Let’s Help Essex’s Beacon Hill Lose It’s Unwanted Award

The Tower of London stands at one end of the spectrum as the most visited attraction on VisitEngland’s list, with nearly 3 million paying customers last year.

Even Papplewick Hall only has 187 visitors !

However, lying at the other end, in a state of unwanted tranquility is Beacon Hill in Essex, with just six visitors.  It may have been an important part of Britain's defence against Nazi invasion, but as a historical icon the Beacon Hill Fort hasn't exactly captured hearts and minds of history tourists.

The six visitors works out as one every sixty one days, resulting in an inglorious last place in a list of 1,279 destinations in VisitEngland’s survey

Beacon Hill is a long way from the Tower of London, number one on VisitEngland's list for top paid destinations, despite having being restored by the The Harwich Society after being decommissioned in 1956.

There are some other perhaps more surprising contestants for the far from coveted last place, including Old Buckenham Mill, Breckland, Norfolk with 128 visitors,   Long Crendon Courthouse,  Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire with 153 visitors, and Papplewick Hall and Gardens,  Gedling,Nottinghamshire with just 187 visitors.

So come on British tourists, if another six people visit Beacon Hill, its attendance figures will have increased by 100%  ..... and even the Tower of London won’t be able to achieve that!

Ballot Opens To View The Four Copies Of The Magna Carta Together

With just 1,215 spaces available, this is a ballot result that will be keenly awaited. It is being held to nominate the 1,215 members of the public who will attend the gathering together of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta on 3 February next year at London's British Library. This is to mark the document's 800th anniversary, and it will be the first time that they will appear together.

King John signs on the dotted line in 1215

The document of basic rights is seen as the cornerstone of constitutional law, and the library's two copies will be joined by those normally housed at Lincoln and Salisbury cathedrals.

Magna Carta, meaning Great Charter, was agreed at Runnymede, Surrey, in 1215. The charter was issued by King John as a way of solving the political crisis he faced when powerful barons rebelled against him and captured London.

Unsurprisingly, allowing for the passage of time,  almost all of the clauses have been repealed in modern times. However, the document established a number of important principles that remain in place and have been copied around the world.

Julian Harrison, curator of early modern manuscripts at the British Library, said: "It established for the first time that nobody - not even the king - was above the law and it contains certain principles relating to individual liberties which still remain relevant today. Nobody can be imprisoned or detained indefinitely without being put on trial."

The document inspired the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The ballot, which is free, runs until the end of the month. Those selected will be able to view the four Magna Carta manuscripts side by side, following an introductory speech about the legacy of the document from historian and TV presenter Dan Jones.

Some of the world's leading experts on the document are in the process of undertaking a major research project and the British Library confirmed that the unification of the documents would allow them to be studied much more closely in its conservation centre.  It said particularly faded or obscured parts of the text will be examined for new clues about the identities of the still-unknown writers of the texts.

This event will kick-start a year of commemorations across the UK and the world to mark the 800th anniversary. The four original Magna Carta manuscripts will then go on display in their home institutions as part of major anniversary exhibitions.

About the 800 year celebrations

A Couple Of Days Well Spent In Hereford

Medieval Hereford has enough to occupy you for more than a couple of days, but with careful planning you can get the best out of your short break.

So much to do in Hereford

If you haven’t made any great plans, a visit to the Tourist Information Centre on King Street will set you right. Start with a walk down Gwynne Street, crossing the River Wye on the Wye Bridge. From there you can follow the riverside path, crossing the Victoria Bridge to do a walk around Castle Green.

At Cathedral Close you will find a statue of Edward Elgar, testament to the seven years that he lived in the city between 1904 and 1911.

No visit to Hereford is complete without a visit to the Cathedral, home to the Mappa Mundi, which is the largest surviving medieval map of the world, as well as the amazing Chained Library. Sometimes you will be able to climb the small staircase up the tower for a wonderful view of the city.

Not far from there is the museum together with the art gallery. The Old House in High Street is a seventeenth century merchant’s house, the only surviving house in Butcher’s Row. Spend some time browsing the shops in Church Street.

If that isn’t enough for you, then the countryside around the city is full of interesting places to visit, including Queenswood Country Park with its wonderful views, the Italianate church at Hoarworthy, and the chance to paddle a canoe to Ross-on-Wye.

                                                                 About Herefordshire

Hereford Cathedral

Edinburgh Will Be A Top Destination This Christmas

Scotland’s capital city will be putting heart and soul into celebrating Christmas this year, with the promise that their plans will be bigger and more affordable than ever. The opening “Light Night” is an example with some sixty schools and community groups gathering to perform at the inaugural event on George Street on 23 November.

Looking forward to Christmas

A new ice rink is planned for St Andrew Square around the Melville Monument and low-cost attractions will be available in East Princes Street Gardens. People with an EH postcode will received a 20% discount on all shows, rides and events.

Favourites from last year will be back, including the Christmas Tree Maze, Starflyer, Big Wheel and Paradiso Spiegeltent. The ice rink, overlooked by the Scott Monument, will again be back in East Princes Street, while Santa Land - including the train and grotto - has been expanded.  The Big Wheel, enjoyed by 120,000 people last year, will be festooned with 20,000 lights.

The Spiegeltent performances include the Scotch and Soda circus, comedian Al Murray and Stickman, a show based on the children's book by Julia Donaldson.

Edinburgh's Festivals and Events Champion Steve Cardownie said organisers Unique Events and Underbelly had worked hard to include a range of free and low-cost attractions.

He said: "Edinburgh is always a special city during winter and this year, the capital is certainly the place to be to celebrate Christmas. Our festive programmes are the envy of the world. The line up this winter with Underbelly will be bring back some of the city's classic attractions such as Santa Land - which will be bigger than ever before - and the spectacular Light Night on George Street which returns for its second year.

"Not only will the East Princes Street Gardens ice rink make a return after receiving well over 30,000 visitors last Christmas, but a new bespoke ice rink in St Andrew Square will be opened for the very first time."

The opening ceremony, Light Night, will be free from 14:00 to 17:00 on Sunday 23 November. 600 local performers will take part in this event with a theme of Christmas Songs and Carols

The Christmas Tree on the Mound, a gift to the City of Edinburgh Council from the Hordaland County Council in Norway, will be lit up as part of the Light Night switch-on.

Pupils from 24 Edinburgh primary schools have been invited to design a stained glass window and will show off their creations in Princes Street Gardens. The European Christmas Market will be back in Princes Street Gardens and the Mound, with 106 stalls offering a selection of foods, drinks and crafts.

Edinburgh's Christmas

Get Your Votes In For The English Heritage Angel Awards

Oldland Windmill - on the short list

Voting is now under way for the 2014 English Heritage Angel Awards. The awards were founded in 2011 by Andrew Lloyd Webber to celebrate the efforts of individuals and local groups all over the country who put hours of hard work, passion and perseverance into saving vulnerable, damaged and derelict historic landmarks from being lost forever.

Voting opened on the 15th August and goes through to the 12th October.  The 16 community groups and individuals behind the nominated  projects will then be  looking forward to attending a star-studded, red carpet awards ceremony at the Palace Theatre in London on the evening of Monday 3rd November, hosted by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The four categories are the Best Craftsmanship By A Trainee Or Apprentice Employed On A Heritage Rescue, The Best Rescue Of A Historic Industrial Building Or Site, Best Rescue Of Any Other Type Of Historic Building Or Site and Best Rescue Or Repair Of A Historic Place Of Worship.

The lucky winners last year were Hadlow Tower at Tonbridge in Kent, Low Slit Mine Bishop Auckland, Durham, The Ivy House at Southwark in London, and finally the church of St. James the Greater,  Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire.

For full details of this year’s Angel Awards, follow the link below.

Everything you need to know about the Angel Awards

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo On The Road

Having been sold out for the past sixteen years whilst performing on its home ground, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has taken to the road. The "taste of the Tattoo" display at the Thistles Shopping Centre follows on from a performance in Glasgow last week, with another free event planned in Dundee.

About 600 performers are taking part in the touring shows, with thousands of spectators expected to turn out. The tour is all part of the much anticipated Year of Homecoming celebrations that are forming an integral part of Scotland’s glorious 2014.

A chance for the Tattoo to reach a wider audience

Brigadier David Allfrey, chief executive and producer of the Tattoo, said the events were a way to "share the riches" of the "stunning" show.

VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said the Tattoo was "one of the must-see events of the summer". He said: "These taster performances are terrific news for people around the country who may not have experienced the sights and sounds of this spectacular event."

More than 1,000 performers, including 35 Zulu warriors, 40 fiddlers and 45 steel drummers are taking part in this year's Edinburgh displays. All three Royal Marine bands are on show, along with more than 100 highland dancers.

A total of 215,800 tickets for the show's 24 performances have been sold, generating about £9.6m in box office receipts. The next touring performance will be in Dundee on Tuesday 19 August, in the City Square from 12:30.

All the gen on the Tattoo

Hull’s “City of Culture” Budget Is In A Healthy State

Newly appointed as the chief executive of the company being set to up deliver Hull 2017, Martin Green says that the budget earmarked for 2017 is "on the right scale". Hull’s reign as the UK City of Culture 2017 may be some three years away, but the city is not resting on its laurels.

Martin Green - funding avenues will be investigated

Mr. Green said that the current estimated cost of delivering the 365-day programme is about £18m. He has an impressive track record, having been the head of ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympics. Whilst in that post, he led a management team that tripled the original budget for the opening and closing ceremonies by working with public bodies and corporate sponsors.

He not only hand-picked many of the artists, production and back-of-house teams, and is quoted as saying that similar opportunities were likely in the build-up to Hull's year in the spotlight as UK City of Culture.

"I think the current budget is on the right scale and is in a pretty healthy state," said Mr Green. "I also think it's something we can work on by making sure everyone knows what a great cultural destination Hull will be in 2017.

"One of my jobs will be to go out and sell Hull and what is going to be happening here. Attracting corporate sponsorship is one thing I will be looking at but support comes in all shapes and sizes, including people and organisations giving in-kind support, which doesn't cost anything but can also be invaluable."

Between them, Hull City Council and the Arts Council have pledged almost £8m towards 2017. Also, twenty local firms have also agreed to give £17,000 each as part of the Business Angels initiative to help fund initial start-up costs.

Mr Green said: "The good thing is that we have got time and space on our side. It's just over two years before the first event in 2017 and just over three years before the last one. That gives us a lot of room to work hard on the budget and exploring every avenue to attract more funding."