The Thames Barrier

Advantages: saves London from flooding
Disadvantages: looks quite ugly

...I first saw the Thames Barrier when I was taken on a pleasure boat trip up the River Thames as a young lad by my parents, I remember being intrigued by it and began quizzing my father all about which I'm sure he was delighted with! The Thames Barrier is a flood control measure spanning the width of the river. Apparently it has been used over one hundred times and as recently as March of last year. When looking at the barrier it is quite impressive even if it is rather ugly! At the point which it has been built the river is over five hundred yards wide. The barrier covers this complete section and breaks the river into four different sections, each approximately two hundred feet in length. When looking at the barrier above sea-level it doesn't appear to be a barrier at all, just four Sydney opera house shaped structures spanning...

beanie8844 25.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Thames Barrier, London

Queen of the Valley

Advantages: Interesting, very interesting!
Disadvantages: The most famous tomb is now closed.

...Day 1 in Egypt, site number 2 (and it is only 09:30), so let's do away with the babble and launch right in.... ~What's this place all about then?~ The Valley of the Queens is the burial site for the Queens & children of the Pharaohs of the 18th, 19th & 20th dynasties (1550 - 1070BC). It is said that there are about 70 (some claim as many as 85) different burial sites in the area. Probably the most famous tomb here is that of Queen Nefertari*, which is the largest and most spectacular in the valley. Unfortunately, this tomb is now no longer open, we were told by our guide that a couple of years ago there was some rain in the valley, which caused some damage to Nefertari's tomb. The Egyptian Government went about restoring the damage, and spent roughly a cool million on it. To recuperate the funds they opened the tomb, but...

tazzywazzy 06.02.2007 · Read review
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Review of Valley of the Queens

  Valley of the Kings

Advantages: Chateaux and gardens, old towns and local cuisine
Disadvantages: Unexciting landscapes, well-trodden tourist trail

...Where is the best place in France to get away from it all, to slip off for a few days (or a few weeks, or months), perhaps to your second (or third, or fourth) home? With a country so rich in attractive regions, this could be regarded as a tough question, but the kings of the Valois dynasty in the late 15th and early 16th Centuries were in no doubt about their answer. They picked on the lower valley of the Loire, and in particular the stretch between Orleans and Tours, to site their out-of-town chateaux and hunting-lodges. Where they led the court naturally followed, and soon any ambitious aristocrat felt the need to have a prestigious pied-a-terre nearby from which to keep in touch with current intrigue and to curry favour with the king. The reasons that attracted the Valois kings and their retinues to the Loire Valley...

torr 10.10.2005 (13.10.2005) · Read review
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Review of Loire Valley (France)

Dine Like a Mogul in Walton-on-Thames

Advantages: Excellent food and service. Convivial atmosphere. Value for money.
Disadvantages: A little off the beaten track, but otherwise none to speak of.

...INTRODUCTION In times past, one of the first things I tried to establish as soon as I moved into a new area was the quality of the various Indian and Chinese establishments in the neighbourhood. Fortunately, although my devotion to the Slimming World plan has significantly reduced the frequency of nights out to local eateries, I discovered excellent Mogul well before my self-imposed exile from oriental cuisine. As it happens, with a bit of common sense, a sympathetic chef and judicious menu choices, a night out at the curry house need not be a calorific disaster. GETTING THERE The Mogul anchors a parade of shops on Terrace Road, just past Cottimore Lane, on the Molesey side of Walton-on-Thames. It?s around a ten minute walk from the bottom of the High Street. Unfortunately, the only realistic option is to drive there...

Hishyeness 18.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Mogul, Walton-On-Thames

Lightwater Valley - home of the underdog.

Advantages: Cheap, Largely good rides, At times beautiful...
Disadvantages: ...at times shoddy, In-park prices not so good, looking a little run down.

...Visiting theme parks is ultimately, somewhat of a pot luck experience - queues, weather, ride breakdowns can make or mangle your day, and ultimately that is what you should bear in mind when reading a review on one - you day is not necessarily in your own hands, but the wise traveller would be one who remembers the golden rule - eat early and late, bring a change of clothes, and plan in advance those things you want to do, and you're halfway there. Anyhoo. So is it any good? Almost. Anyone new to Lightwater Valley, and if you are reading this review, then there's a good chance that might be you, on a good day, Lightwater valley is a hoot, on a bad day, it is a chore - but either way, it is home to one of Europe's finest Roller coasters, and for a newbie, that is worth the admission price alone. Although not in the best...

slappy_mcguire 16.04.2009 (22.07.2009) · Read review
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Review of Lightwater Valley

The Derwent Valley, Derbyshire

Advantages: A Great Day Out
Disadvantages: Lots Of Enviromental Damage Was Caused During Its Creation

...I am very fortunate that I live only a short distance from the Peak District National Park which offers some of the finest scenery in England. The Derwent Valley lies in the Hope Valley within the Peak District and connects three large man made Reservoirs called Howden Dam. Derwent Reservoir, and Ladybower. I have visited this area many times and I am always spellbound by its sheer natural beauty, but beneath these dark waters lies a sordid tale of destroyed Villages and an Environmental disaster. GETTING THERE Ladybower, the largest of the three bodies of Water lies at the bottom end of the Derwent Valley and directly beside the A57 Road which connects Sheffield to Manchester. The A57 is known locally as the "Snake Pass" due to its winding, twisting nature and this route is one of only three major Roads which crosses...

micksheff 01.03.2006 · Read review
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Review of The Derwent Valley, Derbyshire

The Derwent valley reservoirs

Advantages: A great day out for all the family
Disadvantages: none

...was ceremoniously opened by King George VI on September 25th 1945. Derwent Dam and reservoir? This enormous reservoir covers approximately 170 acres and reaches up to 35 metres deep. A small island lies in the one and a half mile stretch of water. The reservoir and its enormous dam were made famous by the Dam busters ,(or operation Chastise, with Barnes Wallis and his famous bouncing bomb), during World War II. The Dam being very similar to the German dams so the RAF used it to practice there low flying raids. (The majority of the actual film was shot here) Getting there?.. By Road: Along the A57 Glossop to Sheffield road crosses Ladybower by the Ashopton viaduct. A minor road on the west side of this leads to Fairholmes. Approaching from Hope Valley, follow the A6013 north from Bamford to reach Ladybower and the A57...

blissman70 13.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Derwent Valley, Derbyshire

One of the Great Attractions of the Thames

Advantages: Interesting. Architectural & Engineering Feat
Disadvantages: Not many

...One of the greatest attractions that London has is the River Thames.including the highly impressive Thames Barrier in the east of the river. Unfortunately this great river has not always been fully appreciated but I think it gives London a wonderful recreational and aethetic asset which at long last is being better realised. The Barrier itself is worth a visit and there is a Museum if you want to dig deeper into its role,history and such like. Long ago the Romans recognised the great importance of the Thames and as Britain became the leading industrial and commercial nation in the world this fine river played a very important role. The produce from numerous countries around the world was transported along the Thames to the London docks and equally produce from the"workshop of the World" found its way to many different parts...

ashford 10.10.2001 · Read review
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Review of The Thames Barrier, London

Valley of the Thrung Thrung Karm

Advantages: splendid isolation; black-necked cranes
Disadvantages: no gurantees, obviously

...The descent from the Dochu La pass (3050m or 3140m depending which chapter of the book you're reading) is as swift as all Bhutanese downhill drives?slow of speed, yet suddenly there is everything above you and little down below. Unlike the others though, this one ended not in the steep-sided ribbon of a river flow, but in the bowl of a lake that wasn't there. The Phobjika valley is broad, but enclosed, and to wander into it is to head down into a forgotten place. Even by Bhutanese standards this is isolation. Deliberately so. It remained disconnected through history for reasons, presumably, of geography, and then man intervened and - for once getting it right - decided not to intervene too much. It is now a conservation area. Development is severely restricted. Whilst there is mains water, there is no electricity in...

hiker 10.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of Phobjika Valley (Bhutan)

Imperial Hotel, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire

Advantages: Nice location, reasonable prices
Disadvantages: Small rooms

...I have been making regular trips to High Wycombe, and have struggled to find accommodation which is nice and reasonably priced. This is a fairly expensive part of the world, and the Travel Inns in the area are booked up 3-4 weeks in advance. After identifying the site: http://www.4hotels.co.uk - Worth a visit if you are struggling for somewhere to stay when travelling, the site lists an excellent range of primarily B&B's, but also hotels throughout the UK. From here I discovered The Imperial Hotel, Henley-on-Thames, which I was advised was a very upmarket and expensive town. The hotel is described as ".....this imposing, classical Edwardian building is situated in the Thames Valley in Royal Henley on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, which is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty....". PRICES Three single rooms...

sue.51 24.04.2001 (01.02.2002) · Read review
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Review of Imperial Hotel (Henley on Thames)