The movies in UK are a bit different than in the States, but no less fun seeing them with your…read morefriends. We checked out Dead Pool 2 while here, and this was our theatre. Stadium style seating, assigned seats but the seats are small, and don't recline at all. You pay for your ticket and concessions up front at the same counter. You can even get milkshakes there. Though I wouldn't reccommend them, they were awfully sweet, over sweet. The popcorn was alright, and of course I got bottled water because that's what I drink. The previews were entertaining because UK commercials are SO much better and more inventive than US.

If your vehicle keeps telling you it's actually a bicycle, then it's a Carliar. And should probably…read moresupport this team. It was founded by Belinda Carlisle in 1987 when she realized that heaven was a place on earth, and that place was this team. She drew a circle in the sand, which ended up being the centre circle. And she left a light on, which is why the stadium has such big electricity bill debts. First-Hand Experience: Fantastic team, and amazing support with a wonderful intense enclosed stadium. I come here when I want to see what English football really used to be like, old school. I saw them play live at home when I was a kid, and beat Oxford, my team. Then I saw them in 2011 and 2014 and remembered how much I love this stadium and this team, even more now. The northernmost team in the English league and just a phenomenal place to come and watch footy. Carlisle United is one of the grand old teams of the league, they have the biggest stadium and following (maybe) in League Two, and they're way up next to Scotland where it's freezing. Much love for Carlisle and their resident Cumberland Sausages (yum). Shankly once said their rise to the top division in the 60s was the greatest feat in football history, and everyone knows Shanks knows everything. They were even top of the league for a few days after they started with 3 wins. So for all this history, the team really has to get a good rating, and so they do. Also their manager is Keith Curle formerly of Man City and of Wimbledon before they moved. Carlisle is the smallest city to have reached the top division since 1906. Olga The Fox is the mascot and that pushes them over the edge to a 5 star team.

And so, on the windiest, rainiest, coldest day of the year, of course myself and my son ended up…read moregoing to Carlisle to watch football. English League 2 action, featuring Carlisle United vs. the team we were there to see - Crawley Town. My son has a bizarre obsession with Crawley Town, and so we try to get to a game every season. Carlisle is the closest and easiest place to get to on, so here we are. And weather aside, it's a nice ground. It has an old school feel, with some open terraces at one end, and covered standing at the other. We were sat in the away section of the modern Pioneer Food stand, what appears to be a fairly modern part of the ground. And it's pretty nice. The food kiosk under the seats was fine, decent football fare of pies and burgers... and... alcohol! Yes, in England, fans are treated like mature adults and allowed to have a beer before the game, and even at half time. YOU HEAR THIS, SCOTTISH AUTHORITIES??? The pricing was fantastic too, only a tenner for my adult ticket, and a fiver for Shawn's ticket. All of the staff we came across were professional, friendly and even happy to be there helping their local club. Local is a feeling that came across strongly with this club and the ground, it felt like it was very active in the community and the community supported them right back. A fine way to be. If you get a chance, pop in for a game. Hopefully, you win. Not like Saturday. Stupid linesman was against us the whole game...

Naturally everyone in Workington is employed…read more Some of them are employed as Rugby League players. If I liked Rugby, Workington would be one of my fave teams because it's in the Lake District and right on the water, but I can't really ever like a Rugby team. Still, I appreciate that the locals love it and when I saw a game here the crowd was very intense. Good luck to them. First-Hand Experience: My friends in Whitehaven took me here to watch a Rugby game a couple of years back. I loved the town and I loved the atmosphere. I didn't really love the stadium and I definitely don't like Rugby. It is too violent for me. But I'll give them a solid three stars anyway because the crowd was excellent. It was very windy in there, but the rain held off which was a relief. The home team won and so everyone left drunk and happy. I haven't been back to Workington since, but if I ever do go back, I might be open to an encore. I'd rather watch footy though.

Gala Banks sounds like Tyra's stripper sister (or Briana's crossdressing brother), but it's…read moreactually a "stadium", and I use the word liberally. I do a lot of things liberally. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I've been inside this tiny stadium, but not for a game. It's honestly one of the poorest stadiums I've seen because of it's tiny size and lack of facilities. However it means a lot to the people of the town and I appreciate that. And I love the team that plays here. It just looked like a park, to me. So when I was doing my first tour of Scotland in 2011, I also hit up every single stadium in the country. My obsession with footy (soccer to Americans) is the reason. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are based on first-hand personal experience, usually from multiple visits. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to most of them yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at many of them, which I will post later. Also, when back in Scotland I plan to take more pix, and add more stadia! So watch this space! *** return to regular review *** Galabank isn't a stadium as much as it's a little park in a freezing windy part of South West Scotland. But that's okay, because the team that plays here is finally experiencing league football after 60 years not in the professional leagues. So congrats to them. It can only hold 2k people. When they played Rangers here they had a sell-out crowd of 2,500 (giggling).

The gardens here are SPECTACULAR! I've been in late spring, summer, and early fall... each…read moreopportunity providing an entirely different experience. I don't think there's a wrong time to visit! Though, to be honest, I think late spring is my favorite. There's already so much in bloom, and the cherry blossom trees are absolutely breathtaking! Their orchard has the largest collection of 'Taihaku' in the world comprising of 329 trees. Give yourself plenty of time here, so you can sit on the swings amongst the trees and just take it all in! Other highlights include: - The Poison Garden! Home to around "100 species of dangerous, toxic and harmful plants, each of which has the potential to severely injure you!" Tours here occur every thirty minutes, and a very educated (and humorous) guide will tell you all about the plants! - The Grand Cascade! "​One of the largest water features of its kind, the three-tiered Cascade occupies the main north-south axis and forms the spine of The Garden. The half-hourly water display uses 120 water jets and 250,000 gallons of water circulate through the system." - The Ornamental garden! "This walled space was the original kitchen garden to Alnwick Castle. It is now designed as a series of rooms, each one framed with shrubs and trees. It houses over 16,000 plants and the entrance is through 16th century Venetian gates." - The Bamboo Labyrinth! "The Bamboo Labyrinth sways and rustles above the brick paths that wander between its green walls, confusing the visitor." And so, so, so much more. (Including a full schedule of events that take place within the gardens!) Yes, absolutely, you should visit the castle itself too. There's so much history (the origins of the castle date back to the Normal period; it's the second largest inhabited castle in the UK and has served as a military outpost, a teaching college, a refuge for evacuees, a film set, and a private family home). You can take a tour with a docent, take a self-guided tour, practice your broomstick riding or archery skills, visit the artisan's courtyard, try on some medieval costumes or crafts, and take a side quest involving dragons (so much fun even as an adult with no children, let me just say!).

This castle is BREATHTAKING!! One of my favorite places on earth... and I cannot wait to go back…read more It is truly awe-inspiring. It was amazing to see the dining room, after seeing it in Downton Abbey... it is STUNNING. The gardens are beautiful, too... but nothing compares to the castle itself! I'm so very grateful that they allow the public to visit... we do not have anything even remotely close to this in America, of course.