A British Summer - Five Great Places To Visit In The UK

The UK has never been perceived as a great holiday destination, we get millions of tourists each year but they don’t come to sunbathe on our mundane beaches or to visit our famous green fields, they come to visit the busy and exciting city known as London, and to see Buckingham Palace. Which is a shame as there are far more stimulating and beautiful places in the UK than London but sadly these little bits of paradise are scattered all over the UK and seem so insignificant compared to the big city that they often go unnoticed.

Plymouth, England - Situated on the southern west coast of the UK, Plymouth is a typical quiet seaside town that is the perfect location to get away from all the stress of city life. With beautiful views and a range of events on throughout the year including the British Fireworks Championships, Plymouth offers excitement as well as tranquillity.

Cornwall, England - Just down the road from Plymouth, Cornwall is a great place to visit especially if you want to try out the local seafood on offer as both Jamie Oliver and Rick Stein have restaurants located in the area and it is also important to mention that it is the birthplace of the renowned Cornish pasty. If you are travelling with children it is also well worth checking out the Monkey Sanctuary that provides shelter for endangered species of monkeys.

Edinburgh, Scotland - Edinburgh is probably one of the most beautiful cities in the whole of the UK. If you decide to visit Edinburgh you will definitely not be disappointed as there are plenty of events that take place during the summer such as the Edinburgh International Festival which has been running since 1947 and features a mixture of performing arts, music and dance and there is also the Edinburgh Festival that takes place during August and is one of the largest cultural events that takes place throughout the world. For those of you brave enough there is also the Edinburgh Dungeon that takes you on a journey of Edinburgh’s dark history.

Newport, Wales - Wales is often overlooked as a holiday destination which is a shame as it is a beautiful country with fantastic scenery. Newport is especially beautiful and being located next to the seaside there are plenty of activities to pursue. Newport is also home to three museums and the Newport Festival occurs every summer where there are live music acts, comedy shows and theatre events.

Hastings, England - Hastings is more commonly known as the battleground between the Normans and the English but is never regarded as a holiday spot. The town of Hastings is situated right beside the sea and has its own beaches. There are plenty of distractions for children too as Hastings has a Blue Reef aquarium as well as Smugglers Adventure Hastings which is a themed activity centre for children.

There are of course many more holiday spots situated around the UK but for the really magical spots you will need to do some more research!

Three Cheap Holiday Ideas for under 30’s

Going somewhere sunny and warm on holiday when you are young isn’t always an option due to the high cost of accommodation and the price of flights it can be hard to find a good deal. Thankfully there are ways to enjoy some time off without having to dig into your savings but we will not be able to guarantee if there will be any sun though!

Caravanning in Devon - Although the series ‘The Inbetweeners’ gave a somewhat poor insight into the world of caravanning it is a very cheap holiday option all the same. Off peak prices start at around £130 for 4 nights and during peak season prices rise to £210 for 4 nights stay. Split those prices if you are going with a group of friends and that works out to roughly £50 each for a great mini vacation. The most lucrative thing about caravanning though is that you get to travel to your ideal location and when you have the beautiful beaches of Devon just outside your mobile home it definitely seems worth it.

Camping in the south of France - The most expensive thing about holidays abroad apart from the cost of the flights is the accommodation. However if you choose to go somewhere relatively warm and are happy sleeping out in the nature then camping abroad is something you should definitely consider. If you book your flights early enough they can be relatively cheap and if you don’t make it in time for some cheap tickets you can always take a coach which should work out cheaper. For 7 days stay in the south of France in a camping park off peak it will cost you roughly 26 Euros a night including electricity but remember to divide that price by how many friends you take along with you - so in theory for a 7 days stay with 3 other friends it would cost you roughly 46 Euros which is incredibly cheap for a week’s stay in a foreign country!

Renting a cottage in Wales - What a lot of people in the UK fail to realise is how beautiful it can be if you travel to Wales, Ireland or Scotland. We have some very picturesque locations scattered around and it’s just a matter of looking around to find them. As long as you go off peak you can grab yourself some bargains for example a week’s stay in a cottage in Wales will set you back £220 off peak, divide that by 4 friends and that’s £55 each.

There are plenty of cheap holiday and days out ideas out there and if you want to find some bargains you should take a look at discount websites that can greatly reduce the cost of your stay.

Three Great British Zoo’s To Visit

Summer is coming and if you have children then that means you’re going to have to come up with a lot of distractions to keep the little trouble makers from causing havoc so what better way to entertain them and yourself by taking a trip to the zoo! Take a look at these great recommendations for fantastic family days out at the zoo!

London Zoo - The most famous zoo in the UK, it is also the oldest scientific zoo in the world! There are a total of 16, 802 animals to see and a total of 755 species. There are many attractions to visit such as the reptile house which was opened in 1927 and is home to a selection of reptiles including snakes, lizards and even crocodiles! If reptiles aren’t your thing then don’t worry as there are many more attractions to visit such as the African Bird Safari, the Aquarium, B. UG. S which features over 140 species of insect and Gorilla Kingdom where there are currently 5 gorillas. London Zoo has also been used for the location of many films including Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone and An American Werewolf in London. The zoo is usually open between 10am to 5. 30pm daily and the only day in the year it is actually closed is for Christmas day.

Whipsnade Zoo - Whipsnade Zoo was opened in 1931 and is located near Dunstable in Bedfordshire. Like London Zoo it is run and maintained by the Zoological Society of London. The zoo is actually structured similarly to that of a safari park where once visitors find themselves in the 600 acre site they have the option to walk around the park, drive themselves or use the bus service that is available to travel between the different enclosures. There are a total of 6, 405 animals within the zoo spread out among 227 species. The most significant feature of Whipsnade Zoo has to be the herds of elephants that are allowed to freely roam within the grounds.

Paradise Wildlife Park - Located in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, Paradise Wildlife Park takes you beyond a simple zoo trip and actually allows you to interact and feed the animals. There are a total of 400 animals present throughout the park including reptiles, birds, primates, tigers and even rare white lions.

All the zoo’s featured above make for some great family days out depending on what you are looking for - if you want a great family day out that is fun as well as educational then you should head over to London Zoo. If you’re looking for a day out that resembles a safari then it would be best to head over to Whipsnade Zoo and finally if you want to go somewhere that allows you to get close and personal with the animals then you should definitely go to Paradise Wildlife Park!

Three Of The Most Terrifying Theme Park Attractions In The World

People go to theme parks for a whole host of reasons - to take the kids out for the day, to have fun with friends, to relax and entertain as well as educate ourselves but some of us go for one thing only: the adrenaline rush of going on a fast and furious ride.

Some people even make it their objective to ride the fastest and most terrifying rides available but what are the top 3 scariest theme park rides that people either expressively travel to ride or people either intently avoid?

Fahrenheit, Hersheypark, Pennsylvania, United States - Opened on 24th May, 2008 at a cost of $12 million, the Fahrenheit roller coaster is the first roller coaster in the world to gather hype through a viral marketing campaign which helped lead to its popularity. Fahrenheit has a max speed of 58 mph and is described as a ‘Vertical Lift Inverted Loop Coaster’. The main feature of the ride is when it raises to a height of 121 feet before it falls at a 97 degree drop.

Mumbo Jumbo, Flamingo Land Resort, United Kingdom - The Mumbo Jumbo roller coaster opened to the public on the 4th July 2009. It is currently the steepest roller coaster in the World with a 112 degree drop beating the previous record holder, the Steel Hawg in Indiana, United States by 1 degree as the Steel Hawg has a 111 degree drop. It can reach a max speed of 20 mph which compared to the Fahrenheit roller coaster is not very fast.

Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey, United States- Kingda Ka holds many records as it is the World’s tallest complete circuit roller coaster and has the World’s tallest roller coaster drop. It also used to be the World’s fastest roller coaster but was taken over in November 2010 by Formula Rossa. Kingda Ka has a top speed of 128 mph and a 418 foot drop making it a renowned thrill seeking ride for those passionate about roller coasters.

If you want to find out more visit our website to see what great deals we have on UK attractions and days out!

Great Getaway Ideas In The UK For This Summer

With temperatures already starting to rise many people are planning what to do over the summer. Many people will have already booked a vacation to a foreign country a long time ago but what if you plan to stay in the UK? Check out these handy ideas for what you can get up to!

The Dungeons – There are a total of 3 different dungeons that are available to visit: London Dungeons, Edinburgh dungeons and York dungeons. If you fancy a scary yet educational day out with the kids these are perfect attractions especially if the weather isn’t that great! Each attraction has its own features with different rides available and if you visit York dungeon you will also have the chance to visit the corridors of York prison.

The Monkey Sanctuary – Based in Cornwall the Monkey Sanctuary is a great day out for kids of all ages. The sanctuary houses four different types of monkeys that have been rescued from the UK and international animal smugglers. The monkeys that you can view are: Capuchin monkeys, Woolly monkeys, Patas monkeys and Babary macaques. In addition to monkeys there is also a bat cave and a wildlife room available to visit.

Smugglers Adventure – Based in Hastings, Smugglers Adventure offers a fun and intuitive day out for the kids where you can explore the subterranean passages and caverns that lie under Hastings and see for yourself where smugglers used to hide their loot in the old days. The added bonus to visiting Smugglers Adventure is that whilst you are in Hastings you can also visit the Blue reef aquarium and Hastings castle which are all located in the same region.

Huntfun – Not only designed for kids but also for parties and work bonding days out, Huntfun is all about treasure hunting. There are over 200 hunts you can take part in situated all over the UK and also overseas. The hunts are relatively easy as they are designed to be fun and all you need are simple directions and clues that provided for you in the form of a booklet. The hunts usually take a couple of hours but can last up to a day depending on if you take your time and stop by to visit places along the way.

Deep Sea World – Deep Sea World or the National Aquarium of Scotland as it is sometimes referred to has been awarded the best entertainment centre in the region with good reason too. Features include an underwater safari, a transparent tunnel over 100metres in length where you can see Sand Tiger Sharks in their habitat. There are a total of over 2000 creatures available to see and exhibits include reconstructions of Lake Malawi and the Amazon River.

Remember if you plan on visiting any of these attractions you can save up to 20% of the entrance price for you and up to six people by visiting our main website!

Exclusive Royal Wedding Tours Available This Bank Holiday

With the Royal Wedding only days away, London is preparing itself for one of its biggest events this decade aside from the Olympic Games. Many fans of the Royal Family are already securing their place alongside roads where the procession will pass to guarantee themselves a good view of the action.

If you don’t fancy camping for days then you can always try one of these exclusive Royal Wedding tours that will allow you to experience the event in a different manner...

City Cruises: Souvenir Sightseeing Cruise

City Cruises are offering a souvenir sightseeing cruise that will take place between Westminster and Tower piers on the 29th April 2011 where there will be entertaining commentary provided by a Blue Badge Guide as well as a commemorative goody bag containing souvenirs and a mini bottle of sparkling wine for passengers to toast the Royal couple.

To make a booking please call 0207 740 0400 and quote Smartsave to get your 20% discount or alternatively check out our discount offer on our website.


Small Car Big City: William and Kate Tour

See where the Royal family have lived for the last 800 years and where Britain's most famous couple announced their engagement earlier this year. Visit Westminster Abbey where the ceremony is due to take place on 29th April 2011 and follow the route that William and Kate will travel after the ceremony.

Call 0207 585 0399 to book and quote Smartsave to get your 20% discount.

Chelsea Physic Garden: Royal Wedding Day Special Opening Friday 29th April, 9am – 10pm

Celebrate the big day, starting with breakfast at 9am. Wedding-related food and drink will be served all day (including Tangerine Dream’s own version of the Royal Chocolate Biscuit wedding cake) and live coverage shown on the big screen in the Lecture Hall, plus additional screens in the Café area.

If you are interested please visit our website to get a 20% discount on this attraction.


Brit Movie Tours: Royal Wedding Walking Tour of London

The Royal Wedding Walking Tour of London will take you through Mayfair, St. James, and the heart of Royal London with its eye-catching palaces, statues and homes. A VIP version of this tour is available with a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce and a complimentary bottle of champagne.

Call 0844 247 1007 to book and quote Smartsave to get your 20% discount.

Three Great Getaway Ideas For Easter

This year April is set to be a great month with three bank holidays at our disposal it’s time to start thinking about Easter ideas. If you’re one of the unlucky ones at work who couldn’t quite book those 3 days off in mid week to go on a week’s holiday somewhere hot then don’t worry as Smartsave have three great Easter holiday ideas for you and your family.

Cadbury World – Considering that Easter to children is all about chocolate and Easter bunnies there is no doubt your kids will not be thoroughly excited by what Cadburys have to offer you this Easter! The famous venue for all chocolate fanatics in the UK, Cadbury World is organising some special Easter events at their chocolate world. Between the 16th to the 29th April there will be an Easter egg game that will take place inside Cadbury World where you will be able to play and hunt for Easter eggs as you tour the magical chocolate world. There will also be an Easter bonnet parade which all visitors can take part in!

Save 20% on the entrance fee to Cadbury World here!

Kew Gardens – Between the 9th April and 2nd May, Kew Gardens are celebrating Easter with a range of various events taking place that all have one thing in common – chocolate! There will be the traditional Easter egg hunt taking place on Sunday the 24th April as well as chocolate sculptures which will be featured at the chocolate sculpture garden where everyday plants will be recreated in chocolate. There will also be chocolate workshops which will allow grown ups as well as children to recreate everyday objects using chocolate as the main ingredient and there are also chocolate tasting sessions taking place organised by Kew’s own caterers.

Save 20% on the entrance fee to Kew Gardens here!

London Wetland Centre – If you feel as if you could do with a more educational day out over Easter then why not head over to the London Wetland Centre which is a huge 42 hectare area covered in water that is home to a large population of birds and animals present throughout the UK. Between the 9th April till the 25th April a range of Easter themed events are taking place from finding hidden Easter eggs that have been scattered around the centre to decorating eggs and finger painting to watching a group of baby ducklings taking their first swim – there’s something for every member of the family!

Save 20% on the entrance fee to the London Wetland Centre here!

Remember that you can save yourself 20% of the entrance price to any of these UK attractions and more by visiting www.smartsave.com.

The 3 Most Expensive Hotels In The UK

There’s little point in looking up discount vouchers for these following hotels as chances are no one has ever managed to get a discount on any one of these hotel rooms. Smartsave presents you with the 3 most expensive hotels in the UK, reserved for those more fortunate than ourselves..

Langham hotel – Don’t be surprised if you have never heard of this hotel before, it is usually frequented by the celebrities and footballers who don’t mind splashing out on a bit of luxury. The average nightly rate for the Langham hotel is in between £250-£4,150, something doesn’t seem quite so ‘average’ about that price range to us! When we tried to book a room with one month’s advance the best deal we could find was £287 which was just for the minimum ‘classic room’ booking. If you fancy something a bit more frivolous than the ‘classic room’ there is always the regent suite with prices starting at around £4,000 or if you want to really impress – the infinity suite starts at £6,000 per night making it the most expensive hotel room in the UK!

The Lanesborough – The Lanesborough situated on Hyde Park Corner in Knightsbridge is known to be the most expensive hotel in London with the royal suite priced at £8,000 per night. The Lanesborough is famous due to a number of reasons but the most astounding of them is that each guest at the hotel has their own personal butler assigned to them who is on call 24 hours a day. When we tried to book a room one month in advance the cheapest we could find started at £745 which is very expensive but then again you have to consider for that price you have your own personal butler for the day and night!

Claridge’s – Claridge’s located in Mayfair in central London was originally founded in 1812 and was initially named Mivart’s. It was not only until Mivart’s expanded and was sold on to a couple who lived next to the hotel who ran their own hotel known that they combined both hotels and ended up naming the finished hotel as Claridge’s. One of the most attractive things about Claridge’s is not even the hotel itself which is divine but that it hosts Gordon Ramsey’s own restaurant. The cheapest room available at Claridge’s starts from £255 and you must book on a Sunday night otherwise it goes up to £299 for all other week nights. If you would like to book one of their feature suites then you should expect to pay anything from between £2,000 to £6,000 a night.

If the prices mentioned above have caused some alarm then fear not as Smartsave have loads of great deals and discounts on hotel rooms for you!

Blue Reef attractions now available on smartsave.com

Smartsave are proud to introduce their newest chain of attractions available - Blue Reef aquariums! If you want to break away from the city life and loose yourself in an underwater world then you should absolutely make the effort to stop by a Blue Reef aquarium where you will be able to experience and observe a tremendous range of aquatic species from giant crabs and lobsters to tropical sharks. There are heaps of Blue Reef aquariums in the UK that can be found in the following towns: Bristol, Newquay, Hastings, Tynemouth and Portsmouth, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one near to where you live to enjoy great UK days out!

All of the aquariums share the same features such as each having roughly 40 different kinds of species living within them however certain aquariums boast special features that are unique such as Portsmouth’s ‘Blue Reef Beach Club’ that incorporates an outdoor children’s play area and Newquay’s ‘Tropical Shark Lagoon’.

With Smartsave you and five other people can save up to 20% of the regular price just by printing out a discount code and taking it along with you to any Blue Reef aquarium.

Hello there!

Welcome to the official SmartSave Blog, Here you will be able to find all the latest official information on our great discounts in the UK, US and Europe. We will also be featuring articles and information on the best places to stay in the UK and Europe as well as the best restaurants to dine at, theatres to visit and experiences to discover. We will also be providing you with exclusive deals that can save you up to 20% on top tourist attractions, days out, restaurants and shopping discounts so make sure you check back here regularly to keep up to date with all the latest deals!

If you would like to know more about what we offer or ask us anything please feel free to leave a comment or visit the Smartsave website for great deals and discounts on days out.