Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.
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This is the Bridge over the Atlantic, also known as the Atlantic Bridge; I daresay someone’s referred to it as Atlantic Crossing too. You’ll find it in Argyll, about 10 miles south of Oban. Atlantic Bridge’s real name is Clachan Bridge and it joins the Hebridean island of Seil with the mainland, spanning what is technically a section of the Atlantic Ocean, albeit a very narrow one. We Brits are known for our sense of humour; just look at how we still agree to pay our politicians. The bridge was designed by Robert Mylne (1733-1811) – who also designed Blackfriars Bridge in London - and was built in 1792.
Nearby on the island side is the Tigh an Truish Inn - the house of trousers. The name allegedly comes from the time after the 1745 rebellion, when the Government banned the kilt. So islanders travelling to the mainland for work would change into trousers at the inn before crossing the bridge, and back into traditional plaid when returning home.
Seil
The Bat and Ball, Hambledon, sits on a junction between the villages of Hambledon and Clanfield, though is marginally closer to the latter. It is a wonderful location and the pub, as well as serving excellent ale, is famous as being 'the cradle of English cricket'. This is the place where the modern rules of the game were drawn up by Hambledon Cricket Club, which played on Broadhalfpenny Down, opposite the pub, in the 18th C. The captain of HCC was one Richard Nyren (1734-97), who was also landlord of the pub. 'Tis said that the 'formidable' Hambledon team played All England elevens on 51 occasions, winning 29 of the matches. I wonder how they'd have got on against Australia?
Photo: Courtesy of The Bat and Ball.
Hambledon
Popular 17th century pub known for its associations with regulars , the writers RR Tolkien and CS Lewis. The pub is also known as 'the bird and baby'. It is owned by St John's College, but leased out.
Oxford
There has been an inn on the site of the City’s George & Vulture since the 15th century, but it burnt down in the Great Fire of 1666. Originally called ‘The George’, the vulture bit was added because (allegedly) the rebuilt inn was partly leased to a wine merchant whose sign was a live vulture, tethered above the entrance. These days, it is known as a favourite watering-hole of Charles Dickens, who mentioned it several times in ‘Pickwick Papers’ and whose descendants sometimes meet there. It is not a pub, but a restaurant with varied reviews. This writer has no personal experience of it, but from the outside it looks like a public lavatory.
The George, Borough High Street, is the last remaining galleried coaching inn in London. There were once many such inns in the area, catering for travellers on their way south from the City, or heading north and pausing before crossing London Bridge. They included the famous Tabard, where Chaucer's pilgrims met, which used to stand just south of the George. By Dickens' times, the number of such inns had been reduced to half a dozen. The current George Inn building dates from the 17th century, but there has apparently been an inn on the site since medieval times. And it serves a good pint. The property is owned by the National Trust, leased to a tenant.
Southwark
A tavern since 1695, the Lamb & Flag is owned by St John's College and was voted Oxford's best pub by CAMRA members in 2016. It has some association with JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis and was apparently where Thomas Hardy wrote most of his last novel, Jude the Obscure.
Oxford
Sky Garden is a bar and restaurant complex on the top 3 floors of the 'Walkie-Talkie' - 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London. This controversial 38-storey office block was designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly - the footplate actually increases in size as you ascend the building. It cost £200million and was constructed between January 2009 and May 2014. Sky Garden, which has restricted, but free, public access, was opened in 2015. Here you can enjoy an expensive drink or a meal with some fabulous views over Britain's capital city. You need to book in advance via the website (see below).
20 Fenchurch Street
One of the oldest pubs in London, said to date from 1585. Full of legends, it was either named because it was once the home of the Spanish Ambassador, or because it was owned by two Spanish brothers, who quarrelled over a woman. Dick Turpin is said to have been a former customer and there are several ghosts. It has appeared in work by Charles Dickens and Bram Stoker - and it has been claimed that Keats wrote 'Ode to a Nightingale' in the garden. The garden, incidentally, is great. A busy, but must visit, kind of place - situated close to Kenwood House and Hampstead Heath.
Hampstead
The Still & West is an iconic early 19th century pub (greatly restored) in Old Portsmouth, right on the harbourside where you can sit and watch the ships go by while enjoying a drink and fish 'n' chips. At time of writing (2017) it is a Fuller's pub serving their version of HSB, the Horndean Special Bitter once brewed by the defunct Gales brewery.
Portsmouth
A fairly traditional London pub, though undeniably targeted at the tourist trade, the Clarence's location on the corner of Whitehall and Great Scotland Yard makes it very convenient for central attractions, including Westminster. Easy to find, it's a good place to arrange to meet - and, as it's handy for 10 Downing Street, you never know who you'll spot supping a pint there. The beer can be really good, as can the food. Often crowded - inevitably.
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