June 2011

 

 

12/06/2011

 

London Heathrow Terminal 4 was built at a cost of £200 million and was officially opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales on 1 April 1986.

 

It was initially designed as a facility for short-haul 'point-to-point' traffic, to compensate for its relatively long distance from the airport's central terminal area. It was designed with passenger boarding gates very close to the check-in and security halls, to try and help ensure quick transfer of customers.

 

However, Lord King, then Chairman of British Airways, demanded that Terminal 4 be solely used by British Airways but this in the end meant that the distance to the central terminal was ill-suited for long-haul flights which may have led to its poor operational performance. It meant that luggage was often moved by van which sometimes resulted in it being mislaid and passengers were moved by bus instead of the usual moving walkway.

 

Terminal 4 is currently undergoing a £200m upgrade to enable it to accommodate 45 airlines and serve as the base for the SkyTeam alliance. An extended check-in area opened in late 2009, new passenger lounges were built and a new baggage system installed.

 

It now serves a huge array of airlines covering many destinations from Moscow to Mauritius and Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam. So whether it's your summer holiday or your honeymoon, contact us at Aura Journeys Newark for luxury travel to this airport for your next trip.  

  

 

                    

 

Ref: Wikipedia

 

 

 

14/06/2011

Birmingham has the largest population of any English city outside London and lies at the heart of the West Midlands.

 

A medium-sized market town throughout the medieval period, Birmingham grew to international prominence in the 18th century at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, which saw the town at the forefront of worldwide developments in science, technology and industrial organisation.

 

Today it is a major international commercial centre and an important transport, retail, events and conference hub. People from Birmingham are known as 'Brummies', a term derived from the city's nickname of 'Brum' which may originate from the city's dialect name, Brummagem. There is a distinctive Brummie dialect and accent, both of which differ from the adjacent Black Country.

 

There are over 8,000 acres of parkland open spaces in Birmingham. The largest of the parks is Sutton Park covering 2,400 acres making it the largest urban nature reserve in Europe. The city centre consists of numerous public squares including Centenary Square, Chamberlain Square and Victoria Square. Two of Britain's largest banks were founded in Birmingham - Lloyds Bank (now Lloyds Banking Group) in 1765 and the Midland Bank (now HSBC Bank) in 1836 - as well as Ketley's Building Society, the world's first building society, in 1775.

 

Birmingham City Council now has an extensive tower block demolition and renovation programme. There has been much construction in the city centre in recent years, including the award-winning Future Systems' Selfridges building in the Bullring Shopping Centre, the Brindley place regeneration project and the Millennium Point science and technology centre. So plenty of reasons for a visit so why not give us a call and Aura Journeys Newark can chauffeur you there in style.

 

Ref: Wikipedia





18/06/2011

Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, found between Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Peterborough and Northamptonshire.

 

It is the smallest historic English county, leading to the adoption of the Latin motto 'Multum in Parvo' or 'much in little' by the county council in 1950. The only towns in Rutland are Oakham, the county town, and Uppingham. At the centre of the county is the large artificial reservoir, Rutland Water, with a similar surface area to Windermere. It was officially opened in 1976 and is set in 3,100 acres (13 km2) of countryside. It has a 25-mile (40 km) circular track for walking and visitors may hire a bicycle.

 

Tourist attractions in Oakham include All Saints Church and Oakham Castle. Another popular and historic feature is the open-air market held in the town's market square every Wednesday and Saturday. Traditionally, members of royalty and peers of the realm who visited or passed through the town had to pay a forfeit in the form of a horseshoe. This unique custom has been enforced for over 500 years, but nowadays it only happens on special occasions (such as Royal visits), when an outsize ceremonial horseshoe, specially made and decorated, is hung in the great hall of the castle. There are now over 200 of these commemorative shoes on its walls.

 

Due to its outstanding beauty, it has become a popular wedding location with many local hotels offering wedding packages. Pictures taken in the backdrop of the water are particularly popular.

 

So whether you're planning your wedding or would just like a day out by the water, why not contact Aura Journeys, Newark so that you can arrive in style.

                  



ref: Wikipedia