http://www.micbinks.co.ukEssential UK tourism and leisure news, travel information and current tourist related media programming.en-gbmicbinks 2008website@micbinks.co.uk (mike)website@micbinks.co.uk (mike)Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:02:29 GMTUK TouristLeisure AttractionsHoliday ImagesMicbinks site logohttp://www.micbinks.co.uk/images/micbinkslogo.gifhttp://www.micbinks.co.ukFeedSpring - http://feedspring.com/Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:41:56 GMThttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rsshttp://www.tourismtrade.org.uk/MarketIntelligenceResearch/default.aspLast year it was the atrocious summer weather and devastating floods, this year UK tourism has been badly affected by the credit crunch coupled with rising mortgage and energy (especially vehicle fuel) costs. The latest indications are that British people are seriously cutting back on holidays and leisure activities, Americans are staying away due to the poor Dollar to Pound exchange rate and Europeans because of increasing airline fuel surcharges. As a result, this year many accommodation providers have once again been left with unlet rooms and tourist attractions have been operating at nowhere near capacity. The UK tourism industry is pining its hopes on last minute bookings during the forthcoming school summer holidays - with the upside for tourists being that large discounts are available on accommodation and attraction entry. There is concern that, with two consecutive years of losses plus losses in 2001 (due to foot-and-mouth) and 2005 (London bombings), many tourism providers will go to the wall or simply pull out of tourism altogether.Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:41:43 GMThttp://www.tvguideuk.co.ukYou may be wondering why we haven't been updating our pick of UK tourism on TV blog recently. Well, that's simply because there hasn't been many programs to pick from across the networks. As a general guide it's worth keeping an eye on BBC2/3/4, ITV2/3/4 and Channel 4 as well as More 4, UKTV History, UKTV Documentary and the Discovery and History Channels. Several past series' are often repeated, including: Coast, A History of Britain, The Rough Guide series, Britain's Greatest Buildings, Wainwright Walks, My Favourite Place and Fred Dibnah's Made In Britain / World of Steam / Industrial Age. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:09:05 GMThttp://www.tvguideuk.co.ukOur pick of the week includes: Mon 19, Fri 23 - BBC2, 19.00 - Wainwright Walks, guides to the Lake District &.climbing Scafell Pike. Wed 21 - BBC2, 19.00 - Mountain, peaks of central Scotland. Thurs 22, History Channel, 20.00 - My Favourite Place, Hadrian's Wall. Click this item for more TV listings...Mon, 19 May 2008 11:07:40 GMThttp://www.visitlondon.comCurrently running (until March 09) at The Imperial War Museum is: For Your Eyes Only - Ian Fleming and James Bond. It's all about the life of Ian Fleming and how he created James Bond's character. See www.iwm.org.uk/007 for more. And running until the end of August 08 at the Bubble Exhibition space in the O2 arena at Greenwich is: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, see www.kingtut.org. We've visited both in recent months, unfortunately neither permit photography so they'll be no galleries on our website.Wed, 14 May 2008 13:22:02 GMThttp://www.tvguideuk.co.ukOur pick of the week includes: Mon 21, Tues 22 - BBC2, 20.30 - The Hairy Bikers Come Home, Lancashire to Cumbria & Blackpool Tower, Bury & Barrow. Mon 21 - Ch4, 21.00 - The Lost Dock of Liverpool. Wed 23, BBC4, 20.00 - A History of Britain. Thurs 24 - BBC4, 19.30 - In Search of Medieval Britain, Pilgrim trail from the east coast to London. It's also worth keeping am eye on both UKTV History and UKTV Documentary as they oftern show repeats of Fred Dibnah and programming covering other regional areas. Click this item for more TV listings...Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:54:45 GMThttp://www.tvguideuk.co.ukOur pick of the week includes: Sun 13 - UKTV Documentary, various times - Coast. Weekdays - UKTV Documentary, various times - Fred Dibnah's World of Steam / Made in Britain / Industrial Age. Weekdays - UKTV History, various times - Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain. Thu 17 - BBC4, 19.30 - In Search of Medieval Britain, Gloucester into Wales. Thu 17 - BBC2, 20.00 - Coast, Cape Wrath to Wick & Orkney. Click this item for more TV listings...Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:54:15 GMThttp://www.tvguideuk.co.ukOn UKTV History look out for 'A Picture Of Britain' running at various times during the early part of the week, while later in the week 'Fred Dibhah's Made In Britain' is always worth a look. Also: Mon 7 - Thu 10 - History Channel, 19.00 - How London Was Built. Thu 10 - BBC2, 20.00 - Coast, Solway Firth to Skye. Click this item for more TV listings...Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:17:00 GMThttp://www.tvguideuk.co.ukThis week there's two series' of interest running at various times on UKTV History. Britain's Greatest Buildings visits Tower Bridge, Durham Cathedral, Regency Circus in Bath and the Forth Rail Bridge. Britain's Best looks for Northern England's greatest historical sites. Also: Wed 2 - BBC2, 19.00 - Coast, defining moments from previous series. Thu 3 - FIVE, 19.30 - Rough Guide To Activity Holidays. Click this item for more TV listings...Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:42:12 GMThttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7306163.stmDespite Easter falling early this year, poor weather forecast and schools Easter break not until April, the UK's roads are expected to see 'severe traffic problems' in part due to major roadworks taking place. Hotspots include the M5 south of Bristol, M4 between London and Bristol and M1 Nottingham to Chesterfield. The heaviest traffic is expected on routes to major attractions and coastal towns. There's no escape if you try to 'go green' on the trains either, with closures on the West Coast, East Coast and South West main lines. Doh!Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:03:07 GMThttp://www.doctorwhoexhibition.com/earls.htmlDoctor Who Up Close opens at Easter at the Museum Halls, beneath the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. It's the largest ever UK Doctor Who display. Monsters, creatures, props and costumes from recent episodes of the BBC show will be on display including the TARDIS, K9, Daleks, Cybermen and many of the Doctor's other enemies! A timed entry system will be operated and tickets are priced from £9, but be warned, a £0.75 'Booking Fee' and £1.50 'Transaction Fee' is added! Maybe we should start blogging about this unacceptable practice?Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:28:43 GMThttp://www.tvguideuk.co.ukOur pick this week includes: Mon 17 - BBC2, 19.00 - Wainwright Walks, Lake Dist, Haystacks Fell. Fri 21 - BBC2, 19.30 Wainwright Walks, Lake Dist, Sharp Edge & Blencathra. Click this item for more TV listings...Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:05:04 GMThttp://www.svr.co.ukFollowing last year's catastrophic June floods that severely disabled this major tourist attraction in the west Midlands, SVR have now announced a full re-opening on Good Friday, March 21st 2008. Some £3.5 million had been raised to restore the attraction to full operation, with major work needed to repair the track bed along much of its length from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth which was undermined by the floods. The new Engine House, visitor and education centre at Highley will also open on Friday March 21st. Click this item for more on the SVR... Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:07:14 GMThttp://www.tvguideuk.co.ukOur pick of the week includes: Weekdays - Five, 14.50 - Rough Guide, highlights. Mon 10 - UKTV History, 23.59 - Fred Dibnah's Made In Britain, Lake District industrial heritage. Tues 11 - BBC2, 19.30 - Wainwright Walks, Lake Dist. Thurs 13 - UKTV History, 23.59 - Fred Dibnah's Made In Britain, Severn Valley Railway. Fri 14 - UKTV History, 23.59 - Fred Dibnah's Made In Britain, Snowdonia. Click this item for more TV listings... Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:21:27 GMThttp://www.britishtourismweek.comIntended to raise national and international awareness of the size, value and importance of Britain's £85 billion visitor economy, the 2nd annual British Tourism Week (BTW) takes place from 10-18 March. The 2007 event featured over 50 events across the country and this year's event will highlight contributions made to UK tourism by businesses of all sizes and public and commercial bodies. It's organised by VisitBritain and UKinbound with support from national and regional tourist boards. Click this item for more... Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:53:53 GMThttp://www.britishtraveltradefair.comThe NEC Birmingham hosts the 26th UK dedicated travel trade exhibition on 11th and 12th March. Taking place in hall 17, it will showcase UK and Ireland travel and tourism products and services. The event is expected to have over 300 exhibitors attracting some 2500 UK and overseas visitors. It's intended to offer face-to-face business opportunities and information gathering and is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions on behalf of VisitBritain, including VisitScotland, Visit Wales and Tourism Ireland. Click this item for more...Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:17:25 GMThttp://www.micbinks.co.uk/uk-tourist-rss-feed.htmThis is a proposed future facility on micbinks expected to be launched prior to the start of the 2008 UK tourist season. [20-08-07]Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:08:31 GMT