The summer is a great time to make family trips but, you may find that ideas for appropriate places to visit are few and far between. If this is your predicament, why not visit Cadbury World in Birmingham? Kids and grown-ups alike will revel in the magical trip around the fascinating world of the well-known confectionary makers. An air of mystery looms in this extraordinary feature of Britain’s second biggest city, resonant of the feelings you might associate with Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Whilst Cadbury World does not offer the chance to see live oompa loompas, the 14 different zones of this tour of the confectionary world will captivate all those who venture into this hub of wonderment.
The different zones that make up the tour take you through the history of the confectionary business and show you how chocolate is made. All interesting stuff for those with a sweet tooth! If you decide to take The Factory Tour you may even be lucky enough to sample fresh liquid Cadbury’s chocolate! This tour ends with the opportunity to see the world’s largest liquid chocolate waterfall, something that will leave your mouth watering for weeks. A quick warning to all serious choco-holics: no, you will not be allowed to dive in!
Cadbury World is one of Birmingham’s greatest attractions and is not something you should miss out on if you love chocolate. If you decide to take the trip, why not book one of our Birmingham holiday apartments where you can relax with great facilities at your fingertips for competitive prices! Visit Serviced City Pads’ website to see what options are available to you through our Birmingham aparthotels. For more information, you can send us an enquiry through the website, or call our reservations team on 0844 335 8866.

The Annual Labour Party Conference takes place every Autumn. This is a large scale political conference, which is one of the biggest in Europe. The Conference is an arena for debate which helps to influence the Labour Party’s policies for its vision of a future Britain. The Labour Party Conference includes opportunities and interests for a wide range of people.
Advertising and promotional opportunities often serve as a big pull for those who wish to use the Conference as a footing to get their message across to large, politically interested audiences. Advertising opportunities are presented by use of the Conference Magazine, the Conference Newspaper, the Conference Website and much more.
The fringe is also a great opportunity to experience the host of events that are organised by individual groups. Attendees will have the chance to soak up the seminars, training sessions, debates and workshops that are presented by various organisations. If you are a member of an organisation who would benefit from hosting such an event, the opportunity is at your fingertips! This is often the most popular way for organisations to get their point across to a wide audience. It will be important for you to book early in order for your organisation to obtain a place at the fringe.
This year, the Labour Party Conference will take place in Manchester at Manchester Central. The Conference will run from 30th September until 4th October. This will be an excellent opportunity to gain something from the wide range of experiences available as well as networking and sharing ideas.
Over 11,000 people will be expected to attend the Conference, so booking somewhere to stay in advance is essential. Here at Serviced City Pads we have Manchester serviced apartments across the city in prime locations like Piccadilly, the Northern Quarter, Deansgate and more. Although hotels are often recommended on sites that advertise the Labour Party Conference, there are also serviced apartments available. Why not book with one of our Manchester apartment hotels? With great facilities, that you can enjoy in private, and even better value, this is a bargain you really shouldn’t miss out on!

With the summer nearly here, are you thinking of attending a music festival, but looking for something a bit different? Africa Oyé is the UK’s largest music festival to celebrate live African music. African and Caribbean music artists feature in this vibrant music festival which also celebrates these cultures.
Africa Oyé is a registered charity and therefore the event is partly funded by Liverpool City Council as well as other sponsors. Admission to the festival is free of charge. There are around eighty stalls at the event where you can buy souvenirs, food and clothing. This is an excellent way to celebrate African culture as well as experiencing live music from well established artists of an African genre. The atmosphere at Africa Oyé is always fun and energetic, meaning that you can get into the spirit of the summer and have a really good time!
The Health, Learning and Participation zone at the festival is a fairly new addition to the event which adds a health inspired aspect to Africa Oyé. Here the festival puts on events that anyone can get involved in. Activities include African massages, African and Caribbean dance workshops and guitar workshops. This provides a participatory aspect to the festival that both children and adults will love! What better way to start summer 2012 than taking part in a dance workshop? This aspect to the festival really helps attendees get into the Africa Oyé vibe.
If you’re considering making a trip to Liverpool to celebrate African and Caribbean culture and music at Africa Oyé, you’ll be in need of accommodation. After all that dancing you’ll be tired, and in need of a quiet place where you can sleep in peace. Why not book one of our Liverpool holiday apartments which can provide more comfort and space than the typical hotel room? Visit the Liverpool city page on the Serviced City Pads website to see the range of apartments available across the city. If you would like to find out more about Liverpool apartment hotels and what is available for your visit, then you can send us an enquiry through the website or call our reservations team on 0844 335 8866 and we will be happy to help.

When you think about London many things spring to mind. The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The Millennium Stadium, The Gherkin and Buckingham Palace are just some of London’s famous monuments. When you venture into the capital city for a day of cultural visiting, do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time to see it all? The city is jam-packed full of tourists, day in, day out, and so it can be difficult to get around everything you really want to see. But, do not fear! EDF Energy’s London Eye is an innovative way to see London from a bird’s eye view.
You can spy the London skyline from the wheel and view all the iconic buildings of the British capital city. The wheel moves slowly, so you need not worry about a fear of rides. It takes around half an hour to make a full loop of the eye, leaving you with plenty of time to take in the captivating views from up above.
From April-June the London Eye is open from 10am-9pm, so you have enough time to make a trip down to the wheel to fit in with any other plans you might have. There are private pods ready for hire, so if you’re visiting London for a special event, it’s possible to have a private party whilst looking out over London.
If you’re going to make a sightseeing tour of London, the London Eye is a must-do which will make the sights of London that much more spectacular!
After your day in London’s busy centre, you’ll want somewhere to relax so you’re raring to go for another fabulous day in Britain’s capital. Booking a London holiday apartment is a great idea; excellent facilities, comfortable beds and privacy are all reasons to give it a try. The typical serviced apartment has a living and dining area, as well as a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. You can see the variety of London serviced apartments available through Serviced City Pads by visiting our website. If you are interested in finding a serviced apartment for your trip to London, then contact us either by enquiring through the website or by calling our reservations team on 0844 335 8866.

You can’t avoid hearing about Manchester’s host of entertainment venues, big football games and swanky shopping facilities. But what sometimes gets missed is the cultural days you can enjoy as a family where you might learn something you never knew…you never knew. This thriving Northern city is a hub of culture and accommodates the needs of families on day trips with its multitude of museums.
Oxford Road is the home to Manchester Museum which cites itself as family friendly. With four floors and fifteen galleries, the kids won’t be able to move for things to do and not even dad will get bored! There are many live animal displays where children can get a feel for nature, even in a big city. The Egyptology displays may interest those who are fascinated by Ancient Egyptian stories of mummies, hieroglyphics and pyramid building. This is a highly recommended day out for all the family.
If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, perhaps you’ll be more interested in the Manchester United Museum and Tour Centre. Whilst those of us who don’t have the foggiest about football might shudder at the thought, the museum is sure to give the footy fans an interesting day of fun facts. You can follow the clubs history through the museum’s displays and even get the chance to have a glimpse at the incredible trophies the team have won over the years. However, if you’re really not into football, rest assured there is an excellent refreshment area where you can recuperate and think of other things.
If you fancy having a great family weekend at one of Manchester’s museums, why not book a Manchester holiday apartment to stay in? It’ll be somewhere relaxing for the whole family to enjoy and rest. You can see the range of Manchester serviced apartments on the Serviced City Pads website. If you would like to find out what options are available for your visit, you can send us your enquiry through the site, or you can call our reservations team on 0844 335 8866.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the most famous and largest arts festivals in the world. Last year’s Fringe had over 2,500 shows from 60 nations which took place in 258 venues. It’s undoubtedly one of the best things to either be part of, or visit, during the summer. Theatre and comedy are the main focus of the festival, with appearances from well-known dramatic groups and comedians as well as amateurs waiting for their big break. The arts of music and dance are also represented in the festival.
If you take the opportunity to visit the Edinburgh Fringe you will see the very best of the arts as well as alternative acts that break away from the mainstream with weird and wacky takes on theatre, comedy, music and dance. There’s always chance to see classical theatrical adaptations of William Shakespeare, but modern theatre plays a big part in the festival. Therefore, no matter what your tastes in the arts may be, you will always be satisfied.
This year, the festival will run from 3rd-27th August. This gives you the chance to check out which acts you’d really like to see, and make sure that your trip to Edinburgh will coincide with your work or university commitments.
Well known comedians Alan Davies and Rhod Gilbert are just two names among the array of outstanding line up for summer 2012. Jason Byrne from BBC Radio 2 is tipped to an act not to miss- with his new show, the clown of comedy is sure to have your sides splitting for an evening.
There is so much to see, and such a great atmosphere to take in at the Edinburgh Fringe that it’s well worth staying in the Scottish capital for at least a few days in August. If this arts festival sounds like your bag, why not have a proper Scottish get-away and stay in one of our Edinburgh serviced apartments? With great facilities and the benefit of complete privacy, you’d be bonkers not to book early to ensure you and your other Fringe-goers can sleep in comfort. To take a look at a range of Edinburgh apartment hotels, just visit the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website.

The utterly outstanding musical The Lion King is still wowing audiences after 13 years at the Lyceum Theatre in London. This stunning theatrical adaptation of the Disney film does nothing but bring The Lion King closer to your heart.
The end results of the tireless efforts of The Lion King’s special effects team are simply spectacular. The stage sets the African Plains perfectly to give the feeling that the audience is really getting a glimpse into the Serengeti Plains of Africa. Costume design has reached new levels of excellence in The Lion King, headdresses, body paint and vibrant colours are used to bring the African scene really to life.
The songs written by Elton John for the 1994 Disney film are performed in the musical to great effect. You will catch such classics as The Circle of Life and Hakuna Matata which will bring back childhood memories for adults and make the magic begin for children. Even if you usually hate musicals, The Lion King’s heartfelt musical performances will leave you with your feet tapping and your head bopping.
In case you missed the 1994 feature film, the story of The Lion King focuses on Simba, the heir to the throne of Pride Rock. His Uncle Scar sets out to ruin Simba and his father and make himself King of Pride Rock. After the death of his father Mufasa, Simba runs away from Pride Rock. He then meets the lovable Timon and Puumba! This hilarious double act help Simba face his fears and teach him a thing or two along the way.
If The Lion King sounds like your kind of thing, why not get the whole family involved and book a weekend show? If you make the trip to London to see this fabulous production, book a London serviced apartment for everyone to stay in. Having a quiet and private London holiday apartment really pays off if you want a calm and relaxing sleep to finish off a fun yet frantic night. To see the kind of options available, visit the London city page on the Serviced City Pads website.

Manchester Pride will be running its 9th festival this year, celebrating and raising awareness of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Trans-gender communities. The festival cites its main aim as to raise funding for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Trans-gender charities which help the relevant communities in a variety of ways. The festival takes place annually over the August bank holiday weekend and is a great chance for anyone to celebrate the importance of acceptance to sexuality!
There are many ways for people to get involved in the festival. It is possible for groups, charities, political parties and commercial organisations to register to take part in the parade. So if you’re passionate about this worthwhile cause and you think your charity or political group think the same way, why not get involved and make a statement? There will be a theme to the parade, but this is yet to be announced. To give you an idea of what may be expected, the theme for 2011 was “Best of British” which saw a Vintage Tea Party extravaganza and excellent costumes and carnival floats from a variety of organisations who took part. The Lifestyle-Expo is another fantastic way to take part in this cause-worthy festival. The trade-free space dedicated to Lifestyle-Expo is a great opportunity for messages to be put across to the public; organisations set up stalls to give people advice on things like health, legal advice and community groups. If you’re a strong believer in LGBT rights and awareness-raising, you will find this part of the festival beneficial and inspiring. The best entertainment at Manchester Pride will be found at Pride Fringe where artistic and unconventional events are used to give a different take on the communication of anti-discrimination and LGBT related issues. The whole festival is always played out with a great sense of fun, but behind this support is given to the LGBT community. Whether you just want to enjoy the entertainment has to offer, or you really believe in the messages that are being given, Manchester Pride will cater to you!
If you attend Manchester Pride, why not make the August bank holiday one to remember and book one of our Manchester holiday apartments? With all the great facilities our apartments have to offer, you can relax after a busy day at the festival. Booking a Manchester serviced apartment will definitely be a decision you won’t regret!

If you fancy visiting Scotland’s Capital City, but don’t like the idea of manoeuvring your way through the people clad streets of Edinburgh, why not engage with the serenity of the sea and take a boat tour?
Edinburgh Boat Charters offers you the opportunity to see the city in as part of a more peaceful experience. You can take your time to see the picturesque coastline, Edinburgh’s momentous bridges and islands whilst sitting on a luxurious Bavaria Yacht. You can either opt to have a three hour tour of the bridges and islands or go for a full day excursion which allows you to trot as far North as Anstruther in Fife, or even as far South as Eyemouth. This is a really different way to experience the city and will leave you feeling eye opened as well as calm and rested.
You can even get some sailing hands on experience! This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who has ever been interested in boats. However, if you’re not comfortable with the idea of having a go at sailing, you’re more than welcome to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
The boat tour is an excellent way to celebrate a birthday, hen or stag do, or even an anniversary. The Edinburgh Boat Charters’ skipper is cited as a friendly fellow who has many a story to tell about his experiences of sailing. With such a friendly atmosphere and the gentle ripples of the water, your celebration will have a relaxed and tranquil feel.
You may as well continue this restful and soothing experience on into the night by booking a private Edinburgh holiday apartment to stay in. Our Edinburgh serviced apartments have great facilities and will ensure a comfy stay. To find out more just visit the Edinburgh city page on the Serviced City Pads website. You can send us your enquiry through the website, or call our reservations team on 0844 335 8866 to find the perfect serviced apartment for you.

The Teenage Cancer Trust Comedy Night made audiences cackle at its hilarious comedic line up. The night took place on 2nd April at the Royal Albert Hall. Big comedic names like Jimmy Carr, Dave Spikey and Allan Davies are just some of those who graced the stage. The entire night was hosted by the public’s favourite Northern funny man, Jason Manford.
As well as enjoying a spectacular night of laughs, attendees were also part of a charity fundraising event by The Teenage Cancer Trust. This is an extremely worthwhile cause which raises money to make young people with cancer live life to the fullest. A percentage of the profits of ticket sales will go to the charity so it can continue doing the great work it does. The Teenage Cancer Trust sets up specialist units where all care is directed at helping young people to give teenagers the chance to come to terms with their conditions whilst continuing to do everyday things a teenager might enjoy. The outstanding work of The Teenage Cancer Trust is something you can support, whilst also having a big giggle, by attending events like the Comedy Night. What better place to enjoy this fantastic event than London’s historic Royal Albert Hall? The venue can hold up to 5,500 people so sitting amongst that many people having a hoot will have been an experience in itself. If you weren’t able to attend this event this time around, you definitely should next time around.
If you’re going to make a trip to any events like this in London in the future, plan sensibly and book a London serviced apartment today! Here at Serviced City Pads we have a range of London apartment hotels that are a great choice for visitors to the city looking for more space and comfort than the usual hotel room.