Bits of Essex: October 2012

Friday 26 October 2012

Making the most of your time at Essex- UK Travel

The United Kingdom is such a diverse country with a lot of great places to visit. If you want to travel around the UK during your time here but aren't sure where to go, read on!

London

v London really is an amazing city, and how lucky you are to be able to visit it so easily during your time at Essex! From Colchester North station, it takes just 50 minutes to London Liverpool Street, so you can spend a whole day in the capital without having to leave ridiculously early to get there and back. I'm sure you're familiar with the main London attractions and already have an idea of what you want to see, but there is more to see than just the tourist attractions. Don't be scared to roam the streets and discover parts that you would never get to see by sitting on the tube or taking the bus everywhere (you'll never end up too far away from a tube station anyway!). There are plenty of parks to stroll through, or equally you can rent a 'Boris Bike' for the day; you can hand-feed squirrels (St James Park), see herds of deer (Richmond Park) and go rowing on the lake (Hyde Park). Whichever part of London you're in there is so much to do and see there are so many different cultures and so much history that you will quickly realise just how amazing London really is.

London City Guide: http://www.visitlondon.com/

United Kingdom

Wherever you go in the UK, it's never the same. It's really difficult to pinpoint specific towns and cities that are worth a visit as there are so many! Different regions offer different experiences, so here is a quick regional guide to help you decide where else you might be interested in visiting and links that will give you more information on the main cities and attractions in those regions.

v Scotland: Scotland is home to the Loch Ness Monster, Haggis and bagpipes, so if you're at a loose end during the holidays you might want to consider a trip up north. Cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow have a lot to offer, and you can also visit the beautiful highlands that Scotland is renowned for. Just make sure you prepare for cold and wet weather!

http://www.visitscotland.com/

v North-West England: In the North-West of England you will find Manchester and Liverpool (home of The Beatles), two very important cities in England. Blackpool, famous for its pleasure beach and illuminations, is also in this region, as well the Lake District in Cumbria, England’s second largest county, which has 15 lakes and England’s highest mountains. If you want to experience Northern hospitality, this is the region to visit.

http://www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com/

v Yorkshire and The Humber: In the east of England you will find miles and miles of picturesque English countryside, with dales and foothills covered in heather. This is the place to go to if you like long walks and beautiful landscapes.

http://www.yorkshire.com/

v East of England: There's a lot of great heritage in this area of the UK, so dedicate a day at a time to specific towns in this region, as it's so close that you don't have to plan any trips too far in advance. Essex is already in the East of England, so cross over the border into Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, counties home to Ipswich, Cambridge and Norwich respectively. The East of England offers great coastlines, pebble beach’s, quaint English villages, it’s also home to the Queen (who lives in Sandringham Palace) and there's also a great Christmas Market every year in Norwich. When you haven't got much planned on the weekend and don't fancy another trip into London, this is an ideal region to visit.

http://www.visiteastofengland.com/

v Wales: Wales has more to offer than just rugby, sheep and leeks. You might see and hear a funny sounding language if you visit Wales, as they still speak the Celtic language Cymraeg (Welsh), as well as English. There are over 600 castles which are perfect for indulging in some history, Snowdonia National Park, which is 3,650ft at its highest point, and a rather strange event called Bog Snorkelling... The capital city, Cardiff, is also a great place to visit. A city where old meets new, once you’ve explored the city centre you can walk along the waterfront of the bustling Cardiff Bay.

http://www.visitwales.co.uk/

v Southwest of England: If you have a list of things to do before you leave the UK, you'll be able to tick off many if you visit the Southwest. In the northern area you will find the Cotswolds, an area known for its beauty and typically English sleepy villages. Head down south a bit and you will get to Bath, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site world-famous for its Roman baths, Thermae Bath Spa and for being the home of Jane Austin. As you go further into the Southwest you will reach the prehistoric monument Stonehenge, which is very mysterious and worth a visit. In an area called the West Country, you will find the counties of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, where you will discover a slightly different identity and culture, especially in Cornwall, than other parts of the UK. Embrace it, as you will be able to try traditional cider, delicious clotted cream tea with scones and walk through villages where people live in cottages with thatched roofs. If you like surfing, Newquay (Cornwall) is the perfect place to go, so long as you don't mind the cold Atlantic Ocean!

http://www.visitsouthwest.co.uk/

There's a lot of information to get through, but use it as a rough guide when you're not sure what to do next or where else to visit. If you have any questions about absolutely anything, even where to get a nice coffee, don't hesitate to ask! Take advantage of your spare time, if there's something you want to do, do it. Before you know it, the year will be over and it will be time to go back home, so make sure you leave with no regrets!

Enjoy yourselves,

Amy

Making the most of your time at Essex

Fresher’s week fun and games are over, you've finally recovered from the dreaded ‘fresher’s flu’ and lectures have started; so what is there to do when you need an escape from the books? Make the most of your time at university by getting involved in different activities on Campus, explore Essex and get out and about in other parts of the UK too!

On-campus

· Students’ Union: Essex has one of the best students’ unions in the country, so take advantage of the many societies, sports clubs and venues on campus. There are great nights out every day of the week and soon there will also be special activities and cultural events aimed at international students, so if you ever start to feel a bit homesick, there will always be something going on to cheer you up. Keep updated with the SU website, and don’t forget to become a follower on Facebook and Twitter.

Website: http://www.essexstudent.com/activities/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/essexunistudentsunion

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EssexSU

· Jobs: If you're after a job whilst you study, there are plenty available on campus. The students’ union employs over 350 students with many different jobs in retail, catering, bar work and entertainment. Keep an eye out for vacancies here: http://www.essexstudent.com/services/jobs/studentjobs/

The University of Essex also runs a paid placement scheme called Frontrunners, where students can do more challenging jobs around campus in different departments and offices, giving you a taste of the real working world as well as boosting your CV. Frontrunners recruit throughout the year so make sure you get your application in on time by checking when the scheme opens: http://www.essex.ac.uk/frontrunners/

· Colchester Campus: Escape from the hustle and bustle of the squares and admire the natural beauty that surrounds the campus by having a wander round the lake and taking a stroll up to the charming Wivenhoe House. Look out for the cute rabbits and ducks along the way!

It can be easy to miss, but we do actually have a theatre on campus! Societies and clubs use it throughout the year to showcase their talents, so when you want to do something a little more civilised (and without worrying that you're in for a boring evening) take a look at what's on here: http://www.lakesidetheatre.org.uk/

· Southend Campus: If you’re based at the Southend Campus, you’ll be living in ‘London’s playground’, so no doubt you’ll have a great time here. Unlike the Colchester campus, the Southend campus is based in the centre of town which means you can easily walk to the High Street, and can also enjoy 7 miles of coastline! If you like water sports then Southend is the perfect place to go to, so long as you can bear the icy Atlantic waters. And just because you’re at University now, it doesn’t make you too old to spend a day at Southend’s theme park Adventure Island!

If you live at the Southend Campus, you’re no more than an hour away from London, and if you’d like to visit Colchester and see our main campus too, it’s about 1 hour 40 minutes by train.

Southend Tourism: http://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/

· East 15 Acting School, Loughton: If you go to the East 15 Acting School, you can take the tube into London in just 30 minutes, so you’ll probably make quite a few trips into the Capital. The campus is also based right next to Epping Forest, where you can go cycling, horse riding or participate in events that are held there regularly. Epping Forest is London’s largest open space, which is perfect for when you want some peace and quiet and feel like escaping the city. There are lots of interesting areas that surround Loughton so have a look on the Essex tourism website for other areas nearby you might like to visit.

Discover Essex: http://www.visitessex.com/discover/

Don’t forget, even if you’re not based at our main Colchester campus, the university still offers the same support and fun activities at our Loughton and Southend campuses too, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything!

Colchester and Essex

· Colchester is renowned for having a zoo and being Britain's oldest recorded town, so when you feel the need to go back into normal civilisation (a civilisation that actually consists of families of all sorts, not just students) go and visit Colchester Castle in the lovely Castle Park or even feed an elephant at the zoo (an interesting experience!). There are plenty of shops scattered along the cobbled streets in which you can spend all your hard-earned money in. Whilst you wander around town, you can admire the English architecture of some of the old buildings too. There are also many special events that take place during the year that are worth going to, for example, Castle Park puts on a firework display in November to celebrate Bonfire Night. Go on the Colchester Tourist website to find out about other local attractions and special events.

Visit Colchester: http://www.visitcolchester.com/default.aspx

· Essex is a great county to live in, as not only are you near to London, but you're also surrounded by beautiful countryside and the coast is only a short train ride away. Okay, so the English weather might make it impossible to spend a day sunbathing on the beach, but it's still worth visiting the coastal towns such as Southend-on-Sea or Mersea Island for some proper Fish and Chips or some fresh seafood, or just for the experience of spending a day at the seaside. The more rural areas boast lovely villages as well as huge stately homes, so you can see what life is like outside of the London bubble. It's definitely worth checking out what is right on your doorstep whilst you're here.

Visit Essex: http://www.visitessex.com/

Have a look at our other post too if you want some ideas on what to do in London and where to visit in the UK!

Amy