Liverpool hosted  the start of The Three Festivals Tall Ships Regatta over the spring bank holiday weekend. Ships were moored at the Albert Dock and cruise ferry terminal.
Following their departure from Liverpool the ships are also scheduled to visit Dublin and Bordeaux. The wines of Bordeaux were featured in a parallel event running at the Pier Head. This was fifth visit to Liverpool of the tall ships having previously graced this most famous of waterfronts in 1984, 1992, 2008 and 2012. This years visit formed part of the cities celebrations of the ten year anniversary  since it was European Capital of Culture.
Although spectacular by daylight the docks and ships took on a magical quality as the sun began to set over the city.
The holographic “ghost ship” was a excellent end to a superb trip to the Liverpool waterfront.
Ludlow is a small market town of 11,000 inhabitants on the southern border of the county of Shropshire. Although in England, it lies close to the Welsh border and its proximity to Wales has contributed much to the towns past history.
Things to do
Take a walk. The town is an absolute gem with a photo opportunity on every corner. The architecture is superb and it makes it a lovely place to simply wander around. The town is not very big but it packs an awful lot in to a small space.
Ludlow Castle. Built in the later half of the 11th century, the castle occupies a defensive position overlooking  the River Teme. The castle is still in use today as a wedding venue and is home to the annual Ludlow Food and Drink festival held each September.
Saint Laurence’s Church. Building of a church here first began in 1199 and it is now the largest parish church in Shropshire. Â The church is packed with history and significant features, its earliest windows date back to 1320 and some of the mercy seats date from the early 1400s.
Visits to the church are well supported by some very welcoming and informative guides.
Visit one of the many art galleries. Ludlow is home to many art galleries and antique shops and a visit to two or three isa good way to spend an hour or so. Walking between them also gives you a good opportunity to see the town.
Dinham Bridge and The River Teme.Â
The walk down from the castle to the river can be done by means of a footpath that runs from the back of the castle or along the road. Either way it is well worth the short walk as the bridge and river are a sheer delight.
Food and Craft Markets. As well as an excellent selection of independent retailers in the town there are frequent markets held mainly in Castle Square. In addition The Ludlow Food Festival is held annually in the grounds of the castle. Dates for 2018 are September 7/8/9th. The castle also hosts the Medieval Christmas Fayre with will be on November 24th and 25th in 2018.
Ludlow Brewing Company. Located in an old railway shed close to Ludlow station. Tours are held each afternoon, times vary. There is a small charge but it does include samples of their range of beers and a free pint.
A great day out in such a lovely town. May have to have a return visit for Septembers food festival.
As you hurtle through Buckinghamshire on the West Coast main line to London you are afforded the very briefest of glimpses of the town of Bletchley. Every time I tell myself that I must visit one day but the time has never been right. That all changed recently when a spare day in London provided the opportunity to finally pay a visit.
Bletchley is only a forty five minute train ride from London Euston and the trains are reasonably frequent. Once at the railway station  turn right on exit, walk a few hundred yards, cross the road (Sherwood Drive) and you are at the lane leading to the entrance to Bletchley Park, home of the World War 2 codebreakers. It couldn’t be easier travelling by public transport from London.
The grounds are large, well maintained and well signposted. The entrance fee includes a very useful and readable map which is really all you need to navigate the site but we also bought the guidebook but this isn’t absolutely necessary.
The success of the ongoing refurbishment of the park and exhibits is the balance that has been struck between modern interactive and informative displays and the exhibition spaces and huts themselves which give a real sense of time and place. Some of the displays are fascinating and make sure you have plenty of time to get fully absorbed in them.
The highlight for me was Block B which contains exhibits forming ” The Life and works of Alan Turing”, bringing to life the story behind the breaking of the German Enigma cipher during the second World War.
Slate statue of Alan Turing
The replica of Turing’s Bombe, built to help crack the cipher is astonishing. The highly impressive piece of machinery, containing 12 miles of wire, is manned by volunteers who are more than happy to explain its construction and operation.
Apparently all the original machines were dismantled at the end of the war for reasons of security so the  construction was from scratch.
Further exhibits showing the bombes in situ together with audio accounts of operators are located in the huts which are to be found between the larger blocks and the mansion house complex. The huts have been recreated to show what they would have been like in the early 1940s.
The Mansion was used as offices for senior staff and there are now some fascinating audio accounts from people stationed at Bletchley during the war as part of the displays on the ground floor.
It’s easy to spend a day exploring the blocks, huts and grounds of Bletchley Park. I’m glad I finally made the effort.
