Statues Where You Can Sit and Stand Beside Singers, Writers and Your Favourite Historical Heroes And Heroines

Mark Twain, USA.

The  bronze statue of Mark Twain sitting reading on a park bench is at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

Similar outdoor literary statues are at Elmira College in Elmira, New York (where he wrote many books).

The Beatles, Liverpool, England. Bronze Life size statues of long-haired lads John, Paul, George and Ringo walking along the historic waterfront at Pier Head in Liverpool, England, UK.

Do you want light relief, an escape from stress? Or serious reflection? Or some of both?

You can create light-hearted souvenirs of stays abroad with distinctive photos of yourself leaning against, or measuring tall landmark buildings. Or sit with statues. Here's a list of possibilities. 

I shall start with those nearest me in the UK.

UK Seats and Statues

London

1 The Swan, Piccadilly

2 Mr Bean, Leicester Square

3 Stephen Fry

4 The Wild Table of Love, Praed Street, outside Paddington Station

5 Brunel, inside Paddington station

6 Paddington Bear, inside Paddington Station

7 Churchill and Roosevelt

8 Charlie Chaplin

9 Spike Milligan

UK - England

Lowry

UK - Wales

UK Scotland

Paddington visits, Edinburgh

UK Northern Ireland, capital Belfast

C S Lewis Square Statues

Driving south you come to Eire, the Republic of Ireland and capital Dublin

Ireland

Dublin

Brendan Behan, Irish novelist

 A monument to Erasmus is in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Why should I care about whether a statue is bronze or marble? What difference does it make?

Ask Gemini told me:

Statues created in materials other than bronze differ fundamentally in how they are constructed, how they interact with people, and how they endure the elements over time.

Material Varieties and Differences

• Stone and Marble: Carved rather than cast, stone statues have a heavy, monolithic presence. Unlike bronze figures that often invite you to sit closely on a lap or squeeze onto a bench, marble or stone figures (such as classical busts or historical monuments) are typically mounted on high plinths or pedestals, separating them from the viewer to prevent natural skin oils and weathering from eroding the detailed carving.

• Laser-Cut Corten Steel: As seen in public art installations like the Sustrans Portrait Benches, these are flat, two-dimensional metal silhouettes rather than three-dimensional sculptures. They rely on negative space, crisp profiles, and intentional weathering—forming a stable rust-orange patina—to frame views rather than mimicking a realistic, touchable human form.

• Resin and Fiberglass: Frequently used for modern, lighthearted, or temporary public art trails (such as painted animal sculptures or pop-culture characters), these materials are lightweight, inexpensive, and easily molded into vibrant, highly colorful finishes. However, they lack the structural longevity of metal or stone and are prone to chipping or fading under prolonged UV exposure.

• Wrought Iron and Steel Fabrication: Used for structural or stylized figures (like abstract public art or welded wire installations), these pieces offer incredible tensile strength and transparency. Instead of a solid mass, viewers can often see right through the sculpture, blending the artwork into the surrounding landscape rather than dominating it.

Useful Websites On Seated Statues, Leaning on Landmarks

https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/portrait-bench-https://www.photohound.co/spot/cwmafan-portrait-bench-

https://www.bkor.nl/en/beeld/geboortehuis-erasmus/#gallery-2

See my previous posts on seated statues and leaning on landmarks.

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Statue of Beatles' Manager, Brian Epstein, in Liverpool - and hotel where you can stay which was his home

 At last. (since 22nd August 2022) The statue of the Beatles is there in Liverpool and Beatles are still Alive. Epstein has been dead a long time. Since 1967. (1934-67) He didn't write songs. He didn't perform. What did he do?

He managed the Beatles and many other famous Liverpool singers and groups. Gerry and the Pacemakers. Cilla Black.

What did he do for the Beatles? He got them out of their scruffy look into the smart look. He got them their first contract.

In Liverpool you can see the statue of Epstein, the statues of the Beatles, take a walking tour of Liverpool, seeing the Cavern, and Strawberry Fields, immortalized in Lennon's song. And stay in the Epstein House guest house which has 9 en suite bedrooms and lots of memorabilia of the Beatles and Epstein.

Although he was rumoured to have committed suicide, he had taken only six pills, which in combination with alcohol was his undoing.

The hotel, previously a house where Epstein had lived.

More Information from these websites

http://www.epsteinhouse.co.uk/

E-mail: patrick@epsteinhouse.co.uk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Epstein

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2679/brian-epstein

https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/long-awaited-statue-of-brian-epstein-unveiled-in-liverpool/

 

Time Is Everything : Monuments to Nelson, Nelson Museum, National Day, and quiz

Nelson's Column, London, England.

Time is everything. Five minutes makes the difference between victory and defeat. So said Horatio Nelson, who lived from 29 September 1758 until 21 October 1805.

1 Nelson's Column London
Nelson's statue stands in Trafalgar Square, London. Trafalgar Square is named after the Battle of Traflagar off Cape Trafalgar. Nelson won a great victory there agains the combined Spanish and French fleets. However, he lost lis life on board his ship HMS Victory.

2 Nelson's Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland
In addition to admiring the statue of Nelson atop Nelson's column, you can contemplate the momument to Nelson in Edinburgh. It has a time ball which rise and falls at 1 pm for the benefit of shipping.

4 Nelson's Statue and Ship, Birmingham, England
A statue of Nelson and his ship is in Birmingham at The Bull Ring.

4 Nelson is buried in St Paul's Cathedral, London, England.



5 Monmouth Museum
I drove through Monmouth on my way to Wales for many years, always meaning to stop at the Monmouth, Museum,  and finally made it. I was rewarded by fascinating stories about Nelson.
Monmouth museum is also known asThe Nelson Museum and Local History Centre. The museum contains a model of Nelson's ship.



Prince Charles (Prince of Wales) visiting the Nelson museum in Monmouth, Wales.

5 Nelson's Column in Montreal, Canada

6 Nelson's Statue, Bridgtown, Barbados

Trafalgar Day is celebrated on or around October 21st in Nelson, New Zealand, and in Traflgar, Australia.

International celebrations

The victory is celebrated in Nelson, New Zealand (named after Horatio Nelson) usually in Trafalgar Square and sometimes involves pupils from the local Victory Primary School. Many streets in Nelson are named after Trafalgar and crew members of Victory.

The victory is celebrated each year in the Australian town of Trafalgar, Victoria, in which the small town of 2,200 hold an annual Battle of Trafalgar Festival with the Trafalgar Day Ball held on the Friday or Saturday closest to 21 October each year.

Useful Websites

• Nelson Monument, Edinburgh
• Nelson Monument, Liverpool
• Nelson's Monument on Birchen Edge, in England's Peak District
• Nelson's Column, London
• Nelson's Pillar, Dublin
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafalgar_Day
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monmouth_Museum
• 
  

For more information on the UK, see Wikivoyage, Wikitravel, Tripadvisor, Wikipedia.

Nelson Quiz
1 In which city is Nelson's Column?
2 Nelson's column is in which square?
3 Name Nelson's quotation on time.
4 What did Nelson say, in flags, about duty?
5 Where is the monument to Nelson with the time ball?
6 Where is the statue of Nelson with a ship?
7 What is the date of Trafalgar Day? Month? Day?
8 In which place is Nelson's Day celebrated in New Zealand?
9 In which place is Nelson's Day celebrated in Australia.
10 Where is Nelson buried?

Find the answers in the text above or below.

About the author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Answers to Quiz
1 London, England. (Not London, Canada.)
2 Trafalgar Square, London, England.
3 Time is everything. Five minutes makes the difference between victory and defeat.
4 England expects every man to do his duty.
5 Edinburgh, Scotland.
6 Birmingham.
7 October 21st.
8 Nelson.
9 Trafalgar.
10 St Paul's Cathedral.

Tune In To Local Radio When Travelling - Lessons Learned from country songs

Stephen Foster Monument, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Sculptor: Giuseppe Moretti (1857—1935).

When you go to another country or another county on the UK, tune into the local radio station as you drive along that dull motorway. Why?
1 It will keep you awake so you avoid accidents; you can sleep at night.
2 It will be an entertainment on a dull motorway.
3 It will be a social education.
4 You will be up with the local and worldwide news, well-informed, in touch with local people, which endears you to them and helps you develop rapport and sympathy and enjoy their company.
5 You have a subject of conversation when you meet people at the other end.
6 You will be energised.
7 You will be calmed.
8 You will be optimistic.
9 You will not be wasting time driving.
10 You don't have to talk to entertain the passengers and drivers.



UK
 In the UK you can tune your car radio to radio 3 for classic music and 4 for talks. if your car or coach is stuck you can keep everybody amused with rounds of classic songs. At school and on holiday I would hear English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh classics such as: When Irish eyes are smiling; In Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty ...(Molly Malone); I lost my darling Clementine. Bring back my bonny to me; A Gordon For me; You take the high road and I'll take the low road and I'll be in Scotland before thee; Men of Harlech. Old Lang Syne.

You can do a Beatles tour in London or Liverpool. the Beatles music and songs and stories are everywhere.


USA
When I went to live in the USA music was even more strongly promoted everywhere. I always feel very stirred and emotional when I hear: My (or mine) eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord ...

My mind automatically fills in the next line
They are treading out the vineyards where the grapes of wrath are stored ....

Here are some of my experiences when travelling.

I found relics of Elvis in many cities, cars and guitars, not only in Graceland.

In Opryland where I went to write about the hotel and the museums the staff had tuned the bedroom radio to play country music when I opened the door of the hotel bedroom.

Dolly Parton. Jim Reeves. Garth Brooks. The Dixie Chicks.

That's why I hang my hat in Tennessee.

There is a house in New Orleans

Chicago, Chicago.

New York, New York. My kind of town.

Shuffle off to Buffalo.

I get my kicks on route 66.

AROUND THE USA
Diving through the USA I heard a lot of country music. I picked up a lot of Americanisms by listening to talk shows and songs.

I learned to love country and western songs for their comments on life, stories, and sometimes smart twist ending.

Everybody who speaks English is likely to have heard the traditional songs from George and Ira Gershwin, and all the musicals such as Oklahoma, Elvis classics - Bob Dylan's Blowing in the Wind, Bridge over troubled water, the Everly Brothers, plus more modern classics such as Cabaret, and Hallelujah.

When I visited the Stephen Forster Memorial Museum I was amazed by the number of American songs I had learned as a child in the UK. For example:
My Old Kentucky Home
Oh Susanna.

Country Music
Here are some of my favourite country and western songs:
Country Roads
Coal Miner's Daughter

Some Favourite US songs
I want to be in America (West Side Story)

CANADA
Museum in the National Music Centre,
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Music_Centre

Some places to visit in the USA

MUSIC INFORMATION
Pittsburgh
Stephen Forster Memorial and Museum.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Foster
https://www.godtube.com/news/10-great-country-songs-that-tell-a-story.html
https://songsear.ch/song/Gladys-Knight-The-Pips/It-Should-Have-Been-Me/164397
https://www.metrolyrics.com/why-didnt-i-think-of-that-lyrics-doug-stone.html
https://songsear.ch/song/Garth-Brooks/Unanswered-Prayers/245643
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnnyhorton/whenitsspringtimeinalaskaitsfortybelow.html
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/07/12-songs-with-twist-endings.
Fifty songs - and more like 100 twist endings
https://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=81169

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/proposal-songs

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/03/musicians-statues-and-murals-more.html

TRAVEL INFORMATION
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opryland_USA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Music_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum
visitbritain.com
visittheusa.co.uk

About The Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. I have many more posts on statues of musicians and houses and trails, and songs, such as Amy Winehouse, The Beatles, Handel and Jimi Hendrix. Please bookmark and share links to your favourite posts.

You can visit Lennon's Strawberry Fields in Liverpool, Loverpool, and New York

Strawberry Fields

UK flag

The well known song title, 'Strawberry Fields forever', from the Sixties, 1967 to be precise, has come true not just as a forever memory in the mind of the songwriter but in September 2019 as a new tourist attraction which everybody can visit and remember. Strawberry Fields is in Liverpool, the garden of a home which was run by the Salvation Army and where John stayed as a child which inspired fond memories and the song.

English: Strawberry field gate
Date	15 July 2007 (original upload date)
Source	Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Liftarn using CommonsHelper.
Author	Lander777 at English Wikipedia

 Add it to the list of places to visit in the city of Liverpool connected with the Beatles.

Here is my tourist day out photo hit list:

Liverpool Beatles Sites
The Cavern Club and the street.
The statue of the Beatles.
Strawberry Fields. Free field, 12.95 pounds sterling exhibition on the Beatles and Salvation Army.
Photo ops - by the red gates into Strawberry Fields; by the street sign Penny Lane, the statues.

In the UK you can visit places associated with the Beatles in London, such as Abbey Road, home of the recording studio and the crossing featured in a photo of the Beatles crossing the road, used in an album cover, inspiring other photos.

We drove from London to Liverpool by private car. You can take the train from Euston station. Tours go from Euston station to Liverpool and back

Lennon visited the USA where he lived and died.

Flag of the USA

USA
In the USA in New York an area of Central Park honours John Lennon who wrote the song about his childhood home. Lenon was killed in the USA.

See the plaque on the ground with the word Imagine and read in Wikipedia about the man who used to visit every day and give a quick recitation on the life of Lennon.

Kazakhstan
In addition, the real surprise tourist attraction is the statues of the Beatles in .Kazakhstan..Quite a striking ensemble on and behind a park bench. One figure is seated playing the guitar. Another with arms folded, contrasting with another arms akimbo. I presume you can take a selfie sitting on the bench between the figures.

What else can you see in the city? Another well known statue in the largest city and former capital is the golden man on top of a column. Kazakhstan is the largest and wealthiest of the stans of Former Russian. Huge areas, and cold (there's skiing), a vast area to gallop along the silk road in winter, hence the reliance on horsemeat and horse sausages as luxury winter foods.

Kazakhstan has borders with Russia, china and other countries. Russian is widely spoken. The Beatles statue is in Green Field.

Wikivoyage warns that you should not mention Borat. Despite the fact that the successful film resulted in an increase in tourism to Kazakhstan.




Useful Websites
Places to visit and information

UK
London
Abbey Road
Beatles tour
Liverpool
Beatles tour to Liverpool

USA
Strawberry Field, Central Park, New York City, New York State

Travel
singaporeair.com (Flies to and from Heathrow, London, UK).



You might wonder why I have shown such a low resolution picture. The reason is that Wikipedia releases for public use a low resolution picture which does not compete with the high resolution picture which the copyright holder can sell for commercial purposes.
Full explanation here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beatles_-_Abbey_Road.jpg

In London
https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/the-beatles-london-walking-tour-t23780/
https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/the-beatles-magical-history-tour-t30586/

To Liverpool from London
https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/liverpool-the-beatles-t2271/?partner=true

Website background Information
UK
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7458873/Strawberry-Fields-finally-opens-Beatles-fans-70-years-inspiring-John-Lennon.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ico=taboola_feed
USA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Fields_(memorial)

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Her's - Under Wraps - alas a beautiful band taken by a preventable road accident

I read in the news that this duo from Liverpool, England, had been killed in a road accident in California, USA. They were on their way to a gig in Santa Ana. the band members, their manager, and the driver of the other vehicle all died on Wednesday March 27 2019.

So I went to find their music on YouTube. I listed to three different tracks and this was my favourite.

Quick Facts
Stephen Fitzpatrick
Audun Laading
Tour Manager Trevor Engelbrektson
Band's label: Heist Or Hit

Take care on the roads, folks.
Don't let drunk drivers get behind a wheel.

Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her%27s

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Musicians' statues and Murals: Black Sabbath; Hendrix; Winehouse - More Listings

The world has many museums, murals and statues honouring musicians. Here are some of my favourites:

Statue of Ronnie James Dio of band Black Sabbath, at Kavarna in Bulgaria. Photo author unknown, from Wikipedia.

BULGARIA
At Kavarna on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, in the central park, see the statue of Ronnie James Dio, the frontman (singer) of the band Black Sabbath, replacing Ozzy Osborne. His songs included Love Potion Number 9. He performed here at Kavarna and campaigned for the release of imprisoned Bulgarian nurses.
This statue is the first of a planned Alley of Rock in the park.

Statue of Philip Lynott in Dublin, Ireland. Photo author type17 in Wikipedia. 

IRELAND
Dublin
Statue of Phil Lynott, frontman of Thin Lizzie rock band. Statue outside Bruxelles Metal Club, on Harry Street, Dublin, Ireland.


Statue of Chopin in Warsaw. Photo by Tomasz Gozdziewicz in Wikipedia.

POLAND
Chopin, giant statue in park, passed by tour buses.
Hard to photograph. You have to be at a distance to get in the whole thing, but you need to run close up to photograph the plaque. Tour bus guides and drivers don't want to stop because it is half an hour, by the time everybody has spent ten minutes racing up to the statue, ten minutes lining up for selfies, then ten minutes running back.

Amy Winehouse mural in Barcelona, Spain. Photo author Borinot bcr in Wikipedia.

SPAIN
Barcelona, Amy Winehouse mural.

SWITZERLAND
Freddie Mercury statue, Montreux, Switzerland.
Near the studios where the band Queen recorded many songs.

UK
London is full of statues. I have a book devoted to statue of London.
London:

Amy Winehouse statue in London. Photo author Neil Crump, in Wikipedia.

Amy Winehouse statue, Stables, Camden, London, England.
Liverpool:
John Lennon statue.
The four Beatles.

Isle of Wight
Jimi Hendrix statue outside Dimbola Lodge, Freshwater, Isle of Wight.

USA
Curt Cobain statue, Aberdeen Museum of History, Aberdeen, Washington.
Janis Joplin statue, Museum of the Gulf Coast, Port Arthur, Texas.
Jimi Hendrix statue, Seattle (see Broadway Avenue).

Useful Websites
https://www.altpress.com/features/statues_dedicated_to_musicians_around_the_world/2/
http://heavymetalpower.com/2010/10/ronnie-james-dio-statue-unveiled/

bulgariantouristboard.com
visitlondon.com
visitengland.com
visitbritain.com
visitbritainshop.com
visitdublin.com
www.poland.travel/en-gb
www.spain.info
myswitzerland.com
visittheusa.co.uk

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. See my previous posts on musicians including Amy Winehouse and Freddie Mercury. Please share links to your favourite posts.

See Ireland In A Week With Five Drinks, Waterford glass and Limericks

Map of Ireland from Wikitravel.

Ireland is known as the land of saints and scholars, and called the emerald isle.

Problem
From Guinness to Galway. Where to go, what to do, how much can I do?

Answer
I and three friends have been to Ireland. Here's a one week tour:

Ferry
Drive to Liverpool and catch the ferry to Ireland. Which one?

The eight-hour ferry is cheaper and my friends chose that. But now my friends say next time they'll pay the extra for the shorter crossing about two and a half to three hours. My husband went to Ireland on business by ferry and was in a violent storm and was violently sick and instead of taking the ferry back insisted on flying home.

Guinness In Dublin
First stop is Dublin's Guinness Museum.
It's world famous. Even if you don't drink Guinness, take a tour. (Spell it with double n and double s.) What else is the family famous for? Guinness Book of Records.

Jameson Whiskey in Dublin
From beer to whisky, no, Irish whiskey, spelled with an e. Jameson's. They have one branch in Dublin, another is County Cork. Take a tour of James's whiskey factory. You get a certificate to prove you have done it. My friend hangs his framed in the downstairs cloakroom.

A certificate from Jameson. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

If Whiskey is too strong for you, go off for lunch and finish with Irish coffee or a Baileys Irish cream. Unfortunately, there's no tour for lovers of Baileys

.Irish coffee. Picture from Wiipedia.

Waterford
Tour the Waterford glass factory. You might be able to buy a glass for your whiskey.

Clonmel
Are you tired of touring? A fine four-star hotel, with a swimming pool and spa, (not cheap), might be your base.

Apple Cider

Apple Juice
"A small company showed us how they make their juice. Everything is thrown in and pressed. Out comes a cloudy apple juice.

Tipperary
You will recall the wartime song, It's a long way to Tipperary.

If you can't sing, you might hope to get the gift of the gab. For that yo go to Blarney Castle. If you are brave, you lean backwards over the parapet, with somebody holding your legs, and kiss the stone which is above you.

One friend said, "Noo, Thank you." He claimed, "I've already done it before."

I also declined. I don't think my insurance covers it. Think of all the bad things which could happen to the man holding my legs. He might get stung by a bee. Or struck by lightning.

Limerick
You have to send home a postcard or email with a poem about limerick, a limerick, don't you! You can have plenty of fun in a pub writing a limerick with the help of friends or even strangers who will soon become friends. You need only one word to rhyme with Limerick in the second line. The word Limerick can go at the end of the first and last lines. Any rhyme will do for the third and fourth lines.

There once was a tourist in Limerick
Who caught a bus from town real quick
Never alone, didn't want to go home
Because he had kissed the Blarney stone
On a side trip to Limerick.
By Angela Lansbury.

I have several rhyming dictionaries at home. The internet will do the same trick. After I looked up the potential rhymes for the word Limerick on the internet I found several more ideas, such as the word lovesick.

I'll improve on my first limerick:

A lovesick tourist in Limerick
Caught a bus to the town, real quick
After he kissed the Blarney stone
He was never alone, didn't want to go home
From the lovely girls in Limerick.

How about this:
I went as a tourist to Limerick
I ate so much good food that I was sick
The hotel called me a doctor quick
Ever so helpful, he was a brick
They're lovely and friendly in Limerick.
By Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

If you want to write a limerick, words which rhyme are:
airsick, Alnwick, antic, ballistic, bedtick, Berwick, boychick, brick, candlewick, cherrypick, click, Dick, drumstick, flick, knick, lick, lovesick, Mick, Nick, nonstick, pick, prick, quick rick, Rick, sic, sick, shtick, slapstick, slick, spick, stick, tick, tic, trick, thick, unpick, unstick, Warwick, wick, yardstick.

Belfast and The North
If you have more than a week and want to tour the whole of Ireland, the top of my must-see list is the award-winningTitanic Museum, Belfast. The north also has the Giants' Causeway and The Game Of Thrones tours.

Useful Websites
Amazon (for a Christmas gift of the Guinness Book of Records, a guide to Ireland or a rhyming dictionary)
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com
For Rhymes Online
https://www.morewords.com/ends-with/ick/
wikirhymer.com/words/sick
https://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme

FOR HOLIDAYS TO IRELAND
http://www.ireland-guide.com/ten-of-the-best/brewpubs-craft-brewers-and-cider-makers---10-of-the-best.11709.html

Guinness Storehouse and Brewery, Dublin
Beat the queues (Americans say lineups) with a pass, they say
https://www.dublinpass.com/dublin-attractions/guinness-storehouse

Waterford Crystal, Ireland
https://www.getyourguide.com/waterford-l1643/house-of-waterford-crystal-1-hour-factory-tour-

Jameson's Whiskey
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Products-g186605-d216616-Jameson_Distillery_Bow_St-Dublin_County_Dublin.html

Eire tourist board
http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/articles/jump-into-ireland/

http://titanicbelfast.com/Visitor-Info/
https://www.viator.com/Belfast-attractions/Titanic-Belfast-tours-tickets/
http://www.gameofthronestours.com
http://maggiecobbett.co.uk/general/across-the-irish-sea

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Cosy Cave Restaurants and Cool Cellars from London, to Liverpool, and Nottingham to Romania

Cellar Restaurant in Brasov, Romania. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Problem
Where can I go that's different, amusing?

Answer
Cave restaurants, cellar bars and underground tours.

Cellar Restaurants and Tours in UK
This week in July 2017 Liverpool city in England discovered a new large underground hall to be added to the existing complex below Mason Street.  The Williamson Tunnels were built by Joseph Williamson, from waterproof solid bricks (unlike the spongey ones used for houses in the city). Liverpool also has a Memorial Garden to him. You can take a quick free peep through the porthole style glass window underfoot Liverpool One Precinct. Or join a tour of the tunnels and see the museum and cafe.

(Whilst in Liverpool see the Beatles museum and Carn tour; the Anglican Cathedral; plus some of the city's free museums. Whilst in this area, visit Chester and North Wales.

Also north of London, Nottingham has many caves carved in the sandstone beneath the city. I have put on my list of places to see on my next visit the
Cave restaurant: Hand and Heart pub, Derby Road, Nottingham.

In Edinburgh, I had dinner in one of the alcoves underground in a pub near the city centre by the book fair during the Edinburgh Festival, an annual event. For recent reviews of The Cellar Door see tripadvisor.


I have also dined underground in Warsaw, Poland.

Underground at The Don, in London. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Would you like something grander? In London I loved the underground rooms at the Don Restaurant, which you can hire for events such as weddings. I dined in the expensive gourmet restaurant upstairs (when they had a half price offer). See my earlier post.

Cellar Restaurants in Europe
I once went through the catalogues of the major hotel groups such as the Relais hotels and Chateaux Hotels and Prestige hotels worldwide, noting all the cellar restaurants. In the Rathaus or town hall of the city centres in Germany you often find an underground beer hall and restaurant serving the local food.

Earlier this year I had lunch in an alcove area in Brasov in Romania. See my post on this.

Websites
LONDON, ENGLAND
The Don restaurant
The Courtyard
20 St Swithins Lane
EC4N 8AD
Tel: 020 7626 606
www.thedonrestaurant.com
www.thesignofthedon.com

LIVERPOOL
http://www.williamsontunnels.co.uk

TOURIST INFORMATION
USEFUL WEBSITES
https://tfl.gov.uk
https://art.tfl.gov.uk/projects/permanent-commission-by-daniel-buren/
www.visitlondon.com
www.londonpass.com

SCOTLAND
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186525-d718615-Reviews-The_Cellar_Door-Edinburgh_Scotland.html
www.visitbritain.org

ROMANIA

Gratar Urban, (Urban Grill), 

Strada Michael Weiss, 

Brasov 500031

Tel: +40 731832033

https://www.facebook.com/GratarUrban/

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer an photographer, author and speaker.
Please share links to your favourite posts.

What's New In Liverpool - a statue of Cilla Black

Photo of Cilla from Wikipedia.

Problem
What's new to do in Liverpool? (I've been there before.)

Answer
A statue of Cilla Black. The statue of Cilla was organised by her three sons. She died in 2015. Not just a fun person with the common touch, but an OBE.

Stories
Where is the statue of her? Outside the Cavern music venue associated with Cilla Black and The Beatles pop group in the Sixties.

(They say that if you can remember the Sixties you weren't there. A reference to the drug culture.) Who said it?

I remember Cilla in her later years as the anchor for TV programme Blind Date. Unmissable to see or hear. Cilla with the teeth and the Northern accent.

I found her very watchable. I would not describe myself as a fan. It's still sad when somebody dies. You feel for their family. Every death reminds you that everybody lives in a sinking ship.

So I'm always happy to see a statue. It's a photo opportunity. An easy way to remember and recognise and get interested in history. I just realised, it is also a statue of a woman.

Songs
What else do I remember about Cilla? She sang: Anyone Who Had A Heart.

What else is old and new in Liverpool? A statue of the Beatles.

Liverpool is alos holding a music and tourism convention at Liverpool's The Titanic hotel.

Tips
Read more
Autobiographies[
Step Inside (1985), London: Dent, ISBN 0-460-04695-0
What's It All About? (2003), London: Ebury Press, ISBN 0-09-189036-5

See more
TripAdvisor
Wikipedia

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker; also on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube. Books on AMAZON.COM and LULU.COM

The Beatles story update: London and Liverpool from London tours, walking

I was just thinking, nice to visit the new statue in Liverpool if you are already there. But most UK residents and overseas visitors to the UK would start in London.

Then I found
a) You can do a two hour walking tour of Beatles London
b) You can book a 14 hour trip from London to Liverpool, which includes the train ticket and entry to The Beatles Story.
Everything organised for you.

See my previous post for more details about Liverpool and the Beatles.
http://www.goldentours.com/beatles-london-tours

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d2277766-r136211630-Golden_Tours_Hop_on_Hop_off_Plus-London_England.html

For the website of The Beatles Story in Liverpool go to

http://www.beatlesstory.com

If you are short of time then you go straight to an inclusive package and if you can afford it you book it.

If you are planning well ahead or don't yet have any firm plans to go, you might research all your options.

Therefore then I went to research which station from London to Liverpool.
You would think that the first thing which would come up would be the rail company but up comes a cheapest fare site, which must have more people clicking on it and be more popular in the website rankings.
https://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/combinedmatrix.aspx?Command=TimeTable#Journey/LONDON/LIVERPOOL/05/12/15/11/00/Leave%20After//////Leave%20After/1/0//

Before you get any information you have to tell them where you are leaving from and going to. From London stations, since I didn't know the nearest, I just picked any. Great. It's Euston, the station I know well.  But the options in Liverpool are about five different stations. (That is why you either go with a pre-booked package or need time to make all the selections.)
From London you can go Liverpool to Lime Street.

At this point, I suddenly get worried. What if this is a site not approved and they will be grabbing my money from, who knows. I am reassured by the signs for paypal. I can also research the company under scams. I can research on TripAdvisor. I can compare prices myself.

I have a checklist of interesting places to see and people to research. For example: Cilla Black.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3347179/Horror-Cilla-Black-s-family-ghouls-trash-memorial-steal-brass-plaque-marking-buried.htm

Happy travelling. (It's been a hard day's night!)
For ideas on what to wear and buy for walking, see my next post

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and author

Beatles Statue in Liverpool - photo opportunity

Statue of the Beatles in Liverpool. From Wikipedia.

A statue of the Fab Four has been unveiled in Liverpool. The Beatles last played there in December 1965.
The statue shows Paul, George, Ringo and John all strolling along Pier Head.

This photo is from Wikipedia which has lots of photos of the Beatles and of them in the USA.

You can follow a Beatles trail around Liverpool. If you are from overseas you could arrive at the Liverpool John Lennon airport.

Your Trip physical / mental list
1 Liverpool John Lennon Airport
2 Cavern Club
3 Beatles Statue
4 Strawberry Fields (in the song)
5 London, Abbey Road zebra crossing
6 London Beatles tour
7 Scotland Mull of Kintyre (in the song)
8 Beatles in the USA

Other people associated with the Beatles:
Cilla Black
Brian Epstein
Yoko Ono
Linda McCartney

Make your own list of your favourites
Songs
Books
Films

Any unfavorites? The sculptor Andy Edwards, said 'Everybody has a Beatles story. '

I do, too.
I remember trying to use the Beatles songs to teach English as a foreign language in Singapore. I said:
'This song is: "We all live in a yellow submarine." Do you understand?'
Blank looks.
I explained tried to explain submarine.
I still got blank looks.
Eventually one of the girls said helpfully, 'I thought you said they lived in Liverpool?'

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_John_Lennon_Airport

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-35007964 (Story of the statues Dec 2015)

http://www.cavernclub.org/beatles-tours/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Music Museums & Statues by Country A-Z

An A-Z of Musicians' statues, monuments and museums, by country, so you can see what's in the country you are staying in or visiting.

AUSTRALIA
Giant guitar statue outside museum of Australia's country music singer.

Kylie Minogue statue

AUSTRIA
Vienna
You can buy Mozart chocolates with his picture.
Statue/monument of Mozart on grave in cemetery. (I went there a while back and wrote an article on Vienna based on the theme of music.)

CUBA
John Lennon statue in Havana


EUROPE
Stradivarius statue

GERMANY
Musicians of Bremen
Mendelssohn's Grave

Bach

Beethoven

POLAND
Chopin Museum, Warsaw
Chopin statue, Warsaw
Statue of musician and piano Lodz





SWITZERLAND

UK

UK
London
Handel's Organ in St Lawrence's Church, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware

V and A

http://www.classicfm.com/discover/music/inspiring-composer-quotes/joseph-haydn/

Amy Winehouse statue, Camden

Freddie Mercury, Dominion theatre, London

www.musicalmuseum.co.uk/

Greater London 020 8560 8108

Musical Museum | Home

www.musicalmuseum.co.uk/

Coventry Museum

Liverpool
Monument to John Lennon




USA

Elvis Presley

Home of singer of He'll have to go

Opryland, Nashville, TN

Willie Nelson, Country Music singer, statue, Austin, Texas

John Lennon statue






MORE INFORMATION

http://www.pinterest.com/genoxa/famous-musicians-in-bronze-and-stone/

http://listosaur.com/entertainment/10-great-statues-honoring-legendary-rock-musicians/

 Post under c o n s t r u c t i o n .  When I typed the word correctly, the spell checker turned it into contraption. Post under contraction.Oops. I uploaded it when I meant merely to save it. Come back for more tomorrow.