A lot of people don’t know that Buckingham Palace London is open to visitors during the summer months (27th July – 1st October). If you are planning a city break in London over the summer then we would thoroughly recommend a trip to the Palace, home of Queen Elizabeth 2nd. It is not often that you will get to see the state rooms used for lavish ceremonial occasions; the Grand Hall; and many old masterpieces in the pictue gallery. You will also be able to see out into the gardens and imagine you are at a bash thrown by Her Majesty. Of course, you’re not likely to bump into any of the British Royal family, but you may see a corgi or two pottering around.

Buckingham Palace is situated in the heart of Central London at the end of The Mall and surrounded by two stunning parks (Green Park and St. James Park) which you could spend all afternoon relaxing in. The Palace is well located for a number of London Underground stations including Victoria, St. James’s Park and Hyde Park corner – all within a short walk. Getting around London on the tube is fine, but the main problem for a London tourist is that it’s underground, and you can’t see many of London’s sights from underground. Serviced City Pads are experts in organising accommodation in London and we strongly advise that you will see much more of London during your stay if you walk as much as you can and when you are not walking around London, try and take a London bus.

There is a wide selection of hotels and apartments near Buckingham Palace. Serviced City Pads specialise in London serviced apartments which are perfect if you are visiting London with your family. The apartments offer considerably more space than a hotel room in London. If you do decide to book an apartment near Buckingham Palace then you will have easy access for plenty of other tourist destinations in Central London. One piece of adice from Serviced City Pads is always book your London accommodation early. The Capital city becomes very busy and apartments scarce, particularly during the summer months. For a choice of London accommodation go to www.servicedcitypads.com. We will ve delighted to help!

Did you know that that this Museum in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter is open all year? This museum was originally a jewellery manufacturing company called Smith and Pepper and tells the rich history of Birmingham as a centre for traditional jewellery making skills.

We would recommend that if you are planning a weekend in Birmingham or even if you happen to be working in Birmingham, then you should consider making a trip to this Museum which is situated to the West of Birmingham city centre. It’s not far to travel to if you are staying in a serviced apartment in Birmingham or even if you happen to be in a Birmingham hotel. Sometimes it’s just nice to be able to get away from the city centre. St. Geroge’s Park is also nearby. You can walk around the fine old architecture of the streets of the Jewellery Quarter and just imagine what a thriving industry this must have been. Infact, Birmingham is still seen as one of the best places to buy wedding and engagement rings, perhaps only second to Hatton Garden in London. Obviously travelling to Birmingham is a much better option than heading down to London if you are just going for the day (and live in the north of England or Scotland).

Serviced City Pads has a number of accommodation options to choose from in Birmingham, all situated in and around the city centre. Birmingham is becoming a more popular city break destination than previously, due in no small part to the ongoing regeneration that the city has seen over the previous decade.

If you are interested in staying in a serviced apartment in Birmingham whether that’s for a weekend or more, then call Serviced City Pads on 0844 335 8866, and make sure that you include a trip to this fantastic museum as part of your itinerary.

The following acts at the the 2010 Edinburgh International Festival are really worth a visit to watch and be entertained.

The current International Festival home is the ‘Hub’ formerly ‘The Highland Tolbooth’ – an architecturally remarkable building a couple of minutes walk from Edinburgh Castle, orginally built as an assembly house for the Church of Scotland. Its gothic spire is the highest point in central Edinburgh, and can be seen for many miles around. Serviced City Pads.

The Gospel at Colonus

First devised by American director Lee Breuer, who brought Mabou Mines Dollhouse to the EIF in 2007, the Gospel at Colombus is a radical reworking of Sophocles’ classic Grekk drama, the tragedy of Oedipus at Colombus, with everything from Gospel to elements of rock’n'roll. It features the Blind Boys of Alabama, a gospel choir who may set to become a festival sensation.Serviced City Pads.

Mau

Samoan choreographer and shaman Lemi Ponifasio, based in New Zealand, explores the idea that somewhere in the Pacific, a floating island of discarded plastic bottles has become the nesting material for migrating birds. His company Mau brings two productions – Birds with Skymirrors, using plastic waste picked up by seabirds as a metaphor for pollutions impact on the islands of the pacific, and tempest: Without a Body, featuring tattooed Maori activist Tame Iti in a work inspired by Shakespeares play which delves into Polynesian ritual. Serviced City Pads and short stay accommodation.

Mahler Symphony N0 8

The closing concert at the Usher Hall, Mahlers great work features the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus, with eight soloist, With the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Donald Runnicles, it promises a spectacular finale.

Porgy and Bess

Opera de Lyon production of Gerschwins classic modern opera, written at the end of the Great Depression in 1935. With its heart rending love story, George Gerschwins score contains modern classics like It Ain’t Necessarily So and I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin. Choreographers Jose Montalvo and Dominique Hervieu had a festival hit in 2007 with On Danse. Serviced Apartments with Serviced City Pads.
Paco Pena

It may not reach the lofty artistic heights of past Edinburgh festivals, but no show better captures the exuberant spirit of 2010. The ’sophisticating and tantalising’ Paco Pena Flamenco Dance Company come with the world premiere of Quimeras, telling how flamenco dance arrived in Spain with immigrants from North Africa. It is a story of the ‘new world speaking back and giving back to the old world’, says Edinburgh International Festival director Jonanthan Mills. Short stay serviced apartments.
The Alonzo King Lines Ballet

The African American choreographer Alonzo King, whose family were prominant in the Civil Rights movement, brings his San Francisco-based Lines Ballet for its UK debut. Rasa sees a collaboration with the virtuoso tabla player Zakir Hussain in a mix of US contemporary dance and Indian classical music. Dust and Light is set to works by Corelli and Poulenc. Contact the Serviced City Pads Reservations Team on 0844 335 8866 for short stay accommodation throughout Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from August 13 until Sept 5. By the invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music (especially classical music), theatre, opera and dance from around the world to perform. Contact Serviced City Pads to book an apartment 0844 335 8866.
The first International Festival (and the first festival of the Fringe, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, although it wasn’t known until much later took place in 1947, in the wake of the Second World War, with the optimistic remit ‘to provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit, and enrich the cultural life of Scotland, Britain and Europe. The founders of the Festival included Rudolph Bing (then the General Manager of Glyndebourne Opera Festival), Henry Harvey Wood Head of the British Council in Scotland, Sidney Newman, Reid Professor of Music at Edinburgh University, and a group of civic leaders from the City of Edinburgh. The festivals have taken place every August since. Serviced City Pads.

Top acts at the 2010 Edinburgh International Festival.

The voices of the new world return to the old in this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.

Montezuma

Described as the little-known operatic gem, Montezuma was written by a German Composer Carl Heinrich Graun in 1755 and chronicled the tragic, one-sided and bloody confrontation between Spanish conquistadors and the Aztec empire led by Montezuma 200 years before. The new production, set on the island that would become the future of Mexico City, with several Mexican singers, captures the Festival’s theme of the old world and new, in a year when Mexico celebrates the 200th anniversary of its warof independence from Spain.

Teatro Cinema

A radical theatre company from Chile which blends cinema and live performance so closely it is hard to distinguish live actors from characters on screen, Teatro Cinema brings two productions to the Kings Theatre. Sin Sangre, Without Blood, tells the story of brutal slaying by three armed men, centred on the woman who witnessed the murder of her father and mother. The man who Fed Butterflies is a new co-production with the EIF, devised around the story of a man exploring the a forgotten ritual of the souls of dead warriors released in the hatching of butterflies. Serviced City Pads supply short stay apartments in Edinburgh.

Bliss

Opera Australia production of Peter Careys novel, centred on a Brisbane advertising executive who wakes from a heart-stopping near-death experience in his own particular brand of hell, comes to Edinburgh fresh from its Australian premiere. Nine years in the making, it has won strong reviews for the prize-winning composer Brett Dean and features star Australian baritone Peter Coleman-Wright.  Please contact Serviced City Pads on 0844 335 8866.Caledonia

Caledonia marks the world premiere of a major new project by the National Theatre of Scotland, chronicling the country’s disastrous colonial foray into Panama. The huge costs of the tragically unept Darien venture, devised by adventurer William Paterson, were blamed for forcing Scotland into a union with England. Critics will be watching carefully to see if the production – written by satirist Alistair Beaton, and directed by Anthony Neilon, whose achievements include Festival hit The Wonderful World of Disassocia – lives up to it’s promise and ambition. Serviced City Pads

The ICC Birmingham claims to be the premier conference venue in the UK and is handily situated in Birmingham, in the heart of the UK. 2010 sees the Conservative Party holding their annual conference at the ICC between Sunday 3rd October and Wednesday 6th October. To book your conference accommodation in Birmingham please contact Serviced City Pads by email at info@servicedcitypads.com.

But what is it that has attracted the Conservative party to hold their annual conference in Birmingham and what is it like to stay in a serviced apartment or hotel in Birmingham for a conference delefate?

At Serviced City Pads we think that Birmingham is a tremendous city that has made incredible strides following large investment over the past few years. Visit Birmingham today and you will find a thriving commercial hub with a fantastic shopping centre, plenty of bars and restaurants, with a wide variety of choices of accommodation in Birmingham city centre.

 The ICC itself stages more than 400 events every year, although it is probably fair to say that there is non more prestigious than the Conservative party conference, which will be the focus of the national media and where David Cameron will make his first conference speech as British Prime Minister. The conference centre is situated on the fringe of Birmingham city centre, so if you decide to stay in a Birmingham serviced apartment then you will find yourself just a short stroll from conference venue.

Serviced City Pads is a specialist booking company with a wide range of serviced apartments in Birmingham city centre. The apartments offer a range of options and suit an array of tastes and budgets. If you are planning to stay in Birmingham for the first time we will be happy to point you in the right direction when it comes to restaurants in Birmingham and any other activities as well as organising your Birmingham conference accommodation. In terms of accessibility, Birmingham is probably the easiest city to reach from anywhere else in the country, just a couple of hours north of London and within two hours of Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.

At Serviced City Pads we have noticed that hotels and serviced apartments get booked up very quickly in advance when their is a major conference in town and we anticipate that this time the hotels in Birmingham will get booked up quicker than ever as it is effectively a victory conference for the Conservatives, although we don’t anticpate much is a triumphant atmosphere as Mr Cameron will be keen to emphasis the economic problems that the country faces. That’s probably a good reason to book spacious and good value serviced apartments in Birmingham, but that’s another story!

So you are thinking of taking a short break in London? Perhaps there couldn’t be a better time to visit London than early August, as the Great British Beer Festival is back at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre from 3 – 7 August 2010. This London event is a chance to samples hundreds (although probably not all in the same day) of different ales, ciders and international beers. You will also have the chance to play traditional pub games, taste great food and listen to live music. It will be like going to the biggest and best pub in the world and make your holiday in London an unforgettable experience, although it could turn into quite a forgettable experience, but that will depend on how many of the beers you decide to sample.

Based on the fact that you may end up consuming a fair amount of beer during this London festival, the reservations team at Serviced City Pads would suggest that you book your London serviced apartment near Earls Court, or certainly stay in West London. If you decide to book a hotel in the city of London, then it could mean a long jouney across the capital when it may make more sense to stay in a west end serviced apartment.

We would also suggest that if you intend to visit the Great British Beer Festival for the 5 days that it is being staged, you may find it more comfortable to stay in a serviced apartment in London rather than a hotel in London. You will probably appreciate the extra space that you will get by staying in an apartment. Tickets for the festival can be booked via the Visit London website.   

There are obviously plenty of other things that you can do during your stay in London. Some of the interesting things to do near to Earls Court include shopping along the Kings Road and Harrods, going to the Victoria and Albert Museum or seeing a performance at the nearby Royal Albert Hall. There is never a shortage of things to do during a London visit.

To book your serviced apartment in London go to Serviced City Pads for a wide range of accommodation across the capital.

Following the success of Liverpool being the European Capital Culture in 2008, the Liverpool Tourism board is now attempting to re-brand the city as the Capital of Conferencing. But is it is a claim with any substance?

There is no doubt that with the opening of the BT Convention Centre (part of the ACC Arena which sits proudly on the famous waterfront next to Albert Dock) that this has shot Liverpool up the league table of conference hosting cities, but it still has some way to go to reach the pinnacle. You only have to look at the schedules of, for example, the NEC in Birmingham; Excel in London Docklands and even Manchester Central, in Manchester.

Yes, strides have been made and it is a great coup for Liverpool that the city will be hosting the Liberal Democrats conference accommodation (September 18-22), and Serviced City Pads looks forward to the influx of Lib Dems planning to stay in Liverpool accommodation during their stay – whether that is a hotel in Liverpool or a corporate apartment in Liverpool. But once you go beyond this particular conference, it isn’t a heavily packed conference season at the BT convention centre and this suggests that maybe Liverpool is still struggling to attract the large conference that other cities do. Of course, these rival cities have had something of a head start on Liverpool and we expect that the city will continue to make progress over the forthcoming years, and that the Liverpool hotels and apartment operators will really begin to benefit from conference delegates visiting Liverpool in the future.

At Serviced City Pads, a company that specialises in booking short stay apartments, the conference accommodation opportunity currently remains bigger in places like Manchester, Birmingham and London. Much of this is because they are more established. We also believe that once conference organisers re-discover Liverpool, they will find a thriving city keen to do business and look after it’s visitors. Once people have stayed in Liverpool for the first time, we find that they are enthused about returning for a second and third time. Most cities aren’t lucky enough to have that appeal.

If you are planning to book conference accommodation in Liverpool (or any other UK city) call Serviced City Pads on 0844 335 8866 and we will be delighted to find you the best accommodation at the best price.

But can Liverpool really claim to be the Capital of Conferencing? No, not yet. But it is certainly making strides in the right direction.

Manchester has now become something of a centre for conferences, with much of the emphasis on larger events that are held at Manchester Central. It shows how far the city has benefited from continuous investment over the past 15 years that it can now host the Labour Party Conference accommodation (September 26-30) and nobody sees it as much of a surprise. Everybody now assumes, quite rightly, that manchester can deliver such grand scale corporate events.

Apart from the Labour Party coming to Manchester, the 2010 conference season (which broadly runs through the Autumn period) sees other events such as Audacious 2010 (August 2 – 5 ); Property Abroad Show (September 3 – 5); UK Wedding Show (October 23/24); Mind Body and Spirit (November 19-21) being held at Manchester Central, amongst many other events in Manchester.

If you are involved with a conference in Manchester – whether you are visiting Manchester as a conference delegate or involved in the organisation and set up of the conference, then you will need to arrange some conference accommodation in Manchester. Staying in a hotel is great if it’s for a day, maybe it’s ok to stay in a hotel room for a couple of nights at a push but the space issues mean that staying in Manchester serviced apartment becomes more tempting for the visitor. If you add the value of meny aspect that a serviced apartment can offer (if you are staying in Manchester with a colleague, you can share a 2 bedroom serviced apartment and really start to see some considerable savings versus staying in a hotel in Manchester).

In terms of location, there are a number of serviced apartments within walking distance of Manchester Central, which will mean you should never need to take a taxi during your Manchester visit.

If staying in a serviced apartment manchester sounds like a good idea or something that you would like to know more about, then please call Serviced City Pads reservations on 0844 335 8866 – the serviced apartment booking specialist, with a team who have wide knowledge of Manchester city centre and the surrounding area.

Manchester Jazz Festival is an annual 9-day-long festival focused on showcasing contemporary jazz from the North West of England and beyond. Serviced City Pads.

The 15th Manchester Jazz Festival will take place from 23 to 31 July in Manchester City Centre.

The Manchester Jazz Festival was created in 1996 as a one-day showcase and has grown into a 9-day event, with 60 gigs and 300 musicians planned for July 2009.

Key Dates and figures for the festival:

1996: 1st Manchester Jazz Festival – 1 day, 1 venue, 10 bands.

2000: 1st new jazz work comissioned by the festival

2003: 1st mjf all-day finale in Albert Square, with 5 bands, 50 musicians and 5,000 attenders

2006: 1st ever jazz festival podcast in the UK – won the Independent’s Critics Choice

Over 80 bands will play across 8 city centre venues, at all times of the day and night – indoors and out! mjf is all about trying something new and this years it’s easier than ever to discover a new world of music, unlike any other on the festival circuit.

2010 includes musical firsts from Britain and abroad, inlcuding the mjf originals commissions surroundings, a new antiphonal suite for jazz  orchestra composed by Manchester trumpeter Neil Yates. International debuts come from Spanish pianist Baldo Martinez and Franco German duo Daniel Erdmann and Frances Le Bras. Other highlights include jazz ’supergroup’ Simcock/Walker/Swallow/Nussbaum, featuring Salford born guitarist Mike Walker, and Phil Bancrofts multi media Home-Small as the World which features one musician’s contribution beamed directly by wi-fi from his Manchester home. Please call Serviced City Pads on 0844 335 8866.
As you’d expect, Band on the Wall, Manchester’s legendary live music venue, is one of mjf’s main venues, with performances fromthe Indo-Jazz fusions of ex-Mancunian clarinettist Arun Ghosh, to the city’s most revered DJ, Mr Scruff. Even ‘80 icon Kid Creole makes a comeback! Also at the venue, the BBC’s flagship jazz radio programme Jazz on 3 will broadcast live from the festival on Monday 26 July.

A multitude if jazz vocalist, all with their own personal approach to jazz, featuring in the line up: Terry Shaltiel has the blues, Rodina an Irish lilt, Monika Lidke her Polish folk songs, Alice Zawadzki her Jewish folk songs and An Jacobs her French chanson.

At the other end of the spectrum, there is music for the Jazz aficionado too: mjf champions artists who are crossing the boundaries and pushing the music to new limits: The Golden Age of Steam features and unusual line up of the bass clarinet, organ and drums, and their soundworld – nothing to do with trains – evokes swirling soundscapes and contemporary classical music. Jim Hart studied and unsual instrument – the vibraphone – at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester; now he’s one of the UK’s leading exponents and he’s joined forces with Ralph Alessi, the innovative New York based trumpeter, for his gig to launch the festival on 23 July.

A whole day is devoted to the energetic and vital rhythms of Afro-Carribean music. From 2.00pm on Sunday 25 July, take part in special percussion and dance workshops in the Festival Pavillion in Albert Square, and at 8.00pm catch the double bill featuring two of the north west’s foremost ensembles of this genre: Dispora, a young 11 piece band with dynamic orchestrations, and Mojito, with authentic Cuban vocalists and a lively percussion section. All you need to add is the rum and the cigar. Short stay in Manchester with Serviced City Pads.mjf introduces continues in the afternoons with 6 new young artists from Greater Manchester launching their careers at the Festival Pavillion in Albert Square. New to the festival this year is a series of afternoon tea events in the award winning French restaurant at the Grade II-listed Midland Hotel.

Steve Mead, mjf’s Artistic Director, says: ‘There’s an incredible amount of wonderful music in this year’s festival and so much for free. Not only that, but such a wide mixture of sounds and styles, from twice BBC Jazz Award-winner and singer/songwriter Liane Carroll, bringing her relaxed pop and blues influences into the mix, to the most challenging of artist’s at the cutting edge of jazz, like Stuart McCallum (Cinematic Orchestra) and the punky Trio VD. mjf guarantees you a memorable time, whatever your taste’. Serviced City Pads supply Serviced Apartment Accommodation throughout Manchester.

Serviced City Pads are delighted to be working with Bachers of Manchester, a development of new serviced apartments in Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter.

These Manchester apartments are in a recently converted textile mill that was originally built in 1897 and has some fantastic architectural features. There are a selection of serviced apartments – both 1 and 2 bedrooms, and with many of the bedrooms having the option of becoming twin bedrooms (because of the innovative zip and link beds that are being used) they are a great place to stay whether you are working in Manchester or visiting Manchester as part of a larger group.

All of Bachers 19 Manchester apartments have free wi-fi internet for guests as well as modern wide screen TV’s. The fixtures and fittings are modern and stylish. Some of the larger apartments can also accommodate extra beds for children. This makes staying inthese Manchester serviced apartments a great option for families staying in Manchester for a city break. In addition, there is discounted parking at the close by NCP plus discounted usage of the nearby Virgin Active Health club. So really, everything you might expect from a Manchester city centre hotel; just with more space and freedom.

The Northern Quarter is quite possibly the most thriving area of Manchester city centre. There are many bars, shops and restaurants within a short walk of the apartments as well as being only a short walk from both Manchester Piccaddily and Victoria stations. You will find yourself just a stones throw from everything that Manchester has to offer it’s visitor, and if you are planning to watch Manchester United, then Old Trafford is just a quick tram ride away.

If you are planning to visit Manchester and you like the sound of Bachers of Manchester serviced apartments then please call the reservation team at Serviced City Pads on 0844 335 8866. We will be delighted to make your accommodation reservation in Manchester. We have a team with a strong knowledge of Manchester city centre so ask as many questions as you like before making your booking.

As well as booking serviced apartments in Manchester, Serviced City Pads is a company that deals with many serviced apartment operators all around the UK and Ireland. This means that we always have action to a wide range of short stay apartments. Serviced City Pads work with many corporate customers as well as leisure customers.