Three tourist locations to flee the British winter…
You’re handcuffed to your desk, staring out at the grey winter outside your office window. This is no way to spend the festive season. At least when it was summertime you could watch the green grass and the glistening against the car windshields outside. Now you feel lucky if you see someone vaguely smiling as they trudge through the rain.
It’s time to get away, to jet off to uncharted lands and find gleaming, untouched beaches. You don’t want to be trapped in the British rain. You want cobbled alleys in mysterious towns, lurching palm trees on sun-kissed sands, and the finest cuisine from exotic cities.
And we’re right there with you. In association with meet and greet parking at Stansted, we’ve packed in the nine-to-five, headed to the airport and hitched a flight to a few random locations. Here are a few of the wonders we’ve found.
Madrid
Spain’s central capital, Madrid is awash with fine dining, art galleries and high-class fashion. When you enter the centre of this bustling city, you’ll first want to wander through it and marvel at the intricacy of its architecture.
Once you’ve breathed in the city, head to the Museo Nacional del Prado for the lowdown on its history. This national museum is brimming with artworks from the greats, as well as providing a primer for anyone unaware of Spain’s rich and fascinating cultural history.
And if you want to marvel at one of the wonders of Madrid’s architecture, visit the Royal Palace of Madrid. There you’ll discover the past and future or Spain’s monarchy, and witness astounding statues and beautiful buildings.
If you’re not booking a flight to Madrid right now, you’re a fool.
Los Angeles
The City of Angels and Dream Factories, where people the world over come to fulfil their ambitions of global stardom. And while the film industry in LA can’t meet everyone’s expectations, it makes it no less fascinating a city to visit.
Amidst the glistening sun you can walk along the infamous Walk of Fame and spot the imprints of your favourite stars. Once you’re done, travel to the top of Griffith Observatory and watch the LA lights twinkle in an orange neon glow in the night time. It’s an undeniably unique location.
And where better to travel than the NoHo Arts District in North Hollywood? While the Walk of Fame lets you see the stars of old, this district is where contemporary artists and performers come to shine.
You might not instantly associate Los Angeles with highbrow art, but a quick jaunt through NoHo – with its recording studios, galleries, fine dining and more than 20 theatres – will give you all the cultural nourishment you need (although we might be a bit biased on that front).
New York
The Big Apple (although don’t be fooled – New York doesn’t actually contain any oversized fruit) has been a prime tourist location for years. Those grubby sidewalks and towering, steel skyscrapers have an indelible impact on our consciousness thanks to TV shows like Friends and Seinfeld.
Beneath its televisual image is an artistic hub teeming with artists, galleries, fine meals and finer shopping locations. While the brevity of this article means we can’t delve too deeply into New York’s grimy beauty, rest assured – this is a tourist hotspot for a reason.
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo.