Oscar’s 7 wonders of the UK

We may all be watching the pennies this summer – but our recent survey suggests that despite the freeze on more costly European holidays – we are more than happy to spend our time on short breaks in the UK. 

You even helped us to compile a list of your most loved attractions – so here is a run down of the top sites (our very own 7 wonders) and the best deals we can find to help keep the costs down if you choose to visit them. . 

Stonehenge

The true meaning of this ancient, awe-inspiring creation has been lost in the mists of time. Was it a temple for sun worship, a healing centre, a burial site or perhaps a huge calendar? Surrounded by mystery, Stonehenge never fails to impress.   There are many tours available of the henge including this one with globetrips which is just £24.95 at the moment. But if you fancy mixing it up with a quick culture fix – you could combine a visit to Bath or Oxford.   

Cheddar Gorge

If you’ve never visited this part of the world before then you may well be surprised at how spectacular the views are from the Gorge.  It’s an area packed with beauty, natural history, heritage, wildlife & challenges.  So if you fancy an outside adventure – there is something to please everyone.  You can book online for just £16.45 per person to get access to the caves, gorge top walks, look out tower and much more. 

The White Cliffs Of Dover

The White Cliffs of Dover are an official icon of Britain as well as an extraordinary beauty. They have been a symbol of hope and freedom for centuries as embodied in the Vera Lyn song from WWII. You can enjoy their special appeal through the seasons by taking one of the dramatic clifftop walks an on a clear day you can see French Coast. Learn more about the fascinating military and penal history of the cliffs and savour the rare flora and fauna only found on this chalk grassland.  Find some fantastic ideas for great days out in the area for free – or under a fiver – or stay from as little as £45 prpn. 

The Giants Causeway

Northern Ireland’s iconic World Heritage Site is home to a wealth of local history and legend. Explore the basalt stone columns left by volcanic eruptions 60 million years ago and search for distinctive stone formations fancifully named the Camel, Harp and Organ.  Stride out amongst the beauty and charms of the local area, take the rope bridge challenge at Carrick-a-Rede or get a taste of one of Irelands oldest distilliery’s at Bushmills.  Getting there isn’t cheap – with flights starting at £25 or ferries from £69 per person, you may need to take a couple of days to make the most of your visit.

Loch Lomond

If you fancy the great outdoors for a little luxury – try these holiday lodges for less than £500 per week.  For those with a little more adventure – rekindle your camping spirit this year.  You can have a 2 day taster break for £65 per stay.  Remember Grandparents and Kids stay free… 

Snowdon

Let Snowdon Mountain Railway take you on a journey of a lifetime to the rooftop of Wales. Snowdon, at 3,560ft dominates the landscape of Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. Claim this mountain peak, the highest in Wales, as a lifetime’s achievement. With stunning scenery and awe-inspiring views it’s all part of a great day out for you and your family in North Wales. Prices start from just £12 for an early bird adult single fare. Operated by steam or diesel trains.

York Minster

A visit to York Minster is your moment in the long history of northern Europe’s greatest gothic cathedral. You’ll see traces of every age from the Roman occupation of York onwards to the future of this working and worshipping church.  If you come away hungry for more – then you won’t be disappointed with the rest of York. From it’s ancient walls and the shambles to street entertainment or historical re-enactments at the Dungeons or the Jorvik Centre.  You will be amazed at just how much history you can fit into a day. 

Transport

If you go by car – don’t forget to make the most of any fuel savings.  Trains are cheaper if you book in advance – you can save upto 70%, where you can also get a cheap Railcard to make the most of your savings.  National express have 2 for 1 offers and travel from as little as £9.

Win a Summer bird feed hamper

Summer is upon us and it’s the perfect time to head out in to the garden and see the wildlife right on our doorstep. We’ve teamed up with celebrity bird-watcher and TV personality Bill Oddie to give one lucky member a Bill Oddie Bird Food Hamper! 

Home Grown

If you have a small or balcony garden – you can still enjoy the pleasure of fresh produce with some innovative planting techniques and natural sunlight inside.  Check out these great ideas at Urban Allotments.  

The Perfect Great British Picnic

Picnics are an age old tradition of the Great British Summer; and whether our summer has been and gone or still yet to arrive, we remain unanimous that the most classic of all our summer month pastimes has to be the Great British Picnic.

Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer set out to find the perfect picnic locations in the UK, with a survey of 3,000 Brits revealing peaceful haunts in the South of the country are the most popular, closely followed by local and National parks in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Half of those over 55 said the perfect picnic location is somewhere quiet and peaceful that nobody else knows about and a quarter of us prefer a National Park or the grounds of an old English castle. We love a good old vintage themed picnic with a wicker basket, tartan blanket, strawberries and outdoor fun and games, so dig out the picnic hamper, grab your free summer guide (here) and head out for a jolly good picnic.

The picnic shop are having a summer sale with upto 30% off traditional or modern hampers. So if you need a hamper – or think it’s a great idea to buy as a present for a loved one – then visit them today.

Made from a top secret recipe, Crabbie’s Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer uses only the finest real ginger, citrus fruits and spices. It’s steeped for 6 whole weeks to produce that deliciously spicy, crisp, refreshing ginger taste. Perfect for a traditional British picnic, come rain or shine!

For those who have a penchants for brewing - you may have noticed that Hugh Fernley Whittingstall’s mates made up their own batch of this rather tasty drink recently – you can find the recipe here.   

If you don’t fancy the hassle – nip down to your local store and pick some up with the rest of your hamper goodies.. Better still the Shorters Club are selling Crabbies at wholesale prices. You can pick up a pack of 8 for £11.95.

Your changing holiday habits

Our research asked why the baby boomer generation is choosing to holiday in the UK this summer - has the pension crunch really taken it’s toll?

84% of us have changed holiday plans this year
One in four are taking more holidays in the UK as its cheaper than going abroad
We are online savvy and use the internet to plan ahead, save money and prevent arguments!

According to our recent survey 84% of us have changed our holiday plans this year, 30% are taking mini breaks instead of holidays and one in four are taking more holidays at home.

The weakening pound means that holidays in Europe are increasingly expensive so millions of people in the UK are cutting holiday costs by taking staycations, mini-breaks or day trips this summer rather than going abroad.

It is a sad fact that over the past four years, the pound has fallen by more than 20 per cent against the Euro, pushing up the cost of our favourite sunshine holidays to destinations such as Spain, France and Italy.

According to you guys, the top six reasons for holidaying in the UK are; it is easy to organise (60%), it is easy to travel (59%), the beautiful scenery (55%), the historic sites (46%), the internet allows us to research and plan our trips easily (44%) and going back to places which remind us of happy childhood holidays (26%).

Over three-quarters of you online savvy peops use the internet to plan ahead and nearly half (46%) look up money off vouchers or find directions - perhaps to avoid arguments!

The UK’s 21 million over 50s have been some of the hardest hit during the recession and 20% of us are watching what we spend due to inflation or worries about our pension. It’s no wonder that we are choosing to cut back on holidays, opting for mini-breaks and holidaying at off peak times in the UK.   What do you think - is the pension squeeze the only reason you are choosing to stay in the UK ?  Is the pension squeeze effecting you in other areas?  Join our forum today and post your views on this subject…..

Concessions at 60

One of the original reasons for setting up this site was that for lots of things in life you get an instruction book - becoming a university student, buying a coffee machine, and so on - but nothing is handed out when you reach 60, or any other age milestone. This site is designed to tell you what is available at various senior ages. I thought it worthwhile trying to sum up what is avalable at 60 - deep breath, here goes -

Bus Travel - You can get free bus travel within each country of the UK, but your English pass will not work in Scotland, and so on. If you live in London, your Freedom Pass will give you Tube, Rail and bus travel free (outside of morning rush hours) within London. If you live in England outside London, you still get free bus travel in London. Even the Thames Water services offer a discount. Local authorities in each area can provide the pass (and in most parts of London the Post Office will do this for you).

Rail Travel - a Senior Railcard can be bought for £24 from local stations which gives you 1/3rd off all rail tickets for a year. If you live in London, this combines with the Freedom Pass on some journeys to give very cheap travel.

Coach Travel - No national scheme as such, but many operators offer discounts - for example National Express offer up to 50% discounts on some services. No pass needed for this.

Winter Fuel Allowance - £250 per household for those 60-79, and for those 80 or over £400. This even applies if you live on the Costa Brava. You need to apply for this for the first time, unless you are already getting state benefits, when it should come through automatically. After the first year it will just turn up in your bank account. Check with www.thepensionservice.gov.uk.

Sight Tests - Sight tests are free for the over 60s. Just tell your optician and they should do the rest.

Prescriptions - Free for the over 60s.

Dental Checks - Free in Scotland and Wales if you are being treated under NHS. Not free in England.

Heating & Insulation - This can be a very difficult area to find out exactly what is available, and money seems to run out from time to time. Over 60s on benefits can get help towards various installations, and in Scotland there is a more generous assistance towards central heating, but then it is pretty cold. Some grant assistance is available in Wales to over 60s who are not receiving benefits. Check with the Warm Front Scheme www.warmfront.co.uk and follow links for schemes outside England.

There are lots of commercial offers for the over 60s - our site holds close to 4,000 offers in total, so if you are thinking of eating out, shopping, or just about any activity that costs you money, check if we have a discount for you.

fter all of this, I am thinking of sending my teeth and various other body parts to live in Wales or Scotland.