The Women’s Rugby World Cup is the premier international competition in rugby for women. The tournament is organised by the sport’s governing body the International Rugby Board (IRB). The championships are currently held every four years currently taking place in August – September 2010with the final taking place at The Stoop, Twickenham, England on September 5th 2010. Serviced City Pads have a large range of serviced apartments throughout London.
Prior to the first Women’s Rugby World Cup officially sanctioned by the International Rugby Board there had been three previous tournaments of a similar nature. The first of these was an event held in August 1990 in New Zealand. Though not considered a world cup, the tournament was referred to as the World Festival for Women. The competition included teams representing the United States, the Netherlands, Russia, and the hosts, New Zealand – who emerged as winners after defeating the United States in the final.Serviced Apartments in London through Serviced City Pads.The first tournament referred to as the Women Rugby World Cup was held in 1991 and hosted by Wales. Twelve countries were divided into four groups of three. The United States, against expectations, took the first championship with a 19 – 6 victory over England. In the Plate competition Canada prevailed over Spain 18 – 4. Following the first tournament it was decided to move the tournament schedule to the year prior to the next men’s world cup therefore reducing the quadrennial cycle to just three years. Serviced City Pads have a large range of Serviced Apartments in West London.
The next event was originally scheduled to take place in Amsterdam but ended up being moved to Scotland. Eleven countries competed in the tornament with the English meeting in the United States in the final for the second time however, in this instance England emerged as winners.

The 1998 tournament became the first women’s world cup officially sanctioned by the International Rugby Board. Amsterdam, who were originally scheduled to host the previous world cup, hosted the largest ever tournament with all matches played at the new National Rugby Centre in the city’s west end. The tournament also saw a record 16 teams compete. The final saw New Zealand defeat the United States and claim their first world cup title.

The next event was taken to Spain in 2002, where New Zealand, won the title for the second time. The 2006 world cup took place in Edmonton, Canada, wand was the first major international rugby union tournament and womens world cup held in North America. New Zealand defeated England in the final to win their third successive world cup title.

In 2008 a record four countries expressed interest in hosting the 2010 world cup. After considering bids from the Rugby Football Union, the German Rugby Federation, and the Kazakstan Rugby Union and the South African Rugby Union the IRB announced that the 2010 event will take place in England. The Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) then announced that the tournament is to be staged in West London, with the final being played at The Stoop. Serviced City Pads supply Apartments throughout West London.

Jean-Michel Andre Jarre is performing at Birmingham National Indoor Arena on the 8th October 2010, a huge global star having sold over 80 million records worldwide throughout his exceptional career, Jarrre (born 24 August 1948) is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is regarded as a pioneer in the electronic, synthpop, ambient and New Age genres, as well as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music which feature lights, laser displays and fireworks. Serviced City Pads supply apartments throughout Birmingham.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and grandparents, and trained on the piano. From an early age he was introduced to a variety of art forms, inlcuding those of street performers, jazz musicians, and the artist Pierre Soulages. He played guitar in a band, but his musical style was perhaps most heavily influenced under the direction of Pierre Schaffer, a pioneer of musique concrete at the Groupe de Recherches Musicales. Apartment accommodation in Birmingham through Serviced City Pads.
His first mainstream success was the 1976 album Oxygene. Recorded in a makeshift studio at his home, the album went on to sell an estimated 12 million copies.The album which consists of six numbered tracks, makes strong use of the melody rather than rhythm or dissonance, and a collection of keyboards and synthesisers to create a range of sound textures and melodies. Key components of Jarre’s sound included his use of the Dutch organ/string synthesiser. Oxygene was followed in 1978 by Equinox,Equinox employs a more baroque and classical style than Oxygen, with more emphasis on melodic development. The album makes use of sequencing, particularly on the bass. Although not as commercially successful as Oxygen, its release was followed by a large open-air concert at the Place de la Concorde on Bastille Day, 1979. The 40 minute long event , which used projections of light and images, and fireworks, would serve as a blue print for Jarre’s future concerts. The event helped boost Jarre’s popularity and he sold 800,000 records. It also served as a introduction to Francis Rimbert who now uses Rimbert’s sythesizer setup for the performance and today works full time for Jarre. In 1979 Jarre performed to a record-breaking audience of more than a million people at the Place de la Concorde, a record he has since broken on three seperate occassions. More album were to follow, but his 1979 concert served as a blueprint for his future performances around the world. Several of his albums have been released to coincide with large-scale outdoor events, and he is now perhaps as well known as a performer, as he his a musician. Please contact Serviced City Pads for short and long stay accommodation in Birmingham on 0844 335 8866.
Jarre has sold an estimated 80 million albums and singles. He was the first western musician to be allowed to perform in the Peoples Republic of China, and holds the world record for the largest ever audience at an outdoor event. He has three chidren, and is married to Frenh actress Ann Parillaud. Contact Serviced City Pads reservations team on 0844 335 8866.

Manchester Pride is an annual Gay Pride celebration in the city of Manchester, it is one of the longest running in the country and attracts thousands of visitors to the city’s Gay Village, which centres around Canal Street, each year. The event comprises a Pride march, and several days of various arts, music and cultural events all over the city as well as a festival during the August bank holiday weekend within the gay village itself. Serviced City Pads supply apartments in central Manchester.

Original objectives for the birth of Manchesters Pride celebrations were to raise awareness around the legal and political struggles faced by the LGBT community and to raise funds for local charities. The first ‘gay pride’ event in Manchester was held in 1990. EuroPride was hosted in Manchester in 2003, and Since 2004 the title ‘Manchester Pride’ has been adopted. Manchester Pride consistently raises money for the LGBT and HIV charities and this year raised the largest amount ever in the festivals history. Contact Serviced City Pads reservations team on 0844 335 8866 for short stay apartments.Pride parades for the LGBT community are events celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender culture. The events also at times serve as demonstrations for legal rights such as same-sex marriage. Most pride events occaur annually and many take place around June to commemorate the Stonewall riots, a pivotal movement in the modern LGBT rights movement. There is opposition to parades both within LGBT and mainstream populations. LGBT say that it shows non-representative aspects of the community. On the other side, it may sound ridiculous as there is no ‘heterosexual pride’, thus it is countered as homosexual agenda.

There is much more to Manchester Pride than the parade itself, since 2003 the festival has spanned a full ten days with a series of art, culture, heritage, politics, sport, music and film events celebrating the great diversity of the LGBT community in the run up to the Big Weekend Party. Pride Fringe allows performers to showcase their talents in music and dance. A series of lunchtime recitals celebrating music by LGBT composers past and present. This year arks the centenary of the birth of Samuel Barber – the composer most famous for his ‘Adagio for Strings’ used in films such as ‘Platoon’ and ‘The Elephant Man’. Each concert will include some of barbers glorious chamber music and songs, featuring performances by oboist Nicholas Daniel, tenor David Maxwell Anderson, pianist Ashley Wass & Leon McCawley, and the ensemble CHROMA. There will be a world premier of a new work by Manchester Pride’s new Composer-in-Association, Marc Yeats.Serviced City Pads supply city break accomodation.
Comedy and Theatre shows are showcased at the fringe.

Undone is a sharp witty look at one young man trying to navigate his way through relationships, lover friends via the underbelly of Manchesters gay scene. Through the mist of neon lights, dilated pupils and hangovers Dex attempts to discover true intimacy, peeling back layers of expectation and coming face to face with his fears head on. This will give you a fresh perspective of the Village life in a way you never have before; or at least can remember in this fast paced comedy drama.

Fanny is a girl who confides in her ma that she does not fancy boys. Her ma is excited as this means Fanny has the calling to be a nun. But after many years locked up in an irish convent, Fanny meets Sister Phil and there is a ’special bond’ between them she just can’t explaine. So Fanny runs away from the convent and arrives in Manchester. She is followed by Sister Phil and they discover the village whilst in hiding from Fanny’s mother who is desperatley trying to pray the gay away.Serviced City Pads supply luxury apartments in Manchester.
Camp Classics

Acelebration of gay life and experience over the years – the trails and tribulations, the energy and excitement, tales to make you laugh cry and cringe. Potrayed through a patchwork of scenes, sketches, comedy, poetry and song and perfomed by VADA members new and old. VADA is a long standing community theatre group run by, and for, all members of the LGBT community.

Madame Tussauds is one of the most famous and popular tourist attraction in London. The attraction which is situated on Marylebone Road, at the top of Baker Street in Central London (just a short way from Sherlock Holmes’ home on Baker Street). But what is Madam Tussauds all about? It is about getting up close and personal to stars and royalty that you only ever get to see on TV or in the printed media. Of course, these are lifelike waxwork replicas and they are incredibly lifelike. There are stars of the sporting world, including such people as David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton and Andy Murray; Royalty figures such as The Queen and Prince Charles; pop stars like Leona Lewis and Amy Winehouse; world political figures such as Barack Obama and David Cameron; as well as film stars like Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie. Quite a cast, and that is just to name a few! Serviced City Pads, the accommodation booking company suggests that a short break in London wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Madame Tussauds.

As we have already said, this is very popular London tourist destination so it is worth booking your tickets in advance. You only have to see the queue of London tourists to know that. There are special offers for buying tickets at the official Madame Tussauds website.

We suggest that when you are planning your London visit, that you should probably buy tickets at the same time that you book your accommodation in London with Serviced City Pads. We offer a wide selection of hotels and serviced apartments in London (from the West End, to the City and Canary Wharf hotels) that are great value for money to the London tourist. Book your accommodation in London early to avoid disappointment as it is an incredibly busy and popular holiday destination, particularly as more and more Brits are planning a London staycation rather than holidaying abroad.

If a trip to Madame Tussauds is an important part of your trip then Serviced City Pads would say that you shouldn’t be staying in a hotel in Canary Wharf (which is on the east side of London), but probably something more central – maybe a hotel in Soho or Serviced apartment in Mayfair. Either of these 2 London accommodation options would put you within a short walk of Madame Tussauds as well as many other London tourist attractions, shops and restaurants.

There are now also a number of Madame Tussauds across the world in cities such as Las Vegas, Shanghai, New York, Berlin and Bangkok.

Prince Albert originally layed the foundation stone of the National Gallery in 1850, giving a moving speech in whcih he hails the William Henry Playfait designed building as a ‘temple erected to the Fine Arts’. The building will stand next to the Royal Scottish Academy building, also designed by Playfair and headquarters for the Board of Manufacturers since 1822.Serviced City Pads supply short and long term serviced apartment accommodation.
In 1882 The National Gallery’s collection of pictures, as well as public and political appetite for a permanent record of Scots achievement, grows to such an extent that the Scottish National Portrait Gallery is founded and is funded by local newspaper propreitor, John Ritchie Findlay and is opened in 1889.

In 1959 The Scottish Gallery of Modern Art is founded and opened to the public in August at Inverleith House in Edinburghs Royal Botanical Garden. All but a few of the National Gallery’s paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings dating from 1900 are moved to a new location. The vast majority of objects in the gallery’s collection today, however, were acquired after the 1960’s. Please contact the Serviced City Pads reservations team on 0844 335 8866.In 1971-2 Five new small galleries at the south end of the National Gallery are created by building an upper floor. The space is in part created to house the great Maitland collection of French late nineteenth – and early twentieth century paintings, including works by Monet and Van Gogh.

In 1978 a further suite of galleries is opened, this time beneath the ground of the south end of the National Gallery, to house the Gallery’s Scottish Collection and also provided room for facilities such as a Print Room, Library and Picture Store.

1999 The Dean Gallery opens, a magnificent building opposite the Gallery of Modern Art, The Gallery is used to house the generous gift by the Edinburgh born sculptor Sir Eduardo Paolozzi of a large collection of his work. he new gallery also showcases the National Galleries superb Dada and Surrealism collection. Edinburgh accommodation with Serviced City Pads.2003 Extensive redevelopment of the Royal Scottish Academy Building, now owned by the National Galleries of Scotland, is completed, turning the venue into one of Europe’s premier exhibition venues. It’s first exhibition in the newly developed space Monet: The Seine and the Sea, attracts visitors of over 170,000.

In 2004 The second phase of works on The Mound is completed through creation of an underground link – overlooking Princess Street Gardens – that connects the National Gallery and the Royal Scottish Academy Building. The new space provides state-of-the-art visitor facilities:education suites, a new restaurant and cafe, a lecture theatre/cinema and IT Gallery.

The National Galleries are showing the most exhaustive selection of paintings by Christian Kobke (1810 – 1848) ever to be shown outside Denmark.Kobke was a pre-eminent painter in his country and one of the foremost talents of Denmark’s Golden Age. The Exhibition features around 40 of Kobke’s most celebrated works, spanning a variety of genres. Giving and overview of Kobke’s acheivement within its cultural context, the exhibition emphasises his exquisite orginality and experimental outlook while focusing on the most innovative aspects of his work.Kobke’s paintings demonstrate his ability to endow ordainary people and places and simple motifs with a universal significance, creating a world in microcosm for the viewer. Serviced City Pads supply serviced apartments via their website.

When you have seen what central London has to offer, why not take a trip to North West London to visit the England National Football stadium at Wembley for a stadium tour.Serviced City Pads.Wembley was designed by architects Foster and Partners and Populous and with engineers Mott MacDonald, built by Australian company Brookfield Multiplex and funded by Sport England, the football Association, the Department for Culture Media and Sport and the London Development Agency. It is one of the most expensive stadiums ever built at a cost of £798 million and has the largest roof-covered seating capacity in the world. Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners was appointed to assist Wembley National Stadium imited in preparing the scheme for a new stadium and obtain planning permission for the development.Contact the Serviced City Pads reservations team on 0844 335 8866 for serviced apartment accommodation throughout London.

The all seater stadium is based around a bowl design with a capacity of 90,000, protected from the elements by a sliding roff that does not completely enclose it. It can be adapted as an athletic stadium by erecting a temporary platform over the lowest tier of seating. The stadiums signature feature is a circular section lattice arch. It supports all the weight of the north roof and 60% of the weight of the retractable roof on the southern side. The archway is the worlds longest unsupported roff structure. Instead of the 39 steps climbed, in the orginal stadium, to enter the Royal Box and collect a trophy, there are now 107. Serviced City Pads supply short and long term serviced apartment accommodation throughout London. Please contact the reservation team on 0844 335 8866.
A platform system has been designed to convert the stadium for athletics use, but its use would decrease the stadiums capacity to approximatley 60,000. No athletics events have taken place at the stadium, and none are scheduled.Serviced City Pads book serviced apartments for either leisure or corporate guests throughout London.
The stadium is linked to Wembley Park Station on the London Underground via Olympic Way, and Wembley Central via the White Horse Bridge. It also has a rail link – provided by the Wembley Stadium railway station – to London Marleybone and Birmingham.

The initial plan for the reconstruction of Wembley was for demolition to begin before Christmas 2000, and for the new stadium to be completed some time during 2003, but this work was delayed by a succession of financial and legal difficulties. I t was scheduled to open on 13 May 2006, with the first game being that years FA Cup Final. However worries were expressed as to whether the stadium would actually be completed on time. The new stadium was completed and handed over to the FA on 9 March 2007, with the total cost of the project (including local transport infastructure redevelopement and cost of financing) estimated to be £1 billion. Stay in short term apartments throughout London with Serviced City Pads.

Cast your mind back just a few years and the Millennium Dome, situated in Greenwich, South East London was derided as a white elephant, a waste of £850 million of UK taxpayers money and a major embarrassment to Tony Blair’s new Labour government. Built on the banks of the River Thames in London the Dome was to celebrate the previous 1,000 years of history and culture and future aspirations in the UK. It never really lived up to it’s billing and certainly didn’t deliver on the number of visitors that the governmnent forecast would go the the Dome (and it received mixed reviews from those that did visit).

Sounds like a disaster? Well, not really. Out of the Millennium Dome came the O2 Arena London and the most popular live music venue in the UK, and possibly the world. The transformation in the way this venue in London was perceived has been quite incredible, and you only have to look at what’s on at The O2 during November and December to see that no London city break would be complete without taking in a concert or other event on the banks of London’s famous venue.

So what events are on between now and the end of 2010 and which ones will you decide to go and see during your family stay in London – whether you happen to be staying in a hotel in London or a London serviced apartment? Here are just some of the highlights:

*Guns N Roses (October 13th)
*UFC 120 (October 16th)
*WWE Raw World Tour (November 9th)
*Andrea Bocelli (November 12th)
*Arcade Fire (December 1st and 2nd)
*Lady Gaga (December 16 and 17)
*Christmas Spectacular (December 23rd)

……and there are many more events that you can choose from during your London holiday.

And it’s not just live music and entertainment, between 21 – 28 November the Barclays ATP World Tour tennis tour finals take place at the O2 Arena and you could be there to cheer on your favourite tennis player, whether that is Nadal, Murray or Federer. It should be quite an event as it was when it first came to London in 2009.

Depending on how central the O2 Arena is to your plans for your stay in London, then Serviced City Pads, the accommodation booking service would suggest booking a hotel in the city of London or a serviced apartment in Central London. Either option would mean that you are in striking distance of the venue and means you will also be able to use your London accommodation as a base to explore everything else that London has to offer it’s tourist, and there are many varied things that you can do and see during your London city breat. Go to www.servicedcitypads.com and book your London serviced apartment.

Grand Designs Live Birmingham 2010, is back and set to bring three days of amazing features and inspiration for your home this October.

Returning for the 5th consecutive year to the Birmingham NEC, the award-winning Grand Designs Live Birmingham is back, showcasing inspirational design, self build, interiors and cutting-edge homewares from the 8th – 10th October 2010. Stay in a Birmingham Serviced Apartment through Serviced City Pads.
Based on the popular Channel 4 TV series presented by Kevin McCloud, Grand Designs Live brings to life real home improvement projects, cutting edge design, eco-friendly innovation, and interior design, through a series of live interactive features, across a three day event. Serviced City Pads.

This year’s Birmingham show will be spread over six different sections to include: The Grand Village, Grand Build, Grand Interiors, Grand Kitchens sponsored by Miele, Grand Bathrooms and Grand Gardens. With over 500 of the UK’s biggest and best brands exhibiting their latest product ranges across the event, as well as expert advice on everything from planning, designing and building your own home to adding those finishing touches from our Grand Designs Expert Advice centre sponsored by Velux, visitors will be able to buy, build and finish the house, all under one roof.

Grand Village – Visit’s this years spectacular Grand Village hosting a range of full scale sustainable homes and some of the most dynanmic and cutting-edge architectural design and buildings of the future.Serviced City Pads.

Grand Build – The dedicatd Grand Build sections offers products, advice and services, with everything you need to know about the build and home improvement process from planningright through to constructions and fittings, as well as advice on green building technologies.

Grand Interiors – This years Grand Interiors section has the widest range of interior design and style advice than ever, as well as the unique opportunity to shop at the Design Arcade where visitors will see a wide range of leading product designers showcasing some fabulous home wares to add a touch of personality to your home.

Grand Kitchens – A showcase of the latest sleekest in kitchen design for all sizes large and small, Grand Kitchens offers the largest variety of bespoke and designers kitchens available. Alongside sits the widest range of luxurious room sets in Grand Bathrooms, offering more variety and styles than any other home show. Come and discuss your plans with one of our experts and they’ll show some inspiring ideas.

Grand Gardens – Surronded by a range of outdoor manufacturers, the latest showcase in garden design, innovation, planting, furniture and accessories for outdoor living. With everything for an urban rooftop to a tranquil green garden, this year’s Gardens has it all.Serviced City Pads supply serviced apartments.

Kevin’s Green Heroes – In addition, Birmingham will host the brand new Green Initiative, Kevin’s Green Heroes’, a selection of some of the greatest eco products on the market to help aid in your green home improvements, which launched in London earlier thisn year. Short stay apartments in Birmingham through Serviced City Pads.

Deathtrap

Simon Russell Beale and Jonathan Groff star in the fast-paced thriller Deathtrap at London’s Noel Coward Theatre.

Deathtrap follows the life of Clifford Anderson, a young writer who meets Sidney Bruhl, a best selling author. Bruhl is impressed when his new protege shows him the manuscript of a new thriller called Deathtrap. In a moment of desperation, the established writer confesses to his wife that he’s going to claim the work as his own. The plot thickens when Bruhl kills his young friend – but there are more twists in store in this tantalising thriller. Short stay apartments through Serviced City Pads.

Ira Levin’s Deathtrap comes to London’s West End for the first time since its original production at the Garrick Theatre in 1978. After a sucessful run in the West End, the play was turned into a film starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve. Stay in London and book through Serviced City Pads.The Cast of Deathtrap

Simon Russell Beale plays Sidney Bruhl, Beale won the Lawrence Olivier Awared for Best Actor for his role in Uncle Vanya and also for Best Actor for his 2000 performance in Candide. He was appointed a CBE in 2003.

Estelle Parsons plays local Pyshic Helga ten Dorp. Parsons won Best Actress for her performance in August: Osage County on Broadway.

On screen, Parsons won an Oscar for her role as Blanche in Bonnie and Clyde and she is also known for her role as the mother in American sit-com Rosanne.

Design for Living

Noel Coward’s wickedly witty dark romantic, Design for Living, comes to the Old Vic this autumn.

Design for Living plays out in both Bohemian Paris ans the dizzy heights of 1930s Manhattan. Atricky love triangle between vivacious interior designer Gilda, playwright Leo, and artist Otto – three egotistical characters unashamedly and apssionately in love with each other – is unravelling. Noel Cowards 1932 play desing for living was initially banned in the UK until 1939 because its risque subject matter was thought unacceptable to the official censor. This provocative play now returns to London for the first time in 15 years.

Old Vic associate Anthony Page directs this new production of Design for Living. Tom Burke, Lisa Dillon and Andrew Scott star as the self-absorbed threesome at rh centre of the play. A London stage regular, Lisa Dillon’s credits include When the Rain Stops Falling, Under the Blue Sky. The Hour we Knew Nothing of each other and Noel Cowards Present Laughter. London stays through Serviced City Pads.
Anthony Page on Design for Living says. ‘I love this play for the miraculous lightness of the dialogue which contains a huge range of passions. The central relationship – the involvement of two bisexuals and a girl – is no longer shocking as it was in the 30’s, when it had tio be presented in a somewhat coded fashion for the play to be perfomed. Serviced City Pads supply serviced apartment accommodation in London

The Manchester Weekender takes place over 48 hours at the start of October 2010 and is a series of events in Manchester that wraps up the best of what the city has to offer in terms of culture. Of course, local neighbour Liverpool made such a success as the European Capital of Culture in 2008, but Manchester is approaching events such as this in a slightly different manner. Visit Manchester in the autumn and you are sure to have a great time. OK, the weather is never great in Manchester, but at least you won’t be expecting the sun to be cracking the flags in October, and if it is, then what a bonus!

The Manchester weekender features street dance, boat parties, interactive art displays, film screenings at Midnight and performace art to name just a few of the things that will be taking place across the city. One of the key highlights being Jonathan Franzen reading from his latest novel at the Whitworth Gallery.

If you are an art lover and are considering a UK city break booked with Serviced City Pads, have you thought of a stay in Manchester? This is a city that has undergone a renaissance over the last 20 years and is a terrific city to take a short holiday in the UK. Perhaps a less obvious place to visit than Edinburgh, London or Liverpool, but a city that is rich in industrial heritage and a thriving cultural landscape. A short stay in Manchester would be a great thing to do with your family. If you do decide that you are going to visit Manchester, then you should also put some thought into which type of accommodation you are going to stay in. There are a large number of hotels in Manchester, with all of the big brands such as Hilton, Novotel and Crowne Plaza having hotels in Manchester. There is also the Lowry hotel which is probably the most luxurious hotel in Manchester. Serviced Apartments are becoming seen as a great alternative to staying in a hotel across the UK, and this is no different in Manchester, which has a thriving serviced apartment industry – great news for a family visiting the city – with a number of different providers including Blue Rainbow serviced apartments, STAY Manchester serviced apartments, Bachers of Manchester and City Stop Apart-hotel. There is a great choice, and perhaps a spacious apartment could be just the thing for your family to relax after a day taking in all of the culture on offer at the Manchester weekender.

Serviced City Pads is an accommodation booking company based in the North West of England with a strong local knowledge of Manchester. You can book hotels in Manchester with Serviced City Pads as well as Manchester serviced apartments. We have a wide range of accommodation options to suit families and individuals who wish to stay in Manchester, whether that trip is for business or pleasure.