Avoid a trip up Blackpool tower the view may have been great but they have totally ripped us off…read more As posted previously we visited the tower and the lisft had technical issues we were offered a refund or return tickets. We asked for a refund after waiting over an hour to get it. Despite several calls and assurances that the funds would soon be back with us today the phone line has been removed contact is now only by email. The website has been updated to say regardless of the reason no refunds will be issued. Totally disgusted what appalling service . The tower had a special place in our heart but it appears now it is owned by the council they are just another government rip off

Warning Blackpool Tower Eye…read moreTickets are non refundable. We are in our 70s and made one last trip to Blackpool specifically to go to the top of the Tower something we had never done We prebooked on line for Wednesday 11.30 AM the weather forecast was sunny with a moderate breeze on arrival we were told the tower was closed and our money would not be refunded The Blackpool Tower Eye  can close without prior notice no refunds will be issued however the ticket is valid for one use within 90 days. You have to give them 24 hours notice to rebook that's if the wind has stopped but we would be on our way home by then if they were genuine they would refund the  £32 rip-off blackpool tower eye

The oldest and the rickiest. Every step we took was shaky. We then watched the sun go down at…read moreBlooms with a G&T and each step was worthwhile. We old timers love old time.

Unlike the Central Pier, the Blackpool North Pier is more of a place to relax and amble about. It's…read morenot littered with "amusements" and shops, and there's even a theatre at the end of it. And then there's The Sunset Lounge, with its live (hammond organ and source music) daytime music and large seating area (both regular tables & chairs and deck chairs) to unwind and while away the day, connected to its standard "family bar". The wood-floor pier is in very good condition, and fairly broad - so it won't get too busy. For the small fry you'll find an old-fashioned carousel and some sweet shops. It oozes 19th century seafront fun, with great views of the city on either side. A must on every trip to Blackpool.

Good because Eleanor's narration left us wanting more. Inside was out of bounds so we were left…read morewith a half hour outside tour and the mini museum of the witches. We were thirsty for much more history than was given but what was given was great. Eleanor was a born story teller and there is so much more to this history than was given. For 2 pound 50 it was a bargain. What stories this castle could tell.

You'd be silly to come all the way to Lancaster without seeing the castle!…read more The castle is still a working court and prison, but you can take tours there seven days a week if you head around back (near the requisite gift shop.) The keep dates to the 12th century and the history of the castle is very interesting. The guides are well informed and fun to listen to, and there are events here throughout the year. When you finish, it's worth heading out front, putting the castle at your back and taking a walk down the street towards town. On the right, you'll see a sign for the Nice Cafe, and inside that building is the tourism office, which always has more info on things to see locally. If you go a few feet further and look left, you will find the Merchant's Pub, one of the oldest and coolest pubs in town. Grab a burger and a pint and enjoy their patio!

I very much enjoyed the journey to this Roman relic on the outskirts of...just about everything…read more That said, this wasn't such an easy place to find - the comments on the Prestatyn tourism display tells you to watch for the signs, whereas I can confirm there are no signs in either direction. To get there, take Meliden Road and then look for the residential Melyd Avenue on your right. You will find the ruins inconspicuously at its end. I had just come to Prestatyn from Chester, which of course has many remnants of its Roman past, but I really found this site to be as special, if not even more so, than that celebrated city. Perhaps it was the journey to get there. As it is, a helpful display explains the functionality of the baths, and there are some benches to sit and ponder the scene from millennia ago. I walked here from Prestatyn High Street, and it took me about a half-hour. If you're doing the same, consider venturing on just a few more minutes down the road to Meliden which has a lovely parish church from medieval days, in case you feel like entering another historical epoch.

Review 500! Wowzers…read more I'm chuffed that it's this local landmark, as we walked up to Peel Monument on what was probably the loveliest, sunniest first day of Spring that I can remember. Occupying a prominent position on Holcome Hill, you can see the monument from miles around and it serves as a beacon for walkers or those of us that just enjoying getting up to it "because it's there". It's a memorial to Sir Robert Peel, born in Bury, who twice served as Prime Minister and is regarded as the father of the modern British police. On a clear day, which we were lucky coincided with our visit, you can look out across the Greater Manchester landscape to the towns, villages and moorlands beyond. Sit down on the grass and take it all in. There are public footpaths leading up to it from Ramsbottom; we didn't need a map as you could see it above you most of the time. Alternatively, there are lanes you can park on further up the hill as it's a bit of a climb, but definitely worth visiting.

Towering 160m above both what was once the old-money village of Alderly Edge (now a mecca for…read morePremiership footballers and Wags) and the Cheshire Plain in general, the edge has some of the best views of anywhere in the area thanks to the dramatic edge - a steep cliff-like drop. The edge has historic associations with, somewhat incongruously, mining and wizardry, but these days it's a great place to go for a walk with either the kids, the dog, visitors or even a solitary stroll. There are car parks at both the foot of the edge and the top (the latter is the main one) giving the option of a quick trip to the edge itself and back or a longer, more demanding up-and-down walk.

On my to do list of must sees in liverpool was the Three Graces - The fundamental international…read moresymbol for Liverpool, is the Royal Liver Building, as well as The Cunard and the Port of Liverpool buildings. They are all side by side located on The Pier head in Liverpool. Stunning architecture, all majestic in their own right.

This is the first building you see when your ship arrives at the cruise port. One of the famous…read moreThree Graces it stands out more than the other two. On top of the two towers of the building are statues of Liver Birds which are said to be good luck to sailors and the city. probably one of the most iconic buildings in Liverpool. It is a must see when you visit.

Capernwray Hall, stately home and residence of the Founder…read moreof Toarch Bearer Community, Major Ian Thomas. After World War II where he served as an army officer in Germany with the British Army of The Rhine, he dedicated his life and his fortune, mainly his residence and whole property, the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Lancaster home Capernwray Hall, to serve as the central unit to all his enormous religious activities, founding lots of bible school places and establishing regional and local sections of his Toarch Bearer Fellowship all over the world. Here it all began, in 1946, when he set out to buy the castle and to converte it into what it is now, the heart of his sacred movement.

A great place to visit the owner is really friendly and great value for money , see my full review…read moreand photos at http://www.kevinsimon.co.uk/?p=2303