St Albans is best known for its impressive cathedral, which is the oldest site of  Christian worship in Britain. It is located on the grounds, where Saint Alban, the first martyr, was buried after giving his life for faith over 1700 years ago. Saint Alban consequently gave the town its modern name.

Back in the Roman times St Albans was called Verulamium and the ancient Watling Street lead through the city. Today the Roman city remains unexcavated, converted into park and agricultural land. For those who would like to explore St Albans’ ancient history, we suggest visiting the Verulamium Museum, which offers a wealth of Roman exhibits, beautiful mosaics and reconstructions of Roman interiors. Once a month the visitors also have a chance to meet Roman Legion XIII on guard. More recent history can be explored at the Museum of St Albans, which presents city’s history from the end of the Romans onwards.

Another ancient monument that should not be missed, when visiting St Albans is the Clock Tower, which was used for look outs, alarms and curfews. Built in the early 15th century, St Albans Clock Tower is the only medieval example in this country. Today you can climb the 93 winding steps and enjoy the views from the top.

If you would like to combine historic sightseeing with some shopping, visit St Albans street markets, which date from the 9th century. The markets are probably the most colourful and vibrant street markets in the South of England. The numerous stalls offer everything from fish to fancy goods, so you will be spoilt for choice.

After exploring the city, there is no better place to relax than Thistle St Albans – a four-star, traditional  hotel. Thistle St Albans (The Noke) continues a tradition of hospitality dating back to Victorian times, when the nearby A1 was still the Great North Road. It has 110 bedrooms, including 44 Deluxe bedrooms and Suites, and six meeting rooms, the largest seating 250 people theatre-style. With our landscaped grounds, easy accessibility and ample free parking on-site we are the top choice hotel in the area.

If you feel tempted to discover St Albans’ history and its hidden gems get in touch with our reservations team at The Noke on 0871 376 9034

This week’s event at London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea marks the centenary of the Chelsea Flower Show and it’s going to be ‘the greatest display ever’! Visitors will have a chance to explore over 11 acres of floral exhibits with a wide range of spectacular gardens.

For the last 100 years Chelsea has been the centre for show gardens, inspirational small gardens and vibrant horticultural displays, which made Chelsea Flower Show most famous flower show in the world.

This year the Chelsea Flower Show will be celebrating its 100th birthday with an impressive line-up of show gardens to give visitors some great inspirations to try at home. The breathtaking displays in the Great Pavilion will present not only some new exciting plants, but also favourites from 1913, when the first flower show took place. A part of historical theme this year will be an exhibition of  pictures from the last century, documenting how Chelsea style and flower trends have changed throughout the time.

The Chelsea Flower Show attracts 157,000 visitors each year. The number is limited by the capacity of the 11-acre ground, therefore, tickets must be purchased in advance. Members of the Royal Family, as well as numerous celebrities are also invited to see the results of growers’ hard work, so it will definitely be a memorable event this year, however we should not forget that it’s the impressive plants  that are the main attraction of the show.

 If you’re planning to attend the world’s famous flower show this week, but haven’t booked your accommodation yet, check the latest offers from Thistle hotels in London here.

The South Loch Ness Trail is a brand new, exciting trail for all types of user and was officially launched only two years ago. The trail stretches for approximately 28 miles between Loch Tarff near Fort Augustus to Torbreck on the edge of Inverness.

Starting from Loch Tarff a few miles outside Fort Augustus, the trail rises sharply to Suidhe Viewpoint at 1200ft. From here south Loch Ness stretches out before you. It is a land of mystery and legend, bountiful wildlife and flora, forest, heather, peat clad moors and awe inspiring views. It is also the peaceful ‘undiscovered’ side of Loch Ness dominated by quiet minor roads and small communities – the population of the area is today still less than 1000.

From Suidhe Viewpoint the trail drops down through woodland and follows a minor road to Whitebridge and from there it roughly follows the line of the old Wade road to the village of Foyers.

Whilst most of the trail is easily accessible to all users, the path is not suitable for cyclists and horses between Foyers and Inverfarigaig. The trail goes up several hundred feet to the hamlet of Inverfarigaig. En route there are fantastic views out over Loch Ness and the woodland it passes through is rich and varied.

From Inverfarigaig the trail follows what is know locally as the Corkscrew road to a high point on forest track 1300ft above Loch Ness. It is here that the trail affords the most spectacular views up and down the length of Loch Ness and directly across to Urquhart Castle and Drumnadrochit. From here the trail then drops down gradually to the village of Dores at the head of Loch Ness.

At Dores you get the best views down the length of the loch! It also has a beach, which is very popular in summer. From here the last few miles of the trail are on a mixture of minor road and woodland path before coming to an end at Torbreck on the edge of Inverness.

If you’re a keen hiker and would like to check the best trails in Scotland, why not start with the South Loch Ness Trail! And after completing this breathtaking walk, treat yourself to a weekend stay at Thistle Inverness - a perfect place for leisure travellers!

Museums at Night ties in with the European campaign, La Nuit Des Musées, which takes place on Saturday 18th May 2013. In the UK, the festival  will run over Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th May. The date is significant as it’s the weekend nearest to International Museums Day (18^th May) and helps maintain the media profile of May as Museums Month.

During Museums at Night you will have a chance to take part in after dark unique experiences – from castle sleepovers to 1940s blackouts; there is lots to explore! These after-hours openings have proved hugely successful at UK’s major museums and galleries, with first-timers often amazed at the party atmosphere – and some of the institutions occasionally overwhelmed by the popularity of the evenings.

The list of cultural events in UK’s museums, galleries and heritage sites is really long. You can enjoy highlight talks and tours after dark, exploring atmospheric rooms in unique twilight in almost every city.

To find events in your area click here.

And if you’re planning to explore museums a little bit further away from home, don’t forget to book your stay with Thistle!

DTM (GERMAN TOURING CARS)

BRANDS HATCH (Indy Circuit)

FRIDAY 17 – SUNDAY 19 MAY 2013

DTM is the world’s most spectacular touring car series, with V8-powered racers representing Germany’s big three manufacturers: Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The cars may resemble their road-going equivalents but underneath are closer to Formula 1 machines! Bromley’s Gary Paffett will be out to avenge his 2012 championship defeat by just a single point, and victory at home will strengthen his bid to add a second DTM title to his collection. DTM remains a popular destination for Grand Prix drivers and Timo Glock is the latest to sign up for the series, whilst F1-style DRS and option tyres will spice up the action. It also attracts racing stars from all over the world to spectate – Brands Hatch will be the centre of the motorsport world at DTM this month! 

MASTERS HISTORIC FESTIVAL (+ FIA HISTORIC F1)

The Masters Historic Festival returns to Brands Hatch at the end of May for its traditional Bank Holiday weekend of classic racing action, and this year two brand new FIA historic championships headlining the bill. The FIA Historic Formula One Championship caters for evocative Grand Prix cars raced during the 60s, 70 and 80s and featuring stirring machinery from the likes of Williams, McLaren, Lotus, Tyrrell and Arrows, all running in their period liveries, harking back to the days when Brands Hatch was a regular on the Formula One calendar. The FIA Historic Sports Car Championship recalls the 500 and 1000km endurance races from the same period, when spectacular Le Mans prototypes provided an equally thrilling spectacle.

If you wish to visit this iconic sporting venue and see some priceless machines being pushed almost to the limit, then book your weekend break with Thistle. 

The Thistle Brands Hatch is a beautiful countryside hotel in Dartford, Kent. However, it isn’t just the Garden of England you’ll find on our doorstep, it’s also minutes away to Britain’s best-loved race circuit.

Exeter City has it all: from historic sites and breathtaking architecture, to relaxing parks and great shopping spots. Below, we present our selection of Exeter’s hidden gems, that should not be missed when visiting the city.

Exeter Castle

The Exeter Castle is a true green sanctuary in a buzzing city centre. Formerly known as Rougemont Castle, it was built in 1068 following the Norman siege of Exeter. Its gatehouse is the oldest standing castle building in Britain today!

The Castle, was the scene of many trials in the 16th and 17th century. It was there during the Civil Wars, a time of great unrest in the South West England. Today you can walk the Roman Wall, enjoy the lovely parkland and see the city from different angles. It’s a great spot for a picnic and a place for the children to run and play.

Cathedral Quarter

Exeter Cathedral is a magnificent example of gothic architecture. With amazing architecture and interesting history, it’s simply a must see place in Exeter. During sunny days, the Cathedral Green is a mecca for people wishing to spend their lunch break soaking up the sun and enjoying the views.

Princesshay

If you’re not too keen on exploring Exeter’s history and architecture head to Princesshay – an impressive shopping and leisure development, right in the centre of the city.

When visiting Princesshay, try to spot some of the many public art features scattered around the quarter. 

Haldon Forest Park

Whether you fancy a quiet stroll or an exhilarating mountain biking experience, there’s something for you at Haldon Forest Park. The park is located on 3,500 acres of woodland, just minutes away from Exeter. It’s got a network of walking and cycling trails, various cycle skills areas, Go Ape – a high wire adventure course for the little ones, archery sessions and many more.

Quayside

Exeter’s Historic Quayside, located about 15 minutes walk from the city centre, is one of the most attractive areas of the city, popular thanks to its fascinating history, interesting architecture and buzzing pubs and restaurants.

You can explore the Quayside in various ways: cycling, kayaking, fishing, climbing or just walking – either way you will enjoy your time at the water front.

The Rougemont hotel in Exeter  is one of the few hotels in the city and so serves as the ideal base from which to explore this historic area. You can walk straight into City Centre, with its fine shopping, Roman walls and beautiful Cathedral or visit the nearby Rougemont Gardens.

If you feel tempted to explore Exeter a little bit further get in touch with our reservation team at The Rougemont hotel on 0871 376 9018 or click here.

Aberdeen area has some of the best fishing and angling in the world. While the River Dee is a great spot for salmon, the River Don is famous for its brown trout. There are many more spectacular rivers, lochs, fisheries and 156 miles of coast to explore too.

Loch Fishing

Although the area is not known for its lochs, hence the numerous stillwater fisheries, the Loch Saugh near Fettercairn offers nice bank fishing for good quality trout and it is well worth a cast. 

River Fishing

The River Dee is internationally famous for its salmon fishing, and especially so for its multi-sea winter spring salmon, with anglers coming from all over the world to fish. It has historically been thought of as the top spring Atlantic Salmon river in the world

The river Deveron due to its more illustrious North East neighbours the Dee and Spey is a well kept secret where anglers return year after year. Salmon can be encountered right from opening day on February 11th anywhere on the river but the higher beats are usually a favourite. During April and May the brown trout fishing is superb with many specimens of 5 to 6 lb being caught each year.

The Don is a unique river. It has a reputable standing with the angling fraternity, not only for salmon and sea trout, but also as one of the finest wild brown trout rivers in Scotland, if not Europe.

Fisheries

There is a good variety of venues to choose from, with some of the best rainbow trout fishing in Scotland and you can also find yourself netting golden trout, blues, brook trout and brown trout. Some of the fisheries are stocked with large trout up to 20lbs.

Coarse Fishing

Loch of Skene to the east of Aberdeen is a shallow weedy loch that has rich supplies of perch and pike. The pike grow quite large and double figure fish are not uncommon. Best fishing is in late spring when the pike inhabit the shallows.

Sea Angling

Scotland’s east coast is famous for its commercial fishing fleets that once operated out of every coastal village in Aberdeenshire. The fleets have gone but the fishing is still there and very popular. Charter sea angling boats are centered around Stonehaven and concentrate on catching cod around the headlands and precipitous cliffs but the ground is varied and good catches of haddock and whiting can also be made in season. Beaches provide good fishing for flatfish and the estuary of the River Don is a popular venue.

If you’re hooked on fishing or would like to try wading in rivers and leaning over bridges and boats, Scotland is a place to go. When planning longer holiday, or just a weekend away, don’t forget about booking your accommodation at one of our Aberdeen hotels. All Thistle Aberdeen Airport, The Caledonian Aberdeen and Thistle Aberdeen Altens are located in the centre of Aberdeenshire, with easy access to its lochs, rivers and sea shore.

Happily we can offer you an alternative.  We have hotels close to UK international and regional airports, so you can stay over if you’re catching the red-eye, or landing in the wee small hours.  And as part of the package you can even leave your car with us for up to 15 days!

Thistle East Midlands Airport

Park and fly for up to 15 days – promotional code MMM87

For 8 Days Park & Fly offers, click here.

Or for 4 Days Park & Fly offers, click here
Thistle Aberdeen Airport

Park and fly for up to 15 days – promotional code MMM87

For 8 Days Park & Fly offers, click here.

Thistle London Heathrow

Park and fly for up to 15 days – promotional code MMM87

For 8 Days Park & Fly offers, click here.

The Great Glen Way stretches for 117km from coast to coast across the Highlands, linking the main centres of Fort William and the regional capital of Inverness. The route follows the major natural faultline of the Great Glen, which divides Scotland from coast to coast.  It runs along the complete lengths of Loch Linnhe, Loch Oich and the forests above Loch Ness, as well as along the towpath of the Caledonian Canal, an engineering marvel built by Thomas Telford that links these lochs and creates a through route from the western seaboard to the Moray Firth.

Well-waymarked and following clear paths and tracks, the Great Glen Way provides straightforward walking throughout. The section through the forests above Loch Ness does have some steep climbs, however for most walkers the final stage is the main challenge, due to the distance from Drumnadrochit and Inverness.

Starting at the end of the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way provides a natural continuation of a longer journey through the Highlands. It is generally walked from west to east to follow the direction of the prevailing wind and it can be walked in 5–6 days, or cycled in 2–3 days.

If you’re tempted to spend a week hiking in the Scottish Highlands, why not treat yourself to a weekend stay at Thistle Inverness - a perfect place for leisure travellers !

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