£2.99

The Capital Edition

May 2013

Top 5 places to

visit in the ...

Unique Souvenirs

www.trendingtravel.co.uk

AmsterdamA second

glance

LondonDiscover

the capital

SCAN ME Contents4 Amsterdam - A second glance

8 Map of ... Amsterdam

10 Amsterdams ‘Unique’ Souvenirs

11 London - Discover the capital

14 Londons ‘Unique’ Souvenirs

15 Top 5 places to visit in the UK

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Editors Letter

Keep in touch with us by following Trending Travel (@TTUK2012) on Twitter.

For this issue of Trending Travel i visited two very different capitals in Europe to find the very best tourist attractions for women. From the peaceful canals of Amsterdam and the busy streets of London i found out what exactly makes these destinations perfect for women.

Charlotte White, EditorMap Artist Abu Wang

Photographer Charlotte White

The Kaywa Reader

written by Charlotte White

Amsterdam

With over 200 cof-feeshops selling

soft drugs and the district ‘De Wallen’ (‘The Quays’) making up the famous Red Light District, it comes to no surprise that Amsterdam’s lenient attitude has caused strong preconceptions towards the capital city.

When mentioning Am-

sterdam to many people their first thoughts are nearly always that Holland is all about sex and drugs, especially since prostitution was legalised in 2000. Due to this image of Amsterdam it is believed by many that it is not as much for women, but for men.

Declan Aylward, a writer

The second glance

for Amsterdam.info said: “Amsterdam does tend to attract a male visitor, but this is more related to its image than the city itself. The image of Amsterdam as the “city of sin” bears little relation to the reality of a city with a vibrant arts and culture scene, many his-torical sights and a relatively

low level of street crime.”However, with 3,324,000

visitors, both male and fe-male, every year it becomes very clear that its image of being the “city of sin” does not put any gender of tour-ists off. It instead intrigues them into wanting to go to the city even more.

Melissa Dodd, from

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Where to stay?

Hans Brinker Budget Hotel, Kerkstraat 136-

138, 1017 GR

Price: €22,50 - €53,50ppper night

Perfect for students, young travellers and backpackers. Situated in the centre of Amsterdam, it is one of the cities most famous hostels due to it’s simple decor and cheapness.

Remnbrandt Classic Hotel, Herengracht 255,

1016 BJ

Scan for more atricles

about Amsterdam

HISTORYFrom a small fishing village

to a cultural tourist city, Amsterdam has changed alot since it first began in the 13th century.

The cities first dramatic transformation occurred in the 17th century when its famous canal system was developed and art began to flourish. However, by the end of the century the economy had declined and poverty was quickly increas-ing.

It was not until the city became connected to the sea and started trading with the Dutch East Indies that its

A quiet, sopistocated hotel overlooking the canal just a 5 minute walk from Dam Square. Large rooms with satellite TV, free wi-fi and ensuite bathroom. Ideal for famillies, couples and young travellers.

Misc Eatdrinksleep, Kloveniersburgwal 20

1012 CV

Price: From €76 per night

5 minutes from the Central Station this small hotel has 6 themed rooms. Perfect for any couples looking for a unique holiday experience.

Price: From €155 per night

2 DAYS IN AMSTERDAMDay 1 - FridayMorning Take a stroll Hire a bike or take a stroll through the maze of canals and streets. Take plenty of photos of the beautiful houses, canals, parks and millions of bikes roaming the streets. Try not to get lost though.

Afternoon Try a Dutch delicacyDrop into the fast food restau-rant, Febo and try their cro-quettes, frikadel or bitterballen from the vending machines. Before you try them though, read what is in them or you may get a shocking surprise. Browse around the Albert Cuypmarket and take in the culture the city has to offer.

Evening Cocktail timeWander down to the Mu-seumplein and have your photograph taken next to the ‘Iamsterdam’ sign. Stop by the House of Bols museum and learn all about Bols cocktail, liqueur and genever. Then have your free cocktail and shots at the end of the tour.

Morning Educate yourselfGet up early and queue up outside the Anne Frank House museum before it opens then there shouldn’t be any hassel getting in. Then, take a trip on one of the many canal boats around the city for fantastic photo opportunities.

Evening Brave the lightsTake a leap of faith and wander through the Red Light District for a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t forget to stop off at a souvenir shop to get gifts for friends and fam-ily. Then, why not go to a Cof-fee Shop on your way back to the hotel for some “coffee”.

Day 2 - Saturday

The maze of canals

economy began increasing again. However, this high was unfortunately short-lived due to both WW1 and 2.

Whilst the city saw a loss of 10% of its inhabitants be-cause of the war, the ending saw a new era rise with new residents moving to the city from 180 different countries to this day.

All this has meant that the capital city has now become a diverse destination for tourists from across the world and is well known for being compact, tolerant and uniquely attractive.

Camberley, Surrey said: “I thought of it mainly as a legal place to smoke pot – however that was changed on visiting the city where I found it to be beautiful.”

Despite all the presump-tions that Amsterdam holds, once you have visited the city it becomes obvious that its beautiful canals and cultural atmosphere are perfect for both men and women. “The Dutch are very emancipated. Dutch women are very independent. Wom-en do not get hassled on the streets, it is safe for women to walk around alone,” said

Steven Pemberton, writer for The Internet Guide of Amsterdam.

There are plenty of attractions for women to visit in Amsterdam, with the most popu-lar being

the Anne Frank House. With 51 museums throughout the city, such as The Van Gogh Museum and the Eye Film institute, it does not matter whether you have more interest in the old or the new, visitors will always find something of interest to them.

Whilst the day time of Amsterdam is full of great opportunities to shop at the many markets and culturally educate yourselves, Merel Van der Putten-At-en from the press office for Amster-dam Marketing said: “Amster-dam has a very dynamic nightlife and there are many dance par-

ties being organized.”The best time of the year

to visit the city, like many places, is summer due to its warmer weather. Declan Aylward said “cafes put out terraces, locals take to the canals on boats filled with picnic gear and music, and the parks heave with people having a good time.” How-ever, Amsterdam’s weather is very unpredictable and can go from sunny to rainy in a matter of minutes, so it’s always best to expect rain when visiting.

Walking around Am-sterdam is an extremely pleasurable experience, especially due to its 165 canals and 16th, 17th and 18th century styled build-ings. For locals and tourists that visit Amsterdam a lot, the easiest way to travel is walking because it is a small and compact city. However,

Visitors enjoy the Albert Cyupmarket

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for tourists that have never visited before you can get tickets for canals tours that allow you to jump on and off the boat whenever you wish. Never-theless, a trip to Amsterdam is not complete without renting a bike and with an estimated amount of 881,000 bikes in the city it is by far the most Popular mode of transport

“I thought of it mainly as a legal

place to smoke pot.”popular way to travel.

With such a variety of attractions, it’s picturesque landscape and easy ability to walk from one side of the city to the other it is no surprise that it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world for men and women.

‘Unique’ Amsterdam’s Souvenirs

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Amsterdam Snowglobe€7.99 (£6.89)

Grand Bazar, Damrak 21, Amsterdam

Tulip Bulbs in Shoe€6.99 (£6.02)

Holland Doll €5.99 (£5.16)

Amsterdam XXXBottle Opener€3.99 (£4.63)

Cheers from Amsterdam Beer Mug€6.99 (£6.02)

Clogs Keyring€1.99 (£1.72)

written by Charlotte White

LondonDiscover the capital

Although the exploration of the world offered

from holidays abroad shall always be a powerful draw, it is worth taking the chance to investigate the opportu-nities that lie within your own, figurative, back garden. London is one of Europe’s premiere tourist locations, a city that stands as both a monument to British history and as a modern metropolis of what is to come.

Rebecca Ashbury, the Visitor Development Execu-tive for The City of London said: “The City of London is a great place for women to visit as it has a fantastic mix of art, culture and heritage.”

With easy access to the capital city due to its many direct trains travelling in and out of the city, London is a fantastic place to visit for a day or a weekend. Travelling to London by train is by far the easiest option available, as cars will be hit by the

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Where to stay?

Scan for more atricles

about London

Generator Hostel, 37 Tavistock Place,

Bloomsbury, WC1H 9SE

Price: £15-£40 per night

MEININGER Hotel London Hyde Park, 65-67 Queen`s

Gate, SW7 5JS

Price: £21-£87pp per night

Palmers Lodge : Swiss Cottage, 40 College Crescent, NW3 5LB

Price: £12-£45 per night

An urban and stylish hostel situated in Central London, just a 10 minute walk from St. Pancres Station. Their female only dorms make this hostel perfect for those girly weekends away.

This boutique hostel in a grand histroic building is ideal for anyone with amazing taste. This recently renovated hostel offers free wi-fi, full continental breakfast and lockable safes in every room.

This modern hotel is directly across from the National History Museum and houses a range of room sizes from 2-12 beds. This hotel and it’s location make it perfect for travellers looking for something old and new.

A DAY IN LONDON 11:30am Visit the QueenTake a trip to Buckingham Palace, one of the few oc-cupied Palaces in the world and watch the Changing the Guard ceremony where the guards exchange keys. The earlier you get there and the closer to the gates, the better view of the ceremony you’ll get.

12:30pm Appreciate the V&AWander around the Victoria and Albert Museum, the world’s greatest museum for art and design. Appreciate the V&A chandelier that hangs in the entrance and look at Hol-lywood costumes, beautiful art and objects from all over the world and a glittering room of jewellery.

9am Wander down the RiverTake in the sites London has to offer. Photograph Big Ben, the Aquarium, the London Dungeons and the statue of Queen Boadicea. Maybe take a circuit of the London Eye and take photos from 135 meters high.

3:30pm Shop in Covent GardenTake a stroll down to Covent Garden Market and see the numerous street performers entertaining the crowds. Wander through the markets and maybe buy some gifts for your family and friends. Also, try the amazing sweet and savoury crepes at Crème de la Crêpe.

5:00pm Visit M&M heavenBefore you have to take a train or coach home, pop into M&M’s World and treat yourself to a variety of dif-ferent flavoured M&Ms. Or, if you’re trying to keep your trip as cheap as possible just take a few photos with the M&M characters.

HISTORYAlthough the city was

founded in AD43 after the Romans invaded Britain, the city has constantly changed due to crumbling empires and attacks, and it was not until the Normans’ devel-opment of the Tower of London that real protection of the city was seen.

By the 1600s, London had yearly elections for a Lord Mayor, was a central trade point and had 200,000 people living there, but its well-known cultural aspects were not really seen until the theatres, like The Globe, were built.

It was not until the 17th

century that real disaster began to be seen in the city, with the plague and fire of London creating thousands of deaths and hundreds of houses destroyed. The 19th century saw enormous industry expansion because of the crowning of Queen Victoria, its trade and the first underground railway system being built.

The rebuilding of the city after WW2 has increased London’s reputation for be-ing a business capital of the world and a popular cultural destination because of its numerous tourist attractions and variety of cultures.

The old and the new

The Lion King costumes at the V&A

congestion charge and high volume of traffic.

Once in London the un-derground is a cheap and fast way to travel throughout the 33 boroughs of the city. The underground system was the first to be built in the world and was opened in 1863. The map for the underground was designed by Harry Beck and the original design is used for many other under-

ground systems across the world due to its simplicity to understand.

London is extremely pop-ular with women of all ages from across the world and the UK due to its shopping possibilities. With several markets like Covent Garden

and Camden Market along-side shopping streets such as Oxford Street and Regent Street you can find anything from every-day objects to more quirky and hand-made finds.

Shanice Ag-grey, 19 from

London said: “It’s so versatile and there is so much to do. There’s such a rich history here it is hard not to want to visit and stay forever (even though those of us who live there can get pretty bored of it).”

A trip to London is not complete with-out at least a walk through the West End theatre district where popular musicals are being shown like Wicked, The Lion King and Hairspray. Whilst the shows can be expensive, if you can wait till your trip to London and don’t have a special show

in mind, there are dozens of small shops throughout London selling tickets for shows at discounted prices on the same day.

If London visitors wish to keep their visit as cheap as possible, Teresa Strachen from Hampshire said: “The museums are wonderful and FREE.” From finding out more about Britain’s history at the British Museum or looking around the fashion section of the Victoria and

“It’s so versatile....”

Albert Museum, there’s plen-ty on offer without paying a single penny. Visitors to the city can also walk around the many beautiful parks and the famous monuments like Big Ben and Trafalgar Square.

London does not stop at night though, as there is plenty of bars and clubs open throughout the night like Bar 55 where Samantha Earle from Farnham said: “Cocktails are amazing and good

“The museums are wonderful and

FREE.”

One of the many monuments

value for money.”So, why spend hundreds

of pounds travelling to a dif-ferent country when there’s plenty do in your local capital city.

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‘Unique’ London’s Souvenirs

CGX, 11 James Street, Covent Garden, London

Keep Calm and Carry On Keyring £2.99

Top 5 places to visit in the ...UK

Portmeirion

Cardiff

BrightonCanterbury

Haworth

English Breakfast Tea in a Tin£2.99

Red London Bus£2.99

London Big Big Crystal Ornament£4.99

The cobbled streets of Haworth

One of the most popular seaside destinations in the UK, this historic city offers attractions from the Brighton Pavillion and the much loved Choccywooccydoodah. With Brighton’s BIG Festival Month upon us, you are sure to be entertained by festivals like the Brighton Fringe, or the family-friendly Elderflower Festival.

This must-see Italian styled village is one of the most popular attractions in the UK and was created by architect Clough Williams-Ellis from 1925 to 1976. The colourful village was used as a major location for the ITV programme, ‘The Prisoner’ and is now a well known attraction because of it. Portmeirion has a variety of beautiful gardens and houses, along with a range of shopping opportunities from ceremics, chocolates and The Prisoner merchan-dises. The village also has a a hotel for those looking for more than a day visit to Portmeirion.

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Home to ‘Number 6’ in the 1960s, The Prisoner

This picturesque village at the edge of the Pennine moors in West Yorkshire is perfect day trip away from the big cities. The villages’ main attraction is the Brontë Parsonage Museum, but it also offers a range of walks around the countryside for those who love the out-doors and Mrs Beighton’s traditional sweet shop for anyone with a sweet tooth.

This Welsh capital city has everything you’d expect a capital to have. Although Cardiff is a paradise for any Doctor Who fans, this historic dockyard has been modernised with its shops, restaurants and entertain-ment. One attraction that’s a definate must-see is the Wales Millennium Centre, where vistors can enjoy any-thing from theatre to food.

Home to the oldest cath-erdral in England, Canter-bury is now one of Britain’s Heritage Cities. Whilst this traditional city has a number of musuems dedicated to its past, it is also a shoppers paradise with its numerous independant and high street shops. One shop where any vistor should stop though is Canterbury’s Fudge Kitchen.

The central hub of Cardiff Bay

Leicester Square Plack£4.99