the care of the National Trust. Tel: 01248 714795.
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

ENDS

For further information on touring Britain, go to www.visitbritain.com.au or phone toll free 1300 858589